“Jobless claims rose again by 35,000 last week. Not good. But it does show that if you’re unsuccessful in this country, you didn’t do it on your own. You had help. Thank you, President Obama.”
— Jay Leno
‘Top-Secret’ Spanier, Paterno And Priorities
So they’ve taken down the Joe Paterno statue at Penn State and that is fine but one does wonder at priorities.
Former school president Graham Spanier, the real administrative villain concerning what happend to the once-respected institution; the man who covered up for molester Jerry Sandusky because it was the “humane” thing to do; the man who reportedly covered up other child molestation scandals at the school; has a top-secret clearance with the federal government and is bragging about it.
Call one crazy, but one thinks it far more important to get a guy who thinks it humane to cover up child molestation out of places where he would need a top secret clearance than it is to remove a statue.
For your convenience, here is the press release from Spanier’s lawyers:
July 16, 2012
TWO INVESTIGATIONS: A NEWS RELEASE FROM ATTORNEYS FOR DR. GRAHAM SPANIER
The Freeh report ignored many important facts, including the conclusions of a far more independent and thorough investigation of Dr. Graham Spanier conducted simultaneously by federal officials responsible for our national security.
Dr. Spanier has for some time held a top secret security clearance in connection with his work with the federal government. This clearance required a re-review when the Sandusky matter surfaced in November. Federal investigators then conducted a four-month investigation of their own in which they interviewed many of the same individuals the Freeh Group interviewed and other relevant individuals Freeh did not interview. At the conclusion of the investigation the government reaffirmed Dr. Spanier’s clearance.
Although Dr. Spanier told Mr. Freeh directly about the federal security investigation and its result, there is no mention of it anywhere in the Freeh report.
The Freeh report is not an independent judicial evaluation. Mr. Freeh, no longer a judge, runs a company that was retained by the Board of Trustees of the University. His report contained numerous inaccuracies and reached conclusions that are not supported by the data. Meanwhile, Mr. Freeh unfairly offered up Dr. Spanier and others to those insisting upon a finding of culpability at the highest level of the University. Mr. Freeh’s conclusions are not judicial or law enforcement pronouncements.
Dr. Spanier looks forward to the opportunity in the future to set the record straight and as we have previously said, all of our thoughts and prayers remain with the young people who are at the center of this terrible ordeal.
Attorneys for Dr. Graham Spanier
ELIZABETH K. AINSLIE
SCHNADER HARRISON SEGAL & LEWIS LLP
PETER F. VAIRA
VAIRA & RILEY PC
He Allegedly Stole Money From Mother To Buy Drugs
By Pattie Price
Brian Mullen, 35, of Newtown waived two hearings Thursday, July 19, before Magisterial District Judge Lee Hunter. On the first criminal complaint Mullen is charged with theft by unlawful taking and criminal trespass for an incident 7:20p.m., June 8, at his former Boot Road residence.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Todd Welch responded to a report of a domestic disturbance between Mullen and his mother. Mullen’s mother said when she arrived home she found her son in his bedroom. However, she kicked him out of the house two days prior. When his mother confronted him, Mullen demanded money to buy drugs. She said he is a heroin user.
When Mullen’s mother denied him the money, he grabbed her by the throat, dragged her to her bedroom, and told her to find the money. She was in fear of her life so she told him her money was in her car. Mullen found her car keys and took off in his mother’s 2007 Chevrolet.
On the second affidavit Mullen is charged with receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. These charges stem from an incident 11:46a.m., June 11 when Newtown Officer Joe Vandegrift found the 2007 Chevrolet parked in Greer Park.
Vandegrift said Mullen was sitting alone in the drivers’ seat of his mother’s car. There was fresh blood on the console and a hypodermic needle next to Mullen.
Mullen is scheduled for an Aug. 16 arraignment in Common Pleas Court on both cases.
* * *
Luke Lindsay, 40, of Newtown, waived a hearing on the charges of DUI, accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle, careless driving, and duty to give information and render aid. The charges stem from a hit-and-run accident 1:11p.m., Jan. 16, in the 3700 block of West Chester Pike.
According to the affidavit, Newtown Officer Bill Moor responded to the accident. A radio report indicated the driver fled on foot to Wawa. Moor located Lindsay in the store when Lindsay approached him and said, “Officer, I was just involved in an accident.”
Lindsay had a strong odor of alcohol, glassy eyes, extremely slurred speech, and said he had a little to drink earlier in the day. A portable breath test, administered by Newtown Officer Dan Dougherty, revealed a blood alcohol level of .108 percent. Lindsay was transported to Riddle Memorial Hospital for a blood test.
Lindsay is scheduled for an Aug. 16 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.
Daylin Leach In His Own Words
Daylin Leach In His Own Words — State Sen. Daylin Leach has taken issue with our claim that he implied the Republican Party was the party of anti-Semites during a July 16 Democratic Party rally for Barack Obama at Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, Pa.
Here is the relevant part:
I want to say a word or two about domestic policy because Israel is extremely important but it’s not the only issue, and again because of my name and because I don’t think I necessarily look particularly Jewish people don’t know I’m Jewish often and so I hear things that I would not hear if I was more obviously Jewish. And I’m keenly aware that while we have made great progress, anti-Semitism is still alive and well in parts of America.
