Southern York County Life

is it true that the government selects jurors from lists of registered voters?

Yes, it’s true. Jurors are also selected who happen to be licensed drivers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as jurors who are a resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and pay any file tax forms with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

York County has had difficulty in obtaining jurors for decades. Most counties depend strictly on voter registration rolls to cull their jurors. Several years ago it was brought to the attention of the state legislation that many counties were having difficulty in obtaining enough jurors for jury duty. The state legislature passed a law permitting jurors to also be culled from the DMV and YAEITB [York Area Earned Income Tax Bureau] and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Taxing Bureau.

Jurors are selected by two jury commissioners representing each major political party. The data obtained from the previously mentioned sources is fed into a computer and the computer randomly selects the names. The two jury commissioners just stand by the computer to witness the spouting out of potential jurors by the computer. They receive $12,000 a year for this “political plum job.”

The current jury commissioner representing the democratic party fought to have the state legislature abolish the jury commissioner’s job. Her battle was only half won in that the state legislature gave power to each state legislator of every county to abolish this position if they deemed it necessary. To my knowledge this job will be terminated within the next 2 years. In the meantime the woman holding this position does not accept her $12,000 a year salary. She ran on the promise she would get that political office position terminated.

The person who is jury commissioner representing the republican party ran on the same platform but when he won he changed his tune. He collects $12,000 a year until the political office position is terminated. He claimed he is entitled to the outrageous salary. Not a bad income considering a jury commissioner only has to set aside 2 hours of their time a year to witness a computer spewing forth names.

The jury commissioner position representing the republican party was previously held by the current county chair of the republican party until a letter I wrote to the editor of YDR several years ago was published. My letter mentioned that the county chair was making more money than a CEO does if the job was an hourly job, working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. After that letter to the editor appeared the county chair decided not to run again for the position when his term expired.

hmmmm...so much for freedom of speech…

but guyshook - that is the beauty of free speech. The right to speak and the right to respond!  Can’t grant it to one but not the other! 

guyshook

hmmmm...so much for freedom of speech…

clarify please, before I infer incorrectly to your statement.

There is so much political spin, it’s hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction much less opinon.

I mean we (FBI/CIA) now suspect Americans making tapes threating blood to flow in our streets. (I’m referring to my Drudge post on the tape aired by Fox News). These terrorists are walking among us.  A prelude to what happened in Spain? Maybe. My, opinion.

Having spent some time over the past few years working in an anti-terrorist role, I can safely say that yes, they are walking among us and have been for a long, long time. Not only international but domestic terrorists as well.

There are many anti-government factions in this country, some here in PA. They try to hide their intentions by organizing as a “militia” trying to use the 2nd Amendment to protect themselves. While in Virginia, the only recognized militia was the one I belonged to: Virginia Defense Force, which was organized and funded by the State. We were a reserve for the National Guard.

There are other states that use this type of organization as well but I digress… the point is that one of our missions was homeland security so we trained extensively on these types of groups.

We discussed at length potential targets, how to better protect them, establishing observation patterns, etc. What we learned was that three are many sleepers in this country as a result of years of immigration. Most are here legally. They might have even lived here most of their life. They could be your neighbor. They might not be of Middle East descent either…

If we are going to win this war, we need to become more vigilant in our everyday life. Pay attention to your surroundings and take note when things change. Don’t suspect everyone, just pay attention to detail. We are not going to win this war by making people take off their shoes in airports. That was a typical Federal Government knee-jerk reaction. Yes, the system was massively dysfunctional, but so is the new system.

So how many of you felt safer with National Guard troops standing at the check points in the airport? How many terrorists do you think were going to rush security? Do you realize how many of those Guard troops were only carrying a few rounds of ammo if any at all? They were not more then paper tigers.

I know… I helped quite a few of them deploy to the airports.

Guard troops were only carrying a few rounds of ammo if any at all?

I heard this same statement from regular military when Clinton was sending them in harms way.

Kerry claims leadership, were was he when ammunition was scarce. He was in the senate, he’s an ex officer, he claims compassion for the military.  I checked his senate record. Nothing significant.

Then there’s the American people not willing to pay or be a power in the world. They are gun shy.

The UN isn’t going to help us, we must be prepared to do what is necessary to survive. I actually question the motives of every politician (even local politics). Democrat and Republican. Unfortunately we must have government for civility. That’s my rational for the lesser-of-evils.

