An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for March 2009
Heroes Among Us
With all the garbage that has been in the news recently, I like to share things that made me smile. First
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – Police said a 71-year-old man, armed only with an ice scraper, frustrated a 20-year-old would-be robber who approached him with a knife. Police said the man was scraping ice off his car Friday when the 20-year-old pulled out a knife and demanded money.
Police Sgt. Pete Ragnone said the man used his ice scraper to fend off the attacker—who then ran to his girlfriend’s home nearby.
That’s when a fight broke out between the 20-year-old and his girlfriend.
The would-be attacker surrendered to police and faces charges of attempted first-degree robbery and aggravated assault-domestic violence.
And then there’s this one:
FENTON, Mo. (AP) – A legally blind man was credited with saving a woman after authorities said a 45-year-old man broke into her apartment on Saturday night. Authorities said the man, a convicted rapist, was waiting for the woman to return home from work.
A neighbor who asked to be identified only as Jerry heard noises coming from the apartment. Jerry is blind in his left eye and has about 25 percent vision in his right eye.
Jerry told KTVI-TV that he went to the apartment and kicked open the door, surprising the would-be attacker, who locked the door. The woman came home and confirmed she didn’t know the man in her apartment, and police took the suspect away.
The man was charged with burglary. The investigation is continuing.
Heh! I love it when the bad guys lose!
Cross Posted at Silent E Speaks
Retention Bonuses?
As was discussed in this post, and headlining all of the news, AIG has paid $165 million dollars in bonuses…what they call retention bonuses. But now we find out that 11 of the executives who were paid those bonuses no longer work for AIG.
AIG paid 73 employees bonuses of more than $1 million, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo informed Congress in a letter Tuesday.
Cuomo also wrote that 11 of the employees no longer work for the company. The largest bonus paid was $6.4 million and seven more people received more than $4 million each.
“Until we obtain the names of these individuals, it is impossible to determine when and why they left the firm and how it is that they received these payments,” Cuomo wrote to a congressional committee.
So what exactly were they “retaining”? The argument is that those bonuses needed to be paid to attract and retain the best and brightest talent . I offered my opinion on that particular statement in the last post. But if they were indeed paid to “retain” the best and the brightest, why are they no longer working for AIG? How many more will leave? After all, they have their golden parachute…what’s to keep them from leaving? I’m assuming they’re not “contractually obligated” to stay.
I’ll be curious to see how this shakes out. Who left, when, and how much were they paid?
Outrage Update
As was reported in this post, the Obama administration is considering a plan wherein our wounded heroes would have to pay for service related injuries with private insurance. Now, the American Legion is throwing in their two cents.
WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.
“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”
The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, “This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ‘ to care for him who shall have borne the battle’ given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm’s way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America’s veterans!”
I just don’t know what to say. How DARE the administration do this to those who have served our country? To those who have fought and been wounded protecting the very rights that this administration is throwing down the toilet.
“I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted,” said Commander Rehbein, “is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President’s financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.
“I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining,” concluded the Commander.
Welll Commander, I’m afraid that this administration doesn’t feel the need to listen to anyone. They will do as they please, and damn the country.
Heroes Come Home
Soldiers With Appleton-Based 395th Arrive Home
45 soldiers with the Appleton-based 395th Army Reserve are back home in Northeast Wisconsin tonight. The soldiers deployed last March for a year long tour of duty in Afghanistan. The troops officially arrived back in Wisconsin last Thursday and have spent the last few days debriefing at Fort McCoy.
It’s a homecoming celebration Jason Harder never expected.
“The last time I was deployed there was nothing like this,” he says. “So this whole thing is amazing just to come home to something like this. It feels pretty special.”
As Jason and more than forty others from the 395th pull into the Appleton Armory, a sea of familiar faces line the driveway waiting to welcome back their heroes.
“It’s been the anticipation all this time,” says Susan Haefemeyer, who’s daughter is in the 395th. “I mean your stomach flutters and it gets closer and closer and then there she is.”
