Mighty George W. Bush keeps striking out on energy.  For someone who was once the owner of a Major League Baseball Team and an oilman and has an MBA, he keeps striking out on the cross between energy, the economy, and fiscal policy.

Attorney General Doug Gansler took a break from carrying O'Guvnah's water to leave the capital and travel around the state discussing the recommendations of a task force on ways to improve voting in the state of Maryland.  Of course, none of the recommendations included "require photo ID for anyone attempting to vote".

Instead, Doug Gansler decided to play the race card.

Is Jihad Joe Albero, Southwest Delaware's Most Notorious CyberTerrorist is proclaiming that he is going all George HW Bush ("kinder, gentler").

I doubt it. He's played this game before.

One is reminded of the fable of the scorpion and the frog:

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion  says, "Because if I do, I will die too."

The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream, the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of  paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown, but has just enough time to gasp "Why?"

"It's what I do," said the scorpion.

Keep that in mind, folks.

The battle now begins for the November ballot measure that would amend the Maryland constitution to allow slot machine gambling in the state of Maryland.  The idea of slots in Maryland has been a long time coming-- since at least 2002, when it was a hallmark of Bobby Ehrlich's campaign.  Ehrlich was thwarted for four consecutive years by House Speaker Mikey Busch.  Thwarted until his defeat... and a massive state deficit caused by the profligate and morally bankrupt spending habits of a General Assembly addicted to our wallets.

Mark me down as a member of the anti-slots group, but not for the reasons others oppose slots.

Barack Obama's supporters love to tout his credentials as a former law school lecturer as one of the reasons why he would make a great President. Unfortunately for them, "that dog won't hunt". For example, Obama was quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times recently, saying:

I wanted to preserve the right of local communities to enforce local ordinances and this would have overturned municipalities being able to enforce their own ordinances. We can argue about whether the ordinances work or not. But I wanted to make sure that local communities were recognized as having a right to regulate firearms.

So I guess Barry O has never heard of the Supremacy Clause?

The International Herald Tribune has an article featuring a new product in development that would allow any citizen to make their own ethanol at home.  I don't know about all of you, but I call that a "still".  Quick, someone call Uncle Jesse!

Just so Ed Hale doesn't think I pick on him alone, my target this week is Wachovia Corp.  It seems that Wachovia just can't seem to avoid controversy and law-breaking. 

By now, everyone has heard of the story of Jolita Berry, the art teacher at Reginald F. Lewis High school.  It seems that no one in the City School System was willing to step up to the plate for her.  City Prosecutors couldn't move forward because under Maryland law, police cannot make a complaint about an assault they did not witness.  Jolita Berry was assaulted in her workplace, as her students cheered on the assailants.

This is fundamentally unacceptable.  The law must be changed.

With the Pennsylvania Primary over -- and a resounding victory for Hillary R. Clinton -- now is the time we should look back and ask "What does it all mean?"

It means a long, hot summer of blistering politics.

Delaware's notorious cyberterrorist Mahmoud Hesheetz Hisdrourz Mahmoud Jihad Joe Albero continues on his campaign to shut down those who oppose him.  His eye is still fixed strongly on Off The Cuff, trying to blackmail them into shutting down their blog. 

I thought that it was about time to ask the Democrats some important questions.  Very important questions. 

By now, the word is out, but in case you haven't heard, Jihad Joe Albero has been indicted and charged with perjury and tax evasion related to his sale of the old Station 7 in Pittsville.  Just like Elliott Ness couldn't land Capone for murder, extortion, and violations of the Falstead Act, Ablero couldn't be brought down for Trespassing, Exortion, and generally making an asshole of himself.

So the State Comptroller used the tax laws.  Way to go Peter Franchot!

I am watching the speeches at the Radio & TV Correspondents Dinner on FoxNews right now.

I have two things to say:

1.  Dick Cheney was funny, self-deprecating, and at times, had some great jabs.

2. Mo Rocca is not funny.  He was horrible.  Why do people think he IS funny?  He kept complaining that Dick stole his jokes (especially the Darth Vader joke).  Any comedian that needs PowerPoint to be funny -- and does a poor job at it -- is not funny. In fact, I think staph infection in one of my testicles would be funnier.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has to be one of the most worthless, servile, and stupid organizations -- down right facist -- ever to grace the Western World.

They have declared that there is no connection between food contamination and hand washing in a case to determine whether McDonald's had fulfilled its obligations to an employee who could no longer work in a restaurant because of the hand washing requirement.

Oh well. No restaurant food in Canada for me.

H/T: Mark Steyn @ National Review Online.

