April 22, 6:21 PM
“A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix was sold for …”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nayarBrD6mk
jimi hendrix plays piano and violin rare footage 1967
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Bonus video: 20070422 A Jimi Hendrix guitar...
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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
Monday, April 23, 2007
20070421 Pandering Hillary
Pandering HillaryApril 23, 2007
Captain’s Quarters has a post that caught my eye in the latest example of “Hillary will say anything” to be president.
The more we learn about the
The more we continue to learn about New York Senator Hillary Clinton, the more we learn that she is an empty, unprincipled political hack. What a shame. A little depth and integrity would go a long ways at this point if she is to ever rescue her bid to be president. That is, if her effort can be rescued.
What a world we live in when the likes of an Al Gore running for president for the Democratic ticket is starting to look like a reasonable alternative. At least he knows the ropes. Senator Barack Obama is a clueless neophyte; way out of his element and Hillary seems to have forgotten that she is actually bright and has some depth – if she could ever do something about her perceived character, integrity and the perception that she is a pandering political pariah.
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Hillary Pandering To The Pimp Culture
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/009752.php
April 21, 2007
Hillary Clinton takes two shots over her involvement in the degrading language of gangster rap. Last night, the women's basketball team at
This morning, Colbert King blasts Hillary for taking almost a million dollars from a fundraiser hosted by a man who gets rich on lyrics that would make Don Imus blush.
First, the
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton finally dropped by Rutgers to meet with the school's women's basketball coach -- but the players themselves skipped the half-hour meeting, citing their studies and Imus fatigue.
[…]
King has Hillary pegged. She can't castigate Imus for talking about women in the same language as Timbaland while taking almost a million dollars from the rapper. The fact that she tried to wheedle her way into a meeting with the target of Imus' insult while getting funding from Timbaland makes her the worst kind of hypocrite -- the kind that makes money on the practices she derides.
[…]
UPDATE: Bruce Kesler has further thoughts.
UPDATE II: Adjoran had prior thoughts at Wizbang.
Read the entire post here: Hillary Pandering To The Pimp Culture. The post has more good links and be sure to read the comments. For a refreshing change, many of the comments actually add value to the post as opposed to the usual cringe worthy drivel found in way too many comment sections…
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20070423 Westminster Council Meeting Minutes
City Council
Minutes of City Council Meetings | Agenda for next City Council Meeting
Minutes of City of
April 23, 2007
QUORUM:
A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in City Hall,
On behalf of
Council President Chiavacci read a Mayoral Proclamation declaring the week of May 6-12, 2007 as Goodwill Industries Week.
MINUTES:
Mrs. Albert moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of April 9, 2007. Mr. Pecoraro seconded and the Motion passed unanimously.
BIDS:
Mr. Glass presented staff’s recommendation that the Common Council accept a proposal from East Coast Liner Co. Inc. to replace the floating cover at the Clear Reservoir for $33,199.83. The funding source is a specific $40,000.00 line item in the current water budget. The existing cover was installed in 1989 and had a 15-20 year life expectancy. The reservoir will be removed from service for approximately two weeks during the installation. Upon Motion of Mr. Pecoraro, seconded by Mr. Utz and unanimously passed, the proposal was accepted.
REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES:
Mr. Pecoraro reported that the intersection of Green and Bond Streets would be closed for work on the West Green Street Project. He advised that the intersection would be posted in advance.
Mr. Pecoraro noted that the Growth and Annexation Committee would hold another meeting in the near future.
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS:
Mr. Walsh and Mr. Unger summarized Ordinance No. 764, which would levy municipal taxes for Fiscal Year 2008. Mr. Unger advised that the tax rate would remain the same as that for Fiscal Year 2007. Mrs. Albert moved to introduce the Ordinance. Dr. Wack seconded and the introduction was unanimously approved.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Chief Spaulding reported that a new officer would being working on April 24, 2007 and that the Department would be fully staffed. He further reported that Cadet Workman is doing well in the
Council President Chiavacci noted that he and the Chief were serving on an ad hoc committee to develop interior and exterior enhancements for the Westminster Branch of the Carroll County Public Library.
Ms. Wolf distributed materials from her recent attendance at the Maryland City/County Management Association spring meeting. She reported that the General Assembly was expected to take up a regional planning initiative in the next session. She also reported that concern exists that the State might change its formula for distributing monies for parks. Finally, Ms. Wolf noted that revenue bills had all been shelved during the last General Assembly session.
