There Is Still Some Serious And Worthwhile Work To Be Done On The Stimulus Package In Conference Committee…Stay Informed And Prepared To Act!
"The action I am taking is no more than a radical measure to hasten the explosion of truth and justice. I have but one passion: to enlighten those who have been kept in the dark, in the name of humanity which has suffered so much and is entitled to happiness. My fiery protest is simply the cry of my very soul. Let them dare, then,
to bring me before a court of law and let the enquiry take place in
broad daylight!"
- Emile Zola, J'accuse! (1898) –
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude
than the animating contest of freedom, — go from us in peace. We ask
not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed
you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget
that ye were our countrymen!”
-Sam Adams-
| REPUBLICAN STIMULUS WORKERS
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LIST OF SPENDING "CUTS" IN SENATE BILL
A list of programs cut (actually reduced proposed allocations) from the House/Obama bill by Senate negotiators, put together by a Republican leadership aide:
$40 billion State Fiscal Stabilization *
$16 billion School Construction *
$1.25 billion project-based rental
$2.25 Neighborhood Stabilization (Eliminate) *
$1.2 billion in Retrofiting Project 8 Housing
$7.5 billion of State Incentive Grants
$3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction (Eliminated) *
$100 million FSA modernization
$50 million CSERES Research
$65 million Watershed Rehab
$30 million SD Salaries
$100 million Distance Learning
$98 million School Nutrition
$50 million aquaculture
$2 billion broadband
$1 billion Head Start/Early Start
$5.8 billion Health Prevention Activity.
$2 billion HIT Grants
$1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees
$4.5 billion GSA
$3.5 billion Federal Bldgs Greening
$100 million NIST
$100 million NOAA
$100 million Law Enforcement Wireless
$50 million Detention Trustee
$25 million Marshalls Construction
$100 million FBI Construction
$300 million Federal Prisons
$300 million BYRNE Formula
$140 million BYRNE Competitive
$10 million State and Local Law Enforcement
$50 million NASA
$50 million Aeronautics
$50 million Exploration
$50 million Cross Agency Support
$200 million NSF
$100 million Science
$89 million GSA Operations
$300 million Fed Hybrid Vehicles
$50 million from DHS
$200 million TSA
$122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use
$25 million Fish and Wildlife
$55 million Historic Preservation
$20 million working capital fund
$200 million Superfund
$165 million Forest Svc Capital Improvement
$90 million State & Private Wildlife Fire Management
$75 million Smithsonian
$600 million Title I (NCLB)
Though Are Several Areas
I Have Trouble With
Start With These
The 2009 Infrastructure
REPORT CARD
| 2009 GRADES
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http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2009/index.html
http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2009/grades.cfm
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/subjects/stimulus-bill
http://site.pfaw.org/site/MessageViewer?dlv_id=7581&em_id=4341.0
This Is the Basis Of The Spin Rationale Being offered Up By The Right
"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste," sayeth Rahm.
Opportunistic and cynical, yes. But also savvy political counsel that transformational presidents have always followed.
FDR exploited the Depression to launch his New Deal, bring an end to a Republican hegemony of seven decades and make Democrats the majority party, until Richard Nixon picked the lock.
While the debate is endless over whether the New Deal ended the Depression or caused it to endure until World War II spending pulled us out of the ditch, few deny that FDR left a monumental legacy.”
-Patrick J. Buchanan humanevents.com February 3, 2009-
Two Years Recession, Or Ten Years Of Hell?
F William Engdahl: US economy has been hollowed out over the last 15 years and debt load is staggering February 6, 2009
Two Years Recession, Or Ten Years Of Hell? Pt.2
F. William Engdahl: We are heading for a time of great social movements like the 1930's February 7, 2009
Majdi al-Athanma describes how the recent Israeli offensive has shattered his life again
Where Now For The Israeli Peace Movement?
Peter Beaumont talks to left-wing Israelis about the impact of the Gaza conflict on upcoming elections
Israel's Hardline Party Widens Its Appeal
The Israel Beiteinu (Translation: "Israel Our Home") Party, is now attracting more Israelis than ever.
As their jobs disappear, people around the world have taken to the streets
Far-right Israel politician gains momentum
By Richard Boudreaux
Avigdor Lieberman's proposal for a loyalty oath has connected with voters suspicious of Israeli Arabs. He is unlikely to win the prime minister's post, but could push the new government to the right.
Israel’s Attack on Gaza: Legitimate Self Defense or War Crime?
