Friends,
It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?
4,000 dead. Unofficial estimates are that there may be up to 100,000 wounded, injured, or mentally ruined by this war. And there could be up to a million Iraqi dead. We will pay the consequences of this for a long, long time. God will keep blessing America.
And where is Darth Vader in all this? A reporter from ABC News this week told Dick Cheney, in regards to Iraq, "two-thirds of Americans say it's not worth fighting." Cheney cut her off with a one word answer: "So?"
"So?" As in, "So what?" As in, "F*** you. I could care less."
I would like every American to see Cheney flip the virtual bird at the them, the American people. Click here and pass it around. Then ask yourself why we haven't risen up and thrown him and his puppet out of the White House.
The Democrats have had the power to literally pull the plug on this war for the past 15 months -- and they have refused to do so. What are we to do about that? Continue to sink into our despair? Or get creative? Real creative. I know there are many of you reading this who have the chutzpah and ingenuity to confront your local congressperson. Will you? For me?
Cheney spent Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the war, not mourning the dead he killed, but fishing off the Sultan of Oman's royal yacht. So? Ask your favorite Republican what they think of that.
The Founding Fathers would never have uttered the presumptuous words, "God Bless America." That, to them, sounded like a command instead of a request, and one doesn't command God, even if they are America. In fact, they were worried God would punish America. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington feared that God would react unfavorably against his soldiers for the way they were behaving. John Adams wondered if God might punish America and cause it to lose the war, just to prove His point that America was not worthy. They and the others believed it would be arrogant on their part to assume that God would single out America for a blessing. What a long road we have traveled since then.
I see that Frontline on PBS this week has a documentary called "Bush's War." That's what I've been calling it for a long time. It's not the "Iraq War." Iraq did nothing. Iraq didn't plan 9/11. It didn't have weapons of mass destruction. It DID have movie theaters and bars and women wearing what they wanted and a significant Christian population and one of the few Arab capitals with an open synagogue.
But that's all gone now. Show a movie and you'll be shot in the head. Over a hundred women have been randomly executed for not wearing a scarf. I'm happy, as a blessed American, that I had a hand in all this. I just paid my taxes, so that means I helped to pay for this freedom we've brought to Baghdad. So? Will God bless me?
God bless all of you in this Easter Week as we begin the 6th year of Bush's War.
God help America. Please.
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
Monday, March 24
Military KIA Reaches 4,000 in Iraq
The AP reports:
A roadside bomb killed four U.S. soldiers in Baghdad on Sunday,
the military said, pushing the overall American death toll in the five-year
warto at least 4,000.
The grim milestone came on the same day that rockets and mortars pounded the
U.S.-protected Green Zone, underscoring the fragile security situation and the
resilience of both Sunni and Shiite extremist groups despite an overall lull in
violence.
A Multi-National Division -- Baghdad soldier also was wounded in the roadside
bombing, which struck the soldiers' patrol vehicle about 10 p.m. in southern
Baghdad, according to a statement.
Identities of those killed were withheld pending notification of relatives.
Navy Lt. Patrick Evans, a military spokesman, expressed condolences to all the
families who have lost a loved one in Iraq, saying each death is ''equally
tragic.''
''There have been some significant gains. However, this enemy is resilient and
will not give up, nor will we,'' he said. ''There's still a lot of work to be
done.''
The 4,000 figure is according to an Associated Press count that includes eight
civilians who worked for the Department of Defense.
Last year, the U.S. military deaths spiked along with the Pentagon's ''surge''
-- the arrival of more than 30,000 extra troops trying to regain control of
Baghdad and surrounding areas. The mission was generally considered a success,
but the cost was evident as soldiers pushed into Sunni insurgent strongholds and
challenged Shiite militias.
Military deaths rose above 100 for three consecutive months for the first time
during the war: April 2007, 104; May, 126 and June at 101.
The death toll has seesawed since, with 2007 ending as the deadliest year for
American troops at 901 deaths. That was 51 more deaths than 2004, the second
deadliest year for U.S. soldiers.
Sunday, March 23
Money Talks
This may make you think about money in a different light. Give yourself 47 minutes and see what you think.
Friday, March 21
Paper Ballots Prevail
This from Kyle Lobner of Common Cause Iowa:
Hopefully Gov. Culver will sign this very soon!
I have great news: all Iowans will vote on a paper ballot and have their vote counted by optical scan machines in the November elections and all elections to follow.
Yesterday, by a vote of 91-6, the Iowa House passed the House File 2630, which requires all 99 counties use optical scan machines. Last week, a similar bill passed the Senate 47-1. The Governor is expected to sign it soon, and it will take effect immediately. Along with thousands of Iowans statewide, I'm relieved that we've taken one more step towards ensuring that all Iowans know that their votes are counted fairly and accurately.
This is not just a news update; it's also a thank you! Common Cause members played a key role in convincing legislators, Secretary of State Mauro and Governor Culver with your phone calls, emails, and other actions to support this critical legislation just in time for the big November election.
Yet this bill is still only one more step towards making government open, reliable and representative of Iowa voters and their interests. We have a lot left to do, especially:
- Public financing of campaigns. The "Clean Elections" system created by the VOICE Act (SF 553 and HF 805) would curb the influence of big special interest money in Iowa politics.
- Random hand audits of election results. Paper ballots only add security to elections if we use them to double-check the results. Hand counted audits are the only defense against security weaknesses in vote-counting devices.
- Open government. Making government information more accessible by creating an Iowa Public Information Board, as outlined in SF 2378, is a critical step.
Thank you again for your help in making Iowa democracy healthier and more responsive. To continue to work on these issues, we need the support, both volunteer and financial, of Iowans like you who understand the need for open, accountable government and are willing to stand with us to fight for it. Please make a contribution to help us continue to fight and to add new victories.
Thanks so much for all you do!
Hopefully Gov. Culver will sign this very soon!
Shaw in the Running for Auditor's Job
Friend and deeply-rooted social activist, Mona Shaw has thrown her hat into the ring to become Johnson County's next County Auditor. She brings a wealth of experience to the position as a former worker in the Auditor's office and as a person who is deeply invested in everyone getting a fair shake.
I wish her well in her endeavor.
I wish her well in her endeavor.
The Wheels Come Off: Scooter Libby Disbarred
While, thanks to the generosity of President Bush, he avoided jail time for his role in the outing of former CIA operative, Valerie Plame, Scooter Libby is now legally unable to practice law in the District of Columbia until at least 2012.
Richardson Endorsement Goes to Obama
Here's what Richardson had to say a few days ago, before he formally decided to endorse Barack Obama about the Democratic nomination.
Thursday, March 20
Death (Comparisons) Be Not Proud
A story that is widely circulating points out that there were more military deaths during the Clinton Administration than during the war in Iraq. Numbers don't lie, right? Well, it ain't necessarily so.
According to a CRS report to Congress from June 2007, during the 8 years of the Clinton Administration (including peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo and Somalia), the were 76 military personnel that died in battle or by terrorist attack, compared to 2,651 that had been KIA or by terrorist attack from 2001 to 2006 during the Bush administration during which we have been at war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It is true that 7500 soldiers died from 1993-2000 (Clinton's 8 year administration), but 8792 have died in 6 years from 2001-2006 of G.W. Bush's. The important distinction is cause of death.
Many military personnel die in accidents, illness, homicide, and suicide and in the case of Clinton's administration, 1% were killed in action/terrorist attack, 52% died in accidents, 20% committed suicide, 6% by homicide, and 19% died by illness.
In the Bush years through 2006, 30% were killed in action/terrorist attack, 36% in accidents, 11% committed suicide, 6% by homicide, and 15% by illness.
According to a CRS report to Congress from June 2007, during the 8 years of the Clinton Administration (including peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo and Somalia), the were 76 military personnel that died in battle or by terrorist attack, compared to 2,651 that had been KIA or by terrorist attack from 2001 to 2006 during the Bush administration during which we have been at war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It is true that 7500 soldiers died from 1993-2000 (Clinton's 8 year administration), but 8792 have died in 6 years from 2001-2006 of G.W. Bush's. The important distinction is cause of death.
Many military personnel die in accidents, illness, homicide, and suicide and in the case of Clinton's administration, 1% were killed in action/terrorist attack, 52% died in accidents, 20% committed suicide, 6% by homicide, and 19% died by illness.
In the Bush years through 2006, 30% were killed in action/terrorist attack, 36% in accidents, 11% committed suicide, 6% by homicide, and 15% by illness.
Iowa Citians Turnout to Protest on Iraq War Anniversary
Over 500 people in total attended an all day vigil and candlelit remembrance was held on the Pentacrest yesterday to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War. A cross-section of the community joined together and held signs, sang songs and beat drums to remember those who have died in this war both the military casualties and civilians.
Organized by Peace-Iowa and supported by the community, the vigils were under-reported.
Here's the P-C version and the Gazette.
Wednesday, March 19
Support from PAC Supporters V. Taking PAC Money
Ed Fallon is being accused by Leonard Boswell's campaign of being hypocritical about receiving support through PACs. At issue is that Democracy for America, which is a PAC has encouraged its members to support Ed Fallon, who has not received a SINGLE dime from DFA, but did receive direct contributions from 730 DFA members to the tune of about $20,000.
Many people are members of organizations that encourage supporting candidates, the National Association of Realtors as an example encourages its membership to choose pro-real estate candidates, but that doesn't mean the same thing as the NAR cutting a check for a candidate.
Because Leonard Boswell does take money DIRECTLY from PACs, it would appear that the longtime Congressman is trying to justify his own behavior. According to Iowa Progress, "in the first three quarters of 2007, Boswell has taken in $433,000 in contributions from PACs, making up 75% of total contributions recieved."
Many people are members of organizations that encourage supporting candidates, the National Association of Realtors as an example encourages its membership to choose pro-real estate candidates, but that doesn't mean the same thing as the NAR cutting a check for a candidate.
Because Leonard Boswell does take money DIRECTLY from PACs, it would appear that the longtime Congressman is trying to justify his own behavior. According to Iowa Progress, "in the first three quarters of 2007, Boswell has taken in $433,000 in contributions from PACs, making up 75% of total contributions recieved."
Testifying to Congress Not in Cards for Credit Consumers
Partisan shenanigans appears to be one reason why credit card consumers did not testify to a House committee investigating the interest rate and other fees charged by lending institutions.
From the Washington Independent
They
From the Washington Independent
They
came to the nation’s capital this week from as far away as Denver, Chicago and Niagara Falls—five people who’d had tough experiences with their credit cards and were asked to share those tales with a House panel. Instead, they ran headfirst into the buzz-saw of Washington politics when the panel’s Republicans insisted the visitors allow their lenders to discuss their financial histories publicly—in any forum, at any time.More
For four of the five, it was a deal-breaker. Instead of signing the waivers (pdf) allowing them to testify Thursday, they all sat silently in the audience.
"I didn’t want all my … information out there for just anybody," said Denver’s Susan Wones, who saw the interest rate of her JP Morgan Chase card jump from 0 percent to 23 percent in one month last summer, without notification or explanation. "I’m extremely upset I can’t talk about this."
Marvin Weatherspoon, a grandfather from Chicago, echoed the tale. "The waiver was very vague," said Weatherspoon, who claims his card rate jumped from 4.25 percent to roughly 25 percent in the wake of one late payment to Bank of America. "It didn’t address the issues we were here to deal with."
Bush Does the Safety Dance
With President Bush now touting the relative worth of the war saying "Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me: Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win."
I wonder if the people of Iraq who have had their lives irreparably changed share his view.
According to the BBC, Iraqis were the largest group among asylum seekers to the world's industrialized countries for the second year running, according to a UN report. More than 45,000 Iraqis applied for asylum in 2007, up from 22,900 in 2006, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.
Meanwhile, there are an estimated 4.5 million Iraqis uprooted by the war.
I wonder if the people of Iraq who have had their lives irreparably changed share his view.
According to the BBC, Iraqis were the largest group among asylum seekers to the world's industrialized countries for the second year running, according to a UN report. More than 45,000 Iraqis applied for asylum in 2007, up from 22,900 in 2006, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.
Meanwhile, there are an estimated 4.5 million Iraqis uprooted by the war.
A House Divided
We are at a telling crossroads in our country. We are divided on matters of race, of economics, and of peace. Today, as the US enters a sixth year of war in Iraq, as a recession, caused in part by this war and in part on a war between those who have and those who have not, causes strain and anxiety, and as a stymied conversation on race relations and classism has been pushed front and center in the heat of a presidential nominating process, we are challenged to find common ground.
