A New Sense of Decency?

MoonHowler

All over the place I have been amazed at the new sense of decency and the absence of rancor. Both The Bush Family and the Obama Family have set the tone for how people behave in a civilized society. They have shown America what it is like to have good manners.

No one was arrested yesterday despite the fact that probably a million and a half people were on the Mall. Many of those people were struck for hours because streets were closed and many simply were lost. Again, no one was arrested.
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Thank you, Laura Bush

MoonHowler

Much as been made lately of how history will judge George Bush. However, as I sat watching PBS and the History Channel on the eve of an Inauguration, I could not help but notice how much of an impact the first ladies have made on the White House and on the office of the presidency. From Dolly Madison saving the portrait of Washington to Jackie Kennedy’s decorating, the first ladies have left their mark on history.

Laura Bush is probably one of the most soft-spoken, gracious women in America and she has been one of the most popular first ladies. Her interests run from literacy to aids cure, combating malaria, and fighting breast cancer and heart disease. Probably reading and children’s literacy would be her favorite cause because of her background as a teacher and librarian.

Laura Bush is remarkable because she has maintained her popularity during a time when her husband has been at his nadir in popularity. She has maintained a balance most fail to achieve—she supported her husband and at the same time let us all know that she was not a drone. She will be missed and her influence and grace will be permanently etched in the White House.

“yes we can”…….AND…Yes We Will… truimph as a Nation through this current crisis!

Elena

The message of President Obama (I know, its a day early, but this is the Inauguration thread!), is one of hope and belief, belief not only in ourselves, but in each other. I will be watching the event with several family members and friends. I feel like we are about to embark on a journey frought with joy and pain, hope and struggle, and if we can just weather this storm, not struggling simply to save ourselves, but save each other in the process, will will emerge as a nation, stronger and more unified.

YES WE CAN!

Border Agents Sentences Commuted

Alanna

The two border agents convicted of shooting an unarmed suspected drug smuggler have not been pardoned but rather have had their sentences commuted by President Bush.  They’ve served a few years of their decade law prison terms and will be released some time in March.  Honestly, I haven’t been as informed on this issue as I probably should have been.

PWConservative recently wrote a thread entitled – Badges of Dishonour where he makes a compelling case against clemency for these guys.  Good news is these guys are still convicted felons and as such will never again work in law enforcement.

A Time for Every Purpose….MLK Day 2009

MoonHowler

I did something yesterday I never thought I would do. I spent the morning explaining to people of very different generations who Pete Seeger is. One of them is my own daughter. I had always thought she knew a great deal about music. Another was a person slightly older than I am. Then there were the in-betweens. To me, not knowing who Pete Seeger is is like, not knowing who Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen  or Bob Dylan is. Perhaps I exaggerate……. The History Channel and PBS are my friends. There have been several terrific shows about Pete Seeger.

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Gainesville Fire Department Dissolved

Alanna

Both the News Messenger and the Washington Post carry articles about the problems at the Gainesville Fire Department located off of John Marshall Highway. The most recent scandal involves the results of an internal audit ordered by the County Board of Supervisors last September. The audit uncovered – staff that were not medically qualified to serve, volunteers that did not have the proper certifications and a woefully inadequate accounting mechanism.

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Low, Unprincipled Dogs of the Mortgage Foreclosure Industry

MoonHowler

There are just no shortages of low, unprincipled dogs in the world. Crooks now have discovered a new scheme to take advantage of those in foreclosure. “Foreclosure rescue companies” are springing up everywhere there are an abundance of foreclosures and these swindlers move in on desperate people.

Today’s NYTimes exposes how ubiquitous, smarmy and sleazy these unscrupulous companies are.

Borrowers seeking loan modification are often frustrated that they cannot reach the right people at their lender or that the lender insists on a repayment plan they cannot keep, said Ira Rheingold, executive director of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

“When you’re desperate, that’s when the crooks come out,” Mr. Rheingold said. “You’ve tried everything, and a guy calls you up on the phone or there’s an ad on TV, and you have no other options, what do you do? You go to those guys.

 

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Plane Lands in the Hudson River

MoonHowler

“Brace for impact, we are going down.” Those were the pilot’s words to the passengers and crew of US Air flight 1549 bound for Charlotte, NC. The news is covered with this miracle story. Apparently, birds struck the plane and both engines caught fire. All 155 passengers got out alive with minimal injury. Women and children left first.

The pilot came out of the plane last. What a hero! All the passengers said the pilot saved them and he was truly a miracle worker. We will sure be hearing more about this gentleman in the days to come. What are the chances that an airbus carrying 155 passengers can land in the Hudson, in frigid weather, with no deaths. That simply had to be divine intervention.

We have had so much bad news lately. The Hudson airplane crash and Joshua Castillo give us hope.

What does make a hero? Any suggestions?

Party Planning

Alanna

We are quickly coming up on the ‘One Year Anniversary’ for Anti-BVBL and are soliciting locations for our get together.  Of course, I have a fondness for El Portal’s in Woodbridge where we held our first Economy Recovery Party last year.  I’m open for suggestions, if anybody has some other places that they’d like to suggest.

Call to Service: SERVE Food Drive

Alanna

President-elect Barack Obama has issued a National Call to Service for Martin Luther King Day, January 19th and members from our local community have responded

I have received the following information concerning a local food drive.

There is a food drive to collect non-perishable food items for the SERVE Food Closet in Manassas.

The group is asking people to bring their contributions to 6349 Retreiver Lane in Heritage Hunt, on Sunday the 18th and we will deliver it to the food bank on Monday. If anyone has food but is unable to bring it over they can call 703-743-1142 and someone will pick it up.

I encourage everyone regardless of their political affiliation to participate in supporting our new President.

No Diplomatic Impunity

MoonHowler

A new federal law will hopefully ensure that diplomatic immunity doesn’t turn in to diplomatic impunity, according to Ambassador-at-large Mark Lagon, director of the office to monitor and combat human trafficking at the State Department. The law attempts to crack down on foreign diplomats who bring workers into the United States and then treat them as slaves.

According to the DC Examiner,


The human trafficking bill gathered congressional support after the Government Accountability Office released a report in July citing 42 cases in which diplomats, most of whom live in the Washington area and New York City, abused their household workers. There are likely many more cases, the report said, but they remain unknown to law enforcement because workers often fear U.S. authorities and the power of their employers.

The report cited gaps in the State Department’s review of the visas given to diplomats’ household staff and noted a failure to track the workers once they’re in the U.S. The lack of oversight, the report said, makes it easy for diplomats to hide behind their immunity as they underpay, mistreat and enslave their employees.

But the new law requires a tracking system be put in place and greater cooperation between the departments of State and Justice. New visa review standards will be implemented, including a requirement that officials who give out the visas meet with workers to inform them of their rights.

Diplomatic immunity has long been a problem for many of us in this area. Too many people are granted immunity and many who have it take advantage of this extension of international ‘good will’ by refusing to take responsibility for their actions and for thumbing their nose at our laws. Countries who have violations in human trafficking will risk having visas revoked. The law will go into effect sometime after the Inauguration. The fact that a human trafficking bill is even necessary speaks ill of the world.

We are almost 10 years into the 21st century. Why should this even be necessary? What is wrong with some of these countries? Does the rest of the world feel human trafficking is an acceptable behavior? Pathetic.

Further reading