The American Dad....

A couple of weeks ago I sounded off on what I had viewed as an eroding image of the American Dad being portrayed in Movies and on TV. Linking in and feeding off of a article from Men's Health magazine, I isolated and highlighted a couple of bad examples. I now would like to look at some positive examples in the Media.
Today, more than ever we are in desperate need of strong father figures (and Mothers too!) in the American home. The assault upon the American family is at an unprecedented scale today. The issue of the family in fact has become a cornerstone issue for the Presidential Campaign of Fmr Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney. Fortunately I feel that there are a couple of good examples in TV now, and both may be surprising for you. The first, has his fame from slamming other men onto a canvas mat, to the cheers of millions, and millions of "Hulk-a-maniac's" everywhere. Yes, you've guesses correctly, I'm referring to Terry "Hulk" Hogan.
Many Saturday's in my childhood were spent sneaking over to my friends house so the we could watch our favorite wrestler, Hulk Hogan take on the likes of Andre the Giant, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, The Ultimate Warrior, and so on. Now known as the "WWE" (World Wrestling Entertainment), the World Wrestling Federation built into a behemoth entertainment empire by the McMahon family is on built upon Shock value, storylines, and now a taste of sexuality with its' "Divas." Not really the first choice one might have for looking for a male role model.
With all of this in mind, it was with great skepticism that I watched the first episode of the VH1 show, Hogan Knows Best. My expectations, (one's based upon previous "reality" family shows such as MTV's "The Osbornes") were greatly exceeded as we were exposed to a different view of the Hulkster, one as a very caring and protective Father. From loading a GPS unit on his daughter Brooke's truck so that he could keep tabs on her and her date, to leveling out a punishment on his son for giving their weekend guardian Brian Knobs (Fmr WWE Wrestler), while keeping it a secret that he though the mischief caused by his son was very funny. But as funny as it was, the Hulkster found greater priority in teaching his son responsibility and respect. The entire show itself would never had come to be if it wasn't first sold on him as an avenue to get exposure for his daughter, and now Pop Singer, Brooke Hogan. The whole purpose to the shows existence has been about his children and family, never about him.
The second example for this opinion piece also comes surprisingly from MTV with "Runs' House", a show documenting the everyday lives of the family of Reverend Joseph "Run" Simmons (Of Run-DMC fame) family. Again, we have a father who's priorities are those of raising his children to be one day responsible adults and positive contributors to our society.
I could only wish that Hollywood would wisen up and provide us with more Hulk's, and Rev Run's when portraying the role of the American Dad.

More Useless Knowledge...

Can be found at "The Pit of Useless Knowledge" (It's on the blof list to the right).

Governor Mitt Romney's Remarks at Yeshiva University

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007

As Prepared For Delivery

"Thank you so much. It's an honor to be with you this evening. Oliver, thank you for your introduction. I want to thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight, and for letting me share in the 20th anniversary of the Syms School. Thank you to Sy Syms and his family. To the supporters, the professors, the administrators, the alumni, and all the students: congratulations on this great event.

"As you heard, I spent most of my life in the private sector, first by consulting the major corporations, and then by starting and acquiring companies. It takes chutzpah I believe to buy a company from somebody else, someone who knows the business inside out, someone who has decided that now is the best time to sell, someone who has hired an investment banker to hawk it to everybody in the world, and then to think that you, having paid more than anyone else in the entire world, you somehow think you are going to make a profit on your investment.

"It's truly an improbable way to make a living. But it worked, and far better than I ever imagined. During the fifteen years that I was the proud partner at Bain Capital, our compound rate of return on our investments exceeded 100% a year. Not bad.

"Now, what was the secret? There really wasn't a secret. What we did is done every day by you in the private sector. We started off with good people-highly intelligent, intellectually curious, driven people. We gathered extensive data and carried out rigorous analysis before we made our decisions. And then we used all that information to develop a highly focused strategy to make the enterprise more successful.

"I found that the same approach works in the public sector as well. Good people, data, analysis, focused strategy. It's not the way government usually does things, but it's the way government should do things.

"Today, America faces a number of critical challenges. In my view, at the top of the list is the threat of radical, violent Jihad and the associated threat of nuclear proliferation.

