Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Friday, May 22, 2009

Mark Keidel from Carroll County promoted to chief operating officer of 1st Mariner Bank


1st Mariner Bank Promotes Executives as It Prepares for Future Growth

Company Release - 05/20/2009 12:00

On Wednesday May 20, 2009, 12:00 pm EDT

Mark A. Keidel is named director and chief operating officer of 1st Mariner Bank, Paul B. Susie is appointed chief financial officer and Robert P. Warr is promoted to chief risk officer and executive vice president

BALTIMORE, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 1st Mariner Bank (Nasdaq:
FMAR - News) today promoted Mark A. Keidel to chief operating officer of the bank and holding company, and Robert P. Warr to chief risk officer and executive vice president. 1st Mariner also announced that Paul B. Susie will be appointed to the position of Chief Financial Officer.

As chief operating officer, Keidel will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the bank and the holding company, 1st Mariner Bancorp, which has $1.377 billion in assets and employs 700 people. He also will become a director of both entities. Most recently, Keidel was 1st Mariner's chief financial officer.

As chief risk officer, a newly created position at the bank, Warr will be responsible for the quality and profitability of the bank's loan portfolio. He will oversee the credit function, legal department, construction administration and the bank's appraisal subsidiary. Most recently, Warr was senior vice president of commercial lending.

As chief financial officer, Susie succeeds Keidel and will be responsible for supervising the bank's general accounting, purchasing and regulatory accounting functions.

The promotions are effective immediately, said Edwin F. Hale Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive of 1st Mariner Bancorp.

"Mark and Bob are extraordinarily talented and dedicated individuals who have demonstrated remarkable skill during these past two difficult years," Hale said. "Paul is an excellent addition to our executive management team, bringing fresh perspective and solid business experience. They have each proven to be strong leaders and adept decision makers and will be an integral part of 1st Mariner Bank as we work to improve profitability and seize upon the many opportunities we see in the market."

Keidel replaces Joseph A. Cicero, 65, who retires May 22nd. Cicero, who was chief operating officer and president of 1st Mariner Bancorp, will continue to work with the bank on a consulting basis through the end of the year. He is a 14-year 1st Mariner Bank veteran and a 38-year veteran of the banking industry.

"Joe has made a significant contribution to the development of 1st Mariner," Hale said. "His efforts and leadership have been invaluable."

Keidel joined 1st Mariner in June 2000 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Prior to that he was chief financial officer at Mason-Dixon Bancshares, Inc., in Westminster, Maryland, controller at Carroll County Bank & Trust, and managerial accounting officer at First National Bank of Maryland. A graduate of Frostburg State University, Keidel received his Certified Public Accounting credentials in 1991, and attended the Bank Administration Institute Financial School the same year.

Warr joined 1st Mariner in April 1997 as senior vice president in commercial lending. Prior to coming to 1st Mariner, Warr was senior vice president for real estate lending at the Bank of Baltimore where he managed the commercial loan workout program. He began his commercial banking career at Union Trust Company where he originated and serviced income property loans in Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and Maryland. Warr received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Baltimore.

Susie is new to the 1st Mariner organization. He began his career with Coopers and Lybrand (now PriceWaterHouseCoopers) and has held senior financial positions with Baltimore Marine Industries, Earthshell Corporation and Celsion Corporation. A graduate of the University of Baltimore, he has over 18 years of experience in both public and corporate accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Hale also announced that in addition to the individuals listed above, the Executive Management of the bank will include George H. Mantakos, Dennis E. Finnegan, Edward "Ned" Perry, and Kenneth C. Jones. George Mantakos will continue to serve as the bank's Chief Lending Officer. Dennis Finnegan will continue to serve as the director of retail banking, as well as overseeing the company's human resource, deposit operations, and information technology functions. Ned Perry will continue to serve as President of 1st Mariner Mortgage, and Ken Jones will continue to serve as Senior Vice President leading the bank's facilities administration.

Hale concluded, "I am confident that our executive management group has the right mix of experience, technical skills, and energy to lead 1st Mariner Bank through these difficult times. In spite of the challenges in the current market today, I am optimistic about 1st Mariner's future and this group's ability to tackle current challenges while preparing the company for future opportunities."

ABOUT 1st MARINER BANK

1st Mariner Bancorp is a bank holding company with total assets of $1.377 billion. Its wholly owned banking subsidiary, 1st Mariner Bank, (total assets $1.265 billion) operates 25 full service bank branches in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Howard, Talbot, and Carroll counties in Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. 1st Mariner Mortgage, a division of 1st Mariner Bank, operates retail offices in Central Maryland, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and Massachusetts. 1st Mariner Mortgage also operates direct marketing mortgage operations in Baltimore City. Mariner Finance, LLC (total assets $101 million) is a consumer finance subsidiary that currently operates branches in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, and Tennessee. 1st Mariner Bancorp's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "FMAR." 1st Mariner's Web site address is
www.1stMarinerBancorp.com, which includes comprehensive level investor information.


20090520 sdosm Mark Keidel from Carroll County promoted

Carroll Nonprofit Center Yard Sale to support Get Connected Family Resource Center


Carroll Nonprofit Center Yard Sale to support Get Connected Family Resource Center

Carroll Nonprofit Center

Date: May 30th, 2009

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: 255 Clifton Blvd. Westminster, MD

$15.00 per space (Space size is 2 parking spaces wide)

Rain date: June 6, 2009 - 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

To reserve a space and for additional information contact:

Karen Koenigsberg at the Get Connected Family Resource Center 410-871-0008

Yard Sale Sponsored by the Get Connected Family Resource Center.

This has been approved by HR.


20090522 sdosm notice for Yard sale public

Fire Marshals And Troopers Investigate Death And Fire In Carroll County

Fire Marshals And Troopers Investigate Death And Fire In Carroll County

NEWS RELEASE
DEPARTMENT OF
MARYLAND STATE POLICE
HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208
(410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677
Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2009

FIRE MARSHALS AND TROOPERS INVESTIGATE DEATH AND FIRE IN CARROLL COUNTY

(Hampstead, MD) – Deputy state fire marshals and state troopers are investigating the death of a man whose body was found inside a burning truck on a Carroll County church parking lot early this morning.

The victim is described as a white male, possibly 35-45 years of age. The name of the individual is not being released at this time. Although a possible identity is known, a positive identification of the body has not been made.

At about 4:15 a.m. today, a 9-1-1 call was received from a near-by resident who reported a fire on the parking lot of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, in the 1600-block of Cape Horn Road, Hampstead, Md. Units from the Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze that had engulfed a 2006 diesel Ford utility pickup truck with a crew cab. Fire personnel found the victim deceased in the back seat of the truck and notified law enforcement authorities.

