Yesterday on the program, a groundswell of support from the 41st regarding a possible re-run for JA led to today’s audio. On my show today, I spoke with Atkins about that very possibility.

John Atkins 3/29/07 (audio)

Following the phoner, From my estimate, the majority of listeners in the 41st rang in with support for a possible re-run for Atkins.. To quote a text messager on my insider line: “The details of the electoin itself are one thing, then add Atkins and the people of the 41st envoking the ultimate democratic will by sending him back, priceless…..”

Listen, if you want to voice your support or dissent, The 41st District Republican Committee will be holding meeting at the Millsboro Civic Center this Saturday at 2:00P.M. - Now’s your chance to really be heard.

Now it’s up to you, 41st.

Good news reported this weekend on yet another potential benefit of Adult Stem Cell Research. Studies are showing this to be very optimistic in treatment of heart failure and heart attack with additional reporting due tomorrow. Now, if one looks at what ASC can accomplish, I’m not even sure why we are even discussing or arguing over ESC…other than the fact that “we have them, let’s use them”. Sure…but why open a whole ’nuther can of worms when such successes (and they are NOT limited as many claim) have come from ACS?

And, today, it’s a pity Elizabeth Edwards was pushing for continued or increased funding of stem cell research while specifically trying to advance the embryonic. It’s a great pity that her cancer has resurfaced and I certainly wish her well and the strength to be so but does it justify the push for ESC clearance? Obviously, ASC is working and, apparently minus possible rejection or other difficulties…we don’t yet know this about ESC. Even if we did, does it mean we have to go that route given the good results from the other…and what about the positive potential from amniotic and placenta cells? The way I see it, such use is to be from consenting donors and, particularly from amniotic and placental waste…which is certainly discarded…shouldn’t be difficult to acquire. On the other hand, like it or not the possibility does exist for there to be a potential “market” for egg donations and who’s to say we would never go down this path?

Many years ago people donated blood for the good of their fellow-man in need and then it became a means by which hundreds, if not thousands, sold their blood to help them through tough times, buy the next bottle, whatever…reasons good as well as nefarious. Later it was selling sperm. Call me cynical but I really don’t believe we would never make that small leap from simply making use of “unwanted eggs” to “$??? per dozen”. I understand as well as anyone, perhaps better than some, we’d do anything for a cure for a loved one…even to that level. Some are willing to have a Bill passed allowing any type of stem cell research while, at the same time, discounting and discarding more benign, alternative treatments. I’m not against appropriate SCR but we’re doing pretty damn good with the adult version. Maybe it would behoove us simply to ensure funding for what IS already available will be there for anyone in need of such treatment, not just if they can afford it or have insurance to cover it for the general argument is it is unfair to have the possibility of embryonic stem cells being a life-mind-body saver and not be able to do so. Yet it is no less fair than already having adult cell therapy available for many of the same illnesses if those who need or can use it cannot afford it.

Dave Burris, the Chair of the Sussex County Republican Party is asking for State Representative John Atkins to quit or be kicked out of the house.  Reluctantly I agree with Dave.  I think John needs professional help.  I hope he can heal, and return to public life someday.

Here is the complete text of the Dave Burris letter:

TO: The Members of the House Majority Caucus
c/o Rep. Terry R. Spence, Speaker of the House of Representatives

FROM: David M. Burris, Chairman, Sussex County Republican Committee

Dear Members of the House Majority Caucus:

Throughout this entire ordeal, I stood by John Atkins, defending him against certain charges and often appearing on the radio encouraging others to give John the benefit of the doubt until the ethics process was complete. I have interacted with John on a regular basis, often multiple times in the same day. I have also received reports from others, some I’ve never met, of John’s outside activity.

In my interaction with John, at no time has he expressed any remorse for what occurred on that night. At no time has he expressed any desire to improve his situation through counseling or other means. In fact, he went to great lengths to avoid and to alter his court-ordered counseling.

What John has done is adopt an all-consuming fiery passion to take down as many other elected and appointed officials as possible, on both sides of the aisle. He encouraged me to use my blog and/or my connections with other bloggers and media to promote various charges against several members of the House Democratic Caucus.

