QUINCY -- U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, the former district attorney whose office investigated the fatal 1986 shooting of Seth Bishop by his sister Amy, said Monday he does not feel his office "bears any responsibility" for Bishop being freed without charges.
In a telephone interview with the Patriot Ledger, the Quincy Democrat said State Police Trooper Brian Howe correctly concluded that Amy Bishop shot and killed her 18-year-old brother, Seth, by accident. But Delahunt said he has "very serious concerns" that Braintree police never alerted Howe or his prosecutors that, after the shooting, Amy Bishop fled with a loaded shotgun and allegedly tried to steal a getaway car from two men at gunpoint. He also raised concerns that Howe and the district attorney's office were not told that Bishop was arrested after a brief armed standoff with police.
"We never had that information," said Delahunt, who was Norfolk County district attorney at the time.
Because the shooting was ruled an accident, Delahunt said, the case was never brought to his attention. Shotgun blast to the chest and he never heard about it. How about that ...
No, it was never officially brought to his attention in his capacity as prosecuting attorney. A very different thing, meaning it didn't interfere with his ability to sit at a dinner party with her mother.
That said, Delahunt called it "inexplicable" that Braintree police did not charge Bishop for assault with a dangerous weapon or other lesser charges.
"There clearly was an opportunity missed for a psychiatric evaluation," Delahunt said.
Had Braintree police charged the 21-year-old on lesser charges, an evaluation could have been sought in the district court, he said.
The aftermath of the shooting is spelled out in Braintree police reports. Asked whether his investigators should have requested those documents as part of their own investigation, Delahunt said that "goes without saying."
He said that current Norfolk County District Attorney William R. Keating, his successor who is now probing the handling of the 23-year-old investigation, should find out whether those details were purposely withheld from the district attorney's office.
Alabama authorities charged Bishop this month in a stunning triple homicide. Police said the professor shot and killed three colleagues on the University of Alabama campus and wounded three others after being denied tenure.
Delahunt, who until this morning remained silent on the case, returned this weekend from a trip to Israel. He said he initially had no recollection of the case, but has since reviewed police reports from the investigation.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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"There clearly was an opportunity missed for a psychiatric evaluation," Delahunt said.
Quite an interesting observation for a man who knows so little about the case.
A bombshell has just exploded in the 2010 elections.
For the second time in five months, the Obama White House is being accused -- by Democrats -- of offering high ranking government jobs in return for political favors. What no one is reporting is that this is a violation of federal law that can lead to prison time, a fine or both, according to Title 18, Chapter 11, Section 211 of the United States Code.
The jobs in question? Secretary of the Navy and a position within the U.S. Agency for International Development.
The favor requested in return? Withdrawal from Senate challenges to two sitting United States Senators, both Democrats supported by President Obama. The Senators are Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania and Michael Bennet in Colorado.
On Friday, Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak, the Democrat challenging Specter for re-nomination, launched the controversy by accusing the Obama White House of offering him a federal job in exchange for his agreeing to abandon his race against Specter.
In August of 2009, the Denver Post reported last September, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina "offered specific suggestions" for a job in the Obama Administration to Colorado Democrat Andrew Romanoff, a former state House Speaker, if Romanoff would agree to abandon a nomination challenge to U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Bennet was appointed to the seat upon the resignation of then-Senator Ken Salazar after Salazar was appointed by Obama to serve as Secretary of the Interior. According to the Post, the specific job mentioned was in the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Post cited "several sources who described the communication to The Denver Post."
The paper also describes Messina as "President Barack Obama's deputy chief of staff and a storied fixer in the White House political shop." Messina's immediate boss is White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
Sestak is standing by his story. Romanoff refused to discuss it with the Denver paper. In both instances the White House has denied the offers took place. The Sestak story in the Philadelphia Inquirer, reported by Thomas Fitzgerald, can be found here, While the Denver Post story, reported by Michael Riley, from September 27, 2009, can be read here.
In an interview with Philadelphia television anchor Larry Kane, who broke the story on Larry Kane: Voice of Reason, a Comcast Network show, Sestak says someone -- unnamed -- in the Obama White House offered him a federal job if he would quit the Senate race against Specter, the latter having the support of President Obama, Vice President Biden and, in the state itself, outgoing Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. Both Biden and Rendell are longtime friends of Specter, with Biden taking personal credit for convincing Specter to leave the Republican Party and switch to the Democrats. Rendell served as a deputy to Specter when the future senator's career began as Philadelphia's District Attorney, a job Rendell himself would eventually hold.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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I suspect Holder will see to it that this goes nowwhere.
ACORN is attempting to perpetrate yet another spectacular fraud on the American people in order to keep tax dollars and foundation grants flowing into its coffers.
With the fallout from the hidden camera videos last fall, congressional funding of ACORN's election fraud and racketeering business is no longer guaranteed, so ACORN is trying to pass off various state chapters as "new" groups
As part of the radical group's fraudulent rebranding scheme, ACORN has renamed its New York chapter New York Communities for Change. Unlike on the West coast where ACORN is at least pretending its renamed California chapter (Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment or ACCE) is not part of the ACORN network, New York Communities for Change shares the same Nevins Street address as ACORN's Brooklyn office.
A March 4 fundraiser for New York Communities for Change is being hosted by Debra Cooper.
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts branch of ACORN has been renamed New England United for Justice.
More state-level name changes are expected soon while the basic structure of ACORN, which is controlled from the top using interlocking directorates, remains essentially intact.