It didn’t take Haefemeyer long to spot her daughter.
“This has been a long time coming,” she says. “It’s been a long year this time around but we are so happy today.”
“I stood in place and I figured they would come to me and they sure did,” says SFC Karen Sweeney. “They came. She came running.”
I’m going to take a wild stab here, and say that the “she” that came running, would be little Miss Rachel? 
Welcome home Karen! Your family has really missed you!
And a huge thank you to ALL of you. God Bless each and every one of our heroes!
AIG to Pay Bonuses?
This really burns me up.
Troubled insurer American International Group (AIG: 0.4815, 0, 0%), which is 79.9%-owned by the federal government, will pay $165 million in retention bonuses on Sunday to those at the division that has drawn most of the heat for the company’s near-collapse.
The developments have drawn more negative attention to an insurance company that the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve have committed up to $170 billion to help stabilize itself after dangerously betting much of its future on a now-illiquid market.
Through the criticism and outrage, AIG has said it recognizes the problems with these payments, but continued to stress the need for the bonuses.
“We cannot attract and retain the best and brightest talent to lead and staff the AIG businesses which are now being operated on behalf of the American taxpayers,” AIG chairman and CEO Edward Liddy said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Saturday.
I’m sorry? The best and the brightest? So where were these “best” and “brightest” when the whole thing was going to hell in a handbasket?
Liddy’s letter said the company has a contract with these employees to pay their bonuses and added, legally, AIG’s hands are tied — but he said he would try to decrease those payouts. We believe that there will be considerably greater flexibility to reduce contractual payments in respect of 2009, and AIG intends to use its best efforts to do so, wrote Liddy in his letter to Secretary Geithner.
Administration officials have called AIG’s bonus structure both inappropriate and unacceptable, but an Obama Administration official added the White House conducted its own analysis of the bonus contracts and agreed that they are binding.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called Liddy Wednesday to push the AIG CEO to renegotiate the bonuses.
“They were entered into before the government had anything to do with AIG,” said another administration official. “We’re going to be very involved, to make sure those kinds of things aren’t happening [again] as long as they aren’t contractual.
Okay, while I understand the concept of contractual obligations, is there NOTHING that can be done when we, the taxpayers, are paying those bonuses? Isn’t the concept of a bonus to reward a job well done? I don’t think most of us in the private sector would be rewarded for throwing our company into such a tailspin that the government has to bail us out. In fact, I believe I’d be fired for such behavior. I just don’t understand how a company who is majority owned by the government can still rely on those contracts to pay millions in bonuses. On the other hand, maybe I can get a job there…
Worth Reading
Political Divide
Peyton Vantrease
Almost 150 years after the Civil War began between the States, we are now as divided a country as we were in 1860. We don’t wear blue or gray to distinguish sides, today, it is Democrats against Republicans. The Civil War was fought for many reasons, but a main reason was to bring unity to a growing nation. Today unity to the nation is the last thing on our politicians agenda. We are living thru an ideology crisis on both sides of the aisle. We have 435 Representatives in the House, we have 100 Senators, and we have 1 President and 1 Vice-President that makes 537 elected leaders to do the work for the people of The United States. Over 300 million Americans depend on these legislators to do the right thing for all of us. Many of us have either conservative or liberal views, and we believe in certain parts of both parties platforms. When we elect a member to an office in Washington it is our hope that we have elected someone with honesty and fairness for the position.
Verse of the Day
Psalm 98:1-4
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
In The Appleton, WI Area?
Parade set for 395th soldiers’ return to Appleton on Sunday
About 45 members coming home after Afghanistan tour
After spending a year in Afghanistan, about 45 soldiers from the Army Reserve’s 395th Ordnance Company, based in Appleton, will return home on Sunday.
Al Kudrle, a member of VFW Post 2778, is organizing a parade for the returning soldiers, who arrived at Fort McCoy on Thursday.
The group will arrive in Appleton at the VFW on N. Richmond at Atlantic streets about 1 p.m., Kudrle said.
