Do you know that there are no gangs in Washington, D.C.?

Yeah, I was shocked too. The Washington Times:

When is a gang not a gang? When it’s based in the District.

D.C. officials insist on describing groups of young males as “crews,” rather than gangs, even when they are held responsible for violent acts such as the wave of killings in the city last weekend. But police officials in other cities say the distinction is counterproductive.

“The very first step in dealing with gangs is denial,” said Capt. Charles Bloom of the Philadelphia Police Department. “Then you get to the point that you can’t deny it any more.”

D.C. police, lawmakers and community activists say the groups are not gangs because their members are mostly teens who band together for personal protection. That, they say, distinguished them from conventional gangs, which are created for a criminal enterprise such as drug dealing.

Personal protection is one of the main reasons that people join gangs in the first place (American Street Gangs, p. 112).

Capt. Bloom said Philadelphia quit trying to make such distinctions two years ago. Although they once described such bands as “loose groups,” they now use the term “gang-related” for any group that engages in criminal violence.

Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier acknowledged this week that crews appear to be connected to some of the 10 homicides in the past two weeks — including four this past weekend. And they are connected to hundreds of shots fired and a dozen shootings late last year in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Northwest, officials say.

Orwell would be proud.

Lanier definitely needs to go at this point.

Or as the Fredericksburg PD et al. would put it: “That isn’t gang graffiti, it’s those damn taggers!”

H/t: Michelle Malkin

Someone needs to explain to RPV Chairman John Hager what a “gain” is.

Because it ain’t replacing one Republican with another. Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Republicans around the state are being asked to choose between change and continuity in a contest for the chairmanship of the Republican Party of Virginia.

GOP leaders say former Lt. Gov. John H. Hager — who has been chairman since July and wants to serve a full four-year term — appears to have the lead over Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick of Prince William County.

[…]

Frederick, 32, a lawmaker since 2004, said the party needs new leadership because it has lost five seats in the House of Delegates and four in the Virginia Senate while Hager has been chairman. He also said Hager has lagged in raising money for the party.

[…]

Hager said Frederick doesn’t mention some of the gains the GOP has made under his watch, including the special election victory of Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st. As for fundraising, Hager said the state party’s revenues doubled last year to $2 million.

Definition of “gain” according to Merriam-Webster:

1: resources or advantage acquired or increased : profit

So, how exactly is replacing the late Jo Ann Davis (Republican) with Wittman (Republican) a gain? Using this logic he gained 53 seats (the current number) in the House of Delegates and 19 seats (again, the current number) in the Senate of Virginia.

“He forgot Poland.”

Oh, and then there’s the hypocrisy. Continued from RT-D:

“He’s just questioned my integrity; he’s just a kid,” Hager said of Frederick.

Jason Gray of Colonial Heights, chairman of the 4th District GOP committee, said Hager “will carry the convention. He is running strong.”

He also criticized Frederick for running a negative campaign against Hager.

Really? Who went negative? Did Hager falsely accuse Frederick of suing the RPV?:

Hager then mentioned that Frederick got into a legal tussle with the party in 2004 over of a contract his company, GXS Strategies, had with the Virginia GOP for software.

“What can Jeff Frederick do?” Hager asked. “He has never been to a meeting or done anything for the party except sue it.”

Frederick, chief executive officer of GXS strategies, said neither he nor his company ever sued the state party. He said there was a issue related to a contract for software, but the matter was quickly resolved.

“We had a disagreement with the party but we settled it,” Frederick said.

Besides, isn’t Hager running his Chairman reelection campaign out of an office owned by a company that has gotten millions in dollars in no bid contracts?

How does someone get a sentence of “four years and nine minutes”?

(This post doubles as: “POS terrorist ends hunger strike”)

Yes, minutes, not months. AP:

A former professor who pleaded guilty to conspiring to aid a Palestinian terrorist group but has refused to testify before a grand jury in a related investigation has ended a nearly two-month hunger strike in a southeast Virginia jail, his supporters said Wednesday.