And still, I believe, the greatness of this country is that we will find a way.
Self-reflection tells me that I have not always been the best emissary in trying to understand or communicate to those who I disagree with and I feel lessened for it. Preaching to our own choirs, while comfortable and comforting, does not help to heal old, festering wounds.
Barack Obama's speech yesterday was remarkable and risky. In light of the polls, it would have been safer to distance himself from Rev. Wright, but to address the American people in such a deeply personal way on a subject that is so incendiary for so many, is not the easy road. And yet, isn't that what we want from our leaders? To put themselves on the line for difficult problems.
As for me, I hope that his speech is remembered as Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is, because it is truly does seem to reflect the state of the union of race relations in our country. I'm certain that Obama's speech will encourage a national dialogue, but I'm hopeful that it will be cathartic.
We need this moment of grace because as Obama said, we are in "...a racial stalemate [that] we’ve been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy�” particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.
But I have asserted a firm conviction�” a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people�” that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union."
We have a defining moment in front of us, will we take this opportunity to engage in conversations and actions that propel us forward or will we remain in a stalemate and forever have time stand still?
And still, I believe, the greatness of this country is that we will find a way.
Self-reflection tells me that I have not always been the best emissary in trying to understand or communicate to those who I disagree with and I feel lessened for it. Preaching to our own choirs, while comfortable and comforting, does not help to heal old, festering wounds.
Barack Obama's speech yesterday was remarkable and risky. In light of the polls, it would have been safer to distance himself from Rev. Wright, but to address the American people in such a deeply personal way on a subject that is so incendiary for so many, is not the easy road. And yet, isn't that what we want from our leaders? To put themselves on the line for difficult problems.
As for me, I hope that his speech is remembered as Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is, because it is truly does seem to reflect the state of the union of race relations in our country. I'm certain that Obama's speech will encourage a national dialogue, but I'm hopeful that it will be cathartic.
We need this moment of grace because as Obama said, we are in "...a racial stalemate [that] we’ve been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy�” particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.
But I have asserted a firm conviction�” a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people�” that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union."
We have a defining moment in front of us, will we take this opportunity to engage in conversations and actions that propel us forward or will we remain in a stalemate and forever have time stand still?
Monday, March 17
St. Patrick's Day is Misunderstood
Erin Go Bragh!
It's a good day to be a Kerry, Kennedy, Dodd, Daley, Fallon, Sullivan, etc...
The following are the states with the highest percentages of residents who claimed some Irish ancestry.
Massachusetts (24 percent)
New Hampshire (22 percent)
Rhode Island (20 percent)
Delaware (19 percent)
Pennsylvania (18 percent)
Connecticut (18 percent)
Maine (18 percent)
Vermont (17 percent)
Montana (17 percent)
New Jersey (16 percent)
Among the esoteric information examined by the Census Bureau are findings that Irish-Americans have higher levels of formal education and income than the national average.
and then there is this.
It's a good day to be a Kerry, Kennedy, Dodd, Daley, Fallon, Sullivan, etc...
The following are the states with the highest percentages of residents who claimed some Irish ancestry.
Massachusetts (24 percent)
New Hampshire (22 percent)
Rhode Island (20 percent)
Delaware (19 percent)
Pennsylvania (18 percent)
Connecticut (18 percent)
Maine (18 percent)
Vermont (17 percent)
Montana (17 percent)
New Jersey (16 percent)
Among the esoteric information examined by the Census Bureau are findings that Irish-Americans have higher levels of formal education and income than the national average.
and then there is this.
Cheney: Iraq a "Successful Endeavor"
What planet is he living on?
Reuters reports that Vice President Dick Cheney declared the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a "successful endeavor" in a visit to Iraq that included a suicide bombing that killed at least 25 people. "If you look back on those five years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavor ... and it has been well worth the effort," Cheney said in a news conference in Baghdad.
As it enters it sixth year, the war has cost the U.S. economy $500 billion and seen nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis killed.
Shortly after Cheney spoke, a woman suicide bomber blew herself up in a cafe in the southern holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala and killed 25 people. Bombs in Baghdad killed four and wounded 13.
Reuters reports that Vice President Dick Cheney declared the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq a "successful endeavor" in a visit to Iraq that included a suicide bombing that killed at least 25 people. "If you look back on those five years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavor ... and it has been well worth the effort," Cheney said in a news conference in Baghdad.
As it enters it sixth year, the war has cost the U.S. economy $500 billion and seen nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis killed.
Shortly after Cheney spoke, a woman suicide bomber blew herself up in a cafe in the southern holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala and killed 25 people. Bombs in Baghdad killed four and wounded 13.
Friday, March 14
Service to the Republican Party Is It's Own Re-"Ward"
Apparently at least $740,000 has disappeared from the coffers of the National Republican Congressional Committee. The FBI has been called in to look into allegations against longtime NRCC treasurer Christopher J. Ward who is accused of making substantial transfers to his own business and personal accounts since at least 2004.
Rep. Tom Cole, the committee's chairman said, "Based on analysis conducted to date, it appears likely that over a period of several years Ward made several hundred thousand dollars in unauthorized transfers of NRCC funds to outside committees whose bank accounts he had access to, including joint fund-raising committees in which the NRCC participated."
Also, the NRCC notes at the end of 2006 there was a $990,000 shortfall, and the committee hasn't had a "completed" outside audit since 2001, which is longer than some media reports have indicated.
More from Real Clear Politics
Also, Ward, after becoming treasurer in 2003, "submitted to the NRCC's bank and to the NRCC leadership bogus audit reports for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. The aditional bogus audit was submitted to the NRCC's bank for 2006."
Rep. Tom Cole, the committee's chairman said, "Based on analysis conducted to date, it appears likely that over a period of several years Ward made several hundred thousand dollars in unauthorized transfers of NRCC funds to outside committees whose bank accounts he had access to, including joint fund-raising committees in which the NRCC participated."
Also, the NRCC notes at the end of 2006 there was a $990,000 shortfall, and the committee hasn't had a "completed" outside audit since 2001, which is longer than some media reports have indicated.
More from Real Clear Politics
Also, Ward, after becoming treasurer in 2003, "submitted to the NRCC's bank and to the NRCC leadership bogus audit reports for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. The aditional bogus audit was submitted to the NRCC's bank for 2006."
House Shows No Immunity to President or Senate
Despite threats by both the Senate and the President concerning the revised FISA Bill that would remove immunity for telephone companies who provided private data to the Bush Administration without a court order, the House voted for a stronger bill that would allow court cases to move ahead.
CNN reports:
CNN reports:
The House of Representatives voted Friday to back the Democratic-sponsored
revisions to federal surveillance laws.
The vote was 213 to 197 in favor
of a revision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill that was
backed by the Democratic leadership.
One member voted present.
The vote came after a secret session Thursday night in the House. It
was the first time the House has met in secret since 1983.
The Democratic plan would allow telecommunications companies to be sued
for their role in the administration's much-disputed warrantless surveillance
program .
The bill now goes to the Senate, but both the Senate and President Bush
have made it clear they will not support the bill without the immunity
provision.
Factual Friday
FactCheck has these factual pearls of wisdom.
Q: Do middle-income persons pay lower federal income taxes under Bush than they did under Bill Clinton?
A: Yes, middle-income taxpayers pay less, but not nearly as much less as claimed in a widely circulated chain e-mail. Moreover, both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton propose additional middle-income cuts, contrary to what the message insinuates.
Q: Is the Secret Service paying the Clintons' mortgage?
A: No. And Hillary won't get a full-salary Senate pension, either.
Q: Has any presidential candidate won the general election without winning the Ohio primary?
A: Yes. Richard Nixon did it in 1968, and John Kennedy in 1960. But "favorite son" candidates won the Ohio contest both those years.
A: Not true at all. He voted in support of President Bush 95 percent of the time last year, for example.
Bush Responsible for weakend EPA Clean Air Standards
As the Bush Administration continues its wind down, the president continues to make decisions that will affect us all long after he leaves office via executive order.
CNN reports
The Environmental Protection Agency agreed to weaken an important part of its new smog requirements after being told at the last minute that President Bush preferred a less stringent approach, according to government documents.
They show tense exchanges between the EPA and the White House Office of Management and Budget in the days before the smog air quality standard was announced Wednesday.
Changes directed by the White House were made only hours before the agency issued the regulation. The late activity forced the EPA to delay the announcement for five hours.
The disagreement concerned the amount of protection from ozone, or smog, that should be afforded wildlife, farmlands, parks and open spaces.
This "public welfare" or "secondary" smog standard is separate from a decision to tighten the smog requirements for human health, which the EPA decided to do by reducing the allowable concentrations of ozone in the air from 80 parts per billion to 75 parts per billion.
More
CNN reports
The Environmental Protection Agency agreed to weaken an important part of its new smog requirements after being told at the last minute that President Bush preferred a less stringent approach, according to government documents.
They show tense exchanges between the EPA and the White House Office of Management and Budget in the days before the smog air quality standard was announced Wednesday.
Changes directed by the White House were made only hours before the agency issued the regulation. The late activity forced the EPA to delay the announcement for five hours.
The disagreement concerned the amount of protection from ozone, or smog, that should be afforded wildlife, farmlands, parks and open spaces.
This "public welfare" or "secondary" smog standard is separate from a decision to tighten the smog requirements for human health, which the EPA decided to do by reducing the allowable concentrations of ozone in the air from 80 parts per billion to 75 parts per billion.
More
Thursday, March 13
Smoking Ban Going To Conference For Compromise
Yesterday, the Iowa House rejected the Senate's version of the smoking ban bill and offered a version that lifted the ban from bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. Today the Senate stuck by their bill by rejecting the House's weakened version.
The Des Moines Register continues:
The Des Moines Register continues:
“Folks, this amendment goes against the intent of the bill as it does nothing to protect the health of those who patronize or have to work in these establishments,” said Sen. Staci Appel, an Ackworth Democrat. “Secondhand smoke knows no age limits. It doesn’t discriminate at all by age. Age really has nothing to do with it.”
The Senate’s 27 to 23 decision to reject the House’s version means that leaders from both the House and the Senate will likely form a special committee in an attempt to reach compromise. The decision to create the committee will be made next week.
Once a compromise through the committee is reached, the full Senate and House can only give a thumb up or a thumb down to the proposal, which means that the month-long amendment process and shuffling of the proposal between the House and the Senate is done.
Respect My Lack of Authority--FBI
According to a CNN article, which is condensed below:
The FBI continued in 2006 to badly mishandle letters that it uses to obtain personal records without a court order, according to a Justice Department report released Thursday.
The new report shows the FBI continued in 2006 to increase its use of the secret letters. The 49,425 requests represented a 4.7 percent increase over 2005.
The new report cites "issuance of NSLs [national security letters] without proper authorization, improper requests and unauthorized collection of telephone or Internet e-mail records due to FBI errors or mistakes made by NSL recipients."
In an accompanying report the inspector general said the FBI made 47 requests to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for warrants to pursue business records. All requests were approved.
The report, however, singled out one classified case in which the FBI was turned down by the FISA court, and pursued the matter anyway. Although the details were blacked out in the report, the inspector general said Congress was provided a classified version of the report, which contains the information.
Dr. Death goes to Washington?
With Dr. Jack Kevorkian entering the political arena, it looks like there is someone other than Eliot Spitzer, a victim of political suicide, who will make headlines for less than optimal reasons. Kevorkian, most noted for helping well over 100 people die during the 1990s, was formally convicted on second degree homicide for assisting in the death of Thomas Youk, who suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease.
If he gets the needed 3000 signatures to get on the ballot in Michigan, it could be said that he will be committing assisted political suicide.
If he gets the needed 3000 signatures to get on the ballot in Michigan, it could be said that he will be committing assisted political suicide.
Florida Has a Plan
According to CNN
Florida Democrats want a do-over, and state party officials have a proposal for recouping the 210 delegates that the Sunshine State lost when it moved its primary ahead of the approved time frame.
The party is proposing a combination mail-in and in-person election to be held June 3. Fundraising and public comment would begin immediately.
"The plan would be inclusive of all Democratic voters," according to a memo accompanying the draft plan that was sent Wednesday night to party leaders, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the party's candidates for the presidential nomination.
