A 24-year-old airman from Westminster was killed when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Saturday.
Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler died Thursday in the attack, which killed two other airmen. They were patrolling in Helmand, a southwestern province that remains a Taliban stronghold.
Airmen First Class Seidler is the 1,868th American to die in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden
An Erie County native was among three airmen who were killed Thursday in Afghanistan when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, the Pentagon announced Saturday.
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Harborcreek was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Airman Bell, Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich., and Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md., were killed in the explosion in Shir ghazi, Helmand province. No further details were available.
The Erie Times News reported that Airman Bell joined the U.S. Air Force in 2006 and served a tour of duty in Iraq. As an explosive-ordnance disposal technician, his main job was to clear routes with two other servicemen in an armored vehicle, his father, Rick Bell of Harborcreek, told the newspaper.
Airman Bell last visited his dad over the summer, before his deployment to Afghanistan. He was still excited about his dangerous job, which gained notoriety with the movie “The Hurt Locker,” which won the Academy Award for best picture in 2010.
As a child, Airman Bell would spend his spare time at the fire station where his father has been a volunteer firefighter for 37 years, the Erie paper reported.
At 14 years old, Airman Bell joined the fire company as a junior fireman. By the time he had graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 2006, he had risen to the rank of senior fireman.
His mother, Donna Aldrich, lives in Harborcreek, and his wife, Alaina Hart Bell, lives in Louisiana, where he was stationed before deployment.
Funeral services, details of which are incomplete, will be held in Erie.
Senior Airmen Bell is the 1,867th American to die in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12008/1202176-54.stm#ixzz1izNGHKD7
The remains of a Michigan native killed in an insurgent attack in Afghanistan have been returned to the U.S., the Air Force said Sunday.
Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana confirmed that the body of Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz of Traverse City had been flown to the Dover, Del., Air Force Base. Funeral arrangements were incomplete Sunday.
Sgt. Schwartz, 34, and two others died Thursday when an improvised explosive device, or IED, hit their vehicle in Helmand province, the Defense Department said.
Sgt. Schwartz, who was on his sixth deployment, was an explosive ordnance disposal specialist assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. He was a 1996 graduate of Traverse City Central High School with 12 years in the Air Force.
Those at Traverse City Central were “saddened by his death” and “proud that he was a Trojan,” principal Rick Vandermolen said. Sgt. Schwartz’s name is to be engraved on a bench in a memorial garden at the school, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.
Also killed in the attack were Senior Airman Bryan Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., of the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Airman 1C Matthew Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md., of the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
Tech Sgt Schwartz is the 1,866th American to die in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden
Wow, really? According to the Associated Press (AP) Republican Tea Party (GOTP) guess we’re stuck with him front-runner Mittens Romney has declared, “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me”. What do you know about that, finally something truthful has fallen out of Romney’s lips.
Of course it wasn’t long before rivals shot at him, “Gov. Romney enjoys firing people. I enjoy creating jobs,” said former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.
But not to be out done, the Reverend Ricky Perry posted a ringtone to his campaign website that consisted of Mittens mewing, “I like being able to fire people,” over and over.
Romney’s remark about firing people was the second jarring moment for the front-runner in the span of less than 24 hours.
On Sunday afternoon, the millionaire businessman told an audience that he understood the fear of being laid off, adding, “There were a couple of times when I was worried I was going to get pink-slipped.” His aides refused to provide details, but that’s not surprising because there were no details to provide; Romney has never been, nor will he ever be someone who had to worry about losing his job.
Romney has repeatedly attempted to tout his career in business as the core credential of his candidacy, saying over-and-over his firm, Bain Capital, created 100,000 jobs as it started some firms while taking over, remaking and then spinning off others.
Newton Leroy Gingrich however disputed Mittens oft repeated claim saying that Bain Capital “apparently looted the companies, left people totally unemployed and walked off with millions of dollars.”
Perry has also been attacking Romney’s so-called business “sense”.
“If you’re a victim of Bain Capital’s downsizing, it’s the ultimate insult for Mitt Romney to come to South Carolina to tell you he feels your pain. Because he caused it,” he said.
“I have no doubt that Mitt Romney was worried about pink slips – whether he’d have enough of them to hand out.”
