Wednesday Ditzy Cam

Lazy Kitty


In the 93º heat, what else is there for a cat to do in the day but lay around?

I just rode in from Port Clinton, and boy is my butt sore...

On the road to Port Clinton: 2005 Bike to the Bay....that's my bike just to the left of me.

I spent last weekend participating in the Reeves Northrup Memorial MS Bike to the Bay. A friend of mine from church, Doug, and I rode together on Saturday. Baically it's a 75 mile tour from Maumee to Port Clinton, then 75 miles back on Sunday. Saturday started out fine. We made good time. We left at 7:10 AM, and arrived in Pemberville for lunch around 10:15. After that the heat started to set in. It was 98 degrees on the official record, but being on the blacktop was a different story. It had to be weel over 100. We stopped at all the rest stops for ice, water, and sugar-filled food, but the heat was starting to get to Doug. We both finished the tour to Port Clinton, but Doug was starting to show signs of heat prostration. Since Sunday was predicted to be just as hot, Doug decided not to press his luck or health and went home that night with some friends.

We had vouchers to ride the Jet Express to Put-In-Bay, but I declined since it was so late in the day that if I left I wouldn't get back until after midnight. And besides, the only thing left to do there that late is go to the bars. I was tired, and the last thing my body needed in it was alcohol, especially since I had to ride back the next day. So I stuck around the campsite on the grounds of Port Clinton High and watched a little-league game.

The next day I woke up around 5am, packed my gear, and went for breakfast. They had someone set up making pancakes. And, get this, you had to catch them. The line was about 5 feet away from the griddle and the woman cooking would fling the pancakes at you... just what I needed first thing in the morning. You know, when you're in that groggy early morning mood where you can't suffer any TomFoolery... I wanted to walk right up and say "just put 3 on my plate please", but I played along and caught them as they flew my way. I finished breakfast and got out on the road at 7am.

I was making pretty good time, stopping at each rest area for only 3-5 minutes, just enough for ice, gatorade, and a twinkie. While I was riding I would pass the same person, and then later she would pass me. We were keeping the same pace, so we got to talking on the ride (we were both on our own for the day), so we decided to ride together the rest of the way. I found out her name is Julie and this is her 6th year doing Bike to the Bay. We did a constant 16mph the entire way (my speedometer isn't set correctly so it said 17.5... (Doug called it the "optimistic bike computer" on Saturday). the tour went through some of the back-country lanes of NW Ohio. God awful flat land with a lot of bumpy roads, but a least they are all paved. We got to the halfway point for lunch at 10am, and back on the road at 10:30. Soon enough we were back in familiar territory just south of Perrysburg, then along the Maumee River into Waterville. We finished the tour back in the Rec Center by 1pm, and were treated to a chicken dinner.

I said bye to Julie and went home for a nice warm bath. Overall I did okay, my muscles never cramped and I wasn't sore at all... except for the road rash from sitting on a bike seat for too long. I ended up sleeping for about 12 hours though, which I needed very badly.

I had left Ditzy home over the weekend with lots of water & food, and he was happy to see me, though I wasn't in much of a mood to play with him.

Overall, the tour was a nice experience. The riders are nice and friendly, the volunteers are everywhere: along the road in vans to pick up or help out people, bike shops have trucks to help fix broke-down bikes, volunteers on motorcycles to provide help, and at the rest stops with tons of goodies and ICE!

Most of all I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me for their support for me and for the fight to cure MS. The figures at the end of the ride show that they were able to raise over $257,000 this weekend. Thanks everyone!

I had never rode more than 30miles in one stretch, let alone two days of 75! But, if I'm still in Toledo next year, I'll have to do this again.

Bush's dog, CIA, shits on Italy's lawn, bites child.

With no respect for national sovreignty, CIA operatives acting at the command of the Bush Administration kidnapped Abu Omar off the streets of Milan on February 17, 2003. Abu Omar is a suspect believed to be tied to jihadist movements in Afghanistan. He was then shipped off to Egypt where he was tortured. An Italian judge has ordered the arrest of 13 CIA Agents tied to this crime.

...so basically, the Bush Administration is showing absolutely no respect for their neighbors. As commander in chief, the CIA is Bush's charge. And just like an owner is responsible for his dog, so is Bush responsible for keeping the CIA on a leash.

