Throw him in the pen!

I hope Gibson does do jail time for this. Any other regular Joe out there would have to (and should), and just because he's a "star" doesn't mean squat. I'm sick of those Hollywood idiots getting preferential treatment when it comes to drugs and alcohol. What if he had caused an accident and someone was killed because of his negligence? Ok, rant over... Prosecutors Charge Mel Gibson With DUI By LINDA DEUTSCH AP Special Correspondent LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mel Gibson now faces a legal battle in addition to the one to restore his public image. Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Gibson with driving under the influence of alcohol, having an elevated blood-alcohol level and an open container of liquor in his car when he was pulled over in Malibu last week. If convicted, Gibson faces up to six months in jail, though first-time misdemeanor drunken driving offenders usually face minimal, if any, time behind bars. It's up to the judge to determine if Gibson would serve any time. Prosecutors made no mention of Gibson's self-described "belligerent behavior" and "despicable" remarks in the complaint - reportedly the unleashing of an anti-Semitic tirade. "After evaluating all the evidence presented by the Sheriff's Department - and they presented every scrap of evidence they had - we evaluated carefully and felt the charges we filed were the appropriate charges in this case," said district attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. Gibson's lawyer, Blair Berk, declined to comment, saying, "It is inappropriate to discuss the ongoing case." An attorney may appear in the actor's place during his Sept. 28 arraignment. Arrested at 2:36 a.m. Friday after his Lexus was stopped for speeding, Gibson allegedly had a blood-alcohol level of 0.12 percent, over the legal limit of 0.08 percent. "He will be held accountable for his violations under the law," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said, adding that the charges "didn't surprise me." In the aftermath of Gibson's arrest, his publicist, Alan Nierob, has said the actor-director was in an ongoing program for alcohol abuse before the arrest and has entered another, on an outpatient basis. Gibson has apologized twice. In the latest he addressed the Jewish community, apologizing for his "vitriolic and harmful words." According to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Sheriff's Department's report says Gibson told the arresting deputy: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," and asked him, "Are you a Jew?" Gibson, 50, has had a troubled relationship with Jewish organizations since his 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which some criticized for portraying Jews as responsible for the death of Jesus. Supporters say the movie merely followed the Gospel story. Gibson's apologies weren't accepted by former TV producer Merv Adelson, who took out an ad in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times blasting movie studio heads for not strongly and publicly condemning the Oscar-winning actor-director. "Let's make ourselves proud and NOT support this JERK in any way, just because he's a so called 'star,'" wrote Adelson, co-founder of Lorimar Productions, which produced such TV hits as "Eight is Enough" and "The Waltons." A sheriff's spokesman's initial account of the arrest described it as occurring "without incident" and made no mention of Gibson's remarks, fueling claims of a cover-up after they came to light. In an interview with the Associated Press, Sheriff Baca maintained deputies made no attempts to cover up his comments. "Those are completely false," Baca said while attending a congressional hearing in San Diego. "The district attorney in his statement clearly verifies that all of the evidence - including inappropriate remarks, hateful remarks, anti-Semitic remarks, including with the videotape along with the audiotape," is there. Baca added that the deputy who stopped Gibson "had the full authority to not arrest him and just take him home." "You know, if that were his option, if he chose that option, he would be within our policy. But he chose the arrest option, which to me, shows me he's doing a terrific job," Baca said.

