AT&T/Bellsouth Merger Still not approved...

... and  this merger should not be approved! This merger would create the countries biggest provider of  telephone, wireless and broadband services. We do not need one company having this kind of control over these resources!

    Both companies have been waiting for seven months for the F.C.C. to act on the decision. FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin has stated that he does not know when a decision will be made because of differences between the GOP and  the Democrats on various matters pertaining to the merger.

    Martin is for the merger as is the GOP without issuing any restrictions to either company. The Democrats want safeguards to protect the consumers and to make sure that there is competition in the industry.

    From WaPo : One of the main obstacles is disagreement over whether to require a "net neutrality" condition that would bar AT&T from asking different Internet services to pay different prices for using its lines.

   To break the deadlock on the five-member board, the FCC's general counsel ruled last week that the potential swing vote, Republican Commissioner Robert M. McDowell, could take part in the consideration despite his concerns of a conflict of interest. McDowell has so far refrained from participating in the commission's review of the proposed merger because he previously worked as senior vice president for Comptel, as association that lobbied on behalf of companies competing with AT&T and BellSouth.     Read More HERE

 

A Look At Americans

    A revealing consensus about Americans from the NYTimes.

By SAM ROBERTS
Published: December 15, 2006

Americans drank more than 23 gallons of bottled water per person in 2004 — about 10 times as much as in 1980. We consumed more than twice as much high fructose corn syrup per person as in 1980 and remained the fattest inhabitants of the planet, although Mexicans, Australians, Greeks, New Zealanders and Britons are not too far behind.  MORE

    Eight and a half hours in front of the TV, per day? It is no wonder that we are getting fat and lazy and our health is going downhill!

Iran Offers To Share Nuclear Technology

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to transfer to regional states its valuable experience and achievements in the field of peaceful nuclear technology as a clean energy source and as a replacement for oil," the state quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Mohammed Zefollah Shirar, a top adviser to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

More from Yahoo News

                         

 

    It seems as if Iran is willing to spread the cheer throughout the middle east and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. This would be perfectly legal as long as the transfer is between member states in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. You do know of course that the U.S. and its allies are not very happy with this announcement.

Will Real ID Cause Chaos At The DMV?

Governors revolt over new rules for driver's licenses

By Angie C. Marek

Posted Sunday, December 10, 2006

Back in May 2005, few really considered the broad implications of the Real ID Act, a bill designed to improve the security of driver's licenses in every state. Attached to an emergency funding measure for the Iraq war, Real ID slipped through Congress and was signed by the president-with little scrutiny but big effects. "The amount of congressional attention paid to something so game changing," says one Washington lobbyist, "was ... microscopic."               Read More @ USNews

 

A Call To Action For Our Schools

By CLAUDIA WALLIS      Friday, Dec. 15, 2006

Ending high school at 16, paying teachers according to merit, turning schools over to independent contractors — a new report on U.S. education envisions radical change   

More From Time

Diabetes Reversed

     It is reported from out of Ottawa Canada that Canadian and U.S. scientists have " reversed" type-1 diabetes in mice

    In a phone interview with Reuters,  Dr. Hans Michael Dosch of the University of Toronto explained that Injecting a piece of protein, or peptide, to repair the defect cured diabetic mice "overnight."  More

                                ----------------------------------------------------

    This appears to be some promising research with these mice. Let us hope that it is as successful on humans when the test are finally under way! Those of you that do not have this disease cannot appreciate what news such as this does for a diabetic, especially type-1.

    I have been injecting insulin for 35 years because of this disease and nothing on this earth would make me happier than never having to stick a needle in my arms or legs again.

    Not to mention the fact that this disease is a lifelong killer of an individual. Diabetes ravishes your entire body slowly leading to blindness, amputation, and a host of others.

    A few facts from Diabetes

    Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2002. This ranking is based on the 73,249 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. According to death certificate reports, diabetes contributed to a total of 224,092 deaths.

Diabetes is likely to be underreported as a cause of death. Studies have found that only about 35 to 40 percent of decedents with diabetes have diabetes listed anywhere on the death certificate and only about 10 to15 percent had it listed as the underlying cause of death.

   Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people without diabetes of similar age.

 

Complications of Diabetes in the United States

Heart disease and stroke

• Heart disease and stroke account for about 65 percent of deaths in people with diabetes.
• Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.
• The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.

High blood pressure

• About 73 percent of adults with diabetes have blood pressure greater than or equal to 130/80 mm Hg or use prescription medications for hypertension.

