Tuesday, February 20, 2007

20070216 Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson, former POW: “The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors”

http://www.samjohnson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=58470

Washington, Feb 16 – 2007

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To gain some additional understanding of where Representative Johnson is coming from go to:

20040527 POW Congressman Johnson Hanoi Used Kerry Speech

POW Congressman: Hanoi Used Kerry Speech, Gore Comments 'Traitorous'

Thursday, May 27, 2004 11:34 a.m. EDT

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/5/27/113857.shtml

For a brief biography of Representative Johnson – go to the end of the speech…

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Congressman Johnson (R-TX) Floor Speech (02.16.07)

YouTube video Provided By: Republican Whip Roy Blunt

Congressman Sam Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force for 29-years as a highly decorated pilot. He flew combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a prisoner of war in Hanoi for nearly seven years. Then, in 1991, he embarked on a new mission of service - representing the people of Texas' third district in the United States Congress.

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20070216 Always Faithful by Congressman and former POW Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson, former POW: “The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors”

http://www.samjohnson.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=58470

Washington, Feb 16 – 2007

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3^rdDist.-Texas) delivered the following closing statement on the floor of the House during the 36-hour debate on Iraq.

A 29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War, more than half of that time in solitary confinement.

Coincidentally, this week in 1973 as one of the longest held captives, Johnson finally left Hanoi on February 12, 1973 and returned home to Texas on February 17, 1973.

Earlier this week on Monday, Johnson spent the anniversary of his release pleading with a House panel to accept his amendment to support and fully fund the troops for the 36 hours of debate on the troop escalation in Iraq.

Johnson’s floor statement follows:

“You know, I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and 25 missions in the Vietnam War before being shot down.

“I had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for 29 years, attending the prestigious National War College, and commanding two air bases, among other things.

“I mention these stories because I view the debate on the floor not just as a U.S. Congressman elected to serve the good people of the Third District in Texas, but also through the lens of a life-long fighter pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader of men, and a Prisoner of War.

“Ironically, this week marks the anniversary that I started a new life – and my freedom from prison in Hanoi.

“I spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam, more than half of that time in solitary confinement. I flew out of Hanoi on February 12, 1973 with other long-held Prisoners of War – weighing just 140 pounds. And tomorrow – 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas – a truly unspeakable blessing of freedom.

“While in solitary confinement, my captors kept me in leg stocks, like the pilgrims… for 72 days….

“As you can imagine, they had to carry me out of the stocks because I couldn’t walk. The following day, they put me in leg irons… for 2 ½ years. That’s when you have a tight metal cuff around each ankle – with a foot-long bar connecting the legs.

“I still have little feeling in my right arm and my right hand… and my body has never been the same since my nearly 2,500 days of captivity.

“But I will never let my physical wounds hold me back.

“Instead, I try to see the silver lining. I say that because in some way … I’m living a dream…a hope I had for the future.

“From April 16, 1966 to February 12, 1973 – I prayed that I would return home to the loving embrace of my wife, Shirley, and my three kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly…

“And my fellow POWs and I clung to the hope of when – not if – we returned home.

“We would spend hours tapping on the adjoining cement walls about what we would do when we got home to America.

“We pledged to quit griping about the way the government was running the war in Vietnam and do something about it… We decided that we would run for office and try to make America a better place for all.

“So – little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth… I would spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm’s way….and that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to support our troops to the hilt.

“We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for Vietnam. I know what it does to morale and mission success. Words can not fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts against the war back home to the guys on the ground.

“Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of Americans protesting back home…tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam veterans when they came home... and worse.

“We must never, ever let that happen again.

“The pain inflicted by your country’s indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors.

“Our troops – and their families – want, need and deserve the full support of the country – and the Congress. Moms and dads watching the news need to know that the Congress will not leave their sons and daughters in harm’s way without support.

“Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq last month, there has been steady progress. He changed the rules of engagement and removed political protections.

“There are reports we wounded the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his deputy. Yes, Al Qaeda operates in Iraq. It’s alleged that top radical jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq – maybe to Iran. And Iraq’s closed its borders with Iran and Syria. The President changed course and offered a new plan …we are making progress. We must seize the opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.

“Debating non-binding resolutions aimed at earning political points only destroys morale, stymies success, and emboldens the enemy.

“The grim reality is that this House measure is the first step to cutting funding of the troops…Just ask John Murtha about his ‘slow-bleed’ plan that hamstrings our troops in harm’s way.