Deputies and a K-9 team from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and troopers from the Westminster Barracks responded to the scene. Investigators from the Westminster Barracks Criminal Investigation Section, the State Police Homicide Unit, and crime scene technicians from the State Police Forensic Sciences Division also responded to assist with the investigation.

The victim’s cause of death is not known at this time. His body was taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy. There were no immediately obvious signs of trauma on the body, other than what are consistent with burn injuries.

The truck was destroyed in the fire. A cause of the fire has not been determined at this time and remains under investigation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
The truck was owned by Sunrise Safety Services of Glen Burnie, Md. The company is one of the contractors working on the Hampstead Bypass.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who may have been driving on Cape Horn Road between the hours of 9:30 p.m. yesterday and 4:15 a.m. today, is urged to contact Maryland State Police at the Westminster Barracks. Investigators can be reached at 410-386-3000.

CONTACT: Greg Shipley Joe Zurolo Office of Media Communications Office of the State Fire Marshal 410-996-2790 410-653-4236

Sdosm 20090522
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

FOXNews.com: Text of President Obama's Speech on National Security


These are extraordinary times for our country. We are confronting an historic economic crisis. We are fighting two wars. We face a range of challenges that will define the way that Americans will live in the 21st century. There is no shortage of work to be done, or responsibilities to bear.

And we have begun to make progress. Just this week, we have taken steps to protect American consumers and homeowners, and to reform our system of government contracting so that we better protect our people while spending our money more wisely. The engines of our economy are slowly beginning to turn, and we are working toward historic reform of health care and energy. I welcome the hard work that has been done by the Congress on these and other issues.

In the midst of all these challenges, however, my single most important responsibility as President is to keep the American people safe. That is the first thing that I think about when I wake up in the morning. It is the last thing that I think about when I go to sleep at night.

This responsibility is only magnified in an era when an extremist ideology threatens our people, and technology gives a handful of terrorists the potential to do us great harm. We are less than eight years removed from the deadliest attack on American soil in our history. We know that al Qaeda is actively planning to attack us again. We know that this threat will be with us for a long time, and that we must use all elements of our power to defeat it.

Already, we have taken several steps to achieve that goal. For the first time since 2002, we are providing the necessary resources and strategic direction to take the fight to the extremists who attacked us on 9/11 in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are investing in the 21st century military and intelligence capabilities that will allow us to stay one step ahead of a nimble enemy. We have re-energized a global non-proliferation regime to deny the world's most dangerous people access to the world's deadliest weapons, and launched an effort to secure all loose nuclear materials within four years. We are better protecting our border, and increasing our preparedness for any future attack or natural disaster. We are building new partnerships around the world to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates. And we have renewed American diplomacy so that we once again have the strength and standing to truly lead the world.

These steps are all critical to keeping America secure. But I believe with every fiber of my being that in the long run we also cannot keep this country safe unless we enlist the power of our most fundamental values. The documents that we hold in this very hall - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights -are not simply words written into aging parchment. They are the foundation of liberty and justice in this country, and a light that shines for all who seek freedom, fairness, equality and dignity in the world.

I stand here today as someone whose own life was made possible by these documents. My father came to our shores in search of the promise that they offered. My mother made me rise before dawn to learn of their truth when I lived as a child in a foreign land. My own American journey was paved by generations of citizens who gave meaning to those simple words - "to form a more perfect union." I have studied the Constitution as a student; I have taught it as a teacher; I have been bound by it as a lawyer and legislator. I took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief, and as a citizen, I know that we must never - ever - turn our back on its enduring principles for expedience sake.

I make this claim not simply as a matter of idealism. We uphold our most cherished values not only because doing so is right, but because it strengthens our country and keeps us safe. Time and again, our values have been our best national security asset - in war and peace; in times of ease and in eras of upheaval.

Fidelity to our values is the reason why the United States of America grew from a small string of colonies under the writ of an empire to the strongest nation in the world.

It is the reason why enemy soldiers have surrendered to us in battle, knowing they'd receive better treatment from America's armed forces than from their own government.

It is the reason why America has benefited from strong alliances that amplified our power, and drawn a sharp and moral contrast with our adversaries.

It is the reason why we've been able to overpower the iron fist of fascism, outlast the iron curtain of communism, and enlist free nations and free people everywhere in common cause and common effort.

From Europe to the Pacific, we have been a nation that has shut down torture chambers and replaced tyranny with the rule of law. That is who we are. And where terrorists offer only the injustice of disorder and destruction, America must demonstrate that our values and institutions are more resilient than a hateful ideology.

After 9/11, we knew that we had entered a new era - that enemies who did not abide by any law of war would present new challenges to our application of the law; that our government would need new tools to protect the American people, and that these tools would have to allow us to prevent attacks instead of simply prosecuting those who try to carry them out.

Unfortunately, faced with an uncertain threat, our government made a series of hasty decisions. And I believe that those decisions were motivated by a sincere desire to protect the American people. But I also believe that - too often - our government made decisions based upon fear rather than foresight, and all too often trimmed facts and evidence to fit ideological predispositions. Instead of strategically applying our power and our principles, we too often set those principles aside as luxuries that we could no longer afford. And in this season of fear, too many of us - Democrats and Republicans; politicians, journalists and citizens - fell silent.

In other words, we went off course. And this is not my assessment alone. It was an assessment that was shared by the American people, who nominated candidates for President from both major parties who, despite our many differences, called for a new approach - one that rejected torture, and recognized the imperative of closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Now let me be clear: we are indeed at war with al Qaeda and its affiliates. We do need to update our institutions to deal with this threat. But we must do so with an abiding confidence in the rule of law and due process; in checks and balances and accountability. For reasons that I will explain, the decisions that were made over the last eight years established an ad hoc legal approach for fighting terrorism that was neither effective nor sustainable - a framework that failed to rely on our legal traditions and time-tested institutions; that failed to use our values as a compass. And that is why I took several steps upon taking office to better protect the American people.

First, I banned the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques by the United States of America.

I know some have argued that brutal methods like water-boarding were necessary to keep us safe. I could not disagree more. As Commander-in-Chief, I see the intelligence, I bear responsibility for keeping this country safe, and I reject the assertion that these are the most effective means of interrogation. What's more, they undermine the rule of law. They alienate us in the world. They serve as a recruitment tool for terrorists, and increase the will of our enemies to fight us, while decreasing the will of others to work with America. They risk the lives of our troops by making it less likely that others will surrender to them in battle, and more likely that Americans will be mistreated if they are captured. In short, they did not advance our war and counter-terrorism efforts - they undermined them, and that is why I ended them once and for all.