Instead, Bush has let the CIA run free through the neighborhood. CIA, to follow through with the dog analogy, went into a neighbor's yard ,bit a child, and then shit on the lawn.

Italy, rightfully so, is outraged. They were even part of the coalition of the willing. Yet this is the treatment they get from a country ran by the 'blind rage' conservatives.

Would you want us for a neighbor?!

Karl Rove defends "Conservative Blind Rage"

By now most of you have heard Karl Rove's latest attack on the liberals from last Wednesday's gathering of the Conservative Party of New York state.

"Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war. Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers."

Indeed Conservatives & Liberals did see the savagery of 9/11 the same. Conservatives, in a blind rage for revenge, prepared for war, scoffed at the advice of our neighbors, spurned them of the help they were willing to offer, invaded the wrong country, let the mastermind of the attack get away, made our servicemen targets in a foreign land, and through their ineffectiveness to plan ahead and the carelessness of their fury have made the world more dangerous. We have also pissed off our neighbors, and they aren't going to help us out that much anymore.

Liberals know that these are not the actions of another country but a group of terrorists. You isolate them by removing their support; by changing the hearts and minds of those who would show them sympathy. These terrorists rally around causes and pull their new recruits from those seduced by their cause. You take away their cause, you eliminate the pool of terrorists. So, identify the causes, defuse them or resolve them (like the Israel-Palestinian one), and shrink the number of places in the world friendly to terrorists.

When the terrorists have no safe harbor to call home, and the world is against them (as the rest of the world was with us in solidarity right after 9-11), they can't hide for long. Now, not only our own government, but the government of other countries is looking for them too. And it is a lot easier on our part when cooperation rules the day.

This is a completely different war, and having the biggest tanks and fastest jets aren't the way to win it. Liberals know this, but conservatives won't listen when they get angry.

Wednesday Ditzy Cam

. ...here is how I found Ditzy on my bed after taking a shower this morning. Of course, when the red-eye correction flash went off, he went from playing to posing for the camera.

False Prophets in America

Here is an excerpt from the New York Christian Coalition's press release, written by Rev. Banuchi. Basically, what I get from this is that he is suggesting that homosexuals, like cigarettes, should have warning labels?!

June 12, 2005.

"The New York Christian Coalition expresses a deep sense of sorrow concerning the first Gay Pride Day being observed in New Paltz today. When a society has degenerated to the point of celebrating an immoral lifestyle that results in sickness and premature death it’s questionable whether that society can long survive. We put warning labels on cigarette packs because we know that smoking takes 1 to 2 years off the average life span, yet we “celebrate” a lifestyle that we know spreads every kind of sexually transmitted disease and takes at least 20 years off the average lifespan according to the 2005 issue of the refereed scientific journal Psychological Reports. Something is wrong with this picture.

No society can continue to expect the peace and prosperity we have known in this nation if we neglect God’s eternal rules of order. I’m not the first to suggest this idea. It was first iterated by George Washington in his once famous farewell speech. No, we don’t see this as an occasion to celebrate, but rather as an occasion to pray for those who are deceived by the lies of popular culture, who are caught up in a destructive lifestyle, and for the children who are being zealously evangelized by radical homosexuals. Engraved in granite in the ceiling of the Missouri Senate Chamber are the words, “Nothing is politically correct that is morally wrong.” Those words could never be more appropriate. No, we cannot join in the celebration, rather we join in the sentiments of Thomas Jefferson who said, “…I tremble when I reflect that God is just; that his justice will not sleep forever.” May God’s grace continue to be shed on America."

...it occurs to me that at one time in history homosexuals were given labels... along with Jews and Poles...

How can such venomous hate-speech be tied to the message of Christianity anyway... one of compassion, forgiveness, and love? God's grace for man knows no bounds... yet it is commonplace to find those who claim to be professing His message professing a very different message altogether. Like false prophets, these people are experts at leading people astray, for muddying the waters and clouding God's message to us.

..And isn't it about time for Christians who see this as a slap in the face to their ideals to take a stand and expose these people for the false prophets they are?!?

Here is the report from the NY Christian Coalition...

and here is the amount of press this is getting, a la google news...

And for those wondering where Banuchi has come up with this crap, let me point you over to the Family Research Institute, specializing in PseudoScience since 1986.

Moi Aussi....

So Marie had her results to this Theological Worldview quiz over on her Blog Site: Telling Truth.... and so I thought I'd take it too.

