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Friday, November 20, 2009

This Just In


"East Side Deli on East Main Street just robbed, man! What a town…."

We have not confirmed.

First Congressional District Voters Want Change

First Congressional District Voters Want Change

The Tarrance Group polled likely voters this week in the First
Congressional District of Maryland for the Andy Harris for Congress
campaign. The results show that 52% of the likely voters would vote
for Andy Harris, 39% for the incumbent Congressman, Frank Kratovil.

"These results reflect what I've been hearing from hard-working,
tax-paying families throughout the First District over the last year.
Voters are upset with a Congressman and a Democrat-controlled Congress
run by Nancy Pelosi that spends too much, taxes too much, and can't
bring the unemployment rate down. They want real change in 2010 -
returning fiscal sanity to Washington and jobs to the First District
of Maryland" said Andy Harris, a Republican running for Congress in
the First District.

The Tarrance Group's poll memo is attached. Please contact the Andy
Harris for Congress Campaign at 443-279-8781, or media@andyharris.com
for comment.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

MEMORANDUM
TO: SEN. ANDY HARRIS
FROM: BRIAN C. TRINGALI
KEVIN HUDAK
RE: FRANK KRATOVIL NOT LIKELY TO RETURN TO CONGRESS
DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2009
______________________________________________________________________________
The Tarrance Group is pleased to present the following findings from our latest survey of voters across Maryland’s First Congressional District. The Andy Harry for U.S. Congress campaign commissioned The Tarrance Group to conduct a telephone survey of N=300 “likely” voters throughout the district. A random sample of this type is likely to yield a margin of error of +5.8% in 95 out of 100 cases. Responses to the survey were gathered November 15-17 – although few respondents were called on Monday because of a Ravens game that evening.

Incumbent Democrat Congressman Frank Kratovil is not likely to be a part of the next Congress once it is convened in 2011. Kratovil has had a tough time of it since his election to the open seat last year. The evidence of this is borne out by our most recent survey of Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Despite his close loss in 2008, if the election for U.S. Congress were held today, Andy Harris would be elected with a clear majority of the vote. Fifty-two percent (52%) of the voters are supportive of Harris, even before the race has heated up. Kratovil garners just 39% of the vote today.

At the same time, 88% of the voters have heard of Andy Harris – in part because of his previous campaign in 2008. In addition, Dr. Harris has been working hard already this cycle and has clearly benefitted from his early start on the 2010 contest.

Ballot for U.S. Congress

Andy Harris 52%
Undecided 10%
Frank Kratovil 39%

Frank Kratovil’s weakness in this district might seem startling but it is backed up by a poor image and a low re-elect score. While Kratovil is well known, only 43% of the voters hold a favorable image and 30% are unfavorable toward him. At a 91% awareness level, most of the voters have formed an opinion of the incumbent.

Kratovil Image

Aware 91%
Favorable 43%
Unfavorable 30%
Ratio 1.5:1

The soft re-elect question asks if Frank Kratovil “deserves to be re-elected or if it is time to give a new person a chance.” Only 29% of the voters in this district think the incumbent deserves to be re-elected. Further, 49% of the voters think a new person would do the better job. This reelect score is extremely low. Again, voters in the district seem to have already made up their minds that they will not be returning Frank Kratovil to Congress.

Kratovil Soft Re-elect

Deserves re-election 29%
Unsure/depends 23%
New person 49%

###

THE TARRANCE GROUP
www.tarrance.com

Red Kettle Campaign - UPDATE







If you'd like to take a slot at any of the above locations please send your request to ringabell4tsa@verizon.net or call Kettle Campaign Headquarters 410-749-RING (7464).

This Comment Just In From A Viewer

"WILL RICK POLLITT FOLLOW MARTY O’MALLEY’S LEAD?":


The sad part (coming from a County employee) is that if/when Rick Pollitt and the County Council initiate a reduction in force it will more than likely be even across the board when it should not. They will probably layoff or eliminate jobs proportionally among every department in the County to make it "fair" when in fact it would not be "fair" at all. The problem I see with this is that there are a few departments are super efficient, but most are not at all! The departments that have and are operated very efficiently are going to suffer more because of this. The cuts should be made in those departments that have a surplus of workforce and thus cost the County more than what is actually neccessary. Personally, I feel as though my job should be secure because my director and his employees run a tight ship and we ALL have a full workload; however, I can never feel 100% secure because Rick Pollitt tends to want to cut the County equally across the board instead of concentrating cuts and potential layoffs in the departments that are truly costing the County additional money. He needs to look at each individual employee and their tasks and ask himself if that particular person is neccessary and/or can I consolidate that position with another to eliminate salary. It would certainly take time and effort to evaluate the entire county workforces, but the results would be highly beneficial and lucrative in the long run - the County would retain its most productive employees to maintain the highest possible level of service while maximizing the savings in annual salary costs. Its common sense, maximize efficiency and minimize cost! Any good business does this and if the County wants to run more like a business they would do it too! The only problem with this is that they would have to leave behind the "good ole boy network" meaning that people like Shea and Fineran could be eliminated or consolidated into one position... you think that Rick would or could do that? Unfortunately, I don't think he has the courage to do it.

We also have people that work for this County that make more than what they would in a similar position at major corporations, but are less qualified! ie: we have non PE engineers that make more than PE engineers at private companies! Where does that make sense? Re-evaluate individual salaries and official job descriptions and I guarantee that you'll save hundreds of thousands, in not over a million dollars each year! A lot of employees' qualifications don't even meet the qualifications on their require job descriptions! This doesn't fly in the private sector, why should it in the Government sector?

I will not disclose the department for which I work and I will not single out other departments that I feel should be cut because that SHOULD be Rick's job. However, I am 100% confident that, if our department was to be evaluated in this type of comprehensive reduction in force, our staff would ramain unscaved when layoffs come around. If only the public could be a fly on the wall in the GOB, Roads Division, BOE, Parks & Rec, Health Department, etc. they would see who TRULY works for their salary and who does not!