The arguments against these techniques did not originate from my Administration. As Senator McCain once said, torture "serves as a great propaganda tool for those who recruit people to fight against us." And even under President Bush, there was recognition among members of his Administration - including a Secretary of State, other senior officials, and many in the military and intelligence community - that those who argued for these tactics were on the wrong side of the debate, and the wrong side of history. We must leave these methods where they belong - in the past. They are not who we are. They are not America.

The second decision that I made was to order the closing of the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.

For over seven years, we have detained hundreds of people at Guantanamo. During that time, the system of Military Commissions at Guantanamo succeeded in convicting a grand total of three suspected terrorists. Let me repeat that: three convictions in over seven years. Instead of bringing terrorists to justice, efforts at prosecution met setbacks, cases lingered on, and in 2006 the Supreme Court invalidated the entire system. Meanwhile, over five hundred and twenty-five detainees were released from Guantanamo under the Bush Administration. Let me repeat that: two-thirds of the detainees were released before I took office and ordered the closure of Guantanamo.

There is also no question that Guantanamo set back the moral authority that is America's strongest currency in the world. Instead of building a durable framework for the struggle against al Qaeda that drew upon our deeply held values and traditions, our government was defending positions that undermined the rule of law. Indeed, part of the rationale for establishing Guantanamo in the first place was the misplaced notion that a prison there would be beyond the law - a proposition that the Supreme Court soundly rejected. Meanwhile, instead of serving as a tool to counter-terrorism, Guantanamo became a symbol that helped al Qaeda recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantanamo likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.

So the record is clear: rather than keep us safer, the prison at Guantanamo has weakened American national security. It is a rallying cry for our enemies. It sets back the willingness of our allies to work with us in fighting an enemy that operates in scores of countries. By any measure, the costs of keeping it open far exceed the complications involved in closing it. That is why I argued that it should be closed throughout my campaign. And that is why I ordered it closed within one year.

The third decision that I made was to order a review of all the pending cases at Guantanamo.

I knew when I ordered Guantanamo closed that it would be difficult and complex. There are 240 people there who have now spent years in legal limbo. In dealing with this situation, we do not have the luxury of starting from scratch. We are cleaning up something that is - quite simply - a mess; a misguided experiment that has left in its wake a flood of legal challenges that my Administration is forced to deal with on a constant basis, and that consumes the time of government officials whose time should be spent on better protecting our country.

Indeed, the legal challenges that have sparked so much debate in recent weeks in Washington would be taking place whether or not I decided to close Guantanamo. For example, the court order to release seventeen Uighur detainees took place last fall - when George Bush was President. The Supreme Court that invalidated the system of prosecution at Guantanamo in 2006 was overwhelmingly appointed by Republican Presidents. In other words, the problem of what to do with Guantanamo detainees was not caused by my decision to close the facility; the problem exists because of the decision to open Guantanamo in the first place.

There are no neat or easy answers here. But I can tell you that the wrong answer is to pretend like this problem will go away if we maintain an unsustainable status quo. As President, I refuse to allow this problem to fester. Our security interests won't permit it. Our courts won't allow it. And neither should our conscience.

Now, over the last several weeks, we have seen a return of the politicization of these issues that have characterized the last several years. I understand that these problems arouse passions and concerns. They should. We are confronting some of the most complicated questions that a democracy can face. But I have no interest in spending our time re-litigating the policies of the last eight years. I want to solve these problems, and I want to solve them together as Americans.

And we will be ill-served by some of the fear-mongering that emerges whenever we discuss this issue. Listening to the recent debate, I've heard words that are calculated to scare people rather than educate them; words that have more to do with politics than protecting our country. So I want to take this opportunity to lay out what we are doing, and how we intend to resolve these outstanding issues. I will explain how each action that we are taking will help build a framework that protects both the American people and the values that we hold dear. And I will focus on two broad areas: first, issues relating to Guantanamo and our detention policy; second, issues relating to security and transparency.

Let me begin by disposing of one argument as plainly as I can: we are not going to release anyone if it would endanger our national security, nor will we release detainees within the United States who endanger the American people. Where demanded by justice and national security, we will seek to transfer some detainees to the same type of facilities in which we hold all manner of dangerous and violent criminals within our borders - highly secure prisons that ensure the public safety. As we make these decisions, bear in mind the following fact: nobody has ever escaped from one of our federal "supermax" prisons, which hold hundreds of convicted terrorists. As Senator Lindsey Graham said: "The idea that we cannot find a place to securely house 250-plus detainees within the United States is not rational."

We are currently in the process of reviewing each of the detainee cases at Guantanamo to determine the appropriate policy for dealing with them. As we do so, we are acutely aware that under the last Administration, detainees were released only to return to the battlefield. That is why we are doing away with the poorly planned, haphazard approach that let those detainees go in the past. Instead, we are treating these cases with the care and attention that the law requires and our security demands. Going forward, these cases will fall into five distinct categories.

First, when feasible, we will try those who have violated American criminal laws in federal courts - courts provided for by the United States Constitution. Some have derided our federal courts as incapable of handling the trials of terrorists. They are wrong. Our courts and juries of our citizens are tough enough to convict terrorists, and the record makes that clear. Ramzi Yousef tried to blow up the World Trade Center - he was convicted in our courts, and is serving a life sentence in U.S. prison. Zaccarias Moussaoui has been identified as the 20th 9/11 hijacker - he was convicted in our courts, and he too is serving a life sentence in prison. If we can try those terrorists in our courts and hold them in our prisons, then we can do the same with detainees from Guantanamo.

Recently, we prosecuted and received a guilty plea from a detainee - al-Marri - in federal court after years of legal confusion. We are preparing to transfer another detainee to the Southern District of New York, where he will face trial on charges related to the 1998 bombings of our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania - bombings that killed over 200 people. Preventing this detainee from coming to our shores would prevent his trial and conviction. And after over a decade, it is time to finally see that justice is served, and that is what we intend to do.

The second category of cases involves detainees who violate the laws of war and are best tried through Military Commissions. Military commissions have a history in the United States dating back to George Washington and the Revolutionary War. They are an appropriate venue for trying detainees for violations of the laws of war. They allow for the protection of sensitive sources and methods of intelligence-gathering; for the safety and security of participants; and for the presentation of evidence gathered from the battlefield that cannot be effectively presented in federal Courts.

Now, some have suggested that this represents a reversal on my part. They are wrong. In 2006, I did strongly oppose legislation proposed by the Bush Administration and passed by the Congress because it failed to establish a legitimate legal framework, with the kind of meaningful due process and rights for the accused that could stand up on appeal. I did, however, support the use of military commissions to try detainees, provided there were several reforms. And those are the reforms that we are making.

