carapace – Not your father's america

Website Launches With FOIA Request Logs for 50 Agencies 

“Rummaging in the government’s attic” launches with the FOIA Logs for 50 federal agencies

At:

http://www.governmentattic.org

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Olbermann awarded Beck “Worst Person” “bronze” for comments about California fires

During the October 22 edition of MSNBC’s Countdown, host Keith Olbermann awarded syndicated radio host and CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck the “bronze” in his nightly “Worst Person in the World” segment for, as Media Matters for America documented, saying on the October 22 edition of his radio program, “I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.” Forest fires ravaged parts of Southern California, leaving one person dead and four firefighters wounded, according to The New York Times. Subsequent to Beck’s comments, the Times reported that “[a] total of 250,000 people were evacuated, including inmates from one jail and patients from one hospital in the fires’ path.”

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200710230007?src=other

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Global Warming: * Fires

THOMAS W. SWETNAM, tswetnam@ltrr.arizona.edu,

http://www.ltrr.arizona.edu/~tswetnam

Co-author of the piece “Warming and Earlier Spring Increase Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity” in Science magazine, Swetnam is director of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research and Dendrochronology at the University of Arizona. He said today: “Increasing numbers of large forest fires and total area burned in the western United States are significantly correlated with warming and drying trends. … There is a clear upward trend in the area burned and numbers of large forest fires in the western U.S., especially since the mid-1980s.”

This Sunday, Swetnam was interviewed on “60 Minutes,” where he said: “As the spring is arriving earlier because of warming conditions, the snow on these high mountain areas is melting and running off. So the logs and the branches and the tree needles all can dry out more quickly and have a longer time period to be dry. And so there’s a longer time period and opportunity for fires to start. … We’re dealing with a period of climate, in terms of temperature and humidity and drought, that’s different than anything people have seen in our lifetimes.”

Swetnam’s piece in Science is at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/18/60minutes/main3380176.shtml .

“60 Minutes” “The Age Of Mega-Fires” segment from Sunday is available on video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/18/60minutes/main3380176.shtml

and transcript:
http://heatisonline.org/contentserver/objecthandlers/index.cfm?ID=6671&Method=Full .

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

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The Future Is Drying Up

Jon Gertner

At:

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/102207EA.shtml

The New York Times Magazine’s Jon Gertner writes: “Last May, Steven Chu, a Nobel laureate and the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, one of the United States government’s pre-eminent research facilities, remarked that diminished supplies of fresh water might prove a far more serious problem than slowly rising seas. When I met with Chu last summer in Berkeley, the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which provides most of the water for Northern California, was at its lowest level in 20 years. Chu noted that even the most optimistic climate models for the second half of this century suggest that 30 to 70 percent of the snowpack will disappear. ‘There’s a two-thirds chance there will be a disaster,’ Chu said, ‘and that’s in the best scenario.’”

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CURVEBALL: THE IRAQI DEFECTOR THE BUSH TEAM USED TO SELL THE WAR

By Joshua Holland, AlterNet

A interview with the author of a new book on the Iraqi defector code-named “Curveball,” whose made-up intelligence on Saddam’s WMD programs was central to the Bush Administration’s case for invasion.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/65743/

EXCERPT: SPIES, LIES AND THE CON MAN WHO CAUSED A WAR

By Bob Drogin, Random House Publishing Group

The true story of the shady character at the heart of the United States’ case for invading Iraq.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/65718/

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Family of Border Patrol agent starts Web site

By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times

09/06/2007

The family of former El Paso Border Patrol agent Jose Alonso Compean started a Web site, www.agentcompean.com , to update supporters about the case and raise funds to pay legal bills, supporters with the California-based group Friends of the Border Patrol said.

Compean and fellow Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos are serving time in federal prison for shooting a drug smuggler in the buttocks near Fabens in 2005 and covering up the shooting.

From: http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_6819477

FREE RAMOS & COMPEAN

By unitedwestand

The drug smuggler should be there, maybe even John Sutton for his abuse of his authority when it comes to Border Patrol Agents and others in Law Enforcement. He has an agenda and it coincides with President Bush’s and these men are the …

At:

http://unitedwestand.awesome.in/2007/10/21/free-ramos-compean/

Bush Seeks $500M Drug War Aid –Million$ for private US contractors to train Mexican troops –U.S. and Mexican negotiators reached agreement in secrecy

Oct 23 2007

President [sic] Bush announced Monday in Washington that he will ask Congress to approve a $500 million package to help Mexico fight [build] drug cartels. U.S. and Mexican negotiators reached the agreement in secrecy. The much-anticipated Mexico aid plan, which is included in Bush’s $46 billion supplemental budget request for war funding, would pay for helicopters, canine units, communications gear and inspection equipment, the State Department said. The aid packages are part of what the Bush regime hopes will be a multiyear, $1.4 billion initiative. [See: Private US military contractors may train Mexican drug forces 20 Oct 2007 The U.S. and Mexican governments are expected Monday to announce an 'anti'-drug package that will probably involve hiring private U.S. military contractors to train Mexican troops, senior U.S. officials said.]

At:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR2007102202296.html

From: CLG News

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Analysis of More Money for War

ERIK LEAVER, erik@ips-dc.org

http://ips-dc.org

Leaver is a research fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. He said today: “Threatening vetoes against all of the spending bills out of Congress for their lack of ‘fiscal restraint,’ Bush has ignored his own advice by asking for a record amount of money for the Iraq war for 2008.

Hitting nearly $200 billion, the highest requested for a single year since the war began, the cost of war in 2008 will dwarf the budgets of every single government department, except for the Department of Defense.”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

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Iraq Oil Report – ‘Two months before a breakdown in Iraqi politics over oil law, other issues’

Iraq’s government spokesman, Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh,  detailed the struggles the Iraqi government faces during a speech Monday at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

His focus was on the Turkish issue, Iranian influence, and militia and
insurgent activity.

On the oil law, he said there are a number of technical points to be ironed out, but a [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/2p62pl  (iraqoilreport.com)

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Giuliani Defends, Employs Priest Accused of Molesting Teens

Oct 23 2007

Presidential candidate [GOPedophile] Rudolph Giuliani hired a Catholic priest to work in his consulting firm months after the priest was accused of sexually molesting two former students and an altar boy and told by the church to stop performing his priestly duties. The priest, Monsignor Alan Placa, a longtime friend of Giuliani and the priest who officiated at his second wedding to Donna Hanover, continues to work at Giuliani Partners in New York, to the outrage of some of his accusers and victims’ groups, which have begun to protest at Giuliani campaign events.

At:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=3753385

From: CLG News

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Borowitz Report – Gay Harry Potter Shocker

Bush Seeks to Ban Marriage Between Fictitious Gay Characters

Harry Potter Revelation Prompts President’s Move

Just days after “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling revealed that the popular professor character Albus Dumbledore was gay, President George W. Bush told the nation that he would seek a ban on fictitious gay weddings.

In a nationally televised address last night, Mr. Bush said that he devote the rest of his term in office to obtaining a constitutional amendment banning marriage between fictitious gay characters.