Dr. Wack complimented Officer Angela Anderson on her assistance with a matter that resulted in an emergency room visit the preceding Saturday. He requested the Chief to convey his appreciation.
Mr. Schroers reported that his department recently received two awards from the Recreation and Parks Association. Council President Chiavacci asked Mr. Schroers to congratulate his staff on behalf of the Council members.
Mr. Schroers advised that the State had fully funded the Program Open Space for the upcoming fiscal year.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
City resident Rebekah Orenstein requested that a tree be planted in memory of the husband of Administrative Assistant Marianne Sheehan, Grant, who passed away in March. Ms. Orenstein also expressed concern about a collapsed fence near her house. Ms. Wolf advised that she would look into both matters.
Council President Chiavacci adjourned the meeting at 7:32 P.M.
Laurell E. Taylor
City Clerk
20070423 Carnival of Maryland 5 will be posted later in the day
Carnival of Maryland
April 23, 2007
UPDATE on Maryland Blog Carnival
Hosted by members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance.
The
The wheel is still turning but the peripatetic gerbil that powers this blog juggled a few too many balls in the air this past weekend and has “crashed.”
If you have not had a chance to read our previous four Carnivals, please take this opportunity to review some of the best that the
Carnival of Maryland #1 - 2/25/2007 was hosted by Bruce Godfrey on “Crablaw Maryland Weekly” on February 25, 2007.
Carnival of Maryland - second edition hosted by Attila of the Pillage Idiot on March 11, 2007.
Carnival of Maryland #3 was hosted by The Ridger on “The Greenbelt” on March 26th, 2007
Carnival Of Maryland 4 hosted by
Meanwhile, if you’re a MD blogger, and you’d like to join the MBA, you can contact the Pillage Idiot’s Attlia at- pillageidiot -at- hotmail -dot- com.
Attila, pictured above with Katie Couric, wrote on March 11, 2007: “The Carnival was the brainchild of members of the
Members of the Maryland Blogger Alliance are:
Maryland Conservatarian (Baltimore)
The Baltimore Reporter (Baltimore)
The Not So Free State (Woodlawn)
Jousting for Justice (Owings Mills)
Howard County Md. Blog (Ellicott City)
The Hedgehog Report (Columbia)
Escape from Pianosa (Baltimore)
Maryland Politics Today (Laurel)
Leviathan Montgomery (Silver Spring)
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20070417 A CC grand jury has indicted six Bowling Brook employees
A
April 17, 2007 – Posted April 22, 2007
For additional information about the Bowling Brook matter please refer to:
"The high cost of twin tragedies at Bowling Brook" March 14, 2007 Westminster Eagle column
Bowling Brook Preparatory School web site
Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale The Tentacle March 13, 2007
“Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007
Ari Natter, writing for the Carroll County Times and Greg Garland, writing for the Baltimore Sun, both have articles about the Carroll County grand jury bring charges of “reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine,” (Six Bowling Brook employees indicted.)
“Those indicted, all of whom (
Neither paper uses permalinks – so if you are accessing this post at a later date and the links are dead, e-mail me at kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com and I will update the post…
Time has not been my friend this week, however, I am writing an update to the Bowling Brook matter as both articles, albeit good articles, are lacking in a few details that are critical for the reader to comprehensively understand the Bowling Brook issues. I will be building upon two previous pieces: Bowling Brook: A Sad Tale The Tentacle March 13, 2007 and “Community Rallies behind Bowling Brook” Westminster Eagle Winchester Report March 13, 2007
There continue to be too many logical flaws – too many questions - as to why the storied institution was closed…
But first, for balance – read the commentary on the web site, “Chronicles of Dissent:” “Another needless and tragic death from prone restraint” “20070324 More questions than answers persist about Bowling Brook”
Statement by
Keymar, MD - April 17, 2007 - The Office of the
Bowling Brook administrator Brian Hayden offered the following, "All Bowling Brook team members have always kept the health and welfare of our students at the forefront of our mission to challenge young men to change their behaviors and lead positive and productive lives, and these gentlemen are no exception."
Hayden added, "Hopefully, the truth will bear out through the criminal proceedings and these gentlemen will be found innocent of all charges. We remain in full support and our prayers will be with them and their families throughout the difficult time ahead."
