We get Emails

Steve wrote about the Grant to UMD to review and reseacrch "Home Grown Terrorism"
Bob,  Thanks for covering the UMaryland Homeland Security grant for ~$12 mil this am.  I couldn't get through with a call, but wanted to give you the following comment anyway...
            The high priced grant you covered on the show Monday was certainly a windfall for the University of Maryland.
            The purpose of it was to review stats and evaluate Homeland Security threats internally aka "Home Grown Terrorism," the best known example of which was the Federal Building detonation in Oklahoma City by Tim McVeigh.
            FYI, my recent column (last week) in TheTentacle cover the existence of such threats, and one way they can happen here.  See http://thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=2694 "The Enemy Within."
            The cash involved in the grant itself was from a bucket of money already allocated (funded) by the USG, and is therefore already present for a competitive process for anyone to take.  At UMD, they have a pool of professional Grant specialists whose job is to get as much funding as possible via an application process.
            They won this one fair and square in a normal process, and the amount itself only tells you how important the issue is, and what level of funding has been allocated.
            Examples of the home-grown threat are criminal elements currently being recruited actively within our prison system, specifically to get "Black Muslims" turned toward the dark side of terrorism.  This is a know phenomenon. 
           Another source for recruitment to terrorism are enclaves of non-assimilated peoples from many countries, especially the Middle-East, and also Countries like Korea and Venezuela to Mexico. 
          Basically anyone disenfranchised by the American Assimilation melting pot, such as it is today, is currently targeted by those willing to hurt us from the inside to turn against us.  From Al Quaida to La Razza, we have many internal Enemies now.
         The money is well spent for the grant!
 
                --Steve Berryman.

Steve thanks for the Email
What Taxes has the State Forgotten?

This is a great email.

Hi Bob,

 

I was driving this morning, so I couldn’t call with my tax suggestion. It’s not really a tax, so much as simply a new revenue stream for the state. We’re thinking outside the box here, and it’s a little involved, so stay with me for a little bit here:

 

Have you ever needed to use a public restroom, only to find that it isn’t maintained and properly “supplied?”

 

Okay, so the state government takes over the maintenance of all public restrooms in the state, including making sure all stalls are properly “stocked,” so to speak. I call this the “Wipe Out State Debt” program. Once you’re finished taking care of your needs, you then turn to a new TP “dispenser” system mounted on the wall, through which you have to swipe your credit/debit card in order to have the device dispense you toilet paper. The amount you are charged is directly proportional to the amount that you use. (This plan will make the tree huggers happy as well, since it encourages minimal use of the paper, and thus minimal destruction of our forests.)

 

Then to increase revenues even further, the state can make it possible for you to purchase one of those “flash pass” type things (okay, maybe we don’t call it exactly a “flash” pass, if you get my drift) that are used on toll roads, and you operate on a subscription plan.

 

Better yet, the state can offer us (for yet another fee, of course) the option of just having a bar code tattooed on all our butts and we can then just wave our jolly cheeks in front of a scanner on the dispenser, get what we need, and we’re billed later.

 

Now, inevitably, there will be those people who feel they should not have to pay and will try to circumvent the system. That’s why when you enter the stall, the door will lock. The door will then not unlock until proper payment has been tendered. Then we enlist the services of a meter-reading type officer to patrol the facilities periodically, and ticket the people they find trapped in the stalls who attempted to violate the system. The ticket fees can be comparable to, say, parking tickets or speeding tickets. (What are we on, our 4th revenue stream here?)

 

In addition, the state assists a start-up company to manufacture the paper dispensers, making sure they are manufactured locally, because once other states see the huge revenue numbers being generated by this operation, they will line up to purchase these machines, leading to greater sales taxes collected by the state (5th revenue stream).

 

But, the real kicker to this great plan is that it comes with built-in room for revenue expansion. The NEXT time we need to generate more revenue, the General Assembly simply passes a bill making chili the official state food. KA CHING!

 

Dave in New Market

Do you agree with Frederick County NOT closing early?

We got a few letters about Schools Closing
Bob,

I enjoy your show and I generally agree with you.  Yesterday I agree 
with the decision to open schools.  But by mid morning it was apparent 
that the storm was stronger than expected and that the rain/snow line 
was holding strong east of I-95.

