Will Bush Attack Iran?

  We've all been hearing the rhetoric from the Bush Crime Family about how Iran is working on their very own nuclear weapons and that they would be a detriment to the the Middle East if they are allowed to build such weapons.

  Anyway, I found this informative article at Al-Ahram Weekly, based in Cairo and I thought that I'd pass along a few  bits and pieces of it for your reading pleasure. I'd post all of it but it is quite long. I do highly suggest that your read the entire story.

According to informed military sources, top officials in US Central Command in Florida have long since identified strike targets in Iran, which include the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and similar facilities in Esfahan, Arak and Bushehr. The sources add that the US will use long-range Phantom B-2 missiles and silo-busting bombs dropped from mammoth B-52s in an attempt to destroy reactors built some 25 metres underground. B-52s can fly at altitudes well out of reach of even the latest defence missile batteries.

ISRAEL'S STAKES IN WAR:

By 2007, Israeli plans were even more concrete. In January, the Sunday Times reported that Israel was conducting long-range training exercises and that if it did strike Iran it would use atomic bombs to penetrate Iranian underground bunkers. The newspaper added that the air force would use conventional laser-guided missiles to open breaches into which airplanes would then drop tactical atomic bombs, supposedly one-15th the power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

French military sources confirm the existence of secret Israeli plans to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities using nuclear weapons. They add that following strategic talks between Israeli and US officials in Washington on the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israeli and US air forces conducted joint training missions fine-tuned to the crisis in the Negev and in Gibraltar.

Reports predict that the US offensive against Iran will rely primarily on fighter planes from aircraft carriers and combat ships based in the Gulf. They also note that General John Abizaid was replaced by Admiral William Fallon as commander of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, perhaps with this in mind. The replacement took place several weeks before General Abizaid was due to retire because of publicised differences with the Bush administration over the magnitude of the threat of a nuclear Iran and the military option. That Fallon would also step down in circumstances that suggest a difference of opinion on waging war on Iran underlined for many the seriousness of US administration rhetoric on Iran.

MOMENTUM TOWARDS WAR:Second, note the about-face Bush made towards the Nuri Al-Maliki government. Whereas the US president had formerly expressed disappointment in that government and hinted that he wanted to remove it from power, he suddenly gave it a public vote of confidence. Translated, this means that the Bush administration does not feel that it has enough time to arrange things exactly to its liking in Iraq before a military operation against Iran, so it decided to accept the current situation and avoid a constitutional crisis in Iraq and other headaches.

Seventh, there are strong indications of a heavy covert US presence in Iran. Iranian officials have accused the US of engineering a new wave of subversion in the country, using Pakistan as a staging point, with the purpose of destabilising the Iranian regime. In February 2008, Zahedan was the scene of a massive explosion that killed or injured dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard members. Iranian fingers pointed to Washington and charged that CIA operatives were increasingly active in the country, especially in the region of Baluchestan adjacent to the Pakistani and Afghan borders. These suspicions are not unfounded. We recall that Bush asked Congress for a $75 million allocation for the purpose of promoting democratic change in Iran and supporting Iranian opposition groups. The problem the US is encountering, in this regard, is that apart from the Kurds, Iran has no minorities that are interested in secession.

  Do you want to get a little more educated? Read the entire article HERE

Technorati Tags: Iran,Iraq,Israel,war,George Bush,Middle East,nuclear weapons

Will Bush Attack Iran?

  We've all been hearing the rhetoric from the bush Crime Family about how Iran is working on their very own nuclear weapons and that they would be a detriment to the the middle east if they are allowed to build such weapons.

  Anyway, I found this informative article at Al-Ahram Weekly, based in Cairo and I thought that I'd pass along a few  bits and pieces of it for your reading pleasure. I'd post all of it but it is quite long. I do highly suggest that your read the entire story.

According to informed military sources, top officials in US Central Command in Florida have long since identified strike targets in Iran, which include the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and similar facilities in Esfahan, Arak and Bushehr. The sources add that the US will use long-range Phantom B-2 missiles and silo-busting bombs dropped from mammoth B-52s in an attempt to destroy reactors built some 25 metres underground. B-52s can fly at altitudes well out of reach of even the latest defence missile batteries.