John has also been spotted drinking in local bars on several occasions during the first few months of this calendar year, most recently on Friday, March 16, 2007 at Smitty McGee’s in Fenwick Island. While the act in itself is not illegal or specifically unethical, for John to be seen drinking in a public place in the middle of his ethics process reveals to me that he has learned nothing from this experience, and that it will just be a matter of time before another incident occurs.

That is the crux of this whole situation — if you let John off with a slap on the wrist, you, the House Republican Caucus, have bought and paid for his next mistake. Whenever he slips up again, it will belong to you as much as it does to him.

To adopt the recommendations of the ethics committee – which, to the average citizen, translates to absolutely no punishment at all – is simply not enough. Your actions will tell the people of Delaware, of all ages, that lying in a deposition to the ethics committee (something we impeached a President for) and driving a car after being told that you have a BAC nearly twice the legal limit essentially carry no punishment beyond public embarrassment.

How can you as elected Republicans have the moral authority to set policies governing the behavior of the ordinary citizen when you won’t enforce proper behavior out of your own members, even in the most extreme of cases?

I can firmly say at this point with no reservation whatsoever that it is in John Atkins’ best interest and the best interest of the caucus, the Republican Party and the State of Delaware that John resign or be expelled from the Delaware House of Representatives.

I can not guarantee you that the Republican Party will retain the seat in the 41st district. I can only say that we feel incredibly optimistic that we can do so. We have a multitude of potential candidates, all people of character, who will serve admirably and with honor and I guarantee you that the Sussex County Republicans would work tirelessly to win the special election.

It brings me no joy, only extreme sadness and frustration to write this letter. I am certainly putting my position as Chairman on the line in reaching out to you, as this letter will be released to the public. However, I believe leadership requires doing the right thing, not the easy thing, and requires doing it out in the open.

As a result, I am prepared to accept whatever consequences come my way, even if it costs me my position, because I know that this action is in the long-term interests of our Party, and improving those long-term interests is my duty.

I respect the undue burden that you face in casting judgment on one of your own, as we are all flawed in our own way, but I urge you to consider the message you send to the people of our State, including the young minds who don’t understand the concept of Censure. They only see that an elected official drove drunk mere moments after being released without punishment from driving drunk; that the same official lied under oath to the committee investigating the incident; and that the official will get away with doing all of it in every way that a young mind can comprehend.

Take this opportunity to teach those young minds that Republicans are willing to demand a minimum standard of character in our elected officials.

Demand John Atkins’ resignation or vote to expel him.

With Respect and Humility,

David M. Burris
Chairman
Sussex County Republican Committee

                                               

Sorry John.  I think it’s for your own good.

 

  

I’m a dog owner…a cat owner, bird owner, (with multiples of all of them) and proud of it. Truth be told, they seem to own me rather than I ‘own’ them. For my ’crew’ I’m not worried about the current pet food scare but I AM concerned and appalled that a company with such a huge manufacturing/distributorship took as long as they did to notify the public about the problem with some of their product. The dates listed were from Dec. to March 6. They went public on March 16?? Ten dogs didn’t die that day, I’m sure…nor did many, many more suddenly, on that day, develop kidney failure or it’s symptoms. And the fact that they suspect it was caused by wheat gluten?

First and foremost, we should all be checking the ingredients on the foods we provide our pets, just as we do for ourselves, and if wheat, corn, grains of any sort are the first listed, avoid that food anyway. Many animal allergies are caused by such ingredients for one thing. For another, mostly the only value they have is filler and surely they don’t have to be the first or primary ingredient. Many people believe…because they are usually “advised” that human table food is not good for pets, specifically dogs. Why not…if you, yourself, follow a healthy diet? I wouldn’t feed mine burgers, fries, fried chicken but, then again, those are indulgences I rarely allow myself…for obvious reasons.

Not long ago there was another company had a recall of their pet food. It wasn’t done at the last minute, they covered vet fees for any pet which may have become sick as a result, the pet supply stores were all notified in a very timely manner and the problem was rectified immediately. Should be interesting to see what Menu Foods will do…a much bigger corporation. Rest assured, your local pet suppliers have taken this in hand, been removing anything that could be construed as suspect. But, in the meantime, there’s nothing wrong with buying liver, kidney, heart, tripe and making your own “stew” for Rover…even fish as long as you carefully check for and remove any and every bone. Give them bones (marrow or otherwise) for a treat….raw, not nuked, roasted or boiled.