One person voiced the opinion that it was better once the kids were in 
school, to keep them there all day.  I disagree with that.  Some 
neighborhoods may have benefited from that approach, but our street 
didn't see a plow until after dinner.

I have two kids in middle school.  One missed the bus.  She said that 
it was very confusing; buses were running at different times and were 
out of order in the school parking lot.  My other middle schooler made 
the bus.  The bus got stuck and had to wait for a plow to arrive.  
That road has unguarded sections with steep dropoffs.  It was just 
luck that the bus didn't slide off the road there.

I have to be suspicious that disposing of the lunch and that it is 
exam week played into the decision.

Steve

Bonnie had this to say

I feel they should have closed schools early yesterday.  My son had to walk
home from another bus stop because the bus driver did not want to go down
the hill that led to our bus stop.  Our neighborhood had not been plowed
very well and the bus driver was not certain about the hill.  I had no way
of knowing that he had been dropped off at a different stop and he had no
way of telling me.  Thank goodness we do not live on a busy street but that
could have been a dangerous situation if more cars were traveling on the
road.

Thanks
Bonnie O.

And Becky weighed in

Bob,

 

I don’t know about other roads in the county as I couldn’t make it out of my development yesterday but my kids were over 45 minutes late in getting home from Deer Crossing yesterday.  The kids said that they “clipped” another bus and lost the side mirror.

 

Becky

Comments

Turning on the Light

Hi Bob,

Hey, just letting you know that your show this am CHANGED the course of my day!

I was angered to hear about this whole light bulb deal too! So I took ACTION!

First I called Allegheny Power and lodged my complaint against the extra .66 cents I now have to pay to be EDUCATED for these type of bulbs. The charge is hidden in the "Energy Conservation Surcharge" on my monthly bill. (This charge started in October of 2007 and was only .30 cents then, now it is up to .96 cents.  What will it be if they send me a more expensive item to educate me with next year? Please don't send me a new oven.)

Next,  I called the company who sent the bulbs to me letting them know I didn't order these bulbs and that I would like to return them.  The gentleman was nice and informed me that "Allegheny Power" had PURCHASED these bulbs for me and that they were free to me, but if I wanted to return them I could. Funny it seems that Allegheny Power just told me that I was paying for these things!

Then I then put my two free bulbs back in their box, wroter RETURN to SENDER any place I could in red marker and marched the box down to my mailbox.

I then made a call to the MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. The woman at Allegheny Power  had let me know I could complain to that commission as it is set up to handle complaints that Marylanders might have with their power company.

The lady at the MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION was nice took my address and said that she will send me a formal complaint form to file against Allegheny Power.  She also explained to me that this extra "ENERGY CONSERVATION SURCHARGE"  is for EDUCATING me the consumer on how to conserve energy.  I politely let her know that I am a SMART, EDUCATED person who doesn't understand  why I  have to PAY to get EDUCATED for something so simple as what kind of light bulb is more efficient!

Anyway, maybe more listeners can file a complaint against Allegheny Power by calling the Maryland Public Service Commission.   Their number is 1-800-492-0474 or 410-767-8000

Hey tomorrow could you not impact my day so much? Just kidding, keep up the good work you do in Frederick County!  Please let us know if there is anyone else to contact especially at the State level.

Sincerely,

Colleen Frederick County Resident since 2000.

Thanks Colleen for not staying on the sidelines.
____________________________________________________________________________

I wanted to comment on the light bulbs sent out by Allegheny power.

First, it was reported in the Herald Mail yesterday that if you send the light bulbs back you will STILL be charged the $11.52, that is a mandatory charge.