ISRAEL'S STAKES IN WAR:

By 2007, Israeli plans were even more concrete. In January, the Sunday Times reported that Israel was conducting long-range training exercises and that if it did strike Iran it would use atomic bombs to penetrate Iranian underground bunkers. The newspaper added that the air force would use conventional laser-guided missiles to open breaches into which airplanes would then drop tactical atomic bombs, supposedly one-15th the power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

French military sources confirm the existence of secret Israeli plans to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities using nuclear weapons. They add that following strategic talks between Israeli and US officials in Washington on the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israeli and US air forces conducted joint training missions fine-tuned to the crisis in the Negev and in Gibraltar.

Reports predict that the US offensive against Iran will rely primarily on fighter planes from aircraft carriers and combat ships based in the Gulf. They also note that General John Abizaid was replaced by Admiral William Fallon as commander of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, perhaps with this in mind. The replacement took place several weeks before General Abizaid was due to retire because of publicised differences with the Bush administration over the magnitude of the threat of a nuclear Iran and the military option. That Fallon would also step down in circumstances that suggest a difference of opinion on waging war on Iran underlined for many the seriousness of US administration rhetoric on Iran.

MOMENTUM TOWARDS WAR:Second, note the about-face Bush made towards the Nuri Al-Maliki government. Whereas the US president had formerly expressed disappointment in that government and hinted that he wanted to remove it from power, he suddenly gave it a public vote of confidence. Translated, this means that the Bush administration does not feel that it has enough time to arrange things exactly to its liking in Iraq before a military operation against Iran, so it decided to accept the current situation and avoid a constitutional crisis in Iraq and other headaches.

Seventh, there are strong indications of a heavy covert US presence in Iran. Iranian officials have accused the US of engineering a new wave of subversion in the country, using Pakistan as a staging point, with the purpose of destabilising the Iranian regime. In February 2008, Zahedan was the scene of a massive explosion that killed or injured dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard members. Iranian fingers pointed to Washington and charged that CIA operatives were increasingly active in the country, especially in the region of Baluchestan adjacent to the Pakistani and Afghan borders. These suspicions are not unfounded. We recall that Bush asked Congress for a $75 million allocation for the purpose of promoting democratic change in Iran and supporting Iranian opposition groups. The problem the US is encountering, in this regard, is that apart from the Kurds, Iran has no minorities that are interested in secession.

  Do you want to get a little more educated? Read the entire article HERE

Technorati Tags: Iran,Iraq,Israel,war,George Bush,Middle East,nuclear weapons

John McCain's Hurricane Katrina Support Record: BAD

Published on Friday, April 25, 2008 by Mother Jones

John McCain’s Miserable Record on Hurricane Katrina

by Jonathan Stein

ohn McCain’s Time for Action tour arrived in New Orleans Thursday, where McCain toured the hurricane-damaged 9th Ward and criticized both the Bush Administration and Congress for its handling of the disaster. Lamenting the pace of recovery, McCain said, “I want to assure you it will never happen again in this country. You have my commitment and my promise.”

But McCain’s record on Hurricane Katrina suggests that he was part of the problem, not the solution. McCain was on Face the Nation on August 28, 2005, as Katrina gathered in the Gulf Coast. He said nothing about it. One day later, when Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, McCain was on a tarmac at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, greeting President Bush with a cake in celebration of McCain’s 69th birthday. Three days later, with the levees already breached and New Orleans filling with water, McCain’s office released a three-sentence statement urging Americans to support the victims of the hurricane.

Though McCain issued a statement the next week calling on Congress to make sacrifices in order to fund recovery efforts, he was quoted in The New Leader on September 1 cautioning against over-spending in support of Katrina’s victims. “We also have to be concerned about future generations of Americans,” he said. “We’re going to end up with the highest deficit, probably, in the history of this country.”

That attitude was borne out in McCain’s actions and votes. Forty Senators and 100 members of Congress visited New Orleans before he did; he finally got there in March 2006. He voted against establishing a Congressional commission to examine the Federal, State, and local responses to Katrina in med-September 2005. He repeated that vote in 2006. He voted against allowing up to 52 weeks of unemployment benefits to people affected by the hurricane, and in 2006 voted against appropriating $109 billion in supplemental emergency funding, including $28 billion for hurricane relief.

Shortly after the disaster in New Orleans, McCain did introduce a bill that sought to improve communications mechanisms for first-responders and authorities. The bill failed to go anywhere, and McCain later voted against other bills that had similar provisions.

McCain may talk sympathetically about New Orleans’ recovery this week, but the record shows that when it mattered most, McCain failed to act. His passion for fiscal conservatism blinded him to a city and a region in need, and his Time for Action is simply too late.