"I think many of us, including some of our leaders, fail to comprehend the extent of this threat. Take former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter thinks that Israel's security fence is the thing that keeps peace from coming to the Holy Land.

"Having just been to Israel, I came to the opposite conclusion: the security fence keeps peace in Israel - it's helping - that fence is helping prevent bloodshed and terror and violence.

"What Jimmy Carter fails to understand is what so many fail to understand. Whether it's Hamas or Hezbollah; Al Qaeda or Shia and Sunni extremists, there is an overarching goal among the violent Jihadists - and it transcends borders and boundaries. That goal is to replace all modern Islamic states with a religious caliphate, to destroy Israel, to cause the collapse of the West and the United States, and to conquer the entire world.

"Jihadism - violent, radical, fundamental Jihadism - is this century's nightmare. It follows the same dark path as last century's nightmares: fascism and Soviet communism.

"The September 11th Commission reported that al-Qaeda had been trying to acquire or build nuclear weapons for well over a decade. Former CIA Director George Tenet said that Osama bin Laden sees the acquisition of WMD as a 'religious obligation.' Jihadist clerics have issued fatwas authorizing the use of nuclear weapons to... 'defeat the infidels.'

"We are faced with the horrific proposition that those who speak of genocide are developing the capability to carry it out.

"Radical, nuclear Jihad is the greatest threat that faces humanity. It cannot be appeased. It can only be defeated.

"In my view, there are several steps that America has to take.

"First, we have to sharply increase our investment in national defense. I want to see at least 100,000 more troops in our military. I want to see us finally make the long overdue investment in equipment and armament, weapon systems, and strategic defense. That's going to require that we spend at least 4 percent of our GDP on defense.

"Let me show you, by the way, a little history here. Let's see if I can make this work. This shows the history as a percentage of GDP of the U.S. military. And you'll see that over time, we've made some pretty significant investments in protecting our country. In the Korean War, 11.7% of the nation's economic activity was associated with the protection of this land. During the Reagan years, it reached approximately 6% of our GDP. Today, it's down to 3.8% and I believe that we have to increase at least by 40-50 billion dollars a year our spending on military strength.

"Second, America has to become energy independent. Our economic and military strength require it. We use 25% of the world's oil. On this chart, you see where the oil comes from. The United States has approximately 1.7% of the world's crude oil reserves. We obviously have to become energy independent for strategic purposes and I'm not just talking about symbolic measures, I mean that we finally have to take the necessary steps to actually produce as much energy as we use.

"Third, we have to transform our international civilian resources, to enhance our influence for peace, and for security, and for freedom. Just as the military in our country has divided the world into common regions with a single commander for each region, our civilian agencies need to do the same thing.

"Fourth, we need to strengthen our old partnerships and old alliances, and inaugurate a new one. I agree with former Prime Minister Aznar of Spain that we should build on the NATO alliance to defeat radical Islam.

"And further, if I were fortunate enough to be elected your President, I'd call for a National Summit of Nations to create a new partnership - a Partnership for Hope and Prosperity.

"This Partnership would assemble the resources of all the nations of the world to work to assure that Islamic states that are threatened with violent jihad have public schools that are not Wahhabi madrases; that they have micro credit and banking, the rule of law, human rights, basic healthcare, and competitive economic practices.

"And fifth, we have to keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. Their ambition to develop nuclear weaponry is clear: they have a virtually inexhaustible supply of clean natural gas for energy, they have refused Russia's offer to supply nuclear fuel for their power. Obviously, their nuclear ambition has nothing to do with clean energy.

"Ahmadinejad has gone beyond the boundary of outrage, beginning with his calculated desecration of history. His purpose is not only to deny the Holocaust; it is to deny Israel. He is doing what another evil man did before him: conditioning minds to acquiesce to the elimination of a people.

"In January I was at the Herzliya conference and I discussed the threat of Iran. Since then, Iran continues to operate its nuclear program in defiance of the UN Security Council. It's expanded its centrifuge operations in Natanz. It's issued a new banknote that features a red nuclear symbol superimposed on the map of Iran.