Second, this is what I feel offends people the most. It's not the money, it's $11, for heavens sake. Sure, you can buy the bulbs cheaper at Lowes, but that's still not what's offensive. What bother's me most is I bought one of the bulbs to try when all the talk was how much more efficient they are. I hated it, it takes about 15 minutes for it to get warmed up enough to be at full brightness. Read the information about the bulbs on GE's web site, GE recommends that these lights are only used in places where the lights are on for more than 15 minutes and that they are left on, not necessarily turned off after use. We have our own plan to save on the light bill, we turn off the lights when we are not using them. Not only that, they can't be used in enclosed recessed lighting, which I have, they also can't be used in ceiling fan lights because of vibration, which I have in every room. In fact, the only lights in my house that are ever left on for more than 15 minutes at a time are in the ceiling fans on dimmer switches, which reminds me, you can't use these lights with dimmer switches either, you can get special ones for that, but I bet they are more expensive. Then there is the issue of disposal, where are the regulations on how to dispose of them? It varies by state and county because they are hazardous waste, and we are concerned about grocery bags in teh landfill? I can guarantee that these bulbs will be hidden in other trash that will just go to the landfill, regulations or not. And if one is broken in the house, are my children being exposed to mercury? They stopped using mercury in thermometers for just that reason. It is still used in thermostats, but how often is one of those brokenso that the mercury escapes. On the other hand, how many kids will be breaking light bulbs just for fun, kids do stuff like that. Am I now endangering my children if I don't keep the light bulbs locked up or out of reach?


The really offensive thing is that I made a decision NOT to use these bulbs, and here they are being forced on me anyway. I guess my state government and the power company think they are smarter than I am. This is supposed to be a democracy where I can make my own decisions about the way I live. It is also supposed to be a capitalist economy. If they make these bulbs better than incandescent bulbs, I would buy them, I'd probably even pay more for them, but don't try to force me to use an inferior product.


You are right Bob, this reminds me of a couple of books I read in high school years ago, 1984 and Animal Farm. I wonder if anyone read them today if they would understand them?

Julie

Julie Great letter. Too bad they won't listen to you. and yes everyone should pick up those books!
__________________________________________________________

Bob,

 

If my whole house has these bulbs from Lowes and or Cost-Co at these prices, WHY should I pay the STATE PRICES!!!

Cost-Co has them in packs of FIVE or SIX for about $ 12.00 so why do I have to pay 400 – 600 PERCENT INFLATION!!!

 

I do not need any more bulbs.  I have more than I need NOW.

 

What agency will handle the MERCURY Problem coming in five years???

 

 

I feel most of us would like to be more environmentally friendly and green, BUT not forced on us like a COMUNIST Nation overseas!!!

 

 

Thank you,

 

Drake

Drake you have to pay because the state told you too.
_______________________________________________________________

Response to government spending.

We get emails all the time. Here is just a few.
Sir, In response to the spending of our governments, local,state and federal, the biggest problem is...US !!!!!   How many of  "US" are always turning to our "governments" to solve our problems.   How many of "US" are always voting for the same officials, the same political party, who every year claim the same spending problems, there for, needing to continually raise taxes to fix (?) the same problems, again and again and again. 
 
                 How mant of "US" truly know what the legal limits of spending by our "governments" are ?   How many of "US" are aware of whats spent for what is TRULY NEEDED by governments to keep things running, and what are "give aways" to buy political favors.
 
                 The waste IS there, in all governments, but that waste is cause not by need, but by greed.  Everyone wants someone else to solve the problems. But that someone else is "US".
 As long as we look to governments for everything, we WILL have our VERY HARD EARNED MONEY taken from us by more and more tax increases.
 
   It IS TIME to take back control of government.  The government does not earn or make money by working.  They get it only by taking it from the people.  To control government spending we need to realize that we have to take back control of the governments.  Stop voting for the same people over and over again because the belong to a certain political party.  Start DEMANDING from our representatives that THEY stop the madness of spending.  If we continue to vote the same ways over and over again, then WHY should we expect things to change for the better.
 
 
 
                             Richard of Whittier.      ( by the way, nice tux )
Richard, Well said but sometime the change happens with the person we see in the mirror. I for one am willing to start all over. People I voted for in the past might not be the same as now. Bob

I got this Email after a caller said I was too far right. Yet he couldn't give me an example.

Hi Bob!

Thanks for your continued common sense approach and support of the American Way. It's a touch job at times but, thank goodness, someone has the courage to stick up for the rest of us.

It is interesting that liberals think because we support the troops and respect the American presidency we are some kind of warmongers or right-wing kooks. NO ONE I know wants to be involved in war but if no one was willing to defend our country none of us would be allowed to voice our opinions.

Keep up the good work. We are fortunate to have you as a radio personality in Frederick.

Linda

Linda, Thanks for being such a great listener


Comments that Commisioner Lenny Thompson said about our News dept generated a bunch of emails. Below are just a few.
 