“Now it’s time to stand up for my friends who did not make it home – and those who fought and died in Iraq - so I can keep my promise that when we got home we would quit griping about the war and do something positive about it…and we must not allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.

“Today, let my body serve as a brutal reminder that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past… instead learn from them.

“We must not cut funding for our troops. We must stick by them. We must support them all the way…To our troops we must remain…always faithful.

“God bless you and I salute you all. Thank you.”

Biography of Representative Johnson:

Sam Johnson returned home to Texas after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 29-years as a highly decorated pilot. He flew combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a prisoner of war in Hanoi for nearly seven years. After his military career, he established a home-building business and served in the Texas legislature. Then, in 1991, he embarked on a new mission of service- representing the people of Texas' third district in the United States Congress.

Dubbed a "Top Texan" by USA Today, Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on both the prestigious Ways & Means Committee and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. On these committees, he is able to influence the key issues of economic security, health care and improving our children's education. As one of a few Members of Congress who has fought in combat, Johnson serves as an informal advisor on military readiness issues.

He has consistently advocated smarter government, lower taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and pushing for a simpler, fairer tax system.

On the Education Committee, Johnson continues to work to return control of education to parents, teachers, and local school boards-where it belongs. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, Johnson is one of three Members of 535 who has authority over retirement, health and labor issues.

After growing up in Dallas and graduating from Southern Methodist University, Johnson began his 29-year career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as director of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying demonstration team. In the Korean War, he flew F-86s in 62 combat missions.

In the Vietnam War, Johnson flew F-4s. While flying his 25th combat mission in 1966, he was shot down over North Vietnam. He spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war, half of that time in solitary confinement. Fellow POW Capt. James Mulligan, USN (Ret.) recalled the day Johnson was allowed to return to a joint cell. He walked into the room with the two other detained American officers, "stood at attention with tears in his eyes, and said simply, 'Lieutenant Colonel Sam Johnson reporting for duty, sir'...after he had not talked to or directly been with an American for three full years." Johnson recounts the details of his POW experience in his autobiography, Captive Warriors.

A decorated war hero, Johnson was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards.

Sam Johnson is married to the former Shirley L. Melton, of Dallas. They are proud parents of three children and ten grandchildren.

Iraq War, Military, Military Veterans Day, Vietnam

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20070219 Back in Frozen North

Back in Frozen North

February 19^th, 2007

No better opportunity to feature a YouTube video I came across the other day for Valentines Day, “Chasing Cars”[1] by one of my current favorite indie bands, “Snow Patrol.”

Click here for the “Snow Patrol” web site.

“Chasing Cars” is off their May 1, 2006 album release, “Eyes Open.”

Snow Patrol is an indie rock band from Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The band was formed in Scotland by vocalist/guitarist Gary Lightbody and bassist/keyboardist Mark McClelland. Achieving sudden success after years of obscurity in much the same way as Pulp, Snow Patrol mix Coldplay-style indie, and alternative rock to create tasteful tales of relationships good and bad.

Originally formed in late 1994 as "Shrug", the band started by performing gigs at Dundee University and the surrounding pubs before changing their name to "Polar Bear" (or "Polarbear") in late 1995.

20070220 How bad was last week’s snowstorm

How bad was last week’s snowstorm in Westminster Maryland?

Daily Photoblog: February 20th, 2007

While I was in Key West Florida last week, I would call the Westminster Street Department and Carroll County PIO, Vivian Laxton, W.A.B. as often as possible and raze them that I was in 90-degree weather and they were in temperatures in the single digits.

They were in the ice and the snow at all hours of the night and day, plowing snow and chipping ice and I was sitting on my back balcony strategically positioned with my laptop overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

They vowed to get me back.

Well, they did.

Pictured above is the igloo they made of my house with tons of snow which greeted me upon my arrival late Monday afternoon, February 19th, 2007.

Not to worry. I simply went inside and made a fresh cup of tea, hooked up the laptop and raised my office window just far enough that did not let too much cold air into the house, but my wife could still hear me as I cheered her on - - while she shoveled us out.

Man ole’ man was it hard work watching my wife do all that shoveling. Oh – she was happy to do it. You see, for Valentine’s Day I had purchased her a new snow shovel.

My wife is super. I’ll think I’ll keep her.

As for the Westminster Street Department; oh, I’ll get them back. Journalists in the print media may purchase ink by the barrel, but bloggers have an infinite amount of “ones” and “zeros” at their disposal. And me, I have the ink and the 1s and 0s.