"Earlier this month, Iran boasted the production of nuclear fuel on an 'industrial level' with a goal of installing 50,000 centrifuges. On April 9th, Iran marked a new national holiday - 'Nuclear Day.' Just look at the extent of their activity. These show the nuclear sites in Iran. This is not a little narrow project. Does the world understand what's going on here? Do they recognize the threat which is posed by this nuclear-developing nation?

"Some people, of course, think that it's possible to live with a nuclear Iran. That thinking is based on the theory that Iran, once it's granted the privilege of becoming a member of the nuclear club, that it will be a responsible actor.

"Neither their words nor their actions justify that kind of thinking.

"Others believe that frankly back in the logic of deterrence, which served us through the Cold War - that that will protect us. But for all of the Soviet Union's deep flaws, they were never suicidal. A Soviet commitment to national survival was never in question. And that assumption simply can't be made about an irrational regime that celebrates martyrdom like Iran.

"It's time to take Ahmadinejad at his word and act accordingly. We are going to continue to work, we'll work with the UN, we'll encourage China and Russia to work with us at the UN Security Council.

"But the U.S. and Europe can't afford to wait.

"I have proposed a strategy to combat Iran's nuclear ambition. Let me describe just a few of the elements.

"First, we should severely tighten economic sanctions. I think the Bush Administration deserves a lot of recognition for restricting access to our banking and credit services, because financial, and credit and monetary penalties are some of the most effective sanctions there are. And we must get other nations to act now to follow our lead.

"In my meetings in Israel in January it became clear to me that pension funds, such as the one here in New York City, have invested in companies like the French oil giant, Total. After New York State named its Comptroller, I wrote him, and I also wrote to Governor Spitzer, and Senators Schumer and Clinton and urged them to disinvest from companies that have significant operations in collaboration with Iranian regimes.

"Second, I think it's important for us to isolate Iran diplomatically. Their leaders should be made to feel exactly like those of Apartheid South Africa, or worse. That's why I ordered the state police of Massachusetts to refuse security details for former Iranian President Khatami when he came to Harvard.

"Of course, we can communicate and talk with Iran and I support the upcoming efforts to discuss security in Iraq with Iraq's leaders and their neighbors in the region. But until there are indications that high level engagement would do anything other than reward bad behavior, I don't believe that we should be engaging Iran in direct, bilateral negotiations over their nuclear weapons program. Iran's nuclear intransigence is repulsive to the entire world and we shouldn't let Iran try to position it as an Iran vs. a US thing.

"Now there is one place of course where I'd welcome Ahmadinejad with open arms: and that's in a court where he would stand trial for incitement to genocide, under the terms of the Genocide Convention.

"There's a third effort. Arab states need to join this effort to prevent a nuclear Iran. These states can do a lot more than just wring their hands and urge America to do all the work. They should support Iraq's nascent government; they can help America's focus on Iran quickly by turning down the temperature on the Arab-Israeli conflict; they can stop the financial and weapons flows to Hamas and Hezbollah; and they must tell their Palestinian friends to drop their campaign of terror and recognize Israel's right to exist.

"This one's a little sensitive. Listen carefully. Fourth, we have to make it clear to the Iranian people that while nuclear capabilities may be the source of pride, they can also be a source of peril. If nuclear material from Iran falls into the hands of terrorists and is used, it would provoke a devastating response from the entire civilized world to the very nation that supplied it.

"There is yet another source of Jihadist nuclear danger, beyond Iran. It's the pursuit by Jihadists of acquiring what are commonly known as 'loose nukes.' The Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, which was launched last year, was a good start, but we need to accelerate and expand it.

"First, I'd appoint a senior American official to serve as Ambassador-at-Large to Prevent Nuclear Terror. He or she would have the authority and resources to work across agencies and departments in the United States to ensure that our strategies are coordinated here, and abroad.

"Further, I'd promote an international initiative to develop a new body of international law that would make nuclear trafficking a crime against humanity, on a par with genocide and war crimes. And by allowing for universal jurisdiction, charges can be brought up at any court, to help prevent traffickers from hiding in complicit or weak countries. Already, people have been caught trying to smuggle nuclear materials to sell them on the black market. Their acts shouldn't be dismissed with the kind of nonchalance that sometimes accompanies routine violation of the laws.

