Thursday News Bucket

22 Comments

1. 

   CabinGirl on November 15, 2007 at 7:22 am

   the more they stay the same: CNN

   In his second day on the job, Attorney General Michael Mukasey leaped into the political fray, telling a key Democratic senator he opposes his electronic surveillance plan and would recommend the president veto it if it is passed.

   In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on the eve of crucial committee votes to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Mukasey was adamant in opposing Leahy’s plan for changing the law.

   Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell co-signed the letter released Wednesday night by the Justice Department.

   “We strongly oppose the proposed substitute amendment. If the substitute is part of a bill that is presented to the president, we and the president’s other senior advisers will recommend that he veto the bill,” they said.

   Leahy last week introduced his substitute to a FISA modernization bill already approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee. That effort, led by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., won wide bipartisan support and is backed by the administration. It includes retroactive immunity to legally protect the telecommunications companies which cooperated with the administration’s classified warrantless surveillance program.

   Leahy, who had opposed Mukasey’s confirmation last week, is adamantly opposed to the immunity provision.

   Mukasey and McConnell listed nearly a dozen other provisions or omissions in the Leahy plan which they said “would not provide the intelligence community with the tools it needs effectively to collect foreign intelligence information vital for the security of the nation.”

   Way to go on that AG nomination, Chuck and Diane.  Tell me again why no AG would have been worse?

2. 

   CabinGirl on November 15, 2007 at 7:29 am

   at a townhall-style meeting: AP/Guardian

   When the CEO of Google turned the microphone over to his employees after Barack Obama discussed his tech agenda, one worker who said he had voted for several losing Democratic presidential candidates got right to the point.

   “I’m tired of losing,” he said to laughter, adding that he wanted to know whether Obama would demonstrate the political acumen of former President Clinton or the comparative weakness of former Vice President Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry.

   “What have you learned from Clinton that is going to make you win?” the man asked. “What have you learned from Gore and Kerry and all those guys that you’re going to avoid, so that history doesn’t recur?”

   Obama replied that Democrats win when they stay true to their values and not when they compromise under fire from Republicans.

   “Democrats lose when they are attacked and because they don’t know where they stand, they end up getting defensive instead of going on the offensive,” Obama said.

   When another employee asked how he could persuade his friends to vote for the 46-year-old Illinois senator, Obama held up the success of the young Internet search engine to allay concerns about his perceived lack of experience.

   Obama said Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page showed what young people can do. They started Google in their 20s, while still attending graduate school at Stanford.

   “Sergey and Larry didn’t have a lot of experience starting a Fortune 100 company,” Obama said. “I suppose when they came in and started talking to (Google’s current general counsel) Dave Drummond about starting a company, he could have said, ‘They don’t know what they’re doing.”’

   How long has it taken for these guys to get that idea there in bold?

3. 

   CabinGirl on November 15, 2007 at 7:52 am

   Those extra couple of pounds may be good for you.

   What a timely article, right before the biggest eating day of the year.  😉

4. 

   ask on November 15, 2007 at 7:56 am

   Blackwater killings ‘broke rules’

   The killings of at least 14 Iraqi civilians by guards from the security firm Blackwater were unjustified, FBI officials have told the New York Times.

   The officials are investigating the 16 September incident in which 17 Iraqis were shot by Blackwater staff guarding State Department employees.

   The revelations come as the US State Department’s inspector-general admits his brother is linked to Blackwater.

   The official admitted the link while giving evidence to Congress.

   Members of Congress are conducting an investigation into the activities of private security firms like Blackwater.

   The State Department’s inspector-general, Howard Krongard, was the latest senior official called to give evidence on Capitol Hill.

   Mr Krongard is responsible for State Department contracts and ensuring that the department behaves ethically.

   • 

     ask on November 15, 2007 at 7:58 am

     Some Inspector-General…

     Krongard Confirms `Ugly Rumor’: Brother Attended Blackwater Advisory Board Meeting Yesterday

     During today’s House Oversight Committee hearing on the performance of State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) revealed that Krongard’s brother — former CIA Executive Director A.B. “Buzzy” Krongard — sits on Blackwater USA’s board. Krongard vehemently denied the allegation, calling it an “ugly rumor”:

         KRONGARD: I can tell you very frankly, I am not aware of any financial interest or position he has with respect to Blackwater. It couldn’t possibly have affected anything I’ve done, because I don’t believe it. And when these ugly rumors started recently, I specifically asked him. I do not believe it is true that he is a member of the advisory board, as you stated, and that is something I think I need to say.

     During a break in today’s hearing, Krongard called his brother and confirmed that the “ugly rumor” was in fact true, and promised to recuse himself from any Blackwater investigations:

         KRONGARD: This is in response to something I think you found important. During the break I did contact my brother. I reached him at home — he is not at the hotel. But I learned that he had been at the advisory board meeting yesterday. I had not been aware of that, and I want to state on the record right now that I hereby recuse myself from any matters having to do with Blackwater.

