Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : BuSab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Oral Roberts who wrote (2916)	12/2/2009 4:37:39 PM
From: joseffy	1 Recommendation Respond to of 23934

Second Lieutenant Barfoot's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot's extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.[4]

To: Oral Roberts who wrote (2916)	12/3/2009 12:12:05 PM
From: joseffy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23934

White House social secretary broke protocol Flap as Obama aide ducks 'crash' hearing NY POST By CHUCK BENNETT December 3, 2009 nypost.com Her dress was perfect. Her protocol was anything but. Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary, thought she was the belle of the ball at last week's state dinner -- gussied up in a spectacular Comme des Garçons gown and seating herself as if she were an honored guest. It would have been a perfect affair for the woman in charge of the whole shebang had it not been for two publicity-hungry social climbers who crashed the party and put new focus on her own attention-seeking ways. Now Rogers, a friend of President Obama's family for decades and officially in charge of the first family's social lives, is skipping a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing into how reality-TV aspirants Tareq and Michaele Salahi waltzed into the gala. Unlike at past state dinners, Rogers assigned no White House aides to vet guests before they went through security. Just as unusual, she was named as an invited guest rather than a staffer. "I never sat down at a state dinner because I was always too busy taking care of what needed to be taken care of," Maria Downs, social secretary during President Gerald Ford's administration, told The Post. "You are there all through the dinner, mingling with the guests, taking care of their needs, but you weren't a guest." Rogers declined the committee's invitation "based on separation of powers," said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs. The move prompted immediate condemnation from Congress. "It's a terrible decision by the White House. They are obviously stonewalling. You have to conclude there is something to hide," said Rep. Peter King (R-LI), the committee member who asked Rogers to testify. Also declining the Committee's invitation are the Salahis. A statement issued last night by their publicist said, "Having providing all relevant information to Representatives King and [Chairman Bennie] Thompson [D-Miss], there is nothing further that they can do to assist Congress in its inquiry . . . They therefore respectfully decline to testify." The statement adds that before the Salahis were admitted to the dinner, they presented their passports to "three different Secret Service Agents at various White House checkpoints." Thompson later threatened to subpoena the pair. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan is expected to appear. Rogers broke protocol, especially for a freshman social secretary, when she seated herself as a guest at the dinner. Gibbs refused to say if she had invited herself or was a guest of the Obamas. Unlike past social secretaries, Rogers, 50, loves the limelight. She posed for Vogue and WSJ., The Wall Street Journal's lifestyle magazine, this year as she settled into her job at the top of Washington society's hierarchy. Within weeks of her appointment, she jetted to Manhattan for Fashion Week, where she snagged front-row seats for top shows. Rogers has been a prolific fund-raiser for the president. Separately, the White House announced new state-dinner procedures requiring staff to be stationed at all Secret Service checkpoints. And on NBC's "Today" show, Vice President Joe Biden said he had no idea who the Salahis were when he posed with them. Asked if they should face charges, Biden said, "As that old joke goes, that's above my pay grade." Read more: nypost.com