The ACORN network's interlocking directorates are deliberately organized to help ACORN escape legal and public scrutiny. "ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate," according to a report from the Republican investigators of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Under indictment in Nevada for election law violations, ACORN feels it can do all this in the light of day because the Obama administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress have no interest in a real investigation of its criminal activities.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Obama will only allow Acorn to vanish after the next election, he needs their duplicity and vote "Managing", then Kaput.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/23/2010 13:22 Comments ||
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It does make it that much harder to track the money and corruption. We'll just have to have a "stability test".
"No orgs not constituted at least 5 years prior to the effective date shall be eligible for Federal funding, regardless of their Democrat Party patronage"
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/23/2010 20:44 Comments ||
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The promises Congressman Gregory Meeks made to the victims of Hurricane Katrina were broken as badly as the levees, a former official in New Orleans told The Post. The man chosen by the Queens Democrat to identify needy families displaced by the monster storm said the pledged financial assistance never arrived.
"These people came down here, sold a good story and didn't deliver," said Louis Rainey, a former Louisiana Democratic political director who himself lost his home to Katrina.
Meeks' controversial charity, New Yorkers Organized to Assist Hurricane Families, is now under investigation by federal prosecutors. According to its own filings, NOAH-F delivered just $1,392 of the roughly $31,000 it raised.
"We didn't get the funds," Rainey told The Post. "We never got a dime."
Meeks and state Sen. Malcolm Smith, also a Queens Democrat, established NOAH-F shortly after the storm to help 30 displaced families -- and made the new charity part of their previously organized New Direction Local Development Corp. At the time, Meeks told the Times-Ledger, a Queens weekly, "Every dime, every dime, will go to these 30 families."
Rainey was chosen to ensure the assistance went where it was needed most, Meeks said.
"It's important to have Mr. Rainey on the ground because you have people trying to take advantage of the situation," Meeks told the weekly.
Rainey, an unpaid adviser, said he gave Meeks' then-director of communications, Candace Sandy, a list of some of the neediest families. But Rainey said he was not told what kind of assistance they would get -- money, food, shelter -- or whether the help would be distributed through an agency or directly.
At least some of the people he identified, Rainey said, were contacted directly by the fund.
"A few months later, some of the families called and asked about the money," he said. "They said that Meeks' representatives told them they were going to send down money. That's the first I heard about any money."
Both Meeks and Smith refused to comment.
Rainey, who permanently relocated to Dallas after Katrina, said, "I'm baffled as to why the families never got that money. I want to find out what the hell is going on."
The only donation he recalls Meeks and his representatives making was a truckload of used clothing.
Rainey says he was introduced to Meeks for the first time a month after Katrina.
"I met him at the Congressional Black Caucus conference and thanked him for the 18-wheeler," Rainey said.
"I think he's a nice guy and hope he wouldn't steal from victims of Katrina," he said. "I hope that's not the case, but I'm damned sure going to find out."
When The Post first broke the story of the not-very-charitable charity, Meeks and Smith denied having any direct involvement in the disbursement of funds.
In fact, no one on the board or staff of NOAH-F admitted to knowing what happened to the money. The charity's treasurer, the Rev. Edwin Reed, earlier said he couldn't remember how donations to the charity were disbursed. "I can't recall any details," he said last month.
Claude Stuart, the fund's administrator, was also clueless. "I didn't control the money. I don't know why the focus is on me," he said.
That tens of thousands of dollars are unaccounted for "all seems a little shaky," Rainey said. "It sounds crappy."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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That money is LOOOOOONG gone. Thanks, New Yorkers!
Red-light cameras have hovered over Aventura traffic intersections for more than a year, but a judge's ruling might put a stop to the surveillance. Where do I contribute to his campaign fund?
Miami-Dade County Circuit Court Judge Jerald Bagley ruled Monday that Aventura could not use the cameras to catch and ticket drivers for running red lights in the city. "The ruling says that the entire program is illegal," said attorney Brett Luskin of The Ticket Cricket, who represented the plaintiff Richard Masone.
The cameras are still standing, however, the city of Aventura can appeal the ruling. If that happens, the cameras would continue to operate during the appeals process. Luskin said he would tell his clients not to pay tickets going forward, since Bagley's ruling undermines the ability of Aventura police to enforce red light violations.
The red-light camera system allows cities to photograph the license plates of red light runners. The following South Florida cities have already installed the cameras at busy intersections: North Miami Beach, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Homestead and Hollywood. Cameras operate 24-hours a day, and warning signs alert drivers where they are posted.
Aventura installed its cameras in July 2008 and began fining drivers who ran red lights in October 2008. The city charged drivers $125 for the first time they got caught, but bumped the fines up to $250 for a second offense within a 12 month period, and $500 for a third offense within a 12 month period.
At the time, Aventura Police Sergeant Jeff Burns said, "Our goal is to stop red-light violators and prevent the collisions and injuries that result from running a red-light. Officers have witnessed several near crashes while reviewing violations."
But, many opponents to the cameras saw them as a money-making measure for the city. Aventura collected more than a million dollars in fines in the first 10 months after they started ticketing drivers.
After receiving a ticket, Hallandale Beach resident Masone sued Aventura. Lawsuits opposing the cameras also sprung up in Pembroke Pines and Miami Gardens. Those who sued argued that traffic laws across the state should be uniform and that the cameras violate that principle, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. They were also upset that running red lights was considered a code violation when it is similar to a traffic ticket.