My results are nearly the same... and, despite growing up around Fundamentalist types, none of it rubbed off on me!

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 93% Classical Liberal 61% Modern Liberal 61% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 57% Neo orthodox 57% Charismatic/Pentecostal 46% Roman Catholic 43% Reformed Evangelical 7% Fundamentalist 0% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

If the US Constitution were rewritten...

So I just went to 2/10's blog site and found a link to a letter on the 'Lethal Thought' blog site to Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who called our treatment of detainees in Gitmo on par with other murderous regimes. He basically calls him every name in the book, and attacks the values of everone to the left of G. Gordon Liddy. Dozens of comments are posted to this right-wing nutjob, and what's his response? the classic conservative response to opposing arguments: ignore, purge, and tell 'em to go get a job!

You know... considering how this current regime has forfeited our right to claim moral superiorty over all the other nations in the world, I'm pretty sure if those in power today were left to write the US Constitution, it would read like one of those policy statements sent with your credit card... with the details in the fine print. And that fine print would be a mile long with all sorts of caveats and exemptions. Here is an example..



A) Torture is wrong. Period¹
B) Freedom of Speech is a Constitutional Right²
C) Honesty is the best policy³
D) The rule of law will prevail §
E) All Men Are Created Equalª

¹ Except when done by the United States of America. If such actions are made aware to the public, said actions will be construed as 'harmless pranks' and low level military enlistees will bear brunt of responsibility.
² Unless it is in disagreement with or criticizes current Administration Policy. In such circumstances, the responsible party in disagreement shall no longer be considered a member of said country.
³ Except when honesty supports those deemed to be enemies of the state. In such circumstances, the truth should be ignored and left unreported and celebrity trial fottage shall be used to divert public attention.
§ With exception to those 'Islamic Dogs' we have imprisoned without charges from Afghanistan and Iraq. In such circumstances, the 'rule of law' shall be indefinite detention.
ªSome are more equal than others. Does not apply to those found in breach of (² ). Does not apply to those who, in any manner, appear or sympathize with aforementioned individuals referenced in (§). Does not apply to those who look, act, or think different than the majority of American Citizens.

...just imagine the quagmires Superman would face today in his pursuit to defend "Truth, Justice, and the American Way", when these ideals are so badly under attack!

And the worse part is the Baby Boomers are just reliving Vietnam through this division all over again, and X'ers like me are so cynical because nothing is getting done that we either tune out and watch 'American Idol', or we fall into the whole 'everyone's bad, but my side isn't as bad' mindset. It is rare for anyone to express the optimism thta used to be the hallmark of the American Consciousness... the trait that so puzzled the rest of the world.

Charlie Brown was once exhibited as the epitome of the American Ethos... the likable kid who kept his sunny outlook despite always having his kite eaten by a tree, never winning a baseball game, and never kicking the football. Yet despite this, Charlie Brown always did the right thing, stood up for his friends, and always gave Lucy the benefit of the doubt when she held the football.

Where did you go, Charlie Brown?

Wednesday Ditzy Cam

Grrrnnnggh!! Gimmee! Gimmee!

Dean is Right!

The GOP is pretty much a bunch of White Christians.

As illustrated by the 2004 election result (browse them yourself at CNN).

Here are the facts...

The Republicans made of 37% of the electorate, of which 93% voted for Bush. This means the CORE GOP, that is those who admit to be Republicans and supported Bush, make up 34.5% of the electorate.

But Bush won 51% of the electorate. His support included some Independents and Democrats. Bush's Democrat 'Zell Miller' supports make up only 4% of the electorate, while the Independent supporters make up the remaining 12.5%.

But let's remember the 34.5% that are Republicans...

Now, let's look at the nonChristian voters.

	Demographic & % of demographic in electorate	Support Bush	Total % of Bush Supporters in electorate
jewish	3%	25%	0.75%
other	7%	23%	1.61%
none	10%	31%	3.10%
total	20%	27.3%	5.46%

So, ALL the nonChristian Bush supporters make up only 5.46% of the electorate.

Lastly, consider the nonWhite voters.

RACE	% of demographic in electorate	Support Bush	Total % of Bush Supporters in electorate
black	11%	11%	1.21%
Latino	8%	44%	3.52%
Asian	2%	44%	0.88%
Other	2%	40%	0.80%
Total	23%	27.87%	6.41%

So, ALL the nonWhite Bush supporters make up only 6.41% of the electorate.

