Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

 

John DuPont Train Set Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

The electric trains with which John duPont played while a lonely boy in a large, fatherless home with a coddling mother are among the items from his estate which are being auctioned tomorrow, Nov. 26, in Ludwig’s Corner, Pa.

DuPont, the richest man to ever be convicted of murder for the 1996 killing of Olympic gold medal wrestler Dave Schultz, died Dec. 9 in minimum-security state prison in Mercer.

He had grown up and lived in Newtown Township, Delaware County.

In the  1980s, duPont was on the lists of the magazine rankings of the richest Americans, and presidents were  hosted at his home.

The auction starts 9 a.m. at Griffith Hall, Ludwig’s Corner Fire Company 1325 Pottstown Pike (Route 100), Glenmoore, PA 19343

DuPont Portrait Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot
This portrait of duPont in garb of the Foxcatcher wrestling program which he ran at his Newtown estate and which led to his ultimate downfall is expected to bring between $500 and $700. Auctioneer Ted Wiedersiem says duPont paid artist Hubert Shuptrine $100,000 to have it done.

 

 

Auction Gives John du Pont Snapshot

Ebonics Experts Sought By Justice Department

Ebonics Experts Sought By Justice Department — In  “things you might have missed”, the U.S. Department of Justice, last summer, sought to hire experts in Ebonics —  the slang used in some black neighborhoods.

And that’s where our money goes.

Oh Barbara Billingsley, if only you still lived.


Ebonics Experts Sought By Justice Department

Thanksgiving Day Trolley Crash

Thanksgiving Day Trolley CrashThanksgiving Day Trolley Crash — Trolley service was halted on SEPTA’s Route 101 line Thanksgiving Day when a Media-bound trolley hit a car at about 3 p.m.,  at the Springfield Road stop.
Photo by Anthony Lawrence

 

 

Thanksgiving Day Trolley Crash

A Day For Prayer

The Roar

A Day For Prayer

First off, let’s get it right!  I want to wish all my fellow Americans a happy day for thanksgiving and prayer.  These are George Washington’s words when he sign a decree designating November 26, 1789, as a day of “Public thanksgiving and prayer.”

I am sick and tired of this whack-a-doo anti-American sect somehow erasing our Forefather’s original message and intent with their secular and anti-Christian overlap.  Today, in the year of our Lord 2011, let us all proceed to renew our American instinct and dedicate our efforts towards the return of the principles which made our Country so great.  For I believe that our current turmoil and agitation comes as the direct result of our waywardness from our original design.

In 1962, our august Supreme Court ruled against prayer in school.  In its finding, the Court stated, “prayer in its public school system breaches the constitutional wall of separation between Church and state.”  Also cited was the Court’s, “A union of government and religion tends to destroy government and to degrade religion.”

This was the conclusion to a case against having a twenty-two word voluntary and nondenominational prayer observed in New York State schools.  Consider the words of this particular prayer, “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country.”  This bland moment of reverence is a monumental example as to this continuing push for a secular America.  Ladies and gentlemen, without a rudder, a ship flounders.  Our ship of state is floundering and the reasons are quite clear.

Returning to the words of George Washington, his thanksgiving and prayer proclamation wisely acknowledged “the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor…” also “Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to ‘recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.'”

Now President Washington spoke in lengthy sentences.  It seems to be the trade mark of those early days when diction was more elaborate and defined.    As such, our first President continued proclaiming that this occasion is “to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be…”

Space does not permit the complete proclamation but suffice to say that the main theme to Washington’s decree was his and our worshiping thanks “to the great Lord and ruler of Nations.”

From this historical document, one can readily see that that modern day America has been led to the slaughter.  Starting from when the Constitution was ratified till the 1947 Everson case, which introduced this insipid and Constitutionally unfounded “wall of separation between church and state,” the freedom of religion, to practice and worship remained sacred and untouched.  It is a monumental injustice for nine black robes to embark upon a First amendment detour which has the complete eradication of our Christian doctrines and heritage as it final quest.  In essence, our Supreme Court created new law which for all intent and purposes contradicted our First Amendment’s recognition of our inalienable religious rights by prohibiting their “free exercise.”

So on this day of thanks and prayer, while we all enjoy the football games and eagerly anticipate the Black Friday store gimmicks, remember that it was a Supreme Court authority, the same authority which will now consider the constitutionality of Obamacare, which trashed our inalienable religious freedoms.  As such, their record for upholding Constitutional safeguards should send shudders throughout our society.  If ever there was a time to “beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions,”  this seems to be the occasion.  The father of our Country was right, and his message still rings true.  A day for “thanksgiving and prayer.”

