Moline, Illinois - "In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak," a traveling exhibition opening at the Moline Public Library on Wednesday, December 28th, reveals the push and pull of New and Old Worlds in Sendak's work and shows how Sendak's artistic journey has led him deeper into his own family's history and his Jewish identity.

Maurice Sendak is best known as the illustrator of more than 100 picture books, including Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen. He was born to Polish immigrants in Brooklyn in 1928, and his childhood was typically American in a number of ways. At the same time, he became fascinated as a child with the worn black-and-white photographs of his European relatives, and the influence of both of these worlds - the threads of Jewish family, geography, and culture - can be seen in his imaginative works.

The exhibit is an exploration of Sendak's illustrations and picture books, revealing connections between these iconic works and Sendak's childhood, family, and the popular culture of the time. The colorful exhibit panels feature illustrations of ferocious creatures, curious children and vibrant neighborhoods, alongside thematic explorations of the Jewish culture and history - and Sendak's own family experience - that influenced Sendak's work.

"In a Nutshell" was organized by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia, and developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life. The exhibit was curated by Patrick Rodgers of the Rosenbach Museum & Library.

The Moline Public Library is sponsoring free programs and other events for the public in connection with the exhibition. Contact 309-524-2470 or visit www.molinelibrary.com for more information. "In a Nutshell: The Worlds of Maurice Sendak" will be on display at the Moline Public Library until February 24th, 2012.

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WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley is questioning Attorney General Eric Holder and Deputy Attorney General James Cole regarding their commitment to FBI whistleblowers while one case continues to languish for nine years and a second case sits in limbo for more than four years.

"Whistleblowers are key to unlocking many of the secrets hidden deep in the closets of the federal government.  Allowing a case to sit in limbo for more than nine years shows a lack of commitment to resolving issues for these courageous people," Grassley said.  "The excessive time to make a judgment on these cases indicates that the process for adjudicating FBI whistleblower claims is broken, and needs to be fixed.  The Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General have significant say over the speed at which these matters are addressed, and the recent decision by Deputy Attorney General Cole to remand a nine year old case for further proceedings is mind boggling and calls into question his commitment to help support whistleblowers."

In a letter today to the Attorney General, Grassley cited Agent Jane Turner who in 2002 filed a whistleblower complaint with the Justice Department Inspector General after discovering that FBI agents removed items from Ground Zero following the attacks of 9/11.  Due to the Inspector General's delayed decision, Agent Turner was forced to file an appeal with the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management, which ordered the FBI to issue back pay, attorney's fees and other relief.  After an FBI appeal, the Deputy Attorney General remanded the case for further proceedings and it now continues to languish nine years after Agent Turner's original complaint.

Grassley also cited the case of Robert Kobus, a 30-year non-agent employee of the FBI who more than four years ago disclosed time and attendance fraud by FBI agents.  The Inspector General substantiated his claims of retaliation for protected whistleblowing, yet his case has been sitting with the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management for four years.

Grassley noted that both the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General have testified before Congress that whistleblower retaliation will not be tolerated and that they would work to ensure that safeguards are in place so that whistleblowers are provided all the protections afforded by the law.

A long-time advocate for whistleblowers, in addition to co-authoring the 1989 whistleblower protection law and subsequent updates, Grassley sponsored changes made in 1986 to the President Lincoln-era federal False Claims Act to empower private sector whistleblowers.  Since the 1986 amendments were signed into law, the False Claims Act has brought back more than $27 billion to the federal treasury, and has deterred even more fraudulent activity. In 2009, in coordination with Senator Patrick Leahy, Grassley worked to pass legislation to shore up whistleblower protections in the False Claims Act that had been eroded by the courts after years of litigation by defense and healthcare contractors.

Grassley is also the author of legislation that would give the same whistleblower protections to employees in the legislative branch as provided already to employees of the executive branch of government.  In addition, in October, a Grassley-sponsored amendment to give whistleblower protection to employees in the Judicial Branch was added to a federal judgeships bill that was being debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A copy of the text of the letter can be found here.  A signed copy can be found by clicking here.

 

November 14, 2011

Via Electronic Transmission

 

The Honorable Eric H. Holder

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20530

 

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I write to express my concerns regarding the perpetual delays for resolving Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) whistleblower cases at the Department of Justice (DOJ).  As you are well aware, I am a long-standing advocate for whistleblower rights.  Whistleblowers point out fraud, waste, and abuse when no one else will, and they do so while risking their professional careers.  Whistleblowers have played a critical role in exposing failed government operations such as Operation Fast and Furious, and retaliation against whistleblowers should never be tolerated.  Thus, I am concerned about the treatment of whistleblowers at the FBI, specifically in the cases of Jane Turner and Robert Kobus.  The process of resolving whistleblower claims appears to be broken.