Hi Bob,
I heard your show on Friday about the comments Lenny Thompson was making about WFMD and how the news is reported.  I've listened to WFMD from the time when Happy Johnny was on the air when I was a child in the sixties getting ready for school until now and to hear someone with the likes of Lenny Thompson insult the traditions and the reputation that radio station holds make me sick.
Mr Thompson has had problems with Blaine Young and Blaine has repeatedly invited him to the show or call in and he was too much of a coward to do so until Blaine was out of town one weekend and Jan Gardner stabbed Blaine in the back and had him on the show.  That's the only time he had the guts to come up the hill and be on the radio so what make you think he has the guts to call you to explain himself for his comments.
I hope you and Blaine and WT Mills don't ever let up on him.  Keep on rattling his cage until he finally has the guts or the balls to come on the show.  Two months ago Mr Thompson's name was brought up during a Brunswick City Council meeting for something he and the other so-called commisioners did something and it didn't go down too well with one of the council members and this council member (Tom Smith) called him a "Ignorant Jerk" and it sound like to me the name fits.
 
Best regards,
Gary
Brunswick, Md.

FYI
I got a response from Commissioner Thompson who I guess thinks I am some
paranoid nut-job. And it is true; I am paranoid.  But I'm an educated
paranoid.  If anyone thinks I need to back off, PLEASE set me straight.

My response to his email follows.

BobB

CC Bob Miller

Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 8:00 PM
To: 'Thompson, Lennie'
Cc: 'Gardner, Jan'; 'Gray, David'; 'Hagen, Kai'; 'Jenkins, Charles (BOCC)'
Subject: RE: Frederick County Commission Attack On Talk Radio


Dear Commissioner Thompson,
  I appreciate the distinction.  Although my concern certainly includes the
so called fairness doctrine, this is only one tactic being used to attack
talk radio.  For example, JFK Jr. is calling talk radio hosts "...traitors
... who should be treated like traitors".  This is a call for violence in my
mind, since the penalty for treason is death. 

  Maybe I am being hyper sensitive.  Maybe I am getting the wrong
impression.  However, words mean things.  What you said gave me, and
possibly many others, the impression we should not trust WFMD.

  If this was about all about setting the record straight then it's a simple
mater of getting the facts out, not attacking the credibility of an entire
radio station's reporting.

  Maybe you should do what you have in the past and use the station to help
keep the people informed.



        Robert Bailey
        LTC US Army (Ret)
        Jefferson, MD
From: Thompson, Lennie [mailto:LThompson@fredco-md.net]
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 5:04 PM
To: clanbailie@comcast.net
Cc: Gardner, Jan; Gray, David; Hagen, Kai; Jenkins, Charles (BOCC); Lennie
Thompson
Subject: RE: Frederick County Commission Attack On Talk Radio


        Col. Bailey:

                Thanks for your e-mail.

                There is a considerable distinction between:

                        - members of Congress attempting to bring back the
"fairness doctrine" as a means of discouraging radio stations from airing
political talk shows, i.e. "Flush Rush"; and

                        - local government officials employing self-help to
set the record straight with regard to inaccurate & misleading statements
emanating from political radio talk shows.

        Please do not lump the latter in with the former.

        Lennie


        Sent: Friday, July 13, 2007 10:13 AM
        To: Thompson, Lennie
        Subject: Frederick County Commission Attack On Talk Radio


        John "Lennie" Thompson, 
        Frederick County Commissioner
        lthompson@fredco-md.net



         This morning, being in a very bad mood due to the state of the
nation, I decided to hear what was going on locally, which I usually ignore.
I was stunned by your attack on "certain radio stations".  Apparently you
have joined the fight against talk radio. 

        The words you are using are frighteningly similar to the language of
that at the national level by those bent on stopping open debate by citizens
using radio.  If you were truly interested in setting the record straight
you would not have made such a sweeping attack of "certain radio stations";
you would have said you would correct the record by contacting the station
in question.  Since we are dealing in facts, rather than emotional feelings,
I am sure the issue could be rectified in this way.  But you chose to say
that no one should listen to "certain radio stations" to get their facts. 