During the past 50 years, Bowling Brook, a nonprofit organization, has achieved an exemplary record of success while serving young men.
Specifically:
79% of students earned their high school diploma while attending Bowling Brook.
In 2006, 159 (89%) of Bowling Brook students successfully graduated from our school. Of these graduates, 49% were accepted to college or technical school, 35% were employed, and 16% transitioned to community-based educational and apprenticeship programs.
In 2006, Bowling Brook students performed over 40,000 hours of
community service across
Bowling Brook closed its doors in early March of this year, but the nonprofit's board of directors and management team remain committed to continuing to fulfill the school's mission in the future. As its path into the future is developed and implemented, the school will update all of its graduates, former employees, and the enormous contingent of supportive community members on its plans.
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
20070422 Media Smackdown
Media Smackdown
April 22nd, 2007
As last week’s horrific events unfolded at Virginia Tech I became quickly exhausted with the media coverage. Yeah, like many I continued to read a few columnists but even that got tiresome and cringe worthy.
Towards the end of the week I became more interested in the commentary on the media coverage – or the criticism of the media, to be more exact.
Just when I thought it was safe to open a newspaper and not be assaulted by yet another banal out-of-context analysis of the tragedy - - along comes Michelle Jefferson’s “Gun laws aren't the answer,” in the Carroll County Times on Friday, April 20, 2007.
I’ve always been a 2nd Amendment advocate in the face of unwarranted intrusions by big government. But right now is not the time to start gazing at your navel and talking about gun control – for it or against it.
A responsible discussion on the part of today’s society as to what is the most responsible approach to the possession of a firearm is appropriate and I defend the right of those who are 2nd Amendment advocates to promote their position as much as I defend the right of those who advocate strict gun control.
But I’ve winced as the usual liberal suspects have started running off at the mouth about whether or not the tragedy would have occurred if it had not been for “this” or “that.” But the Left's drivel ad nauseum can easily be dismissed as the answer of background noise to a question the likes of which has never been determined.
However, as the week drew to a close, perhaps it was this op-ed from a conservative voice that really pushed me over the edge of disgust with the pundit’s coverage of the tragedy: Gun laws aren't the answer:
[…]
There was a moment at Virginia Tech when this kid had to reload. That would have been more than enough time for a professor to shoot back. Or if the professor who had the courage to hold the door to allow his students to escape would have had the same courage to shoot instead of holding the door, he and his students might still be alive.
[…]
You can read the rest of her column here: “Gun laws aren't the answer.”
That is – unless, you too are tired of the media pandering and coverage … Whatever.
The thought of most college professors possessing a sidearm in the classroom is something only Monte Python could do justice. Heckfire, I’m reluctant to give many liberal professors a piece of chalk much less a deadly weapon.
Why anyone would want to trivialize the tragedy at Virginia Tech by taking the opportunity to promote a political agenda is beyond comprehension.
Right now I have no time for folks who wish to ride their favorite political hobbyhorse on the back of what is otherwise an enormous human tragedy.
What we need right now is the steady glow of a prudent and human response and not a series of blinking lights.
Getting back to what initially set me off… was NBC’s sensationalization – if not romanticisation of the killer and the coverage of Fox News...
Of all the mainstream media; as much as I was flabbergasted at NBC utilizing the event to prop up their flagging ratings by sensationalizing the killer’s “multi-media manifesto” mailed to the network – I turned off Fox News quickly as the speculation, hyperbole, and sensationalization quickly reached unbearable levels.
Read: Backlash Leads to Pullback on Cho Video by AP television writer David Bauder. Or - The Media, The Killer & The Video by Washington Post Staff Writer Howard Kurtz – dated April 20th, 2007.
Also read Editor and Publisher’s take on the media coverage published on April 19th, 2007: “Flak Over Killer's Video Spilling Onto Newspaper Pages Too.”
By the time I read Michelle Jefferson’s op-ed piece in the Carroll County Times the other day – I just wanted to scream.
I turned off the salacious, hyped-up major news media coverage of the tragedy at Virginia Tech several days after the event - after I learned the identity and some of the background of the person who perpetrated the heinous crime.
I was extremely impressed to see the Virginia Tech community come together with class and dignity after the main stream media wanted to start pointing fingers and cause additional trouble by playing armchair critic of the folks who actually lived the nightmare and responded the best way they could.