Instead of using the flawed Commissions of the last seven years, my Administration is bringing our Commissions in line with the rule of law. The rule will no longer permit us to use as evidence statements that have been obtained using cruel, inhuman, or degrading interrogation methods. We will no longer place the burden to prove that hearsay is unreliable on the opponent of the hearsay. And we will give detainees greater latitude in selecting their own counsel, and more protections if they refuse to testify. These reforms - among others - will make our Military Commissions a more credible and effective means of administering justice, and I will work with Congress and legal authorities across the political spectrum on legislation to ensure that these Commissions are fair, legitimate, and effective.

The third category of detainees includes those who we have been ordered released by the courts. Let me repeat what I said earlier: this has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to close Guantanamo. It has to do with the rule of law. The courts have found that there is no legitimate reason to hold twenty-one of the people currently held at Guantanamo. Twenty of these findings took place before I came into office. The United States is a nation of laws, and we must abide by these rulings.

The fourth category of cases involves detainees who we have determined can be transferred safely to another country. So far, our review team has approved fifty detainees for transfer. And my Administration is in ongoing discussions with a number of other countries about the transfer of detainees to their soil for detention and rehabilitation.

Finally, there remains the question of detainees at Guantanamo who cannot be prosecuted yet who pose a clear danger to the American people.

I want to be honest: this is the toughest issue we will face. We are going to exhaust every avenue that we have to prosecute those at Guantanamo who pose a danger to our country. But even when this process is complete, there may be a number of people who cannot be prosecuted for past crimes, but who nonetheless pose a threat to the security of the United States. Examples of that threat include people who have received extensive explosives training at al Qaeda training camps, commanded Taliban troops in battle, expressed their allegiance to Osama bin Laden, or otherwise made it clear that they want to kill Americans. These are people who, in effect, remain at war with the United States.

As I said, I am not going to release individuals who endanger the American people. Al Qaeda terrorists and their affiliates are at war with the United States, and those that we capture - like other prisoners of war - must be prevented from attacking us again. However, we must recognize that these detention policies cannot be unbounded. That is why my Administration has begun to reshape these standards to ensure they are in line with the rule of law. We must have clear, defensible and lawful standards for those who fall in this category. We must have fair procedures so that we don't make mistakes. We must have a thorough process of periodic review, so that any prolonged detention is carefully evaluated and justified.

I know that creating such a system poses unique challenges. Other countries have grappled with this question, and so must we. But I want to be very clear that our goal is to construct a legitimate legal framework for Guantanamo detainees - not to avoid one. In our constitutional system, prolonged detention should not be the decision of any one man. If and when we determine that the United States must hold individuals to keep them from carrying out an act of war, we will do so within a system that involves judicial and congressional oversight. And so going forward, my Administration will work with Congress to develop an appropriate legal regime so that our efforts are consistent with our values and our Constitution.

As our efforts to close Guantanamo move forward, I know that the politics in Congress will be difficult. These issues are fodder for 30-second commercials and direct mail pieces that are designed to frighten. I get it. But if we continue to make decisions from within a climate of fear, we will make more mistakes. And if we refuse to deal with these issues today, then I guarantee you that they will be an albatross around our efforts to combat terrorism in the future. I have confidence that the American people are more interested in doing what is right to protect this country than in political posturing. I am not the only person in this city who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution - so did each and every member of Congress. Together we have a responsibility to enlist our values in the effort to secure our people, and to leave behind the legacy that makes it easier for future Presidents to keep this country safe.

The second set of issues that I want to discuss relates to security and transparency.

National security requires a delicate balance. Our democracy depends upon transparency, but some information must be protected from public disclosure for the sake of our security - for instance, the movements of our troops; our intelligence-gathering; or the information we have about a terrorist organization and its affiliates. In these and other cases, lives are at stake.

Several weeks ago, as part of an ongoing court case, I released memos issued by the previous Administration's Office of Legal Counsel. I did not do this because I disagreed with the enhanced interrogation techniques that those memos authorized, or because I reject their legal rationale - although I do on both counts. I released the memos because the existence of that approach to interrogation was already widely known, the Bush Administration had acknowledged its existence, and I had already banned those methods. The argument that somehow by releasing those memos, we are providing terrorists with information about how they will be interrogated is unfounded - we will not be interrogating terrorists using that approach, because that approach is now prohibited.

In short, I released these memos because there was no overriding reason to protect them. And the ensuing debate has helped the American people better understand how these interrogation methods came to be authorized and used.

On the other hand, I recently opposed the release of certain photographs that were taken of detainees by U.S. personnel between 2002 and 2004. Individuals who violated standards of behavior in these photos have been investigated and held accountable. There is no debate as to whether what is reflected in those photos is wrong, and nothing has been concealed to absolve perpetrators of crimes. However, it was my judgment - informed by my national security team - that releasing these photos would inflame anti-American opinion, and allow our enemies to paint U.S. troops with a broad, damning and inaccurate brush, endangering them in theaters of war.

In short, there is a clear and compelling reason to not release these particular photos. There are nearly 200,000 Americans who are serving in harm's way, and I have a solemn responsibility for their safety as Commander-in-Chief. Nothing would be gained by the release of these photos that matters more than the lives of our young men and women serving in harm's way.

In each of these cases, I had to strike the right balance between transparency and national security. This balance brings with it a precious responsibility. And there is no doubt that the American people have seen this balance tested. In the images from Abu Ghraib and the brutal interrogation techniques made public long before I was President, the American people learned of actions taken in their name that bear no resemblance to the ideals that generations of Americans have fought for. And whether it was the run-up to the Iraq War or the revelation of secret programs, Americans often felt like part of the story had been unnecessarily withheld from them. That causes suspicion to build up. That leads to a thirst for accountability.

I ran for President promising transparency, and I meant what I said. That is why, whenever possible, we will make information available to the American people so that they can make informed judgments and hold us accountable. But I have never argued - and never will - that our most sensitive national security matters should be an open book. I will never abandon - and I will vigorously defend - the necessity of classification to defend our troops at war; to protect sources and methods; and to safeguard confidential actions that keep the American people safe. And so, whenever we cannot release certain information to the public for valid national security reasons, I will insist that there is oversight of my actions - by Congress or by the courts.

We are launching a review of current policies by all of those agencies responsible for the classification of documents to determine where reforms are possible, and to assure that the other branches of government will be in a position to review executive branch decisions on these matters. Because in our system of checks and balances, someone must always watch over the watchers - especially when it comes to sensitive information.

Along those same lines, my Administration is also confronting challenges to what is known as the "State Secrets" privilege. This is a doctrine that allows the government to challenge legal cases involving secret programs. It has been used by many past Presidents - Republican and Democrat - for many decades. And while this principle is absolutely necessary to protect national security, I am concerned that it has been over-used. We must not protect information merely because it reveals the violation of a law or embarrasses the government. That is why my Administration is nearing completion of a thorough review of this practice.