        Your sweeping condemnation of what can only be WFMD has energized
me.  Your attempt to shut down open debate will be met with strong
opposition.  I am joining Bob Miller at WFMD in his efforts to bring to
light actions being done by our local government. 

        Peace Be Upon You

        Robert Bailey
        LTC US Army (Ret)
        Jefferson, MD

Hi  Bob,
Further to what I wrote earlier, the concept of Eminent Domain is also a
violation of property rights. Attempts are made to justify it on the grounds
that the victim receives 'fair compensation.' But if it is my property, then
I am the only one who can determine what is fair compensation. Refer to 'the
consent of the governed.'
The same holds for Historic Preservation Districts - if someone wants to
preserve a building or other property because of its historical value, then
let that person or group purchase the property at a 'fair' (see above) price
and preserve it. If it is my property, no one should be able to compel me to
'preserve' it. It requires my consent.
By the way, if you are wondering what would happen to the highway system
without eminent domain, I don't believe government should own the roads
anyway. Just take a look at 270 any weekday morning to see what a poor job
they are doing. The free market HAS to be able to do it better.
Phill from Bagtown


Emails on immigration

Hi Bob:

 

Here are two topics I would like to see some ’group think’ take place about.

 

1st thing: Illegal immigrants

 

I’d like to know/talk about locally how it is affecting us and the most important from that discussion would be solutions from it, what can we-the-people as individuals do about it here at home.  All the talking about peoples’ valid frustration is not helping us, we need to take action.  Glen Beck said the other day on his program there are 2 groups of people on this, one is those who want to do something but they are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do.  I’m in that group.  ‘Overwhelmed’ because I don’t have the time to research in order to find out what I can do.  I would like to hear the programs I listen to, yours,Glen Beck, Laura Ingram, start to lead and direct ‘the masses’ on concrete steps we can take to help the situation so we are not standing idolly by while this matter essentially makes our country suffer such major consequences (ie…the working class people of this country it seems are the ones affected the worst by this matter)

 

A major issue Glen Beck addressed on his program the past few days regards this NAFTA highway, a super-highway connecting USA with Mexico & Canada. (essentially eventually having ‘no borders’, pushing to that being the end goal – I smell one-world-system, as I say all this, we have to pause to remember we can’t stop Revelation, regardless, I suppose we need to trust God as He takes the lead and we press forward on what we think is best/right in His leading in the interim, right)  This link shows a map of one of the potential routes for it: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=15497 A lady from Texas called his show the other day who is personally affected by this project and it seems will likely suffer great personal loss in regard to property and rights due to eminent domain in relation to this project and according to her information a great number close to the millions will be affected also by that policy and how they plan to use it to push this project through.

 

Again, on this issue, I am seeking, how I as an individual can do my part.  It is overwhelming and seems there is nothing we can do, who do we write, what do we do?  Like I said to Glen Beck in my memo to him the other day, I am not politically minded.  It is like car repair or taxes to me.  Bottom line, that is why someone else fixes my car and prepares my taxes, but when it comes to politics I never got politics 101 and there isn’t anyone to hire to express my political view.  I’ve always found it generally overwhelming.  Voting for people you don’t really know, who or what they are about, relying on media (yea right) to tell you about them.  I’ve found listening to you, Rush, Glen Beck, and Laura Ingram very helpful to gain an outward perspective on conservative issues.  I thank you for that.  Again, any direction as to what I, one of ‘the people’, can do would be GREATLY appreciated.

Monica, Check the the links I have in the Blog section.

Bill Writes this

They say that they will register all of the 12 million. Our government now has a requirement that we have a passport to go to Canada the Caribbean etc . They also have a backlog and can't keep up with passport requests. Amazing how WE have to prove our citizenship here and 12 million run free to do whatever they care to do. If your kids don't have their shots they can't go to school but it's ok to have undocumented and possibly uninoculated third word people amongst us. How the heck are they going to sort out the 12 million if they can't manage 3 million passport applications? Crime is going up and we need more cops. For every $1.00 they pay in taxes they collect $3.00 in services. And if we did the same in their country we would be jailed and deported.

Bill our Government is run by incompetent boobs...Bob

And Finally

This immigration issue has me nuts. Did you know all males over 18 must register for Selective Service?
Even undocumented aliens.(Google the chart under Selective Service)
 
Maybe if they knew that they were already breaking the law by not registering, and must register  or they are not eligible for social services or school loans. That might make a number of undocumented think that Freedom has a price.
 