Any plan would need the blessings of the DNC and the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
"We really believe that all Floridians deserve to be heard," said state party Chairwoman Karen Thurman, but "if this is not what the people of Florida and our presidential candidates want, then we're not going to do it."
Florida Democrats want a do-over, and state party officials have a proposal for recouping the 210 delegates that the Sunshine State lost when it moved its primary ahead of the approved time frame.
The party is proposing a combination mail-in and in-person election to be held June 3. Fundraising and public comment would begin immediately.
"The plan would be inclusive of all Democratic voters," according to a memo accompanying the draft plan that was sent Wednesday night to party leaders, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the party's candidates for the presidential nomination.
Any plan would need the blessings of the DNC and the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
"We really believe that all Floridians deserve to be heard," said state party Chairwoman Karen Thurman, but "if this is not what the people of Florida and our presidential candidates want, then we're not going to do it."
Wednesday, March 12
Former Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum Dies
Howard Metzenbaum was a true Ohio Buckeye. Tough, poisonous if you were on his wrong side, but a true progressive when progressive meant the "L" word--Liberal. He was the first politician I voted for in 1977.
Metzenbaum, an Ohio Democrat who made his millions in correctly investing in airport parking lots in Cleveland. The enterprise expanded to Cincinnati and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and eventually became APCOA, the world's largest parking lot company before he began a long career fighting big business in the Senate. He died at age 90.
During 18 years on Capitol Hill, from 1977 to 1995, Metzenbaum was called "Senator No" and "Headline Howard" for his abilities to block legislation and get publicity for himself.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "Metzenbaum built a reputation as a Horatio at the bridge. He was credited with saving taxpayers millions of dollars by standing in the way of "Christmas tree bills," adorned with costly favors for a given state or corporation. Metzenbaum was often at the forefront of Democratic opposition to Reagan administration cabinet and Supreme Court nominees.
Although he felt the anger of his colleagues -- Alaska Republican Ted Stevens once called him a "pain in the ass" -- he also won their respect. Former Sen. Howard Baker, the Tennessee Republican, said, "The Senate needs someone like Howard Metzenbaum -- but only one.""
He was a tough bird who held a room spellbound while drop kicking oil companies, the insurance industry, savings and loans, and the National Rifle Association (Metzenbaum once said, “No, we're not looking at how to control criminals... we're talking about banning the AK-47 and semi-automatic guns.”).
As a former labor lawyer and union lobbyist considered himself a champion of workers and was a driving force behind the law requiring 60-day notice of plant closings.
Metzenbaum, an Ohio Democrat who made his millions in correctly investing in airport parking lots in Cleveland. The enterprise expanded to Cincinnati and San Juan, Puerto Rico, and eventually became APCOA, the world's largest parking lot company before he began a long career fighting big business in the Senate. He died at age 90.
During 18 years on Capitol Hill, from 1977 to 1995, Metzenbaum was called "Senator No" and "Headline Howard" for his abilities to block legislation and get publicity for himself.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "Metzenbaum built a reputation as a Horatio at the bridge. He was credited with saving taxpayers millions of dollars by standing in the way of "Christmas tree bills," adorned with costly favors for a given state or corporation. Metzenbaum was often at the forefront of Democratic opposition to Reagan administration cabinet and Supreme Court nominees.
Although he felt the anger of his colleagues -- Alaska Republican Ted Stevens once called him a "pain in the ass" -- he also won their respect. Former Sen. Howard Baker, the Tennessee Republican, said, "The Senate needs someone like Howard Metzenbaum -- but only one.""
He was a tough bird who held a room spellbound while drop kicking oil companies, the insurance industry, savings and loans, and the National Rifle Association (Metzenbaum once said, “No, we're not looking at how to control criminals... we're talking about banning the AK-47 and semi-automatic guns.”).
As a former labor lawyer and union lobbyist considered himself a champion of workers and was a driving force behind the law requiring 60-day notice of plant closings.
Iowa City Events Commemorating of Year Five of Iraq War
With 3984 US soldiers killed and 29,275-49,275 injured in Iraq, an estimated 81,881 – 89,360 Iraqi civilians killed, and $12 billion dollars a month being spent to keep the war going, March is an important time to reflect on the costs of this war with respect to the costs of human suffering and treasure.
On Wednesday March 19th, there will be an all day vigil from 6 AM to 12 Midnight commemorating the anniversary of the start of the Iraq War at the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets. Sidewalk on the east side of the pentacrest (Clinton St, between Washington & Jefferson). Join for 18 minutes or 18 hours, Just come. (Bring signs and candles if you can for a MoveOn Vigil at 7 pm). There will be some available there too). For further info, contact Ed Flaherty @ 621-6766 or
Peggy Stokes (evening) @ 338-2924 or info@peaceiowa.org for more information.
'Peace Week 2008', March 24-29 in Iowa City. Peace Week is a campaign to mark the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq with a week of events dedicated to exploring aspects of the U.S. war policy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East that are often left out of the mainstream media debate. Go to WWW.UIANTIWAR.ORG for more information about the campaign and the groups involved.
Highlights of the week include:
Monday, 3/24: 'Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority', an award-winning documentary about the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Wednesday, 3/26: Iowa Army National Guard and Iraq veteran Andy Duffy and Air Force veteran and conscientious objector Jason Munford will talk about their experiences in the military.
'Healing Iraq: a Tale of Two Doctors', a film about two doctors--one Iraqi, one American--and their perspectives on treating civilian casualties in Iraq and U.S. military casualties in Germany.
Thursday, 3/27: California Army National Guard and Iraq veteran Eli Painted Crow will speak about her life as a Native American woman in the military, her experiences in Iraq, and her 22 year career in the military. ***If you would like to help defray the costs of bringing Ms. Painted Crow to Iowa City, just reply to this e-mail and we'll forward you details.***
Friday, 3/28: 'Make Art Not War' art show and tabling fair: this is an opportunity to see local artists and their work, and meet and talk to local campus and community groups interested in social justice. Music will be provided. ***We are currently looking for more artists and groups to be involved in this event. Please reply to this e-mail if you are interested in participating.***
Forum discussion on veterans' benefits, health care, and homelessness: panelists include Iowa National Guard and Iraq veteran Stephanie Linn, American Legion Post #17 commander Mike Hull, and Vets Helping Vets co-founder Thomas Kelly.
Saturday, 3/29: Rally and March through downtown Iowa City. The theme for this action is 'No War, No Warming, No Poverty, No Borders'.
If you have any questions or comments, send them to uiantiwar@riseup.net.
MONDAY MARCH 31
BAN CLUSTER BOMBS LETTER-WRITING AND FUNDRAISER
THAI FLAVORS
(Corner of Burlington & Gilbert, downtown Iowa City)
11:00 am-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
We will write to congress and write letters to the editor of local papers regarding current legislation banning cluster bombs, while eating delicious Thai food.
Supplies and background info provided.
Thai Flavors will donate 10-15% of their sales that day, half to PEACE Iowa and half to an organization removing cluster bombs.
On Wednesday March 19th, there will be an all day vigil from 6 AM to 12 Midnight commemorating the anniversary of the start of the Iraq War at the corner of Washington and Clinton Streets. Sidewalk on the east side of the pentacrest (Clinton St, between Washington & Jefferson). Join for 18 minutes or 18 hours, Just come. (Bring signs and candles if you can for a MoveOn Vigil at 7 pm). There will be some available there too). For further info, contact Ed Flaherty @ 621-6766 or
Peggy Stokes (evening) @ 338-2924 or info@peaceiowa.org for more information.
'Peace Week 2008', March 24-29 in Iowa City. Peace Week is a campaign to mark the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq with a week of events dedicated to exploring aspects of the U.S. war policy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East that are often left out of the mainstream media debate. Go to WWW.UIANTIWAR.ORG for more information about the campaign and the groups involved.
Highlights of the week include:
Monday, 3/24: 'Occupation 101: Voices of the Silenced Majority', an award-winning documentary about the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Wednesday, 3/26: Iowa Army National Guard and Iraq veteran Andy Duffy and Air Force veteran and conscientious objector Jason Munford will talk about their experiences in the military.
'Healing Iraq: a Tale of Two Doctors', a film about two doctors--one Iraqi, one American--and their perspectives on treating civilian casualties in Iraq and U.S. military casualties in Germany.
Thursday, 3/27: California Army National Guard and Iraq veteran Eli Painted Crow will speak about her life as a Native American woman in the military, her experiences in Iraq, and her 22 year career in the military. ***If you would like to help defray the costs of bringing Ms. Painted Crow to Iowa City, just reply to this e-mail and we'll forward you details.***
Friday, 3/28: 'Make Art Not War' art show and tabling fair: this is an opportunity to see local artists and their work, and meet and talk to local campus and community groups interested in social justice. Music will be provided. ***We are currently looking for more artists and groups to be involved in this event. Please reply to this e-mail if you are interested in participating.***
Forum discussion on veterans' benefits, health care, and homelessness: panelists include Iowa National Guard and Iraq veteran Stephanie Linn, American Legion Post #17 commander Mike Hull, and Vets Helping Vets co-founder Thomas Kelly.
Saturday, 3/29: Rally and March through downtown Iowa City. The theme for this action is 'No War, No Warming, No Poverty, No Borders'.
If you have any questions or comments, send them to uiantiwar@riseup.net.
MONDAY MARCH 31
BAN CLUSTER BOMBS LETTER-WRITING AND FUNDRAISER
THAI FLAVORS
(Corner of Burlington & Gilbert, downtown Iowa City)
11:00 am-2:00 pm, 5:00-9:00 pm
We will write to congress and write letters to the editor of local papers regarding current legislation banning cluster bombs, while eating delicious Thai food.
Supplies and background info provided.
Thai Flavors will donate 10-15% of their sales that day, half to PEACE Iowa and half to an organization removing cluster bombs.
New House Bill: No Immunity to Telecoms
House Democratic leaders unveiled legislation Tuesday to update the nation's wiretapping program, rejecting a Senate-passed version of the bill that would give telecommunications companies legal immunity for agreeing to participate in the program after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
President Bush secretly instituted the National Security Agency's domestic spying program after 9/11.
President Bush and House Republicans have insisted that the House pass the Senate version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill.
Instead, top Democrats -- including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes and Judiciary Chairman John Conyers -- proposed that lawsuits against the phone companies could move forward through U.S. district courts.
The government has effectively frozen all litigation by invoking the "state secrets" doctrine, arguing that documents detailing the phone companies' activities are classified.
President Bush secretly instituted the National Security Agency's domestic spying program after 9/11.
President Bush and House Republicans have insisted that the House pass the Senate version of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill.
Instead, top Democrats -- including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes and Judiciary Chairman John Conyers -- proposed that lawsuits against the phone companies could move forward through U.S. district courts.
The government has effectively frozen all litigation by invoking the "state secrets" doctrine, arguing that documents detailing the phone companies' activities are classified.
Iowa City Council to Consider After Hours Club?
The Gazette reports:
The club would not sell liquor after hours and patrons would have to bring in their own.
The owners of an after-hours nightclub in Waterloo are exploring opening a similar establishment in Iowa City that would allow patrons to drink until 5 a.m.
The City Council was just alerted of the proposal on Tuesday. It seems sure to spark debate in a city that has struggled with alcohol-related issues and is home to the University of Iowa, which has a reputation of being a party school.
"We're certainly going to discuss it," Mayor Regenia Bailey said with a smile.
Any discussion eventually may be moot. Co-owner Justin Smith of Waterloo said in an interview that he and his partners haven't settled on a location to open another club. They sent letters to several cities across Iowa as "feelers" to see what the reaction would be.
The club would not sell liquor after hours and patrons would have to bring in their own.
Spitzer Quits
CNN just announced the resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer.
"The remorse I feel will always be with me and words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and copmpassion they have shown me," Spitzer said.
The announcement came as the New York governor faces allegations -- but no charges -that he is tied to an international prostitution ring ensnared in a federal probe.
Current Lt. Gov. David A. Patterson will take the reigns "within days."
"The remorse I feel will always be with me and words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and copmpassion they have shown me," Spitzer said.
The announcement came as the New York governor faces allegations -- but no charges -that he is tied to an international prostitution ring ensnared in a federal probe.
Current Lt. Gov. David A. Patterson will take the reigns "within days."