         WAXMAN: I see. You indicated you had called your brother to ask him earlier whether he was on the board. He told you he wasn’t.

         KRONGARD: Well that was about six weeks ago, and I was not aware — and this board meeting happened yesterday, and I found out just during the break that he had in fact attended yesterday.

     (check video in link)

   • 

     dada on November 15, 2007 at 11:26 am

     sounds like a reichwing version of burt and ernie from sesame street…but not nearly as benign. some very interesting history here, as you will see if you do a bit of the google:

     seems “buzzy” was the executive director of the cia at the time of nine-one-one, and is/has been rumoured to have been involved, in some conspiracy theories, with some insider trading irregularities.

     his seemingly innocous [ha!] connection to blackwater, dates from his tenure at cia, where he was, apparently, erik princes’ go to guy, and instrumental in securing blackwater’s early contracts.

     ref: wiki, goog.

     some very questionable coincidences, eh. quite a tangled web…the tin-foil crowds gonna have a field day with this one.

     stern letters to follow.

     lTMF’sA

     

5. 

   ask on November 15, 2007 at 8:04 am

   Kosovo votes ahead of independence showdown

   PRISTINA, Serbia (Reuters) – The breakaway province of Kosovo holds a parliamentary election on Saturday, ahead of a showdown with Serbia over the ethnic Albanian majority’s demand for independence.

   Prime Minister Agim Ceku is stepping down, so the election will bring in new leadership as last-ditch negotiations between Serbia and the Kosovo Albanians reach a climax, with no glimmer of an agreement in sight.

   But whoever wins, Kosovo’s position will not change: voters are certain to return a government pledged to declare independence after an international trio of mediators end the talks and report to the United Nations by December 10.

   Ex-guerrilla commander Hashim Thaci and his opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo enjoy a narrow lead in opinion polls, but would have to share power, possibly with the Democratic League of Kosovo of late independence icon Ibrahim Rugova.

   Thaci, bidding to become prime minister, told Reuters this week it was “just a matter of setting the date” for a declaration of independence. “Kosovo and Serbia could talk for another 100 years and never agree,” he said.

   Serbia’s ally Russia has blocked a proposal for Kosovo independence in the United Nations Security Council.

6. 

   CabinGirl on November 15, 2007 at 9:20 am

   coming some lucky drivers’ way: LATimes

   The FCX Clarity is what Honda calls a “production” version of a hydrogen fuel cell car it first exhibited two years ago. It promises zero emissions and luxury features such as heated seats and Bluetooth connectivity while getting about the equivalent of 68 miles per gallon.

   Honda says it will lease the four-door sedans to a limited number of people in Irvine, Santa Monica and Torrance by next summer. (Those areas are being targeted because they’re near hydrogen refueling centers.) The three-year lease — the first time fuel cell cars will have been made commercially available anywhere — will be $600 a month, or about the cost of a BMW 5 Series, Honda executives said.

   Motorists will be able to keep the cars at home and drive them as they please while being mindful that the fuel tank allows them to go 270 miles between fill-ups. The leases include insurance and mechanical service from Honda.

   The Japanese automaker won’t say how much each FCX Clarity costs to make but admits the lease comes nowhere near to covering its expenses. Hydrogen fuel cell cars, which convert hydrogen into electricity used to power a motor, can cost $1 million or more each to make.

   “At the end of the lease, we definitely want them back,” said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for Honda. The company will use the lease term to gather information on the vehicle.

   I want one.  What do you think it costs to fill up with hydrogen?

   • 

     dada on November 15, 2007 at 11:28 am

     or, ups goes green:

     UPS to Use ZAP Electric Car and Truck Fleet for Deliveries

     PETALUMA, CA — (November 13, 2007) — It will be a green holiday this season for United Parcel Service (UPS), who rolled out a small parcel delivery service this week in Northern California using 42 electric cars and trucks from ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP).

     UPS rolled out an electric car and truck fleet from ZAP this week to help with small parcel deliveries in dense urban communities. The move was made to reduce fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. Click Here for a photo gallery of the vehicles in operation..

     The UPS branch in Petaluma, California has leased an initial fleet of 42 ZAP Xebra® electric city cars and trucks for their small parcel deliveries. This is the first time that UPS has used electric city-speed vehicles for this purpose.
     .
     .
     zapworld

     very kewl! seems california’s leading the way….again.

     lTMF’sA

     

     • 

       Alice on November 15, 2007 at 11:48 am

       Nice.  But If I lived in a dense urban environment, would I want my new computer sitting out on the street in an open truck bed while the driver made his early deliveries?

7. 

   idredit on November 15, 2007 at 10:05 am

   Send your contributions, Gonzo is in need:

   Thinkprogress alerts

   “Friends and supporters have established a legal defense fund for former attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales, who is still facing “an ongoing Justice Department investigation into whether” he “committed perjury or improperly tampered with a congressional witness.”