We plan to embrace several principles for reform. We will apply a stricter legal test to material that can be protected under the State Secrets privilege. We will not assert the privilege in court without first following a formal process, including review by a Justice Department committee and the personal approval of the Attorney General. Finally, each year we will voluntarily report to Congress when we have invoked the privilege and why, because there must be proper oversight of our actions.

On all of these matter related to the disclosure of sensitive information, I wish I could say that there is a simple formula. But there is not. These are tough calls involving competing concerns, and they require a surgical approach. But the common thread that runs through all of my decisions is simple: we will safeguard what we must to protect the American people, but we will also ensure the accountability and oversight that is the hallmark of our constitutional system. I will never hide the truth because it is uncomfortable. I will deal with Congress and the courts as co-equal branches of government. I will tell the American people what I know and don't know, and when I release something publicly or keep something secret, I will tell you why.

In all of the areas that I have discussed today, the policies that I have proposed represent a new direction from the last eight years. To protect the American people and our values, we have banned enhanced interrogation techniques. We are closing the prison at Guantanamo. We are reforming Military Commissions, and we will pursue a new legal regime to detain terrorists. We are declassifying more information and embracing more oversight of our actions, and narrowing our use of the State Secrets privilege. These are dramatic changes that will put our approach to national security on a surer, safer and more sustainable footing, and their implementation will take time.

There is a core principle that we will apply to all of our actions: even as we clean up the mess at Guantanamo, we will constantly re-evaluate our approach, subject our decisions to review from the other branches of government, and seek the strongest and most sustainable legal framework for addressing these issues in the long-term. By doing that, we can leave behind a legacy that outlasts my Administration, and that endures for the next President and the President after that; a legacy that protects the American people, and enjoys broad legitimacy at home and abroad.

That is what I mean when I say that we need to focus on the future. I recognize that many still have a strong desire to focus on the past. When it comes to the actions of the last eight years, some Americans are angry; others want to re-fight debates that have been settled, most clearly at the ballot box in November. And I know that these debates lead directly to a call for a fuller accounting, perhaps through an Independent Commission.

I have opposed the creation of such a Commission because I believe that our existing democratic institutions are strong enough to deliver accountability. The Congress can review abuses of our values, and there are ongoing inquiries by the Congress into matters like enhanced interrogation techniques. The Department of Justice and our courts can work through and punish any violations of our laws.

I understand that it is no secret that there is a tendency in Washington to spend our time pointing fingers at one another. And our media culture feeds the impulses that lead to a good fight. Nothing will contribute more to that than an extended re-litigation of the last eight years. Already, we have seen how that kind of effort only leads those in Washington to different sides laying blame, and can distract us from focusing our time, our effort, and our politics on the challenges of the future.

We see that, above all, in how the recent debate has been obscured by two opposite and absolutist ends. On one side of the spectrum, there are those who make little allowance for the unique challenges posed by terrorism, and who would almost never put national security over transparency. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who embrace a view that can be summarized in two words: "anything goes." Their arguments suggest that the ends of fighting terrorism can be used to justify any means, and that the President should have blanket authority to do whatever he wants - provided that it is a President with whom they agree.

Both sides may be sincere in their views, but neither side is right. The American people are not absolutist, and they don't elect us to impose a rigid ideology on our problems. They know that we need not sacrifice our security for our values, nor sacrifice our values for our security, so long as we approach difficult questions with honesty, and care, and a dose of common sense. That, after all, is the unique genius of America. That is the challenge laid down by our Constitution. That has been the source of our strength through the ages. That is what makes the United States of America different as a nation.

I can stand here today, as President of the United States, and say without exception or equivocation that we do not torture, and that we will vigorously protect our people while forging a strong and durable framework that allows us to fight terrorism while abiding by the rule of law. Make no mistake: if we fail to turn the page on the approach that was taken over the past several years, then I will not be able to say that as President. And if we cannot stand for those core values, then we are not keeping faith with the documents that are enshrined in this hall.

The Framers who drafted the Constitution could not have foreseen the challenges that have unfolded over the last two hundred and twenty two years. But our Constitution has endured through secession and civil rights - through World War and Cold War - because it provides a foundation of principles that can be applied pragmatically; it provides a compass that can help us find our way. It hasn't always been easy. We are an imperfect people. Every now and then, there are those who think that America's safety and success requires us to walk away from the sacred principles enshrined in this building. We hear such voices today. But the American people have resisted that temptation. And though we have made our share of mistakes and course corrections, we have held fast to the principles that have been the source of our strength, and a beacon to the world.

Now, this generation faces a great test in the specter of terrorism. Unlike the Civil War or World War II, we cannot count on a surrender ceremony to bring this journey to an end. Right now, in distant training camps and in crowded cities, there are people plotting to take American lives. That will be the case a year from now, five years from now, and - in all probability - ten years from now. Neither I nor anyone else can standing here today can say that there will not be another terrorist attack that takes American lives. But I can say with certainty that my Administration - along with our extraordinary troops and the patriotic men and women who defend our national security - will do everything in our power to keep the American people safe. And I do know with certainty that we can defeat al Qaeda. Because the terrorists can only succeed if they swell their ranks and alienate America from our allies, and they will never be able to do that if we stay true to who we are; if we forge tough and durable approaches to fighting terrorism that are anchored in our timeless ideals.

This must be our common purpose. I ran for President because I believe that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together. We will not be safe if we see national security as a wedge that divides America - it can and must be a cause that unites us as one people, as one nation. We have done so before in times that were more perilous than ours. We will do so once again. Thank you, God Bless you, and God bless the United States of America.


20090521 Text of President Obamas Speech on National Security
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net
Military National Security, Pres 2009 44 Obama speeches, Pres 2009 44 Obama-Barack, World Middle East Afghanistan, Military Natl Security Intel CIA, Military Global War on Terror, Military enhanced interrogation, Enhanced Interrogation qv Military, Torture qv Military enhanced,

Two recent columns in The Tentacle on Memorial Day by Kevin Dayhoff


Two recent columns in The Tentacle on Memorial Day by Kevin Dayhoff

May 20, 2009


See also: A very compelling video about our U. S. Armed Forces in harms way. http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2007/04/20070416-remember-me.html

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Pause to Remember and Honor
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Next Monday is Memorial Day. It is a day when we should come together as a community and take a break from the rancid political bickering in Washington, which passes as national leadership today, and reflect on the men and women in uniform who are serving our country in the darkest corners of the world.

Arlington National Cemetery – Firsts of the heart
Kevin E. Dayhoff
As Memorial Day approaches, it is significant to note that today, on May 13, in 1864; the first soldier was buried at Arlington House, also called the Custis-Lee Mansion. We now know the property as Arlington National Cemetery and it is now the revered final resting place of over 320,000 stories of the heart.


Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art:
www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster:
www.westgov.net

This week in The Tentacle



This week in The Tentacle

http://www.thetentacle.com/

Friday, May 22, 2009
Vice President Emeritus
Roy Meachum
A considerable portion of the American public seems curious that ex-Vice President Dick Cheney developed into the Great Defender of the recent administration. I am not. During the eight years George W. Bush sat in the Oval Office Mr. Cheney ran the nation, especially in financial and foreign affairs.

Squirreling Away – Part 2
Joan McIntyre
Yesterday I started this conversation about how elitist I believe our Frederick County Board of Education and the administration of Frederick County Public Schools have become. Today, I continue in that same vein with the hopes of stirring your emotions to do something. To put your foot down and scream “Enough is Enough.”

Decoration Day
Tom McLaughlin
Even when he was deep into his Alzheimer’s state, Dad always seemed to know when it was Memorial Day – Decoration Day, as he called it. I guess it might have been the war movies that showed constantly on the television that clued him in, or maybe he just knew.

Thursday, May 21, 2009
Squirreling Away – Part 1
Joan McIntyre
The Board of Education seems to have "found" a $4.1 million surplus from the current year. It saved so much money from conserving things such as electricity, by turning off the lights, that we now have an excess. They are having a little trouble remembering to whom the money actually belongs.

Needed: A Different Approach for Change
Chris Cavey
Rolling up to the 2010 election it seems the predominate theme within our state is a continued desire for change. Is it a philosophical change, or a broad-brushed wholesale changing of the "professional," long-term politicians, who, regardless of party, are perceived as sharing the blame for the current political and economic situation?

The Cradle of True Leadership
Farrell Keough
I enjoy a number of talk radio shows from our local ones to Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin. Of course, these national shows have a strong leaning towards conservatism. I am okay with that.

Entertaining Entertainment
Roy Meachum
Somehow entertainment became a negative word in the theatre. Maryland Ensemble Theatre could change that. "And the World Goes Round" makes a case for evenings that are entertaining, not uplifting, carrying messages or making the world a better place.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Pause to Remember and Honor
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Next Monday is Memorial Day. It is a day when we should come together as a community and take a break from the rancid political bickering in Washington, which passes as national leadership today, and reflect on the men and women in uniform who are serving our country in the darkest corners of the world.

A Review – “Design for Living"
Roy Meachum
Once upon a time, as all good stories begin, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne epitomized theatrical royalty and this was in the era when the Barrymores were the first family of the stage. Noel Coward's chief claim to that company was that he was a kind of industry jester.

Alfred Wallace and Me – Part 3
Tom McLaughlin
Kampung Santubong, Sarawak, Malaysia – Alfred Wallace’s second and most famous Law of Natural Selection “suddenly flashed upon him” (his words) in February, 1858. With the monsoon season beginning to taper off, he suffered from malaria induced fevers.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Where's Jennifer?
Roy Meachum
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and I did not agree; her political strategists said she could win the governor's race by concentrating her efforts (and expenditures) after Labor Day. She tried, and had her head handed over by Republican Bob Ehrlich.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly…
Michael Kurtianyk
A day doesn’t go by that I’m not asked: “How’s the real estate market? Any good news?” I’m here to say that we’re seeing increases in the number of properties going under contract this spring.

Monday, May 18, 2009
Death by Technology Dependence
Steven R. Berryman
How do civilizations die? How do cultures die? How do people die?

Friday, May 15, 2009
Budget Time, Bad Political Jokes
Roy Meachum
In the fat years – and we've had more than several recently – budget time takes on the tenor of holiday dinners fed by someone else. Local politicians get to say "You're welcome." A lot. Particularly to the Board of Education.

Of Opportunity and Failure
Joe Charlebois
Twelve million dollars is approximately the maximum amount of money that the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program will spend this year to allow residents of our nation’s capital to attend the schools of their choice including private and parochial schools.

Thursday, May 14, 2009
All Democrats Have to Fear is Themselves
Tony Soltero
We currently stand at what could be a watershed moment in America's political history. As has been well documented, the Republican Party is in serious disrepair nationally. It has essentially been reduced to a regional Southern party, with a few scattered pockets of influence in the Midwest and West. It's become all but extinct in the Northeast, and its reach is shrinking rapidly on the West Coast.

The FMH Good Samaritan of the Year
Michael Kurtianyk
Last Friday, my wife and I had the good fortune to attend Frederick Memorial Hospital’s Good Samaritan of the Year affair at The Lynfield Events Complex. We were worried that we’d get more rain, but I had my own contingency plan. For the last two weeks, I’d been building an ark in the back yard. Fortunately, the rains hadn’t arrived, or I’d have taken the boat off its mooring.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Arlington National Cemetery – Firsts of the heart
Kevin E. Dayhoff
As Memorial Day approaches, it is significant to note that today, on May 13, in 1864; the first soldier was buried at Arlington House, also called the Custis-Lee Mansion. We now know the property as Arlington National Cemetery and it is now the revered final resting place of over 320,000 stories of the heart.

Alfred Wallace and Me – Part Two
Tom McLaughlin
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia – The London scientific community viewed Alfred Wallace as a redneck, or, in their lingo of the day, a collector. These were people who went out to the tropics with a butterfly net or gun and brought back animals that were sold to the public.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pope's New Failures
Roy Meachum
Vatican hypocrisy couldn't be clearer than in the reaction to Notre Dame inviting Barack Obama to address this year's commencement and receive an honorary degree. This president's "mortal sin," in church critics' eyes, derives from his support of abortion rights and for embryonic stem cell research.

Advice from The Voice of Experience – Part 4
Nick Diaz
This is the conclusion of my series on buying a used motorcycle. In my 39 years in the sport of motorcycling, I’ve bought only two new motorcycles, and that was back in the early 70’s. Buying a used motorcycle is one of the most challenging, yet satisfying activities a person can engage in.

Monday, May 11, 2009
Electoral Expectations
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
A recent set of news articles out of Anne Arundel County raise the issue of voter expectations for elected officials.

Anticipating the Air Show! – 2009
Steven R. Berryman
Time to break with your hibernation from the winter blahs; stop getting upset about the politics of Democratic deconstruction and more illegal immigrants for a time. Andrews Air Force base, in nearby Prince George’s County offers the best air show in the region once a year, and it’s this coming weekend!



20090522 SDOSM This week in The Tentacle


It was a perfect day, but the interview did not go well.


It was a perfect day, but the interview did not go well.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

While I was in Princeton New Jersey recently, I found myself walking along Nassau Street across from Princeton University.