“In order to protect the sanctity of marriage in the real world, we must first protect the sanctity of marriage in fiction,” Mr. Bush said. “This is the most pressing goal of my Administration – even more important than bombing Iran.”

While the president’s address was for the most part consistent with his earlier statements on gay marriage, it was uncharacteristic in that it demonstrated an awareness of books.

And in attacking the Mr. Dumbledore’s right to wed, Mr. Bush may have raised the ire of one of the most militant constituencies in the U.S.: Harry Potter fans.

Jude Ralston, 34, one of over 5,000 Potter devotees who dressed as Dumbledore to protest the president’s speech outside the White House last night, said that Mr. Bush could be playing with fire: “Harry Potter fans take these things very seriously, and we don’t have anything else going on in our lives.”

As for Dumbledore’s gayness, Mr. Ralston said that he had overlooked obvious clues the first time he read the books: “I, like, totally missed that scene in the airport bathroom.”

Elsewhere, a national survey of slutty nurses shows that they are undecided about what to go as for Halloween.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

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three thousand words

Jeff Danziger: Bush Legacy, Debt, War

http://danzigercartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dancart3402.jpg

David Horsey: next republican debate format

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20071023/Cartoon20071023.gif

Richard Bartholomew: u.s. consumer waiting for affordable health care

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/BarthR1/2007/BarthR120071024_low.jpg

Members of the cabinet have blogs:

Mike Leavitt – Health and Human Services http://secretarysblog.hhs.gov/my_weblog/ and Michael Chertoff – Homeland Security  http://www.dhs.gov/journal/leadership/

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Beck: “[A] handful of people who hate America … are losing their homes in a forest fire today”

On the October 22 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, host Glenn Beck stated, “I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.” Beck continued: “There are a few people that hate America. But I don’t think the Democrats are those. I think there are those posing as Democrats that are like that.” Beck’s comment came as forest fires ravaged parts of Southern California, leaving one person dead, four firefighters wounded, and forcing about 1,500 people from their homes, according to The New York Times.

 Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200710220003?src=other

GLENN BECK LAUNCHES HATEFUL ATTACK ON VICTIMS OF CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

By Howie Klein

Is Beck on drugs again? Did he set the fires himself? Does CNN have any sense of decency?

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65889/

Calif. fires force 250,000 to evacuate

Oct 22 2007

Wildfires fanned by fierce desert winds forced the evacuations of nearly 250,000 people Monday in San Diego County, including hundreds who were being moved by school bus and ambulance from a hospital and nursing homes.

At:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071022/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires

California Wildfires “Like Armageddon”

About 100,000 Acres Have Burned; Homes Smolder and Smoke Clogs the Air

“It was nuclear winter. It was like Armageddon. It looked like the end of the world,” Mitch Mendler, a San Diego firefighter, told USA Today as homes burned throughout the Southern California landscape.

Winds of up to 75 mph — equivalent to a Category 1 hurricane — whipped out of the desert through mountain valleys, increasing as much as 30 degrees per mile. The so-called Santa Ana “Devil Winds” continue to make conditions ripe for wildfire activity.

Behind the firestorms, a prolonged and intense drought, and global warming, laid the groundwork for the wildfires. (See “Extreme” Drought Laid Groundwork for Fires and California Wildfires and Global Warming.)

There was one death over the weekend, but no others reported since. Several news reports indicated, however, that many were failing to obey evacuation requests or orders — signaling that some may be putting themselves in harm’s way.

More than 250,000 people were asked or told to evacuate, and an uncounted number of homes — dozens at least — have burned.

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/328abf  (www.thedailygreen.com)

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Holy coincidence, Batman! Just as Bush asks for billion$ more for Iraq, new bin Laden audio emerges: Bin Laden urges Iraq insurgents to unite

Oct 22 2007

Osama Bush bin Laden called on insurgent groups in Iraq to unify their ranks [so that there's a 'reason' for Blackwater, Halliburton, and KBR to continue to occupy and destroy Iraq], in an audio recording aired by Al Jazeera television on Monday.

At:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071022/ts_nm/iraq_binladen_dc_1

From: CLG News

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Lawmaker accuses Blackwater of tax evasion –Blackwater “sought to conceal its conduct from Congress and law enforcement officials.”

Oct 22 2007

The chairman of a congressional committee said on Monday that documents obtained by his panel suggest that private security contractor Blackwater USA “engaged in significant tax evasion.” Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, accused Blackwater of “failing to withhold and pay millions of dollars in Social Security, Medicare, unemployment and related taxes.”

At:

http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN2245858720071022

From: CLG News

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War and “Peak Oil” – Confessions of an ‘ex’ Peak Oil believer

By F. William Engdahl

Global Research, September 26, 2007

Confessions of an ‘ex’ Peak Oil believer

The good news is that panic scenarios about the world running out of oil anytime soon are wrong. The bad news is that the price of oil is going to continue to rise. Peak Oil is not our problem. Politics is. Big Oil wants to sustain high oil prices. Dick Cheney and friends are all too willing to assist.

On a personal note, I’ve researched questions of petroleum, since the first oil shocks of the 1970’s. I was intrigued in 2003 with something called Peak Oil theory. It seemed to explain the otherwise inexplicable decision by Washington to risk all in a military move on Iraq.

Peak Oil advocates, led by former BP geologist Colin Campbell, and Texas banker Matt Simmons, argued that the world faced a new crisis, an end to cheap oil, or Absolute Peak Oil, perhaps by 2012, perhaps by 2007. Oil was supposedly on its last drops. They pointed to our soaring gasoline and oil prices, to the declines in output of North Sea and Alaska and other fields as proof they were right.

According to Campbell, the fact that no new North Sea-size fields had been discovered since the North Sea in the late 1960’s was proof. He reportedly managed to convince the International Energy Agency and the Swedish government. That, however, does not prove him correct.

Intellectual fossils?

The Peak Oil school rests its theory on conventional Western geology textbooks, most by American or British geologists, which claim oil is a ‘fossil fuel,’ a biological residue or detritus of either fossilized dinosaur remains or perhaps algae, hence a product in finite supply. Biological origin is central to Peak Oil theory, used to explain why oil is only found in certain parts of the world where it was geologically trapped millions of years ago. That would mean that, say, dead dinosaur remains became compressed and over tens of millions of years fossilized and trapped in underground reservoirs perhaps 4-6,000 feet below the surface of the earth. In rare cases, so goes the theory, huge amounts of biological matter should have been trapped in rock formations in the shallower ocean offshore as in the Gulf of Mexico or North Sea or Gulf of Guinea. Geology should be only about figuring out where these pockets in the layers of the earth, called reservoirs, lie within certain sedimentary basins.

An entirely alternative theory of oil formation has existed since the early 1950’s in Russia, almost unknown to the West. It claims conventional American biological origins theory is an unscientific absurdity that is un-provable. They point to the fact that western geologists have repeatedly predicted finite oil over the past century, only to then find more, lots more.

Not only has this alternative explanation of the origins of oil and gas existed in theory. The emergence of Russia and prior of the USSR as the world’s largest oil producer and natural gas producer has been based on the application of the theory in practice. This has geopolitical consequences of staggering magnitude.

