Sec. Dreyfus Takes Action To Instill DSHS Responsibility....Accountability

The following is the press release issued by the same people that in the past have spun department failings to avoid accountability and exposure. So, this approach is welcomed. We hope that the Children's Division will be so treated.

RE: The escape of a criminally insane killer...at the fair grounds

October 02, 2009
DSHS Secretary Dreyfus outlines follow-up at Eastern State Hospital in wake of September 17 escape

SPOKANE, Wash. – DSHS Secretary Susan N. Dreyfus said Friday that she is concerned about lapses in hospital policy detailed in a critical incident review of a forensic patient’s three-day escape from an Eastern State Hospital field trip at the Spokane County Interstate Fair on Sept. 17.

Secretary Dreyfus said the suspension of field trips at the two adult psychiatric hospitals that she ordered during the escape would remain in effect.

She said she is looking further into the failure of the hospital staff to call 9-1-1 and the clinical decision making around this field trip to determine whether discipline may be appropriate.

“Once I have clear answers to those two questions, I will take any appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Washington Administrative Code and the Collective Bargaining Agreements between these employees and the state,” she said.

Dreyfus said she is appointing a panel of experts chaired by Dr. Richard Veith, M.D., head of the University of Washington Department of Behavioral Health and Sciences, to look into those overall policies. She said members of the State Psychiatric Hospital Safety Review Panel include clinical, legal and security experts, a consumer advocate, and law enforcement – including Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.

In addition to examining the Eastern State Hospital critical incident review, the panel will identify policy and procedures related to the incident that may need to be changed at either state hospital to improve community safety. Both Eastern and Western State Hospitals experienced forensic patient escapes during September.

“We want the panel members to verify that our critical incident investigation was thorough and to review policies and procedures related to this incident,” Dreyfus said.

She also would like the panel to submit recommendations on how the state assures patient, staff and community safety while providing appropriate therapeutic interventions and community reintegration support for the growing numbers of forensic mental health patients in the state psychiatric hospitals.

She said she expects the panel’s report and recommendations by December 1.

“Although public safety must be our first concern,” Dreyfus said, “it is important that we not let this unfortunate incident frame how we as a state see people who live with mental illness. Mental illness touches all of us, and people can indeed recover and lead successful lives.”

A copy of the Critical Incident Review released Friday by Secretary Dreyfus is posted on the DSHS Web page at http://www.dshs.wa.gov

State Dept. Briefing On Honduras Yesterday

snip
MR. KELLY: Honduras?

QUESTION: Yeah. Are there any restrictions on official U.S. contact with members of Micheletti’s de facto administration?

MR. KELLY: Well, as you know, we don’t recognize the regime of Roberto Micheletti, and as such, we have only minimal contact with his regime, particularly senior members of his regime. We have imposed some visa sanctions on some members of that regime. But at the same time, of course, we are very eager to find a solution to the ongoing conflict and try and reach a solution that restores the democratically elected president to power.

So we do have contacts with representatives of the regime in order to help advance that goal, and of course, we have an Embassy in Tegucigalpa which is very actively involved in facilitating the OAS mission to try and find the solution.

QUESTION: Thank you.

Obama Had No Business Interjecting The Presidency Into Olympic Site Selection

The rest of the world does not root the United States on to victory. And the Olympic Organizing Committee doesn't like it when the arrogant walk onto the playing field expecting everyone to give them extra points. What was Obama thinking?

The fact of the American President showing up with his billionaire friend to interfere in the process probably lost more points than it gained the City of Chicago. Obama and Oprah made themselves clay pigeons at a trap shoot where everyone shoots 499 of 500! The committee couldn't resist!

The countries of the world root for their own teams in the Olympic Games. And, they root for acceptable underdogs in the placement of the events.

I wonder if Brazil is making money in another way with the help of the president. What did Brazil get for sneaking Mel Zalaya back into Honduras and harboring him in their embassy? They didn't do that for nothing.

The game Obama is playing in Honduras has much higher stakes than his embarrassing attempt to bring the games to his hometown. He should have left the bidding up to the locals...just as he should have left Honduras up to their locals. Shall I say it? OK. I'm sorry. Obama can't metal when he meddles.

Notes on Brazil: I have been to Rio de Janeiro. There are massive areas of slums clinging to the sides of the hills as you drive in from the airport. Maybe that will change for the Olympic views of the city. But, Sugarloaf and the Cristo Redentor are magnificent. And, you can still see the girl on Ipanema Beach! Son, Captain John, served an LDS mission in Brazil. We toured the country after he was released from his duties there. John is fluent in Portuguese which is a beautiful, melodic language. There are more people who speak Portuguese in South America than speak Spanish.

Evergreen Professor Only Permits Marxist Presentation On Honduras

Liberal Evergreen State college professor has invited a female lecturer on Honduras to speak in his class about the crisis. But, he only wants a one sided presented.

