Here we go again - Rahm condemns BP as Obama & Biden Save the Gulf while Golfing

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Only in the capitol of the most powerful nation on Earth that is suffering from the most devastating environmental disaster in history could media attention be focused on the leisure activities of our leaders. It all started when Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel went on national television and blasted the CEO of BP, Tony Hayward, for being at a yachting race off England while the BP oil well was still pouring crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico.



Chicago ballet dancer Emanuel is known for his Southside Chicago political pit bull attacks on any opponent of Obama or his policies. The controversial Rahm was attempting to play off the poor image of BP in public opinion polls while deflecting attention from criticism of Obama for his handling of the oil spill.



There were two factual problems not mentioned by Obama cheerleader MSNBC and their liberal morning hosts. One was that the BP CEO Tony Hayward being criticized by Emanuel is no longer in charge of the oil spill having been tossed to the wayside due to relentless media pressure here in the colonies.



The other is that while Rahm was blasting BP for playing while the oil was spewing, his own boss Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden who are still responsible for the oil crisis were also playing at the sport we imported from the UK, golf.



Was the chief of staff unaware of the schedule of his boss or did he think he controlled the media so much that he didn't need to worry about anyone discovering the truth?



Note the irony that as Emanuel beat up on Hayward, another UK resident, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland was winning our very own US Open golf tournament just beating out Gregory Havret of France.



What in the world is going on? An unknown from Northern Ireland wins America's most prestigious golf championship, the first time in 40 years a non-American wins, while a Frenchman finishes second? It must be the End Times!


Over in South Africa at the World Cup soccer matches even a redesigned official soccer ball could not make most matches interesting. I don't know about you but I have a very hard time accepting a tie as anything short of failure, yet the vast majority of matches do end in a tie.

Lyme Disease - the Secret Pandemic Sweeping America - Part 5.

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Why the American medical system has failed us!

Contrary to what most traditional media will report, America does not have the best health care system in the world. Our modern "Western" health care system is based on the simple philosophy of Wall Street, where the money comes from to fuel the health care industry.

The code, philosophy and investment model of Wall Street is; "It must meet the return on investment model for profitability." The goal of Wall Street is to get the maximum return on investment.

Not a bad code for money changers. But that same code that pushed Wall Street to become the main financial source for the health care industry by taking companies public starting in the 1940's is stopping the health care industry from meeting the number one goal of the Hippocratic Code.

"May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help."

The "joy of healing", a most noble calling and one that puts doctors at odds with the corporations of the massive health care industry. From the pharmaceutical companies to hospitals, clinics and insurance companies in the industry, healing is inconsistent with a "maximum return on investment".

Therein lies the fault and tragedy of the Western health care system, specifically here in America. In order for health care companies to get investment houses like Goldman Sachs to manage their trading they must get the maximum return on investment and healing people does not achieve it, treatment does.

The cash flow loved by Wall Street and the investors in health care companies comes from treatment of people with their patented drugs or diagnostic tools for the longest time possible. The longer you stay sick the more they will do to help you. Conversely, if you stay healthy you will not benefit from the health care system.

Before we can ever get our health care system working for us we must first educate ourselves. Long before America existed people were getting health care treatment. In China herbal medicine goes back thousands of years and Indigenous people have also practiced it for thousands of years.

While some medical breakthroughs have brought about significant advancement, especially in the diagnostic side of health care and surgical techniques, it is our addiction to modern medicine and constant diagnostic analysis, because that is what the doctors are taught and that is what the health insurance companies will pay for, that has made healing bad for business.



As a result, most of the thousands of years of healing through natural herbs, remedies and techniques by the Chinese and Indigenous peoples has been lost and is not part of our modern health care system. I cannot emphasize enough the tragedy of this change because the ancient way was always meant to heal people, protect them from disease, make them aware of their personal responsibilities toward their health, and make them a participant in the spiritual healing of their soul to help the physical healing of their body.

Today we have been brainwashed into delegating all control over your health, body and lifestyle to those companies financed by Wall Street and those government agencies whose leaders (presidents and congress) are influenced by campaign cash from those companies and Wall Street.

The people have lost their voice in health care, and the ancient cures have been ruled unprofitable by the powers that be on Wall Street and in our nation's Capitol.

No where is this more apparent than in the diagnosing and treatment of Lyme disease.