Obama Wins Handily in Mississippi
Barack Obama, as expected, won the Mississippi primary 61% to 37%. Meanwhile, the state party leaders in Texas have announced that the final tally of the Texas caucuses (The second step, in the "Teaxas Two Step" primary and caucus process) will be announced on March 29. With 41% of the counties caucuses polled, Obama leads 56% to 44% over Hillary Clinton).
With his win in Mississippi, Obama has 1,596 delegates, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,484, according to The Associated Press count.
The popular vote tally is complicated. Blake Fleetwood at the Huffington Post reports that "Obama has the lead in the delegates and in the popular vote, but that is not exactly true as far as the votes are concerned, according to Clinton supporters. The figures from NBC are:
Including Florida And Michigan, Clinton wins by 30,657:
Clinton 13,521,832
Obama 13,497,175
In the Approved Contests Obama wins by 598,266:
Obama 12,920,961
Clinton 12,322,695
With Florida, where both were on the ballot, Obama wins by 303,494
Obama 13,497,175
Clinton 13,193,681"
With it 99.9% likely that Michigan and Florida will have mail-in "do over" primaries, Obama's and Clinton's campaigns are going to have their work cut out to wrap up the delegates ahead of the convention.
With his win in Mississippi, Obama has 1,596 delegates, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,484, according to The Associated Press count.
The popular vote tally is complicated. Blake Fleetwood at the Huffington Post reports that "Obama has the lead in the delegates and in the popular vote, but that is not exactly true as far as the votes are concerned, according to Clinton supporters. The figures from NBC are:
Including Florida And Michigan, Clinton wins by 30,657:
Clinton 13,521,832
Obama 13,497,175
In the Approved Contests Obama wins by 598,266:
Obama 12,920,961
Clinton 12,322,695
With Florida, where both were on the ballot, Obama wins by 303,494
Obama 13,497,175
Clinton 13,193,681"
With it 99.9% likely that Michigan and Florida will have mail-in "do over" primaries, Obama's and Clinton's campaigns are going to have their work cut out to wrap up the delegates ahead of the convention.
Ethanol Production and the Dead Zone
Cause and effect can be interesting and can make you question the wisdom of our collective thinking, particularly on a state wide level. According to the World Resources Institute,
"Human activities, mostly agriculture and the burning of fossil fuels, have also disrupted the nitrogen cycle. As agricultural production has increased to feed a global population that almost quadrupled during the Twentieth Century, humankind doubled the flow of nitrogen into the environment and tripled the flow of phosphorous. Half of all the nitrogen fertilizer ever used has been used in the last two decades."
From Yahoo News
Here is a map of dead zones around the world.
Time picks it up on 3/13.
"Human activities, mostly agriculture and the burning of fossil fuels, have also disrupted the nitrogen cycle. As agricultural production has increased to feed a global population that almost quadrupled during the Twentieth Century, humankind doubled the flow of nitrogen into the environment and tripled the flow of phosphorous. Half of all the nitrogen fertilizer ever used has been used in the last two decades."
From Yahoo News
A boost in corn production will worsen the Gulf's so-called "dead zone," an area with so little oxygen that sealife suffocates, said Simon Donner, a geographer at the University of British Columbia in Western Canada.
"Most organisms are not able to survive without enough oxygen," Donner told AFP. "All the bottom-dwelling organisms that can't move away are probably going to die, while fish will migrate if they can."
Donner and Chris Kucharik of the University of Wisconsin used computer models to conclude that growing enough corn to meet US biofuel goals set for 2022 would cause a boost of 10 to 34 percent in nitrogen pollution in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, which run into the Gulf of Mexico.
In turn, the study said, there will be more than a 95 percent probability of failure in American targets to reduce the Gulf dead zone.
The study is published Monday in the online Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Journal of Sciences.
The Gulf's dead zone, first measured about three decades ago, has grown to cover an area as large as 20,000 square kilometers (12,400 square miles) each summer in the Gulf, which is ringed by the southern United States, Mexico and Cuba.
The zone is caused indirectly by nitrogen fertilizers used on cornfields in states like Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Excess nitrogen runs into the Mississippi River, becomes nitrate, and feeds algae growth. When the algae eventually dies it sinks to the bottom and rots, a process that sucks oxygen out of the water and kills all other life forms.
Donner noted the continental United States already produces about half of the world's corn, in part for human consumption but mostly to feed livestock or make ethanol.
The authors predict the only way nitrate pollution could be controlled and ethanol targets met would be if American farmers stop raising meat animals on corn and dramatically change agricultural management techniques.
With oxygen levels in the Gulf's dead zone already as low as two parts per million or less, all commercial and sport fishing in the zone has been wiped out, said Donner.
But the fishery "doesn't have the economic value that corn production does," he noted. "You can think of it as an equity problem in a way. It's pollution from one part of the US damaging another part of the US."
Here is a map of dead zones around the world.
Time picks it up on 3/13.
Blackwater Blacklisted from California Town
From the Associated Press: "Military security contractor Blackwater Worldwide has pulled its plans to build a training facility in a remote area about 45 miles east of San Diego."
It's a modern-day story of David vs. Goliath, a grassroots victory of monumental proportions. After a long battle to block the building of Blackwater's mercenary base, the people of Potrero (population: 899) are rejoicing. Blackwater is gone. Gone from this pristine area of East San Diego County. Gone from California.
As you may know, for the last year the Courage Campaign has been working to help the people of Potrero get their message out to Californians. We wanted to amplify the stories of people like farmer Carl Meyer, a soft-spoken community leader who was the subject of a short, poignant video on our "Block Blackwater" web site.
In December, Carl and a slate of "Save Potrero" community leaders shocked the world, overwhelmingly winning a recall election to replace all five Potrero Planning Group members who had previously approved Blackwater's plans to build a mercenary base in their beautiful and serene small town.
Under people-powered pressure, Blackwater caved. You can watch our short, two-minute YouTube video highlighting Carl's activism and send a message of congratulations to the people of Potrero by clicking here:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/congratulations
It's a modern-day story of David vs. Goliath, a grassroots victory of monumental proportions. After a long battle to block the building of Blackwater's mercenary base, the people of Potrero (population: 899) are rejoicing. Blackwater is gone. Gone from this pristine area of East San Diego County. Gone from California.
As you may know, for the last year the Courage Campaign has been working to help the people of Potrero get their message out to Californians. We wanted to amplify the stories of people like farmer Carl Meyer, a soft-spoken community leader who was the subject of a short, poignant video on our "Block Blackwater" web site.
In December, Carl and a slate of "Save Potrero" community leaders shocked the world, overwhelmingly winning a recall election to replace all five Potrero Planning Group members who had previously approved Blackwater's plans to build a mercenary base in their beautiful and serene small town.
Under people-powered pressure, Blackwater caved. You can watch our short, two-minute YouTube video highlighting Carl's activism and send a message of congratulations to the people of Potrero by clicking here:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/congratulations
Tuesday, March 11
Kettle, I Believe You Know Pot
From Yahoo
Uh, does that apply to us too? See China's thoughts on the subject.
The United States dropped China from its list of the world's worst human rights violaters, but added Syria, Uzbekistan and Sudan to the category in an annual report released Tuesday.
The State Department's 2007 Human Rights Report said however that China, which has raised hopes internationally that it would improve human rights by hosting the 2008 Olympics, still had a poor human rights records overall.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the report was aimed at highlighting the struggle for human rights around the world.
"In the long run, we are confident that citizens who sacrifice for their dignity and their rights will prevail, just as the Havels and the Mandelas did before them," Rice told reporters.
Uh, does that apply to us too? See China's thoughts on the subject.
US to Iraq: When We Get Behind Closed Doors
U.S. State Department and Iraqi foreign ministry officials opened negotiations Tuesday over formal arrangements for a long-term relationship in the political, economic and security fields.
The talks will also focus on establishing a status of forces agreement (SOFA), a standard arrangement that spells out the legal basis for the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi territory and establishes legal rights and obligations.
Negotiating a SOFA begins with the assumption that the presence of U.S. military forces is in the interests of the host government as well as the U.S. government. The starting proposition is that the host country exercises complete authority over all of its territory and over anyone who is in that territory, subject to any agreements that make exceptions to that authority.
The Iraqi foreign ministry, in a statement, stressed the talks would focus on finding middle ground that would accommodate the needs of both nations. U.S. officials have sought to deflect publicity and close public scrutiny of the talks, which are being held behind closed doors.
159,000 troops are in Iraq and is expected to cut them to about 100,000 by next January.
The talks will also focus on establishing a status of forces agreement (SOFA), a standard arrangement that spells out the legal basis for the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi territory and establishes legal rights and obligations.
Negotiating a SOFA begins with the assumption that the presence of U.S. military forces is in the interests of the host government as well as the U.S. government. The starting proposition is that the host country exercises complete authority over all of its territory and over anyone who is in that territory, subject to any agreements that make exceptions to that authority.
The Iraqi foreign ministry, in a statement, stressed the talks would focus on finding middle ground that would accommodate the needs of both nations. U.S. officials have sought to deflect publicity and close public scrutiny of the talks, which are being held behind closed doors.
159,000 troops are in Iraq and is expected to cut them to about 100,000 by next January.
Chet Culver to Mike Mauro: "I know this guy..."
Wanted: Bids for $8.5 million dollars worth of voting machines with paper ballots, see Iowa Department of Administrative Services.
From KWWL:
From KWWL:
Governor Chet Culver wants more oversight when it comes to buying voting machines. Culver wants Secretary of State Michael Mauro to work with the Department of Administrative Services on the purchase.
The department's director, unlike Mauro, reports directly to Culver. The governor's request will be included in an amendment to a Senate bill that outlines Mauro's plan to buy the machines. The $8.5 million plan calls for the state to pay for the new equipment so every county has machines with paper ballots that can be recounted if necessary.
Culver was Secretary of State before Mauro. Spokesman Brad Anderson says the governor wants to make sure Iowa gets the best deal possible. Mauro says he doesn't mind as long as counties get the new voting machines.
Chief of U.S. Middle East Forces Quits
CNN reports:
Adm. William Fallon has resigned as chief of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia after more than a year in the post, citing what he called inaccurate news reports that put him at odds with the Bush administration over Iran.
Adm. William Fallon had been serving as chief of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia since 2007.
"Although I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there," Fallon said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Mississippi Democrats Say: Hey, Eyes Over Here!
The continued drama of embattled New York Governor Eliot Spitzer will likely dim the glare of the media on the campaign trail for today's Mississippi primary. However, Mississippi Democrats are deciding the last in a series presidential contests between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22nd.
With 33 delegates at stake and Clinton's camp saying she has little chance in Mississippi, and his win in Wyoming over the weekend, it is an opportunity for Obama to get back on a roll that demonstrates his campaign's wide ranging support and reframe the discussion of who is the Democratic front-runner.
With 33 delegates at stake and Clinton's camp saying she has little chance in Mississippi, and his win in Wyoming over the weekend, it is an opportunity for Obama to get back on a roll that demonstrates his campaign's wide ranging support and reframe the discussion of who is the Democratic front-runner.
Cool, Not So Clear Water
What's in your tapwater? According to a number of studies, much more than you think and the meaning of which is thus far not well understood.
One study points out the increase of pharmaceuticals in the water supply, most of which can be excreted from the body (usually in urine), flushed into toilets, and can pass through sewerage treatment plants into surface waters, rivers, etc.
In Philadelphia, the water department has found traces of 56 pharmaceuticals or their byproducts - like the active ingredients in drugs to treat depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, fever and pain - in the drinking water, and that 63 pharmaceuticals or byproducts had been found in the city's source watersheds. However the Water Department spokeswoman Laura Copeland said, "It would be irresponsible to communicate to the public about this issue, as doing so would only generate questions that scientific research has not yet answered. We don't want to create the perception where people would be alarmed."
The City of Milwaukee does monitor pharmaceuticals and other personal care products (PPCPs) and provides this infomration on their website to citizens, but does include a disclaimer: "The fact that a substance is detectable does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from pharmaceuticals at the low levels found in some drinking water supplies."
Experts encourage people not to flush unused medicines down the toilet, but to dispose of them as solid waste. This, of course leads to the question, does this leach into groundwater? The answer: It depends on the type of solid waste system.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, there are a number of other waste by-products that end up in the water supply. Since 1992, MTBE has been used at higher concentrations in some gasoline to fulfill the oxygenate requirements set by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. (A few cities, such as Denver, used oxygenates (MTBE) at higher concentrations during the wintertime in the late 1980's.)