Kevin
02/20/2007

20070220 Senator Hillary Clinton sports new look

Senator Hillary Clinton sports new look[1]

February 20th, 2007

Senator Hillary Clinton sports new look – wants to stop by and talk with you.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton, seen here emerging from a tattoo parlor and hair salon on the Air Force Hillary One while sitting on tarmac at LAX, remarks, “What good for Britney is good for me. She’s got no more family values than me and after all, I’m much more shallow that Britney any day of the week.”

####

Hillary Clinton Watch, Humor Political, Presidential election 2008

[1] Darn it, I had worked for much of the morning with the idea of satirizing Senator Hillary Clinton with material from Britney Spears’ latest life-drama. I went out to lunch and had pancakes with Mom for Shrove Tuesday and came back and there, as big as life was the Scott Ott piece. Well, in all candor, Mr. Ott did a better job – and besides I went ahead and copied his bald-headed Senator Clinton and placed it on a Britney Spears photo. I had been in a slightly different direction, but this turned out better, thanks to Mr. Ott. So, with all respect to Mr. Ott, here is the direction in which I was going. For Mr. Ott’s excellent satire – go here or here.

20070220 Hillary Shaves Head to Grab Limelight from Obama

Hillary Shaves Head to Grab Limelight from Obama

February 20th, 2007

OMG – Scott Ott strikes again.

New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who will say anything, do anything – ANYTHING to win the presidency, has once again been skewered by Scott Ott – in an almost believable satire:

(2007-02-20) — Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, whose presidential campaign has been overshadowed in recent weeks by charismatic rival Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL, today walked into a K-Street beauty salon in Washington, D.C., commandeered the clippers and shaved her head down to the bare skin.

Put your Dr. Pepper done and read the rest here – and prepare to laugh.

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20070219 Back in Frozen North

Back in Frozen North

February 19th, 2007

No better opportunity to feature a YouTube video I came across the other day for Valentines Day, “Chasing Cars”[1] by one of my current favorite indie bands, “Snow Patrol.”

Click here for the “Snow Patrol” web site.

“Chasing Cars” is off their May 1, 2006 album release, “Eyes Open.”

20070219 Congress to Troops: Drop Dead

Congress to Troops: Drop Dead

February 19^th, 2007

H/t: Brutally Honest

In Brutally Honest’s February 18th, 2007 post, “Poignantly true,” it credits:

“… the folks at MidnightBlue in a February 17th, 2007 post, “DNC -We did it for al-queda.” “Not So Funny, but deadly accurate.”

(http://midnightbluesays.blogspot.com/2007/02/dnc-we-did-it-for-al-queda.html)

Brutally Honest gives “Kudos to Flopping Aces for the find.”

####

Sunday, February 18, 2007

20070217 Chuck Muth's NEWS & VIEWS

February 16th, 2007 - Chuck Muth's NEWS & VIEWS

H/t: GOP Charley

Catch all of Chuck's blogging...national, Nevada and Carson City...now in one location. Surf on over to Muth's Truths here

If you know someone who would like to receive Chuck's FREE "News & Views" e-briefing delivered directly to their email box, just sign up by clicking HERE

TODAY'S DOSE OF "UNCOMMON SENSE"

Why does health insurance cost so much? One reason is the number of unneeded or unwanted government mandates, such as acupuncture, forced into policies by state governments. The Shadegg Solution: Allow residents of one state with a bunch of mandates to buy an insurance policy from another state without all the frills. Read more here

CHILDLIKE EMOTIONALISM

"It takes a lot more integrity, character, and courage to be a conservative than it does to be a liberal. That's because at its most basic level, liberalism is nothing more than childlike emotionalism applied to adult issues."

Columnist John Hawkins

THE DISHONOR ROLL

"Congress has rarely been distinguished by its moral courage. But even grading on a curve, we can only describe this week's House debate on a vote of no-confidence in the mission in Iraq as one of the most shameful moments in the institution's history.

"On present course, the Members will vote on Friday to approve a resolution that does nothing to remove American troops from harm's way in Iraq but that will do substantial damage to their morale and that of their Iraqi allies while emboldening the enemy. The only real question is how many Republicans will also participate in this disgrace in the mistaken belief that their votes will put some distance between themselves and the war most of them voted to authorize in 2002."

Wall Street Journal, 2/15/07

THE VOTES ARE IN.