Now, to put the GOP in THE BEST LIGHT, let's say they are extremely inlcusive and every person who is not White and voted for Bush is a bonfide GOP party member.

That means that this 6.41% is part of the 34.5% of total Republicans, meaning they make up a whopping 18.6% of their ranks.

Also, the nonChristian Bush supporters, at 5.46% of the electorate. Let's also say for the sake of putting the GOP in the beast light that ALL of them are bonafide Republican party members. That means they make up a whopping 15.8% of their ranks.

...now, since the GOP claims they aren't a party that is "pretty much a bunch of White Christians", lets add in ALL nonChristian and nonWhite Bush supporters to their ranks.

So at 11.87% of the electorate, and, once again, for the benefit of the doubt we say the all are card-carrying GOP members, they would make up 34.4% of the total GOP.

Hence, the remaining 65.6% of the GOP membership are White Christians!!

But this can only be true if...
1) All nonChristians who voted for Bush belong to the GOP
2) All nonWhites who voted for Bush belong to the GOP.
3) All nonChristians who voted for Bush are White
4) All nonWhite who voted for Bush are Christian.

If any of conditions 1-4 prove false,
then the % of White Christian GOP membership GROWS!

so let the GOP spin machine whine all it wants. The facts speak for themselves.

Wednesday Ditzy Cam + 1 Day

So Ditzy and I both got new toys this afternoon. I got a rack for my bike, and Ditzy got the box...


In no time he had made himself at home



"hee hee hee... I see you!"

Through the Cracks of the Coin Scandal

With all the fervor surrounding the Ohio Coin Scandal, there's almost too much corruption to take notice to every instance. Just a few days ago it was revealed that $225 million, almost a quarter billion dollars, was lost from the Ohio Workers Compensation Fund. And what's worse is that Taft's office was told about the loss last October (not something you want to let the public know, let alone a month before the elections)! Taft's case of plausible denial is that an aide never told him about it. But it gets worse... much worse...

...The part that is slipping through the cracks right now is where the COIN FUND, a $55 million investment of OWC money to Tom Noe's Capital Coin business, was allocated.

We have read about the $300,000 in missing coins, suspicions of money being funneled into politcal campaigns, but the one link that isn't getting much attention: real estate investment.

John Ulmer: a Toledo Area Real Estate investor, is one of those who received investment funding from Noe's COIN FUND. As this section of the Blade's article reads...

"Questions arise

Almost since the beginning of its relationship with the state, Capital has invested state money - totaling nearly $1 million - with controversial Ottawa Hills real estate mogul John Ulmer. Mr. Ulmer's companies agreed to pay Rare Coin Enterprises, one of Capital Coin's wholly owned subsidiaries, 10 or 12 percent on the investment.

Mr. Ulmer takes investors' money and buys homes, often in the lower-income parts of Toledo. He then fixes them and resells them, acting as a private bank that charges interest rates above traditional banks and mortgage companies.

The resulting revenue stream allows him to provide healthy returns to his investors.

But some community activists and Toledo leaders have accused Mr. Ulmer of buying substandard homes for cheap prices and then reselling them to poor buyers who must pay him inflated prices plus high interest rates. Mr. Ulmer has countered that he's helped people with poor credit realize the American Dream and helped rehabilitate neighborhoods in the process.

Mr. Cowman, the former chief investment officer for the bureau and now director of investment for the Ohio School Employees Retirement System, said he knew Mr. Noe had investments in real estate but said they were short term, which he defined as less than a year. He didn't recall the specific investments, saying there were too many managers to know every single investment.

"We pretty well let our managers use their discretion," he said.

Records filed in Lucas County, however, show that the loans to Mr. Ulmer lasted from a year to five years. Capital Coin, through its subsidiaries, still holds three mortgages valued at $352,000 with Mr. Ulmer's companies, although Mr. Noe has not loaned new money to the company since August, 2000.

Also, Mr. Elliott, the bureau's manager of internal audits, raised questions about the mortgages. He said the bureau had no documentation that the loans to Mr. Ulmer were properly covered by the value of the properties listed on the mortgages.

"While the various notes receivable were collateralized by real estate, as evidenced by mortgages, we found no documentation for appraisals or title searches performed to ensure that the property collateralizing the receivables was of adequate value for the loans," Mr. Elliott wrote.