…

Complete article at:

www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=6880

F. William Engdahl is author of A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order, Pluto Press Ltd..

To contact: www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net .

His most recent book, forthcoming with Global Research, is Seeds of Destruction, The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation.

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A “Disposable Workforce” in New Orleans After Katrina

by James Parks, Oct 19, 2007

Robert “Tiger” Hammond is not an emotional man. But when he talks about how little has been done to rebuild his hometown of New Orleans two years after Hurricane Katrina, he is moved to tears. Hammond, president of the Greater New Orleans AFL-CIO, says:

Parts of this town look like a nuclear bomb hit two days ago, not like it was two years ago.

Hammond kicked off a panel of five New Orleans activists who told the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) convention in New Orleans what has (and has not) happened to the city’s workers since the hurricane. Click here to learn more from the ILCA convention and to view posts from ILCA members on conditions in New Orleans.

The bottom line is that reactionary ideologues from the Bush administration, and some business and civic leaders in New Orleans, took the damage and dislocation caused by the hurricane as an opportunity to conduct a mass experiment  in privatization and union busting, panelists said. Tracie Washington, CEO of the Louisiana Justice Institute, a civil rights law group, says that after Katrina, there was an absolute assault on civil rights and social justice guarantees that we thought we had. There was a blatant assault on workers’ rights.

In quick succession, she says, the working people—mainly African Americans:—who were making a decent living were the first to go: All 4,900 teachers and thousands of bus drivers were laid off. That was followed by a decision not to rebuild much of the public housing destroyed by the storm and the slow reopening of the schools and the decimation of the public transportation system.

Joe Prieur, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1560, says more than 500 members of his union lost their jobs right after Katrina. And management has refused to upgrade or increase the number of workers or to buy any new buses to replace the ones destroyed by the flood.

Brenda Mitchell, president of the United Teachers of New Orleans, told the ILCA convention that even though many of the public schools were shut down, teachers have begun rebuilding their union.

Washington says the systematic elimination of jobs and the support system of public housing, schools and transportation services is something that could happen anywhere. Despite the glitz of Bourbon Street and Harrah’s Casino in downtown, she says, the people of New Orleans are suffering.

We residents of New Orleans are the canaries in the coal mine. And the canaries are dropping off. Don’t think closing schools and cutting transportation is something that can’t happen somewhere else. The same people who built our jacked-up levees are the same ones who built your bridges and roads.

The assault on workers can best be seen in the way immigrant workers and local workers are being manipulated in a race to the bottom, says Saket Soni, lead organizer of the New Orleans Worker Center for Racial Justice. Hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers were brought to New Orleans to work at the same time that hundreds of thousands of African American workers were being displaced and fired. Soni says the immigrant workers are being exploited by employers. For example, he says contractors hire immigrant construction day workers and require that they work long hours. But on pay day, they call the immigration service to deport the workers.

Soni says: They have created a completely disposable workforce. They have locked one group out and locked another group in. The reality of New Orleans is that the storm gave the opportunity to a lot of people to push through a social experiment they wouldn’t dare try anywhere else in such a short time. You find the cheapest, most exploitable workers, pay them little or nothing, and if they complain, fire them or deport them. 

Workers using their political strength could be the key to solving New Orleans’ problems, Mitchell says: Call and write your congressman. Tell them to investigate, hold a hearing on what’s really going on here. 

From:
http://tinyurl.com/yvq869   (blog.aflcio.org)

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Hibbing plant closing to put 200 out of work … and more

Duluth News Tribune (Subscription) – Duluth,MN,USA

In the late 1990s, more than 600 people were employed at the Hibbing electronics plant, which produces electronic components that go into a wide variety of …

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=52146§ion=News

Brunswick to close Mississippi plant, cut 170 jobs

Reuters – USA

The costs related to closing the Aberdeen facility and production transfer are expected at $5 million, to be mainly recognized in the fourth quarter of 2007 …

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSWNAS698420071018

Wabash factory to close, losing 600 jobs

Indianapolis Star – United States

Union president Gary Bone said the company began sending closing signals several weeks ago. He said the most telling ones came from union-management talks …

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071019/LOCAL/710190546

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Looking at the Supreme Court justices’ voting records, the lines between activism and restraint may surprise you.

By Thomas J. Miles and Cass R. Sunstein
October 22, 2007

The Supreme Court has returned to work, and court watchers are again asking the perennial questions: Which justices are most partisan? Who are the real activists?

We have tried to make progress on these questions by examining how the justices vote and letting their records speak for themselves. We explored the justices’ voting patterns from 1989 through 2005, an unusually long period of continuity within the court. (No reliable conclusions can be drawn about Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito because they have so few votes.)

Everyone looks at the high-profile constitutional cases, but to get a real sense of how justices approach their jobs, it’s best to analyze the more routine, less-visible cases that are often more important to people’s daily lives.

For this reason, we examined all cases in which members of the court, using settled principles, evaluated the legality of important decisions by federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Food and Drug Administration.

We used clear and simple tests to code the decisions of these agencies as either “liberal” or “conservative.” For example, we counted an environmental regulation as “liberal” if it was challenged by industry as too aggressive, or as “conservative” if it was challenged by an environmental group as too lax.

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/38ugg8 (www.latimes.com)

Thomas J. Miles and Cass R. Sunstein teach at the University of Chicago Law School.

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Analysis of More Money for War

CNN reports this afternoon: “The Bush administration on Monday requested an additional $42.3 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the 2008 request for total war funding to $189.3 billion.”

ANITA DANCS, anita@nationalpriorities.org

http://www.nationalpriorities.org

Dancs is research director of the National Priorities Project. She said today: “If Congress passes this, it would bring the Iraq war total since 2003 to $611 billion — that’s about $5,500 per U.S. household. The Vietnam War total from 1964 to 1973 was $673 billion in constant
2007 dollars.

“If Congress passes this request, we will be spending on the Iraq war this year enough to provide health care coverage for all uninsured Americans.”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

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Congressman Ron Paul’s Texas Straight Talk – Interventionism? Isolationism? Actually, Both.

“Even though I am no fan of the war in Iraq, keeping positive relations with Turkey is important to protecting our troops who have been sent to fight this war. We are likely to need cordial relations with Turkey so that we can get our troops out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible, when the time comes.”