Dissident Voice - Santa Rosa,CA,USA
Moreover, international law explicitly prohibits attacks of which the primary purpose is to intimidate or instill terror in the civilian population whether ...
See all stories on this topic
http://www.bushproject.com/foiadocs.html
We Need a Special Prosecutor, Not a Commission | Democrats.com
By Bob Fertik
Local: connect with Democrats.com members in your State, County, and Congressional District. Ten Reasons to Impeach Bush & Cheney. 64.4%. Ten Reasons to Impeach George Bush and DickCheney. Goal: 250000. Now: 160946 ...
Democrats.com - The Aggressive... - http://www.democrats.com/
Cheney is a Wanted Man in Vermont | Democrats.com
By Bob Fertik
Ten Reasons to Impeach Bush & Cheney. 64.4%. Ten Reasons to Impeach George Bush and DickCheney. Goal: 250000. Now: 160945 ... Impeach for Torture. 79.4%. Tell Congress to Impeach Cheney First. Goal: 100000. Now: 79421 ...
Democrats.com blogs - http://www.democrats.com/blog
In order to prevent any details of its torture record being publicly disseminated, the Bush administration threatened the British government with withdrawal of intelligence sharing if they allowed a court to publish the redacted evidence. Foreign secretary David Miliband denied this on Wednesday, but the letters from the US have been released by Channel 4 News. And their message is unmistakable. The first letter:
A FLURRY of letters between the British Foreign Office and the US State Department has revealed that Washington did threaten to withdraw intelligence-sharing with Britain if documents related to the alleged torture of a British terrorism detainee in Guantanamo Bay were made public.
The High Court in London said on Wednesday the Foreign Office had refused to allow the torture documents to be revealed because of a "threat" from Washington to stop sharing intelligence with Britain.
The US warning, related to the case of British detainee Binyam Mohamed, was promptly denied by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who insisted that there had been no threat from the US to "break off intelligence co-operation".
But on Thursday night British broadcaster Channel 4 revealed that a letter dated August 21, 2008, from the US State Department, stated the consequences if a British court published American documents on the capture and interrogation of Mohamed.
"I write with respect to proceedings … regarding Mr Binyam Mohamed," the letter said. "We note the classified documents identified in your letters of June 16 and August 1, 2008, to the acting general counsel of the Department of Defence … the public disclosure of these documents or of the information contained therein is likely to result in serious damage to US national security and could harm … intelligence information sharing arrangements between our two governments."
Channel 4 revealed that a week later the State Department wrote again to the Foreign Office to make clear the consequences if British courts released the paperwork detailing allegations of torture by US and British intelligence services.
"To the extent the UK proceedings are currently aimed at ensuring that the documents at issue will be before the convening authority before she makes her referral decision, this development further demonstrates the relief sought through these proceedings has been otherwise accomplished and no further action by the court is required," the letter said.
"Ordering the disclosure of the US intelligence information now would have only the marginal effects of serious and lasting damage to the US-UK intelligence sharing relationship, and thus the national security of the UK …"
The threat has sparked an angry reaction in London after Lord Justice John Thomas and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones told the court lawyers for Mr Miliband had made clear the threat represented too great a risk to national security to be ignored.
The court was also told that Mr Mohamed's lawyers had tested the new administration of President Barack Obama and that the warning stood.
British newspapers highlighted the hypocrisy of the statement, particularly as it emerged just 24 hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made much of the "special relationship" between the two countries.
The judges' statements reveal that top-secret documents that form the linchpin of the case argue "torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment". In an echo of the Australian case brought by Mamdouh Habib, the paperwork suggests the presence of a British intelligence official at the time Mr Mohamed alleged he was tortured.
Mr Mohamed was born in Ethiopia and sought political asylum in Britain in 1994. He was granted leave to remain, but was captured in Pakistan in 2002 attempting to re-enter the UK on a false British passport.
He was passed to the Americans and was held incommunicado, first in Pakistan and then in a series of secret locations for more than two years. He has alleged he was subject to "extraordinary rendition to Morocco where torture continued in a severe form".
Between May and September 2004, Mr Mohamed confessed to an involvement with al-Qaeda and plotting terrorist attacks, leading to his being charged with terrorist crimes, including a plot to detonate a dirty bomb. These charges were dropped.
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Faith Forms A Bond For A Lesbian Priest And A Mormon Father Of Three
A documentary film about same-sex marriage and theology leads to friendship, admiration and new understanding.
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