To understand this first let us look at antibiotics.

An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. Antibiotics are chemicals produced by or derived from microorganisms meaning parasites or germs such as bacteria and fungi.

They do not help the immune system but temporarily replace a function of the immune system if used properly to attack a bacteria. Over use of antibiotics, meaning more than a few days or that they are prescribed to often will weaken whatever part of the immune system they try to help.

Since antibiotics, by definition, are substances or compounds that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria, it's good to keep two things in mind. First, antibiotics destroy not only bad bacteria but also good ones. Second, antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, not viruses or parasites.

A key discoveries in recent Lyme research done worldwide is that the Lyme bacteria is common to hundreds of other illnesses, and that there is evidence that Lyme disease is not just a bacteria but also a parasite. This means Lyme can be misdiagnosed as hundreds of other diseases, and that to truly wipe out your Lyme disease you must treat the bacteria and parasites.

The Western medicine approach to Lyme disease, when it is correctly identified which may be a very small percent of the time, is a very high dose of antibiotics. This does not effect the parasites which can protect the Lyme bacteria from antibodies. Thus more and more people have reoccurring cases of Lyme and normally each time it gets more severe. Make no mistake, Lyme can kill you. If you have taken antibodies and it comes back it has not been successfully treated.



Each time you take antibodies you are putting more and more germs, parasites or whatever is in the antibody into your body, each time you are potentially damaging your immune system, and each time you are destroying good bacteria your body needs to protect you.

Since antibodies were just discovered in 1929 with the discovery of penicillin from fungi, there have been tens of thousands rushed to market. Yet mankind existed for thousands of years previously with no antibiotics. Lyme was not even discovered until 1975. As antibodies and vaccinations have become more and more common in Western medicine drug resistant cells, more cancer and many drug resistant diseases have been recognized.

Common sense tells us that Lyme must have existed for years or centuries before something triggered it in our bodies. The only logical conclusion is that the destruction of our immune system since the 1940's through the expanded use of antibodies and more recently body scans, MRI, CAT, Mammograms, X rays and other diagnostic tools, with their radiation emissions, have triggered the worldwide outbreak.

Since all the ancient cures are not recognized by Western medicine, we have lost our ability to treat the disease and cannot even successfully identify it. The Lyme bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, has many ways of hiding from a battery of tests by mimicking other diseases and no tests are done for Lyme parasites, parasitic nematomorph.

If you had symptoms like those found in Lyme and began treatment with natural herbs immediately you would not go through the massive confusion, misdiagnoses and lack of adequate treatment for the Lyme. In addition, even if you did not have Lyme but one of the other diseases mimicked by Lyme the treatment would not be harmful because the natural treatments will strengthen your immune system at a minimum, and be may even be effective in treating your actual disease since there is similar bacteria.

I am using three distinct natural treatments. First is Samento, an herbal extract from the Peru rain forest that has been used for 2,000 years to protect the Indigenous people of the rain forest. A second is from ancient Chinese medicine called Dragon's Blood, again natural and again in use for over 2,000 years. The third is intensive doses of salt and vitamin c intended to boost the immune system while making your body an unsuitable host for the Lyme bacteria and parasite.

None of these will be prescribed by your doctor because they are from Eastern and Indigenous medicines and cultures, not pharmaceutical companies. The fact more and more people are being healed with these techniques while more and more people being treated with antibodies are not getting cured because it keeps coming back should open your eyes.

A Plea for Help

I am asking your help in spreading the word about these treatments and hope you will send the links to all my articles to anyone and everyone with Lyme, interested in Lyme, or even being treated for the hundreds of diseases that Lyme can mimic. You can see these lists in Part 1 of the series.

So far many emails have been received from people suffering Lyme disease and I am asking that they all keep in touch with me to compare notes on the natural alternatives and their impact. I will continue to update you with reports on my treatment and condition.

You have a chance to demonstrate for the world to see that our health should not depend on spending $14,000 a year for health insurance to diagnose and treat us but on the ancient wisdom and remedies that kept people healthy an a nominal cost.

Those of you wishing to write my private email can contact me at
ivyonoak@yahoo.com
and let me know your status with Lyme, your current treatment and if you are interested in learning more about the natural treatments I am taking.