It was a beautiful spring day. It was a perfect day - - or as Vivian Laxton would say, “C'est un jour parfait à donner des sédatifs.” (http://tinyurl.com/oh72eo)

The sidewalk was packed with all sorts of interesting folks; so, I thought that I would gather some views on contemporary events from the person in the street.

Hey, these things always go well when Mike Schuh does them.

Well, my experience was not so good.

She had nothing to say.

I can’t imagine what went wrong. I talked at great length about fashion, sports, life in a college town.

I even sang to her: “Oh it’s such a perfect day, I’m glad I spent it with you. Oh such a perfect day, You just keep me hanging on, You just keep me hanging on.

“Just a perfect day, Problems all left alone, Weekenders on our own. It’s such fun.

“Just a perfect day, You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else, Someone good.”
(http://tinyurl.com/r43u7h)

In return, I got, like, nothing.

Zip. (And, I might add, it was at this point, that my wife did not know me.)

Maybe I need to get some pointers from Bryan Sears or Clifford Cumber.

Maybe I need to grow a beard like Cumber. Sears would’ve nailed it.

I did get some funny looks from some passers-by.


Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art:
www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster:
www.westgov.net

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Life and Death in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan


Life and Death in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan by Gerald Paoli Wednesday 20 May 2009

Posted for my friends who know Iraqi Kurdistan, the PKK, PJAK, the Pesmerge, and the Asaish. You know who you are... Do not comment here - send me an e-mail or a Facebook message... And be safe.

Gerald Paoli, Truthout:

"Historically, seasonal bombings have been the norm in the northernmost region of Kurdistan. Bombings became a predictable part of an annual rhythm of life. But villagers adjusted to the anticipated attacks and continued to live in the manner dictated by their traditions and customs. In December 2007, George Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan met to discuss strategies for 'dealing' with the PKK. Since then, the bombing have been more intense and regular."

Life and Death in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan Wednesday 20 May 2009 by: Gerald Paoli, t r u t h o u t Report

[…]

Sulimanaya, Iraqi Kurdistan - The first Zarawa internally displaced persons (IDP) camp was in a valley in the Qandil Mountains. It wasn't home, but it was situated next to a cool stream and was close to the eight villages of the 132 families, who had fled violence rained down on them by Turkey and Iran. Now, they live in the new Zarawa IDP camp built by the United Nation's High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

[…]

Turkey has attempted to purchase both armed and surveillance drones from Israel for use in border operations. However, Turkey's government stated on May 19, 2009, that it might cancel a 2005 contract to purchase ten drones from Israel because of delayed delivery. It's also worth noting that Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sternly criticized Israel's 22-day Operation Cast Lead assaults against Gaza, begun on December 22, 2008.

[…]

Read the entire article here: Life and Death in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan Wednesday 20 May 2009 by: Gerald Paoli, t r u t h o u t Report

20090520 sdosm Life and Death in the Qandil Mtns of Iraqi Kurdistan
http://www.truthout.org/052009A?n



Truthout Originals

Life and Death in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan
by: Gerald Paoli, t r u t h o u t Report
Cairo and Our Relationships
by: Susan Waltz, t r u t h o u t Perspective
Fratricide at Camp Liberty
by: Camillo "Mac" Bica, t r u t h o u t Perspective
Questions After Prabhakaran's "Killing"
by: J. Sri Raman, t r u t h o u t Perspective
Documents Describe Torture Photos
by: Jason Leopold, t r u t h o u t Report

Most Popular

Why the Caged Bird Sang
by: William Rivers Pitt, t r u t h o u t Columnist
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Dick Cheney, Patron Saint of Torture-Free
by: Steve Weissman, t r u t h o u t Perspective
TRUTHOUT ORIGINAL
Donald Rumsfeld: And He Shall Be Judged
by: Robert Draper, GQ
Ex-CIA Official: Agency Brass Lied to Congress About Interrogations
by: Jason Leopold, t r u t h o u t Report
TRUTHOUT ORIGINAL
Torture Continues at Guantánamo Bay
by: Jeremy Scahill, AlterNet


Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art:
www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster:
www.westgov.net

Arts On The Dock Returns To West OC by Joe Albero

"Fishing" July 23, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff
Arts On The Dock Returns To West OC by Joe Albero

Arts on the Dock is an entertainment filled evening on the docks of one of Ocean City's most scenic marinas, the Ocean City Fishing Center.

[…]

Every Thursday, June 18th - September 24th, from 4:00PM - 8:00PM…

[…]

Are you an artist, who'd like to show at Arts on the Dock? Any Questions? Call the Ocean City Fishing Center at (410) 213-1121.

Read the entire post here: Arts On The Dock Returns To West OC


20090520 SbyNews Art on the dock returns to West OC

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Arts On The Dock Returns To West OC

http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2009/05/arts-on-dock-returns-to-west-oc.html

Art Artists Culture Maryland, Art Artists Culture Ocean City, MD co Eastern Shore Delmarva, MD muni Ocean City, Sports Boating Fishing Crabbing, Dayhoff Art,

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art:
www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster:
www.westgov.net

Why Krugman Is a Thorn in (Everyone's) Side


Why Krugman Is a Thorn in Obama's Side

May 21, 2009 by Chosun Ilbo columnist Kim Ki-cheon

Newsweek magazine in a cover story entitled "Obama's Nobel Headache" describes the embarrassment to the U.S. president from a series of scathing criticism from last year's Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman. Krugman has slammed the U.S. government's bank bailout plan as paying "cash for trash." He lambasted the so-called "stress test," which gauged the financial health of major financial institutions, as coming close to fraud.

Krugman is a natural rebel…

[…]

Yet Krugman was also the scourge of the Bush administration.

[…]

Some accuse him of being "an economist who died 10 years ago," claiming he has been more interested in inflammatory politics than research ever since he began writing the New York Times column in 1999.

[…]

In an international seminar in Seoul a few days ago, Krugman once again offered a pessimistic view, saying the global economy has just emerged from intensive care. Then when will it end? A hint comes from a comment posted on his blog in the New York Times. "We will know when the economic crisis is over when we no longer see Krugman everywhere."


The entire column is a must quick read. Find it here: Why Krugman Is a Thorn in Obama's Side

By Chosun Ilbo columnist Kim Ki-cheon

englishnews@chosun.com / May 21, 2009 12:00 KST

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/05/21/2009052100905.html

20090521 Why Krugman Is a Thorn in Obama's Side


Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics by John Culleton

Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics

Culleton on Carroll - By John Culleton Posted on
www.explorecarroll.com 5/18/09

Sykesville has lost two of its best elected officials. We learned earlier that Jeannie Nichols had declined to run again for the Town Council.

