Washington Examiner – Two U.S. Secret Service armored vehicles used to protect Vice President Biden struck and killed a pedestrian in Temple Hills early Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The vehicles were traveling together from Andrews Air Force Base at about 2:30 a.m. when the pedestrian was hit at the intersection of Suitland Parkway and Naylor Road in Temple Hills, U.S. Park Police said.

The drivers stayed on the scene and rendered first aid until police and rescue officials arrived, said Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan.

The pedestrian, an adult male, was transported to Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly with multiple critical injuries, police said. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The armored sport utility vehicle and limousine were occupied only by Secret Service employees and were not carrying the vice president or any other dignitaries, said Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan.

The vehicles, part of a fleet used to protect the vice president, were used to whisk Biden during his trip to Fort Lewis, Wash., and were heading back to a garage at the time of the incident. The armored cars were transported to and from Fort Lewis on military planes. The vice president was there to speak at a memorial service Tuesday for seven soldiers who were killed Oct. 27 in Afghanistan when their vehicle exploded after being struck by an improvised explosive device.

Biden returned to Andrews much earlier and was already at his residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington at the time of the incident, Donovan said.

Police have not released the pedestrian’s identity pending notification of family. Park Police were still investigating the incident and had not determined a cause.

Does this mean Vice President Biden’s insurance premiums go up?

-Gipper’s Ghost

Have a local New England or National news story or lead? Email it to Gipper’s Ghost – gipper@bangauey.com

The Republican – Rep. Patrick Kennedy says he finds comments by Rhode Island’s Roman Catholic bishop questioning his faith “very disconcerting.”

Kennedy, a Catholic, had planned to meet Thursday with Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin to discuss abortion and the health care debate. The bishop’s office announced Monday that the meeting was postponed indefinitely by mutual agreement.

Kennedy said Tuesday that he initially agreed to the meeting on the terms that Tobin not debate his faith in public. He said the bishop did not follow that agreement.

The two men have clashed since Kennedy criticized church leaders last month for threatening to oppose a massive health care overhaul unless it included tighter restrictions on abortion.

Last week Kennedy voted against an amendment restricting abortion coverage, but supported the compromise House health care bill that included it.

So let me get this straight.  Patches publicly calls out the leadership of the Catholic Church last month for threatening to oppose a massive health care overhaul unless it included tighter restrictions on abortion.   Then Representative Kennedy says he finds comments by a Rhode Island Roman Catholic bishop questioning his faith “very disconcerting.”   I guess the Kennedys are the only ones who can question the values and judgement of a person in public.

Shame on the bishop for talking back to Representative Kennedy.

So let’s talk a little bit about judgement and values of a person.  Now who was it that crashed his Mustang into a barricade at the capitol and later blamed it on his drug addiction? Then there was the other guy whose name I can’t remember that retained $6,600 in donations from convicted Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu when almost everyone else returned their donations.  The name escapes me of the person  who abandoned off of Martha’s Vineyard, a luxury yacht that he was renting and that he caused $28,000 damages to.  And who’s the guy that shoved airport security and admitted problems with Oxycotin?

Well even if I could remember I wouldn’t publicly call into question the person’s judgement, because he might find it disconcerting.

-Gipper’s Ghost

Have a local New England or National news story or lead? Email it to Gipper’s Ghost – gipper@bangauey.com

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dailyherald.com – A pilot for a United Airlines flight from London’s Heathrow airport was arrested after a breath test showed he had exceeded the legal limit for alcohol, police said.

The 51-year-old pilot was arrested at the airport at 12:30 p.m. local time yesterday, said a London Metropolitan Police spokesman, who under department policy can’t be quoted by name. The man, who wasn’t identified, has since been released on bail, the spokesman said.

Flight 949, scheduled to depart at 12:05 p.m. for Chicago’s O’Hare airport, was canceled and passengers were booked on other flights, said Megan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for Chicago-based United. She said the plane was a Boeing Co. 767 carrying 124 passengers and 11 crew.

“Safety is our highest priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full investigation,” McCarthy said

Uh yeah….In the past year we’ve had separate incidents of pilots flirting with each other and others looking at laptops.  The former incident killing 49 people and the latter providing scares for all 144 passengers on board while the plane over shot its destination by 150 miles.  Now we have this incident of PWI or piloting while intoxicated.  It’s unfortunate, because the actions of these few bad apples soil the reputation of an otherwise very safe industry.  Let’s hope United Airlines and the authorities take swift punitive action to make an example of this pilot.

BTW – It’s completely amazing this video of the drunk pilot has already made it to Youtube.

-Gipper’s Ghost

Have a local New England or National news story or lead? Email it to Gipper’s Ghost – gipper@bangauey.com

BOSTON (FOX25, myfoxboston) – FOX25 has learned that Congressman Barney Frank was present during a marijuana arrest at James Ready’s home in Ogunquit, Maine.  Ready is well-known for his relationship with Congressman Frank.

According to a police report, police charged Ready with marijuana possession, cultivation and use of drug paraphernalia in August of 2007.  Ready admitted to civil possession and paid a fine.  The remaining charges were dismissed in 2008.

Sources tell FOX25 that when Frank was questioned he told police that he did not live in the house and that he only smoked cigars.

Congressman Frank tells FOX25 that he was surprised and disappointed with what police found.  He also tells us that he wouldn’t recognize a marijuana plant if he saw one because he is, “not a great outdoorsman,” and ,”wouldn’t recognize most plants.”

Shame on you Ms. Bologna.  Talk about irresponsible and unfair journalism.  How do you expect someone who went to Harvard in the 60s, is a U.S. Congressman, the chair of the house financial services committee, and missed seeing one of the largest financial collapses in U.S., if not world history, to know what a marijuana plant looks like?  For God sakes Representative Frank is only the author of the States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592).  He’s not a horticulturist, damn it! He’s a U.S. Congressman.  Clearly Ms. Bologna is part of the vast right wing conspiracy.

On an unrelated note, how unlucky in love is Representative Frank?  In 1990 he was stunned to find out his partner was not only running a male prostitution ring, but was also running it out of  Representative Frank’s apartment.  Only then to have yet another partner involved in illegal activities,  drug manufacturing.  Why do things like this keep happening to a guy like Representative Frank?  He seriously needs a better wingman to help weed (ahem) out these scofflaws and avoid future heart break.

-Gipper’s Ghost

Have a local New England or National news story or lead? Email it to Gipper’s Ghost – gipper@bangauey.com

AP — The U.S. Homeland Security secretary says she is working to prevent a possible wave of anti-Muslim sentiment after the shootings at Fort Hood in Texas.

Janet Napolitano says her agency is working with groups across the United States to try to deflect any backlash against American Muslims following Thursday’s rampage by Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim who reportedly expressed growing dismay over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The shootings left 13 people dead and 29 wounded.

Napolitano was in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday for talks with security officials and a meeting with women university students in Abu Dhabi.

Look, I’m all for protecting people from hate crimes, but since when is it in the charter of Homeland Security to be the law enforcement arm of the ACLU?  Last time I checked Homeland Security’s mission was to prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the Nation.   No where does it say on the Homeland Security web site that it’s going to provide muscle for the anti-defamation league.  Worthy cause here to protect people from hate crimes, but I’d like THE leader of Homeland Security to focus a little less time on that and more time keeping the bad guys out of the U.S. and not blowing up Disney world!

-Gipper’s Ghost

Have a local New England or National news story or lead? Email it to Gipper’s Ghost – gipper@bangauey.com