I have no financial interest in any company involved in my treatment or supplying the natural herbs and extracts and only want to empower you to take charge of your body, health and life. No one can know the degree you are suffering without experiencing the many ways it attacks your body. The effect on me is far more extensive than what other victims described to me so I appreciate what you are experiencing.

At the same time we need to get the federal government to make meaningful progress toward true health reform by embracing the ancient Eastern and Indigenous herbs, remedies and techniques intended to heal and strengthen, not addict the patient to lifelong treatment.

You can find the first four installments of my Lyme series at the following locations.

Part 1. Lyme Disease - the Secret Pandemic Sweeping America
The Breakdown of the American Medical System - Greed versus Need
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/05/lyme-disease-secret-pandemic-sweeping.html

Part 2. Lyme Disease - the Secret Pandemic Sweeping America
False data, misconceptions and myths on diagnosing and treatment
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/05/lyme-disease-secret-pandemic-sweeping_19.html

Part 3. Lyme Disease - the Secret Pandemic Sweeping America
Attacked by Lyme disease - When you become the Victim!
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/05/lyme-disease-secret-pandemic-sweeping_20.html

Part 4. Lyme Disease - the Secret Epidemic Sweeping America
Treatment with non-western medicine - What is the result?
http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/06/lyme-disease-secret-pandemic-sweeping.html

FIFA World Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow, Friday - USA plays England Saturday

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Here is the official theme song of the World Cup.



Here is my favorite South American singer, Shakira performing her song for the World Cup.





Finally, and you have to be patient because the opening concert for the World Cup was in several languages, here is Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a legendary leader of South Africa through the mean years and friend of Nelson Mandela who brought South Africa through the end of racism.


Archbishop Tutu with Nelson Mandela


Archbishop Tutu with Dalai Lama

I was honored to spend some time with Archbishop Tutu when I worked for the Governor of New Jersey and he was one of the most engaging, entertaining and high spirited souls I ever met with an endless sense of humor. You can see this in the English portions of his World Cup appearance earlier today.






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Have Congress and the President Lost their Minds with BP Attacks? Obama has never even talked to BP!

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Every day the congress and president have taken turns blasting BP for the oil spill and demanding that BP be required to pay for more and more costs that are not the direct result of BP actions. Clearly our politicians have read the polls and know it is popular to blast BP but will it help the people of the Gulf get their money, will it help the trial lawyers keep money from going to the people of the Gulf, and could it jeopardize what BP has already agreed to do?

For someone like Obama who claims to be in charge of the situation, and has been since day one, doesn't it seem rather odd that as of today Obama has never talked to the head of BP about anything, not even the spill, the clean up, the methods to stop the leak and the long term consequences. How can we be working with BP if our leader sees no need to even talk to their leader?



From day one BP has already said they will pay for all legitimate costs relating to the oil spill. Under existing federal law they are only required to pay $75 million in costs. In spite of that law they have already agreed to pay out nearly $1.2 billion and are willing to accept much more of the burden. No one in congress or the White House seems to be talking about the fact they are already paying out 16 times more than our federal law requires.

But facts never meant much to politicians anyway and they are now hell bent on persecuting BP for every bill that is even remotely connected, if connected at all, to the oil spill in a feeding frenzy to drive the company into bankruptcy. Of course the liberals in the White House and congress are brain dead to the fact the court does not think retroactive laws are viable so a retroactive change in laws like congress and the president seem to want is probably illegal.

The very same politicians gave away trillions of dollars to banks, insurance companies and auto companies and in spite of the potential for criminal activity having caused the economic meltdown no laws were changed retroactively. Be honest people.



Yesterday Obama's Interior Secretary said BP would have to pay for the consequences of the delay in permits for offshore drilling, the knee jerk reaction of the president to prove he was getting tough on big oil. Such a claim is juvenile and nonsense.

Our government will waste millions of dollars in legal fees pursuing frivolous changes in the laws and defense of the laws in federal courts and the first question should be what law firms get the contracts from the White House and Justice or Interior Departments to do the work since we know our government does not have the legal capability to take on such a mission. Look for prominent campaign contributors to the Obama and congressional leaders among the trial lawyers receiving these contracts.

No one is on BP's side in this debate, and I agree they must pay their fair share. But our Democrat leadership in congress has a twisted view of fair share and will never get away with the promises they are making clearly for campaign purposes. Does the media not remember the hundred promises Obama and the Democrats made in the last campaign they remain ignored?