Jane Turner was a career FBI agent with an outstanding record for conducting investigations involving missing and exploited children.  Agent Turner filed a whistleblower complaint with the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), in 2002 when she discovered that FBI agents removed items from Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.  Unfortunately, Agent Turner was forced to file an appeal to the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management (OARM) due to the OIG's delayed decision in their investigation.  Ultimately, the OARM substantiated her allegations in May, 2010, and the FBI was ordered to provide Agent Turner back pay, attorney's fees, and other relief.  It is my understanding that the FBI filed an appeal to the Deputy Attorney General concerning the issue of back pay, despite the FBI's failure to raise the issue of back pay during previous OARM proceedings, and the case was remanded, in part, back to OARM for further review of the back pay issue.  Consequently, a final resolution to Jane Turner's reprisal case against the FBI is now further delayed by the Deputy Attorney General's curious decision.  Given the already excessive delays in this case, the ruling by the Deputy Attorney General postpones a judgment that should have come much sooner.  I remind you that Agent Turner initially filed her complaint approximately 9 years ago, and she has yet to receive a final decision.  Any reasonable person would agree that 9 years is extreme and unacceptable.

Robert Kobus is a 30 year non-agent employee of the FBI who disclosed time and attendance fraud by FBI agents.  The OIG also conducted an investigation into these allegations and substantiated that he was retaliated against for protected whistleblowing.  The FBI management not only demoted Mr. Kobus to a non-supervisory position, but they even went so far as to move him from his office to a cubicle on the vacant 24^th floor of the FBI's office building.  Nevertheless, the OIG's findings were referred to OARM for adjudication and Mr. Kobus' case has now languished in bureaucratic red tape for approximately 4 years.

I'm confident you would agree that a cumulative 13 years is an excessive amount of time to complete two whistleblower investigations.  You previously stated during your testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee that you will "ensure that people are given the opportunity to blow the whistle and they will not be retaliated against, and then to hold accountable anybody who would attempt to do that."[1]  You also stated that, "I have seen their [whistleblowers'] utility, their worth, and, frankly, the amount of money that they return to the Federal Government.  And they serve a very, very useful purpose."[2] The Deputy Attorney General, in his responses to congressional "Questions for the Record", asserted he would "work with the Judiciary Committee and the independent Office of Special Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes violation of law, including reprisals against whistleblowers, to provide timely and accurate information to the Congress."[3] He further pledged he would "not tolerate unlawful retaliation against any Department of Justice employee, including FBI employees" and he would "work to ensure that there are adequate safeguards so that whistleblowers receive all of the protections to which they are entitled by law."[4] I would ask that you honor these statements and ensure these cases, and others like them, are investigated and decided in a reasonable timeframe.

Given your previously stated support for whistleblowers, I presume that you would agree that DOJ is sending the wrong message to whistleblowers by taking an inordinate amount of time to issue final declarations for Agent Turner and Mr. Kobus.  The excessive time the OARM has taken to issue a final judgment, which is further exacerbated by the Deputy Attorney General's recent decision in Agent Turner's case, has cast your department in a dubious light regarding your stated support for whistleblowers.  These excessive delays indicate that the process of adjudicating a FBI whistleblower claim is broken.  Consequently, I ask that you review these matters and ensure that the OARM and the Deputy Attorney General conduct their respective reviews in a transparent and expeditious manner.  While I appreciate that allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse must be properly investigated, Agent Turner and Mr. Kobus deserve transparency in the process and finality to their cases.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this important matter.  I request you provide a written response to this letter no later than November 18, 2011.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

Ranking Member

Dear Cain Connection Reader,

 

Herman In The News

In USA Today/Gallup survey released this week, Herman now ties Gov. Romney as the leader for the GOP presidential nomination in a poll of likely Republican voters conducted Nov. 2-6. Herman now polls at 21 percent, a 3 percent increase from early October. Herman continues to lead in the CBS News Poll with 18 percent, according to the national survey released Friday.

Herman is leading the Republican field in Florida with 30 percent, six percent higher than his nearest challenger, according to the first survey by Rasmussen Reports of likely Republican primary voters in Florida. Herman Cain has been consistently leading the Republican pack in Florida since he won the Florida straw poll in September.

Herman leads the Republican field in three important swing states according to Quinnipiac University's first "Swing State Poll" of the 2012 campaign cycle.

Herman polls first among GOP voters in Florida, with 27 percent of the vote, a six percent lead over nearest challenger, and first in Ohio, with 25 percent, a five percent lead over his nearest challenger. In Pennsylvania, Mr. Cain and Gov. Romney are tied at 17 percent.

For the past 50 years, these three states have predicted the presidential winner. Since 1960, no candidate has won the presidential election without carrying at least two of these states.

"My message of real solutions and real leadership continues to resonate across the country. The American people are tired of career politicians and Washington insiders. They are hungry for an authentic candidate," said Herman, "I appreciate the vote of confidence from the voters of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania and I deeply appreciate all of the support my campaign is receiving from every state in our great country."

Herman Meets With Dr. Henry Kissinger

Herman had the pleasure and honor of meeting with former Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger at Kissinger's home on Nov. 3 in New York City. The gentlemen discussed the campaign and foreign policy issues facing America.

