Patriot Act and BO gotta GO!!

Below is the link to this letter which was edited and published in The Daily Astorian on June 21, 2013.
 

Overreaching Powers

The Patriot Act reality.

I was a defender of the Patriot Act in general principle after 9/11 when it was proposed because my understanding was it was only going to be used to hunt down known or suspected terrorists. In the last several days after learning about the massive size and scope of the law I have to admit now it was a big mistake giving the government these kinds of overreaching powers. Knowing what we all know now the law has to be drastically altered or better yet abolished.

When Barack Obama says,” trust the government” I just can’t believe that gathering phone records of millions of innocent Americans is a very” trusting act” nor is it really keeping us any safer from terrorism.

As we’ve seen any number of times in his administration abuse of power is just his normal MO or "Chicago style politics.” Fast and Furious, the IRS targeting Conservatives, the IRS spending $4.1 million on what was basically a lavish vacation, the DOJ secretly subpoenaing the private phonerecords of AP reporters, the Benghazi cover up, the recent graft grab by EPA employees, the billions of taxpayers’ dollars blown on alternative energy companies gone bankrupt, the failed GM and Chrysler bailouts, the massive Obamacare boondoggle that is basically an enormous tax that 75% of the people polled said they didn’t want and still don’t want and now this incredible phone records story.

If anyone really believes that you can “trust” the government to use this information for security and terrorism prevention only look no farther than how the IRS was basically used as a political tool to deny groups on the right their freedom of political expression. By the way, this is the same IRS that is suppose to enforce and collect on the new Obamacare laws next year and we can “trust” them to enforce the law equally?

Do you honestly believe the phone records of people who are politically on the right wouldn’t be tempting information used by power hungry liberal bureaucrats that may find a way to use it against them?

This phone records story was a tipping point, yesterday I called all of the Oregon US Congressional Representatives and demanded that impeachment hearings begin for Obama, enough is enough. I urge others to do likewise because the Obama loving lapdog mainstream media isn’t going to go to bat for freedom or fairness.

Maybe now NSA’s Prism program will check my phone records and put me on a terrorist watch list. Maybe the IRS will audit me because I’m speaking out against the most corrupt President and his no less guilty group of minions in the executive branch, that have ever cursed our country. Bring it on, I'm right here!

The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder: Book Review

The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder by Charles Graeber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is one of the most chilling serial killer crime stories ever told. Charles Cullen was a Nurse for 16 years at 10 different hospitals. During that time it was proven that he killed up to 40 patients by injecting IV bags with drugs that would kill them with overdoses. Digoxin and Insulin were his 2 favorite drugs of choice. Both drugs, when given in lethal amounts causing agonizing death to the victims so Cullen can never claim to be in the mercy killer category.

Cullen’s personal life was a mess as you’ll learn from the book but many of us have had messed up personal lives and never killed anyone so his crimes can’t be defended or excused on any level.

After his arrest Investigators think it’s possible that he could have been responsible for the deaths of up to 400 people making him the most prolific serial killer in American history. Unfortunately proving the other deaths has become an almost impossible task but the investigation is ongoing.

The sad and criminal part of this story is that all of the hospitals suspected and some knew that Cullen was guilty of the drug overdoses but hospital administrators dealt with the problem by firing him and not reporting it because they feared the criminal and civil litigation. The cover up by the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, NJ was the worst of the cases. Not a single administrator from Somerset or any of the hospitals involved for that matter were ever charged or indicted. 

Detectives Tim Braun and Daniel Baldwin deserve a tremendous amount of credit for bringing Cullen to justice. The investigation took months of sorting through complex medical records, time cards and drug records to finally nail Cullen.

Amy Ridgway a Nurse and a Co-worker of Cullen became a confidential informant and was another key to finally stopping Cullen’s murder spree. Without her help it’s likely that Cullen would have killed more people.

I highly recommend this book. The way the story was told was spine tingling and to its credit is one of the best edited books about crime I’ve come across.

One thing is certain you’ll come away feeling different about the medical profession. It’ll make you understand just how venerable your life is and how medical professionals and hospital administrators are flawed human beings that may not always have your best interest in mind.

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Letter: The quiet majority

The link below is a letter that was published in The Daily Astorian on May, 24, 2013.

Letter: The quiet majority

Three cheers for Jeff Jacques and his support of Walmart and the silent majority of Northwestern Oregon and Southwestern Washington (“Walmart welcomed,” The Daily Astorian, May 10). For every so-called winner in this anti-Walmart campaign, there are also big losers, and they are the area shoppers and the unemployed.