Why did Obama and the Democrats not go after the banks, mortgage and insurance companies that cost Americans trillions of dollars in savings and real estate values from manipulation of regulations? Instead are politicians wasted billions more to bailout the crooks. Suddenly our politicians have found honesty? It has a lot more to do with campaign contributions than honesty. Thus bellowing about BP is totally inconsistent with the actions of politicians to date.

As expected, BP is not taking kindly to the many threats of bravado from politicians promises to make BP responsible for costs having nothing to do with their commitment or liability. The new government in England is having the same problem as it is a British, not American corporation. Look for BP to start taking legal action to protect itself from stupid claims against them by our government.

A few billion dollars in cost will have little effect on BP, even though the media are screaming they may go bankrupt paying all the cost. BP is one of the largest oil producers in America with over one million barrels a day. They are also one of the largest in the world. Whatever Obama and Congress do to drive down BP stock value will result in higher oil prices, thus higher gas costs for everyone. This will only make more money for BP as a major oil producer.

Liberal politicians seem to think BP bashing is a chance to demonize oil companies and improve the chances for Al Gore's windfall, the president's energy bill. With Goldman Sachs in line to share in the windfall profits from anything Obama does to help alternative energy and limit carbon credits, look for even more threats from Congress.



So what are the other consequences?

For one, we may very well alienate relations with Britain who happens to think their BP is one of the best oil companies in the world and certainly one of the largest multi-national companies in the world. If our congress keeps making charges and demanding BP pay for things not involved in the oil spill Britain can do many things to make life miserable for Obama.

For comparison, just look how the Obama policy affected the sanctions against Iran. We lost the support of two former allies, Turkey and Brazil, and in order to get the support of Russia and China we agreed to remove the only provisions of the sanctions that might have made a difference. Russia is free to sell a ballistic missile system to the renegade nation and there will be no gas embargo against Iran which might have actually done some good.

Our foreign policy moves have been a disaster for the Obama campaign promises, and whatever worldwide goodwill he gained in being elected he has lost with his actions in being president.



As for BP, yes the stock value has dropped in half. That was expected. Any effort to extend the costs beyond the legal liability will have grave economic consequences. The salaries for out of work oil workers whose jobs may be lost because of the Obama suspension of offshore drilling is not the fault of BP. Unsubstantiated claims that BP is liable for up to $30 billion in unidentified costs only increases tension between the US and all other oil dependent nations.

Beyond the fact England is not about to allow Obama to destroy one of the most successful companies in Britain, the Brits could retaliate by withdrawing troop support in Afghanistan, by working trade and development deals in Russia and China that are not beneficial to the US, and a host of other unintended consequences. We need them a lot more than they need us.

As for the 50% loss in stock value at BP, does that really just hurt the company? Billions of dollars in BP stock are held by American pension funds, investment funds for our seniors, and investments by many state governments and institutions from America. The radical rhetoric in Washington just cost our own citizens millions of dollars in value for their retirement accounts. Those same stock holders get one of the biggest dividend payouts of any stock in the world and congress and the president want to stop the dividends as well.



Finally one must not forget there are hundreds of thousands of employees in America in the oil industry, and millions more employed in fields dependent on oil for their products and services who could be out of work if congress overreacts to the crisis. All Americans will suffer from the gas price increase that has resulted from the attacks on the oil industry. It would do well for our politicians to think before they cut loose their bionic tongues.

So whose side are Obama and Congress on? Is it the anti-capitalist side of socialism, the anti-oil side, the far left side advocating the redistribution of wealth, or the side of their top campaign contributors from the trial lawyers who will make millions in fees that should have gone to victims?

We are still waiting for leaders to step forward in Washington whose wisdom is more prominent than their bravado and whose knowledge influences their words. And waiting... And waiting...

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Super Primary Tuesday - Winners and Losers - The People Speak Out

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No matter what the media and political pundits in Washington and New York have to say about it, the Tuesday Super Primary began the age of women in American politics. Ever since the Coltons Point Times launched a campaign last fall to turn America over to women since men seemed to have made quite a mess of things, we have been waiting to get confirmation from the people that they agree.

Last night America made a giant step forward with six major races featuring women winners, five Republican and one Democrat, and most running against the establishment and even away from the two political parties.