Click here for the full article:  http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst102107.htm

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three thousand words

Justin Bilicki: “spits”er

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/BilicJ/2007/BilicJ20071023_low.jpg

Mike Peters: trick or treat

http://www.grimmy.com/images/MP_Archive/MP_2007/MP1019.gif

Jack Ohman: highly-resistant staff infection

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmjoh/2007/tmjoh071022.gif

NEW PULSE POSTED 

At:

http://www.ornl.gov/news/pulse/pulse_v246_07.htm

That’s the url to the October 22, 2007, issue of DOE Pulse. Pulse is a newsletter about accomplishments at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories. Here is some of what you’ll find in this issue:

* Brookhaven: HIV-blocking peptides

* Idaho: Cloudless ground imagery

* Fermilab: Chicago’s best list

* Pacific Northwest: Biomarker center

Feature: Fermilab’s particle physics plan

Researcher profile: Stanford professor Zhi-Xun Shen’s work at SLAC

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Without defining them, Wash. Post asserted Brownback “talk[ed] about Christian values”

In an October 20 article, Washington Post staff writer Michael D. Shear wrote that Sen. Sam Brownback’s (KS) departure from the Republican presidential race “was a disappointment to many” at the Family Research Council-organized “Values Voter Summit,” adding, “Brownback had spent much of his campaign talking about Christian values and stressing his stance against abortion.” But Shear did not explain what the term “Christian values” meant or how it related to Brownback’s campaign. Indeed, other candidates — Republican or Democrat — might define “Christian values” differently than Brownback does.

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200710210002?src=other

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Israeli news evokes ‘Gog and Magog’ scenario

Two of Israel’s three major television news programs broadcast special reports Wednesday evening dealing with US President [sic] George W. Bush’s warning that a nuclear Iran could lead to World War III. On one side would be Israel, the US, Britain, France and Germany. They would be opposed by Russia, Iran, Syria, China and North Korea. Israel National News noted that the scenario was presented in such a way that evoked the biblically prophesied war of “Gog and Magog,” a global end-times conflict spelled out in the book of Ezekiel (chapters 38-39).

At:

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=14324

From: CLG News

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Suicide Is Not Painless

By Frank Rich

Oct 21 2007

The $26,788 [Charles D. Riechers, who 'committed suicide' in October] received for two months in a non-job doesn’t rise even to a rounding error in the Iraq-Afghanistan money pit. So far some $6 billion worth of contracts are being investigated for waste and fraud, however slowly, by the Pentagon and the Justice Department. That doesn’t include the unaccounted-for piles of cash, some $9 billion in Iraqi funds, that vanished during L. Paul Bremer’s short but disastrous reign in the Green Zone… There will be a long hangover of shame. Its essence was summed up by Col. Ted Westhusing, an Army scholar of military ethics who was an innocent witness to corruption, not a participant, when he died at age 44 of a gunshot wound to the head while working for Gen. David Petraeus training Iraqi security forces in Baghdad in 2005… Colonel Westhusing’s death was ruled a suicide, though some believe he was murdered by contractors fearing a whistle-blower, according to T. Christian Miller, the Los Angeles Times reporter who documents the case in his book “Blood Money.” http://tinyurl.com/36v85s  (www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/) [A must read]

At:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/opinion/21rich.html

From: CLG News

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Editorials, Opinion Piece Address Issues Related to Medicare

Access this story and related links online:

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=48336

Marie Cocco, Indianapolis Star: A “big point of creating the Medicare drug benefit as it was crafted by the Republican Congress in 2003 was to build in enough waste to pay off the insurance companies and drug manufacturers for their years of loyal campaign contributions,” and Democrats are “right to get beyond the government’s own account of how well the Medicare drug plans are working and probe just how much more that elderly beneficiaries and taxpayers are forking over because lawmakers refused to let Medicare patients buy their prescriptions directly from Medicare,” syndicated columnist Cocco writes in a Star opinion piece. According to a recent investigation by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, administrative costs for private Medicare prescription drug plans are six times higher than those for the fee-for-service program, and private health insurers that administer the plans have “failed to obtain the deep discounts on drugs that are achieved” by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid, she writes. Cocco adds, “The task will fall to the next president and the next Congress to revamp the Medicare drug program so that its mission is not to prop up pet industries but to get medicine to the elderly cheaply” (Cocco, Indianapolis Star, 10/18).

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Health Care Not Warfare, People Before Profits…All Great Mottos For Fueling A Fight For Single-Payer Health Care

By Kevin Gosztola

I spoke at a single-payer health care rally on September 28th. I realized how important it is to fight for our American right to single-payer health care and joined in solidarity with the Chicago Single-Payer Action Network. How much longer will we allow this to go on? SiCKO got the ball rolling. We need to keep the momentum from dying.

Complete article at:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_kevin_go_070929_health_care_not_warf.htm

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Will H1-B immigration debacle be fixed?

By Thomas D. Elias, Highland Community News, Highland, CA

It’s an open question now whether the egregious abuse of H-1B immigration visas by large corporations will ever be fixed.

That’s because a small organization dedicated to helping American workers get jobs for which American companies are now importing foreign immigrants has uncovered a 2006 document demonstrating that letting foreigners take jobs Americans could fill is in fact the policy of the Bush Administration.  

States the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strategic Plan for the fiscal years 2006 to 2011, “H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker.” The Federal Register adds that “the statute does not require employers to demonstrate that there are no available U.S. workers or to test the labor market for U.S. workers as required under the permanent labor certification program.”

That damning language was uncovered by Donna Conroy of the organization Brightfuturejobs.org .     More…

NOTE: I didn’t uncover this document.  Elisabeth, from Chicago, IL did.  We have some talented people whom prefer to stay out of the limelight!

Upcoming Campaign

We will be introducing a resolution similar to the Cook County resolution soon.  More details on that later.  But please forward this to friends and family in New Hampshire and the surrounding areas now.  Ask them to sign up so they will be “in the loop”.

Soon, we will be able to put another public face on Brightfuturejobs. 

Thanks for all that you do,

Donna Conroy
Director, Brightfuturejobs.org
dmconroy@sbcglobal.net
Chicago, IL

773-764-5865

                          ==========

Manipulation of Energy Prices Is Hard to Detect

At:

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/102107A.shtml

David Cho of The Washington Post reports: “One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund’s collapse – and,according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills for homeowners.”

                          ==========

Borowitz Report – Democratic Panic Shocker

Dean Reassures Democrats: ‘We Will Find a Way to Screw This Up’

DNC Chief Determined to Uphold Losing Tradition

Amid a growing belief that there is no way the Democrats can blow the 2008 presidential election, Democratic National Committee chief Howard Dean sought today to reassure the party faithful that the party was “doing everything in its power” to uphold its losing tradition.

At a top-level summit called “Defeat: 2008″ being held in Boston, the former Vermont Governor gave a rousing speech to concerned Democrats, bringing his audience to his feet by vowing, “I can assure each and every one of you, we will find a way to screw this up.”

With President Bush’s approval rating below thirty percent and none of the Republican presidential contenders stirring the public’s imagination, many Democrats have been worried that their historic role as losers and sad sacks might come to an abrupt end in 2008, a fear Mr. Dean attempted to quell today.

“Folks, let’s not forget, we’re Democrats,” Mr. Dean said. “If there’s a way to lose, we will find it.”

Carol Foyler, a longtime Democrat from Bethesda, Maryland who attended the summit, said that she had been worried that the Democrats might somehow pull out a victory in 2008, but added, “Just knowing that Howard Dean is in charge makes me feel much more confident about losing.”

Elsewhere, after a study by the Georgetown School of Medicine said that millions of dollars are wasted on unnecessary medical tests, the American Medical Association said that there might be something wrong with the author of the study and he should come in for a checkup immediately.