Luskin argued that only the state Legislature could pass traffic laws aside from parking regulations. He also said that police officers need to actually be at an intersection to legally give out tickets for running red lights. Bagley agreed with Luskin, and if the ruling stands, it could be used to strike down red-light cameras in other communities as well.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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If you visit the Seattle Area - do *NOT* visit or shop in Lynnwood Wa. and do *NOT* shop at Alderwood mall.
Why? Lynnwood went big-time on these camera's State laws says a yellow light can be from 3-6 seconds long - in Lynnwood they are about 3.4 - barely legal. Lynnwood will ticket you for _anything_. Fail to stop *behind* the stop line on a right turn on red? $124 bucks please.
Red light camera's don't make it safer - this article *PROVES IT*:
"Our goal is to stop red-light violators and prevent the collisions and injuries that result from running a red-light. Officers have witnessed several near crashes while reviewing violations."
That sounds like damning evidence that the camera's are *not* working or are actually *causing* more 'near crashes'.
Its been proven that you can reduce accidents by simply extending the yellow light longer in intersections with a number of red-light-violations - not shorter.
But then there's no revenue to be had in that is there? Much rather more more people at risk for a few bucks.
There was also a parking lot next to a bus park-and-ride. People during rush hour would cut through it (the business was not busy at the time) for *years* - until Lynnwood figured out it can make money citing people $125 a pop for doing it. Then all of a sudden one day they had a dozen motorcycle cops there writing tickets by the score - no warnings no nothing.
#2
Red light cameras are all about revenue. If they were pulling this sort of "fine the citizenry for extra cash" bullshit in China, we'd all join in in condemning a corrupt government for screwing its citizens.
#3
If it's all about safety then turn the money over to the state general revenue fund ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/23/2010 7:45 Comments ||
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If you play word association, why does EMP come up when you think of red-light cameras?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
02/23/2010 10:59 Comments ||
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"The ruling says that the entire program is illegal," said attorney Brett Luskin of The Ticket Cricket.
That sounds like a bit of an embellishment Mr. Cricket. Its more likely the judge has objections regarding either enforcement or penalty. Similar litigation has been overturned or has been dismissed outright. CCTV surveillance installed and implemented correctly has proven not to violate civil rights or place an undue burden on the citizenry. Also, when people are aware of such measures it is a proven deterrence. If there is proper signage and people choose to continue to break the law it is simply an example of brazen behavior. As far as the tickets dont do the crime if you cant pay the fine.
Germany no longer sends the photos in the mail in an attempt to curb high divorce rates in Germany. Evidently there were quite a few cases where the photo was sent to the address of the speeder, but a wife or husband saw the photo with another member of the opposite sex in the car. Oops. Dont get caught cheating!!! link
#7
In Minnesota, red light cameras are already illegal. A defendant already pointed out that they couldn't prove that she was driving the car. (In this case her boyfriend was). Until they find a way to determine who was driving, red light cameras should not be used.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
02/23/2010 11:53 Comments ||
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There was a case in Germany when I was stationed there where a German citizen had his car stolen. He reported it to the police immediately. Two week later, he got a "photo-ticket" for his car running a red light in Stuttgart ten days after it was stolen. The citizen lived in Wiesbaden, about 150 miles NORTH of Stuttgart. This was during the Baader/Meinhof scare. USEUCOM - US Headquarters, Europe, is in Stuttgart. I don't remember how it ended up.
The local "leadership" has been talking recently about installing red light cameras in Colorado Springs. We DO have a problem with people running red lights, but I'm not sure these cameras are the cure. Most of the problems are either caused by old folks driving like it was still 1964, or young kids stationed at one of the many military bases around the city.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
02/23/2010 15:22 Comments ||
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In Arizona they have installed both the red light cameras and hundreds of freeway cameras. Yes, hundreds of them. Here's the catch. The tickets do not count points against your record. Second, if the car is regestered to the wife and the husband gets the flashing, the wife sends in a copy of her Drivers liscense and the ticket is voided. She is not required to turn in her husband. So the husbands car should be regestered to the wive and visa versa. System beat.
With that said the cameras on US 60 has slowed down traffic to a near safe level. It is doing a good job of slowing down the 90 mph drivers.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
02/23/2010 20:37 Comments ||
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another reason I don't run red lights and have an Escort Passport radar detector in my truck for highway travel. Love it! 80 mph on 395 in Ridgecrest/Kramer's Junction is cruising speed and lower than 50% of traffic. Saved me at least 5 tickets
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/23/2010 20:48 Comments ||
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Former Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Herman Thomas was disbarred by the Alabama Bar Association this afternoon.
Tony McLain, State Bar general counsel, said the panel ruled Thomas violated rules of conduct when the former judge paddled jail inmates and had improper communication with defendants.
"He would talk to the defendants without the prosecutors or the defense attorneys present," McLain said.
Robert "Cowboy Bob" Clark, Thomas' attorney, said he plans to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.
The hearing before the 5-member panel was closed to the public.
Thomas declined comment after the hearing.
Robert "Cowboy Bob" Clark, Thomas' attorney, said he plans to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.
Thomas, a candidate for state senate, was acquitted last year on charges of sex abuse, assault and sodomy. Prosecutors argued Thomas spanked and sexually abused criminal defendants in exchange for leniency in his courtroom.
The hearing before the Bar's disciplinary board at Mobile Government Plaza is closed to the public.