THE WINNERS:

NIKKI HALEY, a few weeks ago unknown in her own state of South Carolina, got a huge boost from Sarah Palin and rode the Palin - Tea Party wave to a stunning 2-1 victory. Nikki is the first Indian American woman to have a chance to make history and be a governor in South Carolina and the fact she is a Republican means she will finally get the major party support she deserves.

Haley faced the nastiest smear campaign in politics this year and no one could sum it up better. In her victory talk she mentioned "we faced the Dark Side of politics and won!" The Dark Side has no place in politics and maybe this race will help drive it out.



SUSANA MARTINEZ, the first female Hispanic Republican candidate for Governor of New Mexico also won the nomination handily and could join a surge of Republican minority candidates in the fall election.

CARLY FIORINA, Republican candidate for US Senate is a multi-millionaire and one of only four candidates receiving Sarah Palin's endorsement. Carly is one of the two California CEO females who have a great shot at ending the Democrat control of US Senate seats. She also had an endorsement from Sarah Palin.

MEG WHITMAN, CEO billionaire won the Republican nomination to become the first female Governor from California.

SHARRON ANGLE won nomination for US Senate from Nevada and will bring the Tea Party muscle into the race against Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

BLANCHE LINCOLN overcame a withering $10 million assault from organized labor and with the help of Bill Clinton surprised many pundits by winning the Democratic nomination for her own seat.

TERRY BRANSTAD, former Governor of Iowa won the right to challenge the incumbent governor in the fall election. Branstad also received the endorsement of Sarah Palin.

SARAH PALIN endorsed four candidates yesterday and three won while the fourth, yet another long shot, lost by only 1000 votes. Try as they might the liberal media still cannot understand why Palin is the greatest fundraiser in the nation this year and one of the most dynamic draws for huge crowds.

BILL CLINTON came to the aid of Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas when the unions were spending $10 million to defeat her and with his help she won. It shows that Clinton remains the best politician in the Democratic party and that he can help people when Obama is afraid to get involved in campaigns.

MICHAEL STEELE, the Republican party spokesperson, has overcome a series of controversial statements and actions to help position the Republican party for huge gains in the fall elections. While the liberal media has been working overtime to damage the credibility of the GOP spokesperson, his slate of candidates for the fall could make history.



THE LOSERS:

President Barack Obama who was not involved in a single campaign on Super Tuesday and sat on the sidelines as a formidable field of GOP candidates emerged.

Labor union leaders who wasted $10 million in union contributions trying to defeat Democratic candidate Blanche Lincoln because she was too moderate, not liberal enough. It was a waste of $10 million the Democrats will need in the fall election to avoid a Republican landslide.



Liberal Media who still fail to see the real threat to incumbents as the people continue to purge the national government of incumbents involved in the old game of politics as usual. The denial of the media regarding the power of Palin and the anger of the public toward politicians continues to result in quite slanted reporting on the mood of America.

The national Democrat and Republican parties both lost some power as the people refused to follow the calls of the party leaders to support their slate of candidates.

If you want to see an interesting article with pictures summarizing the primary you should visit the Coltons Point Times by copying and pasting the following election recap,

http://coltonspointtimes.blogspot.com/2010/06/super-tuesday-election-results.html

where our campaign for women to take over America continues.

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Super Tuesday Election Results

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Helen Reddy singing 2010 campaign theme song.


Could it be the dawning of a new age in America? An age a long time in coming and long overdue?

Super Tuesday primary day saw America take a giant leap forward toward Women taking over America and it is long overdue. Since the Coltons Point Time said last fall that it was time we turn the nation over to women, I mean look at the mess the good old boys got us into, the voters have spoken.

Republicans led the way and believe it or not, Republican women, not the liberal Democrats, include a Native American and Hispanic woman both hoping to become the first of their culture to be governors.




Nikki Haley - First Indian American Republican - Governor South Carolina



Susana Martinez - Hispanic Republican - Governor New Mexico



Meg Whitman - Billionaire CEO Republican - Governor California



Carly Fiorina - Millionaire CEO Republican - California US Senate



Sharron Angle - Republican - Nevada US Senator



Blanche Lincoln - Incumbent Democrat - Arkansas US Senate



Sarah Palin - Helped bring about the avalanche of female Republican candidates.