[…]

Prosecutors decided to retry him, and he entered a plea bargain on lesser charges. He was sentenced to four years and nine minutes in prison with credit for time served.

More danger from mercury bulbs (CFLs)

AP via WTOP:

A Cumberland family has lost their home to a fire caused by using a compact fluorescent light bulb in a lamp controlled by a dimmer switch.

The state fire marshal’s office says such fires are rare, but they’re a real danger that people should consider when replacing incandescent bulbs with the more efficient fluorescent type.

[…]

Truck driver Rick Jenkins says he didn’t think to read the label before screwing in the bulb. The fire caused 165,000 dollars worth of damage to his home.

I wonder what happen to all the mercury in the bulb.

Reminder: The Richmond Times-Dispatch declared William Frawley a “hero” back in January.

See: With “heroes” like these, who needs bad guys?

So, this is a guy that RT-D declared a “hero”:

Before he was declared a “hero”

  • Blew a 0.21 BAC (blood alcohol content) in Fairfax County, following a motor vehicle accident, and somehow managed to skirt his way out of his mandatory minimum ten days in jail (§ 18.2-270(a)).
  • The day after his arrest in Fairfax County, he was charged with DUI after driving his car around without a tire and failing to stop for police. He was also charged with failure to submit to a breath test.

After he was declared a “hero”:

  • It was discovered he had been charged in Maryland with failure to stop after hitting an attended vehicle (hit and run).
  • Had a restraining order filed against him by his wife for domestic violence.
  • He was charged with his third DUI.
  • It was discovered that he never had a Virginia driver’s license despite being the President of a Virginia university (UMW).

RT-D, want a mulligan on this one?

The Caroline BOS wants a 7.06% pay raise.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Stanley Jones and the School Board are fighting for just a 6% increase in salaries for teachers.

Not only that, but the BOS is projected to pay themselves 1.94% more than was budgeted come the end of this fiscal year. Who needs a budget, right?

And they want a 113.9% increase in benefits (medical insurance for one).

And they get to go to the National Association of Counties’s (NACo) convention in Kansas City at the cost of $13,000. Mmmm… Kansas City barbecue.

It should be noted that Spotsylvania County stopped going to NACo conventions back in 2004.

Of course, almost three years ago, Calvin Taylor and Wayne Acors went to the NACo convention Hawaii. The supposed reason for the trip to Hawaii was to learn how Hawaii has done such a great job with their rural roads (The Free Lance–Star):

Has anyone seen an improvement in roads in Caroline County?

I sure as heck haven’t. In fact, what input does the county even have in regards to roads?

Not only that, but Percy Ashcraft was talking about flying people (including members of the BOS and county staff) down to Tampa Bay for an award for the Ladysmith Sub-Area Plan (March 18, 2008 BOS Meeting – 10. Informational/Calender Items).

All this while increasing citizen’s real estate tax bill by $50/$100,000.

Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending April 26, 2008

From the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office: Weekly News Media Briefs – Week Ending April 26, 2008:

On April 21, 2008 Deputy J. K. Miller responded to a business in Bowling Green for a reported employee retail theft. After investigating, Gregory T. Wright, 18, of Bowling Green was charged with shoplifting. He was ordered held under a $1500 bond and a court date of April 23, 2008 was set.

On April 21, 2008, Deputy P. E. Ford responded to a residence in Ruther Glen for a 911 hang up call. After investigating, Olivia T. Gray, 40, of Ruther Glen was charged with being drunk in public. She was released on a personal recognizance bond and a court date of May 28, 2008 was set.

On April 23, 2008, Deputy C. S. Wooldridge responded to a report of shoplifting. After investigating, Cynthia K. Sanson, 42, of Ruther Glen was charged with felony shoplifting – 3rd offense and possession of a controlled substance. She was ordered held without bond and court information was not available.

On April 24, 2008, Deputy C. S. Overman responded to a business in Ladysmith for a report of shoplifting. After investigating, April L. Watkins, 30, of King George was charged with shoplifting. She was released on a personal recognizance bond and a court date of May 2, 2008 was set.