Attorneys for the Bar must provide "clear and convincing" evidence that Thomas violated rules of professional conduct -- a lower standard than "beyond a reasonable doubt" used in all criminal trials.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Ministers were accused today of drawing up secret plans to increase immigration - and branding opponents of the controversial scheme 'racist'.
A previously unseen joint Cabinet Office and Home Office report called for increases in foreign workers to meet the Government's 'economic and social objectives'.
But it also stated that the public would be opposed to the shift because of 'racism' and urged ministers to try to alter public attitudes towards immigrants.
The document, which was written in July 2000 and released under the Freedom of Information Act, outlined plans for a step change in the number of both high and low skilled migrants.
A draft version of the report emerged last week, but the full copy was finally released today.
In it, the authors warned: 'Policy development is constrained by public opinion and the current tone of public debate.'
'It is correct that public opinion favours relatively restrictive policies on immigration.'
Sections advising ministers to adopt a 'clear strategy for public opinion and public debate' to change views were removed from the published version.
Critics said the document showed ministers 'deliberately rode roughshod' over the public.
There was outrage last year after Andrew Neather, a former Labour speechwriter, revealed in a newspaper column that the loosening of controls in the early 2000s was part of a deliberate political agenda.
The 'immigration boom' of the last decade was engineered in part to change society by making it more multicultural, he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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But it also stated that the public would be opposed to the shift because of 'racism' and urged ministers to try to alter public attitudes towards immigrants
Any different from the Socialist-Democrats and their operatives in the US? Bueller?
#2
Calling people racist has gotten to be like the F-word for liberals. They use it when they have nothing else and they think that one word will carry the argument for them.
President Hugo Chavez nearly stormed out of the summit on Monday during a shouting match with his Colombian counterpart.
The clash took place during a private meeting of heads of state, on the sidelines of a two-day summit of Latin American and Caribbean nations in Cancun, Mexico, a Colombian diplomat told the AFP news agency.
Mr Uribe complained to Mr Chavez about a trade embargo Venezuela has imposed on Colombia, upsetting the Venezuelan president and further exacerbating their falling out ever since Bogota signed a military base agreement with the US last year.
Mr Chavez then accused Mr Uribe of planning his assassination by a paramilitary squad and threatened to walk out of the summit in disgust.
"An angry Uribe then shouted: 'Be a man! These issues are meant to be discussed in these venues. You're brave speaking at a distance, but a coward when it comes to talking face to face'," the diplomat said.
Mr Chavez is reported to have replied: "Go to hell!"
President Felipe Calderon of Mexico then attempted to reconcile the pair of fuming leaders, according to the diplomat.
Mr Calderon said later that Venezuela and Colombia must settle their differences in "respectful dialogue ... to avoid accusations and recriminations".
His spokesman, Max Cortazar, confirmed the Uribe-Chavez altercation.
"There was a hot exchange of views, but without getting down to insults," Mr Cortazar insisted.
In a broadcast on Venezuelan television and radio this week, Mr Chavez demanded Britain hand over the Falkland Islands to Argentina in a direct appeal to the Queen.
#1
Spanish language curses are some of the most poetic, and can get truly impressive, invoking relationships with the illegitimate offspring of a priest and a dentist's dog, etc. But one of my favorites, that shouldn't be translated, is:
"Chupe mantequilla de mi culo", which we could but hope would give Chavez a rage stroke, especially if conjugated in such a way as to involve his madre.
Lipstick on a pig and all.
Starting over on health care, President Barack Obama knows his chances aren't looking much more promising. A year after he called for a far-reaching overhaul, Obama unveiled his most detailed plan yet on Monday. Realistically, he's just hoping to win a big enough slice to silence the talk of a failing presidency.
The 10-year, $1 trillion plan, Still repeating the Big Lie and the Media laps it up
like the current Democratic version in the Senate, would bring health insurance to more than 31 million Americans who now lack it. Government insurance wouldn't be included, a problem for Democratic progressives. Republicans are skeptical about where the money would come from -- and about Obama's claim that the plan wouldn't raise the federal deficit.
Posted by: ed ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Republicans are skeptical about where the money would come from
#2
We got twenty suburbanite twinkies who are refugees ( for whatever reason) in the Kinai Peninsula woods ( maybe it was a cruise ship went down). It aint your fault Mr. & Mrs. Sprinklersystem.
So we got a problem. They are wet, hungry and in the middle of nowhere and not a Credit Card to just slick their lack of yumyums away.
There is a local boy who has a cabin and a gun who finds them. He has a rabbit which he has just shot. Hooray, we are saved. They all look at the rabbit and ask if they can have some. One rabbit split twenty ways is all they ask.
Guess who has the rabbit AND who has the gun? Its two weeks walk through bear country and no roads to get these people out to Diner's Club.
NONE of these people have boots and the local boy isnt going to share that gun. He might share the rabbit, but dont bet on it. There is only one bed in the cabin and there is no toilet.
The solution to all this is somebody has to get a Trillion dollar loan for all these people who dont have Health Care. And there is only one gun.
And even if the local boy were to "share" the gun nobody among these twinkies knows how to shoot or knows a damn thing about where the rabbits are. And "voting" on sharing that rabbit twenty ways is BS.
Somebody is gonna starve to death...and it aint gonna to be the local boy.