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How BP Gulf Oil Spill should effect Comprehensive Energy Policy in America

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Now that we have heard all the chest beating claims of the liberals and conservationists and the crescendo of photo ops and sound bites from our politicians making all kinds of nonsensical claims about the effect this spill Must Have on energy policy, are we ready for a taste of the truth?

The truth is this. America is dependent on oil to grow and survive. We are not the greatest user of energy per capita, that is Canada. The United States ranks number 7 in per capita consumption. Because of our population we use the most energy.

We use about 100 quadrillion BTUs a year, of which 40% is fossil fuel. In the category of fossil fuel petroleum is 23%, 23% natural gas, Nuclear provides 8.4%, and renewable 7.3% which is mainly from hydroelectric dams. Overall per capita consumption in the US has remained stable since the 1970's.



The alternative fuels being pushed by Obama and others are a viable long term solution but to put them ahead of an aggressive program to secure energy independence from foreign sources through expanded use of oil, natural gas and coal, is simple nuts. With the primary renewal sources of energy providing less than 5% of our total energy needs, the most liberal of development projections would not result in US energy independence with renewable fuels until the end of the 21st century if then. Remember we have to allow for economic growth.

The truth is the only short term investment that can lead to energy independence is use of the oil, gas and coal reserves in an environmentally friendly manner. Meaning, we need regulatory enforcement which did not happen in the BP oil spill case, improved regulations in terms of the back up plan for any future off shore oil drilling, and expanded drilling areas.



With the BP experience we can protect our environment while expanding drilling. We have already seen hundreds of wells drilled off shore in deep water with no problems. We can always improve the back up plans and permit process but should not strangle the use of oil, gas or coal as a result of the BP and Interior Department problem. BP drilled the well but Interior approved the plan and permits.

If we do not do this, or if we get caught up in environmental radicalism we will strangle the American economy and never have the growth necessary to support long term alternative energy development. Make no mistake, alternative energy development is going to result in far more expensive energy and the American public cannot support huge increases in gas and electric costs.

Obama has already embraced the liberal clean energy movement to the point of threatening the short term economic growth of our nation. If we go green today we will go broke. It is that simple. Yet we can start the transition process of going green without going broke by a two tiered energy policy, the aggressive development of fossil fuels to seek energy independence thus lower energy costs while we give incentives for a long term transition to a green energy economy.



Right now most money invested in green energy is going into the pockets of investors, Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs, pseudo environmental groups like Al Gore and his Goldman Partners, and not for the benefit of the industry or to lower energy costs for people.

As for the lesson of the Gulf oil spill, it should serve the same purpose as Three Mile Island. The 1979 TMI nuclear disaster was unexpected, not covered by federal regulations, and brought the nuclear industry in America to a standstill. A cost of billions of dollars were involved in the clean up though no lives or jobs were lost. It is the price you pay for new technology which is exactly what happened in the deep water drilling. We discovered problems never anticipated before.

While nuclear provides just 8.4% of our energy, it supplies up to 70% of the energy in some countries. An unexpected disaster like TMI or the Gulf spill should enable us to learn and make sure it does not happen again. Right now there are far more off shore oil wells, over 2,000, than nuclear plants in the USA, 103 commercial plants, and for the short term oil can be in service in far less time and at far less cost than new nuclear or alternative sources.



Use the BP Gulf experience to learn and grow, not to strangle the future economic growth and independence of America. It is time for the president and congress to do what is right for America, not just what is politically expedient.

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New Jersey Stuck in Political Quagmire - Payoffs Abound for Democrats Menendez & Staff

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Just when we thought our politicians were starting to get the message that payoffs and campaign bribery have no business in our government we learn that Robert Menendez, Senator from New Jersey, was in the midst of securing $8 million in federal special earmark money to pay for corporate work that had already been promised from developers.



In fact, the multi-million dollar luxury condo complex on the New Jersey - New York waterfront required the private financed park as a condition of approval back in 2003, a fact that Menendez says he did not know. What kind of staff work was involved that led him to get $8 million in federal money for a luxury development when hundreds of teachers are being laid off in New Jersey and jobs could have been saved with the same money?

Maybe the problem with Washington politicians can be best seen by this fact. Menendez and former Senator Frank Lautenberg received over $100,000 in campaign contributions from the owners and employees of the privately owned complex. A former member of the Menendez staff received over $200,000 as a lobbyist for the project.