A risk assessment by the European Union (EU) in 2001 of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has concluded that it does not pose a danger to human health, but that tighter controls on the handling and storage of the chemical are required. However, MTBE producers face a crisis of public confidence in the US due to leakages from storage facilities and its known carcinogenic qualities.
While the water quality in the US continues to be higher than the world at large, with the globalization of economies, the world's fresh water supply which is 2.5% of all the world's water, is endangered.
In fact, demand is already outstripping supply as these latest statistics from Blue Gold attest:
* Groundwater extractions exceed the recharge rate in the Arabian peninsula by nearly three times
* Seawater intrusion and agricultural runoff have contaminated 13 percent of Israel's coastal aquifers
* Non-recharging aquifers in Africa are being depleted at a rate of 10 billion cubic meters per year
* India is experiencing falling water tables throughout the entire country
* Eight regions in China are subject to aquifer overdraft and Beijing's water table has fallen 37 meters during the past four decades
* Mexico city pumps out its aquifers at a rate 50 to 80 percent greater than they recharge, prompting experts to predict that the city will run dry in the next decade
* Extractions from the 800-mile wide High Plains Ogallala aquifer in the U.S. exceed the recharge rate by eight times, and finally
* "21 percent of irrigation is achieved by pumping ground water at rates that exceed the recharge rate."
As explained in Blue Gold:
What this seems to say is that we need to be more vigilant about our water supply and to push for higher water quality and water policy standards.
One study points out the increase of pharmaceuticals in the water supply, most of which can be excreted from the body (usually in urine), flushed into toilets, and can pass through sewerage treatment plants into surface waters, rivers, etc.
In Philadelphia, the water department has found traces of 56 pharmaceuticals or their byproducts - like the active ingredients in drugs to treat depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, fever and pain - in the drinking water, and that 63 pharmaceuticals or byproducts had been found in the city's source watersheds. However the Water Department spokeswoman Laura Copeland said, "It would be irresponsible to communicate to the public about this issue, as doing so would only generate questions that scientific research has not yet answered. We don't want to create the perception where people would be alarmed."
The City of Milwaukee does monitor pharmaceuticals and other personal care products (PPCPs) and provides this infomration on their website to citizens, but does include a disclaimer: "The fact that a substance is detectable does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from pharmaceuticals at the low levels found in some drinking water supplies."
Experts encourage people not to flush unused medicines down the toilet, but to dispose of them as solid waste. This, of course leads to the question, does this leach into groundwater? The answer: It depends on the type of solid waste system.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, there are a number of other waste by-products that end up in the water supply. Since 1992, MTBE has been used at higher concentrations in some gasoline to fulfill the oxygenate requirements set by Congress in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. (A few cities, such as Denver, used oxygenates (MTBE) at higher concentrations during the wintertime in the late 1980's.)
A risk assessment by the European Union (EU) in 2001 of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has concluded that it does not pose a danger to human health, but that tighter controls on the handling and storage of the chemical are required. However, MTBE producers face a crisis of public confidence in the US due to leakages from storage facilities and its known carcinogenic qualities.
While the water quality in the US continues to be higher than the world at large, with the globalization of economies, the world's fresh water supply which is 2.5% of all the world's water, is endangered.
In fact, demand is already outstripping supply as these latest statistics from Blue Gold attest:
* Groundwater extractions exceed the recharge rate in the Arabian peninsula by nearly three times
* Seawater intrusion and agricultural runoff have contaminated 13 percent of Israel's coastal aquifers
* Non-recharging aquifers in Africa are being depleted at a rate of 10 billion cubic meters per year
* India is experiencing falling water tables throughout the entire country
* Eight regions in China are subject to aquifer overdraft and Beijing's water table has fallen 37 meters during the past four decades
* Mexico city pumps out its aquifers at a rate 50 to 80 percent greater than they recharge, prompting experts to predict that the city will run dry in the next decade
* Extractions from the 800-mile wide High Plains Ogallala aquifer in the U.S. exceed the recharge rate by eight times, and finally
* "21 percent of irrigation is achieved by pumping ground water at rates that exceed the recharge rate."
As explained in Blue Gold:
The dominant worldview adhered to by the corporate elite and their allies in government places greater value on economic growth and shareholder gains than on human rights and ecological sustainability. As a consequence of this pervasive attitude, the natural world, with all of its complex associations and diverse ecosystems, is unraveling under the ravenous, "resource-eating" frenzy of globalization. The abuse of water, especially by the most prosperous segments of society, reflects the cavalier and irreverent attitude that humanity has towards water. Water, that universal ingredient for life itself, has become the latest victim to suffer from the unbalanced, unsustainable economic model of infinite growth.
What this seems to say is that we need to be more vigilant about our water supply and to push for higher water quality and water policy standards.
It's No Go for Waterloo Coal-Fired Plant
An energy plant that has generated controversy in the Waterloo area has been denied the ability to begin construction. According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Iowa regulators have denied a construction permit for a proposed $1.3 billion coal-burning power plant in Waterloo because its developers don't have legal control of the project site.
The application from Elk Run Energy Associates LLC and LS Power Development LLC was rejected today by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, less than four days after the application was filed.
Elk Run and LS Power "failed to meet the requirement to show legal entitlement to the property at the proposed location," the DNR said in a prepared statement.
The application was denied because the site proposed for the plant in Black Hawk County is zoned for agriculture, according to DNR officials. Waterloo has attempted to annex the property, but the City Development Board has denied the request. The denial is under legal appeal.
Elk Run Energy plans to ask the state to reconsider the permit application denial, according to a statement released by the company late Thursday. Elk Run Energy believes state regulations allow the state to continue with the evaluation of its permit request, the statement said.
DNR officials had already indicated that Elk Run and LS Power had alternatives.
"Elk Run and LS Power can submit another construction permit application after revisions are made to meet the objections specified in the application denial," Air Quality Bureau Chief Catharine Fitzsimmons said in a prepared statement. "At that time, it will be treated as a new project."
The 750-megawatt Elk Run Energy Station would be the first "merchant" power plant built in Iowa in modern times built to sell power at wholesale to entities unrelated to the owner. It faces strong opposition from some neighboring property owners and environmental groups concerned about the long-term effects of the plant's carbon emissions on climate change and on the health effects of toxic emissions such as lead and mercury.
About 17 farmers are also in opposition to a 10-mile transmission line proposed to link the project to the electric grid, according to Carrier La Seur of Cedar Rapids-based environmental law center Plains Justice, which is representing the farmers.
Monday, March 10
If Spitzer Resigns...Meet Governor David Patterson
New York's Lt. Governor is David A. Paterson. By the New York Constitution, he would be next in line to serve out the remainder of Eliot Spitzer's term, should Spitzer choose to resign.
According to Lt. Governor Patterson's website:
Patterson is also a Hillary Clinton supporter and a superdelegate. He has been widely touted as a possible replacement to Clinton, if she were to be elected President.
As things do not look good at all for Spitzer with the charges that have been leveled on him concerning being the Sy Sperling (He of the Hair Club for men fame)of things prostitutional ("I not only prosecuted prostitution rings, I am a Customer." Given his Attorney General background, his "Eliot Ness" comparisons, and the freefall from grace that is being played out for him publicly in the media capitol of the US, it is highly likely his Governor's goose is cooked.
So the question of the evening is: Mr. Patterson, are you ready for your close-up?
According to Lt. Governor Patterson's website:
Elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985, David Paterson has demanded and achieved change at every level, not simply by what he stands for but by who he is.
In 2002, David Paterson was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history. In 2004 in Boston, he became the first visually impaired person to address a Democratic National Convention. And 2006 saw Mr. Paterson make history again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor.
As New York State Senate minority leader, David Paterson led the charge on several crucial issues for New York’s future, proposing legislation for a $1 billion voter-approved stem cell research initiative, demanding a statewide alternative energy strategy, insisting on strong action to fight against domestic violence, and serving as the primary champion for minority- and women-owned businesses in New York. As a result, Governor Spitzer asked Mr. Paterson to continue to lead New York State on these issues as lieutenant governor.
Lt. Governor Paterson, who is legally blind, is also nationally recognized as a leading advocate for the visually and physically impaired. A graduate of Columbia University and Hofstra Law School, Mr. Paterson also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia’s School for International and Public Affairs. David Paterson lives in Harlem with his wife, Michelle, and their two children, Ashley and Alex, and he is the son of Basil Paterson, the first non-white secretary of state of New York and the first African-American vice-chair of the national Democratic Party.
Patterson is also a Hillary Clinton supporter and a superdelegate. He has been widely touted as a possible replacement to Clinton, if she were to be elected President.
As things do not look good at all for Spitzer with the charges that have been leveled on him concerning being the Sy Sperling (He of the Hair Club for men fame)of things prostitutional ("I not only prosecuted prostitution rings, I am a Customer." Given his Attorney General background, his "Eliot Ness" comparisons, and the freefall from grace that is being played out for him publicly in the media capitol of the US, it is highly likely his Governor's goose is cooked.
So the question of the evening is: Mr. Patterson, are you ready for your close-up?
NY Governor and Clinton Supporter Spitzer in Deep Trouble
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has, according to the NY Times, admitted to dealing with a prostitution ring despite his actions as New York's Attorney General to be tough on them. While the details have not been released yet, it creates an awkward situation for Hillary Clinton who was endorsed by Spitzer in May of 2007 for president.
This is a significant problem for the Democratic Party in New York and remains to be seen how the blowout from this scandal will play out. Republicans in the state will waste no time to make hay out of this.
Already there is speculation that Spitzer will resign as Governor.
Spitzer's public statementno reference to resignation.
SPITZER: I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.
I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what it best for the state of New York.
But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.
This is a significant problem for the Democratic Party in New York and remains to be seen how the blowout from this scandal will play out. Republicans in the state will waste no time to make hay out of this.
Already there is speculation that Spitzer will resign as Governor.
Spitzer's public statementno reference to resignation.
SPITZER: I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.
I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what it best for the state of New York.
But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.
An Arresting Karl Rove Story
This one from Frank Cordaro and the Happy Warriors from the Des Moines Catholic Workers...
Catholic Workers Attempt to Arrest Karl Rove
Des Moines Catholic Workers Kirk Brown and Mona Shaw attempted to make
a citizen's arrest on Karl Rove at the opening of his talk on Sunday
March 9th talk in Iowa City. Shaw and Brown stood before an audience
that included about 200 protesters decrying Rove's appearance. The
message of the protesters included written and spoken exposes of
Rove's criminal and traitorous acts as well as shaming the University
of Iowa for providing a climate of legitimacy for a man they believed
should instead be indicted. Protesters showed up to expose Rove for
the criminal and traitor that he is, to call shame on the University
of Iowa for paying Rove $40,000 to speak and providing him a venue of
legitimacy on the University of Iowa campus.
In a speech at a protest rally held before Rove's talk, Des Moines
Catholic Worker Frank Cordaro submitted the reasoning behind the need
to attempt citizen's arrests of Rove whenever the opportunity arose.
"Iowans need to ask the bigger question of why Karl Rove is an
un-indicted war criminal and a free man. Isn't it because of our
gutless Congress, unwilling to do its duty and start impeachment
proceedings on Bush and Cheney and to start a war crimes case against
Rove 'the architect' to Bush's War on Iraq? Isn't it because our
judicial system, starting with the Supreme Court has been bought off
or scared off by the national security interest running our country?
And in our democracy when the Presidency is controlled by an criminal
gang and the Congress and Judicial branch or our government are
unwilling to do the right and just thing, it is left up to ordinary
citizens to step into the breach and attempt to make citizens arrest
of people like Karl Rove."
Brown and Shaw attempted such a citizen's arrest immediately following
Rove's introduction. Both held and began to read a written "Citizen's
Arrest Complaint" that cited Federal Criminal statutes and the Iowa
Code. Before they could finish reading the complaint, they were taken
into custody by University Police, informed they were under arrest,
and removed from the hall. Both were released in the foyer leading to
the hall and not allowed to return to the talk.
It is time for other citizens of conscience, as well, to take up the
challenge and bear our civic obligation to attempt citizen's arrests
of Karl Rove whenever the opportunity arises. This should be done so
Rove will always know that even though he and his friends in the White
House may have silenced the Congress and Judicial branch of our
government, they have not silenced the People who know of their crimes
and will not rest until justice is done.