Whadda' ya' think?

I think that they don't care about our Laws now, why would this scare them.
Noise ordinance in the County

Fredereick County's noise ordinance sparked alot of listener emails.
The Noise Ordinance that the County imposed created a ton of calls and people also responded  via email Bob@wfmd.com I will respond to each.

The first one was great. He had in the subject line "what are you 10 years old?"

Come on Bob, your a smart man don't make immature arguments just to argue. Fire Works at the Keys games and music in the parks are done via permits. As for the STUPID remark the house wife made earlier "who is going to give the train or the Fire Truck a ticket" SHUT UP !!! Train whistles are blown for warning. Fire Trucks sirens are for warning. I have a loud stereo in my car and YES I have been pulled over twice because of the volume being up high. I know it isn't about the volume, its about me being young and having a nice car. Either way you have to admit LOTS OF PEOPLE abuse the rights to make noise. I think it should be addressed myself. I have a redneck that rides a Harley, when he pulls out if his drive way he rides to the corner on first gear at 10 million RPM's and it is way to loud. My brother rides a Harley too but he is 39 years old and doesn't need to tach his bike out like a Hells Angel or a little boy with a new toy
 
Chris

Chris,

I only made that argument because; it has been complained that the fireworks are a noise issue for years. And the bands in Baker Park are an exception. But, what if someone files a complaint? Are they valid? What i was trying to do is to show that this is not a condemnation on noise it's about a family in Myersville who is not being a good neighbor. Just because we don't like it does it make it illegal for them to do it...I guess it does now. Any way thanks for the Email....



had a neighbor who was a weekend drag race fan and had his own drag race car he raced up at Hagerstown, woke up ever Saturday morning in the summer to him starting that car up and heading to the track. I never complained about noise, I was always happy for him he loved it so much but was glad when winter came. times sure have changed. tell that women to sell lemon aide if there that close to her house riding there motorcycles, she will make a fortune, she needs to look at the big view, I call it the communist counties of Maryland. HA HA, don't forget you cant smoke either while your watching the motorcycle guys go around the track


Mark

Mark,
It sounded like he just came and went. That it wasn't something that went on all day long.


Bob,

I am a regular listener to your morning program, but your commentary on the noise ordinance has me hot. The last thing these ATV enthusiasts need is someone supporting their cause. For the most part, those that cause the most annoyance are young kids, who have no regard for other peoples' property. They are not farmers, herding cattle, but kids, unlicensed and untrained and in some cases, dangerous to themselves and others.

I have been paying for my property and paying my property taxes for the last twenty years. We moved out of a city and into the county to raise our family and enjoy the peace and tranquility of country living. However, over the last few years, new people have moved into the area, who own postage stamp lots or are renters, but insist on buying ATV's, dirt bikes and snowmobiles which they have no property to ride on, so they ride on others property, without permission, ride on the roads, which is illegal and push the limits of common courtesy.

The noise problem from these toys is that, unlike lawn mowers, motorcycles, airplanes and helicopters who have a steady noise, ATV and dirt bike riders insist on constant revving of their engines, usually have no mufflers, add to pollution and are very inconsiderate of their neighbors. Nothing is more aggravating than when having family and friends over for a cookout or celebration, you have to put up with the noise and dust from ATV's.

When my kids were growing up, they rode bicycles and got exercise. These kids, who have no parental guidance obviously, are left  unsupervised and allowed to ride at all hours without regard for their neighbors. Sometimes laws need to be made just  to get people to act civilized. They surely don't need encouragement to violate noise ordinances, as you have suggested.

People are allowed to do as they please on their own property, UP TO AN EXTENT. We try very hard to tolerate their behavior, but there is a limit. One day you may be in a similar situation as some of us are, with inconsiderate, annoying neighbors and your tune will change. Better yet, let me know where you live, and I will be glad to give you a demonstration of what we have to deal with every day.



Rob 
Johnsville


Rob,
First off, I have had the type of neighbors you have alluded to. So I know all about it. I also what it's like when you have neighbors who move next to you and impose their will on a lifestyle that you grew up with because they want the Country lifestyle they think they deserve. Just like the neighbor who moves next to the farmer and try’s to tell him when they can and can't spread manure.