"Countries that want to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes should convene to reaffirm their commitment to non-proliferation. For years now, we have depended on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty as the centerpiece. But recent technological and political developments suggest that the bargain at the center of this effort needs to be updated. We need to set a 'gold standard' for security, given the amount of highly enriched uranium that still exists in the world. Let me show you where it is. The countries in red are countries that have over ten thousand kilograms of highly enriched uranium and various research facilities around their lands. As you look at that, you recognize why it is that we don't want to break off discussions with Russia. There's a lot of cooperation that we need to keep in place with Russia, because they've got to be engaged in frank and open discussions about the serious and disturbing turn of events in their own country. But we also have to remain a partner with them on the issue of securing the vast amount of highly enriched nuclear material in their country.

"Finally, the United States in my view should take the lead in organizing an international fuel bank, which would guarantee low-cost supplies of nuclear reactor fuel to countries willing to abide by very high standards for safety and security.

"The threat from Jihad is real and it is exacerbated by the demographic crisis. Today, over half the region is under 22 years old. The combined GDP of all Arab nations, including their oil revenue, is less than Spain's. Think of that. And with the growing population and lack of jobs, the ground for radical Islam will be increasingly fertile.

"Let me show you some slides I think are pretty interesting. This shows the map of the world drawn to the scale of where the proportion of the world's wealth was in 1960. Look at the United States - extraordinary wealth, larger than any other land in the world by far. Europe is shown in the pinkish colors there - that's western Europe. The blue is eastern Europe and then you'll see Africa of course very small in terms of portion of the economy of the world. The Middle East is in the light green. You can see India there in the yellow, right next to India, to the west of India is of course Pakistan. China is the bright green and Japan is the purple. Look how that changes as projected for 2015. Look what happens to China. Look what happens to Europe. But the Middle East continues to be extraordinarily small in terms of its economic clout. And Northern Africa, where Jihad is also rampant, is a tiny portion of the world's economic vitality in the year 2015. This is as projected by the UN. Where are the babies being born?

"Let's look at the same map, but instead of drawing it based upon where the economic strength is, let's show where babies are being born. That's where population will be as of 2050. The very places that have the least income have the extraordinary growth in population. And this is the very fertile and very frightening field that we're going to have to encounter.

"And so because of this and many other reasons in the final analysis, only Muslims are going to be able to defeat radical Jihad.

"But we can and we must support moderate Muslims in rejecting the extreme and accepting modernity.

"We should remember that in the two other global confrontations with totalitarianism in the past century, it wasn't always obvious that we'd win. Indeed, in those conflicts, the balance of power was not always in our favor.

"Those were wars we could have lost, but we didn't.

"In the current conflict, defeat is not nearly as dangerously close as it was during the darkest moments of the Second World War and the Cold War. There's no comparison between the economic and diplomatic, and military resources of the civilized world and those of the terrorist networks that threaten us today.

"In those previous global wars, there were many ways to lose, and victory was far from guaranteed.

"In the current conflict, there is only one way to lose, and that is if we as a civilized world decide not to lift a finger to defend ourselves, or our values, and our way of life.

"I will not be silent, you will not be silent.

"Today, we can lead the world. We can and we must lead the world to do what it has sought for so many centuries-to accept different people and different cultures, to respect the inalienable rights of every child of God, and to welcome a time of peace and prosperity for all the children of our Creator.

"Thank you so much."

My not so Scientific Poll

OK, Finally getting some "Ben" time which only means more tinkering with the site.
I've put up our newest feature, our very first poll. Take a chance and tell us which GOP or Demoncrat you would vote for.

The Ocean our Kids live in.....

The Romney campaign released a great tv spot. Click on the area below to play the clip. Below the clip I've included a link to comments made regarding this TV Spot by Hugh Hewitt, of Townhall.com.

Hugh Hewitts comments can be viewed here

Enjoy!