Blindness

• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years.
• Diabetic retinopathy causes 12,000 to 24,000 new cases of blindness each year.               More Info HERE

More Troops in Iraq

   According to an administration official, Mr. Bush is more than likely going to boost troops levels in Iraq by as much as 25,000  to try to stop the violence. 

    Also, the U.S. military may be sending The 2nd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division into Kuwait after the new year. A senior Defense Department official told the Associated Press  that The 2nd Brigade, made up of around 3500 troops,would be deployed in Iraq early next year if needed.

   As much as I would like to see our men and women come home sooner rather than later, if the government is sending in more troops, this should have been done at least a year ago! It would have been nice if we had sent in enough to do the job right at the beginning of what has become our worst nightmare! Face the facts! Mr. Bush and company have pretty much started a civil war in Iraq!

 

From NYTimes

Rumsfeld Warns Against ‘Graceful Exits’ From Iraq

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Outgoing Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney during farewell ceremonies for Rumsfeld at the Pentagon.

By JIM RUTENBERG

Published: December 15, 2006

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said farewell to the Pentagon today with a combative address in which he warned against “graceful exits” from Iraq and said it would be wrong to regard the lack of new attacks on American soil as a sign that the nation is safe from terrorism

“Today it should be clear that not only is weakness provocative,” Mr. Rumsfeld said, standing at lectern with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney at his side, “but the perception of weakness on our part can be provocative as well.”  More From NYTimes

The Split in the White house

   According to the USNews, one of the reason that Mr. Bush is waiting until after January to tell us what we are going to do so far as Iraq is concerned, is because others in the administration want to do different things.  The Story .

   Do we call that, a Bushco Crime Family argument? What does he do with dissenters, concrete?   

    Dick Cheney wants to stick to the original plan of victory and an Iraqi government that can take care of its own problems. Or, as Mr. Bush has said, "sustain, govern, and defend itself."

   Yeah right! Anybody with an I.Q. of over 0.05 knows that Iraq will never meet that goal, not with the current way that we are running things over there.

Pelosi Plans Heightened Oversight Of intelligence

    The 9/11 Commission report concluded, "Congressional oversight for intelligence -- and counterterrorism -- is now dysfunctional.”  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced a plan yesterday  to heighten congressional oversight of intelligence, answering complaints by national security specialists and lawmakers in both parties that Congress has been lax in monitoring the highly secretive community.

    Pelosi, a California Democrat set to become speaker next month, said she will appoint a new intelligence oversight panel within the House Appropriations Committee that will examine the intelligence budget, monitor funds spent by intelligence agencies, and prepare the classified document that explains their expenses.

"I know it will make the American people safer," Pelosi said. The panel would for the first time break down the barriers between the authorization side of the intelligence budget -- the overall plan for collecting sensitive information -- and the appropriations side, which determines how much money should go to each program.

    Said Commissioner Slade Gordon (R), "I think it's a significant step forward. It means there will be one group of members who will be primarily responsible for the intelligence budget. They will therefore pay attention to it and provide a greater degree of oversight." Commissioner Tim Roemer (D) also agreed,saying, "I give the speaker-elect points on creativity and strong leadership. The Senate needs to follow the House and clean up its backyard."

More from Boston.com

 

Sen. Johnson Recovering After Surgery

By MARY CLARE JALONICK and TOM RAUM, Associated Press Writers
    WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson was recovering without complications from emergency brain surgery to repair bleeding in his brain.                                                                                                                     Family and colleagues were encouraged by his progress Thursday, yet doctors said it was too early to say whether further surgery would be required.   More

Palestinian Prime minister Stopped At Crossing

Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya was denied entry back into Palestinian territory today by Israeli security officials. They sealed off a border crossing and refused to let the prime minister cross because, according to Israel, he was carrying tens of millions of dollars in cash.

   Of course, we have to take the Israeli's word for it. The Hamas gunmen that are loyal to Haniya did not take this to well so they descended on the border crossing and confronted the European monitors at the crossing as the Israeli forces are no longer at the Gaza Strip.

More From NYTimes

 

Pelosi to Create Panel

Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, at a news conference Thursday, said that she is going to create a congressional panel to look at the administrations intelligence budget to make sure that the cash is being spent in the right way.
She said that the panel, "makes oversight stronger and makes the American people safer."   Get More HERE via USNews

 

Bush's Present For Christmas

 From USNews

 The results of a poll on what George should get for Christmas. Go take the poll yourself after looking at this.