 

It was interesting to note one caller to Jared Morris’s show this morning said she cooked for her dog. Even more interesting was a follow-up to that call mocking those who would cook for their pets, figuring that such pet people were probably also the type who wouldn’t beat a dog but call for corporal punishment’s return to the school systems. Yeah? Well…I’m exactly one of “those people”. No…I don’t hit a dog. I spritz with water…though I’ve never tried to do that with a child and, if I did, I’d probably end up in family court for abuse. I cook meals for my dogs, even mix good veggies and some fruits in their casseroles and THEY will EAT them…(which is more than most kids will do)! I’d rather do that than give my animals commercially produced foods made with euthanized animals, or other dubious ingredients including chicken beaks, claws, feathers, chemicals. Our pets are chosen with care…or should be…and the reality that they will be with us from ten to eighteen years plus. For some they are the only “children” they will have, for many the only companionship they enjoy. Pets don’t give a damn who you are, what you look like, how much…or how little…material possessions you claim, they don’t need iPods, Nikes, or demand a car upon graduation from Obedience School. If we are going to invest our lives with any other living creature…including animals…we owe it to them and ourselves to do the best we can for them and if that means corporal punishment when necessary to keep our kids on the right and safe path or cooking meals, spending a bit extra to give our animals safe food and better health…so be it. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or make a Hitler to want either.

Whether a dog owner or one who thinks dog owners are a bit “over the top” when it comes cooking meals for them,or researching the current foods available, do us all a favour and get a copy of “Food Pets Die For” by Ann Martin. You may just view things differently.

All the BLOGS are heavy laden with the serious news of the day so I guess it’s time for me to come in and lighten things up a little.

The other day Dan was joking about having Evel Knievel jump the future bridge site at the Indian River Inlet. At some point, the bridge is said to look like this:

But right now it looks more like a pair of ramps set up for a motorcycle jump. Then I came across a little advertisement featuring Evel Knievel and decided he is no longer in the ramp-jumping business.

So I guess that’s out of the question.

Next we have a photo which best describes the subtle differences between men and women and sheds some light on why there almost always seems to be a communication gap between them.

Yeah, that about says it all.

Next up, weather on Delmarva. Let’s see, shall I go out with the suntan lotion or a parka? Whaddya think? Drive the convertable or take the Hummer? Umbrella or sunglasses?

and finally…

A golf course I can sink my skills into. Why hasn’t someone come up with this sooner?

Well, That’s all for now folks. Keep on smiling and I will try in the meantime to come up with a serious BLOG.

Given the news today I have to wonder if anyone checked into the possibility that those who tested positive on the PPD’s had ever had the BCG vaccination? Many countries take this preventative step, including some, if not all, of the Latin American countries, Sweden, several Eastern European countries and, if not now at one time, the UK. Were I to be tested tomorrow I’d show positive because, at thirteen years of age British schoolchildren were, with parental consent, vaccinated for such. In more recent years, many children were vaccinated against TB in infancy.

I could see where the problem might arise. Not long after I arrived in this country a family member was exposed to someone found to have TB. PPD was carried out, tested positive and made to daily medication for one full year even though he did not have active TB. Then again, as a toddler, his mother had had it, he probably contracted it then which served only to scar his lungs. Since he had a family, we had to then also be tested at the time he was ordered to take the medication. I went for the skin test, told the nurse I would likely test positive, she asked why and ridiculed me for my response. A nurse…and she was not aware that there was such a thing as a BCG vaccination nor the positive Tyne or Heaf tests following. I did have to have the second PPD which, of course, showed positive. On my return for the reading she was insistent upon me taking the same medication for a year until I insisted on discussing this with someone perhaps more qualified. I finally succeeded and the corpsman concurred with me, suggesting the nurse do a little more research. This wasn’t a small medical practice…this was at a military dispensary with a civilian, registered nurse. Thank heavens for a navy corpsman. At the same time, shot records had to be red-flagged so that further PPD’s not be given. What I didn’t know at that time was if one has had a Tyne/Heaf test, vaccination and then the subsequent Tyne/Heaf test for results, no other skin tests should be given.