Rob, this is again not about noise but like you said "Common Courtesy". If this family is riding on their own property in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning then I would say yes they are disturbing the peace, but in the middle of the DAY!!! Tell me, when are they supposed to ride, and how long can they ride? Can they only ride when you are not Bar B Queuing?

Another point you made is "these bikes have no mufflers" That is not true....but they are not the type that you hear on a car or a bike designed to go on the road.

Again this is really about trying to enforce a type of behavior. That is hard to do.

Good Morning Bob,
     Being a night-time driver, I have had to adjust to many noises during the day while sleeping. Here's how I see it. We who work at night, take care of all you daytime people. How do you think your stores are stocked when you go shopping? How do you think your garbage is gone when you wake up in the morning? Did you ever notice that your streets and even the interstates are clean when you start your commute? I started thinking about this when someone wrote to the FNP complaining about the truck noise at night unloading dumpsters. Most of us can't do our jobs during the day because of all you daytimers in the way. We have to put up with your noise all day every day while trying to sleep. Get a grip, get a life and if you were indeed raised on a farm, you are familiar with noise. This is aimed at the woman who commented on your newscast this morning.

Thanks, John
Race in Frederick is still an issue.

Maryland is apologizing for it's part in slavery. the Frederick Newspost is doing a in depth report on the police and racial profiling. we got lots of emails about both of these subjects.

Maryland is apologizing for it's part in slavery. the Frederick Newspost is doing a in depth report on the police and racial profiling. we got lots of emails about both of these subjects



I am 40 year old African American  minister in Frederick. I am independent conservative who was deeply disturbed by your position and subsequent comments in regard to Rick Weldon’s vote on the apology. 

 

There are a significant number of African Americans within Frederick County who do not live their lives as if someone owes us something or have a sense of entitlement because we are ancestors of slaves.  Many of us believe that the  idea of reparations has no merit and is on the periphery of possibility.  So it was difficult to understand your opposition to Rick Weldon’s moral stance.  He succinctly stated Maryland’s participation in the slave trade on the steps of the state capital building.  

 

How does the institution apologizing for institutional slavery diminish the present residents of Frederick county or Maryland?  There is no slippery slope to reparations.  Your argument is illogical. 

 

It hurts absolutely nothing to acknowledge what happened and offer an apology by the state government.  If this was done previously, fine, let’s not beat a dead horse but apparently it wasn’t.

 

Bob, I believe you are a good man but on this issue you are wrong.  The fact that so many struggle to be a part of a mere apology that seeks to acknowledge a grave injustice seems to indicate that hardness still remains.

 

And then to top it off, you referenced on your show that maybe we should be thankful that our ancestors were brought to this country.  You sited successes like Obama and Oprah.  Well, they could have immigrated here and experienced the same success in this great country (like so many others).    Yes, God does take evil and turn it for good but let’s not confuse the fact that it was evil.   You said that we should not blame those ancestors of former slave owners, I agree;  nor should we thank them.  I don’t know if your comments were for ratings but they sure were reckless. 

 

Your comments are hurtful and insensitive to a group of people who still live under the shadow of what was done to them.  Would you suggest that the Jewish people thank Adolph Hitler and those who supported him because they received a national state out of their incredible suffering?  

 

Thank God for people like Rick Weldon who see clearly the moral responsibility and will not violate their own conscience for political expediency.

 

 

Darren

I think it is ridiculous that our representative would state that he didn't care what we wanted, he was going to vote the want he wants to!!!! 
 
He is supposed to represent what his constituents want to be done.  How dare he apologize for all of us.
 
We, the people that are alive today DID NOT OWN SLAVES, my father's generation did not and my grandfather's generation did not and my greatgrandfather's generation didn't either.  How can we apologize for what we didn't do, it just doesn't make sense.  I am sure that most people are sorry that people were slaves, but it is history, it happened and it won't happen here again. 
 