Republicans For Joe Sestak

So what is going on here? What will Cool Curt come up with next? Another Swift boat type attack on Joe Sestak? Just to let you know Curt, this Republican is voting for vice admiral Joseph Sestak (Ret.) I always admire men and women who put their life on the line, and although I know that Mr. Weldon did so as a fireman years ago, he couldn't hold a candle to the job that Mr. Sestak did. Wearing A Uniform? U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, 1401.3.b(2) (2) Former Members of the Armed Forces. Unless discussed in DOD Directive 1334.1 or Title 10 U.S. Code Sec. 772, former members who served honorably during a war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions, may wear the uniform of the highest grade held during their service only on the following occasions and during travel related to those occasions. (a) Military funerals, memorial services, weddings and inaugurals. Curt and his cronies attacked Joe Sestak about wearing his uniform in a Memorial Day parade, something that he knows NOTHING about. So. What will it be? More BS from your campaign peons Curt? More appearances throughout Delco? What I find very disturbing is that the Republican base in power in this country today is using this fear factor as their main campaign issue. Let me repeat: The Republican base in power in this country today is using this fear factor as their main campaign issue. Iraq had NOTHING to do with 911, but our troops are fed this bullshit from a standing dictate. Most people get their daily BS from 1210 WPHT and Fox news. Is it any wonder they are blind? These same people that I know have told me that Curt Weldon is a good man, and that I am a traitor to the party for wanting to vote for Joe Sestak. I thought AMERICA was free! Party? Like the Nazi party? Communist Party? Likuid Party? Party lines mean NOTHING! (Just look at Joe Lieberman). At least I am NOT ALONE. Look. I have seen this country before my eyes be attacked by ghosts on 911, then raped by companies like BP/EXXON/HALLIBURTON and watched as our so called elected Senators and Congressmen blindly fall in line and vote for my rights to be stripped away. I really believe that Joe Sestak will not be one of those who will adhere exclusively to his party line. He wants YOUR rights back, wants this bullshit invasion of the Middle East by corporate America to stop, and most importantly, bring America and Americans the respect and honor that she once enjoyed. At the risk of losing some local electrical work that I do, I will use my rights as a freedom loving Republican to: Vote for Joe Sestak this November. Cheers. P.S. Watch as Gasoline reaches $4.00 a gallon while the Republican controlled Congress does NOTHING! Why should they? Their making really big bucks and drive around in vehicles that YOU pay for!

Feds disarm local gun shop

This is LONG overdue and I think it's the best news to come out of Upper Darby in a long time. In case you didn't know, here are some facts pertaining to guns that came from the pawn shop: **snippet** Lou's guns were used in 19 homicides and 65 shootings between 2003 and 2005, according to Capt. Benjamin Naish, a police spokesman. In some of Philadelphia's most sensational homicides, these guns killed: • Anthony Oliver, 14, who was shot accidentally by a friend who had just bought a .25-caliber handgun for $50 on the street last year. • Faheem Thomas-Childs, 10, in the middle of a gunbattle between two drug gangs outside his school in February 2004. • Police Officer Lauretha Vaird during a botched robbery in 1996, and a year later, seriously wounded another officer, Jay Delaney, who was shot six times and unable to return to work. GREAT work by the Feds!!!! UPPER DARBY -- Two months after a vocal protest regarding the quantity of gun sales at a local pawnshop, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has taken action and revoked its license to sell handguns. Mark W. Potter, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of ATF, announced Monday the revoking of Lou’s Loans’ federal firearms license to sell guns. "There are a number of adjudicated cases in which crime guns and guns associated with straw purchases came from Lou’s Loans," Potter said. "ATF’s mission is to protect the public and with our actions today I believe Philadelphia and the surrounding communities are a bit safer now that a known source for crime guns has been closed." Lou’s Loans, formally Lou’s Jewelry and Pawn Shop, 29 S. 69th St., was open Monday selling money orders and conducting business as usual for other sales and services. Employees declined comment. The revocation, a result of an ATF regulatory investigation finding numerous and egregious violations of the Gun Control Act by Lou’s Loans, terminates all gun sales from Lou’s. "This is a great day for the law enforcement community," Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said. "Straw purchases are a big issue. Certainly it limits Upper Darby’s involvement in gun violence." In May, Chitwood joined with CeaseFire NJ and PA, Pennsylvanians Against Trafficking Handguns, Men United for a Better Philadelphia, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (BPV) and the Pennsylvania Million Mom March on 69th Street, across the street from Lou’s, to focus attention on the quantity of legal sales by straw purchasers and illegal transfer of firearms. "This was a location that local, state and federal levels have shown to be a major center for guns used to murder, maim and destroy people and families," Chitwood said. "I applaud ATF for their action. Hopefully revoking the gun license limits access to guns in our community." Merchants on 69th Street, who declined to be identified, also applauded the action. "I’m in favor of it," one man said. "The less guns on the street the better. I’m glad for anything that keeps guns off the streets. Violence is on the rise and a lot more has to be done to reduce the violence." "It’s scary," one shopkeeper said. "I’m very glad they revoked their license. We don’t need any more violence. It’s harder to get a license in a foreign country where only the government issues them. I’m not against the American system but it needs some improvement." A New Jersey resident working on the street said the gun laws in Pennsylvania should be stricter. "It should be monitored," the man said. "Jersey’s laws are stricter."