This is what the citizens should push for: High quality level of service at a discount price-It shouldn't even be called a reduction in workforce because the same about of work can be done with less employees; it should simply be called a consolidation of employees. We don't have to lose the quality and level of service to save money - remember that when future budget cuts and elections come around.

Md. Lobbyist With 7 Drunk Driving Convictions Not Alone, Report Shows


Several readers expressed outrage today at the sentence imposed on Maryland lobbyist David A. Jacobs for his seventh drunk driving conviction. After 36 days in jail, Jacobs--who has represented the Prince George's County Council and sheriff in Annapolis--was sent to an in-patient alcohol treatment program for 28 days. A prosecutor had asked the court to sentence Jacobs to 10 months in jail.

Caroline Cash, executive director of MADD Maryland, put it this way: "How is it that there's any such thing as seven offenses? How are we allowing that?"

A nationwide report by MADD, however, shows that Jacobs is hardly the only repeat offender.
According to the group's State Progress Report released last year, Maryland had 25,120 people with three or more drunk driving convictions. 3,980 people had five or more convictions, and one person had 21.

If you think 21 is bad, Marylanders, be thankful you don't live in Arkansas, where one person has had 40 convictions.

Check out the full report below to see how all the states stack up. Unfortunately, Virginia and the District didn't report data on repeat offenders.

Jacobs was drunk by more than twice the legal limit April 29 when he lost control of his Honda Pilot and struck another car and a guardrail. The County Council has not ruled out retaining his services once more in Annapolis next year.

Interesting Message Referencing The SFD

Joe - I sent this in a text msg, but not sure if it went through. The Fire Department is at the old Fratelli's shopping center, loading plywood into Las Margarita - through the back door. They apparently have the area blocked with ambulances and fire trucks, so you can only see it from behind Cheers. Any idea what is going on?

UPDATE:

"The Salisbury Fire Department will conduct training for area firefighters at the Allenwood Shopping Center 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, November 21-22. The Allenwood building is slated to be demolished in coming weeks so construction may begin on a new 600-bed residence hall and retail complex.

The Fire Department's hands-on training will feature various scenarios including large area searches, forced entry, wall breaching, commercial structure operations, Rapid Intervention Team practice and the use of simulated smoke. “This is a tremendous benefit to the Salisbury Fire Department, and we thank Salisbury University for allowing us to use the building prior to it being razed,” said William Gordy, deputy fire chief.

The Allenwood parking lot will be closed."

Per email sent to SU Students

Escape Is Now Open For Business On The Downtown Plaza







Hello Joe,




I wanted to share with you that I’ve discovered an awesome new restaurant. It’s called Escape, and it’s located on the Downtown Plaza in Salisbury. I met a friend there for lunch recently, and we enjoyed the absolute best food either of us have had lately. The prices were great, and the portions were generous. The one possible sticking point would be parking, but the main city parking lot has two hours for free. You’d just need to go through either the Gallery Building or the Plaza Gateway Building to get to the Plaza itself. This restaurant is located in the space of what used to be the City Bistro.




I understand that they have live entertainment on the weekends, and since tonight is the Third Friday they’ve got a special jazz ensemble from 5-8 p.m.
Please pass the word.

By 2019, Taxpayers Will Pay $196 Billion A Year for Obamacare, But 24 Million People Will Remain Uninsured

Under the health care bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday, by 2019 taxpayers will be paying $196 billion per year to subsidize other people’s health insurance coverage, but there still will be 24 million uninsured people in America, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Reid’s proposal mandates that all individuals legally resident in the United States purchase health insurance and offers subsidies to people making up to 400 percent of the poverty level ($88,200 for a family of four) to purchase insurance as long as they buy a federally regulated and approved plan sold in a federally regulated insurance exchange.

In 2010, the year of the next congressional election, the gross cost of the subsidies is expected to be $0. In 2012, the year of the next presidential election, the gross cost of the subsidies in the bill is expected to be only $4 billion. But in 2014, the costs are expected to dramatically escalate to $48 billion for the year. From that point on, the costs increase every year, jumping to $147 billion by 2016 and then to $196 billion by 2019.

More here..

How Would You Like To Own A Restaurant On The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel


Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District
Sea Gull Island - Food Service and Retail Concession

Request for Proposals


The Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel District is seeking creative proposals from qualified individuals and companies with expertise in developing and operating food service and/or retail establishments. The District is making available a unique 6,200 square foot restaurant and gift shop located on Sea Gull Island, the southernmost of the CBBT’s four man-made islands. This exclusive location, approximately 3.5 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay to the west. The successful Proposer will offer a concept that not only capitalizes on the current trends in food service and retail concessions but exceeds the demands of the travelers of today and tomorrow.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (the “CBBT”) is an engineering marvel that spans the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, connecting Virginia’s Eastern Shore with the Virginia mainland at Virginia Beach. The CBBT is the largest bridge-tunnel complex in the world, measuring 17.6 miles from shore to shore. Following its opening in April 1964, the CBBT was honored as one of the “Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World” and was a recipient of the “Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement” award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. More recently, the CBBT was featured as one of the “Top 10 American Beauties” on Good Morning America and as one of the “World’s Top 10 Bridges” on the Travel Channel. The CBBT is more than just a tourist attraction; it also serves as the “East Coast Scenic Shortcut” by saving travelers 90 miles or more as they travel from Wilmington, Delaware or points north to Virginia Beach, Virginia and the Outer Banks in North Carolina.