ALEC BALDWIN added to Andy’s show at the Y – November 7

Andy headlines a special event for the New York Comedy Festival, “Countdown to ’08: Only 363 Days Left.” Andy’s guests will include Alec Baldwin, Arianna Huffington and Mo Rocca (The Daily Show). Wednesday, November 7 at 8 PM at the 92nd Street Y, located at 92nd Street and Lexington Ave. Tickets available at www.92y.org .

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

                          ==========

three thousand words

Tom the Dancing Bug(Ruben Bolling): lucky ducky oh, he’s getting health care

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/td/2007/td071020.gif

Ted Rall: who knew ? mensatocracy

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/RallT/2007/RallT20071022_low.jpg

Steve Benson: another coulter moment

http://azcentral.com/sshow/News/Benson/5089_87068.jpg

The Founding Fathers prove Republican candidates are idiots – James Wilson

October 16, 2007

by Lance

I believe this shows that all of the Republican candidates are ignorant of the founders, save Ron Paul. The CNBC debate last Tuesday showed all the candidates are pretty much clueless to what these old-timers said:

James Wilson:

“This system will not hurry us into war; it is calculated to guard against it. It will not be in the power of a single man, or a single body of men, to involve us in such distress; for the important power of declaring war is vested in the legislature at large. . . .” (To the Pennsylvania ratifying convention, 1787.)

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/yqmcxk   (politicalinquirer.com)

                          ==========

CNN provided one Limbaugh explanation for “phony soldiers” remark, ignored his subsequent contradiction

On the October 19 edition of CNN’s The Situation Room, national correspondent Susan Candiotti provided one of Rush Limbaugh’s original explanations for his remarks characterizing U.S. service members who support U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as “phony soldiers,” but she failed to note Limbaugh’s subsequent, contradictory explanation of that comment. Describing the controversy surrounding Limbaugh’s September 26 comments, Candiotti stated that Limbaugh “denied” he was “criticizing soldiers who are publicly opposed to the war,” and “instead said that he was criticizing just one individual, someone who was actually convicted for pretending to be a soldier, who had bashed the war.”

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200710200002?src=other

                          ==========

Weapons left by US troops ‘used as bait to kill Iraqis’

Sep 25 2007

US soldiers are luring Iraqis to their deaths by scattering military equipment on the ground as “bait”, and then shooting those who pick them up, it has been alleged at a court martial. The highly controversial tactic, which has hitherto been kept secret, is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of a number of Iraqis who were subsequently classified as enemy combatants and used in statistics to show the “success” of the “surge” in US forces.

At:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2996115.ece

From: CLG News

                          ==========

Report says buildup in Iraq gained little –U.S. military, civilian officials warn progress will require years of work

Oct 19 2007

Despite hopes that the U.S. military “surge” in Iraq would encourage economic and political headway and sap the strength of the insurgency, very little lasting progress has been achieved, according to a new U.S. report. The study, based on the assessments of dozens of U.S. military and civilian officials working at local levels across Iraq, runs counter to the optimistic forecasts by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus [Betrayus], and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

At:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/iraq/bal-te.iraq19oct19,0,3632210.story

From: CLG News

                          ==========

The WasteBasket: A Bulletin on Wasteful Government Spending – Money for Nothing

by Taxpayers for Common Sense
www.taxpayer.net

Money for Nothing
Volume XII No. 30 – October 19, 2007

It is no secret that Lawmakers like to spend money on their favorite companies and interests. But, rather than having to justify spending taxpayer money, government-backed private loan guarantees are becoming a favorite tool to spread the wealth in the cash-strapped Congress. While some say loan guarantees are fiscally harmless, what they don’t say is that they mask the true size and cost of certain programs and ignore the long-term impact on the federal budget deficit when these loans default.

One recent example of this lawmaker love affair with loan guarantees was the creation of a Department of Energy (DOE) program to support “innovative technologies” in the 2005 energy bill. The idea was that Wall Street would be reluctant to invest in new innovative energy technologies because of the difficulty inherent in measuring the financial risks. So Uncle Sam steps in to back the loans to get these new technologies off the ground.

One of the first players to belly up to the loan guarantee bar is the already heavily subsidized nuclear power industry. The nuclear industry is now seeking a whopping $50 billion in new loans over the next two years claiming that loan guarantees carry no risk. However, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) puts the default rate for these loans at more than 50%, which would put the federal taxpayer on the hook for at least $25 billion.This so called “money for nothing” could put taxpayers in dire straits.

And let’s be clear, nuclear power is a mature industry that has been getting huge government subsidies for more than 50 years. Wall Street won’t invest in nuclear power not because it can’t measure the risks but because it knows the financial pitfalls and just isn’t willing to take them.

Nuclear power isn’t the only industry that will benefit from this new program. The coal-to-liquid (CTL) industry is seeking billions in guarantees for their own new facilities. Coal-to-liquid technologies have already proven a market failure in the 1980s, and Standard & Poor’s (subscription required) reports that without constant, long-term taxpayer support, CTL projects “are likely to be untenable.”

Even before you get to coal-to-liquids (or any other energy technology that is, in fact, new), the nuclear industry’s $50B requests are significantly higher than the $7B or $9B limits on loan authority indicated by the House and the Administration for the entire program. Enter Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) who inserted language into the energy bill proposal that passed the Senate in July, cutting Congress out of the process and handing the DOE a blank check for loan guarantees.

If enacted, the Senate bill will exempt the loan guarantee program from current law  removing the few minimal existing financial safeguards. Currently, the Secretary of Energy must only decide if there is a “reasonable prospect” that the loan will be repaid before issuing the guarantee. Already, the DOE Inspector General has said that the loan guarantee program creates “significant risk to the Government and, therefore, the American taxpayer.”

For decades taxpayers have handed out billions to the nuclear industry, and now they are coming to the table for more  and admitting that as an industry they are unwilling to bear the risk of investment. For example, Steve Winn of NRG Energy, Inc. has indicated that, without obtaining significant comfort that a loan guarantee will be available for its project, the company would abandon its construction plans.

Putting taxpayers at “significant risk” for billions in loan guarantees is not the path the federal government should take. Wall Street has made it clear they won’t invest in risky new power plants.

So why should American taxpayers?

Going on at Taxpayer.net This Week

Check out TCS’s Complete Coverage of FY08 Spending Bills
http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/JFKQHTIMXA/DVHUHTINBN/1494227176

TCS Applauds Hinchey Amendment Securing Royalty Reforms in Mining
Legislation
http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/JFKQHTIMXA/GAODHTINBO/1494227176 release.pdf

TCS in the News

House panel approves hard-rock mine royalties (Jackson Hole Star-Tribune)
GOP Moves to Halt Money for Woodstock (Associated Press)
Congress Loves to Bring Home the Bacon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Rooting out ‘wasteful’ government spending (St. Petersburg Times)
Mack letter supported Coconut Road (The Hill)
Ethics Law Still a Work in Progress in the Senate (Congressional Quarterly)
Coburn’s crusade: Bending ears against ‘earmarking’ (USA Today)

Notable Quote

“The purpose is to awaken the American people to the stupidity of what we do out here.”

–Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) on why he is challenging earmarks in spending bills.

INFO ABOUT TCS: info@taxpayer.net or
http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/JFKQHTIMXA/KSCTHTINBQ/1494227176

                          ==========

Oil Execs Continue to Motor Around U.S.

Source: Media Mouse, October 5, 2007

Media activists in Grand Rapids, Michigan attended Shell Oil president John Hofmeister’s recent talk there, on “How the US Can Ensure Energy Supply for the Future.” Hofmeister “stated up front that he was on a 50 city tour and that Grand Rapids was number 45,” according to Media Mouse. Hofmeister told the audience that there has been an “intolerant debate after Katrina” on energy issues, and that the goal of his local presentations is to “engage key audiences” and talk “to the American public about energy security.” Hofmeister also met with Governor Jennifer Granholm in Lansing, and General Motors executives in Detroit, reported the Grand Rapids Press. During a local television interview, Hofmeister rejected the idea that he was in the oil industry: “We’re in the mobility industry. … We do bring fuels to the marketplace. Most of those fuels are today, and will continue to be, petroleum-based fuels. But we don’t rule out bio-fuel.” On October 25, Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly will visit Los Angeles to speak about “Securing California’s Energy Future.”

                          ==========

Ugh — ethanol … and more

As each candidate caves and endorses the non-solution of ethanol to America’s energy problems, my friend writes: ‘Spineless twits.’

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWI1MDY4NDYyMjBiNGI0NGM1ODQ0NDc3MmU2OGM2ZmU=

Ethanol craze endangers US Plains water: report

Reuters UK – UK

By Carey Gillam KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – The US craze for ethanol could severely strain an already ailing aquifer in key farm states, …

http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN2044379220070920

A Level-Headed Look at Ethanol and the Environment

By Martha Roberts

Today Environmental Defense released a new mini-report that analyzes how expanding ethanol production might impact the environment: Potential Impacts of Biofuels Expansion on Natural Resources: A Case Study of the Ogallala Aquifer …

http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/climate411/2007/09/20/ethanol_report/

Ethanol Production Threatens Plains States With Water Scarcity

Environment News Service – USA

BOULDER, Colorado, September 21, 2007 (ENS) – The rapid increase in ethanol plants under construction or planned for eight key farm states is threatening to …

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2007/2007-09-21-091.asp

Ethanol Runs Out Of Gas When You Tote Up True Cost

By Mr Ethanol

The government-supported push for ethanol will not only increase taxes and damage the environment, but will add to Americans’ burden of high fuel and food costs and especially hurt people on fixed incomes. And it will do almost nothing …

http://tinyurl.com/2w2l4y

New Study Says Ethanol Industry Doesn’t Need Federal Support

By Mr Ethanol

September 20, 2007

CattleNetwork:

The ethanol industry is booming and does not need large federal supports, according to a new study by Thomas Elam, agricultural economist and president of consulting firm FarmEcon.com.

“Ethanol is one of the most profitable enterprises in the United States today, but unfortunately a high percentage of those current profits come not from the marketplace, but from the federal treasury,” Elam said in a news release. “Increased energy prices make it possible for the ethanol industry to thrive on its own.”

According to Elam’s study, federal supports, when fully implemented, will drive up the cost of corn and other grains by $34 billion per year. The ethanol boom is driving up the cost of food production, and could eventually cost a family of four about $460 a year in higher food costs, he said.

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/2ozkl9

Corn-to-Ethanol: US Agribusiness Magic Path To A World Food Monopoly

Center for Research on Globalization – Canada

by Charles E. Carlson Eight years of Biofuels (ethanol) policy and legislation has cemented in place the first world wide food cabal, which promises a …

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6933

Ethanol Boom Runs Out of Gas

Wall Street Journal – USA

By LAUREN ETTER and ILAN BRAT

Ethanol’s frenzied growth over the past year is coming to a halt — at least for now. The price of ethanol has fallen by 30% …

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119119537455444220.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Ethanol Shakeout? 

By Geoffrey Styles(Geoffrey Styles)

Starting in August, while crude oil prices were breaking out of the high $60s and heading for the $80s, ethanol prices fell off a cliff. The Chicago Board of Trade ethanol contract has dropped from around $1.90/gallon to scarcely above …

http://energyoutlook.blogspot.com/2007/10/ethanol-shakeout.html

one more reason the govt shouldn’t subsidize ethanol

By nospam@example.com (Eric Schansberg)

The ethanol boom of recent years — which spurred a frenzy of distillery construction, record corn prices, rising food prices and hopes of a new future for rural America — may be fading. Only last
year, farmers here spoke of a biofuel …

http://blog.acton.org/archives/1959-one-more-reason-the-govt-shouldnt-subsidize-ethanol.html

OECD Report Says Biofuel Mandates Must Stop

02 Oct 2007

TransportEnvironment.org reports that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report this month that shows biofuels only have a limited ability to reduce global warming. The report showed that biofuels only become economically viable if large state subsidies are available. OECD said these subsidies could cause high food prices and damage to forests and wildlife. The paper asks for governments to stop making new biofuels mandates and end existing targets.

http://tinyurl.com/2vrkuj

Fuel, Grain Prices Spur Food Price Hikes

The Associated Press -

Corn in the US and China is being converted to ethanol, a gasoline additive. Europe is using more wheat for ethanol and rapeseed for biodiesel, …

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jiEc6AcqnEaNlptkata5Ah2nTueAD8S57T4G1

Ethanol Industry Is Losing Clout In Congress as Food Prices Climb

Wall Street Journal – USA

By LAUREN ETTER

The stalling ethanol industry wants Congress to mandate greater use of the biofuel. But many of the industry’s former friends have turned …

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119206474778855491.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Increase In Ethanol Production From Corn Could Significantly Harm …

Science Daily (press release) – USA

Science Daily — If projected increases in the use of corn for ethanol production occur, the harm to water quality could be considerable, and water supply …

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071010120538.htm

Ethanol Industry Losing Clout In Congress As Food Prices Rise

By CABER-Staff(CABER-Staff)

The stalling ethanol industry wants Congress to mandate greater use of the biofuel. But many of the industry’s former friends have turned against it amid soaring prices for corn and other grains. Congress gave a big boost to ethanol in …

http://bioenergyuiuc.blogspot.com/2007/10/ethanol-industry-losing-clout-in.html

Researchers say ethanol production could impact water quality …

Grand Island Independent – Grand Island,NE,USA

By Robert Pore

A new report from the National Research Council says projected increases in the use of corn for ethanol could be harmful to water quality and …

http://www.theindependent.com/stories/10142007/new_ethanolprod14.shtml

NRO on ethanol: it’s not a good idea

By Sebastian Blanco

The editors over at National Review Online believe that Republicans are drunk on ethanol. Or most of the Republicans running for president are, anyway. The one contender (sorta, at this point) that the NRO singles out as not being drunk …

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/14/nro-on-ethanol-its-not-a-good-idea/

Corn-Derived Ethanol Shares Blame for Food Price Hikes

Voice of America – USA

Among conference speakers was John Ashworth of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, who told VOA the ethanol industry’s reliance on …