As Jacques has said, the anti-Walmart voices are the same ones that shot down liquefied natural gas facilities, the coal facility in Longview, Wash., and soon, I’ll bet, the shipbreaking facility at Tongue Point. There have been no new major employers since the fish canneries and the lumber mill disappeared.

I sincerely hope that Walmart and the city of Warrenton continue their battle against the good ol’ boys, the do-gooders and The Daily Astorian so that the quiet majority can be counted as winners.

Sixty-five bike racks in Warrenton? Get real.

By William Hill 

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town: Book Review

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The book is not about 1 innocent man but 2, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.

John Grisham picked a sad and twisted tail for his first ever non-fiction book. Although Fritz plays a big part in the story it primarily focuses on Williamson and the tragedy that was his tortured life and his unbelievable fall from grace. The injustice and inhuman treatment Williamson suffered through is like no other criminal case I’ve ever heard of or read about.

Most of the time our justice systems get’s the bad guy through good professional investigative Police work. 90% of the time Prosecutors and Judges know the law and will apply it without bias based on solid physical and/or circumstantial evidence or better yet eye witness testimony.

Such was not the case for Williamson and Fritz. In 1982, a 21 year old named Debra Carter from Ada, OK was raped and murdered.  The Ada Police Dept. didn’t have any physical evidence and very weak circumstantial evidence and couldn’t link them to the crime. Despite that, 5 years later in 1987 both we’re charged with 1st Degree Murder based on junk science and the testimony of jailhouse snitches.

With a local unsympathetic judge and jury who wanted their pound of flesh Williamson was quickly found guilty and sent to death row with Fritz getting life in prison. Since Williamson had a Police record, severe psychological problems and a troubled past he was the perfect man to nail since the Police and DA’s Office had no other viable suspects.

While I’ve always believed and still do in the Death Penalty this shocking and gut wrenching story really made me wonder just how many men and women go to death row because of crooked Cops, Prosecutors and Judges.

I believe that they get it right most of the time but mistakes happen because we’re dealing with humans and a human legal system. Still if due diligence and proper legal procedures are not followed those responsible should be just as severely punished as those they attempt to prosecute especially in death penalty cases.  

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Haters derail Walmart in Warrenton, OR

The link below is the letter that was edited and published in The Daily Astorian May 10, 2013.

 Walmart Welcomed

Clatsop County Residents Against Walmart, a useless organization.

I’m certain the unheard majority of Northwest Oregonians hope Walmart doesn’t give up on the idea of moving here, but you wonder how long they’ll endure the hate groups who want to stop them. Liquefied natural gas, the coal facility in Longview, Wash., the chance to level the old and ugly outdated hotel at the Port of Astoria and build a brand new motel with a beautifully landscaped green belt walk way, have been derailed – now Walmart.

It’s unbelievable how these small groups of local/state bureaucrats, and a very loud, vocal minority of Walmart haters jumping up and down, with the help of groups with names like the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals and Clatsop Residents Against Walmart (CRAW), keep from improving our community. Their primary goal is always to halt businesses and jobs, and thus much needed tax revenue from coming to our area.

The wetlands permitting process is a complete joke. They let Home Depot, Costco, Taco Bell, Lum’s Auto Center, two auto parts stores, and a strip mall be built in wetland areas near Warrenton. But Walmart? Oh no, they have to have this kind of store front and have this many bicycle racks, and on and on.

They invent anything – any ridiculous attempt to stop them – not because they’re worried about wetlands, but because they want us to continue to be held hostage by Fred Meyer and Safeway and their outrageously high prices. Small towns and small businesses in cities like Astoria must evolve. The mom and pop stores don’t offer the choices or the prices low-income earners need to support their families.

The Daily Astorian’s bleeding heart editorial pieces, and the letters to the editor by many readers, are always quick to point how the school district, the college, the public transportation system, the “this program” and “that program” need taxpayer funding – but they, along with this small loud minority, continue to stop any attempts of business from taking root.

Instead, the answer is always to swamp us working people with higher taxes, not to solicit business and the jobs and tax revenue they would generate. The Warrenton City Planning Commission needs to be replaced with members who understand that courting business, not bending to these groups, is what’s needed. If not, the store that will turn the highest profit may be Goodwill, another brand-new structure built near the same wetlands these Walmart haters are crying about.

I guess I’ll continue to take the one-hour car ride every two or three weeks, and take my money to Longview or to Vancouver, Wash., Walmart to save money on toiletries, clothes and groceries, like I’ve been doing since I moved here in 2007. Thanks, Oregon.

The best films you've never seen...

Maybe you’re like me; I’m getting totally sick and tired of searching for good movies to watch today at the theaters or on home video. Once in a while on Netflix and amazon.com you can come up with a gem from the past that you’ve never seen that may grab you. I made a list in no particular order of likability of movies that many of you may have heard of or some you haven’t. There’s some good documentaries laced in here too.  If you watch one of these and like it let me know. I’m always game for any suggestions on your end too.

Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia

Winnebago Man

We Need to Talk About Kevin

They Live

Tuesdays with Morrie

The Dresser

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

Little Big Man

Swing Time

Prince of the City

After Hours

Blood Simple

High Tension

Looker

To Live and Die in L.A.

The Last Detail

Looking for Mr. Goodbar

God Bless America

The Buddy Holly Story

Immortal Beloved

Election

Silent Running

Owning Mahowny

Virtuosity

The Great Santini

Rampage

The Warriors

The Crazies

Manhunter

The Prisoner of Second Avenue

The Long Riders

Trucker

Ink

Electra Glide in Blue

Dark City

Bang the Drum Slowly

Thief

Adaptation

The Boys from Brazil

Soylent Green

Equilibrium

THX 1138

Riding Giants

Outland

The Corndog Man

Bicentennial Man

The Straight Story

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Prayer to a Vengeful God

Bad Lieutenant

The Omega Man

The Believers

Body Double

Dreams of a Life

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Dead Snow

Moon

The Men

Galaxy Quest

Best in Show

The Burrowers

Senna

Black Rain

Terribly Happy

Safe Men

The Silent Scream

The Imposter

The King of Comedy

The Family Man

Quinceañera

Them

Final Destination 2

Pandorum

Kansas City Bomber

Tom Horn

Croupier

Copycat

North Dallas Forty

Big Trouble in Little China

Tough Enough

Surveillance

Clean and Sober

Long Gone

The Hidden

Hit Man

The Case for Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy may be the key to a Super Bowl win for the Broncos.

There’s 2 prevailing theories come draft day, the first and most predominate for most teams is drafting the best player available. The second is drafting by position. The Broncos should consider drafting by position this season because in my mind without better players at key positions they won’t make the big jump in the playoffs or the Super Bowl. The need for better defensive players is critical for the Broncos, but I think they need to go RB or CB first in the 2013 NFL Draft. Conventional wisdom says draft the best available but is that true this year?

If the Broncos are depending on Willis McGahee to get through a 16 game season and the playoffs they're making a big mistake. McGahee has been one of the great comeback warrior stories in the NFL. The brutal knee injury he had before he came into the NFL was as bad as any ever and at 31 years old, that’s ancient considering his knee. 

As a recent interview with John Elway indicates Knowshon Moreno is the #3 RB behind Ronnie Hillman. So if Hillman is the Broncos primary backup the Broncos can't expect to go deep in the playoffs with him as the starter should McGahee hail out. Elway says he'll draft for immediate impact but I can't believe that a RB wouldn't be high on the list. Maybe the Broncos are looking to trade Moreno and/or pick up a RB in free agency but I’m convinced that depending on McGahee to remain healthy come playoff time is a risky proposition.

The O is in good shape except at RB. They’ll score points but in crunch time they’re going to need a good tough between the tackles, 3rd & short and a goal line RB late in the season.

The Broncos need added depth at DB, DL and LB. The DB situation is far from settled. Champ Bailey is not the same CB he was in his prime, the last 2 years his speed and coverage skills have started to erode. They should move him to Safety and look for a speedy young cover guy to fill his Corner spot. He may not like it but if he’s being honest with himself he knows this is what is best for the team.

But let’s get back to the RB situation for a minute, if the whole idea of signing Peyton Manning was to win the Super Bowl “NOW” I doubt very seriously that with his small window they can do it without one. Too many forget that part of the reason Manning was so successful with the Colts was because they had Edgerrin James in the backfield. Without James in his early years he’s hard to say if Manning would have put up the kind of stats and wins had he not been his teammate.

In his prime he was one of the best in the game. James was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1999 and was All-Pro 4 times. James left Indy in 2005 as their all time leading rusher with 9,226 yards. He had 64 rushing TD’s and 11 receiving TD’s in his career at Indy. In his 11 year career he racked up 12, 246 yards on the ground and 3,364 yards through the air. Super Bowls are won with Defense but you don’t see many even getting there without a quality RB.

So if there’s an opportunity to grab Eddie Lacy from Alabama in the 1st round or make a trade for him the Broncos should jump on him. There are question marks about his receiving and pass blocking abilities because he’ll improve that part of his game but his ground game is tough and solid. He’s just the kind of bruising tough yards RB the Broncos need. IMO he’ll be the biggest impact player the Broncos could ask for if they get him in the draft. It's doubtful we have a shot at him but we can hope there's a way to make it happen. If not Lacy they need to look elsewhere.