"The Democratic-controlled House issued a symbolic rejection of President Bush's decision to deploy more troops to Iraq," reports the Wall Street Journal this afternoon. "The vote on the nonbinding measure was 246-182, with 17 Republicans voting for the measure and two Democrats voting against."

The 17 Republicans were.

Castle, Mike (DE)
Coble, Howard (NC)
Davis, Tom (VA)
Duncan, John (TN)
English, Phil (PA)
Gilchrest, Wayne (MD)
Inglis, Bob (SC)
Johnson, Tim (IL)
Jones, Walter (NC)
Keller, Ric (FL)
Kirk, Mark (IL)
LaTourette, Steve (OH)
Paul, Ron (TX)
Petri, Tom (WI)
Ramstad, Jim (MN)
Upton, Fred (MI)
Walsh (NY)

IMAGINE IF A HONKY HAD SAID THIS

"Every Democrat running on (Obama's) ticket next year would lose because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything."

South Carolina state Sen. Robert Ford on why he endorsed Hillary Clinton instead of Barack Obama for the Democrat presidential nomination

NEWT IN TOP TIER, LIKE IT OR NOT

"Press accounts seldom name former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the top tier of aspirants for the Republican presidential nomination, despite polls consistently showing he belongs there. News stories and opinion columns routinely refer to Arizona Sen. John McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the 'top tier' or 'first tier' Republican presidential candidates for 2008. Yet in every recent national poll -- as well as in Iowa, a key early caucus state -- Mr. Gingrich leads Mr. Romney among Republican likely voters."

Washington Times, 2/16/07

THE CHECK IS NOT IN THE MAIL

"As the 2006 tax season approaches, the federal government is still trying to recover nearly $3 billion from 450,000 active and retired federal employees who failed to file income tax returns in 2005. The federal agency with the highest number of delinquent taxpayers is the USPS (postal service), where 56,652 employees owe more than $320 million in unpaid taxes."

Mark Segraves, WTOP 103.5 FM, 1/17/07

A REAL SERIOUS BEEF

"Senate Finance Chairman Baucus called it 'ridiculous!' His freshman Montana colleague, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, said it's 'amazing!' Why the uproar? Well, apparently the Senate dining room serves imported Japanese Kobe beef burgers and the two Montana senators are red-meat mad. 'Ranchers in our state raise the best beef around, and we would like to see it showcased in the Senate Dining Room,' they wrote this week to Robert Savidge, the dining room's general manager.

"Baucus even sounded ready to use his new power as a chairman to rewrite the menu. 'We're going to stop this,' he vowed. When asked about his free-trade stances, Baucus replied: 'Yeah, but we're in America. It's the United States Senate.' Apparently, the benefits of a global economy do not apply to Montana beef."

CongressDailyPM, 2/16/07

ONCE AGAIN, A GUN SAVED LIVES

"This past Monday night, a gunman walked into a popular Salt Lake City mall and opened fire with a shotgun. The trench coat-clad gunman was heavily armed and intended to kill as many people as he could. He killed five people before being challenged by an armed off-duty police officer. Once again, a gun saved lives. . . . The mall was crowded with Valentine's Day shoppers. Doubtless, had the off-duty officer not confronted the gunman, the death toll would have been staggering."

Columnist Chuck Baldwin

REPUBLICANS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE

"The Senate Republican leadership met behind closed doors this week to ponder Majority Leader Harry Reid's audacious power grab on the massive catchall appropriations bill. They decided they could not filibuster the bill for fear of being blamed for closing down the government, but they still wanted enough votes opposing cloture to make an impression. That would seem a formula for defeat, and indeed it was.

"The vote to end debate Tuesday was 71-26, with 23 Republicans -- including the party's two leaders -- voting with Reid. The GOP was accepting a bill that perpetuates earmarks, masks additional domestic spending under the disguise of fiscal responsibility and establishes a precedent of prohibiting the opposition party from amending an appropriations bill. . . . What ails Senate Republicans is lack of principle and lack of will, two reasons why they lost the 2006 elections."

Columnist Robert Novak

TRANSPARENCY ON THE WAY

"U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) praised the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today for taking the first steps in implementing the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006. OMB launched an interim version of the required Web site today that includes a full timeline of how the transparency law will be implemented as well as a public comment form so all taxpayers can submit comments on how to best provide federal spending information. The interim Web site can be found at www.federalspending.gov."

Joint Coburn/Obama press release, 2/15/07

SHOULDN'T THEY WORRY MORE ABOUT KILLER SPINACH?