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-16-voa12.cfm

Ethanol’s Water Shortage

Wall Street Journal – USA

Heavily subsidized and absurdly inefficient, corn-based ethanol has already driven up food prices. But the Senate’s plan to increase production to 36
…

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119258870811261613.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Ethanol Ravages Forests and Water Supplie

By Hans Bader

The Wall Street Journal has an editorial today discussing all the ways that expanded ethanol production resulting from costly federal ethanol subsidies is harming the environment and devouring scarce water supplies. …

http://www.openmarket.org/2007/10/17/ethanol-ravages-forests-and-water-supplies/

Evidence mounts against ethanol

Waterbury Republican American – Waterbury,CT,USA

Ethanol is the classic example of how government intrusion in the markets can raise havoc. To collect enormous federal subsidies for corn-based ethanol, …

http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/10/19/opinion/290858.txt

                          ==========

THE REAL REASON DENNIS HASTERT IS RETIRING EARLY

By Howie Klein

Prostitutes, bribes and more. Brent Wilkes’ trial exposes just how corrupt Hastert’s GOP-run Congress was.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65580/

                          ==========

Republican Corruption Didn’t End in 2006!

 

Sep 2, 2007

Republican Scandals in 2007

When Republicans were swept out of power in 2006, they blamed the Mark oley scandal for their losses and declared an end to Republican scandals.

So how’s that working out?

August 27, 2007: Story breaks that Republican Senator Larry Craig was arrested and pled guilty – he had not publicly disclosed the events to that point

Complete article at:

http://www.democrats.com/republican-scandals-2007

                          ==========

three thousand words

Tom Toles: and in this holy man’s spirit of harmony …

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20071018/ltt071019.gif

Jim Morin: … what we need to preserve our freedom is a police state

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/MorinJ/2007/MorinJ20071021_low.jpg

Jack Ohman: who’s the most conservative ?

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmjoh/2007/tmjoh071017.gif

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)

“The memory of my own suffering has prevented me from ever shadowing one young soul with the superstitions of the Christian religion.”

                          ==========

Creationism to be banished from Swedish schools

15th October 2007

The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution.

“Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter.

. . .

Online: http://www.thelocal.se/8790/

                          ==========

Earmark Promoting Creationism In Louisiana To Be Removed From Federal Appropriations Bill

October 18, 2007

Americans United Hails Decision To Remove Controversial Provision

A controversial provision that would have steered $100,000 in federal funds to a creationist group in Louisiana will be removed from a federal appropriations bill.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) inserted the earmark into the Appropriations Committee’s report on a bill allocating money for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. Vitter wanted to designate the funds to a Religious Right group called the Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) “to develop a plan to promote better science education.”

Critics decried the measure, saying the move was a backdoor effort to bring creationism into Louisiana’s schools and. Yesterday Vitter acquiesced.

“This is great news for the children of Louisiana,” said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “The federal courts have repeatedly held that teaching creationism in public schools is unconstitutional.”

Americans United worked extensively to educate senators about the problems with the earmark. Lynn said the move by Vitter avoids a legal battle.

More than 30 educational, scientific and religious groups joined forces to oppose the earmark. On Oct. 10, they sent a joint letter to every member of the Senate, asking that the provision be removed.

Yesterday, Vitter requested that the earmark be removed. On the floor of the Senate, the Louisiana Republican insisted that the money was not designed to promote creationism and blamed the controversy on groups promoting “hysterics.”

“The project, which would develop a plan to promote better science-based education in Ouachita Parish by Louisiana Family Forum, has raised concerns among some that its intention was to mandate and push creationism within the public schools,” Vitter said. “That is clearly not and never was the intent of the project, nor would it have been its effect. However, to avoid more hysterics, I would like to move the $100,000 recommended for this project by the subcommittee when the bill goes to conference committee to another Louisiana priority project funded in this bill.”

Americans United and its allies pointed out, however, that the LFF has a long history of promoting creationism and that it is clearly a sectarian group.

“If Sen. Vitter’s aim was to improve science education in Louisiana, I have to wonder why he did not direct these funds to a scientific group or a museum,” said Lynn. “Boosting science education is an odd task for a religious group.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State  www.au.org

                          ==========

CHRISTIAN WOMEN INCREASINGLY SUFFERING FROM SEXUAL ADDICTION

By Pam Spaulding

The religious right’s solution? A six-month live-in program in the middle of nowhere, where internet porn is unavailable.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65469/

                          ==========

CHRISTIAN CLOWN BUSTED FOR MOLESTATION, CHILD PORN

By Pam Spaulding

Klutzo the Clown billed himself as “available for…children’s crusades, Sunday school, children’s church, church parties.”

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65325/

                          ==========

GOP COUNTY CHAIR CHARGED WITH FONDLING BOY, EXPOSING SELF

By Pam Spaulding

The so-called party of family values really needs to do a lot of housecleaning.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65229/

                          ==========

Religious Right Funding Increases, AU Research Shows

October 16th, 2007

Is the Religious Right dead? To read some news media accounts, you might think it is.

In fact, a church-state watchdog group says the conservative Christian political movement has raised more money than ever, is quietly trying to organize churches into a political machine and is ready to line up behind a presidential candidate who makes the right promises.

The press release from AU’s Press Center, provides an update. We hope you’ll read it. Please consider visiting the Pess Center regularly where you can read a variety of breaking news.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State  www.au.org

                          ==========

Event Calls for A Day without God

Professor throws a party without God!

At:

http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=319&article=0

                          ==========

GOP ’08 CANDIDATES TO KISS RELIGIOUS RIGHT BUTT AT “VALUES VOTER SUMMIT”

By Joe Sudbay

They’re having their “Values Voters Summit” at the Washington Hilton, conveniently located in the gayest neighborhood in the city.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/65642/

                          ==========

Republican Corruption Didn’t End in 2006!

 

Sep 2, 2007

Republican Scandals in 2007

When Republicans were swept out of power in 2006, they blamed the Mark oley scandal for their losses and declared an end to Republican scandals.

So how’s that working out?

August 22, 2007: Republican political consultant Roger Stone resigns his role with the New York state Senate Republicans after reports surfaced that he made a “threatening, obscenity-laced” phone call to the 83-year-old father of Governor Eliot Spitzer

Complete article at:

http://www.democrats.com/republican-scandals-2007

                          ==========

three thousand words

David Horsey: I’ll decide who’s an infidel

http://img.slate.com/media/75/071019_ed.gif

JEFF SWENSON: Freethunk!

http://humaniststudies.org/~funnies/freethunk/sf20071017.gif

ReverendFun: HIS GOLDEN COAT OF FUR USED TO GET RAVE REVIEWS BEFORE AARON AND HIS STUPID IDOL CAME ALONG

http://www.reverendfun.com/2007/10/20071015_pda.gif

The Founding Fathers prove Republican candidates are idiots – George Washington

October 16, 2007

by Lance

I believe this shows that all of the Republican candidates are ignorant of the founders, save Ron Paul. The CNBC debate last Tuesday showed all the candidates are pretty much clueless to what these old-timers said:

George Washington:

“The constitution vests the power of declaring war in Congress; therefore no offensive expedition of importance can be undertaken until after they shall have deliberated upon the subject and authorized such a measure.” (1793.)