Sea Gull Island is an important customer service and revenue-generating amenity for the CBBT. This island provides the traveling public with an opportunity to stop, stretch their legs, grab a bite to eat, cast a line, birdwatch, or just take in the natural beauty and sounds of the Chesapeake Bay. The island features a restaurant and gift shop that has been in operation for 40 years. The island itself is 5 ¼ acres in size, contains parking for more than 230 vehicles (including RVs and tour buses), and provides a free, handicap accessible, 625-foot fishing pier that is open all day-every day.


The District is searching for an operator to develop a locally-themed casual dining restaurant with eat-in and take-out capabilities, to feature a variety of menu items including seafood, hamburgers, deli sandwiches, salad, breakfast, and potentially, a branded coffee concept, as well as to develop a retail area to feature locally-themed gifts, apparel, local food products, and convenience items. Additionally, the District desires to:

· Provide a quality selection of food service and retail concepts that address today’s concession trends and allow for flexibility in a changing environment.
· Provide a high level of customer service with competitive pricing.
· Achieve a balance of local and national products or operator brands, while also showcasing a regional image, businesses, and products whenever possible.
· Provide an environment to enhance the financial success of the operator and the District.
· Provide an area for the operation of a Virginia Beach Tourism Information Center that will be operated by the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
· Capitalize on the unique location by providing an outside dining area on the southside of the existing building.


The Request for Proposal (RFP) documents are currently available upon request. Two pre-proposal meetings are scheduled for Dec. 11, 2009 at 10 a.m. and on Dec. 16, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel Administration Building in Cape Charles, Va. Pre-registration is required.


To receive a copy of the RFP documents and to register for the pre-proposal meeting, please visit www.cbbt.com/rfp.html

1 World Trade Center Rising In Lower Manhattan

GO HERE to see images.
'Hundreds of construction crews are working not only on this structure but also the development of the plaza, transportation hub and memorial. It was very impressive to see this structure going up in an area that saw such devastation and loss.'

'Bo-Tax' for Health-Care Reform?


Plastic surgeons shriek as Democrats consider an excise tax on elective cosmetic procedures to raise funds for health reform

The tax is just one of many ways the Senate bill aims to raise $6 billion to help pay for the $848 billion plan, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would lower federal deficits by $130 billion over 10 years. The tax in the Senate bill would apply only to surgical procedures that qualify as "not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease." Doctors and health centers would collect the funds from patients and send them to Uncle Sam.

More than 12 million surgical and nonsurgical (minimally invasive) cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2008, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Total spending on those procedures totaled $10.3 billion, with nearly half—$5 billion—deemed reconstructive procedures. Cosmetic procedures that are not elective would not be subject to the Senate bill's tax.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and his fellow Democrats now face the task of gathering enough votes in the Senate, though the final bill could emerge without the proposed tax on elective cosmetic surgery. While it's unclear if the tax has any particular broad support in Congress, it helps Democrats raise funds to help pay for the bill. "This is an environment where they need as much money as possible—everything is on the table," says Daniel Clifton, a Washington-based policy analyst at Strategas Research Partners. The first vote on the Senate bill is expected on Nov. 21, Reid said Thursday.

an unfair burden on women? GO HERE to read more.

20-Somethings Can Go 2 Years Between Paps


New guidelines say it’s enough to spot slow-growing cervical cancer


WASHINGTON - Most women in their 20s can have a Pap smear every two years instead of annually, say new guidelines that conclude that's enough to catch slow-growing cervical cancer.

The change by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists comes amid a completely separate debate over when regular mammograms to detect breast cancer should begin. The timing of the Pap guidelines is coincidence, said ACOG, which began reviewing its recommendations in late 2007 and published the update Friday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The guidelines also say: GO HERE to read more.

GAO Takes Stock Of Recovery.gov Stimulus Glitches


The Government Accountability Office released a report (PDF) today criticizing the quality of the data used to calculate how many jobs have been generated by the stimulus.


Welcome to the club, GAO. Here are some of the highlights:
Nearly 4,000 reports filed by recipients of stimulus money showed no dollar amount received. Yet those same reports claimed to have created or saved more than 50,000 jobs.


Some 9,200 reports showed no jobs, even though they spent a total of almost $1 billion in stimulus money.


Nearly one in 10 stimulus recipients failed to file reports.


Almost one quarter of reports from primary stimulus recipients were not reviewed by a federal agency.


Recipients used different formulas to calculate how many jobs they had created or saved.
Read more…

Traffic Alert


Crossover Closure at Route 113 and Arrow Safety Road in Georgetown

Georgetown
-- The Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces that it has implemented a median crossover closure at US 113 and Arrow Safety Road in Georgetown effective in late December.

US 113 southbound traffic will no longer be able to turn left off of US 113 onto Arrow Safety Road, and will need to travel to Shortly Road and US 113 to make a u-turn to go north to access Arrow Safety Road. US 113 northbound traffic will still be permitted to make right turns off of Arrow Safety Road.

As DelDOT continually assesses crossovers and intersection for safety, this was identified as an intersection that could easily be made safer with the closure of the median crossover.

The Fundamental Transformation Of America

When Obama wrote a book and said he was mentored as a youth by Frank, (Frank
Marshall Davis) an avowed Communist, people said it didn't matter.

When it was discovered that his grandparents, were strong socialist, sent
Obama's mother to a socialist school, introduced Frank Marshall Davis to young
Obama, people said it didn't matter.

When people found out that he was enrolled as a Muslim child in school and his
father and step father were both Muslims, people said it didn't matter.

When he wrote in another book he authored "I will stand with them (Muslims)
should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." people said it didn't
matter.

When he admittedly, in his book, said he chose Marxist friends and professors in
college, people said it didn't matter.

When he traveled to Pakistan, after college on an unknown national passport,
people said it didn't matter.

When he sought the endorsement of the Marxist party in 1996 as he ran for the
Illinois Senate, people said it doesn't matter.