Jonathan Stein is a reporter in the Mother Jones D.C. bureau.

© 2008 Mother Jones

  Just more proof that McCain is a failure as a human and a liar, just like his buddy Bush. Do you really want this garbage as the next President of the United States? If you are lame enough to vote for this clown, then you most certainly do deserve the screwing that you will be getting.

Technorati Tags: John McCain,New Orleans,Katrina,votes

The Latest On FISA

  DailyKos

by mcjoan

The latest from House Republicans:

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) announced Thursday that he will try to attach a measure updating the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as an amendment to the war supplemental bill....

"It’s time for the Democratic leaders to put our national security ahead of the desires of trial lawyers and pass the FISA bill that was passed by the Senate," the lawmaker said. "This Congress should make this legislation one of its top priorities until the intelligence gap is closed."

Meet Rep. Jerry Lewis:

Congratulations to Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) lawyers! They've surpassed $1 million in legal fees from the lawmaker....

Since June of 2006, Lewis has paid just over $1 million in campaign funds to some heavy-hitters at the law firm Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher, according to campaign disclosures. A $62,000 payment on December 12th last year put him over the top.

It's hard to be a better friend to trial lawyers than that.

Technorati Tags: FISA,telecom amnesty,illegal wiretaps,Jerry Lewis

America's Human Rights Problem

  Sometimes I often wonder what the rest of the world thinks of our United States of America and just recently I discovered the foreigners take on America when it comes to certain subjects.

  Here's one point of view from China.

   From Watching America

By Liao Qin
"Currently the U.S., while “concerned in every possible way” with other countries’ human rights conditions, is committing a misdeed towards healing its very own human rights violations."
Translated By Aaron Creller
March 14th, 2008
China - Jie Fang Daily News - Original Article (Chinese)
The United States, “Defender of Human Rights,” often wants to point its finger at other countries’ human rights conditions, giving directions and petulantly faultfinding. This year is no different. The other day, Washington issued a statement on another country’s human rights, as usual putting on display that country’s faults while using the same old clichés: A.) the country’s human rights are a mess, B.) the country time and time again infringes on human rights; if they continue like this then they will be put on the black list, where the infringements on human rights are ranked into the 10 most serious offending countries, and so on.
But those with foresight can perceive an amusing occurrence. Currently the U.S., while “concerned in every possible way” with other countries’ human rights conditions, is committing a misdeed towards healing its very own human rights violations – all of this while they inspect themselves but see nothing, or speak only words and commit no actions.
Is the United States really without a human rights problem? Definitely not. For instance, from the fiscal year 2001 to to the fiscal year 2007, infringing on civil rights cases increased 25% as the U.S. law enforcement and U.S. Justice Department both abused their authority. Another example: as of last year, people killed in the U.S. initiated Iraq War have already reached 660,000 plus, among which Iraq civilians counted for 90%. In addition, the United States’ secret overseas mistreatment of prisoners has not diminished, to that extent the U.S. seems to have become the symbol of “secret prisons” and “mistreatment of prisoners.”
It is clear that on the problem of human rights, Americans on the one hand imposingly issue reports that criticize others, while at the same time leaving out their own name. These two faces really seem sufficiently rude and ridiculous. Without a doubt, if any progress forward can be made, then there are still a few other things that must be looked at.
In the guiding document issued during the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, the sentence “In respect to human rights, people are born and also remain free and equal” has unknowingly encouraged how much strife for people? Certainly much time has been spent and sacrosanct “human rights,” “democracy,” “freedom” alike often perish due to interference from domestic governments, which implement their own strategies under the pretenses and with the tools that are available. No wonder Madame Roland said, “Freedom, freedom, how much evil is committed in your name!” In fact, whether or not the United States mobilized the Iraq War, Washington still recently supported Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, supposedly under the lofty banner of democracy, freedom, human rights and so on. But behind their back they are dealing with complicated games and considerations. To some extent, in these matters, it appears to be a fully hegemonic mentality. Interestingly, there’s also many times, on the face of “inducements,” the United States’ human rights banner can also turn dark and fade, tolerating nothing. For example, in their treatment of the problem of common wealth of independent states, it is not surprising that there are political analysts who go back on their word. The United States’ big human rights cudgel still has four large enemies: oil, natural gas, the war on terrorism, and geo-political considerations…
Returning to the real story, no matter how it is said, the treatment of the sacred human rights problem involves two features that are easy to see. Though warm inner feelings may help some people “give directions” to other people, everyone must manage themselves first.