                          ==========

Fox News on-screen graphic: “RUDY GIULIANI + 9/11 = THE WHITE HOUSE??”

On the October 17 edition of Fox News’ Studio B with Shepard Smith, during a segment on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s interview with Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani and his wife, Judith, an on-screen graphic read: “RUDY GIULIANI + 9/11 = THE WHITE HOUSE??” Smith prefaced his discussion with Republican strategist Margaret Hoover and Democratic strategist Malia Lazu by asserting, “Judy Giuliani has been very quiet for the past few months, maybe by campaign design, but last night she and her husband sat down with Sean Hannity — in obviously very friendly territory — and one of the first topics: 9-11, the day Rudy Giuliani became a worldwide, household name.” After airing a video clip of the interview, Smith said: “Judy Giuliani, speaking out, and on the record with her husband, a place we’ve not seen her for a long time — in the public eye. Why now? Why that venue? And why this topic?”

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200710180002?src=other

                          ==========

Plan Would Ease F.C.C. Restriction on Media Owners

Oct 18 2007

The head of the Federal Communications Commission [Kevin J. Martin] has circulated an ambitious plan to relax the decades-old media ownership rules, including repealing a rule that forbids a company to own both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same city.

At:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/business/media/18broadcast.html

From: CLG News

                          ==========

Mission accomplished: Crude oil closes at record high of $89.47 a barrel

Oct 18 2007

Crude-oil futures closed at another record high of $89.47 a barrel Thursday, boosted by a weaker dollar and concerns over the possibility of disruptions to Iraqi oil production. Crude for November delivery finished up $2.07 at $89.47 a barrel, after reaching a new all-time trading high of $89.78.

At:

http://tinyurl.com/393sx6    (www.marketwatch.com)

From: CLG News

                          ==========

Iraq Oil Report – ‘Iran and China answer calls by Iraq’s Electricity Ministry’

Iraq has signed $1.1 billion worth of deals to construct new power plants with both Iranian and Chinese firms.

Exactly how the two countries with massive demand gaps of their own are going to help supply Iraq’s power sector remains to be seen, but as James Glanz of The New York Times reports, the first step [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/22935s  (iraqoilreport.com)

                          ==========

Bush’s World War Three

By Michel Chossudovsky

Global Research, October 17, 2007

” We got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. So I’ve told people that if you’re interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon. I take the threat of Iran with a nuclear weapon very seriously….” (George W. Bush, 17 October 2007)

 

“I believe that. I believe that [the revolt of passengers on the hijacked flight 93 on September 11, 2001] was the first counter-attack to World War III.” (George W. Bush, May 6, 2006)

“This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous… Having said that, all options are on the table.”  George W. Bush, February 2005)

We are not living a sound and rational World where far-reaching decisions by the US President are based on an understanding of their likely consequences.

A World War III is no longer a hypothetical scenario.

During the Cold War, the concept of “mutual assured destruction” (MAD) was put forth. An understanding of the devastating consequences of nuclear war largely contributed to avoiding the outbreak of war between the US and the Soviet Union.

Today, in the post-Cold war era, no such understanding prevails. The specter of a nuclear holocaust,  which haunted the world for half a century has been relegated to the status of “collateral damage”.

US foreign policy under the Neocons is based on a diabolical and criminal agenda. The “war on  terrorism” is a lie; Iran does not constitute a threat to global security as confirmed by a recent IAEA report. Iran does not constitute a threat to Israel.

The US president is a liar, who believes his own lies.

While Iran’s non existent nukes are said to constitute a lethal and deadly threat, so-called tactical nuclear weapons “Made in America” are described in Pentagon documents as “harmless to the surrounding civilian population”.

In a bitter irony, those who decide on the use of nuclear weapons believe their own propaganda. A preemptive nuclear attack on Iran is upheld as a bona fide humanitarian undertaking which contributes to global security. 

And now the US Head of State, who has a limited understanding of geopolitics, let alone geography, is hinting that if Iran does not give up its nonexistent nuclear weapons program,  we might be reluctantly forced into in a World War III situation. Bush has insinuated that as Commander in Chief, he could decide to launch a war on Iran, which would result in World War III.

“Dr. Strangelove rides again.” In an utterly twisted logic, World War III is presented by the US President as a means to preventing collateral damage.

The war would be triggered by Iran, who has refused to abide by the “reasonable demands” of “the international community”.

Realities are twisted and turned upside down. Iran is being accused of wanting to start World War III.

. . .

Complete article at:

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7116

Michel Chossudovsky is the author of the international bestseller America’s “War on Terrorism”  Global Research, 2005. He is Professor of Economics at the University of Ottawa and Director of the Center for Research on Globalization.

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Catching Up With al Qaeda

Source: GOOD Magazine, October 3, 2007

“America should hire al-Qaeda’s PR Agent,” argues Matt Armstrong. Iraq, he says, has become “a stage” for “a new public diplomacy that insurgents understand, and the U.S. State Department doesn’t. … An Islamic version of the story of David and Goliath, IED videos posted on YouTube and elsewhere are the new ‘war porn.’ Whereas Americans are addicted to grainy green images of high-tech bombs raining down on the enemy, insurgent supporters prefer images of grassroots combat that sticks it to the Man. While insurgents effectively use images to generate and maintain support—even using graphics, banners, and music in their online videos—the United States clumsily shapes our public image with symbols like the newest ‘Crusader castle’ in the Middle East, otherwise known as the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.”

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Rand Report – Assessing the Value of Information and Communication Technologies to Modern Terrorist Organizations

by Bruce W. Don, David R. Frelinger, Scott Gerwehr, Eric Landree, Brian A. Jackson

At:

http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2007/RAND_TR454.pdf

Understanding how terrorists conduct successful operations is critical to countering them. Terrorist organizations use a wide range of network technologies as they plan and stage attacks. This book explores the role that these communications and computer technologies play and the net effect of their use, the purpose and manner in which the technology is used, the operational actions of terrorists and possible responses of security forces. The authors conclude that future network technologies modestly improve terrorist group efficiency, particularly for their supporting activities, but do not dramatically improve their attack operations. Precluding terrorists from getting the technology they want is impractical; developing direct counters is unlikely to yield high payoffs. Instead, exploiting the technologies and the information such technologies use to enable more direct security force operations are more promising options.”

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Republican Corruption Didn’t End in 2006!

 

Sep 2, 2007

Republican Scandals in 2007

When Republicans were swept out of power in 2006, they blamed the Mark oley scandal for their losses and declared an end to Republican scandals.

So how’s that working out?

August 15, 2007: Republican state House candidate Angelo Cappelli is arrested for perjury and grand theft

Complete article at:

http://www.democrats.com/republican-scandals-2007

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three thousand words

Jim Morin: … we can always run on the bush economy!

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derfcity(derfcity.com): We’re Doomed

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RJ Matson: GRAND OLD PERSEUS

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