#3
Of those 20 suburbanite twinkies, stranded because their cruise ship wrecked on the shoals of the Pennsylvania woods, it turns out one is a Master Chef who can turn that rabbit into a gourmet meal for fifty using that single can of beer in our local boy's fridge, the wild onions growing alongside the path, and a handful of wild ginger roots. Another of the twinkies is a Master Gardener who specialized in native plants, and adds Spicebush twigs, Spring Beauty bulbs for starch, and pine needles... oh, and noticed the watercress growing wild alongside the creek near the cabin, which is the basis of a nice salad, especially with the addition of fern fiddleheads. He also notices the pokeweed shoots, which can be cooked as a nice substitute for spinach -- the cooking breaks down the something-or-other that is poisonous when raw, so be careful with that, and only do this with new spring shoots, as older pokeweed is poisonous regardless how long it's boiled. Another of the suburban twinkies turns out to be an HVAC engineer, the cruise a reward for the number of furnaces his company sold, and he offers to tune up the cabin heating source, which turns out to be a Franklin stove whose chimney was somewhat neglected, having an unnoticed pinhole leak -- and suddenly local boy's nagging low-grade headache is gone. Another was an Eagle Scout, who whips up a couple of rabbit snares with the laces of his wife's sensible walking shoes, and places them along rabbit trails local boy hadn't noticed, clever though he is with a gun. Another couple are Rantburg's own OldSpook and Mrs. Spook, who not only know everything local boy hasn't learnt yet, but while OldSpook does *something* to the gun to make it near sniper-worthy -- bringing down a number of squirrels for the pot in the process of sighting it in (that is the correct terminology, if I recall correctly) -- Mrs. Spook recalls her spook-running days to organize the ladies in whipping the cabin and grounds out to 100 yards into something sparkling clean, a good deal more homey, and with clear lines of fire, which it hadn't occurred to our clean-thinking local boy was necessary, the black bears being scared off by the pie tins banging together. Our Master Gardener meanwhile lifted some plants from the woods to create a kitchen garden that would both look and smell good, and provide local boy with the fixings for many wonderful rabbit feasts in the future, using the recipe guidelines our Master Chef wrote out on the back of a few old letters.
All in all, our generous local boy got a pay-back much bigger than his offer of one rabbit and some bits of floor for the night, for in the morning the stranded twinkies followed his directions to the town two hours' walk away, where their credit cards were put to good use... And local boy was left with fond memories and ten invitations to dinner in the suburbs over the following months.
As for the new health plan, which is completely unconnected to the scenario above, as far as I can tell, I only hope Ms. Ann Coulter is correct when she opined that President Obama is merely posturing for his base, and will not be able to get it passed. Instapundit links to the video.
President Barack Obama's healthcare reform proposal released Monday eliminates controversial funds given to Nebraska as part of a deal to win the support of centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered the $100 million in Medicaid funding, also known as the "Cornhusker Kickback," to Nelson to help win him over as the 60th vote on the Senate's healthcare reform bill last December.
But the deal eventually backfired. During merger negotiations with the Senate, House leaders said the "kickback" was an unfair deal struck for Nebraska that was not available to other states and was given only to attract Nelson's support.
Republicans also slammed the Nebraska deal, saying it was an example of Reid's secretive, backroom negotiation style that violated President Obama's call for transparency during the healthcare debate.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Barry put the 'fix' in, he can take the 'fix' out.
#4
Actually, the O-Team plan doesnt eliminate the Nebraska funds. But rather, it extends the same Medicare funds to all States that qualify thus negating exclusivity. This brings the scheme more in line with the carve outs for the Louisiana disaster relief and the Florida Medicare Advantage exception. In other words, the funds are available to all states all states that meet narrowly defined language that is.
#6
Nelson has turned into quit the Nebraska conservative. He could vote against the new spending because he had cover from the republicans, and he had the payoff hidden so his conservative Nebraskan's would think he has reformed.
President Obama's new healthcare proposal will likely gain only Democratic support, and that's a good thing, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said today.
"[T]his bill is a 51 vote plan and not a 60 vote plan -- that is great news," Weiner said in a statement. "Democrats wasted a year bowing to the altar of Olympia Snowe, Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson and it got us nowhere."
Weiner's comments suggest that Obama hopes to pass his plan using budget reconciliation, which would only require 51 votes. Democrats probably couldn't pass an entire piece of legislation using that tactic, but could use it to push through some of smaller modifications that Obama announced today.
Nevertheless, Weiner said he was disappointed Obama didn't include a public option or a broader, national insurance exchange.
"These concessions to Republicans are in the hopes of winning their support," Weiner said in a statement. "This will simply not happen. We need to stop bargaining against ourselves. Who are we making concessions to? Republicans have shown over and over again that they have no interest in real reform."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Gawd, Weiner opens his mouth and the B.S. just slobbers down his shirt front.
(Quote) Republicans have shown over and over again that they have no interest in real reform."
NO, Republicans have caught you lying and want you OUT of their (Our) wallets.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/23/2010 4:22 Comments ||
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#2
Red meat for the packs of ravenous liberal mad dogs. Not a legitimate legislative strategy.
#3
Rahm the new ObamaCare through the Congress on reconciliation and the Dems will lose a hundred seats in the House this fall. They might not care ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/23/2010 7:48 Comments ||
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Yes, the Left is big on symbolism and expense, small on results. Even if they corrupt the system to get it through this year, it will still require money to make it run next year. While Obama can veto any repeal while he's still in office, he still can't force Congress to fund operational costs to 'make it happen'.
(Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama, seeking to break an impasse over health-care legislation, proposed a plan that includes the first Medicare tax on capital gains and higher fees on companies such as Pfizer Inc. and WellPoint Inc. to help cover millions of uninsured Americans.