Technorati Tags: America,human rights,democracy,freedom

Worldwide Food Woes In America

    Say what you will, but you and I are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to food prices and the nutty rise they have taken.

   But, before we go there, let's look at what our two biggest retail chains are doing.

   Sam's Club and Costco both, on Wednesday, have placed limits on how much rice their consumers can purchase at one time. The Sam's Club rice limits affect their 20-pound bags at this point in time and not the smaller retail sizes, so you and I can still go and get as many 1-pound or 5-pound bags of Uncle ben's that we want. I wonder how long that will last?

   The rationing is due to the rising price of rice ( 70% this year ) and the demand for the product. At this time, no-one is expecting a lack of product for the consumer.

Sam's Club said it will limit customers to four bags at a time of imported jasmine, basmati and long grain white rice.

USA Rice Federation spokesman David Coia said there is no rice shortage in the United States.

"It's possible that small restaurants and bodega-type neighborhood stores may be purchasing rice in larger quantities than they do typically to avoid higher prices," Coia said about the warehouse chain restrictions.   

The steep increases have followed similar jumps in the price of wheat, corn and soybeans that have added to Americans' growing grocery bill and led to violent food riots in poor countries including Haiti, Senegal and Pakistan.  YahooNews

  Let's see now. We have a very lousy economy in the making. We are losing our employment left and right. We are losing our homes. Gas for the car or truck are spinning out of control and our grocery bill seems to go up every week.

    I see the 1970's all over again with a few added twist this time around. Instead of stealing gasoline from cars or shooting people at the pumps for their fuel, we'll now have to worry about some poor unemployed, starving human being who's wanting to take what we have so that he/she can feed their family.

    This will get ugly people. The United States is about to become the richest third-world country on the planet with a group of morons running the show from Washington.

Technorati Tags: rice,food shortage,United States,Sam's Club,Costco

News For You

 Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - The U.S. military's health insurance program has been swindled out of more than $100 million over the past decade in the Philippines, where doctors, hospitals and clinics have conspired with American veterans to submit bogus claims, according to prosecutors and court records.
Seventeen people have been convicted so far -- including at least a dozen U.S. military retirees -- in a little-noticed investigation that has been handled by federal prosecutors out of Wisconsin because a Madison company holds the contract to process many of the claims. It has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

U.P.I.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 23 (UPI) -- A South Florida man has been acquitted of harassing a former girlfriend by distributing fliers that said she had given him herpes.
A jury found Hance Adams not guilty of all charges Tuesday, including criminal libel, the Miami Herald reported Wednesday. He was also charged with child abuse because fliers were left at the school attended by the woman's son.

USAToday

The Government Accountability Office estimates that more than 60,000 federal contractors owe $7.7 billion in back taxes. An additional $1 billion is owed by health care providers who receive Medicare funds, the GAO says. An undetermined amount of farm subsidies, small-business loans and other benefits flow to companies that owe taxes. These taxes are part of about $300 billion in taxes that go unpaid every year, the Internal Revenue Service estimates.

Technorati Tags: GAO,taxes,Hance Adams,herpes,military health insurance,fraud

Southeast Paying More For Water

  Now that the Southeast United States is coming out of a drought, those who control the water supply are loosening water restrictions, which is a good thing. But, it would seem that the water companies aren't happy with just making a little more money now that the supply is up, they are getting greedy and charging more for the water that they couldn't dish out back during the drought.

USAToday

Among the price hikes:

•Atlanta's water utility, facing hundreds of millions of dollars in bond debt for a $3.9 billion update of its sewer and water systems, is seeking a 15% rate increase to offset conservation losses; other water utilities in metropolitan Atlanta are likely to follow suit if usage stays low.

"We're estimating a $33 million-a-year loss because of the drop in revenue from people conserving," says Janet Ward, spokeswoman for Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management. "That's the Catch-22 that we're in. People conserve, and you're so proud of them. Then you say, 'But wait, you're going to get hit with a bigger bill for conserving.' "

•In Charlotte, where people have reduced their water usage by up to 40% since last year, water bills are going up about 15% beginning next month — about $6 a month for the average customer. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg utilities department, facing a $20 million shortfall because of conservation, will drop the increase to 14% in July and might drop it further as water usage rises. "It's tough for the average customer to understand," says Maeneen Klein, water conservation manager for the utility. "Do what we ask you to do, and it's going to cause your bill to go up."