One of the silliest arguments that I hear travellers in leftist politics in this country make is that George W. Bush has squandered America's moral authority and destroyed our traditional allliances with our friends in Europe.  This alleged situation was brought to a head with Don Rumsfeld's salient -- if somewhat impolite -- comment about "Old Europe v New Europe".

But consider this:  "Old Europe" seems to be coming around.

Not content to engage in outright extortion against Pro-Maryland Bloggers, Jihad Joe Albero Genovese continues his pathetic and filthy habit of COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS by lifting -- word for word -- an article in the Baltimore Sun that came off the Associated Press feed.

Compare Albero's UNLAWFUL PILFERING with the original and see for yourself how his complete and utter disregard for the law or the rights of others.  Albero -- self-proclaimed nephew of a Genovese Family "button man" -- doesn't even offer the benefit of attribution or a courtesy link.  You would think such an "accomplished blogger" as the great Jihadist from Delaware would undertand the simple etiquette of the blog world. I guess when you are an asshole in one are of your life, you are an asshole in all areas of your life.

Just a warning to any public officials that let Jihad Joe Albero Genovese trade on their name:  you are associating with a lawbreaking extortionist that uses the laws to persecute others, while he displays little regard for the laws he must follow.

The decision by O'Guvnah this week to ban the clear-cutting of state parks in Western Maryland for the so-called benefits of wind power is a rare moment of sanity.  But it will not last long.

In yet another smashing defeat for Jihad Joe Albero, the Southwest Delware Cyber-Bully and wannabe Press Boy, Off the Cuff will be reactivating later tonight I am told.  Straight Shooter has been shvitzing over this entire affair since Jihad Joe tried to extort her into shutting down several days ago, a story we have been bull-dogging here at Gunpowder Chronicle.

Well, it turns out that Jihad Joe doesn't have the same juice that his uncle -- a former button man in the Genovese Crime Family according to Jihad Joe -- did.  Despite threats of legal and criminal retribution,  Jihad Joe was unable to bring an end to voices of freedom and liberty that rallied on Straight Shooter's behalf.

Let this be a lesson to anyone -- politcians, officials, or community blowhards -- that the LAW is there to PROTECT the people, not to PERSECUTE the people.  And that in THIS country, in THIS state, there are those of us who will rally to the defense of our rights and liberties as free-born men and women.  We will not go quietly into the night.  Your bullying tactics and your attempts at extortion will not stop us.  We will fight and fight and fight. And when it seems that we cannot fight anymore, we will summon the will and the strength to rise up again like a phoneix from the ashes. And we will win. 

Because our freedoms are more precious to us than anything except our honor.  And even in the darkest room, the light of truth shines brighter than the darkness of hate and lies.

So say we all.

G.A. Harrison's analysis of the decision by Judge Purnell that Jihad Joe Albero is not a journalist has a major flaw:  he doesn't know the law.

The issue is NOT whether Jihad Joe Albero was paid.  The Maryland Journalism Shield Law requires a person to be employed as a journalist by a "news" organization of some type.  Being employed has a far different meaning under state (and federal) law, rather than just being "paid".  So whether Jihad Joe was collecting any revenue or not is immaterial.

This was the justification for Judge Purnell's decision, which was right and proper under the law. 

Of course, Jihad Joe could easily rectify this matter for the future, and he probably should.  Create a Limited Liability Corporation, of which he is the only employee, and for which he is paid.  Since he likes to fashion himself the "smartest businessman" on the entire Eastern Shore, this shouldn't be too hard for him to figure out.  He can easily fit the definition of "employed" under the Maryland Journalism Shield Law going this route.

Until then, he is just another a loud mouth know-it-all.  And G.A. Harrison is just carrying his water.

It took a judge to formally declare that Mahmoud Jihad Joe Albero, Southwest Delaware's Most Notorious Genovese Cyberbully, is not a journalist, but the "reasonable man" standard has always shown this to be true.

Once again, the Delaware Dumbass has proved himself to be stupid.  His "Mastercard Wedding" post isn't true, isn't news, and is a complete urban legend... that goes back to at least 1995, and in a variation on a theme, has even show up as soap opera plot on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Snopes.com has the details here.

Salisbury's most reliable and unbiased source?  That has got to be the biggest joke I have heard lately.  For such an allegedly accomplished and smart businessman, it's pretty clear that Mahmoud doesn't know how to check sources.  It makes you wonder if Chief Webster -- despite all his flaws -- really does have a case.

We have an update tonight on the CyberBullying and Extortion Efforts of Mahmound Hesheetz Hizdrourz Albero Genovese.