The measure, which also scales back a tax on high-end health benefits that was opposed by organized labor, marks a reversal from months of leaving the legislation's details largely up to congressional Democrats, who have failed to agree on a plan. Obama relied mostly on a Senate bill passed in December, with elements of a House version passed in November.
The plan to cover 31 million uninsured Americans presents a challenge to Republicans before a Feb. 25 meeting at Blair House, across the street from the White House. Obama invited leaders from both parties and called on Republicans, who have almost universally opposed the Democratic plans, to offer their own "comprehensive bill" to extend coverage and reduce costs.
"We view this as the opening bid for the health meeting," said Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, on a conference call with reporters today. "The president is coming to the meeting with an open mind. He hopes that the Republicans do, too."
Republicans say the legislation is too expensive at about $950 billion over 10 years, that it unfairly forces people to obtain insurance, and will lead to government domination of health care. The White House says the program will be fully paid for with taxes and savings.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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Retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana said Monday that electing more lawmakers like new Republican Sen. Scott Brown may be the "ultimate cure" for partisan gridlock in Washington.
Brown's upset victory over a Democrat who held a double-digit lead a week before Massachusetts' special Senate election last month signaled that voters wanted "more practical problem solving," Bayh said in an interview Monday on ABC-TV's "The View.
"Scott Brown is a good example of what I think the ultimate cure might be," Bayh said. "My read on what happened in Massachusetts is the vast majority of moderates and independents rose up and said enough already."
Bayh, who has clashed regularly with more liberal members of his party, announced last week that he had decided against seeking re-election after two terms in the Senate. He said he was tired of partisan wrangling in Washington.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
we like grid look and even encourage congress to get into matters pertaining to the use of steroid in sport and the BSC...keep them away from creating any new laws that are contrary to the Constitution. I also want to know why grandmas are no longer knitting, if men fantasize when they see naked women and why birds fly south for the winter.
#2
Oh, yeah. Bayh's definitely placing himself for a 2012 challenge. He's going for the Tea Partiers with that one. It won't work, they aren't a significant plurality of the usual Democratic primary electorate.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
02/23/2010 15:11 Comments ||
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Rep. Gregory Meeks secured a $100,000 federal payout for a Far Rockaway community group whose executive director is a frequent campaign contributor.
The Queens Democrat -- now facing scrutiny for his ties to a controversial Hurricane Katrina charity -- earmarked the funds for Ocean Bay Community Development Corp.'s job-training program in the 2010 spending bills, while his campaign pocketed $1,500 from Ocean Bay's executive director, Patricia Simon.
Simon has given the campaign $3,850 since 2006 -- including a $1,500 contribution in September, when the taxpayer money Meeks requested for her business headed toward approval, that was nearly double her usual donation to the lawmaker's war chest.
Meeks' office declined to comment.
Simon said the money went toward tickets that she gave public-housing residents to attend Meeks' annual fund-raising dinner
"I never once thought about it in terms of inappropriate," she said.
The taxpayer dollars for Ocean Bay went toward a "work-force preparation program" that offers 17- to 24-year-old public-housing residents GED classes, job-skills training, internships and job placement.
Simon made an annual salary of $85,000 at the community-development job in 2007, the latest year for which Ocean Bay tax records were available.
Swaps of spending earmarks and campaign cash are commonplace on Capitol Hill and not usually illegal or a violation of congressional ethics rules, but independent watchdogs say it still raises concerns.
"It's a form a legalized bribery," said Melanie Sloan, of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "Americans have to wonder if he is looking out for what is good for the country or good for his campaign coffers, and you really have no way to know."
Meeks has attracted scrutiny since a federal probe was launched over questions, first raised by The Post, about what became of money raised by a charity Meeks set up to help Hurricane Katrina victims.
The Post first reported that New Yorkers Organized to Assist Hurricane Families paid out only $1,392 of the roughly $31,000 it collected for victims of the New Orleans disaster.
The US Attorney's Office has launched a probe to find the missing money. The hurricane-relief effort was launched by a nonprofit group, New Directions Local Development Corp., founded by Meeks and state Sen. Malcolm Smith, also of Queens.
Both Meeks and Smith have said the New Directions was run by a board that made decisions about how its funds were used.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Back in the day, we called them Poverty Pimps. Today, we call them Congressman.
It began as a battle of the titans, with Rick Perry -- the longest serving governor in Texas history -- being challenged in the GOP primary by the state's senior U.S. senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison. But as the multimillion-dollar contest comes to a close, Perry's bid for another four-year term appears to hinge not only on Hutchison's strength but on the fate of the third candidate in the race -- Debra Medina, a once-obscure insurgent whose showing in the March 2 primary will decide whether Perry wins outright or faces an April runoff.
With Perry holding a seemingly insurmountable lead in polls, the governor's race in recent weeks began evolving into a surprise battle for second place as Medina appeared to be within striking distance of overtaking Hutchison, one of the state's dominant political figures. But Medina's detractors -- as well as several independent analysts -- say she may have self-destructed in a Feb. 11 interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck by not immediately disavowing a theory that the U.S. government may have played a role in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
The former Wharton County Republican chairwoman quickly sought to repair the damage, saying there was no doubt that Muslim terrorists flew the hijacked planes on 9-11. Medina now says she believes the incident may have strengthened her candidacy by galvanizing supporters, positioning her for a strong showing against her two Republican rivals. She was oozing fertilizer as she was saying those words...