A Generation of Entitlement

A couple of weeks ago, while on vacation I was watching the morning news show "Fox and Friends" on the Fox News Channel. On this particular occasion, they had a special guest, Marie Osmond. Marie was there promoting her current non-profit venture (I apologize, but I've forgotten the name of it.) and while doing so was asked about a TV show on MTV. This show, called "My Sweet 16" is a "reality" show about 16th Birthdays. In responding to the question about her opinion on the show, Marie remarked that we today, have created a "Generation of Entitlement."
This remark really struck me as I've on several occasions seen clips from this show, only to find myself repulsed at the extravagant spending on these occasions. Don't get me wrong, there is something memorable about turning 16. As a Latter-Day Saint youth, I meant finally being able to go on a Date (Though I found myself waiting 2 more years......). It also in many states means you're finally old enough to drive a car on your own, and for some it even means membership in that exclusive club at school of those who are free from mom's embarrassing driving habits on campus.
Today, the aforementioned privileges simply aren't enough. The show portrays a common requirement that one must spend HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars, on an event seemed to be more about showcasing family wealth (or access to deeper debt) than commemorating a teenage right of passage. This unfortunately serves to highlight a deeper foreshadowing of what is endangering our youth, that being a sense of entitlement, coupled with a lack of work ethic.
This problem has been long in the works, as Hollywood has progressively decayed the strength of the functional family.
A couple of years ago, Men's Health Magazine had an editorial concerning the portrayal of the American Father in TV Shows and Movies. Although I don't agree with all that is said by author, Joe Queenan; His point is made well when he state's;

"Look at virtually any sitcom, drama, or animated feature on television today
and you will find a dope, a dork, or a doofus vainly trying to run the
family-Today, whenever you turn on the television, some lard- numbskull is
trying to extricate himself from some ridiculous predicament while his bright,
unexpectedly gorgeous spouse looks on. Strongly suggesting that the only way to
land a smart, beautiful wife is to be a fat, dopey loser. I thought the
catchphrase was good in bed, not food in bed."

Now, the role of the father in today's "Reality TV" scenario has become even worse where as fathers are seen giving in to spoiled children berating them because he bought them a LandRover instead of a BMW M3. What are your thoughts? There will be more on this to come......

Acts of Cowardace..

Complete list's of pardons given by President Clinton... (Note how quickly into his presidency he started handing out free passes..)

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm

The final acts of Cowardace

On his final day as President of The United States, William Jefferson Clinton issued over 100 Presidential Pardons'.... Allow this list to be a retrospect and perspective in light of "Scooter" Libby.