Let's help Laura Bush pick a Christmas present for President Bush.
• A hearing aid
16%

• Speech lessons
16%

• A diplomacy 101 course from Georgetown University
41%

• A weekend retreat with Democratic leaders
26%

Bush Touts Satellite Threats

   You know that it is so nice to hear Bushco and company are looking out for us all the way up in space . The group is on the "terrorist and enemy countries" may want to attack our U.S. commercial and military satellites.

    He also does not care for any type of treaty aimed at preventing an arms race in space.  Of course he wouldn't, then he would have to break another law while pursuing our own weapons in space.

   Undersecretary of State Robert G. Joseph,"We reserve the right to defend ourselves against hostile attacks and interference with our space assets."

"A number of countries are exploring and acquiring capabilities to counter, attack, and defeat U.S. space systems," Joseph said

He said that terrorist "understand our vulnerabilities and have targeted our economy in the past, as they did on 9/11."

    He said also that terrorist and enemy states may see the U.S.  space program as a "a highly lucrative target. No nation, no state-actor, should be under the illusion that the United States will tolerate a denial of our right to the use of space for peaceful purposes."

   When it comes to dealing with other countries, the Bush administration will have no peaceful purposes in space. I think that George has been doing the same drugs that Ronnie was doing when he came up with the Star Wars program!

   Any. you can go HERE for more info.

 

Probe Requested In Duke Rape Case

   It had to happen sooner or later, didn't it?

    Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong's has done nothing but withhold evidence and pretty much he has fucked up with this case.

 GOP Rep. Walter Jones  wants the U.S. Department of Justice to look into whether Nifong may have violated  three Duke University lacrosse players civil rights. They have been charged with the rape.

   Read More

Jeffrey Skilling Reported To His New Job On Wednesday

Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling  showed up to his new employer Wednesday afternoon ready to pull his 24-year sentence for fraud and other crimes in the collapse  Enron , the former energy giant.

  He arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Waseca, Minn. shortly after 1p.m.  Even with time off for good behavior he will still be an old man when he retires from prison life. Skilling is now 53 years old.

Skilling and Enron founder Ken Lay were convicted  on many counts of fraud, conspiracy, insider trading and other charges in the collapse of the Houston-based Enron, which cost thousands of jobs, more than $60 billion in company stock and more than $2 billion in employee pension plans.

Skilling's request to remain free on bond pending his appeal was denied by a federal judge on Tuesday.    Read more from  The AP .

     It is about time that one of these top of the ladder crooks gets to go to prison.  Ken Lay, Enron's founder, got out the easy way. He had a heart attack and died. Justice was still served, a bit!            Michael d.

 

Does Snow Know Anything?

   I wonder quite alot as of late why Tony Snow even bothers to have the White House press briefings. He gets up to the podium, makes his little speech, takes questions from the reporters and usually more often than not he answers with " I don't know."

   Maybe Tony is spending to much time still trying to explain " My pet goat" to Mr. Bush?

    ABC's Martha Raddatz  pressed on Bush's talks with Iraq experts. "I'm not going to," said Snow. Caren Bohan of Reuters asked whether a personnel shakeup was discussed. "I'm not going to talk about anything that may or may not have been discussed," he said, adding: "I don't want you to interpret it either way, other than as a principled stonewalling."

  Anyway, you get the picture. If you do not , then here is MORE

 

Bush Decides Direction of Iraqi Policy

   Iraq has proposed that its troops assume primary responsibility for security in Baghdad early next year and that U.S. troops be shifted to the capital's periphery, The New York Times reported on its Web site Tuesday night.

Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, told the Times that the plan was presented during Bush's meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan, on Nov. 30.    Read More

 

Will Rumsfeld Be Tried and Where?

I thought that I would link you to this website in Iraq that I visit once in awhile because it usually has some very good articles in it. Today's articles are no exception!
The article that I am referring to here is on the charges that were filed against Donald Rumsfeld in Germany. It asked if Rumsfeld could escape his crimes and brings up some good points so far as the United States is concerned.

     From IraqiRabita
If a prosecution is going to take place, then the following questions arise:

1) How should Mr Rumsfeld be made to stand trial? What are the implications if Mr Rumsfeld was not made to stand trial?
2) Should he be made to stand trial in a US, Iraqi or Afghan court?
3) If a US court, would it be a fair trial? Should the court in this case be military or a civilian?
4) What would be the procedure to ensure a fair trial?