"Lawmakers reintroduced legislation today that would allow the FDA to regulate tobacco products. The bill would restrict tobacco advertising and promotions and ban candy-flavored cigarettes and ads targeting children. The measure would give FDA the authority to require cigarette makers to remove harmful ingredients or reduce nicotine levels."

National Journal, 2/15/07

MUTH'S TRUTHS

Catch all of Chuck's blogging...national, Nevada and Carson City...now in one location. Surf on over to Muth's Truths here

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20070218 The Opera of the Maryland Witchcraft Trial of Ken Schisler

UPDATE: The Maryland Blogger Alliance just posted its first Blog Carnival. The rest of the entries can be found at “Crablaw's Maryland Weekly” or click here: “Carnival of Maryland #1 - 2/25/2007.”

The Opera of the Maryland Witchcraft Trial of Ken Schisler
February 18, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff

Last Friday, February 16th, 2007, it was announced that “Gov. Martin O’Malley has chosen former Maryland insurance commissioner Steven B. Larsen as his nominee to head the embattled Public Service Commission,” according to an article by Douglas Tallman and Alan Brody in the Gazette.

Messrs. Tallman and Brody added that Mr. Larsen served as “Glendening’s insurance chief from June 1997 until May 2003.”

Read the rest of their article here.

On January 29th, 2007, the former chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission, Ken Schisler resigned with a mere 51-word statement.[1]

This - in contrast with the thousands of words raged in epic operatic proportions over the last year in response to a market spike in the cost of electricity just after the rate cap inconveniently came off in an election year.

Before the dawn of 2006 most Marylanders had never heard of the Public Service Commission or the 1999 electric deregulation legislation. For most of the public, the Public Service Commission’s role in electric rates was esoteric if not outright enigmatic.

The Maryland Democratic Party’s campaign for governor made the manufactured concept of some shadowy cabal of regulators exacting feudal tribute out of the working class in return for the ability to turn on the lights – a cornerstone of the election campaign.

It was classic class warfare.

Instead of accepting responsibility for well-intentioned legislation that went horribly wrong, Maryland’s Democratic leadership quickly settled upon Public Service Commission Chair Ken Schisler to personify last year’s market-driven 72 percent increase in the cost of electricity:

Many understood the malevolent campaign against Chairman Schisler as payback for his firing of five high-ranking Public Service Commission employees on April 15, 2004. A firestorm had ensued.

Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda immediately claimed that the Chairman violated state law. It was a position which Senator Frosh and Maryland Democratic leaders never changed.

In published remarks, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach compared Chairman Schisler to “a dictator” lording over “Russian surfs.”

In another phase of the Chairman Schisler witchcraft trial, last May 2006, he was aggressively questioned before the Special Committee on State Employee Rights and Protections for his 2004 personnel decisions.

Last year’s Democratic response to the unpredicted escalation in the cost of electricity had nothing to do with what was in the best interests of the citizens of Maryland and everything to do with electing a Democrat governor in the state of Maryland.

In the process, Maryland’s Democratic leadership re-enacted the proceedings of the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials and crushed a dedicated public servant, Ken Schisler, under heavy stones for refusing to submit...

To put a cap on this fabricated witch-hunt opera, Governor Martin O’Malley’s spokesman, Rick Abbruzzese, greeted Mr. Schisler’s resignation with great anticipation. “There is no time to waste getting professional regulators back on the job — to protect consumers and restore stability for businesses.”

On other words, with Ken Schisler gone, everything is now right with the world.

Well hardly. Many of us who understand the 1999 electric deregulation legislation, economics and market forces are dumbstruck. There is very little either the governor or the Public Service Commission can do. And that goes for any chair, no matter whether they are a “professional regulator” or rabidly pro-business or anti-business.

The Public Service Commission cannot constitutionally require an electric utility to sell electricity at a rate lower than its cost. Electricity will not be cheaper than the 1993 rates in the foreseeable future.

The responsibility rests solely with the Maryland General Assembly. And what will the Maryland General Assembly do next? Regulate the cost of oil in Saudi Arabia?

With yet another Glendening re-tread in place - - Stay tuned. We can hardly wait for the next act of this opera.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff(at)carr.org

Electric Deregulation, Liberal double standards, Maryland General Assembly Opera,

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[1] STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

January 29th, 2007

Baltimore, MD—Today, Kenneth Schisler, Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission (“Commission”), issued the following statement:

Today, I have submitted my resignation to the Governor, effective Friday, February 2, 2007. During my tenure at the Commission I have endeavored to implement the policies enacted by the General Assembly in a fair, impartial and effective manner. My resignation will facilitate the ability of the Public Service Commission to move forward in the important work it must accomplish. I wish my successors well.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

20070217 Too funny: YouTube – “Republicans Suck”; “Liberals Suck.”

Too funny: YouTube – “Republicans Suck”; “Liberals Suck.”