Conformity In Blog World

Well here it is. After my two previous posts, I yet again am assailed by nasty e- mails, hang ups on my business line, etc, I am forced to delete them. Other contributors to this blog have been MIA, for what reasons I do not know. But my views still stand. I am convinced that there is far more to it concerning the 1983 Beirut barrack attack, the Murrah building bombing, the U.S.S. cole incident, Waco, 911, and the Spain and London train bombings.. These views will be published on my personal blog. To my fellow bloggers. Please let me know if you are still interested in contributing to this blog. Cheers.

Delco Sizzles

Just wanted to post a quickie. Damn it's hot! Working inside a school today while enduring a summer cold with no AC and no cross ventilation is not my cup of tea. Tommorrow the same. Cheers. P.S. Happy belated Fourth to you to Casey, PIT, Katey Kakes, and the rest of our contributors and readers of this here blog.

HAPPY 4th

HAPPY 4th OF JULY! To Franny and all who Live in Delaware County. It's a great place to be an American. Be safe and sound.

Rain Rain Rain

I know that we need it, but what's with all this rain? Reason being I remember when this happened two years ago this August. My Mother lived in the Stonehurst section of Upper Darby. Naylors Run Creek Runs underground from Sherbrook blvd. to Walnut Park Drive, where it drains into Cobbs Creek. This culvert had collapsed in 1991 on Grace Rd, and cannot handle the amount of water. I remember going to a meeting at Stonhurst elementary school, where various local and state officials said they would look into how to improve it. Well I have a solution: Behind Marshall Road field there is a vast expanse of area suited for a series of retaining walls. Or, how about an alternate tunnel? Something must be done to prevent homes and businesses in Stonehurst from this kind of destruction from ever happenning again. Anyone else have ideas?