In principle, a fair trial cannot be guaranteed if Mr Rumsfeld is to be prosecuted in a US court. This is not a statement about the US justice system or its quality, but the truth of the matter is that the US cannot run the risk of a guilty verdict against Mr Rumsfeld because the crimes of which he is accused were committed whilst holding the second most important US governmental position. As a matter of principle, Mr Rumsfeld should be prosecuted in an international court.

                          ----------------------------------------------

The writer makes a good point here as we all now that Rumsfeld would more than likely get off scott free in an American court.

Khalid Essa Taha is a member of the legal profession, has practiced law for some 60 years, and is a strong believer in human rights for all humanity irrespective of race, ethnicity, colour, gender, nationality or religion,

- Khalid Essa Taha
Chairman, Lawyers without Borders Ltd
Vice president, British Iraqi Lawyers Association
Email: tahaet@yahoo.co.uk

NC Dist.-13 Votes

   I am changing pace here because those of us here in this district need to know how our elected officials have voted on recent bills.

Courtesy of MegaVote

In this MegaVote for North Carolina's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes -
Senate: Confirmation of Robert M. Gates to be Secretary of Defense
Senate: Tax Relief and Health Care Act
House: Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act
House: Tax Relief and Health Care Act
House: Trade bill
House: Continuing appropriations for FY2007
House: U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Promotion Act

 

Recent Senate Votes

Confirmation of Robert M. Gates to be Secretary of Defense - Vote Confirmed (95-2, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate confirmed Robert M. Gates to be the next Secretary of Defense.

Sen. Richard Burr voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted Not Voting......send e-mail or see bio

---

Tax Relief and Health Care Act - Vote Agreed to (79-9, 12 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to this bill that extends a number of tax credits, normalizes trade relations with Vietnam and opens an area of the Gulf of Mexico to oil drilling.

Sen. Richard Burr voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

---

Recent House Votes

Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act - Vote Failed (250-162, 20 Not Voting)

Under rules that need a two-thirds vote for passage, the House failed to pass this measure that would have required doctors to notify women seeking abortions after 20 weeks of gestation that the fetus feels pain.

Rep. Brad Miller voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

---

Tax Relief and Health Care Act - Vote Passed (367-45, 21 Not Voting)

The House approved this bill that extends a number of tax credits and opens an area of the Gulf of Mexico to oil drilling.

Rep. Brad Miller voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

---

Trade bill - Vote Passed (212-184, 37 Not Voting)

This House bill combined several trade measures, including granting permanent normal trade relations with Vietnam and extending trade benefits to Haiti.

Rep. Brad Miller voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

---

Continuing appropriations for FY2007 - Vote Passed (370-20, 43 Not Voting)

The House passed this continuing resolution to fund government operations through February 15, 2007.

Rep. Brad Miller voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

---

U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Promotion Act - Vote Passed (330-59, 44 Not Voting)

The House passed the conference report for this bill that would allow the U.S. to share nuclear fuel and technology with India for civilian uses.

Rep. Brad Miller voted YES......send e-mail or see bio

 

Time For Some Bush Kiss-Up?

   As you have heard by now, Mr. Bush had a meeting with the New Democrat Coalition this past Friday and with the Blue Dog Coalition to try and pave the way for a little support in his agenda. Bush is playing buddy-buddy with  the moderates and the conservative Democrats because he knows that his bullshit bills and such things are in trouble now. I would assume that Bush looks at this group as " Republican Lite."

   Bush has one problem though and that is the fact that for the past six years he hasn't cared what the Democrats think. they have not been called in for any advice on this sham of a war or for any of the legislation that this GOP team has passed.

Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena who was not at the meeting: Blue Dogs have a basic problem with Bush when he talks about controlling government spending and defending his tax cuts for the richest Americans.

"You don't have to look beyond the growth in the national debt and the federal deficit to see he isn't being totally honest,'' Thompson said

      More from SFGate

New Democrats Have Different Values?

     Ellen Tauscher  out in the state of California is already drawing the ire of more than a few of here constituents on some of her stands.

    If you recall,members of Ellen Tauscher's New Democrat Coalition made a break with their globalist dogma to vote against CAFTA one year ago. This upset the K Street crown just a little. Ever since then, the New Democrats have been trying to play kiss-up with the crowd at the street by assuring them that they will be on-board when future trade agreements come up.

