Looks like your boy-toy is going to need a bit of cash to pay back the American people for some lawbreaking by his campaign.

John Kerry spent $1.4 million more than federal rules allowed during his 2004 presidential bid, primarily on customizing two campaign planes, according to a draft audit by the Federal Election Commission.

If the commissioners approve the staff findings at a meeting Thursday, KerryÂ’s campaign could have to repay the overspending to the U.S. Treasury, since his unsuccessful general election campaign was funded by tax dollars.

In order to receive the public funds, Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, and his running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, agreed to spend $74.6 million or less on their general election campaign against President Bush.

Of course, Kerry aides object.

Marc Elias, a lawyer for Kerry-Edwards, says the campaign stayed within the limits and accused the commission’s auditors of taking “an unsupportably aggressive view of the law.”

Yeah -- we wouldn't want to aggressively enforce teh law against a Democrat, would we.

By the way, when it comes right down to it, he either over-spent or he didn't. What do the numbers say? Exactly what the auditors claim. Maybe Kerry just wants them to use fuzzy math.

But then again, he's just a gigolo, everybody knows...

Posted by: Greg at 12:52 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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You may notice that I've added a new blogroll on my site -- one devoted to fighting cancer. That issue is a very important one to me right now, given that my uncle will undergo cancer surgery beginning at 7:30 this morning, the time I've set for this post to appear on my site.

The originator of the blogroll, G.M. Roper (a fellow Munuvian) explains the goal this way.

Cancer is no respecter of race, religion, social status, income or profession. It is an insidious disease that robs people of a quality of life and too often, of life itself. This blog has one purpose, and one purpose only, to enroll as many bloggers in An Army Of Bloggers as possible and to encourage them to make an annual contribution to fighting cancer. The Rules for membership are simple, put the logo and blogroll on your blog, send a donation to a cancer program of any kind and post about it. It would be helpful if you write in the "memo field" of your check the following "Donated By The Army Of Bloggers." Help spread the word, help beat this s.o.b. into the ground. If you are a blogger, join the blogroll and make a donation. Leave a comment too if you would be so kind as to whom you donated to. Please leave the address and name of the charity in your comment (you don't need to name the amount). Please, if everyone helps this disease can eventually be whipped.

This Blog and accompanying Blogroll is dedicated Pamela Roper Clark, my beloved sister who passed away in 1990 from ovarian cancer. By putting the power of the blogosphere to work, we hope to make a citizens push to conquer this dread disease.

Who do I plan on supporting? The Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, which is a research partnership between Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. It is where my uncle is being treated, and where, with the help of the dedicated medical team and the grace of God, he will beat this disease.

To join, please information, please visit this link. Also contact G.M. Roper for inclusion.

Posted by: Greg at 01:30 AM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
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I donÂ’t usually post stories like this here. IÂ’ll make an exception for this one.

A horrible accident. That's how investigators are describing a Saginaw fire that killed six people, including five children.

The fire started at around 2:30 this morning in the home at the corner of Waller and South Michigan on the city's west side.

One person, 33 year old Tanesha Watkins was rescued and is in fair condition at Covenant Healthcare.

Her husband, Samuel Watkins, 36, died in the fire, along with his stepchildren. They have been identified as Adam Dupuis, 13, daughters Majesty Price, 8, Destiny Price, 5, Essence Price, 3, and Chad Skinner, 1. His birthday was yesterday.

Here's what happened. Samuel Watkins was cooking in the kitchen when the fire started. Tanesha Watkins awoke when one of her daughters got up to go to the bathroom.

Tanesha smelled the smoke and went to look for the fire. She went to the basement, and was trapped as the flames spread.

She was rescued by two Saginaw County sheriff's deputies, who were waved down by the stepfather.

Saginaw Police Fire Investigator Jason Ball explains what the stepfather did next.
"From what we've learned, there was a fire in the kitchen. The father was made aware of the fire, ran outside, sought help from a sheriff's deputy who was on a traffic stop nearby. The sheriff's deputy reported that he observed the 36-year-old stepfather run into the house, through a wall of smoke and flames, to try to make it to the upstairs where the children and his wife were sleeping."

Such a tragedy is hard to wrap your head around. In this case, these people were the family of one of my fellow teachers. IÂ’d ask that you keep this entire family in prayer at this horrific time, that they may know GodÂ’s love in the midst of their sorrrow, and be comforted with the assurance that those who have died are wrapped in the arms of a loving God. Especially, please pray for Tanesha Watkins as she recovers from her injuries and from the devastation of losing her husband and children in one cruel blow.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.

Posted by: Greg at 12:19 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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That is about where my temperature is today.

That's why I'm not blogging.

Think positive thoughts my way, in the hope the fever will break and I can come back.

Posted by: Greg at 11:00 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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