When college students start defending a college president and the campus chief of police and tell the media to go away, ya know for sure, the media has crossed the line.
Read: Virginia Tech Students Return to Campus :
[…]
Students say they welcome the outpouring of support they have received, but they have grown noticeably weary of the news media. The Student Government Association asked reporters to leave by the start of classes Monday.
[…]
Students interviewed by The Associated Press on campus in recent days say they and everyone they know intends to return.
``This is the best school around,'' said Steven Mason, a senior from
Said Cheryl Gambardella, Brittany Gambardella's mother, as she helped her daughter unload the car: ``We love this school. You always have concerns, but not because it's Virginia Tech. It could happen in a shopping mall.''
Read the entire article here: Virginia Tech Students Return to Campus
The job of our nation is support the greater Virginia Tech community if help is asked for and the job of the media is to stop harassing the college students and the university.
And don’t lecture me about the rights of the free press. With those rights comes a collective higher moral and philosophical responsibility. And if the media cannot live up to their responsibilities - that we can exercise our rights and responsibilities and turn the channel and not read the paper of those institutions that want to continue making a spectacle of a horrific human tragedy.
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20070421 News from the Middle East
News from Task Force Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot 15 - 21 APRIL 2007 WEEK 41
“CSM Beyard presents CSM Boles of the 401st AFSB with a framed certificate…”
April 22, 2007
“Right, from left: CSM Beyard presents CSM Boles of the 401st AFSB with a framed certificate, a TF AVCRAD coffee mug and a TF AVCRAD challenge coin in appreciation for his work in ensuring that all TF AVCRAD Soldiers who were detailed to assist his unit with various missions were well cared for, properly equipped and supervised and treated professionally.
For other posts about CSM Beyard, click here: T. B. Beyard
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20070422 Baltimore Premiere of “Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater” at the Charles
Cinema Sundays Spring 2007 Series 39 at the Charles Theatre
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The other day I called Jonathan Palevsky at the
He had called and left a message asking me to be the presenter this Sunday for the “
I would have loved to do it as I have done a great deal of research on the incredible career of Barry Goldwater.
Nevertheless, the person who called Mr. Palevsky back before I did is probably much more eminently qualified to speak on the topic of Senator Goldwater – Barry Rascovar, the pre-eminent Gazette columnist.
Mr. Rascovar, retired from the Baltimore Sun in August 2001 in one the many awkward decisions made by the paper since it was purchased by Tribune a number of years ago. Moves which many of us feel has caused the paper to shift precipitously to the left as nowadays, the paper is often considered to be the unofficial web site for the liberal point of view and the
But I guess that matter is well beyond the scope of this post. And, after-all, it all worked out as Mr. Rascovar was quickly picked up by Gazette…
Meanwhile, Mr. Palevsky e-mailed me the following information…
Cinema Sundays at the Charles Continues its 39th series on April 22nd with the
2007
Synopsis
Barry M. Goldwater, rose from being a local businessman in Arizona (which was not yet a state when he was born) to become a hugely influential U.S. Senator whose 30-year career reached a crescendo with his ill-fated run for President in 1964.
The film follows that tumultuous year, as well as others in a career that encompassed numerous political and ideological triumphs. Though he never achieved the ultimate prize, the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 vindicated the conservative agenda Goldwater had long championed.
Ironically, in later years, Goldwater's support of issues like abortion and gay rights were diametrically opposed to those of the "new conservative" leadership, underscoring both the distance the country has traveled in the last 40 years, as well as the dogged independence Goldwater embodied up to his death in 1998.
At the height of his power, Goldwater was the symbol of conservatism, denouncing Liberals and Communists while advocating limited government, free enterprise, separation of church and state, and a strong defense.
But because of his unequivocal opinions, Goldwater was vulnerable to attacks that labeled him pro-war and anti-Civil Rights. Those perceptions, coupled with JFK's death a year before the election, undermined Goldwater's presidential hopes, though he remained a strong and influential Senate voice for 23 more years.
In addition to detailing Goldwater's rise in politics, Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater includes a myriad of anecdotes and insights about Goldwater's private and public life. Identified as much with his home state of
In an era when JFK became the first Catholic ever to be elected President, Goldwater was in fact half Jewish. Remembers Robert MacNeil, "He often told the story about being born of a Jewish father and an Episcopalian mother. He would say things like, 'I went to a golf club where they wouldn't let Jews play, and I said, "I'm only half Jewish. Can I play nine holes?'"
Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater includes interviews with Senators Edward Kennedy, Hillary Rodham Clinton (a onetime "Goldwater Girl") and John McCain (who succeeded Goldwater in Arizona); former TV anchorman Walter Cronkite; humorist Al Franken; TV correspondent Robert MacNeil; former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee; author George Will; 60 Minutes' And y Rooney; CBS News' Bob Schieffer; White House reporter Helen Thomas; political consultant James Carville; former White House Counsel John Dean; Goldwater's brother, Bob; sons Barry, Jr. (a onetime House Representative from California) and Michael; daughters Joanne and Peggy; and others.
Click here for official site and trailer!
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/mrconservative/index.html
Ladies and gentlemen. I promised you a documentary and by gosh we have one. I was hoping to book The Romance of the 7 Tractor Drivers…a seven hour epic about life on the collective farm but sadly the 14mm print wasn’t available from
Our speaker for this week is Barry Rascovar who writes for The Gazette, is featured on WYPR’s Inside
I want to thank our speaker from last week Joseph Schaub for his work on Fracture, I know we all appreciated his insights.
I am so looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.
Jonathan Palevsky Jpalevsky AT aol.com
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If you’ve never been to Cinema Sundays before, see below for our stimulating yet official description.
So what exactly happens at Cinema Sundays…Well, Here’s everything you’ve always wanted to know about Cinema Sundays but were afraid to ask.
Doors open at 9:45 There’s hot coffee, fresh bagels, (including my favorite the crunchy sunflower) and a discreetly hidden penguin in the post modernist ecologically vegan friendly industrial lobby of the Charles. Moderate bagel consumption takes place until 10:30 (after which we adjourn to the Dada era screening room for some introductory remarks by the host and the guest speaker. After the movie is screened (completely devoid of rude people talking during th e film or using their cell phones) the post screening discussion, will be moderated by the guest speaker, with Jonathan and Jerry on the mics fielding questions from YOU, the audience.
Please feel free to visit us at… Http://www.cinemasundays.com
Tickets: $15 at the door.
Or buy a mini-membership.
410-727-3464
20070417 Woodbine farmer caters to horse farms
Woodbine farmer caters to horse farms
Carrie Ann Knauer, the Dean of the Carroll County Times’ newsroom is pictured above on March 14th, 2007, at her desk at the Carroll County Times. She has been writing for the newspaper since February 2002. She received her BA in journalism from the
Woodbine farmer caters to horse farm by Carroll County Times writer Carrie Knauer.
Posted April 21, 2007
I was tickled to be roaming through the Examiner and coming across a piece by Carrie Knauer, who writes for the Carroll County Times; that had been picked up by the Associated Press and published by the Examiner.
Woodbine farmer caters to horse farms
Apr 17, 2007 2:27 PM By CARRIE ANN KNAUER, AP
WOODBINE,
When John Paul Harrison's grandfather, John Stanley
But John Paul, 32, is a one-man farming operation, renting 100 acres from his grandmother now that his grandfather is deceased, and renting another 300 acres between
Specializing in hay and custom farming for about a dozen horse farms, John Paul carries on the family tradition of farming, but in a new way.
John Paul grew up on the family farm and started with farm chores while still in elementary school. He grew up in 4-H and showed pigs and cattle at the fair, as well as hay and grain.
[…]
And all the while he's hauling truckloads of hay to his customers in Carroll, Frederick and Howard counties as they need it. While residential development may make large scale farming operations more difficult, many of the homes built in South Carroll are on lots big enough for families to have a few horses, sheep, goats or alpacas, making his hay, straw and wood shaving delivery business even more in demand, John Paul said.
"Around here you don't have a hard time selling hay," he said. "I could raise more if I wanted to, probably. This is the emptiest my "hay building has been in years."
The price of hay is controlled by supply and demand, John Paul said, and right now he's averaging $5 a bale. The lowest he'll go is $2.50 for rough hay, and there have been times when he's sold his best stuff for $8 a bale.
Most of his customers have found him through the county department of economic development's agricultural Web site, http://www.carrollag.org, John Paul said. The Web page has particularly helped him find people looking for someone to do custom farming for them - usually people with several acres of land and a few horses that don't have the equipment to make hay themselves.