ALLEN, Verla Jean Everton, Arkansas: False statements to agency of United States
ALTIERE, Nicholas M. Las Vegas, Nevada :Importation of cocaine
ALTSCHUL, Bernice Ruth Sherman Village, California: Conspiracy to commit money laundering
ANDERSON, Joe, Jr. Grove Hill, Alabama: Income tax evasion
ANDERSON, William Sterling, Spartanburg, South Carolina:Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured financial institution, false statements to a federally insured financial institution, wire fraud
AZIZKHANI, Mansour T. Huntsville, Alabama; Conspiracy and making false statements in bank loan applications
BABIN, Cleveland Victor, Jr. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Conspiracy to commit offense against the United States by utilizing the U.S. mail in furtherance of a scheme to defraud
BAGLEY, Chris Harmon Harrah, Oklahoma: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
BANE, Scott Lynn, Mahomet, Illinois; Unlawful distribution of marijuana
BARBER, Thomas Cleveland,Hampton, Florida: Issuing worthless checks
BARGON, Peggy Ann, Monticello, Illinois: Violation of the Lacey Act, violation of the Bald Eagle Protection Act
BHATKA, Tansukhlal, Income tax evasion
BLAMPIED, David Roscoe, Ketchum, Idaho: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
BORDERS, William Arthur, Jr. Washington, D.C.: Conspiracy to corruptly solicit and accept money in return for influencing the official acts of a federal district court judge (Alcee L. Hastings), and to defraud the United States in connection with the performance of lawful government functions; corruptly influencing, obstructing, impeding and endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the due administration of justice, and aiding and abetting therein; traveling interstate with intent to commit bribery
BOREL, Arthur David, Little Rock, Arkansas: Odometer rollback
BOREL, Douglas Charles, Conway, Arkansas: Odometer rollback
BRABHAM, George Thomas, Austin, Texas: Making a false statement or report to a federally insured bank
BRASWELL, Almon Glenn, Doravilla, Georgia: Conspiracy to defraud government with respect to claims; perjury
BROWDER, Leonard, Aiken, South Carolina: Illegal dispensing of controlled substance and Medicaid fraud
BROWN, David Steven, New York, New York: Securities fraud and mail fraud
BURLESON, Delores Caroylene, aka Delores Cox Burleson, Hanna, Oklahoma: Possession of marijuana
BUSTAMANTE, John H.,Cleveland, Ohio: Wire fraud
CAMPBELL, Mary Louise, Ruleville, Mississippi: Aiding and abetting the unauthorized use and transfer of food stamps
CANDELARIA, Eloida, False information in registering to vote
CAPILI, Dennis Sobrevinas, Glendale, California: Filing false statements in alien registration
CHAMBERS, Donna Denise, Memphis, Tennessee: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, use of a telephone to facilitate cocaine conspiracy
CHAPMAN, Douglas Eugene, Scott, Arkansas: Bank fraud
CHAPMAN, Ronald Keith, Scott, Arkansas: Bank fraud
CHAVEZ, Francisco Larios,Santa Ana, California: Aiding and abetting illegal entry of aliens
CISNEROS, Henry G.,
CLINTON, Roger,
COHN, Stuart Harris, New Haven, Connecticut: 1. Illegal sale of gold options, 2. Illegal sale of silver options
COOPER, David Marc, Wapakoneta, Ohio: Conspiracy to defraud the government
COX, Ernest Harley, Jr., Pine Bluff, Arkansas: Conspiracy to defraud a federally insured savings and loan, misapplication of bank funds, false statements
CROSS, John F., Jr.; Little Rock, Arkansas: Embezzlement by a bank employee
CUNNINGHAM, Rickey Lee, Amarillo, Texas: Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
DE LABIO, Richard Anthony, Baltimore, Maryland: Mail fraud, aiding and abetting
DEUTCH, John, Described in January 19, 2001 information
DOUGLAS, Richard, False statements
DOWNE, Edward Reynolds, Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion; securities fraud
DUDLEY, Marvin Dean, Omaha, Nebraska: False statements
DUNCAN, Larry Lee, Branson, Missouri: Altering an automobile odometer
FAIN, Robert Clinton, Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return
FERNANDEZ, Marcos Arcenio, Miami, Florida: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana
FERROUILLET, Alvarez, Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering, false statements
FUGAZY, William Denis, Harrison, New York: Perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding
GEORGE, Lloyd Reid, Mail fraud
GOLDSTEIN, Louis, Las Vegas, Nevada: Possession of goods stolen from interstate shipment
GORDON, Rubye Lee, Tampa, Florida: Forgery of U.S. Treasury checks
GREEN, Pincus, Switzerland:
HAMNER, Robert Ivey, Searcy, Arkansas: Conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
HANDLEY, Samuel Price, Hodgenville, Kentucky: Conspiracy to steal government property