"Did it feel good? No. Am I sick of answering the questions? Yes. I am," she said in an hourlong interview last week in her Wharton campaign headquarters. "But at the end of day, I think it's going to be labeled backfire," she added, repeating her contention that she was set up in Beck's interview. I'm guessing it's gonna be labeled "crash and burn."
The incident focused "a tremendous amount of media on the campaign," generating additional support and campaign contributions, she said. Her supporters, she said, "just got mad, and when people get mad, they fight, and when they fight, we win." Unless you lose, of course. Then you're just barking mad ...
Others say the full impact of the remarks won't be known until the election. In the heavily Republican Fort Worth area, where the 47-year-old businesswoman enjoys her strongest support, there are indications that the gaffe may have chased at least some Medina supporters into Perry's camp.
Switching signs
"We've had a few people who returned Medina signs and have switched their support to Rick Perry and wanted Rick Perry signs," said Tarrant County Republican Chairwoman Stephanie Klick.
Adrian Murray, a Medina supporter who heads the Fort Worth 912 Project, said "there might be a small percentage that have dropped their support" but he added that most of Medina's conservative supporters in Tarrant County remain united behind the candidate. "If I suspected for a moment that Debra Medina was a truther, I would drop her faster than a hot potato," Murray said, in reference to the 911 Truth Movement that subscribes to the possibility of government involvement in the terrorist attacks. "I just don't believe it [that Medina subscribes to the theory.]" Of course not. She told Beck that all the evidence wasn't in yet so she was withholding judgment.
Medina appeared Saturday in Fort Worth at a candidates forum and rally hosted by a coalition of conservative organizations including Tea Party activists and members of Murray's group, which was founded as part of a national conservative movement inspired by Beck. Murray, a Fort Worth auto-parts executive, recently split with Beck after contending that Medina was ambushed in the radio interview. "I don't think it's had as much damage as some people might think," said Anthony Reed, a Haltom City councilman and a Medina organizer in Tarrant County. "Most of the response I've heard has been against Glenn Beck himself. I know people who are literally throwing their Glenn Beck books in the trash."
Medina, who grew up on a South Texas farm, became a nurse and formed a medical consulting and billing company, has been active in GOP politics since the mid-1990s and won election as the party's county chairwoman in 2004. After gaining attention through political training seminars and speaking appearances, like-minded political supporters urged her to step into the governor's race. But in a contest dominated by the two giants of the party, she appeared destined to wallow in the single digits until break-out performances in two candidate debates drew attention to her feisty personality and message of limited government and state sovereignty.
Her signature issues include replacing the property tax with sales taxes and whacking away at government regulations. She has also advocated a moratorium on executions in Texas to address abuses in the criminal justice system although she continues to support capital punishment.
Over a barbecue lunch at her office in Wharton, about 60 miles southwest of Houston, Medina said she has been unfairly portrayed as an extremist and wrongly identified as a Libertarian. She said her views generally parallel the Texas Republican Party's platform.
"If you go to look up 'good old Texas girl' in the dictionary, you'd find Debra Medina," she said. "There's nothing radical or extreme about me except my zeal for the U.S. Constitution and truth and honesty in government."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Perry deserves another term. Wonder why he's seldom mentioned as 2012 presidential material?
#3
Medina is toast. She waffled on the 'troofer' question and killed any chance she had. Too bad, a bunch of folks liked her stand on property taxes and other issues. Oh, she also has a bit of Ronulan taint clinging to her.
#4
I listened to the segment on the Beck show, after it was all done - one of the other SA Tea Party people sent it to me. She answered the question in the worst way possible: there is no other respectable answer to his question other than "No," or "Hell, no!" She had a lot of credibility up until that minute, even though many of her more-fervent local supporters are the kind Libertarians usually called "Ronulans." KBH has no chance among Tea Partiers - they view her as a RINO of the worst kind. Medina would have cleaned up as an outsider-insurgent candidate, without a taint of being a long-term incumbent - but she blew it by waffling on the 'truther' question. Either you are ready for prime time, and prepared to answer questions without equivocating - or not. Glenn Beck could hardly be termed hostile media, when it comes to new conservatives, either. To give Perry credit, early on he saw the Tea Party as a crowd he wanted to get out in front of; I think he was perhaps one of the first politicians to realize that the Tea Parties could be a major force. He has some dirty laundry, as regards toll roads (long local story)though. I am thinking that a lot of Texan Tea Partiers are going to vote for him as the least worst option.
#6
You're welcome, B - do you want to post a review on Amazon? The Trilogy is becoming a locally popular-interest read, but seriously, I need all the help I can get!
A modest job-creation bill advanced in the U.S. Senate on Monday as the chamber's newest Republican bucked his party and sided with Democrats on a $15 billion boodle package of tax cuts and highway spending. G'bye, Downtown Scotty...
Republican Scott Brown joined four other Republicans, 55 Democrats and two independents to overcome a procedural hurdle that sets up a final vote later this week.
Brown was widely hailed as a conservative hero after his surprise victory in Massachusetts last month gave Republicans enough seats to block most Democratic legislation.
His election prompted President Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats to call for increased bipartisanship, and an earlier version of the bill was written with Republican input.
But key Republicans withdrew their support after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scaled it back.
Brown said the bill was not perfect but would help put people back to work.
"I hope my vote today is a strong step toward restoring bipartisanship in Washington," he said in a statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
WTF is this snark all about? Why on earth should highway spending in a time of double-digit unemployment be viewed as objectionable?