    The first sign of the 43-member coalition's efforts came late last week when the New Democrat leadership met privately with high-profile business lobbyists to negotiate the terms of an upcoming free trade agreement with Thailand.     Calitics

    So what will the ramifications be from the smaller trade bills that are being passed that Tauscher and the New Democrats  will be going along with? Well, let's start with the most recent FTA which was passed by the House just a few days ago. David Sirota wrote last Friday about the passage of the Vietnam Free Trade Agreement earlier in the day:           The House tonight caved to K Street and passed the Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. I received a copy of the New Democrats' press release trumpeting the passage. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) claims that the deal "will help American workers and our economy by opening up a huge market for American industrial and agricultural goods and services."

    This is not necessarily correct. the hourly workers in the United States will get no benefit from this bill in any way, shape or form. But more than a few U.S. companies will.

    From BusinessWeek comes this quote regarding the benefits to U.S. companies that move over to Vietnam:

A big reason for the change is rock-bottom wages. As labor shortages in some regions of China drive up costs, factory hands in parts of the mainland can earn more than five times the $55 per month that Vietnamese workers in foreign-owned factories are paid. That differential is a big reason why Sparton Corp. (SPA ) of Jackson, Mich., chose Vietnam over China last year when it made its first investment outside North America. It sank $8 million into a 50,000-square-foot plant to produce chemical diagnostic equipment. "I think productivity and quality will far exceed the U.S.," says Jason Craft, managing director of Sparton subsidiary Spartronics Vietnam Co.     More HERE

 

    Is this how  the New Democrats plan on legislating to help our workers and our economy?  Is this how a " real democrat" looks out for us?

Snow's Press briefing

   You all know Tony snow, the mouthpiece of the Bushco Crime Family! He had his usual press briefing yesterday which is always fun to read.

 Here is a small sample:

Q I did want to follow up on the specific poll that CBS has just done, our latest poll. And it's one item, but there's several.

Q CBS poll?

Q Yes, CBS poll. If that's okay with Lester. (Laughter.)

Q New York Times?

Q "Should the U.S. set a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq?" Fifty-seven percent say, yes, that the U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawing troops. So I --

MR. SNOW: Well, I think the President has made it clear that you do things based on conditions. The President does want to withdraw troops, but you know what --

Q But he's clearly ruled out a timetable.

MR. SNOW: Jim, as I said in response to Terry's questions, I'll let the President announce where he stands on these things when he is prepared to deliver his remarks on the way forward.

Q But you can give us a sense of sort of what his state of mind is, can't you?

MR. SNOW: His state of mind is he's determined and he's determined to work hard on providing the right way forward. What you're asking me to do is to give a characterization of the state of policy. And I can tell you that it remains the President's belief that, yes, you want to withdraw U.S. troops under the proper conditions -- it's conditions-based -- and it is one you are in a position to have an Iraq that can stand up, sustain, govern, and defend itself.

Q Setting a timetable?

MR. SNOW: Like I said, just have to wait and see.

     More here from The White house

No More Earmarks For Now?

Democratic congressional leaders announced yesterday they plan to "place a moratorium on all earmarks until lobbying changes are enacted."

   It is about time that some adults started to do the right thing for once in the past six years. both sides of the isle have their own earmarks but the GOP thinks that they own the bank and do whatever they want to do.

    Go HERE for more from WaPo.

 

Greatest Hits

   Iraqi Information Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf (M.S.S.)

   This man has always had some interesting quotes on the topic of the Bush administration and Mr. Bush in particular. He even has his own television show!   Here are just a few of his quotes:

"I blame Al-Jazeera - they are marketing for the Americans!"

"The Americans, they always depend on a method what I call ... stupid, silly. All I ask is check yourself. Do not in fact repeat their lies."

"We have destroyed 2 tanks, fighter planes, 2 helicopters and their shovels - We have driven them back."

"Washington has thrown their soldiers on the fire"

"I speak better English than this villain Bush"

"That bastard the American Minister of Defense Rumsfeld, and I won't say shamelessly, because they don't know what shame means. These are criminals. The whole word can hear the warning sirens.."

"We will slaughter them, Bush Jr. and his international gang of bastards!"