Why doesn't anyone remember that in Africa, the slave traders were BLACK, they did this to their own people.  Yes, the white plantation owners bought them when they were brought here because they needed workers, but it was their own people who sold them and shipped them away.  Many of the blacks that were shipped here could not have taken care of themselves in a new land and would have starved, slavery wasn't right at all-but to some of the people who came here it was a blessing or at least helpful to their continued existence. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Margie

Bob,

The one thing that people are not considering in this of the apology is a "straw-man" for reparations. With this legal precedent the promoters of an apology will have a legally basis that has been acknowledged by our legislatures. The next step in the process is to reference the apology in the context of a class-action law suit against every state that had a connection to slavery. While I find the act of enslaving any people I also find it appalling that the MD legislature would not see the consequences of this apology.

Regards,

Jerry

Middletown


I apologize to the man who would have been my uncle had he not been blown up and killed by a German U-Boat in WWII. He gave his life so that we could elect these incapable morons to waste our precious time and hard-earned money to vote on such nonsense! I say this to the Maryland legislature. DO YOUR JOB! Thanks, John     
 
P.S. The federal government already apologized as did the Catholic Church. Enough is enough.
John in Frederick

 
Bob:
 
I wholehearted agree regarding the slavery issue.  However, I think that each slave owner should immediately give freedom to the slave they have and give the slave a personal letter of apology.  And each person who every owned a slave should send a letter of apology to every decendent of every slave. 
 
Sure, that will do it.
 
Chris
 
PS -- Sorry about the sarcasm but this issue is getting ridiculous.  I never had a slave and neither did any of my ancestors.

Bob,
                      On the MD apology on Slavery:
 
*It is the continued focus on the past that keeps Blacks back by reminding them of something they cannot go back and fix.
*Affirmative Action can have a reverse effect......as it does not allow for healing of the past.
*Black tribes in Africa were one of the largest beneficiary of the Slave Trade .......so there is blame to go all around......as the stronger tribes used to capture the weaker tribes for the molasses triangle trade.
*You don't hear about a Black movement to go back to Africa.....so I guess we have had some adjustment and healing already...............
 
        --Steve.

Good morning Bob,

I read the FNP report concerning racial profiling and found some problems with it.  They base the minority traffic stops against the percentage of minorities in the county population.  However this is not an accurate measurement because roads like I-70, I-270, and Rt. 15 carry drivers from out of county and around the United States.  Therefore the percentage of minority drivers on the roads is NOT going to be the same as the percentage of minorities in Frederick County due to the out of town drivers.  Another issue is how many of those searches DID turn up something illegal (i.e. guns, drugs)?  The FNP never told us that information. 


Will

Good morning Bob,    
     Good breakfast Saturday huh? I read the paper today and what I noticed was Chuck Jenkins' statement of 11 complaints (maybe not all racial) out of 53,400 discretionary stops. I think that's a fraction of 1%. Yeah, sounds like a major problem of profiling to me. Also the woman who's son, a white fellow, has been harassed by the police for eight years. He has tickets for speeding - 2, tint that is too dark and spinning tires. Besides these acts being illegal, he was stopped for tattoos and long hair. How could they see him through the dark tint? Get over it lady and clean up your kid. Leave it to the FNP to stir that pot.

Thanks, John
Should Md Apologize for Slavery

Good morning Bob

I enjoy listening to your show every morning and I like the topics you discuss. But this time I'm going to have to chime in with my opinion. First of all I'm a black american and I vote republican and this business of apologizing for slavery, something that happen long before we were born is rediculous. There is some poeple out here who can't and should let the past go. And as far as I'm concerned I could give a rats behind about anything that happened before 1958. These individuals should focus on what happening now and people who made it that way (Martin Luther King, Thorogood Marshal etc.) and leave the past to the history books, although slavery should be taught more in schools. People like Oprah, Barac Obama, and Bill Cosby and Condolezza Rice are what's happening now and the things they are doing now. Granted slavery was a terrible time in history and who knows some of my ancestors were probably slaves but I can't or can no one else can do anything about it now so why apologize for it. The catholic church that I attend in Petersville outside of Brunswick(St Marys Catholic Church) was built by slaves of people who went to that church and during that time from land that the first catholic governor of Maryland owned.

The slaves attend mass there along with the slave owners. That's the history of that church and I'm proud of it and I'm not going around asking or demanding an apology for the slaves who built my church. Thanks for the job you do keeping us entertained in mornings

Gary

Gary thanks for thecomments and the history lesson of your church