Jim Bowman Author of
This Roar of Ours

Wisconsin D.A. Charges Child With Sex Crime

Wisconsin D.A. Charges Child With Sex Crime — Lisa Riniker, the district attorney of Grant County, Wisconsin, has been named in a federal lawsuit alleging that she, among other things, improperly tried to coerce a statement of guilt from a six-year-old boy whom she charged with first-degree sexual assault after playing “doctor” with two 5-year-old friends.

“She bypassed the parents and sent a 6-year-old boy a summons, on which is a threat that the 6-year-old will go to jail for failure to appear,” said Christopher Cooper, one of the attorneys representing the boy’s parents.

Ms. Rinker is quoted in the lawsuit as saying “the Legislature could have put an age restriction in the statute … the legislature did no such thing.”

The biggest threat this nation faces is not Islamic terrorism, China, global warming, illegal aliens or an EMP attack but the extremely large number of really stupid, callous people who have acquired power and authority far beyond their level of competency.

 

Wisconsin D.A. Charges Child With Sex Crime

MADD, What Happened?

The Roar

MADD, What Happened

I have witnessed the seemingly overnight and phenomenal growth of MADD from its original ten members to it’s current National membership roster. Along with corporate sponsorships MADD now even entertains their own DUI grading system over the various State and local law enforcement agencies.

MADD’s immense network now can place representatives in courtrooms across the country to ensure that DUI offenders receive a proper verdict.  However, as a recent event suggests, maybe MADD picks and chooses which case to intimidate.

Just after midnight, on April 30th, it seems that two Philadelphia police officers observed a vehicle  proceeding in the wrong direction on a one way street.  After stopping the vehicle, both officers noticed that the driver appeared to be glassy eyed and smelled of alcohol.  The ensuing breathalyzer test turned up a .16 result, or twice the legal limit.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported the results of this DUI case in an article written by Mensah M. Dean on November 2nd.  In that essay, it seems that this .16 BAC defender benefited when the “judge threw out all the evidence in her drunken-driving case.”  It just so happens that the defendant is none other that Rep. Cherelle Parker, who happens to hail from the same Northwest Alliance political camp as does Judge Hayden.

Now, a case with such incriminating evidence, there had to be substantial questions which led the judge to dismiss the charge.  The judge cited “credibility concerns” related to the two officer’s testimony.  Cited was officer Stephanie Allen’s “first that no other cars were on the street, but changed her testimony during cross-examination.”  Wow, that should exonerate  Rep. Parker.

As a lifelong Philadelphia resident, Deputy Attorney General Marc Costanzo stated, “I  understand how things go around here.  No, I’m not surprised.”

My question is not about Philadelphia’s political  shenanigans but to the AWOL status of our heroines of DUI safety.  The attention getter in this case, from a MADD standpoint, should be the breathalyzer result.  Of course, there is also the matter of an elected representative being the possible offender.  Obviously, water too deep, even for the mermaids from MADD .

In spite of appearances, there still might be a positive or teachable moment.  Contrary to what many now believe as the only enforcement tool against DUI offenders, a police check point, which is a politically correct rendition of the term roadblock, was not in use.  Oddly enough, probable cause led to the vehicle stop as the officers observed the vehicle being driven opposite to the one way street sign,  Yes, this is the procedure which worked up and until the MADD influence appeared on the scene.  This enforcement practice is in accordance with our Constitutional safeguards enumerated in our Fourth Amendment, something which MADD obviously deems expendable.

In conclusion, Deputy Attorney General said it best when he stated, “I’m a little surprised that a city judge would find two police officers who testified – in my opinion – consistently about an incident less credible than someone who blew a .16 blood alcohol reading.”  I’ll drink to that!

Jim Bowman, Author of,
This Roar of Ours

Nancy Pelosi And This Conscience Thing

Nancy Pelosi And This Conscience Thing — Nancy Pelosi, the fearless leader of the House Democrats, has taken issue with the Catholic Church because it is objecting to a potential Obama administration ruling that would force  insurance companies to cover birth control, contraception and drugs that could cause abortions.

President Zero is refusing to allow a moral exemption for religious groups.