Menendez is quit to point the finger and lay the blame on Wall Street or BP for the problems we face as and he wants to be the leader in fighting to save jobs for the teachers yet he quietly, behind the scenes, is steering $8 million to huge developers and $200,000 to former staff members to pay for a park in one of the most luxurious condo complexes on the Hudson waterfront.

Liberals and Democrats including the powerful teachers union should be outraged at the hypocritical action by their advocate and the people of New Jersey should be disgusted by the continued efforts of the political machine in Washington to steer limited funds to special interests. Wake up New Jersey, you have been sold out again!



Apparently cleaning out the Governor's mansion with the election of Governor Chris Christie was just the first step in cleaning out the horrible mess in the Democrats stranglehold on the state and their disregard for the needs of the people of New Jersey. Using grey areas of the law to benefit huge corporations was supposed to be a thing of the past. Maybe Menendez should become a thing of the past as well to make sure people are heard.



The following is a report on the funding scandal that appeared in the Washington Times online.

By Jim McElhatton

HOBOKEN, N.J. | With a rooftop pool and 24-hour concierge service, the new luxury condominiums off Frank Sinatra Drive here seem an unlikely spot in need of a multimillion-dollar federal giveaway.

Yet U.S. taxpayers doled out at least $8 million on a public walkway and park space in front of the Maxwell Place development here overlooking the New York City skyline - an amenity the development touts alongside its entertainment lounge, rooftop hot tub and theater screening room.

But the decision to use tax dollars to fund the walkway project was made after private developers had already agreed in 2003 to pay for it - indeed, it was a key condition for getting the project off the ground, according to public records and interviews.



Still, under the so-called earmarking process, by which Capitol Hill lawmakers slip requests for pet projects into larger spending bills, Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrats, later pushed for millions of dollars in federal funding for the project.

In the swamp of federal earmark funding, $8 million isn't a lot. But critics say the project is emblematic of why the earmark process so enrages many taxpayers.

Mr. Lautenberg and Mr. Menendez combined have received approximately $100,000 in campaign donations from executives of past and current developers of the Hoboken project and their employees over the years, federal election records show.

What's more, the developers' lobbyist, whose firm reaped more than $200,000 in lobbying fees, was a longtime senior aide to Mr. Menendez, who was a member of the House when the lawmakers secured funding for the project in 2005.

Neither Mr. Menendez nor Mr. Lautenberg said the donations influenced their decisions. They also said they were unaware that the developer had already agreed to spend millions of its own dollars to complete the walkway.

The public walkway and park were dedicated by city officials last year, and developers, on top of the money from the federal government, separately paid out millions of dollars for the project. But questions persist. Watchdog groups, while noting there was nothing illegal about earmarking federal funds for the project, question the push for taxpayer money if developers already were obligated to foot the bill.

"If it already was going to be done by the private sector, why would we swoop in and pick up the majority of the costs?" said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. "That same $8 million could have been used on other worthwhile projects."

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Was Perfection Stolen or can it be Restored? The Saga of Armando Galarraga!

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Check out the finish of the perfect game from YouTube for yourself.



While the media and social web sites were flooded last night with stories of how unknown Armando Galarraga of Venezuela, a pitcher for Detroit who had never pitched a complete game in his 56 major league appearances, almost tasted baseball immortality with the 21st perfect game in history and was robbed by a wrong call by the umpire.

It is a crying shame that he missed his footnote in history but did he? According to Major League rules the Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig, can reverse the call if he sees fit. It is rather odd that the media don't know that obscure fact but it was the last play of the game, since the next batter also was out it made no difference to the stats, scoring or outcome, and the umpire apologized for robbing the player from making history, so I say give him the game and approve the instant replay so no one will ever be robbed again.



Here are various reports on the incident.

In a postgame interview, Armando Galarraga took the high road in defending umpire Jim Joyce. "Nobody's perfect."

Here it is, Bud Selig. Here is your chance to make sure what happened in Detroit on Wednesday night never, ever happens again.

Armando Galarraga was robbed. Stone-cold fleeced. The Detroit Tigers right-hander retired the first 26 Cleveland Indians he faced, and the 27th, Jason Donald, sliced a ground ball wide of first base. Miguel Cabrera fielded it and threw it to a Galarraga, whose foot hit the bag before Donald's did.. It was the 21st perfect game in major league history.