8. 

   cruz del sur on November 15, 2007 at 10:55 am

   Ninth Circuit Rules that Severe Beatings Are Not Torture

   I am starting  to think that there is no such thing as torture anymore. This is disgusting!!!

   • 

     chocolate ink on November 15, 2007 at 4:35 pm

     Thanks for the link cruz..what a bunch of sick sorry bastards…I wonder just what exactly they would consider torture ..beating someone so bad you are left with permanent scars all over body would seem to be obvious torture to anyone with a logical, legal and compassionate mind wouldn’t you say. Or any of the other instances mentioned in the article.

     Disgusting barely begins to describe what these so called judges have ruled.

     • 

       cruz del sur on November 15, 2007 at 8:28 pm

       What immediately came to mind was that seem out of Midnight Express, in which they tie a guys feet, raise him up, and begin hitting the bottom of his feet with a club.

       Maybe those judges should test it themselves

9. 

   dada on November 15, 2007 at 11:30 am

   more BushShit

   code pink denied permission to cross border into canada:

   ATTACKING OUR FREEDOM TO PROTEST

   George W likes to claim that global terrorists are out to attack America because “They hate our freedoms.” But we’re learning that it’s really the Bushites themselves who hate America’s freedoms.
   .
   .
   Retired Army Col. Ann Wright and one of America’s leading peace activists, Medea Benjamin, have recently felt the bullying hate of the Bush regime. Both women have been very vigorous practitioners of our freedom to speak out and assemble in opposition to government policies, using these freedoms to protest the war in Iraq…
   .
   .
   When they tried to visit Canada, Wright and Benjamin were detained by Canadian customs officials and told that their names were on an FBI no-entry list. Even though this list is meant to stop fugitives, potential terrorists, and violent felons – not peaceful protesters – they were told that they would have to apply for “criminal rehabilitation” and pay a fine if they ever wanted to enter Can

   Unintimidated, the women have since tried to re-enter, this time at the invitation of five members of parliament to come speak to that assembly. Yet, Canada’s officials have bowed to the Bushites, honoring the FBI’s no-entry list, rather than respecting their own parliament. The FBI refuses to say why non-violent protesters are on a terrorist list.

   jim hightower

   video of commentary:
   

   peace, indeed.

   lTMF’sA

   

10. 

    dada on November 15, 2007 at 11:32 am

    speaking of the canadian border…

    what else is HSA/Border Security up to up there?

    Canadian firetruck responding to U.S. call held up at border

    A Canadian firetruck responding with lights and sirens to a weekend fire in Rouses Point, New York, was stopped at the U.S. border for about eight minutes, U.S. border officials said Tuesday.

    Fire officials battling the blaze called for help from fire departments in nearby Quebec, using a longstanding and often-used mutual aid agreement. But the first truck that arrived at the small Rouses Point border crossing was delayed as officials checked documentation of the firefighters and their truck, officials confirmed.
    .
    .
    In the past, firetrucks on emergency calls cleared border checkpoints in 30 seconds or less, Trombley said, although he said identification is sometimes checked upon their return.
    .
    .
    Clinton County has mutual aid agreements with fire departments in Vermont and Quebec, Trombley said, and the county requests help from Quebec fire departments about 30 times a year. It sends help to Canada a similar number of times…
    .
    .
    LINK

    the stupid, it hurts!

    lTMF’sA

    

    • 

      hens teeth on November 15, 2007 at 12:00 pm

      After six years, we can now reliably find & impound baby bottles, nail clippers, and firemen. We’ll be able to detect explosives at the airport check in any day now.

      I feel so safe.

11. 

    on November 15, 2007 at 12:35 pm

    Another “terra” report about inspectors smuggling stuff onboard airplanes that could potentially be used to make a bomb.

    I am far more terrified of having my lifestyle erode to the point where I will never be able to afford stepping onto and airplane in the first place.

    • 

      CabinGirl on November 15, 2007 at 4:11 pm

      I think we are all in far more danger of never being ble to afford anything again than anyone would like to admit…

      • 

        on November 15, 2007 at 4:18 pm

        How true.

        And also how James Bond like, anyone can whip up pounds of plastic explosives from common household materials and not get noticed on a full airplane.

12. 

    on November 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm

    Feds shut down beginning of a real money project.
    http://gata.org/node/5738
    Fiat money, that is where the corruption is.

13. 

    cruz del sur on November 15, 2007 at 8:32 pm

    1. Within the last hour, the Senate Judiciary Committee just
     reported out a FISA bill that DOES NOT include retroactive immunity for the
     telecom companies that helped the Bush Administration spy on Americans.
       2. This means the Judiciary bill moves to the full Senate WITHOUT
     the dangerous language included.
       3. Retroactive immunity will, however, surely be introduced as an
     amendment to the FISA bill.
       4. If needed Senator Dodd will filibuster any amendment seeking to
     add retroactive immunity to the underlying bill. By filibustering, he
     will force the opposition to find 60 votes to pass the provision.