February 17^th, 2007

“Republicans Suck”

http://youtube.com/watch?v=66COez-8jpk

I also liked “Liberals Suck” but can’t post it on “Soundtrack.”

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20070216 Resolution Passes House

House Roll Call Vote on resolution disapproving Iraq surge

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll099.xml

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 99

(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)

H CON RES 63 YEA-AND-NAY 16-Feb-2007 3:22 PM

QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution

BILL TITLE: Disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq

_____

246-182, Resolution Passes House

Posted by: Mary Katharine Ham at 4:29 PM

http://www.townhall.com/blog/g/fbd6c4f8-1fd7-46bf-874d-81581d61156e

Here's the roll call.

There were 17 squishy Republicans at last count.

Victory Caucus has all their info.

Huge thank you to Jim Marshall of Georgia and Gene Taylor of Mississippi-- Democrats doing the right thing.

Read the rest of her post here.

Friday, February 16, 2007

20070216 Resolution Passes House

House Roll Call Vote on resolution disapproving Iraq surge

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll099.xml

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 99

(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)

H CON RES 63 YEA-AND-NAY 16-Feb-2007 3:22 PM

QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Resolution

BILL TITLE: Disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq

_____

20070216 County responds to major storm

County responds to major storm

Carroll County, Maryland, USA

February 16^th, 2007

While I was on the phone with Vivian Laxton, W.A.B., the public information officer for Carroll County; the picture above was my view from my office in Key West.

Ms. Laxton, please enjoy the picture and please know that the wind has picked up down here and the skies have become overcast. So much so that while I was talking with you on the phone, I had to put on a long sleeved shirt.

The bottom photo is from when I was I was talking with the Westminster Police Chief, Jeff Spaulding and Ashley Reams, a reporter with the Westminster Advocate, earlier in the day.

Yeah, I’m thinking of all of ya. We’re roughing it down here – and I know you care. I guess the temperature has dipped to the high 70s.

Anyway, now where was I? Oh, that’s right, the press release from Ms. Laxton, W.A.B., P.I.O. for Carroll County”

CARROLL COUNTY a great place to live, a great place to work, a great place to play

News Release

For more information, contact: Vivian D. Laxton, W.A.B., Public Information Administrator.

For Immediate Release

County responds to major storm

http://ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/releases/stormtotals.pdf

February 15, 2007 - Carroll County's Department of Public Works employees spent approximately 6,160 man-hours clearing 973 miles of county-maintained roads during and after the winter storm that moved through the area Tuesday and Wednesday, February 13-14.

Crews began treating roads at 4 a.m. on Tuesday and continued well into Thursday. One to 3 inches of snow fell during the day Tuesday. Between 7 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday, another 6 to 7 inches of sleet fell over much of the county. When rain began to mix with sleet early Wednesday, the sleet soaked up the moisture like a sponge. The extreme weight of the
precipitation made it difficult for plows to move.

With approximately 110 employees clearing 50 snow plow routes, usually streets can be cleared of 6 inches of snow eight hours after the storm ends. Because of the heavy accumulation, the Valentine's Day storm took twice as long to clear. About 2,500 tons of salt were used by county crews. Sixty-two pieces of equipment, including 55 trucks, six motor graders and a rubber tire loader, were utilized by the county and its contractors to plow.

In addition, the county's Department of General Services had crews working from midnight Monday through Thursday to clear ice and sleet from parking lots at Carroll Community College, the Circuit Courthouses, senior centers, libraries, Carroll Area Transit Service, Board of Education, and county offices.

Approximately 51 employees worked to clear the lots and 2+ miles of sidewalks, half a mile of ramps and steps, and 15 trucks and numerous heavy-duty shovels and ice chippers. Two front-end loaders were rented to push the snow off the lots and to clear drains. The Bureau of Fleet Management worked 12-hour shifts to keep county trucks operating, fixing hydraulic lines and pumps, transmissions, rear axles, windshield wipers, and welds on plows.

The Office of Emergency Management continuously monitored conditions throughout the storm. The only major incident reported was a roof collapse at a barn in New Windsor. None of the 25 head of cattle inside was injured.