This is exactly the way to stimulate the economy and put people to work in short order. The problem with the stimulus was that very little of it went to actual infrastructure projects. Had most of it gone to roads, bridges, retrofitting buildings for improved energy conservation and the like, we'd be in better shape today.
#2
Because none of it is going to happen in a time frame that does any good, lex. Takes forever to get through the regulatory nonsense even for highway projects that make sense.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/23/2010 7:50 Comments ||
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#4
I don't know Steve. Where I'm at, we had counties with infrastructure projects already covered with paper and processes to go with Pork I. The problem was that none of the money went to those, instead went to provide the Teachers' Union a year of avoiding the reality of layoffs and personal cuts. Some places the paper is already in the stack, it's the special interests at the capital that insures that it doesn't happen.
#7
--Jobs bill (In Name Only)-- just another 'stimulus' ; where is the balance of last years Stimulus? continuing to snooker most of US?
Posted by: Tom- Pa ||
02/23/2010 12:49 Comments ||
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#8
I'm so sick of this calling everyone who doesn't vote how YOU want a RINO bullshit. You sound like a bunch of whiny lefty's who are pissed 0bama is not communist enough. Lest you forget, he was elected to represent the people of Massachusetts, not you. It is his job to do what he feels is in the best interests of his constituents and the US in general. Not you. I supposed if a person is for smaller government but doesn't tote a Bible every time they go hunting and believe in creationism they are obviously a RINO. It is common knowledge in the field of economics, that a well-crafted (not that this one necessarily is) stimulus would have gotten us out of this mess earlier. The truth is, most of you just want the Democrats and Obama to fail, no matter what the cost. Party first, America second, huh?
#12
Folks, Scott Brown was elected in Massachusetts, not Idaho. Of course he is going to be on the more liberal wing of the party. He said as much while campaigning. Of the types of proposed jobs bills, highways work and tax cuts are a reasonable response. This is not the end of the world. Stop being so strident. Save your powder for the bigger issues of medicare and social security reform.
#13
Thanks for the perspective remoteman. It's just a bit disheartening to see the Senator's first significant vote be cast in such a manner. Defeating socialism will not involve a compromise or... them winning a few, us winning a few. We must keep them off balance, staggering, dropping to one knee, then flat to the mat and then keep them there in order to prevail. I don't want this sickening commie virus coming back in my, or my families lifetime.
#14
He's only finishing Kennedy's term so he's got two years, not six, to make an impression. This is the way he's got to play it here if he wants a shot at going back. It's Massachusetts, Jake, not Texas.
Considering the alternative we had, Barbara Boxer Lite, I don't regret voting for him. Who would you rather have down there?
#15
The RINO problem is in states where we should be electing conservatives (Arizona, South Carolina, Utah come to mind). In Massachusetts it's a miracle to have a Republican Senator at all. If all he ever does is vote against ObamaCare he'll have served his country and his state well.
#16
Any of you jacobins care to recall the origins of the national highway system, or which party's president championed it for national defense among other reasons? Has it occurred to you that there are some legitimate and massive capital expenditures needed to make and keep a nation powerful and great, among them basic infrastructure? Or that our infrastructure in state after state has gone to sh*t over the last several decades?
Put away the partisanship for a second and stick up for the home team. We're all Americans here.
#17
Reality, dammit. Did you expect Ronald Reagan II or even James Inhofe II? That would never happen in Massachusetts. He's the best we can get for the area. Now Lindsay Graham.....
Posted by: Frank G ||
02/23/2010 21:04 Comments ||
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#18
A jacobin? I sure don't recall the interstate highway system being sold as a stimulus or jobs program. Maybe you can tell me about all the infrastructure that still needs repairing since Biden last came to town.
If we need to fix infrastructure, lay out the need and fund it. If we need stimulus, lower taxes.
#19
The point of massive capex for highways and the like is the multiplier effect. Better, faster, less clogged, more extensive roads, bridges etc enable economic development and generate very high ROI. As to timing, building roads is simple and fast. Of all the ways to create lots of jobs and get money flowing through the economy in the midst of a de facto credit freeze, building highways is surely one of the most effective.
#21
Every Republican that calls this guy a RINO in a major publication's comment section generates substantial glee amongst the liberal faithful. MSNBC's band of nuts is touting that Brown is being labeled a turncoat. None of it helps. Better to respect the man's decision, especially since it is not financially significant, than to give the other side the impression we won't tolerate anyone who does not toe to a very specific and narrow line.
#22
I had a lot of respect for Scott Brown when he was elected as Senator and I still do. Personally, I think this is the kind of bipartisans compromise we could use plenty more of, on both sides of the political aisle, and I think by and large this is what the American people want to see more than anything else. At least the guy has the balls to go against the grain of his party. A RINO does this make him, necessarily, I think not. Still too early to tell.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
QUINCY -- U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, the former district attorney whose office investigated the fatal 1986 shooting of Seth Bishop by his sister Amy, said Monday he does not feel his office "bears any responsibility" for Bishop being freed without charges.
ACORN is attempting to perpetrate yet another spectacular fraud on the American people in order to keep tax dollars and foundation grants flowing into its coffers.
President Obama's new healthcare proposal will likely gain only Democratic support, and that's a good thing, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said today.
(Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama, seeking to break an impasse over health-care legislation, proposed a plan that includes the first Medicare tax on capital gains and higher fees on companies such as Pfizer Inc. and WellPoint Inc. to help cover millions of uninsured Americans.