Now, in a surprising development, Jonathan Herman was defeated for mayor. These two were among the most able elected officials I have had the privilege to see in action. I wish their successors well, but undoubtedly Sykesville will be poorer for their absence.

Carroll County has had a persistent and serious problem. The industrial tax base is too small. With residential values falling and hence future residential taxes to decline as well, the county will find itself in a fiscal bind.

The one bright spot in our largely unsuccessful effort to attract industrial taxpayers has been the Warfield Commerce and Cultural Center, which takes a piece of non-taxable, state-owned property and converts it to corporate campus-type facilities.

Mayor Herman was the prime mover in this project. His experience in contracting and construction gave him special skills to handle the details.

He was also well connected with the Democratic committee chairs in the General Assembly. Annapolis is a partisan town, and as a leading Democratic voice in Carroll County, Herman had access other officials lacked.

The election itself is a puzzler. Only 560 voters showed up at the polls?

The population of Sykesville in July 2007 was estimated at 4,417. The median household income was estimated at $91,467.

The vote tally was 294 for Miller, 266 for Herman.

I can only speculate that between his day job and his duties as mayor, Herman devoted insufficient time to campaign. But a turnout of 560 voters is embarrassing.

Those who run for office in towns such as Sykesville are essentially volunteers; the stipend of $200 per meeting for the mayor doesn't cover much. Even our county commissioners, who receive $45,000 per year, must have other sources of income.

All our public officials, commissioners, mayors, council members and elected members of the school board are seriously underpaid.

Volunteerism is all very well, but those salaries are ridiculous.


Read Mr. Culleton’s entire column here: Herman's loss in Sykesville is a blow to countywide economics

http://explorecarroll.com/opinion/2910/hermans-loss-sykesville-blow-countywide-economics/

For more information please see: Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle on “Soundtrack.”

Charles Schelle’s article may found here: Miller upsets Herman in Sykesville mayoral race By Charles Schelle

The election results may be found here: Sykesville, Carroll County Maryland May 5 2009 municipal election results

20090518 Hermans loss in Sykesville by John Culleton

Information release from the Sykesville Police Department

Information release from the Sykesville Police Department

May 20, 2009

In an effort to obtain current information out to the community and dispel rumors, the Sykesville Police Department is releasing the following:

On May 15th, 2009, at approximately 4:45 pm a white male operating a mustard colored vehicle attempted to speak to a young child riding his bike on Harlan Lane. It is unknown what, if anything, was said as the child ran home to inform his parents. The parents contacted the police, the area was checked but the individual was not located.

Our officers have increased patrols in the area and will maintain a visible presence. To date, no crime has been committed. However, we do take these matters seriously and are eager to identify this person. It may have been a harmless gesture or event, but we want to gather all information in an effort to identify and question this person.

I certainly appreciate the support and cooperation of the community but we still need to approach this matter will great sensitivity and caution.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

John R. Williams
Chief of Police
Sykesville Police Department
7547 Main Street
Sykesville MD 21784
(410) 795-0757
(410) 795-8864 FAX

20090520 Information release from the Sykesville Police Department

Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

Westminster Police Department Rite Aid Robbery Media Release


Westminster Police Department Rite Aid Robbery Media Release

May 19, 2009


On May 17, 2009 at approximately 2:25 p.m., Andrew Thomas Duhigg entered the Rite Aid in the 140 Village Shopping Center and requested to have a prescription refilled. After waiting approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Duhigg returned to the pharmacy counter and handed the pharmacist a note demanding a variety of scheduled medications. The pharmacist complied and gave Mr. Duhigg an undisclosed amount of scheduled medications. Mr. Duhigg then fled the store in an unknown direction. Mr. Duhigg never displayed or stated that he had a weapon.

Mr. Duhigg may be driving an Enterprise rental vehicle which is described as a 2008 Nissan Sentra 4door, dark blue in color with MD Registration 9DZD35. A warrant is on file with the Westminster Police Department charging Mr. Duhigg with Robbery, Theft over $500.00 and Second Degree Assault. Mr. Duhigg should be considered DANGEROUS.

Citizens with information on the whereabouts of Mr. Duhigg should contact the Westminster Police Department at (410) 848-4646.

24-HOUR ANONYMOUS TIPS LINE (410) 857-8477

DUHIGG, ANDREW THOMAS
W/M DOB 1/16/1981 6’00” 165
L/K/A 2804 GILLIS RD
MT AIRY, MD 21771-8918

Contact: Captain Gerry Frischkorn
Date: May 19, 2009
Administrative Bureau Commander
(410) 848-1638

WESTMINSTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
36 Locust Street, P.O. Box 300
Westminster, Maryland 21158
Phone (410) 848-4646
Fax (410) 848-4230


20090519 SDOSM Rite Aid Robbery Media Release 051909

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

Kevin Dayhoff: http://www.westgov.net/ Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Rumsfeld disputes GQ report

Rumsfeld disputes GQ report By Ben Smith

May 19, 2009 Categories:
Magazines

An aide to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Keith Urbahn, e-mails to contest a widely discussed
GQ article by Robert Draper, which suggested that Rumsfeld "appreciated" the practice of quoting Biblical quotations on the cover sheets of classified briefings, and that Rumsfeld brought the briefings to President Bush.

Urbahn e-mails that the briefings in question were not routinely sent to Rumsfeld, and that Rumsfeld considers the cover slides "harmful and counterproductive to the war effort."

Urbahn's full e-mail:


Read the rest of Mr. Smith here: Rumsfeld disputes GQ report By Ben Smith

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/Rumsfeld_disputes_GQ_report.html

20090519 Rumsfeld disputes GQ report By Ben Smith

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

Monday, May 18, 2009

Andy Cashman and Caroline Babylon at Carroll Co Ag Center event



Andy Cashman and Caroline Babylon at Carroll Co Ag Center event

May 8, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff

Andy Cashman and Caroline Babylon take a short break and catch up on business at the pig weigh-in - inside the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County Riding Arena - for the annual Carroll County 4-H FFA Fair.

After a long winter, the annual spring weigh-in is a great opportunity for families in the Carroll County ag community to catch-up and share plans for the Annual Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair.

For more information on the fair go to: http://www.carrollcountyfair.com/

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog
20090508 Annual Fair pig weigh in (21)bw Andy CB

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Jefferson Airplane - Today

Quicksilver Messenger Service What About Me


Quicksilver Messenger Service What About Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUszp9QFmq4



20090517 Quicksilver Messenger Service What About Me

Quicksilver Messenger Service - Fresh Air

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAHODyEpm2w

Donovan - Mellow Yellow


Donovan Mellow Yellow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8DgszzXOo0



Posted for Pastor Kevin Clementson of Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster, Maryland.

200900517 SDOSM Donovan Mellow Yellow

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)