Because most businesses closed and residents stayed off the roads, the number of traffic accidents was kept to a minimum. Law enforcement agencies reported a total of 70 weather-related incidents through the duration of the storm, not counting in Westminster City.

# # #

20070216 A Meaningful Job

A Meaningful job

February 16th, 2007

In my search for meaningful employment, I may have stumbled upon something. I could clean the seaweed off the beaches in Key West.

I’m perfectly qualified and I would perform the task with enthusiasm and gusto.

Whadda ya think?

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20070216 Nice T shirt

Nice T-shirt

February 16^th, 2007

H/t: CJ

An election campaign salute to NY Senator Hillary Clinton

CJ writes, “Where can I get one of these?”

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20070215 Louie’s Back Yard

Louie’s Back Yard Key West

February 15th, 2007

http://www.louiesbackyard.com/

20070215 License Plate spotted in Key West

License Plate spotted in Key West

(I photoshopped two of the letters/numbers out of the plate...)

February 15th, 2007

“billoreilly.com… The Spin Stops Here!”

Mr. O’Reilly would be proud.

(Picture of Mr. O’Reilly from http://www.billoreilly.com/)

20070215 Key West Key Lime Pie

Key West Key Lime Pie

February 15th, 2007

Apparently the Key Lime Pie maven in Westminster is the Westminster City Clerk, Laurell Taylor. This post and photographs are in her honor.

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20070215 Sippin at Java Joe’s in Key West

Daily Photoblog: Sippin at Java Joe’s” in Key West

Traveling away from home usually two issues quickly arise; one, internet access and two, good coffee.

For this visit to Key West I have excellent internet access, so that leaves the issue of coffee to be solved. That was quickly remedied by “Sippin at Java Joe’s.”

Sippin @ Java Joe's
http://www.sippinatjavajoes.com/
424 Eaton Street - Key West, Florida

Thursday, February 15, 2007

20070214 Westminster tattoo parlor ban draws heat

Westminster tattoo parlor ban draws heat

Writing for the Baltimore Examiner, Kelsey Volkmann has an article in the February 14th, 2007 edition of the paper on the recent Westminster Common Council vote to ban tattoo parlors in Westminster.

I totally agree with Lori Graham and Stan Ruchlewicz, especially when one considers all the empty store fronts in Westminster of the last year or so…

Kelsey Volkmann, The Examiner, Feb 14, 2007 3:00 AM

http://www.examiner.com/a-564423~Westminster_tattoo_parlor_ban_draws_heat.html

Westminster - Critics lambasted Westminster’s new ban on downtown tattoo shops as anti-business.

“Restricting the types of businesses that can move downtown makes no sense to me,” said Lori Graham, the sole member of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to vote against the ban. Graham is president of the Greater Westminster Development Corp., a nonprofit that works to stimulate economic development.

[…]

… Stan Ruchlewicz, Westminster’s economic development administrator, said he wants to attract “cool shops that are youth-oriented because that’s where the market is.”

“What we need is to get some shops that people will come shop through the generations,” he said. “It’s our comic book and skateboard shops that are keeping downtown alive. By allowing tattoo parlors out on the highway, you have youth shopping out on the highway.”

Read the entire article here.

Westminster businesses, Westminster City Government

20070214 Key West The Day in Pictures

Key West - The Day in Pictures

February 14^th, 2007

Top to bottom:

Key West Light House

Ernest’s Café

Do Not Feed the Chickens

A friendly chicken near Mallory Square

A Key West door

Mallory Square

Cayo Hueso Habana sign in Mallory Square

Sculpture in front of the old Custom’s House

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20070207 Eye for Art Ruchlewicz an avid photographer by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

February 7, 2007

http://westminsteradvocate.com/

http://westminsteradvocate.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=75&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=1783&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1322&hn=westminsteradvocate&he=.com

07.FEB.07 Eye for Art: Ruchlewicz an avid photographer

Stan Ruchlewicz is the administrator of Economic Development for the City of Westminster, and he has an artistic side, too. Ruchlewicz is an avid photographer.

He said his first love is teaching and judging high school marching bands and drum and bugle corps.

Through traveling as a judge, he said he visited many interesting places.

“So, I took pictures,” Ruchlewicz said. “Back in the dark ages, I was using a small Instamatic. Eventually, I grew out of the Instamatic into a 35mm camera.”