HANDLEY, Woodie Randolph, Hodgenville, Kentucky: Conspiracy to steal government property
HARMON, Jay Houston, Jonesboro, Arkansas: 1. Conspiracy to import marijuana, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, importation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, 2. Conspiracy to import cocaine
HEMMINGSON, John, Interstate transport of stolen property, money laundering
HERDLINGER, David S., St. Simons Island, Georgia: Mail fraud
HUCKLEBERRY, Debi Rae, Ogden, Utah: Distribution of methamphetamine
JAMES, Donald Ray, Fairfield Bay, Arkansas: Mail fraud, wire fraud, and false statement to a bank to influence credit approval
JOBE, Stanley Pruet, El Paso, Texas: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud
JOHNSON, Ruben H., Austin, Texas: Theft and misapplication of bank funds by a bank officer or director
JONES, Linda, Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and other offenses against the United States
LAKE, James Howard, Illegal corporate campaign contributions, wire fraud
LEWIS, June Louise, Lowellville, Ohio: Embezzlement by a bank employee
LEWIS, Salim Bonnor, Short Hills, New Jersey: Securities fraud, record keeping violations, margin violations
LODWICK, John Leighton, Excelsior Springs, Missouri: Income tax evasion
LOPEZ, Hildebrando, San Isidro, Texas: Distribution of cocaine
LUACES, Jose Julio, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: Possession of an unregistered firearm
MANESS, James Timothy, Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
MANNING, James Lowell, Little Rock, Arkansas: Aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false corporate tax return
MARTIN, John Robert, Gulf Breeze, Florida: Income tax evasion
MARTINEZ, Frank Ayala, Elgin, Texas: conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
MARTINEZ, Silvia Leticia Beltran, Elgin, Texas: Conspiracy to supply false documents to the Immigration and Naturalization Service
McCORMICK, John Francis, Dedham, Massachusetts: Racketeering conspiracy, racketeering, and violation of the Hobbs act
McDOUGAL, Susan H.,
MECHANIC, Howard Lawrence, 1. Violating the Civil Disobedience Act of 1968; 2. Failure to appear
3. Making false statement in acquiring a passport
MITCHELL, Brook K., Sr., Conspiracy to illegally obtain USDA subsidy payments, false statements to USDA, and false entries on USDA forms
MORGAN, Charles Wilfred, III, Little Rock, Arkansas: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
MORISON, Samuel Loring, Crofton, Maryland: Willful transmission of defense information, unauthorized possession and retention of defense information, theft of government property
NAZZARO, Richard Anthony, Winchester, Massachusetts: Perjury and conspiracy to commit mail fraud
NOSENKO, Charlene Ann, Phoenix, Arizona: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, and influencing or injuring an officer or juror generally
OBERMEIER, Vernon Raymond, Belleville, Illinois: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and using a communications facility to facilitate distribution of cocaine
OGALDE, Miguelina, Glendale, California: Conspiracy to import cocaine
OWEN, David C., Olathe, Kansas: Filing a false tax return
PALMER, Robert W., Little Rock, Arkansas: Conspiracy to make false statements
PERHOSKY, Kelli Anne, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania: Conspiracy to commit mail fraud
PEZZOPANE, Richard H., Palo Heights, Illinois: Conspiracy to commit racketeering, and mail fraud
PHILLIPS, Orville Rex, Waco, Texas: Unlawful structure of a financial transaction
POLING, Vinson Stewart, Jr., Baldwin, Maryland: Making a false bank entry, and aiding and abetting
PROUSE, Norman Lyle, Conyers, Georgia: Operating or directing the operation of a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol
PRUITT, Willie H. H., Jr., Port Richey, Florida: Absent without official leave
PURSLEY, Danny Martin, Sr., Goodlettsville, Tennessee: Aiding and abetting the conduct of an illegal gambling business, and obstruction of state laws to facilitate illegal gambling
RAVENEL, Charles D., Charleston, South Carolina: Conspiracy to defraud the United States
RAY, William Clyde, Altus, Oklahoma: Fraud using a telephone
REGALADO, Alfredo Luna, Pharr, Texas: Failure to report the transportation of currency in excess of $10,000 into the United States
RICAFORT, Ildefonso Reynes, Houston, Texas: Submission of false claims to Veterans Administration
RICH, Marc, Switzerland:
RIDDLE, Howard Winfield, Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado: Violation of the Lacey Act (receipt of illegally imported animal skins)
RILEY, Richard Wilson, Jr., Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute
ROBBINS, Samuel Lee, Cedar Park, Texas: Misprision of a felony
RODRIGUEZ, Joel Gonzales, Houston, Texas: Theft of mail by a postal employee
ROGERS, Michael James, McAllen, Texas: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana
ROSS, Anna Louise, Lubbock, Texas: Distribution of cocaine
RUST, Gerald Glen, Avery, Texas: False declarations before grand jury
RUST, Jerri Ann, Avery, Texas: False declarations before grand jury
RUTHERFORD, Bettye June, Albuquerque, New Mexico: Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
SANDS, Gregory Lee, Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
SCHWIMMER, Adolph, Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to export arms and ammunition to a foreign country and related charges
SERETTI, Albert A., Jr., McKees Rocks, Pennyslvania: Conspiracy and wire fraud
SHAW, Patricia Campbell Hearst, Wilton, Connecticut: Armed bank robbery and using a firearm during a felony
SMITH, Dennis Joseph, Redby, Minnesota: 1. Unauthorized absence; 2: Failure to obey off-limits instructions;
3. Unauthorized absence
SMITH, Gerald Owen, Florence, Mississippi: Armed bank robbery
SMITH, Stephen A.,
SPEAKE, Jimmie Lee, Breckenridge, Texas: Conspiracy to possess and utter counterfeit $20 Federal Reserve notes
STEWART, Charles Bernard, Sparta, Georgia: Illegally destroying U.S. Mail
STEWART-ROLLINS, Marlena Francisca, Euclid, Ohio: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine
SYMINGTON, John Fife, III,
TANNEHILL, Richard Lee, Reno, Nevada: Conspiracy and restraint of trade
TENAGLIA, Nicholas C., Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania: Receipt of illegal payments under the Medicare program
THOMAS, Gary Allen, Lancaster, Texas: Theft of mail by postal employee
TODD, Larry Weldon, Gardendale, Texas: Conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. in violation of the Lacey Act and the Airborne Hunting Act
TREVINO, Olga C. , Converse, Texas: Misapplication by a bank employee
VAMVOUKLIS, Ignatious, Exeter, New Hampshire: Possession of cocaine
VAN DE WEERD, Patricia A., Tomahawk, Wisconsin: Theft by a U.S. Postal employee
WADE, Christopher V.,
WARMATH, Bill Wayne, Walls, Mississippi: Obstruction of correspondence
WATSON, Jack Kenneth, Oakridge, Oregon: Making false statements of material facts to the U.S. Forest Service
WEBB, Donna Lynn, Panama City, Florida: False entry in savings and loan record by employee
WELLS, Donald William, Phenix City, Alabama: Possession of an unregistered firearm
WENDT, Robert H., Kirkwood, Missouri: Conspiracy to effectuate the escape of a federal prisoner
WILLIAMS, Jack L., Making false statements to federal agents
WILLIAMS, Kevin Arthur, Omaha, Nebraska: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine
WILLIAMS, Robert Michael, Davison, Michigan: Conspiracy to transport in foreign commerce securities obtained by fraud
WILSON, Jimmie Lee, Helena, Arkansas: Converting property mortgaged or pledged to a farm credit agency, and converting public money to personal use
WINGATE, Thelma Louise, Sale City, Georgia: Mail fraud
WOOD, Mitchell Couey, Sherwood, Arkansas: Conspiracy to possess and to distribute cocaine
WOOD, Warren Stannard, Las Vegas, Nevada: Conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing a false document with the Securities and Exchange Commission
WORTHEY, Dewey, Conway, Arkansas: Medicaid fraud
YALE, Rick Allen, Belleville, Illinois: Bank fraud
YASAK, Joseph A. , Chicago, Illinois: Knowingly making under oath a false declaration regarding a material fact before a grand jury
YINGLING, William Stanley, Interstate transportation of stolen vehicle
YOUNG, Phillip David, Little Rock, Arkansas: Interstate transportation and sale of fish and wildlife

The Hidden Truth....

Over the course of the last couple of years, I've had the chance to discuss with my father the slanted coverage of the Iraq War provided by our Media outlets. As a regular reader of the Powerline Blog, I've had the chance to read some excellent views from Iraq by a freelance journalist, named Michael Yon. Michael, has paid on his own (With assistance from donors on his website) numerous trips to both Afghanistan and Iraq. A couple days ago, he posted this very eye opening report about a trip he spent with some of our finest young men.

Warning!!: The pictures in this story can be graphic, and contain images of innocent victims of the war. (but not by us!)

I can only ask, why are those, whose voice's shrill the papers crying injustice upon our troops, silent about the atrocities committed on a daily basis by Al Qaeda.

The link is here: "Bless the Beast and Children"


Also, Thanks to guys at Powerline for ensuring that the rest of us have the opportunity to be empowered knowledge of the work of people like Michael Yon.