First, our theme music for further updates will be "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangster" from the Office Space soundtrack.

Second, certain persons are now reviewing the electronic communications from Jihad Joe to the blogger known as Straight Shooter.  Certain persons with the power of arrest, and the power to proffer charges, should it be found that those communications represent threats or extortion on the person of "Straight Shooter".  One item arises:  JJG has a trespassing charge currently on the STET docket.  One must wonder -- if these emails in fact constitute a potentially criminal act, if they represent sufficient cause for that charge to be removed from the STET docket and placed on the active docket.

Third, more reports are coming forward that Mark Tilghman, Esq., of Seidel, Baker, and Tilghman, PA, is NOT representing Jihad Joe in this matter.  It's entirely  possible that there is another Mark Tilghman who is an attorney and a member of the Maryland Bar, but I haven't found them yet.  Note that it was Jihad Joey Genovese that made the original claim that he was being represented by a "Mark Tilghman".  Any unjustified association of Mark Tilghman, Esq. with Jihad Joey Genovese was not our intention, as we were only reporting the contents of an email sent to a local blogger.  If it is true that Mr. Tilghman is not representing JJG, he has our humble apologies for reporting something that was not a fact.

Anyone with any information on this matter is free to comment here OR write me directly at blog@gunpowderchronicle.com OR gunpowderchronicle@gmail.com.

Administrators at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic university in Minnesota, have banned conservative pro-life speaker Star Parker from giving a talk on campus because it was sponsored by the Young America's Foundation.

Al Franken and Debra Davis -- a "transgender" woman, are welcome anytime, however.

If Pope Benedict wants to make his visit to the US next week meaningful, he should start by putting his ruby red slippers up the ass of some of his Catholic congregants who feel that they can re-write doctrine and principle of the Roman church at will.

Blogger Maryland Townie is claiming to have it "on good authority" that Mark Tilghman, Esq. is not representing The Southwest Delaware Jihadist Cyberbully Mahmoud Hesheetz Hisdrourz Albero.  If that is the case, then would one of our lawyer friends answer the following question:

Is it considered fraud to claim to be represented by an attorney with which you have no established attorney-client relationship in order to extort a particular behavior from another person?

Did you know that the Maryland Daily Record is releasing its 2008 Guide to the Top 50 Construction projects in Maryland?

Peninsula Regional Medical Center's current project, the Layfield Tower, Cancer Center and new ER is the 9th Largest Construction Project in Maryland for 2008, and is the 2nd Largest Healthcare Construction Project in Maryland for 2008.

I want to congratulate my Dad and his entire team on this recognition.  The expansion of the Peninsula Regional Medical Center is the largest project of my Dad's career, and -- when completed -- will be an excellent capstone on twenty five years at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

How many lawyers does the Southwest Delaware Cyber-Terrorist have?  One has to wonder.  He claims that he has retained Mark Tilghman -- who it turns out seems to be pretty well tied into anti-rental housing forces in Salisbury (and folks like G.A. Harrison and Terry Cohen) -- for his Pro Maryland Blogger Case.

But he is using OC lawyer Bruce Bright for his defense against the Mayor and Chief of Police.

Things that make you go hmmmmm.

Mahmoud Albero ain't no sports reporter.  He can't even get the facts right in the report on Fernando Guerrero.  First, he says it was a TKO, then he says he "knocked the boy out".

Umm, can't be both.  What really happened?  Guerrero took Jalomo to numerous standing eight counts, until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight in the fourth round, THUS earning the TKO.  As in "Technical Knock Out".

From many Pro-Maryland Blogs, there is now one.  I am proud to announce the launch of the Pro Maryland Gazette! 

Sic Semper Tirannus - thus always to tyrants. (Which ironically, is the motto of Virginia, not Maryland).

You can visit it here.

Jihad Joe, aka Mahmoud Hizbeen Farteen Albero, Southwest Delaware's Most Notorious Cyber-Terrorist has announced his plans to move forward with at least one lawsuit in the "Fatass Albero vs the World" string of lawsuits aimed at intimidation and harassment against people critical of the "Smartest Lightbulb Condom Salesman" in the world.

Adding to his long list of achievements, including greasy spoon owner, alleged professional pool player, alleged naturalist, woman beater, property owner, failed father, general annoyance and mob nephew,  Albero seeks to add to his list "failed courthouse stooge".  I think his recent count of courthouse showdowns is -- 0-3?