Fearless Leader Pelosi told the Washington Post that “I’m a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it . . . but they have this conscience thing”

Yes, Nancy  that “conscience thing” that led the Church to do things like:


“This conscience thing”, today, is also leading the Church  to oppose things like greedy insider financial deals and stock market cheating.

You probably  have a problem with that as well.

Have you ever thought about getting “this conscience thing?”


Nancy Pelosi And This Conscience Thing

Corbett Role In Penn State Scandal

Pop Quiz: What’s the relationship between the following two statements which have appeared in recent news articles:

1) “Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s national profile rises in the wake of Penn State scandal.”

2) “Tom Corbett has been mentioned as a possible Vice Presidential candidate.”

Strangely,
they are inversely proportional. When one’s profile rises, that’s
typically a good thing. But as the nation learns about some very
disturbing actions of Corbett related to the Penn State scandal, his
Veep chances are plummeting. As a direct result, his chances of ever
being a heartbeat away are between zero and forgetaboutit.

At this rate, he may be lucky just to survive his first term.

Why
the cover-up, and how far up the ladder did it go? Why the lack of
swift action, from not just the University, but from law enforcement?
And how could football — no matter how storied a program — have
risen above the protection of innocent children?

These questions
were supposed to be answered by a thorough and unbiased investigation by
the state Attorney General’s Office. But as more information emerges
on that front, the less faith people have that justice has been — or
will be — served.

Enter Tom Corbett.

For better or
worse, Corbett has been a quiet, behind-the-scenes governor during his
first year in office. Yet he felt compelled to address the state and
national media on the scandal. In doing so, he said more in one press
conference than he had in his entire governorship, despite the fact that
he declined to answer most questions.

Interestingly, Corbett is
wearing three hats. He is the Governor of a state that contributes
millions to Penn State. He is a Penn State Board Trustee who
participated in Board decisions, including the firings of Joe Paterno
and University President Graham Spanier. And most significantly, he is
the former Attorney General who launched the child molestation
investigation of former football coach Jerry Sandusky in 2009.

Corbett has attempted to have the
best of both worlds: national publicity where he touts the virtues of
morality, and a free pass on accountability because of alleged
confidentiality issues. But that tactic has backfired, as the media
spotlight turned on Corbett himself. The more that is learned about
Corbett’s actions — and inactions — regarding the investigation, the
more his credibility tanks.

Consider:

1) It took
substantially longer for the Attorney General’s office to bring charges
against Sandusky than it did for numerous politicians to be indicted in
the Bonusgate corruption probe. Bonusgate was a very complex
investigation involving crafty politicians with the best lawyers money
could buy. Since much of what was being investigated in Bonusgate was
not run-of-the mill illegalities, the investigators had to overcome a
hefty, time-consuming learning curve to understand the subject matter.

So
how can such a complicated investigation come to fruition more quickly
than a black-and-white child rape case? And where is the rule against
making an initial arrest to get the molester off the street — and warn
the public — while continuing to build the case?

Given the
appalling nature of the alleged crimes, and the real possibility that
more young children were molested during the three year investigation,
why did the Attorney General wait so long to make the staffing level as
robust as it should have been from the start?

If the answer is
that resources were limited — sorry, try again. As bad as other
crimes may have been, such as those committed in Bonusgate, no one was
physically hurt and the welfare of children was never an issue. Giving
priority to children who are at risk of rape and molestation is a
no-brainer. But inexplicably, that wasn’t done.

The Governor
continues to defend his actions — scolding those who dare question him
— by stating that it takes time to build such a case and that he
can’t comment further, but three years? That’s an insult to everyone,
especially the victims. Again, you can’t have it both ways,
grandstanding for political points but clamming up when the questions
get tough.

And fair or not, many are now asking if the
investigation was delayed so that Corbett could avoid being the
gubernatorial candidate who took down Joe Paterno and Penn State —
both wildly popular among the hundreds of thousands of alumni living in
the state.

2) This one is simply incomprehensible.

In yet another instance of Corbett finishing what former Democratic Governor Ed Rendell started (others being $20 million of taxpayer money to renovate the Yankees’ AAA stadium, and $42 million to bail out the Philadelphia Shipyard to build ships with no buyers), the Governor personally approved a $3 million taxpayer-funded grant to Sandusky’s Second Mile charity — just four months ago!

That bears repeating. Tom Corbett,
with full knowledge that Sandusky was under investigation for multiple
child rapes, still approved the money to his charity.

How is that possible? And why on earth is the national media not yet running with this?