•In Palm Beach County, Fla., water customers are seeing a drought surcharge on their bills: an additional $3.50 on an average $23.80 bill. The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department, which serves about 500,000 people, is facing an estimated $13 million deficit, spokesman Robert Nelton says.

  The article goes on to state that consumers in the Southeast haven't been paying the true cost of water, that's according to Robin Craig, who happens to be a water expert at the Florida State University's college of Law. If you are going to get charged more for helping to conserve one of our natural resources, tell them where to go the next time around. those bond issues and crap should not be the consumers problem.

Technorati Tags: water,conservation,drought,Southeast

Clinton And Obama After The Pa. Primary

  Just a quotes from the candidates after the voting was over.

    We'll start with Clinton first since she won the primary.

   "You know, the pundits questioned whether Pennsylvanians would trust me with this charge. And tonight you showed you do. You know you can count on me to stand up strong for you every single day in the White House."    Source

  Barack Obama:

  "There were a lot of folks who didn't think we could make this a race when it started. They thought we were going to be blown out. But we worked hard, and we traveled across the state to big cities and small towns, to factories and VFW halls. And now, six weeks later, we closed the gap."       Source

  I would tend to believe that Hillary Clinton and the DNC leadership are the ones who are most surprised that Obama is the crowd favorite in spite of losing in Pennsylvania.

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton,Barack Obama,2008

Speaker Pelosi Sends President Bush A Letter About Rising Gas Prices

  Not that Bush will read this letter and act on it, but it is a good start on Pelosi's part.  Here's the text of the letter.

April 22, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush
The President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As we celebrate Earth Day, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline has reached a record $3.51 – 23 percent more than this time last year and 138 percent more than January 2001. Historic gas prices now far exceed those during the 1981 energy crisis.

Americans are paying too high a price at the pump for energy policies that have placed subsidies for Big Oil ahead of sensible investments in clean, renewable energy resources that can heat and cool our homes, fuel our cars, and spark a green jobs revolution. In addition to energy costs, rising food prices, high health care costs, the growing housing crisis and rising unemployment are hurting American families and business, and weakening our economy.

Mr. President, we have worked together to enact the first increase in fuel economy standards for cars and trucks in 32 years, dramatically boosting efficiency standards for buildings, lighting, and appliances, and investing in homegrown biofuels. I respectfully ask you again to work with the Congress to allow the Justice Department to pursue oil cartel price-fixing, allow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to investigate and punish price gougers, end taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil and invest those funds in renewable American energy. Lastly, your Administration must use the authority given to it by the Congress to end market manipulation. We cannot wait to act in the face of these prices increases.

I respectfully ask that you work with the Congress to get the following pieces of legislation, which have already passed the House, to your desk for your signature:

The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act - H.R. 2264

This legislation enables the Department of Justice to take legal action against foreign nations for participating in oil cartels that drive up oil prices globally and in the United States. It does so by exempting OPEC and other nations from the provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act when acting in a commercial capacity; by making clear that the so-called “Act of State” doctrine does not prevent courts from ruling on antitrust charges brought against foreign governments; and by authorizing the Department of Justice to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts against cartel members. This bill passed the House 345-72. You have threatened to veto this legislation.

The Energy Price Gouging Act – H.R. 1252

This legislation will reduce the burden of rising gas prices on American families, providing immediate relief to consumers by giving the FTC the authority to investigate and punish those who artificially inflate the price of energy. It ensures the federal government has the tools it needs to adequately respond to energy emergencies and prohibit price gouging – with a priority on refineries and big oil companies. This bill passed the House by 284-141. You have threatened to veto this legislation.

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 - H.R. 5351

With Exxon Mobil posting a record-breaking $40 billion in profits last year, it is unnecessary for taxpayers to subsidize Big Oil. This bill will end unnecessary subsidies to Big Oil companies and invest in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It will extend and expand tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances. These provisions are critical to creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. And the preservation of existing jobs relies on them too: a recent study showed that allowing the renewable energy incentives to expire would lead to about 116,000 jobs being lost in the wind and solar industries through the end of 2009. This bill passed 236-182. You have threatened to veto this legislation.

Market Manipulation Provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Lastly, the bill we worked on together, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, made it unlawful for any person to take manipulative action or report false information on the wholesale price of gasoline or petroleum and required the Federal Trade Commission to enforce and punish those found guilty of such actions. It is imperative that the FTC act now to crack down on these abusive practices.