When he sat in a Chicago Church for twenty years and listened to a preacher spew
hatred for America and preach black liberation theology, people said it didn't
matter.

When an independent Washington organization, that tracks senate voting records,
gave him the distinctive title as the "most liberal senator", people said it
didn't matter.

When the Palestinians in Gaza, set up a fund raising telethon to raise money for
his election campaign, people said it didn't matter.

When his voting record supported gun control, people said it didn't matter.

When he refused to disclose who donated money to his election campaign, as other
candidates had done, people said it didn't matter.

When he received endorsements from people like Louis Farrakhan and Mummar
Kadaffi and Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

When it was pointed out that he was a total, newcomer and had absolutely no
experience at anything except community organizing, people said it didn't
matter.

When he chose friends and acquaintances such as Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn
who were revolutionary radicals, people said it didn't matter.

When his voting record in the Illinois senate and in the U.S. Senate came into
question, people said it didn't matter.

When he refused to wear a flag, lapel pin and did so only after a public outcry,
people said it didn't matter.

When people started treating him as a Messiah and children in schools were
taught to sing his praises, people said it didn't matter.

When he stood with his hands over his groin area for the playing of the National
Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance, people said it didn't matter.

When he surrounded himself in the White House with advisors who were pro gun
control, pro abortion, pro homosexual marriage and wanting to curtail freedom of
speech to silence the opposition people said it didn't matter.

When he aired his views on abortion, homosexuality and a host of other issues,
people said it didn't matter.

When he said he favors sex education in Kindergarten, including homosexual
indoctrination, people said it didn't matter.

When his background was either scrubbed or hidden and nothing could be found
about him, people said it didn't matter.

When the place of his birth was called into question, and he refused to produce
a birth certificate, people said it didn't matter.

When he had an association in Chicago with Tony Rezco, a man of questionable
character, who is now in prison and had helped Obama to a sweet deal on the
purchase of his home, people said it didn't matter.

When it became known that George Soros, a multi-billionaire Marxist, spent a ton
of money to get him elected, people said it didn't matter.

When he started appointing "czars" (a communist term) that were radicals,
revolutionaries, and even avowed Marxist/Communists, people said it didn't
matter.

When he stood before the nation and told us that his intentions were to
"fundamentally transform this nation" into something else, people said it didn't
matter.

When it became known that he had trained ACORN workers in Chicago and served as
an attorney for ACORN, people said it didn't matter.

When he appointed cabinet members and several advisors who were tax cheats and
socialists, people said it didn't matter.

When he appointed a science czar, John Holdren, who believes in forced
abortions, mass sterilizations and seizing babies from teen mothers, people said
it didn't matter.

When he appointed Cass Sunstein as regulatory czar who believes in "Explicit
Consent", harvesting human organs with out family consent, and to allow animals
to be represented in court, while banning all hunting, people said it didn't
matter.

When he appointed Kevin Jennings, a homosexual, and organizer of a group called
gay, lesbian, straight, Education network, as safe school czar and it became
known that he had a history of bad advice to teenagers, people said it didn't
matter.

When he appointed Mark Lloyd as diversity czar and he believed in curtailing
free speech, taking from one and giving to another to spread the wealth and
admires Hugo Chavez, people said it didn't matter.

When Valerie Jarrett was selected as Obama's senior White House advisor and she
is an avowed Socialist, people said it didn't matter.

When Anita Dunn, White House Communications director said Mao Tse Tung was her
favorite philosopher and the person she turned to most for inspiration, people
said it didn't matter.

When he appointed Carol Browner as global warming czar, and she is a well known
socialist working on Cap and trade as the nations largest tax, people said it
doesn't matter.

When he appointed Van Jones, an ex-con and avowed Communist as green energy
czar, who since had to resign when this was made known, people said it didn't
matter.

When Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for health and human services secretary could not
be confirmed, because he was a tax cheat, people said it didn't matter.

When as president of the United States, he bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia,
people said it didn't matter.

When he traveled around the world criticizing America and never once talking of
her greatness, people said it didn't matter.

When his actions concerning the middle-east seemed to support the Palestinians
over Israel, our long time friend, people said it doesn't matter.

When he took American tax dollars to resettle thousands of Palestinians from
Gaza to the United States, people said it doesn't matter.

When he upset the Europeans by removing plans for a missile defense system
against the Russians, people said it doesn't matter.

When he played politics in Afghanistan by not sending troops the Field
Commanders said we had to have to win, people said it didn't matter.

When he started spending us into a debt that was so big we could not pay it off,
people said it didn't matter.

When he took a huge spending bill under the guise of stimulus and used it to pay
off organizations, unions and individuals that got him elected, people said it
didn't matter.

When he took over insurance companies, car companies, banks, etc. people said it
didn't matter.

When he took away student loans from the banks and put it through the
government, people said it didn't matter.

When he designed plans to take over the health care system and put it under
government control, people said it didn't matter.

When he set into motion a plan to take over the control of all energy in the
United States through Cap and Trade, people said it didn't matter.

When he finally completed his transformation of America into a Socialist State,
people finally woke up......... but it was too late.

Any one of these things, in and of themselves does not really matter. But...
when you add them up one by one you get a phenomenal score that points to the
fact that our Obama is determined to make America over into a Marxist/Socialist
society. All of the items in the preceding paragraphs have been put into place.
All can be documented very easily. Before you disavow this, do an internet
search. The last paragraph alone is not yet cast in stone. You and I will
write that paragraph. Will it read as above or will it be a more happy ending
for most of America ? Personally, I like happy endings.

If you are an Obama Supporter, please do not be angry with me because I think
the President of your choice is a socialist, but there are too many facts
supporting this. If you seek the truth you will be richer for it. Don't just
belittle the opposition. Search for the truth. I did. Democrats, Republicans,
Independents, Constitutionalist, Libertarians and what have you, we all need to
pull together. We all must pull together or watch the demise of a society that
we all love and cherish. If you are a religious person, pray for our nation.