Yoke around your neck

By Casey Roncaglione For the past few weeks I have been concentrating my efforts meeting my constituents by going door to door in the 164th district, (Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, East Lansdowne and Millbourne). The results have been encouraging. Democrats, most Republicans and Independents are generally fed up with Mario Civera and for that matter the entire Delaware County legislative delegation. The reasons are too numerous to print here, but to say they are unhappy is an understatement. I’ve walked so much that my shoes are falling apart, but I’ve decided to not buy a new pair until the election is over as a statement of my determination to get the truth to the people. Hard work and and truth are worth a little shoeleather. When we get the representation that Upper Darby receives, I’ll get a new pair of shoes. Years and years of business as usual take a big effort to change and open minds, so far a pair of worn out shoes are the least of my problems. To alert my neighbors that they have been taken for granted and their needs have been subverted by special interests, PAC money, and those interests are secondary is well worth my wearing out my shoes. To my neighbors, let’s look at the past weeks what has been done by our legislature and their paid agents. Mr.McNichol, leader of the Delaware County Republican Party, tries to blame the Governor for the payraise. Did he not forget that his own legislators voted for and took the raise. Only after I and many others shamed them to repeal the vote, they did so, after much dismay. We protested Mario Civera’s office, had the police ask us to leave, and we heard unspeakable vitrol from those who Mr. Civera sent to get rid of us. We won’t go anywhere until the legislature returns to the founding fathers their constitution, and can once again be proud that the people are honoring that constitution which they wrote with their blood. Be sure these burgulars will try it again as soon a we are not looking, but that time is past. McNichol, you called our Governor childish and used disrespectful personal names attacking his policies and person, that is not the way he should be addressed. What have you done except for foisting look alike legislators that do nothing but follow your lead is to subvert the betterment of our Commonwealth.Your exclusion of those not in your club is UnAmerican. Mr. Swann called for the reduction in the size of the Legislature. Our Mario said let’s study the idea, typically saying nothing and playing it safe rather than taking a stand preferring to stand in the safety of the back room and stick your finger in the wind to see which way the political winds are blowing.. Mr. Civera should study his own ideas instead of following the leader, being that his only goal is to be re-elected and run as far from Swann as possible. Mr. Civera, your time has ended. The property tax bill is a joke, our legislators spent more time calculating the number of votes they would get by pampering to the 10% who might benefit while forgoing the majority’s those who will end up paying for this boondoggle. Civera, Perzel, McNichol and Sexton think that they represent the Pepublican party, but they forgot the people have abandoned them. In order to get a little closer to those who read this newspaper, and buy the rhetoric, they produce out of touch ideas that their constituents have left behind with the Falwell, Gingrich, Bush and Nixon camps. We are the new Pennsylvania, new Republicans, Democrats, new Americans, your time has come and gone. To the people of Upper Darby, East Lansdowne, Drexel Hill and Millbourne; On a personal note if I might. My campaign is underfunded compared to Mr. Civera. One of the reasons is that he say’s yes to any PAC willing to buy his vote, I will take no PAC money. His staff compose letters against me, finding supporters to sign their name to them, thus giving them credence. Anyone with a brain can see through this. I put forth my opinions with my name, unafraid of the results. The truth will win out and I am sure your readers can read through the lines. Be sure of this, I am determined and convicted to offer an alternative to the politics as usual that has dominated local politics that have given these incumbents the arrogance to treat you as sheep and herd into the pens of their desires and votes. I have the key to unlock those pens and give you all the freedom to choose your own way of life and decide once and for all a say in your lives and get this repressive government off your back and make it a partner and not a yoke around your neck. http//:caseyroncaglione.com

My letter to the editor of the Delaware County Daily Times

I'd be surprised if this gets printed in the paper. But I figured if it's something I was willing to say in the paper, it's something I should be willing to share here.

Dear Editor,

Anyone who has gone through Delaware County public schools, especially Springfield School District as I had, knows that politics -- Delaware County Republican Politics pervades through every aspect of public school life. This is what makes Michael Puppio's comments, in response to an aide of Democratic Congressional Candidate Joe Sestak passing out campaign literature in a Marple Newtown classroom, ("Sestak Apologizes for Campaigning at School" 15 June 2006) all the more incredulous.

Mr. Puppio claimed that "Anyone…vaguely familiar with Delaware County knows that you don't engage in political activity in our classrooms." Well, I'm more than vaguely familiar with Delaware County and I can say without reservation that, from the GOP sponsored scholarships to class trips to see political candidates speak, Republican Politics were a huge part of the education I received from Springfield School District -- both in and out of the classroom. One instance that I remember vividly: on October 12^th 1992 President George HW Bush spoke on a campaign stop at the then Springfield Township Municipal Amphitheatre. Some of my fellow students attended this overtly political event and returned to E.T. Richardson Middle School proudly waving Bush/Quayle signs. Where was the outrage and indignation regarding politics in the classroom then? There was none! Perhaps it's because in 1992, those were the "right" kind of politics and there was no danger of Curt Weldon losing his job.

A more troubling underlying concern with the reaction to what happened on June 1^st in Marple Newtown is the fear of our children becoming politically engaged and educated. Why are we so afraid of high school students learning more about the people who want to become their leaders and where they stand on the issues? We can not continue to raise our children in a bubble of ignorance where only ideas approved by Mr. Puppio and Curt Weldon are taught and other ideas are treated as a perverting influence on our way of life by outsiders who do not think the "right" way. By allowing this to carry on, we're only doing our children's education an injustice for the benefit of the Republican Party. Because really, Mr. Puppio, isn't that what this is about: Keeping Democrats out of the classroom so that the Delaware County Republican Party can continue its unfettered political indoctrination of future voters into its ranks?

Christina Rockwell SHS 1999 Morton PA