---------------------------------------------------
Citizen's Arrest Complaint
United States of America, plaintiff
v.
Karl Christian Rove, defendant
Under the authority provided private citizens by Iowa Code: 804.9.2,
you, Karl Christian Rove, are being placed under arrest for high
crimes against the people of the United States committed during your
role as Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush as well as
while serving as a campaign consultant during the U.S. presidential
elections of 2000 and 2004.
You are charged with willful violation of the following federal codes
between the dates of January 1, 2000 until the present.
US Code: Title 42, the Voting Rights Act, for ELECTION FRAUD in the
2000 and 2004 presidential elections US Code, Chapter 19.371,
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OFFENSE OR TO DEFRAUD UNITED STATES, for false
information leading to the War in Iraq,
Several sections of US Code, Chapter 115, TREASON, SEDITION, AND
SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES including, but not limited to submitting and
fomenting false information leading to the War in Iraq, illegal
detainment and torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and elsewhere, and
other fraudulent acts leading to the deaths of nearly 4,000 U.S.
military personnel as well as approximately 300,000 Iraqi civilians.
Further, you may also be indicted for other violations of federal code
not listed in this complaint.
Any United States Marshall or any authorized U.S. Law Enforcement
Officer present is obligated under the provisions of Iowa Code 804.9.2
to take you into custody and bring you forthwith before the nearest
magistrate to answer these charges and to advise you of your rights
which include:
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be
used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an
attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If
you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government
expense.
Respectfully submitted by and for citizens of the state of Iowa
On this 9th day of March, 2008.
Kirk Brown, DM Catholic Worker Community
1310 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314
kbmw36@yahoo.com
Mona Shaw, DM Catholic Worker Community
1310 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314
MonaShaw@aol.com
Catholic Workers Attempt to Arrest Karl Rove
Des Moines Catholic Workers Kirk Brown and Mona Shaw attempted to make
a citizen's arrest on Karl Rove at the opening of his talk on Sunday
March 9th talk in Iowa City. Shaw and Brown stood before an audience
that included about 200 protesters decrying Rove's appearance. The
message of the protesters included written and spoken exposes of
Rove's criminal and traitorous acts as well as shaming the University
of Iowa for providing a climate of legitimacy for a man they believed
should instead be indicted. Protesters showed up to expose Rove for
the criminal and traitor that he is, to call shame on the University
of Iowa for paying Rove $40,000 to speak and providing him a venue of
legitimacy on the University of Iowa campus.
In a speech at a protest rally held before Rove's talk, Des Moines
Catholic Worker Frank Cordaro submitted the reasoning behind the need
to attempt citizen's arrests of Rove whenever the opportunity arose.
"Iowans need to ask the bigger question of why Karl Rove is an
un-indicted war criminal and a free man. Isn't it because of our
gutless Congress, unwilling to do its duty and start impeachment
proceedings on Bush and Cheney and to start a war crimes case against
Rove 'the architect' to Bush's War on Iraq? Isn't it because our
judicial system, starting with the Supreme Court has been bought off
or scared off by the national security interest running our country?
And in our democracy when the Presidency is controlled by an criminal
gang and the Congress and Judicial branch or our government are
unwilling to do the right and just thing, it is left up to ordinary
citizens to step into the breach and attempt to make citizens arrest
of people like Karl Rove."
Brown and Shaw attempted such a citizen's arrest immediately following
Rove's introduction. Both held and began to read a written "Citizen's
Arrest Complaint" that cited Federal Criminal statutes and the Iowa
Code. Before they could finish reading the complaint, they were taken
into custody by University Police, informed they were under arrest,
and removed from the hall. Both were released in the foyer leading to
the hall and not allowed to return to the talk.
It is time for other citizens of conscience, as well, to take up the
challenge and bear our civic obligation to attempt citizen's arrests
of Karl Rove whenever the opportunity arises. This should be done so
Rove will always know that even though he and his friends in the White
House may have silenced the Congress and Judicial branch of our
government, they have not silenced the People who know of their crimes
and will not rest until justice is done.
---------------------------------------------------
Citizen's Arrest Complaint
United States of America, plaintiff
v.
Karl Christian Rove, defendant
Under the authority provided private citizens by Iowa Code: 804.9.2,
you, Karl Christian Rove, are being placed under arrest for high
crimes against the people of the United States committed during your
role as Deputy Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush as well as
while serving as a campaign consultant during the U.S. presidential
elections of 2000 and 2004.
You are charged with willful violation of the following federal codes
between the dates of January 1, 2000 until the present.
US Code: Title 42, the Voting Rights Act, for ELECTION FRAUD in the
2000 and 2004 presidential elections US Code, Chapter 19.371,
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OFFENSE OR TO DEFRAUD UNITED STATES, for false
information leading to the War in Iraq,
Several sections of US Code, Chapter 115, TREASON, SEDITION, AND
SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES including, but not limited to submitting and
fomenting false information leading to the War in Iraq, illegal
detainment and torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and elsewhere, and
other fraudulent acts leading to the deaths of nearly 4,000 U.S.
military personnel as well as approximately 300,000 Iraqi civilians.
Further, you may also be indicted for other violations of federal code
not listed in this complaint.
Any United States Marshall or any authorized U.S. Law Enforcement
Officer present is obligated under the provisions of Iowa Code 804.9.2
to take you into custody and bring you forthwith before the nearest
magistrate to answer these charges and to advise you of your rights
which include:
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be
used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an
attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If
you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government
expense.
Respectfully submitted by and for citizens of the state of Iowa
On this 9th day of March, 2008.
Kirk Brown, DM Catholic Worker Community
1310 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314
kbmw36@yahoo.com
Mona Shaw, DM Catholic Worker Community
1310 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50314
MonaShaw@aol.com
Rove Reviews Straight Out of the Cornfield
Free Radical and fellow blogger David Goodner passed these along...
Ex-Bush advisor draws protestors in Iowa City
Radio Iowa
Rove, crowd at U of I trade barbs
DM Register
Jeers, protesters greet Bush adviser at UI
CR Gazette
Boos, cheers for Rove
Press-Citizen
A Roving visit from the architect
Daily Iowan
No love fest for Rove
Daily Iowan 2
the Karl Rove story the media didn't get
David Goodner's Blog
And these new ones from me...
Another Side of Karl Rove
Daily Iowan 3
The Belly of the Architect
ABC's Political Punch
Rove Taunted at University of Iowa
CNN's Political Ticker
Ex-Bush advisor draws protestors in Iowa City
Radio Iowa
Rove, crowd at U of I trade barbs
DM Register
Jeers, protesters greet Bush adviser at UI
CR Gazette
Boos, cheers for Rove
Press-Citizen
A Roving visit from the architect
Daily Iowan
No love fest for Rove
Daily Iowan 2
the Karl Rove story the media didn't get
David Goodner's Blog
And these new ones from me...
Another Side of Karl Rove
Daily Iowan 3
The Belly of the Architect
ABC's Political Punch
Rove Taunted at University of Iowa
CNN's Political Ticker
Five US Troops KIA in Baghdad by Suicide Bomber
Five US soldiers have been killed by a suicide bomb attack while they patrolled in Baghdad, the US army said. The suicide bomber approached the patrol on a Baghdad street and blew himself up, Iraqi police told Reuters.
Three other troops and an Iraqi interpreter were also injured in the attack, the US military said.
The attack follows the killing of Thaer Ghadban al-Karkhi, a Sunni tribal leader, in a suicide bomb attack on his house near Baquba earlier on Monday.
The US military told the BBC that the attack on its troops took place in the Mansour district of Baghdad.
In other Iraq War news: US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker intends to retire in early January of 2009 and leave the post he has served since March of last year.
I am prepared to remain in Baghdad until early 2009, when I intend to retire," Mr Crocker told the Washington Post.
"That will make two years in Iraq and 37 years in the Foreign Service - it's enough!"
Gen David Petraeus is also expected to leave Iraq on a scheduled rotation of duties just before Mr Crocker has said he will retire.
Three other troops and an Iraqi interpreter were also injured in the attack, the US military said.
The attack follows the killing of Thaer Ghadban al-Karkhi, a Sunni tribal leader, in a suicide bomb attack on his house near Baquba earlier on Monday.
The US military told the BBC that the attack on its troops took place in the Mansour district of Baghdad.
In other Iraq War news: US envoy to Iraq, Ryan Crocker intends to retire in early January of 2009 and leave the post he has served since March of last year.
I am prepared to remain in Baghdad until early 2009, when I intend to retire," Mr Crocker told the Washington Post.
"That will make two years in Iraq and 37 years in the Foreign Service - it's enough!"
Gen David Petraeus is also expected to leave Iraq on a scheduled rotation of duties just before Mr Crocker has said he will retire.
20 or so Minutes on Obama from Lawrence Lessig
One of the more intelligent discussions on the real differences between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Saturday, March 8
Bush To Veto Waterboarding n' More Bill
President Bush plans to veto legislation that would bar the CIA from using waterboarding — a technique that simulates drowning — and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects.
The president plans to discuss the apparent veto during his Saturday radio address.
In the past, Bush has said the bill would impinge the government's ability to prevent future attacks. However supporters of the legislation argue that it preserves the United States' right to collect intelligence while offering a boost to the country's moral standing elsewhere.
"The bill would take away one of the most valuable tools on the war on terror, the CIA program to detain and question key terrorist leaders and operatives," deputy White House press secretary Tony Fratto said Friday.
However, this statement is in conflict with the bill's language which would restrict the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation techniques listed in the Army field manual.
What do you say John McCain?
The president plans to discuss the apparent veto during his Saturday radio address.
In the past, Bush has said the bill would impinge the government's ability to prevent future attacks. However supporters of the legislation argue that it preserves the United States' right to collect intelligence while offering a boost to the country's moral standing elsewhere.
"The bill would take away one of the most valuable tools on the war on terror, the CIA program to detain and question key terrorist leaders and operatives," deputy White House press secretary Tony Fratto said Friday.
However, this statement is in conflict with the bill's language which would restrict the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation techniques listed in the Army field manual.
What do you say John McCain?
Treasure Rove
I will admit my vitriol as far as Karl Rove is concerned is pretty, pretty elevated. But, as he is as close as we will get to a visit from the POTUS (at least for the next several months), we should treasure Rove for the treasure trove of information he can lay on us while visiting our fair city on Sunday March 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union on the UI campus.
For instance, he can explain what he whispered in the President's ear while he was reading the Little Goat after the twin towers went down?--"It's on" would be my guess, but only a guess.
We can ask him why he really left the White House?--he hasn't been spending much time around the family since he left the job--his supposed reason for going on hiatus.
We can ask him how many eventual indictments he expects members of this administration to be served if the next President is say African-American or a woman and the Democrats hold both the House and Senate?
We can ask him why he let Scooter Libby get thrown under the bus for acts he was involved in? Follow-up: Was Valerie the name of his latest Plame?
With the US involved in military actions on every continent except Antarctica and Australia, does he think Colin Powell might have had a point about exhausting diplomatic options before sending in the military?
Is he supplying ammo to John McCain so that the presidential race can rise as high as it did in 2000 when "sources" claimed McCain fathered a black child in South Carolina?
Perhaps he can comment on his role in generating falsehoods about former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman?
That will probably take all the time that will be available for audience questions, particularly if the college Republicans get seat-fillers lined up early. I believe that was a idea that Karl came up with early in his career. It's important to have role-models in public service.
Some of Karl's finer moments:
“Cindy Sheehan is a clown. There is no real antiwar movement. No serious politician, with anything to do with anything, would show his face at an antiwar rally.”
“The purpose of the terrorist-surveillance program is to protect lives. The president's actions were legal and fully consistent with the 4th Amendment and the protection of our civil liberties under the constitution.”
“I disagree. The Age of Bush 43 did not cause the polarization.”
"As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be too much of a good thing."
For instance, he can explain what he whispered in the President's ear while he was reading the Little Goat after the twin towers went down?--"It's on" would be my guess, but only a guess.
We can ask him why he really left the White House?--he hasn't been spending much time around the family since he left the job--his supposed reason for going on hiatus.
We can ask him how many eventual indictments he expects members of this administration to be served if the next President is say African-American or a woman and the Democrats hold both the House and Senate?