The soldiers deployed to Afghanistan on March 16, 2008. Chief Warrant Officer Ben Hinkle said the 395th served in several regions of Afghanistan setting up ammunition storage facilities.
Another 45 members of the 395th returned home on June 5, 2008, after spending a year in Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit was deployed to Afghanistan in 2003 and participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
The 395th’s return comes as President Barack Obama is making plans to send 17,000 additional military personnel to Afghanistan to bolster the current 30,000-member contingent in the country.
Once in Appleton, the 395th soldiers will transfer from coach buses into open-sided trolleys, Kudrle said.
The trolleys will travel south on Richmond Street, east on College Avenue, north on Meade Street, east on Wisconsin Avenue and north on Ballard Road to the Reserve Center, 1824 N. Ballard Road.
Hinkle said dignitaries and 395th officers will speak during a 20-minute ceremony that is open to the public.
Saturday Afternoon – Ripping Wallpaper – Laundry Time
Don’t Mess With Texas – Blue Collar Republican
Education Spending In This Country – Disgruntled Truck Driver!
Federal courts have just surrendered in the war against radical Islam – Creeping Sharia
Big Brother is getting bigger – No Silence Here
The First Fifty Days – Right at Home
Jack’s Journey To Texas… – Ick’s Corner
Culture of corruption: Banking hypocrite Maxine Waters – Michelle Malkin
Shortest Presidential Honeymoon on Record – Blue Collar Muse
Heh. Heh heh. – Hasenpheffer Incorporated
Texas is arming Mexican drug cartels – Texas Fred’s
This Is The Group That “Cares” and “Bombs” – No Runny Eggs
Screw The ACLU – The Political Jungle
USSRRussia to use Cuban and Venezuelan air bases – Babalu’
“Confidence Builder in Chief,” My ASS – Feed Your ADHD
The Shovel List: Addendum 04 – SouthCon
A Little Ammo, Every Weekend – The Confidentials.
Islam = Terrorism?? – Grizzly Groundswell
The CON Game continues. – American and Proud
What’s In A Name? – silent E speaks
Slaughterhouse 535 – Political Pistachio
Obama on Stem Cell Research – Fool’s Gold – The Black Sphere
Rep. Eliot Engel (D, NY-17) gets away with tax evasion. – RedState
Heh
Swiped from The 9-12 Project
Muzzled
Verse of the Day
John 16:32-33
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Let’s Turn Back The Hands Of Time
Why can’t we rediscover the roots of our foundation?
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We have become totally separated from our past, our present, and our future, through the manipulations of individuals, and organizations, hell bent on our destruction.
I remember finding a type written sheet of paper in my dad’s Bible when I was MUCH younger. I asked my dad about it, and he said it was what would happen if people became complacent, and didn’t keep their eyes open to what was going on around them. I read through it, and didn’t understand much of it, but I do remember thinking things like that couldn’t happen right here in the U.S. of A., and told him so. His response, “Don’t be so sure. We see some of it happening already.” This has stood out in my mind for many years.
In recent years, it has become more and more clear, my dad was right. What was on that sheet of paper?
Communist Goals I guess he got it from this? Forty five years ago when I found that sheet of paper, it was pretty much inconceivable that such think could have happened. Now, if you read through the list, you’ll see that a great many have already come about, and others are creeping up on us.
Read through the list. Which ones haven’t been accomplished? Which ones are in the works? Which ones do you believe will never happen?
1) US acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2) US willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3) Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the US would be a demonstration of “moral strength.”
4) Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5) Extension of long term loans to Russia and Soviet Satellites.
6) Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7) Grant recognition of Red China, and admission of Red China to the UN.
8 ) Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the Germany question by free elections under supervision of the UN.
9) Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the US has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10) Allow all Soviet Satellites individual representation in the UN.
Crowder’s Torture
Daddy, Where Do Babies Come From?
I wonder if this is why they only had one child? 
H/T: Stop the ACLU