In 1989, Ruchlewicz was hired in Havre de Grace as director of Planning. He was also appointed to the governor’s Save the Lighthouse Commission.

“Then, I really needed to get a good camera to take pictures since we toured the various Chesapeake Bay lighthouses on our annual visits,” he said,

Also at that time, Ruchlewicz began to take photographs of downtown buildings, streetscapes and events for promotional and reference materials for his job, he said.

Later, his financee, Pat Miller, converted him to go digital.

“Now, I can take hundreds of photographs at a time and not worry about printing costs since I can view the shots on the computer and choose to print only the best,” he said.

Ruchlewicz and his fiancee both take photos.

“I do the large scale photos, such as buildings, landscapes and event crowds, while she enjoys doing architectural details, like gargoyles and grotesques and individual people,” he said. “Grotesques are the funny little guys that are on old buildings but don’t put out rainwater like gargoyles do.”

Today, Ruchlewicz is still shooting buildings and street scenes along Main Streets, events in downtown Westminster, lighthouses and his world travels.

“A lot of the photos I take are of streetscape features such as signage, trash cans, benches, streetlights, window displays, storefronts and building facades,” Ruchlewicz said. “I use them as examples of how to improve local buildings and to give local store owners new ideas on how to improve their businesses.”

Casey Willson, retail industry manager for the Maryland Small Business Development Center, uses some of Ruchlewicz’s pictures for his presentations to small business owners around the state.

Ruchlewicz’s work is everywhere in town.

The postcards of downtown Westminster, such as the view of Main Street from the roof of the old fire house, the downtown mural, the McDaniel College entrance, City Hall and the train passing in front of Johannson’s are all his work.

The postcards are all copyrighted by the City of Westminster under the Downtown Westminster Main Street Program.

Ruchlewicz’s photographs also appear in the new Westminster brochure, and recent Hickory Stick and ArtWorks billboards used his photographs, too.

Additionally, his photos from the Corbit’s Charge event can be viewed on the Pipe Creek Civil War Round Table Web site at http://www.pccwrt.addr.com.

“The most utilized image of mine is of the old clock tower in Westminster that is currently the symbol of our town. It is being used as a brand for people to remember us when they visit,” Ruchlewicz said.

Ruchlewicz’s newest project is converting his photographs into digital art.

“For example, I take photos of England and convert them into images that resemble old etchings and engravings from the 19th century,” he said. “Besides creating art, it also helps me learn how to use some of my new computer features.”

In the future, Ruchlewicz said he would like to put his photographs in an art show and perhaps sell some commercially.

And his travels continue.

“I plan to go to Budapest in the spring to continue my photographic adventures and to bring some new ideas back to Westminster’s downtown,” he said.

— Lyndi McNulty owns Gizmos Art in Westminster.

Art – Eye for Art by Lyndi McNulty in The Advocate

20070214 Southernmost Point

Southernmost Point – Key West

February 14th, 2007

20070214 Gauging A Presidential Legacy

20070214 President Harry Truman and Gauging a presidential legacy

My Tentacle column for this week is up: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Pictured to the left is the executive director of the Little White House Museum, in Key West Florida, Robert J. Wolz on February 12, 2007

February 14, 2007

Gauging A Presidential Legacy

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Recently political pundits have spent a great deal of effort pondering the legacy of President George W. Bush. Of course, those of us who consider ourselves to be students of history understand that history needs much more time and distance in order to accurately gauge the legacy and historical impact of any particular president.

Yet, uncannily, there are many parallels shared in the legacy of our 33rd president, Harry S Truman and President Bush, our 43rd president; and it is only understandable that the comparisons persist.

I took the opportunity Monday to tour President Truman's Key West White House, known as the "Little White House," in order to re-acquaint myself with the great legacy of the now-legendary president.

After the tour I interviewed the executive director of the Little White House Museum, Robert J. Wolz, at great length. The tour guide, David Lynch and Mr. Wolz are both walking encyclopedias on the life and times of President Truman.

Mr. Wolz says, with a certain "I told you so" confidence, that it is "remarkable that President Truman has gone from the least popular president of all time to the fifth most successful."

President Truman first arrived in Key West in November 1946, just days after the majority party in Congress had changed in the mid-term elections. In his case, Republicans reclaimed Congress for the first time since the administration of Republican President Herbert Hoover, the man who had immediately preceded President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Read the rest here: Gauging A Presidential Legacy

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Florida Key West, President George W. Bush, President Harry S Truman, The Tentacle, History American Presidents