    More From We Love the Iraqi Information Minister

VP Cheney's Special Holiday Wishes to Their Christian Taliban Base

   Never one to miss out on the Republican's stupidity and plain silliness, I thought that I would share this with you from The White House :

December 9, 2006

Vice President Cheney and his Wife Offer Very Special Holiday Wishes to Their Christian Taliban Base

Dear Evangelicals, Theocrats and "Values" Voters:

Christmas is upon us. Yes, now is the time to reflect on who has been naughty and who has been nice.

Recently, we sat down at our decidedly second-banana residence at Observatory Circle to reflect on an appropriate Christmas gift for our dear friends at Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, Bringing Integrity to Christian Homemakers and those pesky, frumpy busybodies at Concerned Women for America.

What to get our supposedly loyal base, the folks who let us down at the polls last month and made it possible for America-hating liberals to run riot in Congress, embarrass us and force Dick's best buddy Donny Rumsfeld to be subjected to thankless humiliation and unemployment?

    More HERE

Bush Sinks to 21 Percent Approval

   A CBS poll that came out today says that Mr. Bush's popularity ratings are sinking farther down into the abyss.

    21 percent think Bush's handling of the war is going good and they approve of it. Of course, that 21 percent consist mostly of Mr. Bush's family members, O'Reilly, and that Rush character. Even some of the Bush family members can be up for grabs so far as the support goes! I'm kidding! (?)

    21 percent is an 8 point drop since last month and that is from mostly Republicans and conservatives.

    Here's the CBS Poll.

    And this is the full poll results in PDF .

    I love modern technology!

    Here is one question from the poll:

WILL THE U.S. SUCCEED IN IRAQ?
Very likely
9%
Somewhat likely
34%
Not very/not at all likely
53%                         MORE HERE

Jefferson Wins 9TH Term

     U.S. Rep. William Jefferson beat state Rep. Karen Carter on Saturday to win his ninth term in the 2nd congressional district.

   This is despite a federal probe into his having accepted bribes by aides and others and the F.B.I. finding $90,000 cash in his freezer!

    The probe is still continuing and Jefferson has basically said that he expects to be indicted. There are many other twists and turns as to why the voters may have re-elected this crook but you will have to go somewhere else for the  info.

Bushco Hawks Do Not Like ISG Report

    VP Cheney did not like it. The Washington Post editorial page did not like it. Rush and the rest of the conservative talk radio group did not like it. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), did not like it either.   The list goes on and on but it seems as if the hawks that dislike the report the most are the ones that have been on Mr. Bush's " stay the course" bandwagon.

    Mr McCain did not like the fact that the report did not recommend sending in more troops to Iraq.

    William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard,"It's sort of hard to suddenly say everyone agrees Baker is the way to go when the leading Republican candidate for '08 is saying no."

    I am waiting to see how long it takes for these hawks to begin calling the drafters of this report " traitors, un-American" and so forth. Anyone  listening to the crap out of Rush's mouth  and buying into it is just showing how far down the I.Q. chain this country is heading!   Michael d.

                               -------------------------------------------------- 

 By Michael Abramowitz and Glenn Kessler

Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, December 10, 2006

Although it is clear that many Republicans regard the Iraq Study Group's report as a possible exit strategy from a war that they worry could drag the party down in 2008, such plans are colliding with clear anger from neoconservatives, who have been the most ardent supporters of the Bush administration since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Many Republican and Democratic lawmakers have embraced the panel's report, but the almost uniformly negative reaction from some of Bush's strongest conservative supporters means the president may have some political flexibility to depart from the group's major recommendations, according to some GOP operatives.     More

 

Taliban's 30 New Rules

   You may know by now that the Taliban in Afghanistan have published new rules for their followers to live by.    I have read the rules and I thought that maybe you would like to also.

     From Sand and Sight

2006-11-29

A new layeha for the Mujahideen

In a worldwide exclusive the Swiss weekly, Die Weltwoche, published the new Taliban codex. It is translated into English here for the first time.