Herman Cain's breakfast meeting with Dr. Kissinger

Herman received uproarious applause at the ninth debate for Republican presidential contenders at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan Nov. 9. Herman confronted questions about leadership and character head-on, saying, "Over the last nine days the voters have voted with their dollars and they are saying they don't care about the character assassination - they care about leadership and getting this economy going and all of the other problems we face."

Herman continued his rise in national polls leading into Saturday evening's CBS/National Journal Republican Presidential Debate, in which Herman said President Obama has been on the wrong side of nearly every situation in the Arab world since taking office.

For the second time in debates this week, the first question went to Herman, this time concerning Iran's effort to develop a nuclear weapon. Herman asserted, "The first thing I would do is to assist the opposition movement in Iran that is trying to overthrow the regime. Our enemies are not the people of Iran - it's the regime...We need to put economic pressure on Iran by way of our own energy independence strategy."

Throughout the debate, Herman touched on his foreign policy philosophy - peace through strength and clarity - an expansion of President Reagan's foreign policy, peace through strength. 

When asked by the moderator about the complex U.S.-Pakistan relationship, Herman said it is not clear if Pakistan is a friend or a foe: "...that relationship must be evaluated...We need a regional strategy in that area of the world such that all of our allies will work together to come up with things that are mutually beneficial to everyone."

Responding to an email question on advanced interrogation methods and torture, Herman said, "I believe in following the procedures that have been established by our military. I do not agree with torture. Period. However, I will trust the judgment of our military leaders to determine what is torture and what is not torture."

In order to keep America safe, Herman said he would support the continued use of Guantanamo Bay and use military courts to try the terrorism suspects and enemy combatants who are held there as part of his national security plan. 

A Note from Herman: The Iowa Fund is a Huge Success Thanks to You!

When we launched the Iowa Fund last week, many people did not believe we could reach our goal of $999,000 in seven days, but they were wrong. Not only did we reach the goal, we exceeded it more than 24 hours early! Our total is now over $1.2 million dollars and still climbing.

Together, we have sent a message...A message to the media, the political establishment, and the rest of the American people. We will not go along with politics as usual. We will not keep quiet. Many seek to destroy our efforts. Many have said that our campaign cannot possibly remain on top.

Herman's latest campaign video features him in the city of Detroit, the very face of destructive liberal economics, presenting his vision of turning poverty-stricken communities into thriving Opportunity Zones as part of his bold "9-9-9 Plan."

In the past two weeks, the mainstream media attempted to tell the American people who they should vote for with their shabby journalism and an insatiable appetite for gossip. Click here to read Media Research Center's analysis of clearly biased journalism against Herman.

Source: Media Research Center

Are you tired of the mainstream media's attempts to tell you who you should vote for? Help Herman fight back against the media and political establishment with your donation.

Herman Cain in Michigan on Obama: 'Beat him with a Cain!' - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/herman-cain-in-michigan-on-obama-beat-him-with-a-cain/2011/11/10/gIQAUsHy8M_blog.html

Herman Cain at Kalamazoo Visit: "I didn't go to political correctness school" - WKZO Radio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCEhaMFWjJs

Cain Jumps to 7-Point Lead Over Romney - Fox News
http://nation.foxnews.com/herman-cain/2011/11/02/cain-jumps-7-point-lead-over-romney

Cain was Known for Casual Style with Staff at Association - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cain-was-known-for-casual-style-with-staff-at-association/2011/11/10/gIQAdRBy9M_story.html

Politico's smear campaign against Herman Cain sputters, derails - Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-fayetteville/politico-s-smear-campaign-against-herman-cain-sputters-derails

Investigator: Herman Cain Innocent of Sexual Advances - CBS Atlanta
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/16002149/investigator-herman-cain-innocent-of-sexual-advances

A Fresh Face, a Bold Message, and a Choice - Ms. Jenny Stanford
http://www.thestate.com/2011/11/03/2032525/sanford-a-fresh-face-a-bold-message.html

Tune into Herman

This week Herman is scheduled to appear on the following media outlets...

• CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" - Thursday, Nov. 17 11:35pm EST/10:35pm CST
  
  

Cain Campaign Clock

Number of Days Until First Primary - Iowa Caucus (January 3, 2012): 52
Number of Days Until Super Tuesday (March 6, 2012): 115
Number of Days Until Presidential Election (November 6, 2012): 360

Paying tribute to America's veterans, Presidential hopeful Herman Cain teams up with highly decorated Colonel Michael Steele to offer a powerful and moving message to the men, women, and families of our armed services.

Colonel Steele was the company commander of the Third Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, during Operation Gothic Serpent, the basis for the book and subsequent movie, "Blackhawk Down."

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I, formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

From the Berlin Wall to Mogadishu to Iraq, Colonel Steele has served his country well, and Herman Cain is honored to have a friendship with a man so respected and decorated as the Colonel. Please join us in honoring our proud and heroic Veterans on this and every day.

Thank-you and God bless all our servicemen and women, and God bless America.

You can see the video on the Herman Cain YouTube channel.