On April 25, 2008, Deputy M. J. O’Connor stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Sherwood M. Fountain, 49, of Ruther Glen was charged with felony habitual offender – 2nd offense, driving under the influence – 2nd offense in 10 years and refusing to submit to a breath test – 3rd offense. He was ordered held without bond and an arraignment date of April 25, 2008 was set.

On April 25, 2008, Deputy C. M. Polliard stopped a vehicle in Dawn for a traffic violation. After investigating, Jason B. Hurlbert, 387, of Hanover was charged with driving under the influence. He was released on a personal recognizance bond and a court date of May 7, 2008 was set.

On April 25, 2008, Deputy J. K. Miller stopped a vehicle in Carmel Church for a traffic infraction. After investigating, Lloyd Fegans, Jr., 48, of Bowie, MD was charged with driving under the influence and refusing to submit to a breath test. He was ordered held under a $1500 bond and a court date of May 2, 2008 was set.

On April 25, 2008, Deputy C. S. Wooldridge responded to a domestic in Port Royal. After investigating, Karissa Johnson, 24 and Larry Charity, 21, both of Port Royal were charged with domestic assault. Both were released on personal recognizance bonds and court dates of May 2, 2008 were set for both.

On April 25, 2008, Sergeant K. W. Mundy stopped a vehicle that had been reported taken without the consent of the owner. After investigating, Anthony L. Monroe, 23, of Ruther glen was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license and 3 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was ordered held under a $4000 bond and a court date of May 6, 2008 was set.

On April 26, 2008, Investigator R. D. Cable served indictments charging Bret A. Bowling, 23, of Ruther Glen with 2 counts of distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Bowling was ordered held without bond and court information was unavailable.

On April 26, 2008, Deputy D. W. Mundie responded to a suspicious vehicle in Ladysmith. After investigating, Hunter K. Lyng, 27, of Richmond was charged with possession of marijuana. He was released on a summons and a court date of May 7, 2008 was set.

Caroline County Sheriff’s Office Wrap Up

According to Sheriff Tony Lippa, Caroline Deputies made 5 drug arrests, 3 driving under the influence arrest, 9 domestic violence arrests, and 53 other criminal arrests during the past week. The deputies served 203 civil papers, issued 212 traffic summonses, handled 7 motor vehicle crashes, responded to 36 alarm calls, and dealt with 11 juvenile offenders. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center dispatched 451 calls for service and handled 1,785 telephone inquiries. The CCSO also logged 32 calls assisting outside agencies and had 238 self initiated calls.

He’s like a bad penny…

The Free Lance–Star:

A year to the day, after his first drunken driving charge, former UMW President William J. Frawley has been arrested a third time on charges of driving under the influence.

According to Maryland court records, Frawley was stopped by police at 10:50 p.m. on April 10 at 2908 Virgilia St., in Rockville, Md., driving a 1997 Toyota with Maryland tags. The court records indicate he produced a Maryland driver’s license.

He was charged with driving (attempting to drive) a vehicle while under the influence.

Some of the commenters on Fredericksburg.com are asking why he has a Maryland driver’s license. Apparently, he never had a Virginia driver’s license. For both of his cases in Virginia (Fredericksburg and Fairfax County), online court records state his address as “CHEVY CASE, MD”. That address almost, always comes from the driver’s license of the arrested person. Apparently, he never got a Virginia driver’s license and when his license was suspended due to the charges in Virginia, the Maryland DMV didn’t get the notice (that, or they’re completely incompetent).

Interestingly enough, other court records for William Frawley in Maryland include a charge of “FAILURE TO STOP AFTER ACCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE TO ATTENDED VEHICLE” (hit and run?) in June of 2007. The court records state he entered a plea of “Other Plea”, possibly an Alford Plea?

UPDATE: Not sure how I missed this, but Frawley also had a domestic violence charge as well in March of 2008.