He claims to have retained Mark Tilghman (of Seidel, Baker, and Tilghman, PA, I Presume) as his attorney.  He included more threats in his announcement:

It's time to make an example out of one of you. You better hope it was worth trying to challenge me. Get a good lawyer because you're going to need one. Oh, by the way, rather than listening to the anti Albero bloggers, you should have retained a lawyer instead. This will be the most costly mistake you ever made in your entire life.

Perhaps had his original letter -- which was nothing more than a extortionist missive -- been written and delivered by a competent attorney instead of a deranged mental-masturbating megalomaniac, in the proper manner proscribed for Cease and Desist Letters, the anti-Bloggers would have done more than just pass gas and move on.

So now, more threats.  More intimidation.  More mafia-style heavyweight practices. 

We need to rise up to defend our friends and our neighbors under assault from this pusillanimous gas bag.  Mahmoud Albero can accuse bloggers of all he wants, but does he really want to go through a thorough discovery phase?  Does he want Google subpoenaed to provide backups of their Cache and Servers going back four years?

Albero loves to throw the heat -- accusing Ray Lewis of stealing money from the offering plate in church is just fine.  making gross and disgusting accusations that Bill Gordy is a racist, with NO EVIDENCE to back it up is just fine.  Refer ot the Mayor of Salisbury as a "waste of good sperm"-- just fine.  Threaten a senior citizen and established community with a questionable email referencing his mob connections -- just fine.

But making comments -- or worse, ALLOWING comments -- on a blog about his family (which he constantly drags into every discussion), and you will get hell released upon you.  No matter that he couldn't possibly prove defamation.   Defamation requires you to have character to defame. 

Give me a break.  Joe Albero is a ridiculous, obnoxious attention whore. And he doesn't like the fact that he is being challenged -- on his violations of copyright law, on the factual inaccuracy of most of his posts, and on the his general characterizations of life in Salisbury, MD.

He's such an accomplished and established business expert that he feels threatened by some anonymous blogger?  Are you frakking kidding me?  This drop of anal seepage wants to tie up MARYLAND courts over a stupid  and assinine case about some dumb comments written on an obscure blog?

And he resorts to threats, extortion, and intimidation to do it?

This person -- and I use that term lightly -- needs to be opposed.  He needs to be rejected.  He needs to be shamed.  And ANY public official that associates themselves with this wretched piece of filth needs to be tarred with the same brush.

One of the key historical markers of facism, socialism, Marxism, Communism, Bolshevism, and Progressivism is to change the debate by changing the definition of things.  AlGore -- fresh off his stint hunting for ManBearPig last year on South Park (he failed) -- has just started doing the same when it comes to Global Warming.

Microphone and camera whore Sen. Charles Schumer, the senior senator for the very unfortunate state of New York (and the only senior politician in that state who hasn't been embroiled in a sex scandal recently), is truly a pedantic ass clown.

From his office on March 7, 2008:  "The bottom line is that this administration is the owner of the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover."

Facts are funny things.  here is a quick comparison chart that I found over on National Review Online:

Key Labor Market Statistics in 1996 and 2008
	March 1996	March 2008
1. U.S. Unemployment Rate	5.5%	5.1%
2. Number of Long-Term Unemployed	1.33 million	1.28 million
3. Average Weeks Unemployed	17.3 weeks	16.2 weeks
4. Median Weeks Unemployed	8.3 weeks	8.1 weeks
5. Not in Labor Force because discouraged over job prospects	451,000	401,000
6. Democrats calling for Extended Unemployment Benefits?	No	Yes
7. President’s Party Affiliation	Democrat	Republican

See the problem there?  Unemployment is actually one of the great indicators of economic performance, because it represents tangible impacts to the economy at all levels.  And, according to the FACTS, 1996 was a worse year economically than 2008 (so far).

Oh, and before people start screaming about the housing crisis, please keep this in mind:

• There are 36 million Americans who have had a mortgage and paid it off.
• There are 46 million Americans with mortgages currently being paid ON TIME.
• There are but a mere 900,000 mortgages currently in default.

So where is the panic?  That is a 1% rate of default across all Americans who have had a mortgage or do have a mortgage.  The panic is that politicians like Senator Schumer not only allowed, but encouraged banks and Wall Street to work together to create investment arbitrage vehicles to make sub-prime loans possible.  Smaller banks would never have offered loans to people on the completely assinine terms and under those completely assinine conditions like "no doc" and 100% financing, if they could not upsell those loans to companies like Bear Stearns.

But they could and they did.

Maybe Senator Schumer should check with junior intern researcher before engaging mouth. This isn't the worse economy since Herbert Hoover.  But if his gal pal Hillary or "Mr. Hope" Obama get elected, it may very well be.