Last week, the state refused to provide copies of mortgage documentation, which the bureau later required from Mr. Noe, citing the potential that they could be considered "trade secrets" and thus exempt from Ohio's public records law.

But a Blade review of the properties in Lucas County revealed that one of the properties was worth far less than the mortgage value.

Capital Coin, through its Rare Coin Enterprises subsidiary, invested $160,000 in July, 1999, with Ulmer-managed Haven Holdings. In return for the investment, Haven granted Rare Coin a mortgage on a parcel just off Airport Highway in Springfield Township that once had a small single-family home upon it.

According to the Lucas County auditor, that land - now vacant - is worth $25,800. Mr. Ulmer's company, Westhaven Group, LLC, bought it in 1999 for $32,000."

So,let's recap...

1) Ulmer's Westahven firm has received around $1 million in state money
2) Capital Coin, along with Ulmer's companies, still hold $352,000 of real estate
3) If the state of Ohio has any info on the investments, such as mortgage documentation, they a stonewalling by refusing to release records, claiming such info is a "trade secret".

4) Capital Coin, invested $160,000 into a property that was listed as being purchased for $32,000. Where did the $128,000 go?!??! FOLLOW THE MONEY, DAMMIT!

5) Community activists have accused Mr. Ulmer of buying substandard homes for cheap prices and then reselling them to poor buyers who must pay him inflated prices plus high interest rates.

Here' a Toledo Blade Interview with Gov. Taft which asks about the state investing in Ulmer's real estate ventures:

An excerpt...
"TAFT: He's [Noe] making money for the state. What's the problem? Funds invest in commodities all the time. People invest in commodities. What's so surprising? People invest in gold. People invest in silver.

BLADE: I'm sure the Lagrange Development people would love to take you on a tour and show you what state money has bought in Toledo - blighted homes that are sitting empty today, purchased by John Ulmer. They'd probably be happy to have you interview poor folks who have been charged above-market interest rates [to buy these homes].

TAFT: Then write a story about John Ulmer. The issue is the return, the rate of return for the state.

BLADE: Regardless of its effect on neighborhoods in Toledo?

TAFT: These people, these firms, they are hired to do a job. They are hired to get a return for the state on its investment.

BLADE: And it doesn't matter how they get that return?

TAFT: Of course it matters. It's got to be legal and so forth. This is an investment that's given a return for the state. It's helped us lower workers' compensation rates, which is good for the state.

BLADE: We don't want to imply or state that you don't care that Ohioans are being charged above-market interest rates, poor Ohioans, based on a state investment.

TAFT: You're looking for whatever angle you can find, and that's fine if you want to do that. I don't have all the facts on that. All I can say is that the Workers' Compensation Bureau has a very open, a very competitive policy with regard to how they choose investors. They hold them accountable for results, and that policy seems to have worked in this case to the advantage of the state."

At least Ohio State Senator Theresa Fedor is on top of this...
"About 25 people gathered on the overgrown lawn. Ms. Fedor reminded the group of Gov. Bob Taft's comments, in an April 7 interview with The Blade, that Mr. Noe "was making money for the state; what's the problem?"

"Well, let's look behind us and see what the problem is. We want our money back," she said.

Harm was done to the fabric of Toledo, "unfortunately, supported by state funds," she said.

She said Mr. Ulmer is responsible for "hooking people into a cycle of indebtedness from which they cannot escape. And now we know because of Tom Noe, [Mr. Ulmer] has been doing so with state money. Our money. And we want it back."

Beth Lewandowski, president of Lagrange Village Council, said "The state of Ohio is very likely a Toledo slumlord."

She called on politicians to contribute donations from Mr. Noe to Lagrange Development Corp. "to help people harmed by John Ulmer." She asked Mr. Ulmer to contribute $500,000 "to begin undoing the damage caused by his presence in the Lagrange neighborhood.""

For those unfamiliar with the Lagrange Neighborhood, click on this link...

...So, is Westhaven helping people realize the American Dream of owning their own home or just another slumlord? With that question, I will leave this...

I did a google search for Westhaven and Toledo and Escrow...