Until Jim Joyce opened his mouth.

Safe,” said the umpire, a 21-year veteran, flailing his arms sideways for emphasis. Of all the umpiring malfeasance in the last year, this was the worst.

History denied by a blown call.

Here is your straw, commish. The camel’s back is broken.

Institute widespread instant replay.

Now.



It should’ve been in place the moment Major League Baseball agreed that technology was sufficient to double-check home run calls. That came in August 2008. In the middle of the season. Selig is not against changing rules on the fly. The slope is already greased.

And this is how he should do it: announce on Thursday morning that he’s putting together a committee of executives, players, MLB officials and union officials to discuss the proper parameters of replay. Weigh, over the next five weeks, the benefits and detriments of different options, like the NFL’s red-flag system that limits teams to two replays per game or a broader option that allows operators in MLB’s central replay office to stop the game to review a call.



Then, at the All-Star Game, announce the new rules and implement them starting in the second half.

It is long overdue. The blown calls in the 2009 playoffs were bad enough. From Phil Cuzzi’s 20/10,000 vision that missed Joe Mauer's shot inside the line during the Division Series to a number of blown calls in Game 2 of the World Series, umpires dished out disappointment with far too much regularity for the most important time of the year.

Still, a postseason replete with embarrassment didn’t compel Selig to change. He defended the game’s human element as if it was some mystical life force that keeps baseball right and fair and just.

Tell that to Armando Galarraga.

He is a 28-year-old from Venezuela. He spent the season’s first five weeks pitching for Detroit’s Triple-A team in Toledo, Ohio. If he isn’t the unlikeliest candidate to achieve baseball immortality, he’s in the picture. Never had he thrown a complete game in any of his previous 56 starts, let alone one approaching perfection.

And yet there he was. Austin Jackson made an amazing over-the-shoulder catch in center field for the first out of the ninth. A groundout to shortstop left him one away, with a rookie at the plate, the perfect formula to flare Galarraga’s senses. He could smell perfection in the air, hear it from the Comerica Park crowd, feel it coursing through his veins, taste its sweetness, see it right in front of him, 60 feet, 6 inches away. It was his..



"I just cost that kid a perfect game," umpire Jim Joyce said. "I thought he beat the throw. I was convinced he beat the throw, until I saw the replay."

It is his.

In the eyes of everyone who saw the replay – television’s, not baseball’s – Galarraga pitched a perfect game. It was a 28-out perfect game, to be specific, as he retired Trevor Crowe for the final out amid the cacophony at the stadium. Fans were mad. They had every right to be.

Joyce stole history.

He feels awful, of course. He should. He screwed up. Even though it wasn’t malicious, intent doesn’t matter. His job is to get the call right. He didn’t do his job.

Replay would’ve. Joyce would’ve been able to laugh it off afterward – saved by something with better eyes than him. He and Galarraga would’ve laughed about it. The perfect game would’ve been legitimate, not something to which baseball fans assign a personal asterisk.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland stood in Joyce’s face after the 28th out and berated him, mimicking the emotions of everyone in the stadium, everyone around the country, everyone who wondered: How dare you? A better question is how dare the commissioner and how dare the umpires’ union and how dare the other Luddites who try to sell the red herring that a few extra minutes here and there aren’t worth it to get the call right every time?



“I don’t know what to say,” Galarraga said.

No one did.

Baseball is stuck with another humiliation. On the day Ken Griffey, Jr. retired, all the sport could talk about was Galarraga and Joyce and the perfect game with the imperfect call. On the same night referees in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals used replay to reverse a missed call and gave the Philadelphia Flyers a goal, baseball let its technology rot on something as infrequent as boundary calls on home runs.

The onus returns to the commissioner. If ever there were a time to invoke the best-interests-of-baseball clause, this is it. Selig must swallow whatever romanticism remains regarding the subject of replay and do right by the game.

If Commissioner Selig reverses the call as he should the following will be true.

It will be the fewest pitches (88) in a perfect game since Addie Joss' 74 in 1908

It will be the shortest perfect game (1:44) since Koufax's 1:43 in 1965

It will be the third perfect game in the 2010s, which would have put them one behind the 1990s for most perfect games thrown in a decade — just one year into the new decade.

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