And it’s important that we have a president of the United States who understands the importance of protecting religious minorities and the importance of fighting for the separation of church and state.
And it’s particularly important these days because I’m going to be honest the modern Republican Party has become something that it was not when I was a young man growing up which is a largely theocratic party.
Here is some advice Senator: Apologize, move on and, in the future, refrain from smearing groups of people for political gain.
Btw, if you were to propose that the Shema be recited to start the day in public schools very likely most Republicans — at least those you accuse of anti-Semitism — would support you. It’s the denial of God and the 10 Commandments that upset them, not the Old Testament.
Hat tip Bob Guzzardi.
Daylin Leach In His Own Words
Off The Internet –School 1957 vs 2012
Courtesy of Judy McGrane
Scenario 1:
Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck’s gun rack.
1957 – Vice-Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2011 – School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students
And teachers.
Scenario 2:
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 – Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2011 – Police called and SWAT team arrives — they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not sit still in class; he disrupts other students.
1957 -Jeffrey sent to the Principal’s office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2011 -Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario 4:
Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s car and his Dad gives him a whipping.
1957 – Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2011 – Billy’s dad is arrested for child abuse, Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy’s sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy’s mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario 5:
Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 – Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2011 – The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario 6:
Pedro fails high school English.
1957 – Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2011 – Pedro’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro’s English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 7:
Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of
July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed.
1957 – Ants die.
2011 – ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents – and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny’s dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 8:
Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee . He is found crying by his teacher, Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 -In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2011 – Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Off The Internet — Quiz For The Smartest People
Courtesy of Cathy Craddock
These are not trick questions.
1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn’t been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters ‘ dw’ and they are all common words. Name two of them.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter ‘S.’
Answers To Quiz:
1. The one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends: Boxing.
2. North American landmark constantly moving backward: Niagara Falls .. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.
3. Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons: Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. The fruit with its seeds on the outside: Strawberry.
5. How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle? It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
6. Three English words beginning with dw: Dwarf, dwell and dwindle…
7. Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar: Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
8. The only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form but fresh: Lettuce.
9. Six or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with ‘S’: Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes,stockings,stilts.
Divorcing Google Isn’t Easy
Tom Henderson, the principle researcher for ExtremeLabs of Bloomington, Ind., feels Google privacy protection claims are dubious. He notes that the content industry is tied to Google Analytics which he called the “oil well in Google’s basement”. Analytics provides uncanny demographic data to advertisers including what searches one makes, who one calls and even one’s physical location.
So Henderson, tried to cut himself completely from this big brother. It wasn’t easy.
You can read about it here at ITworld.com
Say It Ain’t So, Joe
Jim Vanore gives his take on the Freeh Report and Penn State at his site, Good Writers Block
I was hoping I’d never have to write this piece, but recent revelations regarding the Penn State cover-up of Jerry Sandusky’s sexual predations dictate that I do.
If the information uncovered by the Freeh investigation is accurate—and I’ve little reason to believe it isn’t—then Joe Paterno did indeed take an active part in hiding the deeds of his assistant coach. Deeds that were both illegal and monstrous.
The damaging evidence can be inferred from the “Timeline” section of the report on page 23, wherein the plan devised by University President Graham Spanier, Vice President Gary Schultz, and Athletic Director Timothy Curley on February 26, 2001 includes a three-fold action: 1. Confront Sandusky, 2. Notify the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), 3. Notify the Board of the Second Mile Foundation.
However, this plan is “downgraded” to just confronting Sandusky after it is discussed with Paterno. The ‘new’ plan is to offer Sandusky professional help. If Sandusky does not then cooperate, the notifications to the DPW and Second Mile can proceed.
I read this as Paterno having the ultimate authority here. What else could I infer?
I at first gave Paterno the benefit of the doubt—doubt motivated by my lack of knowledge about what exactly he knew, and what exactly he could have done. I believed he followed the rules strictly and took what action he was mandated to take.
Now, e-mails attributed to Paterno indicate that he not only advised those around him to keep silent about Sandusky’s crimes, but his inaction even allowed this predator to continue his odious assaults for more than 10 years following the discovery of the crime.
Say It Ain’t So, Joe
Pelosi ‘Too Much Time’ Spent On Talk Tax Return Releases
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi who was out front in demanding Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney release even more of his tax returns has changed her tune.
“We spent too much time on that. We should be talking about middle-income tax cuts,” she said.
Her change of view came shortly after demands began being made that she release her tax returns.
Mike Gerber Stepping Down To Take Job At Investment Firm
State Rep. Mike Gerber, who served as the State House Democratic Campaign Committee chairman last cycle, announced Thursday that he is resigning his 148th District (Montgomery County) seat at the end of the term to become senior vice president of public affairs, strategy and product administration at Franklin Square Capital Partners.
Franklin Square, found in 2007, describes itself as enabling investors to tap into the same strategies employed successfully for years by large institutional investors — like pension funds, financial institutions, endowments and high net worth individuals
Just one more Democrat looking out for the little guy. You know, going to the link and looking at the photos of Franklin Square’s management team, well, one can’t say one sees a lot of “diversity” there.