Read the entire article here: Woodbine farmer caters to horse farm
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20070421 New Taliban Video Shows Young Boy Beheading 'American Spy'
New Taliban Video Shows Young Boy Beheading 'American Spy'
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267654,00.html
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Chilling Images and not just images of Senator Harry Reid declaring defeat…
New Taliban video shows 12-year-old boy beheading 'an American spy'
KILI FAQIRAN,
A video circulating in
[…]
Read the rest here: New Taliban Video Shows Young Boy Beheading 'American Spy' - - if ya wanna get an idea as to what it is that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to surrender… More here.
“The war in
"I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in
The “Harry Reid surrender speech” can be found heard here … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYZEGot-xU4
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Saturday, April 21, 2007
20070420 FNC’s Wallace’s Bulldog Style of Interviewing
April 20, 2007
Hat tip: TVNewser
The Virginian Pilot has a piece up on the Sunday morning news “talking heads” programs…
TVNewser says…
"Wallace's bulldog style of interviewing should make his father, Mike Wallace, proud. At times, he'll plunge into an interview by saying, 'Let's look at the record.'”
[…]
Also: TV Guide has a Q&A with Wallace...
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http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=123246&ran=135848
Also take time to review an good synopsis of The Sunday morning news lineup
By LARRY BONKO, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 22, 2007
What's Sunday morning like in your house?
A lazy day of sleeping late, devouring the Sunday paper, munching on toast and sipping coffee, followed by "Meet the Press" on NBC at 9, followed by "Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace" on Fox at 10, followed by "Face the Nation" on CBS at 10:30, followed by "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" at 11:30 on ABC?
If you watch these four shows on a regular basis, you are a certified news and public affairs junkie.
Chris Wallace loves you for it.
He's been at the helm of "Fox News Sunday" since 2003. The program celebrated its 11th anniversary last Sunday, and Wallace talked about how the cable upstart has become a force.
"Fox News Sunday" preceded the start-up of the Fox News Channel by seven months in 1996.
[…]
Who could forget…
"I got the full
[…]
Wallace left ABC News after 15 years to join Fox News four years ago. ABC was prepared to extend his contract by three years when he left for Fox.
"I'd love to say that I helped build Fox News and the Fox News Channel into what it is today, but by the time I made the switch, Fox was No. 1 in cable news. As I looked across the television landscape, I saw that Fox News was still growing and expanding. I came to the conclusion that its best days were still ahead."
In the coming months Wallace and his "power panelists" on "Fox News Sunday" - including Brit Hume, Fox News Washington, D.C., bureau managing editor; William Kristol of The Weekly Standard; and Mara Liasson of National Public Radio - will spend much time discussing the run for the White House in 2008, which is well under way.
[…]
Read the entire piece… It is well worth the time. You can find it here: Sunday morning brew.
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Friday, April 20, 2007
20070420 Beach Boy McCain Tells Critics to Get a Life Over His Joke
John McCain Tells Critics to 'Get a Life' Over His Joke About Bombing Iran
April 20th, 2007
The only thing that makes me sad about this is that MoveOn doesn’t spend much more.
My favorite YouTube version has the embedding feature disabled…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6eVMkd9GHQ
John McCain bomb bomb Iran song beach boys style
The liberal group MoveOn.org announced plans on Friday to launch an ad campaign against McCain because
McCain's campaign responded quickly to MoveOn.org's criticism.
“It comes as no surprise that America’s most liberal interest group would attack John McCain’s belief that we cannot allow Iran to destroy Israel,” said spokesman Matt David.
“After all, MoveOn.org posted ads comparing President Bush to Hitler during the last presidential election.”
[…]
"Please, I was talking to some of my old veteran friends," McCain said. "My response is, 'lighten up and get a life.'"
The group plans to spend about $100,000 to air a commercial on network and some cable television stations in
[…]
Read the rest of the article here: John McCain Tells Critics to 'Get a Life' Over His Joke About Bombing Iran
… and consider getting in touch with MoveOn and encourage the august organization to up the ante. The more MoveON campaigns for Senator McCain – the better.
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20070418 Westminster Common Council incumbents face challengers
Election 2007: Common Council incumbents face challengers
Writing for the Westminster Advocate, Ashley Reams has written an excellent primer for the upcoming Westminster City Council elections…
Election 2007: Common Council incumbents face challengers
Ashley Reams 18.APR.07
Six candidates have filed to run for three open seats on the
Those who live on the east side of
Anyone who has lived within the city limits for at least six months and can vote in a general election is qualified to vote in the municipal election, she said. The deadline to register to vote was Monday.