Layeha (book of rules) for the Mujahideen
From the highest leader of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan.
Every Mujahid must abide by the following rules:
1) A Taliban commander is permitted to extend an invitation to all Afghans who support infidels so that they may convert to the true Islam.
2) We guarantee to any man who turns his back on infidels, personal security and the security of his possessions. But if he becomes involved in a dispute, or someone accuses him of something, he must submit to our judiciary.
3) Mujahideen who protect new Taliban recruits must inform their commander.
4) A convert to the Taliban, who does not behave loyally and becomes a traitor, forfeits our protection. He will be given no second chance.
5) A Mujahid who kills a new Taliban recruit forfeits our protection and will be punished according to Islamic law.
6) If a Taliban fighter wants to move to another district, he is permitted to do so, but he must first acquire the permission of his group leader.
7) A Mujahid who takes a foreign infidel as prisoner with the consent of a group leader may not exchange him for other prisoners or money.
8) A provincial, district or regional commander may not sign a contract to work for a non-governmental organization or accept money from an NGO. The Shura (the highest Taliban council) alone may determine all dealings with NGOs.
9) Taliban may not use Jihad equipment or property for personal ends.
10) Every Talib is accountable to his superiors in matters of money spending and equipment usage.
11) Mujadideen may not sell equipment, unless the provincial commander permits him to do so.
12) A group of Mujahideen may not take in Mujahideen from another group to increase their own power. This is only allowed when there are good reasons for it, such as a lack of fighters in one particular group. Then written permission must be given and the weapons of the new members must stay with their old group.
13) Weapons and equipment taken from infidels or their allies must be fairly distributed among the Mujahideen.
14) If someone who works with infidels wants to cooperate with Mujahideen, he should not be killed. If he is killed, his murderer must stand before an Islamic court.
15) A Mujahid or leader who torments an innocent person must be warned by his superiors. If he does not change his behaviour he must be thrown out of the Taliban movement.
16) It is strictly forbidden to search houses or confiscate weapons without the permission of a district or provincial commander.
17) Mujahideen have no right to confiscate money or personal possessions of civilians.
18) Mujahideen should refrain from smoking cigarettes.
19) Mujahideen are not allowed to take young boys with no facial hair onto the battlefield or into their private quarters.
20) If members of the opposition or the civil government wish to be loyal to the Taliban, we may take their conditions into consideration. A final decision must be made by the military council.
21) Anyone with a bad reputation or who has killed civilians during the Jihad may not be accepted into the Taliban movement. If the highest leader has personally forgiven him, he will remain at home in the future.
22) If a Mujahid is found guilty of a crime and his commander has barred him from the group, no other group may take him in. If he wishes to resume contact with the Taliban, he must ask forgiveness from his former group.
23) If a Mujahid is faced with a problem that is not described in this book, his commander must find a solution in consultation with the group.
24) It is forbidden to work as a teacher under the current puppet regime, because this strengthens the system of the infidels. True Muslims should apply to study with a religiously trained teacher and study in a Mosque or similar institution. Textbooks must come from the period of the Jihad or from the Taliban regime.
25) Anyone who works as a teacher for the current puppet regime must recieve a warning. If he nevertheless refuses to give up his job, he must be beaten. If the teacher still continues to instruct contrary to the principles of Islam, the district commander or a group leader must kill him.
26) Those NGOs that come to the country under the rule of the infidels must be treated as the government is treated. They have come under the guise of helping people but in fact are part of the regime. Thus we tolerate none of their activities, whether it be building of streets, bridges, clinics, schools, madrases (schools for Koran study) or other works. If a school fails to heed a warning to close, it must be burned. But all religious books must be secured beforehand.
27) As long as a person has not been convicted of espionage and punished for it, no one may take up the issue on their own. Only the district commander is in charge. Witnesses who testify in a procedure must be in good psychological condition, possess an untarnished religious reputation, and not have committed any major crime. The punishment may take place only after the conclusion of the trial.
28) No lower-level commander may interfere with contention among the populace. If an argument cannot be resolved, the district or regional commander must step in to handle the matter. The case should be discussed by religious experts (Ulema) or a council of elders (Jirga). If they find no solution, the case must be referred to well-known religious authorities.
29) Every Mujahid must post a watch, day and night.
30) The above 29 rules are obligatory. Anyone who offends this code must be judged according to the laws of the Islamic Emirates.
This Book of Rules is intended for the Mujahideen who dedicate their lives to Islam and the almighty Allah. This is a complete guidebook for the progress of Jihad, and every Mujahid must keep these rules; it is the duty of every Jihadist and true believer.
Signed by the highest leader of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan
(Editor's note: this Book of Rules was distributed initially to the 33 members of the Shura, the highest Taliban council, at their meeting during Ramadan 2006.)

An Asian Look at Americas Rightwing

by Mishima

Fri Dec 08, 2006 at 04:53:28 PM PST

First off a disclaimer: Yes, I'm from Japan and no I don't claim to be an expert on the American Wingnut Parade of Stars. Second: There are indeed plenty of Wingnut's here in Japan they just operate on a whole different weird level of existence. With that out of the way here is my ill-informed and always misguided look at Americas Wingnut's.