Here are some cases that turned up listed in The Ohio Legal Services against Ulmer's Westhaven Group:

Dorothy and Roger Bailey v. Westhaven Group, et al.
(Lucas County Court of Common Pleas; CI-200205554)
ABLE represents Dorothy and Roger Bailey, who were tenants living in a home in poor condition when John Ulmer, d.b.a. Westhaven Group, LLC, bought the property. There were problems with the heat, plumbing, foundation, in addition to several other problems that affected our clients’ health and safety. The Baileys complained about these problems and were told by defendants that they would be fixed.

Defendants orally agreed to lease the property to the Baileys for two years after which they would have the opportunity to purchase the home on land contract. During the first year of the lease, the Baileys continued to complain about the condition of the property. In January of 2001, after several broken promises, the Baileys decided to put their rent in escrow. The Toledo Municipal Court appointed a housing specialist to inspect the property. In February of 2001, after the housing specialist reported that the property was unfit for habitation, the housing magistrate issued an order ordering the Baileys to vacate the property and Defendant Ulmer to fix the property. The Baileys and their eight minor children were forced to move into a hotel for three months before they could find other housing.

ABLE filed a complaint on the Baileys’ behalf against Westhaven Group, John Ulmer, and Scott Ulmer, for breach of contract, constructive eviction, negligence per se, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment. Case is pending.

...and here's another one in the same document...

Sonya Kimball v. Westhaven Group, et al.
(Lucas County Court of Common Pleas; CI-200302744)
ABLE represents Sonya Kimball, who purchased a home on a land contract from John Ulmer, d.b.a. Westhaven Group, LLC, in April of 2001. She was told that the home would be extensively renovated including replacing the roof. Ms. Kimball moved into her new home before the renovations were complete. Ulmer sent out two construction companies to replace her roof. The first company was negligent; Ms. Kimball’s roof was not finished and the inside of her house was exposed to the elements. Despite her efforts to cover her roof with a tarp, rain damaged Ms. Kimball’s property inside the home. The second company hired by defendants did not repair the roof properly. Ms. Kimball’s home was damaged by moisture and mold.

Ms. Kimball subsequently stopped paying rent in response to Ulmer’s failure to repair her roof.
Defendants filed an eviction proceeding against her and she agreed to leave.

ABLE filed a complaint on Ms. Kimball’s behalf against John Ulmer, Westhaven Group, LLC, Larry Sorter, Eric Guilliod, Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting, Vic Joseph, Maumee Bay Remodelers, James Huffman, and Executive Remodelers. We are claiming breach of contract against Ulmer, Sorter, and Westhaven Group, LLC. We are claiming fraud against Ulmer, Westhaven Group, LLC, Sorter, Eric Guilliod, and Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting. We are also claiming negligent hiring and negligence per se against Ulmer, Westhaven Group, LLC, Joseph, Maumee Bay Remodelers, Huffman, and Executive Remodelers. We are further claiming negligent infliction of emotional distress against Ulmer, Westhaven Group, LLC, and Sorter. Finally, we are claiming civil conspiracy among Ulmer, Westhaven Group, LLC, Sorter, Guilliod, and Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting.

USA Harbors Terrorist from Justice

In a move telling of the hypocrisy of the Bush Administration's policy to oppose any nation that harbors terrorists, The US State Department has refused to turn in Luis Posada, a wanted criminal who turned up in Miami after crossing into the US illegally. Posada is a former CIA operative, a Cuban exile, and naturalised Venezuelan. He is accused of the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976, which killed 73 innocent civilians. Posada escaped from a Venezuelian prison in 1985, and Venezuela is seeking his extradition. Posada is currently being held on immigration violations.

Now, if we really mean to stop terrorists, then we cannot let terrorists friendly to our own political and national interests run amok too. Even if this guy is popular to the mostly Republican Cuban-Americans living in Florida.

So what's it going to be, Mr. President? Do the right thing and turn him over to face charges in Venezuela and lose support amongst the Cuban-American community? Just like you said we would?

Interesting enough, the State Dept.'s refusal is based on a 'lack of evidence'

...a lack of evidence hasn't stopped the GOP Administration so far from the internment of 'enemy combatants' in Gitmo, has it?

Too bad the publicity and egg on the face of George W. isn't getting much press... then again, with Fox News, spineless CNN, and the Abridged Network News Minute, what does?

...oh yeah, Michael Jackson.

Sources:
Venezuela seeks return of 'terrorist'

Arrest of Cuban ex-CIA figure puts Bush in tough political spot

US Rejects Venezuelan Request on Posada