Never before in the history of America have we been confronted with problems so
huge that the very existence of our country is in jeopardy. Don't rely on most
television news and what you read in the newspapers for the truth. Search the
internet. Yes, there is a lot of bad information, lies and distortions there
too but you are smart enough to spot the fallacies. Newspapers are a dying
breed. They are currently seeking a bailout from the government. Do you really
think they are about to print the truth? Obama praises all the television news
networks except Fox who he has waged war against. There must be a reason. He
does not call them down on any specifics, just a general battle against them.
If they lie, he should call them out on it but he doesn't. Please, find the
truth, it will set you free.

Our biggest enemy is not China, Russia, Iran; no, our biggest enemy is a
contingent of politicians in Washington DC.


Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Patriots
Alliance of American Patriots

Sen. Cornyn's Health Care Reform Alert

Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released his 2,074-page health care bill, which Senate Budget Committee analysis shows will cost American taxpayers $2.5 trillion when fully implemented over ten years.

Until we have had a chance to read the full 2,074 page Reid Bill, it’s impossible for Americans to fully grasp what the Majority Leader has cooked up behind closed doors. It is my hope that Sen. Reid will afford all Americans the same courtesy that he had: ample time to study the legislation and deliberate the best way to proceed.

What we do know so far, as reported by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), is that this bill will have a wide, negative impact on Americans across the board – from seniors on Medicare to small business owners to future generations of Americans who will be footing the bill. The bill will increase taxes on all Americans by nearly half a trillion dollars and breaks the President’s pledge not to raise taxes on working families earning less than $250,000—at a time that unemployment is at a 26-year high.

While CBO has not been given time to analyze the Reid bill’s impact on premiums, every other independent analysis to date has found that Reid’s new mandates and taxes will increase health care premiums on American families. The Reid bill increases taxpayer spending and liability for health care over the next ten years—instead of reforming our already insolvent entitlement programs. It will gut the already insolvent Medicare program by $464.6 billion, hurting access to care for seniors. It includes a government-run public option that will, according to CBO, have premiums higher than private plans and cause millions of Americans to lose the coverage they currently have. The largest expansion of Medicaid since it was created means the Medicaid program will be the only coverage option for 60 million Americans. It will also impose $28 billion in punitive taxes on employers who do not comply with Washington’s new job-killing mandates.

These initial findings are troubling, to say the least. My staff and I will be pouring over the 2,074 pages, assuming we are given the time to do so. You can access the full text of the Reid bill from my web site: http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/?p=HealthCareReformHQ.

It is essential that Congress take the time get health care reform right. If the President and Majority Leader are more interested in getting health care reform right for all 300 million Americans than they are in putting a political feather in their cap for the midterm elections, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Senator John Cornyn wants to keep Texans informed and engaged as the debate on health care reform moves forward in Washington. Please visit http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/ and www.facebook.com/Sen.JohnCornyn to share your ideas for how best to reform our health care system and to recommend others who might want to join the dialogue by receiving these Health Care Reform Alerts.

Important Information

Use this link to learn how to register to vote in the State of Maryland.
The second link will tell you about the other states.
Where, when and how. Just copy and paste.

Maryland Elections:

http://www.elections.state.md.us/voter_registration/index.html

Elections in All other States:

http://www.eac.gov/voter/Register%20to%20Vote

Remember, everything we do is all a waste of time if we do not vote.....get your friends and relatives to register as well.


Tony Passaro
Bel Air Tea Party Patriots
Alliance of American Patriots

F-35 Pilot's Helmet...Declassified April 11 - 2009

THIS HELMET IS USED WITH THE F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER.

Terminator-style helmets allow fighter pilots to see through their planes. Only the neck and shoulders prove there is a human being in there somewhere.

This is how the next generation of fighter pilots will look. And with piercing green eyes staring out from behind the visor, it's no surprise that the helmet has been compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger's killer robot in The Terminator.

Pilots flying the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will have an astonishing array of technology encasing their heads - enabling them to see right through their own aircraft fuselage to the ground below.

Scroll down for more ...


A series of cameras on the outside of the stealth warplane feed high-resolution images into the helmet, including infra-red images at night, which are then projected on to the inside of the pilot's visor.

Special sensors inside the cockpit track the movement of the helmet, so that when the pilot turns his head his view of the skies or ground outside changes accordingly.

When he looks down, he sees not his own feet on the cockpit floor but the ground below, slipping past at hundreds of miles per hour.

On-board computers also feed in essential flight and combat data on to the display, as well as superimposing target symbols to locate enemy and friendly aircraft or ground targets, even if they are too far away to see with the naked eye.




Scroll down for more ...
Cutting-edge: Cameras are attached to the outside of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to give pilots all-round vision.Prototypes were used in test flights by U.S. pilots earlier this year and are now being assessed by engineers.The computerized symbology will be displayed directly on the pilot's visor, providing the pilot with cues for flying, navigating, and fighting the aircraft.It even will superimpose infra-red imagery on to the visor to allow the pilot to look through the cockpit floor at night and see the world below - like something out of Terminator.


The American Spectator : HarryCare Is A Rotten Deal

HARRYCARE Is A Rotten Deal!

Cuts Medicare, Funds abortion, Hikes payroll taxes,Taxes the uninsured, Taxes the insured, Uses accounting gimmicks, COSTS TOO MUCH

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/19/harrycare-is-a-rotten-deal/print

Corrupt Culture Of Attorney General And Terrorists

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER HAS DEFENDED BIG PHARMA, BIG BIZ & TERRORISTS.
Now old law firm buddies defend Gitmo terrorists with aid of a poor report by AG Eric Holder.