As proof of his criticism the Reverend cited Holson Burns Group Inc. of Gaffney, S.C., where he said 150 workers who made photo albums lost their jobs. “They looted that company,” Perry said, referring to Bain Capital.
Romney is not one of us, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth and one day he’ll die with the same foot firmly planted there; he’s never created any jobs but has decimated more than one company; his knowledge of how to create jobs might fill the proverbial thimble, while his knowledge of firing people would fill volumes.
Concerning the ongoing Republican Tea Party (GOTP) nominating circus (New Hampshire Primary Edition), a new WMUR/UNH poll of likely voters conducted 5 – 8 Jan 12 has been released and Romney is way out in front (no big surprise) with Paul in second and Huntsman a close third: Romney 41; Paul 18; Huntsman 16; Gingrich 12; Santorum 11and Perry 1.
Nationally, a new CBS News poll of registered voters conducted 4 – 8 Jan 12, Romney is barely in the lead, and seems to be benefitting from the plethora of anti-Romney candidates still in competition: Mittens 19; Gingrich 15; Santorum 14; Paul 10; Perry 6 and Huntsman 4.
In South Carolina the wheels have clearly come off the Gingrich mobile, a new PPP (D) poll of likely voters: Romney 30; Gingrich 23; Santorum 19; Paul 9; Perry 5 and Huntsman 4.
In the Sunshine State (Florida to FOX viewers) Mittens has surged ahead in a new Quinnipiac poll of likely voters: Romney 36; Gingrich 24; Santorum 16; Paul 10 Perry 5 and Huntsman 2.
So, clearly Mittens is becoming the solid (sort of) GOTP nominee favorite – unless some of the lame brain anti-Romney’s finally wake up and drop out of the race – but how does he stand up to the President if the General Election was held today?
Well surprise Timmy, a new Rasmussen Reports poll of likely voters conducted 3 – 4 Jan 12 now has the race tied:
President Obama 42/Romney 42
President Obama 49/Gingrich 39
And of course nobody else matters at this point.
If the GOTP Magical Mystery Tour had spun to a stop today, and if the general election were also held today, Mittens would be the GOTP choice (sort of) and he would’ve tied with the President, of course it’s a Rasmussen Poll which means it’s skewed at least five points to Romney’s side which further means the President would likely win.
In one of the first tests of the upcoming 2012 Congressional contest, the latest poll on the Oregon 1st Congressional Special Election (to be held 31 Jan 12) conducted by SurveyUSA of likely voters from 22 Dec 11 – 4 Jan 12 has Democratic candidate Suzanne Bonamici way out in the lead ahead of GOTP Rob Cornilles 50/39, is this the bell weather test of the upcoming 2012 contest, or is this as has been said many times before, simply a case of “All politics” being “local”.
On 6 Jan 1983, the great tax cutter President Ronald Reagan signed into law a five cent per gallon federal gas tax hike; that’s right, Ronald Wilson Reagan signed into law a five cent per gallon tax increase. The reason for the new tax hike? He was going to stimulate the economy!
Wow, the great white father of Republican mythology raised yet another tax; where does it all end Timmy?
It’s time for the far right-wing worshippers to come to the pool of truth, drink deeply, and admit Reagan didn’t raise revenues from trickle down, he did it by raising taxes, more than 12 times during his eight years in office, including raising the federal gas tax. Can you imagine how apoplectic the right would go if President Obama merely suggested a five cent gasoline tax? They’d be beside themselves screaming it was a socialistic plot to take over the petroleum industry.
Facts are stubborn things, and facts are Reagan cut taxes his first year in office, and when he failed to turn the economy around he then raised taxes non-stop his remaining years in the White House. Facts are stubborn things.
According to the Huffington Post, Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal apologized Thursday for forwarding an email referring to First Lady Michelle Obama as “Mrs. YoMama” and comparing her to the Grinch, and yes, he’s a republican.
In his “holiday” e-mail, O’Neal’s subject line read, “Twins separated at birth?” including side-by-side pictures of Michelle Obama and the Grinch with similarly windswept hair;the forwarded part of the email reads, “I’m sure you’ll join me in wishing Mrs. YoMama a wonderful, long Hawaii Christmas vacation — at our expense, of course.”