• Mishima's diary :: ::

Even before the Release of the Iraq Survey Groups report on the situation in Iraq and what might be done to repair this "Little" disaster President Bush and his enablers were already attacking it.
They should have done just the opposite. In Japan the Prime Minister would have started embracing the report about a month before its release. Upon publication he would have acted like it was the next best thing since conveyor belt Sushi. He would have done this at a news conference intoning they were going to follow its recommendations and then ignored them.

With the shifting of power in the Congress to the Democrats Steny Hoyer the new Majority Leader has declared that the new Congress would now follow a 5 day workweek schedule. What do the Republicans do? They immediately start whinnying like a bunch of spoiled elementary school children. An example:

"I have bad news for you," Hoyer told reporters. "Those trips you had planned in January, forget 'em. We will be working almost every day in January, starting with the 4th."

"Keeping us up here eats away at families," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays. "Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families ? that's what this says."

You would think that with as lazy as these fools have been over the last year that they would embrace this as way to show they are ready to once again work for those who elected them. They remind me the civil servant in Nara here in Japan who managed to show up for work EIGHT times in 5 years and was still getting paid.

Mary Cheney announced this week that she and her partner are expecting their first child next spring. As usual the Family Values Crowd of the wingnut's from Mars section of the Republican party couldn't wait to show just  how pro-family they are and embrace Mary's pregnancy.
Sure they did! Instead one would have thought the Antichrist had just showed up. Or, perhaps it was the Grim Reaper. Such open minds these people have and all for family values too. Here is an example of their thinking Mary Cheney Cruel to Children

At this point your thinking he's forgotten that one group that the rightwing crazies just love to hate: The Liberal Elite Media and all of there alleged hatred of the the right. Wrong.

In need of a new whipping boy the Rightwing Parade of Stars have chosen David Gregory as their favorite reporter to hate. Why you ask? Because he's willing to actually ask the Dear Leader relevant questions about the course of this administration and its stance on the issues of the day. What a bad man he is.
He doesn't seem to understand how it is supposed to work. You drink our Kool-Aid and we will feed all the lies necessary to make us look like the leaders we know are selves to and you can not only keep your job we won't make you take vacations with Rush and the other howling freaks won't attack you.
What was their opinion of Mr. Gregory in say 2001.

isn't it Interesting that the conservative?cough?cough?watchdog group "Media Research Center," voted Gregory as the Top White House correspondent of 2001.
Crooks and Liars

And from the NRO

Steyn Takes On the AP, NBC's David Gregory

 Next up: NBC's buffoonish David Gregory, who recently got into another altercation with Tony Snow:

   Well, I think David Gregory is not typical because he is interested in the David Gregory vaudeville show and if I was in some second-rate vaudeville house in 1873, I might think it was very entertaining. It's lame entertainment for the 21st century because that's not what it's about. This is not about landing a question on Bush. This is about strategic interest of the super power and, in fact, the question for the rest of the world is whether this country still is a super power. It's not the David Gregory show.NRO Media

Thank you for joining me in my illconcieved, uninformed look at Americas Wingnut Parade of Stars.  Next time I'll discuss whether or not the White House is involved in a Weekend at Bernies cover-up with George Bush.

Crossposted from DailyKos

 

109th Congress Is Gone!

   Finally! The Congress finally shut itself down yesterday at 5a.m. 12 years of GOP control has come to a halt 11 years to late.

   When the GOP met for the closing of this session you can almost hear them talking about all of the things that they couldn't do. WaPo has a story on that in this mornings paper for those of you who are interested,

    Let me see here. First off, the republicans failed to put the lid on government spending and to downsize it. In fact, spending grew and the government got much busier. They did not tame any deficit. It grew to the largest deficit in history! What did these monkeys in was their overwhelming lust for power and cash, plain and simple.

 House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) did have one or two accomplishments that he could tout. (?)

   He said, "Together, we reformed welfare. We cut taxes, and small businesses grew all over the nation. We promised to protect this nation from further attack, and by grace of God and with the leadership of President Bush, we have been successful."

    Those comments are always open for debate. They did cut taxes which did nothing for the working man/family in this country. We will not even get into Mr.Bush's leadership or the protection of our nation. the grace of God would have more to do with it than Bush does.

     Go HERE for the story.