We need a strong military. I want peace as much or more than others. Unfortunately there are aggressive people with deep beliefs. Anybody remember news stories of children being taught to hate America. A 6 year old Palestinian with ("play") explosives strapped to his body. (Playing cowboys and indians of course.) This isn’t a problem that will be solved in a generation.

Guard troops were only carrying a few rounds of ammo if any at all?

Wasn’t this the situation in Lebanon, when the military barracks was blown up?

Reagan for all his concern for America did nothing, refused blame. Maybe he should have leveled the area.

You’ve already mentiond Somolia.

Doesn’t matter what happens, either way the situtation will be used/spun for political power.

Which brings us back to the flyer. Truth/(fact) or fiction?

Brokaw: This week you’ve been very critical of the president because of the missing explosives in Iraq.The fact is, senator, we still don’t know what happened to those explosives. How many for sure that were there. Who might have gotten away with them? Is it unfair to the president, just as you believe he’s been unfair to you, to blame him for that?

Kerry: No. It’s not unfair. Because what we do know, from the commanders on the ground, is that they went there, as they marched to Baghdad. We even read stories today that they broke locks off of the doors, took photographs of materials in there. There were materials. And they left.

Ref: Kerry a conservative, my previous topic.

“They left”, the military left. Doesn’t that imply something about the IQ of the military. I don’t know, I question the statement. Read the interview, Kerry almost admits there were weapons of mass destruction.

(Read the interview djseanrock.)

I’ve follow everything I can find on the explosives. Now I find UN intervention by leaking the story. Of course the allegation is denied. But, Kerry insists the UN (French, Germans, Russians) can be persuaded to help us. Sure when they were ripping off the Iraq people in concert with Suddam. Suddam used Oil for food money to buy the very explosives that are being used for political purposes. Apparently the UN, the mews media (NY Times/CBS) and the democrats made the issue their October surprise. Surprise!

Breaking news on Fox, 3rd Infanitry Division claims now to have destroyed 200 tons of the explosives.

Who knows?

Maybe Mr. Kerry should have waited a bit. Seems he might be acting on impulse.  Is that possible? An impulsive Man? For the position of President of the United States?

Developing!

Marine Corps Barracks, Beruit:

In order to prevent “accidents”, the Marines were ordered not to carry loaded weapons. They carried their weapons on their shoulders and had no heavy machine guns posted near the gate.

Somalia: Senior commanders would not give the leaders on the ground what they needed. They asked for armor such as M-1 and M-2/3 type vehicles to give them some better protection. All they had were the normal Humvees without armor plating (call them Swiss cheese). 18 brave Rangers and Delta Force troops died when their mission went haywire and they got pinned down.

We have a strong military. We have some of the best trained and highly motivated troops. We lack good leadership. Too many seniors leaders are just punching tickets and are not qualified to lead or make crucial decisions. They suffer from “head up their ass” syndrome.

I worked with B/2/20 Special Forces just before they deployed to Afganistan. This is a Virginia National Guard unit… yes, part time Green Beret. These guys were highly motivated. Most of them left high paying jobs as senior partners, directors, etc. One left his senior year of med school. They were great to work with. I am glad they all came home safe and sound.

Acknowledged. I hope I’m not implying in any way anything negative about the military.

However, I agree none of the top brass are resigning over any issue. They want the retirement security.

That goes for elected officials. They have created long careers, and they’ve discovered they can vote themselves a pay raise, by not voting on a pay raise.

Ain’t none of these elected officials worth more than one term. Their greatest achievement is putting on their pants driving to the office and declaring the huge number of laws they passed.  Of course they probably haven’t solved one single problem. Painting with a big brush, just hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.

I would just as soon pay them to stay home and never pass another law, except to rescind a few. Like the Nutriment Management Act, on the state level. On the federal Level prescription drugs. On and on.

DC (and the State legislature) need an enema. Problem is, the amount of crap floating down the streams would pollute our water forever.

Marine Corps Barracks, Beruit:

In order to prevent “accidents”, the Marines were ordered not to carry loaded weapons. They carried their weapons on their shoulders and had no heavy machine guns posted near the gate.

Somalia: Senior commanders would not give the leaders on the ground what they needed. They asked for armor such as M-1 and M-2/3 type vehicles to give them some better protection. All they had were the normal Humvees without armor plating (call them Swiss cheese). 18 brave Rangers and Delta Force troops died when their mission went haywire and they got pinned down.

This can be blamed on Clinton who promised to provide them with what they needed. This is all explained in the book “Black Hawk Down.”

