Bangor to Keep on Rockin'

by Pa Rock

Radio Fan

Being a good person does not necessarily translate into being successful in business, and best-selling author Stephen King understands that better than most.  For the past several years King has been keeping a legendary Maine radio station, one of three which he owns, financially afloat with infusions of his own money.

But by last February the writer who has been populating the world's nightmares for decades with characters like Carrie, Christine, and even Cujo decided that it was time for him and his wife, Tabitha, to quit funding the three radio stations that they owned in the vicinity of Bangor, Maine.  They put them up for sale, and if buyers could not be found, they would close the stations at the end of the year - an ignominious end to a significant part of Bangor's history and culture.

King, who has been a musician in a rock band known for playing gigs for charity, is a lifetime fan of radio and rock music.   He acquired the first of the three stations in 1983.  The primary station of his group was WKIT out of Bangor, a rock station with a long history, and a station that the community did not want to lose.  Last week it was announced that two local businessmen had managed to purchase WKIT for $500,000 with plans "to preserve the staff and the sound."  

The purchase price was reportedly "well below" the asking price, but one must suspect that Stephen King, being an area resident himself, was rewarded in part with the satisfaction of knowing that music he loves will continue to fill the airwaves, and that a staff which had worked faithfully for him would continue to be employed.  

There was more involved in this sale than just cash at closing.

Congratulations, Bangor!  Keep on rockin'!

Liz Cheney Might Reject a Pardon Offer

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

There were two stories regarding former GOP Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming in the news this morning.   One on an internet news site  which reported that Ms. Cheney was among twenty individuals who will be honored today at a White House ceremony where President Biden will present them with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian medal and something that is certain to stick in the craw of the incoming President.

A story on National Public Radio (NPR) this morning said that President Biden is considering offering a preemptive pardon to Ms. Cheney as well as several others whom  the incoming administration seems to have targeted for legal action once it is established in office.  The next (and former) President said on "Meet the Press" when speaking of Cheney's co-chairmanship of the bipartisan Congressional committee which investigated the January 6th, 2021, attack on the US Capitol:  

"Cheney did something that's inexcusable, along with (Congressman Bennie) Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of thugs and you know, creeps . . . Honestly, they should go to jail."

That remark seems to be a clear indicator of where the President-Elect's mind is at regarding Liz Cheney, and it is even more threatening when taken in the context of the marginal characters whom he has chosen to run the federal arm of domestic law enforcement - the Justice Department and the FBI.  Ms. Cheney's freedom could be at actual risk for fulfilling her duties to Congress and to the American people.

But President Biden could conceivably protect Liz Cheney and her January 6th committee co-chair Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi - and others whom the in-coming President has targeted through past remarks - by issuing some sort of "preemptive" blanket pardons which could cover specific activities and time periods.

The process is legal going back at least to President Ford's complete pardon of his predecessor in office, Richard Nixon, and it was used most recently by President Biden when he pardoned his son for specific crimes as well as for any crimes committed during a specific time period.   Preemptive pardons are protective measures to prevent political and vindictive prosecutions - and few politicians are more vindictive and petty that the next President.

But would Liz Cheney accept such a protective measure when she literally did nothing but her duty to Congress and to the American people?    Liz is one tough bird - and the daughter of a couple of other very tough birds - and one must suspect that she might just stand tall and tell America's greatest mistake to "bring it on!"

In fact, I think that is exactly what she will do.

Accepting a preemptive pardon would not be an admission of guilt, though some would read it that way.  But the image of a mother of five wearing an orange jumpsuit and being locked away inside of a federal prison for doing nothing but standing tall for the Constitution might be more than decent Americans would be willing to tolerate - and it might just signal the rise of a political martyr who could cast a long shadow over the next several presidential elections.

Focusing on his enemies brought down Richard Nixon, and it could easily do the same to Trump.

U.S. New Year Begins with Blood in the Streets

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

The millions of us who have had the pleasure of spending a few days and nights in New Orleans and walking the streets of the French Quarter know that it is the quintessential party town, one of relaxed camaraderie where just about anything goes.   The legendary Bourbon Street, in particular, draws crowds like few other promenades in America, and with it blocked off to traffic in the evenings, tourists and revelers are literally swept along, tall drinks in hand, up and down the middle of the street, completely content to laugh, and drink, and go with the flow.

What a rich and obvious target for someone "hellbent" on inflicting maximum injury and death in the midst of a celebration.

Last night, well, early this morning, it happened.  An angry and very disturbed driver slammed his pickup truck through the Bourbon Street barricades at Canal Street and proceeded to plow through the New Year's reveler's at a high rate of speed, obviously intent on creating as much carnage as possible.   When his vehicle finally stopped, the driver began firing a weapon.  Police rushed to the stopped vehicle, returning fire as they did so, and now the driver is reportedly dead and two policement were wounded. 

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver of the murder vehicle exhibited "very intentional" behavior and that he had been "hellbent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did."

An agent from the local FBI office, Althea Duncan, said that the FBI was taking charge of the investigation.  She also reported that possible improvised explosives were found near the scene, but it is currently unknown whether the materials were connected to the vehicular homicides or not.

At least ten people died in the horrific killing spree, and reports are that thirty-five others were admitted to area hospitals.  The full extent of the deaths and injuries are unlikely to be known for several more hours. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the bloody event as a "terrorist" attack, but the FBI at the scene are calling it only a "potential" act of terrorism.

(Note:  One shooter and one victim in New York City IS an act of terrorism.   What exactly is terrorism?)

Bourbon Street and much of the Quarter have been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic today as authorities investigate the crime scene and surrounding area.  Businesses that would normally doing a brisk trade are shuttered.  

The Sugar Bowl is being played this afternoon in New Orleans, and that game, between the #2 Georgia Bulldogs and the #3 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, has brought thousands of additional tourists into the area.

Days change, months change, and even years change - but other crap never does.  This is the United States of America on the very first day on 2025.  Buckle up, Buttercup, because it looks like we are in for another year of blood-soaked rage and violence.

At least that's my unhappy prediction.