CORRUPT?
Surely Holder knew his old firm was defending Gitmo's worst killers. Holder makes it easier by issuing poor report card.

http://michellemalkin.com/?frontpage=1&print=1

Perhaps The Best Ford Commercial Ever


Every6one should watch this video. I highly recommend it.

Third Friday November 2009

My Lost Dog











Hello,

I've posted my dog missing on Craigslist.com and received an email from someone who gave me your email & web-site and said you might be able to assist me. My dog Daisy went missing while she was at the sitters in Salisbury, MD on 10/31/09 while I was at a wedding. I live in New Jersey and I've posted 300 flyers in the area. I've have called, emailed & faxed her flyers to Vets, Humane Societies, Groomers, a television station in Salisbury. I placed an ad in the paper etc. I have even contact a spiritual person to she if she could "tell me where my Daisy is".
Daisy is microchiped & was also wearing a collar with our numbers on her tag. I don't know what else to do. I'm hopeing to go back to MD this weekend to pass out another 200 flyers. Attached are pictures of daisy and a similar copy of the flyer with the rest of the story on it. Feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time.

Lynn
lphoenix1120@yahoo.com

TURKEY RECIPE

Ingredients:
1 whole turkey
1 large lemon, cut into halves
salt and pepper to taste
butter or olive oil, whichever you prefer

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Rub butter or oil over the skin of the turkey until it is completely coated.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and any other seasonings you prefer.

Take a knife and gently separate the skin from the breast meat;
Slide lemon halves under the skin with the peel side up, one on
each side. This way the juice from the lemon will release into the breasts.

Cover and bake for 30-45 minutes. Remove cover and continue
to roast until juices run clear, basting every 15-20 minutes.

If you've followed these steps correctly, your turkey should
look like the one in the picture.

Bon Appetit!







Merry Christmas To ALL?

Ladies and Gentlemen and every American Parent,

In case you missed the announcement today, the Unite States Postal Service just cancelled the 55 year old Santa Letter Program. Basically, any letters sent to Santa without a specific address will now be shredded.

God Bless the children.

Thomas J. Miller
Registered Candidate (Rep.), President of the United States of America 2012
www.Tomin12.com

Ho Ho No: Postal Service Drops Santa Letters Program

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Thousands of starry-eyed children all over the world are writing letters to the jolly man at the North Pole this holiday season, but they will not likely get a response from Santa Claus or his helpers.

The U.S Postal Service is dropping a popular effort begun in 1954 in the small Alaska town of North Pole, where volunteers open and respond to thousands of letters addressed to Santa each year. Replies come with North Pole postmarks.

Postal Service officials said they are tightening rules in such programs nationwide after a postal worker in Maryland recognized a volunteer in the agency's Operation Santa program as a registered sex offender. The postal worker interceded before the individual could answer a child's letter, but the Postal Service viewed the episode as a big enough scare to make changes to the program.

People in North Pole are incensed by the change, likening the Postal Service to the Grinch trying to steal Christmas. The letter program is a revered holiday tradition in North Pole, where light posts are curved and striped like candy canes and streets have names such as Kris Kringle Drive and Santa Claus Lane. Volunteers in the letter program even sign the response letters as Santa's elves and helpers.

More: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575686,00.html

Today's Wildlife Photo By Scott Phoebus

To Purchase Photos Email Me At ksphoebus@gmail.com

Whoops! Recovery.gov Shows Money Flowing To Nonexistent Districts


The government Web site that promised to show exactly where the $787 billion in stimulus spending was going to "create or save" jobs is allocating billions of tax dollars to hundreds of congressional districts that don’t exist.

Researchers at the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity found 440 “phantom districts” listed on Recovery.gov, consuming $6.4 billion and creating or saving nearly 30,000 jobs. Their findings are listed HERE.

For example, Recovery.gov shows 12 districts, using up more than $2.7 billion, in Washington, D.C, which only has one congressional district.

Recovery.gov also shows 2,893.9 jobs created with $194,537,372 in stimulus funding in New Hampshire’s 00 congressional district. But, there is no such thing.

The site also shows $1,471,518 going to New Hampshire’s 6th congressional district, $1,033,809 to the 4th congressional district and $124,774 to the 27th congressional district. In fact, New Hampshire only has two congressional districts; inviting confusion about where the money listed for the 00, 4th, 6th and 27th districts is going.

Edward Pound, communications director for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, said, "Some recipients of Recovery Act funds entered incorrect congressional districts in their award reports. We are doing an analysis of what we might be able to do at this time to correct the problem."

The burden of reporting information lies on the stimulus recipients and if they submit incorrect forms there is no penalty, said Mr. Pound. “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act set forth all the reporting requirements, but is silent as to penalties to enforce the reporting requirements,” he said. Fraudulent forms could be punished as a crime, but there is no mechanism to deter recipients from submitting inaccurate information through human error.

G. Edward DeSeve, who is Special Advisor to the President, Assistant to the Vice President and Special Advisor to the Office of Management and Budget for Implementation of the Recovery Act issued a statement about these errors on Tuesday, arguing some mistakes were inevitable and do nothing to disprove the effectiveness of the stimulus.

“Even if as many as 5-10% of the reports or 5-10% of the totals are wrong (and we don’t think it is that high), that still means the Recovery Act saved or created between 600,000 and 700,000 direct jobs in its first seven months -- more than most experts predicted when it passed,” he said. “And most leading experts agree that -- whatever the recipient reported total should be -- the actual number of jobs saved or created is about double that, because the recipient reports don’t include direct payments to individuals, the jobs created by Recovery Act tax cuts, and the jobs created when workers on Recovery Act projects spend their paychecks.”
From The Washington Times

Warren Buffett: Government Is Creating A Dollar Crisis

Warren Buffett should be having buyers’ remorse since he was a supporter of Barack Obama during the election campaign. As the article points out the Fed is already “monetizing our debt”. In other words a modern day version of running the printing press is creating fiat money to allow the government to buy its own bonds. The effect of this is to devalue every dollar in circulation, leading to high inflation in our future. Most dangerous, as the article points out is that China or Japan could dump the bonds they hold, which are being devalued and throw our economy into complete chaos.