In
a response that was offensive to any rational person, here’s what his
spokesman said, as reported in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

“He
(Corbett) couldn’t block that (grant) from going forward because of
what he knew as attorney general…He couldn’t let on to anyone (including
the governor’s office) what he knew….”

That is so wrong that it begs the question as to the real motivation behind approving the grant.

First,
the fact that so many people had been interviewed by the grand jury
made the investigation anything but a secret. Second, the Harrisburg
Patriot News reported on the grand jury investigation —- in March.
Corbett approved the funds — in July! So not wanting to “let on” was
clearly bogus. The investigation was already well-established in the
public domain.

Secondly, there was an incredibly easy way to deal
with the grant without tipping off anyone: simply strike it. After
all, the budget Corbett signed cut everything else, so a grant to a
charity would have been seen as just another casualty of financial
cutbacks.

Veto the grant (why taxpayers are funding that in the
first place is obscene, but that’s another story) and be done with it.
It should have been that easy. But it didn’t happen.

Why?

Well, consider if the following may have had anything to do with it. According to the sports website Deadspin.com,
past and present board members of the Second Mile, along with their
businesses and families, have donated more than $640,000 to Corbett
since 2003.

That interesting — and massively
significant — point seemed to have slipped the Governor’s mind during
his press conferences. Go figure.

Something is rotten to the
core about how this whole affair has been investigated. It’s time for
the Feds to take the lead role in uncovering the whole truth, and that
includes possibly looking into the Attorney General’s investigation.

It’s
clear the Board of Trustees cannot be counted upon to conduct an
unbiased investigation, nor can the local police, and, sadly, even the
Attorney General’s office. And nothing emanating from the Governor’s
office on this issue can be taken at face value.

In discussing
why Paterno and Spanier were fired, the Governor said, “…the Board lost
confidence in their ability to lead Penn State through this time and
into the future.”

With all the opportunities Tom Corbett has had
to play it straight with the people of Pennsylvania — especially the
victims — on his dealings with the Penn State issue, he hasn’t done
so.

And that has caused an ever-increasing number of people to lose confidence in his ability to lead.

There
is a great scene in the movie The American President where Richard
Dreyfuss suggests that being president “was, to a certain extent, about
character.” And in classic Michael Douglas style, he replies, “I can
tell you, without hesitation, that being President is entirely about
character.”

Well, character isn’t limited to the Oval Office. It
resides in every one of us — and that includes Governors, Trustees,
coaches, police and investigators.

Moving forward, let’s demand that a basic legal and moral principle be followed to the very end:

Fiat justitia ruat caelum —“Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

The victims deserve no less.

 

Corbett Role In Penn State Scandal

Kyle Bass Gives BBC Econ 101 Lesson

Kyle Bass Gives BBC Econ 101 Lesson — Reader Tom C sent this link from an interview by Sarah Montague of BBC’s HARDTalk of Kyle Bass, the Texan who founded Hayman Capital Partners, a hedge fund that made a mint short selling mortgage bonds during the subprime disaster and, more recently, bonds issued by the government of Greece.

Ms. Montague implied he was profiting from the suffering of others. Bass replied that he was looking out for his investors and that blaming him for the fiscal implosion of governments and financial institutions is  akin to blaming the mirror for one being ugly.

Here is the interview. It is worth watching.

Tom also sent this link from FrontPageMag.Com regarding the on-going persecution of Christians throughout the Muslim world. It’s not something you’d see in the Inquirer.

Thanks Tom.

 

Kyle Bass Gives BBC Econ 101 Lesson

Delco Pats Hear GOP Senate Hopefuls

Delco Pats Hear GOP Senate Hopefuls — Five prospects for the Republican nomination to take on incumbent Little Bobby Casey in  next year’s senate race appeared before the Delaware County Patriots, Thursday, at the Knights of Columbus hall in Newtown Square.

Moderator was Kevin Kelly of The Loyal Opposition, a Philadelphia-based Tea Party group.

About 150 were in attendance.

Unfortunately, I was not one of them due to a being drafted for a pierogi-making project at my church.

Ali Carey, however, did cover the meeting and the story has been published here at PoliticsPa.Com.

Ali says the winners were Steve Welch and Sam Rohrer.

If anyone wants pierogies they can be had by calling Kathy at 610-328-4731. The fillings are potato and cheese and they are delicious. Price is $7 per dozen or three dozen for $20.

 

Delco Pats Hear GOP Senate Hopefuls