We can ask him why he let Scooter Libby get thrown under the bus for acts he was involved in? Follow-up: Was Valerie the name of his latest Plame?
With the US involved in military actions on every continent except Antarctica and Australia, does he think Colin Powell might have had a point about exhausting diplomatic options before sending in the military?
Is he supplying ammo to John McCain so that the presidential race can rise as high as it did in 2000 when "sources" claimed McCain fathered a black child in South Carolina?
Perhaps he can comment on his role in generating falsehoods about former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman?
That will probably take all the time that will be available for audience questions, particularly if the college Republicans get seat-fillers lined up early. I believe that was a idea that Karl came up with early in his career. It's important to have role-models in public service.
Some of Karl's finer moments:
“Cindy Sheehan is a clown. There is no real antiwar movement. No serious politician, with anything to do with anything, would show his face at an antiwar rally.”
“The purpose of the terrorist-surveillance program is to protect lives. The president's actions were legal and fully consistent with the 4th Amendment and the protection of our civil liberties under the constitution.”
“I disagree. The Age of Bush 43 did not cause the polarization.”
"As people do better, they start voting like Republicans - unless they have too much education and vote Democratic, which proves there can be too much of a good thing."
Speech Is Powerful: Words Matter
You are invited to attend - Words Matter: a conversation on racialized speech, sponsored by the University of Iowa Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the
Iowa City Human Rights Office on:
Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM
2520D University Capitol Centre
Come partake in a proactive straight forward conversation about the power and impact of Racialized Words in: stereotypes, assumptions, how children learn racism, intersections of identities, denial and delusions.
Iowa City Human Rights Office on:
Tuesday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM
2520D University Capitol Centre
Come partake in a proactive straight forward conversation about the power and impact of Racialized Words in: stereotypes, assumptions, how children learn racism, intersections of identities, denial and delusions.
Colbert's Word More Truth Than Truthiness
In the beginning (of the Colbert Report), there was the Word and the word was AT &Treason--Check it out over at Crooks and Liars.
Friday, March 7
City and Shelter House Win in Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court reversed and remanded an earlier district court decision concerning the Iowa City Board of Adjustment decision to approve the Shelter House to build a larger, new emergency shelter that will better serve the needs of Johnson County homeless on Southgate Dr.
In making its case, the appellates claimed that values of adjoining properties would decline and that the city and Shelter House had not proven that they would not be. However, in its decision the Iowa Supreme Court said:
Here is the story from the Press-Citizen
In making its case, the appellates claimed that values of adjoining properties would decline and that the city and Shelter House had not proven that they would not be. However, in its decision the Iowa Supreme Court said:
"Because we think there was substantial evidence to support the board’s finding that property values would not be adversely affected, we reverse the judgment of the district court and remand this case for entry of a judgment affirming the board’s decision."
"We conclude the board made adequate findings, and its decision was supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, the district court erred in reversing the board’s grant of Shelter House’s application for a special exception. We therefore reverse the district court’s judgment and remand this case back to the district court for entry of an order affirming the decision of the board of adjustment."
Here is the story from the Press-Citizen
Thursday, March 6
Wellstone Mental and Health and Addiction Equity Bill Passes in House
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act passed the House of Representatives, by a vote of 268 to 148. This bill would bring mental health parity and comprehensive mental health care.
This was no small feat. The business lobby was working hard against us, and President Bush came out against the bill in favor of the much weaker Senate version passed last year.
Despite all the pressure from opponents, this legislation managed to accomplish a minor miracle in Washington - bring real bipartisan cooperation. 47 Republicans joined the 221 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.
This would not have been possible without your engagement in our campaign. Thank you for your calls, emails, and letters to Congress. This has been a real grassroots campaign against powerful interests.
Here's NPR's story
Yes We Do!
Do we live in a country where change is incremental?
Yes we do!
Do we live in a country where hopes are often dashed?
Yes we do!
Having a better world for our children is a nice idea, but we have to be realistic, don't we?
Yes we do!
This is the mindset that Barack Obama is campaigning against. The parental imperative. We must protect our children from the awful things that are lurking about waiting to cause them harm, whether it is putting plastic plugs in electrical sockets, or keeping terrorists from creating havoc. This is the charge of our government.
We also are a nation of doers. Most any conversation will include "So, what do you do?" or "What did you do last night?"--this is also part of our social fabric. Quantity not quality is often how people measure their worth. When I was a counselor, how many people I saw was more important to my bosses than how many people I helped. In the bean-counting that takes place in America, we often mistake quantity for quality.
Politics has been the bastion of quantity: how many earmarks did you get your district, how many dollars went to defense, how much support do you have on this bill, what do the polls say?
But Barack Obama offers us a different view. He offers us the opportunity to close the gap of those things that keep us apart and to work together on the hard issues: health care, poverty, environmental issues, energy, and so on. He does it the way that Franklin Roosevelt did it, and Abraham Lincoln did it, and the founding fathers did it--words that lead to action.
Because, in the end, it is quality of change that matters. If we have a universal health care program that leads to a decline in care, who really benefits? If we have an immigration policy that pits workers against workers and decreases the quality of goods or services, who wins?
Hillary Clinton offers the parental, pragmatic view. Rust belt cities are built on pragmatism-- on account of supporting factories that are closing down faster than expanding. If we move ahead even incrementally, that is good enough. If we settle for less than the best possible outcome, hey, at least we tried. Politics is the art of the pragmatic after all.
Still, if you listened to the wrap-up speeches the other night's primaries, which world would you want to be a part of? I grew up in the world of Ohio pragmatism where each time a factory closed down, expectations declined with it. That was the world I chose to leave, believing that it was a place where I would constantly, in the words of Tennessee Ernie Ford, "owe my soul to the company store."
I don't expect that everything that Obama talks about will instantly come to fruition, after all we would be in a learning curve. But if hope backed by government resources and people power is what he is offering, bring on the 21st Century version of the "New Deal." Do we need change? Yes we do!
Yes we do!
Do we live in a country where hopes are often dashed?
Yes we do!
Having a better world for our children is a nice idea, but we have to be realistic, don't we?
Yes we do!
This is the mindset that Barack Obama is campaigning against. The parental imperative. We must protect our children from the awful things that are lurking about waiting to cause them harm, whether it is putting plastic plugs in electrical sockets, or keeping terrorists from creating havoc. This is the charge of our government.
We also are a nation of doers. Most any conversation will include "So, what do you do?" or "What did you do last night?"--this is also part of our social fabric. Quantity not quality is often how people measure their worth. When I was a counselor, how many people I saw was more important to my bosses than how many people I helped. In the bean-counting that takes place in America, we often mistake quantity for quality.
Politics has been the bastion of quantity: how many earmarks did you get your district, how many dollars went to defense, how much support do you have on this bill, what do the polls say?
But Barack Obama offers us a different view. He offers us the opportunity to close the gap of those things that keep us apart and to work together on the hard issues: health care, poverty, environmental issues, energy, and so on. He does it the way that Franklin Roosevelt did it, and Abraham Lincoln did it, and the founding fathers did it--words that lead to action.
Because, in the end, it is quality of change that matters. If we have a universal health care program that leads to a decline in care, who really benefits? If we have an immigration policy that pits workers against workers and decreases the quality of goods or services, who wins?
Hillary Clinton offers the parental, pragmatic view. Rust belt cities are built on pragmatism-- on account of supporting factories that are closing down faster than expanding. If we move ahead even incrementally, that is good enough. If we settle for less than the best possible outcome, hey, at least we tried. Politics is the art of the pragmatic after all.
Still, if you listened to the wrap-up speeches the other night's primaries, which world would you want to be a part of? I grew up in the world of Ohio pragmatism where each time a factory closed down, expectations declined with it. That was the world I chose to leave, believing that it was a place where I would constantly, in the words of Tennessee Ernie Ford, "owe my soul to the company store."
I don't expect that everything that Obama talks about will instantly come to fruition, after all we would be in a learning curve. But if hope backed by government resources and people power is what he is offering, bring on the 21st Century version of the "New Deal." Do we need change? Yes we do!
Wednesday, March 5
Democratic Theater: Hope Takes a Holiday or Hat's Off to Hillary
Apparently when it is 3 A.M. in Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island, voters hoped Hillary Clinton was there to answer the phone at the White House. After being all but counted out, Team Clinton scored yet another win in the big delegate states further casting doubt as to whom the nomination will eventually go.
In what can only be described as a disappointing night with a single primary victory in Howard Dean's home state, Vermont, Barack Obama's camp will look to wins in Wyoming and Mississippi in the lead up to the next big delegate state, Pennsylvania.
It will be interesting to see what strategy Obama's campaign uses to counterpunch the effectiveness of Clinton's message that worked so well among voters in bellweather state Ohio and Texas. Clinton's "where's the beef" message combined with who would be better in a crisis message resonated with voters who are concerned not only with Iraq, but also with jobs and the economy.
While the delegate count will keep Obama slightly ahead, the all important, intangible-- momentum has shifted to HRC and the onus is on Obama to make a come back. I would guess that his campaign will have to work hard to show how experience is not always a good thing and how Obama would tackle the economy, as well as end the war.
Also, with the Republican nominee decided, how will John McCain factor into deciding who the Democrats put up against him. With four victories last night, McCain earned the crown of Republican standard bearer. His mission will be two-fold, keep his name in the papers by commenting on the Democratic Party race and selecting a V.P. candidate that will help secure "the base" in the Fall.
In what can only be described as a disappointing night with a single primary victory in Howard Dean's home state, Vermont, Barack Obama's camp will look to wins in Wyoming and Mississippi in the lead up to the next big delegate state, Pennsylvania.
It will be interesting to see what strategy Obama's campaign uses to counterpunch the effectiveness of Clinton's message that worked so well among voters in bellweather state Ohio and Texas. Clinton's "where's the beef" message combined with who would be better in a crisis message resonated with voters who are concerned not only with Iraq, but also with jobs and the economy.
While the delegate count will keep Obama slightly ahead, the all important, intangible-- momentum has shifted to HRC and the onus is on Obama to make a come back. I would guess that his campaign will have to work hard to show how experience is not always a good thing and how Obama would tackle the economy, as well as end the war.
Also, with the Republican nominee decided, how will John McCain factor into deciding who the Democrats put up against him. With four victories last night, McCain earned the crown of Republican standard bearer. His mission will be two-fold, keep his name in the papers by commenting on the Democratic Party race and selecting a V.P. candidate that will help secure "the base" in the Fall.
Tuesday, March 4
Iowa City Manager or Back to the Drawing Board?
UPDATE: Back to the drawing board wins. The Iowa City Council is considering additional candidates for the City Manager's position while also keeping candidates Matthes and Chaudry on hold.
From the Press-Citizen
Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey is expected to release a statement this morning about the search for a new city manager.
The council went into closed session following its work session Monday evening to continue its discussion on the search for a new city manager. The conversation followed a six-and-half-hour meeting Saturday that included a second interview with the two finalists.
Bailey said she would issue a statement this morning on whether the council decided on M.A. “Art” Chaudry, the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., or Des Moines assistant city manager Michael Matthes.
From the Press-Citizen
Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey is expected to release a statement this morning about the search for a new city manager.
The council went into closed session following its work session Monday evening to continue its discussion on the search for a new city manager. The conversation followed a six-and-half-hour meeting Saturday that included a second interview with the two finalists.
Bailey said she would issue a statement this morning on whether the council decided on M.A. “Art” Chaudry, the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., or Des Moines assistant city manager Michael Matthes.
Obama NAFTA Facts: All Smoke and No Gun
FactCheck has the whole story.
Clinton’s spokesman says a newly surfaced memo proves that Obama's campaign issued false denials about sending a private message to Canadian officials to disregard his criticisms of NAFTA. The Obama camp says it’s all a misunderstanding, and the Canadian embassy in Washington says it regrets the whole thing.
Is this “NAFTA-gate” as the Clinton campaign would like Ohio voters to believe when they vote in the March 4 primary? Or is it, as the Obama camp describes it, just a botched description by a low-level official in Canada’s Chicago office of a meeting with a senior Obama adviser?
It's now clear that a Canadian news report that started this flap wasn't accurate. No evidence has surfaced to show that any Obama "staffer" telephoned the Canadian ambassador in Washington, and all concerned deny that any such conversation took place. But it is equally clear that Obama's senior economic adviser did visit Canada's consulate in Chicago on Feb. 8, and that NAFTA was one of the several topics discussed.