Today, the thirty-three ’suspects’ were cleared. Did somebody panic, others jump to conclusion and I can’t help but wonder…did anyone know enough to ask if those people had ever been vaccinated in the past? Let’s hope the news today calms others amongst us, down.

Listening to Maria’s show (Jared’s slot) on WGMD this morning I was fascinated listening to a couple of the callers regarding the gay issue she invoked. One offered the old saw, referring to Biblical ‘law‘. Another implied we were not bad, just “confused”. ??? Both, frankly, were more than a little patronizing…not to mention (dare I say it?) wrong. Not in their own, personal beliefs, let me hasten to add, but in putting forth that they are ‘right’.

Wouldn’t logic tell you that if we are to be punished because of ONE aspect of the manner in which we live then so will all of us be so punished? Any hopes of anyone ‘getting to heaven’ while others may be excluded or punished, you might as well hang up because I don’t doubt for a second there’s not a one of us, gay/straight, white/red/blue, who has lived a life according to every word, each law adhered to in that book without falter….or exception. What makes anyone deny…or believe…that out of all the two testaments, hundreds of pages and a million verses less than ten (10) may refer to same-sex behavior in any way, shape or form. Based on that, we are unworthy, reviled and can expect retribution? Hmmm…so, I have to wonder about the majority of the straight society who, besides other, lesser, biblical laws they may take so lightly and break, there are these…….

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.

DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else’s husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.

MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.

LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman’s period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.

MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.

DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy’s genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian

 

And then there is the “confusion”. Myself, I spent forty years being ‘confused’, if you like, before I was blessed enough to become unconfused. Guess which life was the more confusing, guilt-creating or felt very much out of synch and dishonest? If you haven’t lived both I’m afraid I’d have to say you don’t know what confused is.

But, again, these are all bedroom-related arguments and I hate to repeat myself but what does the general revulsion, preaching and psycho-babble have to do with whether or not homosexuals should be allowed to marry or, at least, enjoy a legal union of some sort? It’s not for the bedroom activities…they will continue regardless, just as heterosexual will (despite what the above quoted verses say). Make two lists but exclude the bedroom. What do we do different from you? We work, pay taxes, take care of chores, bills. We care for the person with whom we share our life, in exactly the same fashion, worry how he/she will manage upon our demise or serious illness/injury, how we care for him/her should old age and infirmity be unkind. You can make much better provision for most of those eventualities than we can…at best, we can leave wills or health initiatives we can only hope will be honored by family members who…as it often happens…feels as the callers do, this morning. Many times, not.

We are not asking or seeking legality to intimacy…that’s no more necessary for us than two sixteen year olds in the back seat of a car or a married spouse having an affair. It may or may not be legal but for some reason merits a degree of “Oh…well!” The legality we seek…or at least many of us do…is when we share every other aspect of our lives there will be a legal protection against those who do not agree with, or simply fear, not HOW we live but with whom.

Being somewhat cynical, at best, with regards to the FDA, pharmaceutical companies and ‘traditional medicine as being held to what’s right for us, the general public, perhaps it should not be appalling to learn, again, of a new wonder-drug seeking approval for use in our cattle. But it is…and why not? As reported on WGMD by ABC News and, of course, here and here.

Have you ever paused to wonder why we are being reported as more and more resistant to antibiotics or other drugs? Doesn’t it seem reasonable (to at least theorize) that every “preventative” medication being pumped into our food source and then ingested by humans is going to have a lingering…and maybe devastating effect? Perhaps not for everyone but for many…or even ‘enough’.

Seems to me our bodies are becoming chemical cesspools…antibiotics in our food sources, pesticides on our produce and preservatives in everything else. Isn’t there a vicious cycle of using pharms to pump into these animals and on our produce to prolong health and shelf-life which then wanders through and permeates our human cellular structure, ostensibly to support life, but creates a dichotomy of physical environment which may become resistant to health and life-prolonging treatments?

Notice the location of the U.S. HQ of the pharm company…once again “It’s good being First”?

Ummm…choose organic!