Ellen Sauerbrey

Warren Buffett: Government is creating a dollar crisis

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Text Size:

By Porter Stansberry in the S&A Digest:

I think Warren Buffett made an insightful observation on Charlie Rose's talk show last week:

Charlie Rose: This question is asked frequently: Will at some point the deficit and the debt and the decline of the dollar get to a point that people who hold our debt will no longer want to buy and then we're in a crisis?

Warren Buffett: We cannot keep running fiscal deficits like we are currently without having a lot of consequences over time... If you are running a $1.4 trillion deficit, even if you are exporting $400 billion of I.O.U.s in effect to the rest of the world, that leaves another trillion. And you know, the domestic savers are not going to come up with a trillion... so these numbers are unsustainable over time, what we're doing. It is true, though, that if you keep flooding the world with your debt and people see your fiscal policies are sort of out of control, they're going to get less and less and less enthused about your debt. And then, one of two things happen. Either you keep paying more and more to roll over that debt or you start monetizing it like crazy...

What Buffett didn't say here might be even more important than what he did say: The Federal Reserve has already begun to buy Treasury bonds on a large scale (monetizing the debt). In fact, the Fed has said it will buy $1.75 billion of mortgages and Treasury bonds to manipulate interest rates lower.

In the short term, this buying will make it painful to bet against the bond market. But we are paying a terrible price for this manipulation.

A lower currency devalues all of the assets in America and all of the government bonds outstanding... which could cause our foreign bondholders to dump the dollar en masse.

State Police Employee Arrested for Failing To Verify Sex Offender’s Information



Location: State Bureau of Identification, DSP, 655 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE and Persimmon Tree Apartments, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence: July 27, 2009 to November 5, 2009

Suspect: Finisha E. Mills, 30, Dover, DE

Resume:

Delaware State Police have conducted a 3 week investigation that resulted in the arrested of a state police civilian employee.

On Today’s date Finisha Mills turned herself into the troopers at Troop 3 in Camden. Charges were filed against Mills after an investigation revealed that she intentionally filed false information regarding a registered sex offender’s status information during the scheduled intake process.

The investigation came to light when state troopers assigned to the Sex Offender Apprehension and Registry Unit received a tip via email through the DSP State Bureau of Identification Sex Offenders Web site indicating that Michael Tilghman, 30, was residing at the Persimmon Tree Apartments in Dover. This tip concerned state police investigators since Tilghman was reporting in as “Homeless.”

Troopers launched an investigation and learned that the apartment in question belonged to Mills. Troopers executed a search warrant at Mills’ home and found evidence that Tilghman resided there. During their investigation troopers also determined that Mills and Tilghman were engaged in a relationship.

Troopers discovered that when Tilghman registered at the State Bureau of Identification office, Mills had conducted the intake process on Tilghman numerous times since July 27, 2009 where he reported his status as “homeless.”

Tilghman is a registered Tier III offender and under Title 11 section 4120 relating to the sex offenders, the law is very specific for the classification of “Homeless.” Under section 4120 an offender must exercise due diligence in attempting to secure an anticipated place of future residence and if he/she is unsuccessful then the offender will be classified as “Homeless.” Homeless offenders must also report their habitual locale, park or locations during the day and night, public buildings, restaurants and libraries. Homeless offenders must verify or check in with the State Bureau of Identification every 7 days.

Mills was charged with 8 counts of Entering False Information into Deljis, that charge is classified as a class E felony. Deljis is an acronym for the Delaware Justice Information System. One count of Official Misconduct which is classified as a class A misdemeanor and Conspiracy 2nd which is classified as a class G felony. She was arraigned and released on $25,500.00 unsecured bail. Mills is scheduled to appear in the Court of Common Pleas in and for Kent County on Friday, December 4th, 2009 for a preliminary hearing.

Mills has been suspended without pay and benefits with the intent to dismiss from the Division.

Michael Tilghman was charged with1 count of Failure to Verify Sex Offender Registry Information back on November 5th.

Fruitland Police Department Press Release


INCIDENT: MDOP and Theft from M/V

DATE: Monday, November 9, 2009

LOCATION: Fruitland Recreational Park, Brown Street, Fruitland, Md.

ACCUSED: Michael Wayne Carey 2nd W/M DOB: 05-08-1979
No Fixed Address

CHARGE: MDOP - Rogue and Vagabond - Theft less than $1000 value -
Obstruction and Hindering

DISPOSITION: Remanded to custody of WCDC central booking


RESUME: On Monday, November 9, 2009 the victim reported to the Fruitland Police Department that they had locked and parked their vehicle at the Fruitland Recreation Park for a morning exercise run. Up on returning to their vehicle after the run, the victim discovered the passenger side window of their vehicle was broken and several items of value had been taken. Subsequent investigation resulted in the recovery of some of the property and eventually led to the identification of the accused on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. The accused was arrested , charged and transported to the Wicomico County Detention Center Central Booking Unit. The accused is also being detained on two outstanding Circuit Court Warrants.

Osama Bin Laden’s Son Wants To Work For UN

In an interview with the New Statesman, the fourth eldest son of the world’s most wanted man said that he “passionately wants to try to stop violence”.


Asked whether he plans to enter politics or public life, Mr bin Laden said: “I do not believe that I would be a good politician – I have a habit of speaking the truth, even when it does not serve me well. But I would like to be in a position to promote peace. I believe that the United Nations would be ideal for me.”


He said he ended contact with his father in April 2001 but that he was once asked to take up arms at a meeting with his fighters.