Exactly what was said is not so clear, however. The memo says Obama's anti-NAFTA stance was described as just "political maneuvering," but the adviser says he said no such thing. The campaign says the adviser wasn't authorized to convey any message from the candidate anyway. No audio recording or verbatim transcript of the disputed conversation is available, and there’s no reason to expect that any exist. So the best we can do is to provide readers with the essential details as they have unfolded over the past several days, with links to original sources when available. On this one, you’ll have to be the judge.
Here is what the Canadian Embassy had to say:
Statement by the Canadian Embassy: The Canadian Embassy and our Consulates General regularly contact those involved in all of the Presidential campaigns and, periodically, report on these contacts to interested officials. In the recent report produced by the Consulate General in Chicago, there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA. We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect.
The people of the United States are in the process of choosing a new President and are fortunate to have strong and impressive candidates from both political parties. Canada will not interfere in this electoral process. We look forward, however, to working with the choice of the American people in further building an unparalleled relationship with a close friend and partner.
Clinton’s spokesman says a newly surfaced memo proves that Obama's campaign issued false denials about sending a private message to Canadian officials to disregard his criticisms of NAFTA. The Obama camp says it’s all a misunderstanding, and the Canadian embassy in Washington says it regrets the whole thing.
Is this “NAFTA-gate” as the Clinton campaign would like Ohio voters to believe when they vote in the March 4 primary? Or is it, as the Obama camp describes it, just a botched description by a low-level official in Canada’s Chicago office of a meeting with a senior Obama adviser?
It's now clear that a Canadian news report that started this flap wasn't accurate. No evidence has surfaced to show that any Obama "staffer" telephoned the Canadian ambassador in Washington, and all concerned deny that any such conversation took place. But it is equally clear that Obama's senior economic adviser did visit Canada's consulate in Chicago on Feb. 8, and that NAFTA was one of the several topics discussed.
Exactly what was said is not so clear, however. The memo says Obama's anti-NAFTA stance was described as just "political maneuvering," but the adviser says he said no such thing. The campaign says the adviser wasn't authorized to convey any message from the candidate anyway. No audio recording or verbatim transcript of the disputed conversation is available, and there’s no reason to expect that any exist. So the best we can do is to provide readers with the essential details as they have unfolded over the past several days, with links to original sources when available. On this one, you’ll have to be the judge.
Here is what the Canadian Embassy had to say:
Statement by the Canadian Embassy: The Canadian Embassy and our Consulates General regularly contact those involved in all of the Presidential campaigns and, periodically, report on these contacts to interested officials. In the recent report produced by the Consulate General in Chicago, there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA. We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect.
The people of the United States are in the process of choosing a new President and are fortunate to have strong and impressive candidates from both political parties. Canada will not interfere in this electoral process. We look forward, however, to working with the choice of the American people in further building an unparalleled relationship with a close friend and partner.
Monday, March 3
Putin-Lite Wins In a Pre-ordained Landslide
Russia had its election and as expected, Dmitry Medvedev is the new President.
Truthout has the full story:
Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor, won a landslide victory in Russia's presidential polls, preliminary results showed on Monday, as critics charged the vote was rigged.
Medvedev won 70.2 percent of the vote based on results from 98 percent of the country's polling stations, the election commission said.
As results rolled in, Putin and Medvedev celebrated at a rock concert on Red Square in scenes broadcast repeatedly on national television.
"Together we can continue the course set by President Putin.... Together we'll go further. Together we'll win. Hurrah!" Medvedev, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, told a crowd of supporters beneath driving sleet.
Medvedev, 42, also offered assurances that he would be his own man, including in foreign policy, despite his promise to appoint Putin prime minister.
He said there were no plans to change the president and the prime minister's powers, while "foreign policy, according to the constitution, is determined by the president."
However even before voting began foreign observers had criticised the unfair conditions in which the election was held, with Medvedev given blanket media coverage and liberal opponents prevented from registering.
Both the Communist Party and independent vote-monitoring organisation Golos alleged large-scale violations on voting day.
The only Western observer group not to have boycotted the polls, a group from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was to give an assessment on Monday, having already described the choice on offer as "limited at best."
Truthout has the full story:
Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's hand-picked successor, won a landslide victory in Russia's presidential polls, preliminary results showed on Monday, as critics charged the vote was rigged.
Medvedev won 70.2 percent of the vote based on results from 98 percent of the country's polling stations, the election commission said.
As results rolled in, Putin and Medvedev celebrated at a rock concert on Red Square in scenes broadcast repeatedly on national television.
"Together we can continue the course set by President Putin.... Together we'll go further. Together we'll win. Hurrah!" Medvedev, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, told a crowd of supporters beneath driving sleet.
Medvedev, 42, also offered assurances that he would be his own man, including in foreign policy, despite his promise to appoint Putin prime minister.
He said there were no plans to change the president and the prime minister's powers, while "foreign policy, according to the constitution, is determined by the president."
However even before voting began foreign observers had criticised the unfair conditions in which the election was held, with Medvedev given blanket media coverage and liberal opponents prevented from registering.
Both the Communist Party and independent vote-monitoring organisation Golos alleged large-scale violations on voting day.
The only Western observer group not to have boycotted the polls, a group from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was to give an assessment on Monday, having already described the choice on offer as "limited at best."
Hateful Haters and the People Who Dislike Them
"I was just in disbelief when I saw it," Justin Talley said. "Basically, I was like, 'What year is this?' In 2008 - I can't believe this is happening."
Reading in today's Daily Iowan that two black students, Justin Talley and Ryan Thomas, from the University of Iowa had their off-campus apartment door vandalized with extremely hateful epithets reminds me that we have traveled far and, for some, gotten nowhere.
Before I go too far down stream, I do believe the climate of the country genuinely has improved, but I also believe that bigotry and hateful acts have just gone more underground. Certainly intolerant ideas are propagated daily on the web in blogs, and comments to online news sources. The anonymous nature of such pronouncements allow people to say what they really think without the slapdown that usually comes with hate speech.
Nonetheless, for those of us who do not believe that bigotry is acceptable, events, like the one perpetrated on these young men, are frustrating. Maybe it is because no one can intellectually explain the process that leads a person or persons to hate others that it is so reprehensible.
Chances are that someone will confess that they were responsible for this cowardly act and that it was a "joke"--that they really aren't that "way"--that these young men are somehow to blame for the act that was visited upon them.
Do the world a favor when that happens. Forgive them. But don't let them forget.
For the young men who experienced this cowardly act, there are a lot of people in this community who are angry for you and ashamed for our community.
Reading in today's Daily Iowan that two black students, Justin Talley and Ryan Thomas, from the University of Iowa had their off-campus apartment door vandalized with extremely hateful epithets reminds me that we have traveled far and, for some, gotten nowhere.
Before I go too far down stream, I do believe the climate of the country genuinely has improved, but I also believe that bigotry and hateful acts have just gone more underground. Certainly intolerant ideas are propagated daily on the web in blogs, and comments to online news sources. The anonymous nature of such pronouncements allow people to say what they really think without the slapdown that usually comes with hate speech.
Nonetheless, for those of us who do not believe that bigotry is acceptable, events, like the one perpetrated on these young men, are frustrating. Maybe it is because no one can intellectually explain the process that leads a person or persons to hate others that it is so reprehensible.
Chances are that someone will confess that they were responsible for this cowardly act and that it was a "joke"--that they really aren't that "way"--that these young men are somehow to blame for the act that was visited upon them.
Do the world a favor when that happens. Forgive them. But don't let them forget.
For the young men who experienced this cowardly act, there are a lot of people in this community who are angry for you and ashamed for our community.
Iowa City Manager: Going to the Buzzer
The Iowa City City Council, not unlike the City High School girls basketball team, is going to the end of regulation to select the next City Manager...and good for them. After having 21 years of stability, the next City Manager will have their work cut out. Between an aging workforce, the demands for new public safety workers, a state government which may jiggle the tax base in a way that will hurt cities like Iowa City that have a lot of rental property; you could say, its going to be a bumpy ride.
My guess--and believe me it is just that, is that the Des Moines candidate will likely get the nod. The job will require a community builder and someone who can be diplomatic. My guess is that the young blood of the Council and the established councilors are going through a rigorous dance to build consensus. I'd think that there are some on the Council who will either prefer to a) start over or b) want one candidate squarely over the other.
For the sake of the new City Manager getting off to a good start, it would seem like the council would want to have a unified front when they announce their decision. This has been the tact in most of their votes.
Stay tuned. The City Council will meet in executive session to continue their deliberations tomorrow night at 7:30 pm after their regular work session.
My guess--and believe me it is just that, is that the Des Moines candidate will likely get the nod. The job will require a community builder and someone who can be diplomatic. My guess is that the young blood of the Council and the established councilors are going through a rigorous dance to build consensus. I'd think that there are some on the Council who will either prefer to a) start over or b) want one candidate squarely over the other.
For the sake of the new City Manager getting off to a good start, it would seem like the council would want to have a unified front when they announce their decision. This has been the tact in most of their votes.
Stay tuned. The City Council will meet in executive session to continue their deliberations tomorrow night at 7:30 pm after their regular work session.
Sunday, March 2
Tell Legislators That Nuke Power is Not Safe Alternative Energy
According to the 2/28 Des Moines Register:
Iowa's only nuclear power plant in the Duane Arnold plant in Palo came on line in 1975 and is up for relicensing on February 21, 2014 . It, like other nuclear plants, is coping with delays in opening the national waste depository at Yucca Mountain. In 2001, the Des Moines Register reported that the spent fuel pool would be full within 2 years. An interim plan was developed to accommodate future waste as the delays at Yucca Mountain continue.
As long as disposal of nuclear materials is a significant issue and the costs of clean-up so expensive ($53.8 million predicted if there were a major accident at this plant), it seems like a poor way to generate power. In addition, as a state that is so important to food production, can we really afford to risk a Chernobyl or Three Mile Island like disaster?
Lawmakers are considering offering more incentives to expand nuclear energy in Iowa. So far, 57 representatives have signed on to a proposal to allow nuclear energy projects to apply for millions of dollars in state grant money. The bill already has passed a House subcommittee and heads to the full House Commerce Committee for consideration.
“This is, in my opinion, the right direction for the Legislature to send the signal that yes, we are interested in you guys ... making this investment, growing the work force,” said Rep. Kraig Paulsen, a Hiawatha Republican who supports the proposal.
State officials have said Iowa’s energy supply is one key reason the state landed the $600 million Google data center under construction in Council Bluffs. The state also is hoping to attract a Microsoft data center that some lawmakers have speculated could generate a $750 million investment.
Supporters of nuclear energy said such projects may not come to Iowa in the future if the state doesn’t expand its energy sources.
“One of the main attractions of Iowa is affordable and abundant power,” said Timothy Coonan, a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives. “If we’re not thinking ahead and planning, looking sometimes 25 to 50 years in the future for energy needs, we hit a ceiling.” The Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo is Iowa’s only nuclear plant. It produces 592 million watts of electricity a year, enough to power 600,000 homes, according to the Web site of FPL Energy, the Florida company that owns the plant.
Lawmakers said there are no immediate plans to build another nuclear power plant. However, they said Iowa should send a signal to businesses that the state is willing to expand nuclear power production.
Supporters of the bill say nuclear energy is clean and safe, despite its reputation as a societal hazard.
Some organizations disagree. A Cedar Rapids group, the “Strong Like a Willow” project, notes the ill effects of the 1986 nuclear reactor explosion of Chernobyl.
The group’s director, Hope Burwell, has said advocates of nuclear power fail to adequately consider possible consequences of a nuclear disaster, such as birth defects, heart conditions and other health issues.
Iowa's only nuclear power plant in the Duane Arnold plant in Palo came on line in 1975 and is up for relicensing on February 21, 2014 . It, like other nuclear plants, is coping with delays in opening the national waste depository at Yucca Mountain. In 2001, the Des Moines Register reported that the spent fuel pool would be full within 2 years. An interim plan was developed to accommodate future waste as the delays at Yucca Mountain continue.
As long as disposal of nuclear materials is a significant issue and the costs of clean-up so expensive ($53.8 million predicted if there were a major accident at this plant), it seems like a poor way to generate power. In addition, as a state that is so important to food production, can we really afford to risk a Chernobyl or Three Mile Island like disaster?
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