What hypocrisy: Wittman condemns Speaker Nancy Pelosi for “rejecting” earmark moratorium while requesting $132,500,000.00 in earmarks.

File under: Chutzpah.

He also has yet to publish his requested earmarks on his website as he has promised.

First, one of Wittman’s press releases dated February 7, 2008:

Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) released the following statement after today’s procedural motion to force a vote on an immediate earmark moratorium.

“I am disappointed that Speaker Pelosi has rejected a Republican invitation to place an immediate moratorium on all government funded earmarks. I believe this is an issue that we must find common ground on, and that we must do so immediately. Unfortunately, congressional Democrats do not feel the same way.

Wittman’s views on “Wasteful Spending”:

I am committed to fight against wasteful spending and expose the fraud and abuse in Washington. We need to get back to the conservative principles of controlling spending, particularly when it comes to federal earmarks, commonly referred to as “pork barrel” projects.

From The Daily Press via the “VA GOP Network”:

About 65 people crammed into 40 seats and stood along the walls of a meeting room at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Newport News for about two hours. What they heard was U.S. Representative Rob Wittman and state Delegates G. Glenn Oder and Brenda Pogge discuss their legislative agendas while railing against excessive governmental spending and, frequently, the Democratic Party.

[…]

Wittman spoke of reforming the tax code and legislative earmarking, extending tax cuts and curtailing entitlement programs — particularly Medicaid, Medicare and defense spending, that he said would in five years account for 96 percent of federal government discretionary spending.

“If we don’t get our arms around these particular issues we’re going to have trouble, Wittman said. “We have to find ways of doing things without spending ourselves into oblivion.”

Uh…he wants to cut defense spending in the middle of two wars? Aren’t there five military bases in his Congressional District, as he is so happy to point out?

Comforting…

And from a document distributed by the Stafford County Republican Committee (.DOC file) touting Wittman’s “conservative record” (snort):

Rep. Wittman has joined the members of the Republican Conference to demand reform of earmarks by calling for a Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform and an earmark moratorium until additional guidelines are recommended.

And now, from the Media General News Service:

As his colleagues debated a moratorium on congressionally-directed budget earmarks this month, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., requested $132.5 million for local projects.

[…]

In his first budget cycle, Wittman sought funding for 52 projects. The largest is $17.5 million to replace a 40-year-old missile support facility at the Navy’s Dahlgren Division in King George Co.

Uh…didn’t he just say he was going to cut defense spending?

Did he vote for it before he voted against it?

[…]

Side-stepping the intra-party debate over new House earmark policies, Wittman said he made sure his requests were supported by local agencies, contained non-federal funding, and pledged to publish his requests on his Web site.

“What we try to do is step out in front and develop our own policy and be sure we are transparent,” Wittman said.

Funny, he hasn’t posted the information on either of his websites yet (Google search of his official website and his campaign website). I guess the media gets a list of his earmarks, but us lowly serfs in the First Congressional District don’t. And how exactly would a federal earmark not contain federal funding? Continued:

But critics said it would have been better for him to not participate in the earmark process at all.
“He’s not starting off very well,” said Paige. “If he’s already climbing on the runaway train that is the earmark culture in Congress, he’s going in the wrong direction.”

Critics also say the earmark process increases spending, because lawmakers support each other’s pet projects.

Wittman said he will suggest “spending reductions in other places to offset spending for (his) earmarks.”

Um, yeah, sure, I believe that. Apparently he’s going to reduce spending by increasing spending to pay for people’s health insurance in the tune of $5,000,000 in FY09 and 10, increasing to $10,000,000 in FY11 and 12, and hitting $20,000,000 in FY13 as a cosponsor of H.R.5405. (I must have missed the part of the United States Constitution that includes the provision to pay for people’s health insurance.) Continued:

[Eric] Cantor [R-7th CD] made no appropriation requests for the second year in a row and has called on lawmakers to follow suit while Congress considers reforms to the earmark process.

In closing, to quote P. J. O’Rourke: “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”

And: “The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work and then they get elected and prove it.“