Incumbents Suzanne Albert, Gregory Pecoraro and Robert Wack will be vying to keep their seats against challengers Charles Cull, William Gill and Kenneth Warren.
[…]
Read the rest here: Election 2007: Common Council incumbents face challengers
The rest of the piece includes a brief bio of each of the candidates and some idea as to why they are running and what their positions are on various issues…
Some quick thoughts:
From feedback I have received, Councilwoman Suzanne Albert delineates some thoughtfulness and has a strong platform… Councilwoman Albert is a sentimental favorite among many citizens. She has never been a strong campaigner – but we are all looking forward to her continuing to serve on the Common Council.
It is well accepted that Councilman Greg Pecoraro is one the brightest public policy analysts in the state… Agree with him or disagree with him – he has one of the sharpest municipal government minds around and his continued service on the Common Council is important.
Almost all the candidates talk about water – no surprise there.
Only one candidate, William Gill, mentions economic development – and that is a huge surprise… . And the candidate that mentioned it, “nobody” has heard of before.
So much for name recognition and the old model of being active and visible in the community and thereupon throwing your hat in the ring for additional community leadership responsibilities. Whatever.
Many of us would love to hear of some ideas for addressing the historic level of vacancies in
One of several frequent criticisms of the current administration is the seemingly inaccessibility, unresponsiveness and lack of visibility of the elected officials… . That said, I always seem to be able to reach Councilwoman Albert and Councilman Pecoraro and have a meaningful conversation with them in which they seem to “be real” with me.
The wild card, before this article came out, was Mr. Cull. He “said housing in
His platform, as articulated in this article, is weak – and that is being kind.
Most any broadminded public policy analyst understands that facilitating more workforce housing in the community is critical to our continued success and growth – but solving it by “big government” is not the answer. More on that when I get a chance…
Ultimately the best systemic solution to workforce housing in
Dr. Wack mentions that he would “like to finish implementing the city’s new accounting software, increase the accountability of the city’s finances and increase citizens’ ability to access city services on the Web, such as online bill pay. He said he would also like to make it easier for citizens to see how their tax dollars are being spent, perhaps making the information available online.”
The City of
The other challenge with the web site is the scarcity of meaningful information. Many of us would love to see proposed ordinances and resolutions and other supporting paperwork up for discussion in the council meetings – on the web site.
And for fun, click on “Finance Department:” Budget Summary, Annual Budget Detail or Annual Audit Reports. All of the information is out of date.
I am happy to see Councilman Wack continuing to address the upgrade of the financial software and technology issues. He has the background and apparently the tenacity to see that maybe, just maybe –
Apparently long forgotten on the minds of many
It would be in
As far as growth in the city, most of us have confidence in Councilman Pecoraro to make wise public policy decisions preparing us for the future.
Councilman Pecoraro “he’s proud of how the council has handled the city’s water situation since September when the Maryland Department of the Environment put a moratorium on the city’s building projects. That moratorium was lifted earlier this month.”
On this issue, the verdict is still out. Most of us are placing our faith in City Administrator Marge Wolf and acting Planning and Public Works Director Jeff Glass on that issue.
Overheard several times in the community is that it would be better to keep the elected officials away from many of the intricacies and science of the water issues.
Perhaps the smartest comment I’ve heard from any of the elected officials on the water issues came from Councilman Pecoraro when he remarked that he places his faith in City Administrator Wolf and Director Glass to take the lead on those issues. Wise man.
Perhaps the most humorous platform was the idea put forth by candidate Ken Warren – an otherwise well intentioned candidate: “He said if elected, he would hold community forums at Denny’s restaurant to let residents voice their concerns and discuss ways to address them.”
Huh? Oh whatever – moving on…
More thoughts as I find the time… If I were a betting man – and I’m not, but nevertheless the conventional wisdom is be nice to the three incumbents because they are all coming back.
And I guess I’m okay with that. No – I certainly have not agreed with all their initiatives and decisions, but I am convinced that they have the best interest of the city at heart and are working hard to move the city ahead. It has been a difficult two years for all of the elected and appointed officials in the City of
In the coming weeks, I reserve the right to change my mind – but this is where I am today.
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