Read entire article

Pemberton Historical Park To Host Turkey Trek 5K Run

(Salisbury, MD) Put the turkey in the oven this Thanksgiving and begin the holiday season at Pemberton Historical Park for their 1st Annual Turkey Trek 5K Run. This race will be held on Thursday, November 26 at 9:00AM. The course will run through Pemberton’s beautiful nature trails. Participants will receive a t-shirt, snacks before the race and pie, ice cream and cider after the race to celebrate the holiday. Winners in the overall men’s and women’s categories will receive treats for their Thanksgiving feasts, including a turkey! Proceeds will benefit Pemberton’s Environmental Education Programs.

Early registration is $20; day-of registration is $25. To register, please visit www.wicomicorecandparks.org, click on the “active” link and search for the Turkey Trek. For more information or to volunteer, contact Kerri Liming at (410)860-2447 or pembertonpark@wicomicocounty.org.

INDOOR YARD & CRAFT SALE

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2009

7:00 A.M. UNTIL 1:00 P.M.

Sponsored by
SALISBURY MARYLAND KENNEL CLUB


31663 WINTERPLACE PARKWAY AT NEW TRAINING CENTER

Setup will be allowed Friday night between 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.

$15.00 FOR 6’ X 12’ SPACE

OR

$25.00 FOR 12’ X 12’ SPACE

BRING YOUR OWN TABLE

*** RESERVE NOW***

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 410-430-6113

Or Mail your check to:

SMKC - P.O. BOX 1881 - SALISBURY, MD 21802

Kratovil Votes To Protect Seniors’ Access To Their Doctors

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Frank Kratovil voted to preserve seniors’ access to their doctors by fixing the way Medicare pays physicians. Kratovil joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues in passing H.R. 3961, The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act. This bill prevents a 21% cut in Medicare physician payment rates scheduled for January 2010. Instead of temporarily overriding the cut, H.R. 3961 replaces what is known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula with a permanent, sustainable solution.

“Seniors should not have to worry about keeping the doctors they like or having reliable access to the primary care they need because of a flaw in the Medicare system,” said Rep. Kratovil. “This bill fixes the unreliable reimbursement system that would otherwise cut doctor pay and prevent them from caring for Medicare recipients.

HR 3961 is supported by a wide range of organizations representing patients, doctors and other providers, including the American Medical Association, AARP, the Military Officers Association of America, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the Medicare Rights Center, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

“We need to recruit and retain qualified physicians to practice here in Maryland so that everyone has access to the quality care that they need. If this fix isn’t made, then our failure would be felt particularly hard in rural areas like the Eastern Shore where reimbursement rates are already disproportionately low. This bill will ensure Doctors are paid what they deserve for providing quality health care for Maryland’s seniors,” said Kratovil.

Rep. Kratovil was pleased that the House of Representatives expressed a commitment to reduce the deficit with this bill by attaching statutory “pay-as-you-go,” or PAYGO, legislation before sending it to the Senate. Rep. Kratovil is a strong supporter of fiscally responsible PAYGO legislation, which played a key role in producing the budget surpluses of the 1990’s before the legislation expired in 2002.

Permanent physician payment reform

§ Preserves seniors’ access to their doctors with a guaranteed update in 2010. Replaces the pending 21 percent fee cut with an update for 2010 based on the Medicare economic index while a new payment system is being put in place.

§ Fairer growth targets to keep doctors’ pay steady. Wipes away accumulated deficits from current spending targets to provide for a fresh start, but still holds physicians accountable for spending growth. Excludes items not paid under the Medicare physician fee schedule such as chemotherapy drugs and laboratory services from revised growth targets.

§ Promotes primary care that can keep you healthier longer. Provides an extra growth allowance for primary care services to promote access to primary care practitioners in Medicare and throughout the health care system.

§ Encourages integrated care so your doctors communicate on your care. Encourages the formation of Accountable Care Organizations which incentivize physicians to take responsibility for improving quality and reducing costs. Accountable Care Organizations may “opt out” of the national spending targets and establish their own organization-specific targets.

A Comment Worthy Of A Post

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "American's For Prosperity Meeting TONIGHT!":

752 , you are so right!

I heard those afp people are single with no children and I'm sure all they care about is money. I'm sure they are getting a big fat check from the insurance industry and they are probably paid thousands and thousands by the evil wealthy Republicans to create dissent among unsuspecting democrats who only want what is good for all of the people.

And we Democrats only love children. We will spend any amount of money to save a childs life, just so long as it's not a fetus. If that fetus is still in the womb at ANY age, we democrats will sell that medical waste for a buck to fund welfare in a school board minute!

I also heard that all Republicans want to destroy the county school system by asking that the board of education trim some fat, like a multi-million dollar travel budget thereby saving jobs all across the county.

Those Republicans HATE ALL children and the school system as well.

We democrats only want what is best for you and your children. They really do belong to all of us, wouldn't you agree?

Dem Conyers: "I'm Getting Tired Of Saving Obama's Can"


Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) says Obama is "bowing down" to Republicans. He said he is "getting tired of saving Obama's can in the White House."


GO HERE to see the video.

Ticking Time Bomb

ACTION ALERT

If this Saturday’s (Nov. 19) senate vote passes, it may be virtually impossible to stop a government takeover of health care. If you’re represented by Democratic senators, please tell them to vote NO on the Saturday vote. (202-224-3121).



Psalm 109:8

We were in slow-moving traffic the other day and the car in front of us had an Obama bumper sticker on it.

It read: "Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8".

My husband's Bible was lying on the dash board & he got it & opened it up to the scripture & read it.

He started laughing & laughing.
Then he read it to me.
I couldn't believe what it said.
I had a good laugh, too.



Psalm 109:8
"Let his days be few; and let another take office."