Former Federal Way School Board member and successful business woman, Evelyn Castellar, lives in Honduras 6 months out of the year. She and her husband have a huge farm. I have been there many times.

Evelyn called and left a message volunteering to help in the lecture. The professor called her back and left his own message. He told Castellar that she could speak to the class if she was on Mel Zalaya's side. If not...she could ask questions during the Q&A.

Dems Stopped Trip To Honduras By U.S. Senators

(In this fast moving story it has now been learned that Sen. Kerry cooled off and is now permitting the travel. This is so important the senators, who make about $140,000 a year, could have paid the $750 plane fare!)

October 1, 2009 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, made the following statement after Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) and President Obama’s State Department blocked Senator DeMint’s planned fact-finding trip to Honduras at the last minute.

“These bullying tactics by the Obama administration and Senator Kerry must stop, and we must be allowed to get to the truth in Honduras. Not a single U.S. Senator has traveled to Honduras to learn the facts on the ground. And the Obama administration won't allow Honduran officials or even businessmen to come to the U.S., either. While this administration has failed to act decisively in Afghanistan, it is has no problem cracking down on a democratic ally and one of the poorest nations in Latin America."

“Meanwhile, a thorough report from the Congressional Research Service directly contradicts President Obama’s snap decision about the legality of then-President Zelaya’s removal from office in June. Now, President Obama and Democrats' blind support for this would-be dictator and friend of Hugo Chavez will prevent members of Congress from learning the truth first hand.”
(Sen. DeMint Press Release)

U.S. Republican Congressmen Go To Honduras After Sen. Kerry Tries To Shut Down The Trip

Friday, October 02, 2009
Two IL Congressmen leave for Honduras fact-finding trip
Despite attempts by Senator John Kerry to shut down DeMint's fact-finding trip, IL Congressmen Peter Roskam and Aaron Schock are headed to Central America today to gather info for Congress about Honduras upcoming election preparations. From Roskam's office:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, announced that he will lead a delegation of U.S. Congressmen to Honduras today. The group will include U.S. Representatives Peter Roskam (R-Illinois), Aaron Schock (R-Illinois), and Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado). They plan to meet with Honduran President Roberto Micheletti, members of the Honduran Supreme Court, election officials, and Honduran business and civic leaders.

“I look forward to meeting with Honduran government officials about their continued efforts to ensure a free, fair, and uncompromised election this November,” said Congressman Peter Roskam. “These values are sacred to any functioning democracy, and are especially important in Honduras where they are geographically susceptible to the aggressive dictatorial regime of Hugo Chavez.”

Yesterday, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) attempted to block the delegation’s trip at the last minute, denying committee approval. However, late Thursday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) intervened and approved the trip to allow the Senator and Congressmen to assess the facts on the ground in Honduras.(The Illinois Review)

With Whom Will The Shrinks Side...Elizabeth Smart... Or Her Rapist?

Elizabeth Smart says her captor was sane. So let's see if she gets justice. It is up to the shrinks. If the shrinks side with the rapist and say he can't stand trial then Elizabeth Smart is wronged again. This guy is faking insanity. He is evil. Evil is not the same as sick.

Never in nine months did Mitchell appear confused or out of control, Smart testified: "He was a very capable, intelligent human being." Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Smart says she was raped daily
By JENNIFER DOBNER (AP) – 37 minutes ago

SALT LAKE CITY — Taking the stand for the first time since she was snatched from her girlhood bedroom seven years ago, Elizabeth Smart testified Thursday that her captor raped her three or four times a day, kept her tied up with a cable around her leg, and threatened to kill her if she tried to escape....

Smart, now a 21-year-old college student, gave her horrifying account in federal court as part of a proceeding over whether Mitchell is mentally competent to stand trial....

The 55-year-old, one-time street preacher has been behind bars since 2003 — mostly in a state mental hospital — but has yet to stand trial. Twice he has been ruled mentally incompetent in state court, and he has often demonstrated bizarre behavior, including incessantly singing hymns in the courtroom and once yelling at a judge to repent.A federal judge ruled earlier this week that Smart's testimony is relevant to the question of Mitchell's competency. Mitchell's competency hearing is not set to begin until Nov. 30, but Smart testified early because she is going on a religious mission for the Mormon church in Paris....

Smart said Mitchell would rape her three to four times a day....

Mitchell's lawyers maintain he is incompetent and suggested that evidence of his delusions can be found in his religious rambling and writings, including a 27-page manifesto he called "The Book of Emmanuel David Isaiah."

Smart said she believed Mitchell always knew that he could be punished for her kidnapping and understood how the court system worked....

She said he gave her an alias — Augustine Marshall — and told her what to say to police if they were ever questioned. He also bragged about skirting previous accusations of sexual abuse and fooling others, Smart said.

Never in nine months did Mitchell appear confused or out of control, Smart testified: "He was a very capable, intelligent human being."

(This AP story was shortened for space. PR)