We have a strong military. We have some of the best trained and highly motivated troops. We lack good leadership. Too many seniors leaders are just punching tickets and are not qualified to lead or make crucial decisions. They suffer from “head up their ass” syndrome.

I worked with B/2/20 Special Forces just before they deployed to Afganistan. This is a Virginia National Guard unit… yes, part time Green Beret. These guys were highly motivated. Most of them left high paying jobs as senior partners, directors, etc. One left his senior year of med school. They were great to work with. I am glad they all came home safe and sound.

Acknowledged. I hope I’m not implying in any way anything negative about the military.

However, I agree none of the top brass are resigning over any issue. They want the retirement security.

That goes for elected officials. They have created long careers, and they’ve discovered they can vote themselves a pay raise, by not voting on a pay raise.

Not so anymore. When Ridge was running for governor he reneged on his campaign promise that there would be no pay increase for state legislators. Even State Representative Saylor lied to me when I asked him about this issue. He said the state legislature would not be voting on a pay raise that year.

Well he told a half truth. That year the pay raise was not on the agenda to be voted upon. As soon as Ridge was sworn into office that was the first item on the agenda-- state legislators voted to award themselves a C.O.L.A. [cost of living adjustment].

A couple of weeks ago it was published in the YDR newspaper that the state legislators feel the C.O.L.A. isn’t sufficient so they plan to vote themselves another pay increase most likely after they are sworn into office in January.

Ain’t none of these elected officials worth more than one term. Their greatest achievement is putting on their pants driving to the office and declaring the huge number of laws they passed.  Of course they probably haven’t solved one single problem. Painting with a big brush, just hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.

I would just as soon pay them to stay home and never pass another law, except to rescind a few. Like the Nutriment Management Act, on the state level. On the federal Level prescription drugs. On and on.

To JHH:

I know. Read the book along with a the one by Michael Durant, the pilot downed as the basis for Black Hawk Down.

Yes, Clinton is to blame, but so are senior commanders who advise him. 

Having spent some time over the past few years working in an anti-terrorist role, I can safely say that yes, they are walking among us and have been for a long, long time. Not only international but domestic terrorists as well.

There are many anti-government factions in this country, some here in PA. They try to hide their intentions by organizing as a “militia” trying to use the 2nd Amendment to protect themselves. While in Virginia, the only recognized militia was the one I belonged to: Virginia Defense Force, which was organized and funded by the State. We were a reserve for the National Guard.

There are other states that use this type of organization as well but I digress… the point is that one of our missions was homeland security so we trained extensively on these types of groups.

We discussed at length potential targets, how to better protect them, establishing observation patterns, etc. What we learned was that three are many sleepers in this country as a result of years of immigration. Most are here legally. They might have even lived here most of their life. They could be your neighbor. They might not be of Middle East descent either…

If we are going to win this war, we need to become more vigilant in our everyday life. Pay attention to your surroundings and take note when things change. Don’t suspect everyone, just pay attention to detail. We are not going to win this war by making people take off their shoes in airports. That was a typical Federal Government knee-jerk reaction. Yes, the system was massively dysfunctional, but so is the new system.

People have been vigilant paying attention to their surroundings and have reported a change in things and the F.B.I. never followed up. One of the people that contacted the F.B.I. regarding a group of approximately 50 foreigners residing in one home was the EMS director of the county for almost 20 years.  The last I heard they are still there and the F.B.I. never bothered to investigate the situtation.

So how many of you felt safer with National Guard troops standing at the check points in the airport? How many terrorists do you think were going to rush security? Do you realize how many of those Guard troops were only carrying a few rounds of ammo if any at all? They were not more then paper tigers.

I sure don’t feel safer with the National Guard troops standing at the check points at the airport. If anything people should feel insulted by having their constitutional right violated-- their privacy invaded. People should be further insulted by the Patriot Act.

Perhaps if retired Congressman Goodling had listened to me back in the mid to late 90’s when I mentioned at one of his town meetings that the lack of security of our nation and its people disturbs me. I told him that our nation should be prepared for war at all times whether or not we are engaged in war. He brushed my comments off and what happens-- September 11th!

September 11th came as no suprise to me. I had anticipated that something was going to happen for years. If people had opened up their eyes and noticed what was going on around them September 11th could have been avoided. It was no surprise to me that the airport in Maine was used to transport the terrorists. I used that airport on many occasions and there was little to no security at that airport which concerned me when I flew in or out of there.

I know… I helped quite a few of them deploy to the airports.