But wait, O’Neal didn’t just stop there, he forwarded the email to House Republicans and added the text, “Sorry, just had to forward the latest holiday message! I’ve had worse hair days but this is pretty funny.”
Well, isn’t that so seventh grade of the “Speaker”; he has since said he was sorry to those he offended.
OK, when are one of these people going to simply say, “I apologize, I was wrong, there’s no excuse,” instead of “I’m sorry to anyone I might have offended”? The “Speaker” screwed up and he needs to be man enough to admit that and sincerely apologize, not issue a generic apology.
In his “apology” he said the picture “made me laugh.” Earlier his communications director defended him, saying that political cartoons are a “part of American culture.”
Yeah, that’s true, political cartoons are “part of American culture”, but so is racism, and this smacks of pictures of the President with a bone through his nose, and watermelons in front of the White House; a funny picture of hair being blown everywhere is one thing, adding the phrase “YoMama” to it makes it a racist caricature and “Speaker” O’Neal should step down. Perhaps that’s the kind of humor the “Speaker” is used to down at the local pub, but adult people – especially leaders – in polite society don’t think its funny; time to grow up Mr. “Speaker.
According to the Associated Press (AP) Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential hopeful Mittens Romney’s so-called “tax plan” would increase taxes on low-income families while (wait for it) cutting taxes for the middle-class and the rich.
It appears Mittens plan would increase taxes on households making less than $20,000 by more than 60 percent, while households making between $50,000 and $75,000 would get small tax cuts, averaging 2.2 percent, or about $250, and anyone making more than $1 million would get tax cuts averaging 15 percent, or about $146,000.
So, just to recap, those making $1 million or more get a 15% tax cut, those making $50 to $70K would get a 2.2% tax cut and everyone else will get screwed with a 60% tax increase?!
On top of sticking it to the poor, Romney’s plan would reduce tax revenues by $180 billion in 2015, adding to the federal budget deficit. Of course Mittens campaign disputes those numbers claiming tax breaks to the wealthy will create jobs and spur the economy, blaah, blaah, blaah …
Romney’s plan would cut the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%, eliminate investment taxes for the middle class and make permanent a massive package of tax cuts first enacted under President George W. Bush. He said he’d also repeal tax increases on the wealthy enacted as part of President Barack Obama’s health care package.
But wait, that’s not all, Mitten’s plan would allow tax cuts enacted under President Obama as part of the massive economic stimulus package passed in 2009 to expire; and here’s the kicker, those tax cuts targeted low-income families with children, including many people who don’t make enough money to pay any federal income taxes. They included an expanded tax credit for college students, a more generous Earned Income Tax Credit for families with three or more children, and a more generous child tax credit for low-income families.
Romney isn’t interested in helping anyone who isn’t wealthy, he isn’t interested in spurring the economy, he’s interested in using the office of the President of the United States to help improve only one part of the nation’s population, the top 1% – his own. There’s only one group that benefits from his “tax plan”, and that’s the wealthy, I guess it’s immaterial the President is supposed to represent all the people, but to Mittens it’s only the wealthiest of We the People. Of course there’ll be great groups of naïve conservatives, with their FOX addled minds who will rush to vote for Romney because they want to protect their interests for when they too become millionaires. WAKE UP! You’ve a better chance of being abducted by space aliens than of ever belonging to the top 1%.
Word was received today that U.S. Navy Petty Officer Chad R. Regelin, 24, of Anderson was fatally injured about 11:15 a.m. PST Monday, Jan. 2, while serving as a bomb disposal expert in southern Afghanistan.
Parents Shirene and Scott Regelin of Anderson were visited with the sad news of their son’s death shortly after 2 p.m. Monday when four uniformed representatives of the U.S. Armed Forces showed up on their doorstep.
“My heart is absolutely breaking at this time!! I wish someone could tell me it is not true!!! I don’t think I will ever get the picture out of my mind of the four men standing at the door to give me the news. I just want him to come home and let me hug him. I honestly do not know how I am going to get through this!!” Shirene Regelin posted on Facebook at 8:18 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Within minutes, family and close family friends were responding with condolences and offers of assistance.