Your support for these efforts is all the more critical as your Administration has failed to persuade OPEC to increase their oil production to bring down prices, despite your considerable influence with OPEC nations.

The New Direction Congress is providing forward-looking leadership that will fuel America’s energy future, save Americans’ money, create good jobs, improve our national security, and preserve our planet for our children. This critical issue needs Presidential leadership and I urge you to please join us to address the skyrocketing price at the pump.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House

Technorati Tags: Nancy Pelosi,Presidemt Bush,gas prices,oil market,consumers

Army Doubles Felony Waivers To Get More Recruits

   No wonder that Bush/Cheney and McCain have no problem with the United States staying in Iraq until hell freezes over. Hell! We'll just keep on sending our felons off to war and they won't be missed.

  if any of the top Republicans had top go to Iraq for something other than a photo-op, like fighting, they'd all haul ass and hide somewhere. Bush and Cheney come to mind right off the top of the list.

  The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a report today that found “the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.” According to the House report, nine waivers “involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions.” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has asked the Pentagon to explain the increase in conduct waivers.   Think Progress

I guess that this would be okay for John McCain if he makes it into the White House and we do visit Iraq for 100 years?

Technorati Tags: US military,Marines,Henry Waxman,Congress,felons,2007

Your Morning News

SAN DIEGO - A new nonprofit institution plans to build a $115 million stem cell research facility in San Diego that would open by 2010.
Although funding still is being lined up, the San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine proposes constructing a 23,740-square-foot building housing laboratories and support space.    A.P.

  From South Carolina we get another messed-up student

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Students arriving Monday at a small South Carolina high school faced newly installed metal detectors and extra security after a student was arrested in what authorities said was a plan to carry out a Columbine-inspired attack

The alleged plotter, Ryan Schallenberger, 18, was due in court Monday afternoon for a bond hearing. He was arrested Saturday after his parents called police because 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate were delivered to their home in Chesterfield. Police also said they discovered a disturbing journal.  Article

  For a look at our booming economy, take note of this.

NEW YORK, April 21 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices jumped to more than $117 a barrel Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, continuing a steep climb that began about a year ago.
Crude oil cost less than $70 per barrel last April. On Monday the price climbed 46 cents to $117.15 per barrel.  U.P.I.

  Have a good day, and don't forget to make your Republican friends feel guilty.

Technorati Tags: news,oil,stem cells,Ryan Schallenberger

Republican John McCain Would Attack Wasteful Spending

"I am here to cut hundreds of billions of dollars out of wasteful and unnecessary spending in America, whether they be ethanol subsidies, whether they be sugar price supports, whether they be payments to the wealthiest farmers, whether they be the loopholes that are out there worth I don't know how many billions and billions of dollars," McCain said.     Reuters

  I wonder how those wealthy farmers and those cane growers feel about losing their subsidies and all of that extra cash.

  I say forget about all of that chump change spending and cut the spending where it would do the most good for the U.S. economy and our growing deficit. Cut back on the war in Iraq, John-boy. Just imagine the hundreds of billions that you could save if we didn't have to occupy a foreign country for no reason other than oil.

McCain also charged that Democratic White House foes Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton "are out of touch when they want to raise taxes (on the rich) at the worst possible time, when we're in a recession."

   Let me see if my memory is on the right track here, okay? I thought that Bush's tax cuts to the wealthy was supposed to stimulate our economy and create more jobs for us. Those cuts that both Bush and McPain want to make permanent have thus far cost the United States somewhere around 180,000 jobs and in case these two morons haven't noticed it yet, our economy is turning to shit real fast. Maybe someone should tell McCain that we have a recession because of Bush/McCain's economic policy. Only two idiots like Bush/McSame would want to cut taxes even further while we have two wars going on. They must be using some new math when they put their policies into play.

Challenged how he expects to find enough savings, McCain said: "You scrub every agency of government. Is there any American that doesn't believe that there's tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars that can be saved?"

The federal budget deficit is projected to be upward of $400 billion this year largely because of the economic slowdown amid the rising costs for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  Hey John McCain, I'm one of those American workers who thinks that hundreds of billions can be saved just by getting out of Iraq and by dropping wasteful contracts with companies such as KBR and Blackwater, to name a few.

Technorati Tags: John McCain,economy,Democrats,2008,Barack Obama,Hillary Clinton,Iraq