According to Justin Regelin, 31, also of Anderson, his youngest brother Chad Regelin had called the family from Afghanistan just an hour before the roadside bomb detonated.
“He called us while he was on watch. He was really upbeat because he had just gotten his orders to come back stateside on Feb. 15. He told us that he had about a week to go (in Kandahar) before they could helicopter in the replacement team,” Justin Regelin said today.
Shortly after the phone call ended, Chad Regelin and the rest of his team split into squads to do their routine patrols. A bomb explosion drew their attention to a spot beside a road just outside of the military base. While Chad Regelin and his teammates were sifting through the debris and bomb crater for any kind of forensic evidence that would link the bomb to the person or people who had made it, a secondary explosion from a “direct switch” device exploded, fatally injuring Chad Regelin, his brother recounted from a briefing the family received earlier today.
“He suffered some broken bones, but they believe he died from head injuries. They were able to airlift him out of there and he was conscious for about a half-hour before he died in a military hospital,” Justin Regelin said.
Chad Regelin’s body was flown to Germany and then to Dover Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C., where military-trained personnel will prepare the body in a dress uniform before flying it home to Anderson. The process will take between four and five days, Justin Regelin said.
“Yesterday was pretty tough for the family,” Justin Regelin said today. “I’ve been through a time of sadness. It’s tough to lose your littlest brother. But he said he was at peace with what he was doing (as a bomb disposal expert.) That is what he loved to do.”
Arrangements are pending for a memorial service and burial at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, Justin Regelin said.
“It is just hard to know that someone was waiting to pull the trigger that killed him,” Justin Regelin said of his brother.
Recognized by the USO in October as its 2011 Sailor of the Year, Chad Regelin was serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with Mobile Unit Three in southern Afghanistan.
The USO recognized him for heroic actions during his first tour, from August 2010 through March 2011, when he “personally located and destroyed 24 IEDs (improvised exploding devices or roadside bombs), trained 13 commando engineers in counter-IED tactics and fought in more than 20 direct fire engagements,” according to the USO’s 70th anniversary banquet program given to guests at the Oct. 6 event in Washington, D.C.
Chad Regelin was unable to attend the awards ceremony as he was serving a second tour of duty in Afghanistan as a replacement for another bomb disposal expert who had been injured. It was during that second tour in Afghanistan that Regelin was killed.
However, his parents, sister and one of two older brothers made the trip back east to tour the White House, Pentagon and U.S. Capitol buildings prior to the banquet held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
Chad Regelin was stationed at the San Diego Naval Base.
A 2005 graduate of Anderson Union High School, Regelin enlisted in the Navy in 2006. While in high school, Regelin helped launch the school’s Surf Club and was named Outstanding Senior for the Anderson Cubs varsity football squad.
Petty Officer Regelin is the 1,865th American to die in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden
Self proclaimed historian and Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential wannabe Newton Leroy Gingrich, said during a town hall-style appearance in Concord, that if elected (which is an ever expanding really big IF) he had no interest in exploring drug decriminalization, arguing such efforts haven’t worked in Europe, and of course as a conservative he’d base success rates of things off of Europe – which to conservatives has never succeeded in anything.
According to the Huffington Post, when a member of an audience later in the day argued the founding fathers had been far more lenient about marijuana than the current political class, Newton responded, “I think Jefferson or George Washington would have rather strongly discouraged you from growing marijuana and their techniques with dealing with it would have been rather more violent than our current government.” A comment which has no (as in zero) basis of fact to back it up, other than Newton being a conservative, and all conservative are born with an inherent understanding of what the Founding Fathers thought or would’ve thought on any subject from drug laws to potty training.
Of course the fact many of the Founding Fathers grew hemp (George Washington especially and Thomas Jefferson also included) was lost on Professor Gingrich, which today would’ve landed the grower in jail. Yeah, it’s easy to see how the Founding Fathers would’ve been harder than today’s authorities. This is once again nothing but right-wing FOX style hyper-bole based on utter and complete nonsense. As a presidential candidate Newt’s a joke, and as a historian he’s an ignoramus.
The Liberty Tree 