B-1 Bob Dornan considering run for President

From the blog of Manchester Union Leader reporter Drew Cline…

“I just got off the phone with former congressman and talk show host Bob Dornan, who is considering. . . a run for President.

“I can’t stand the thought of my party having as its three front-runners three open adulterers, Newt Gingrich, Giuliani, and McCain,” Dornan said….”

Dornan’s the only Paleo-con that was left pretty much untouched by all the recent DC neo-con scandals. He’s got to be considered a legit threat to pick up the banner of the far right.
(more after fold)
“…”I’ve got one mission left in me, to come up to New Hampshire and tell the truth, and tell the Republicans you better find yourself a fresh face and not Rudy Giuliani who took his mistress around with him and then divorces Donnna who learns she was divorced sitting at home watching TV with her children.

“We need a fresh face if the Republican Party is going to appeal to an Orthodox Jewish, Evangelical or practicing Catholic.”

Aside from adultery, Dornan’s other issue is homosexuality, which he called “a cancer in my party.”…”

http://blogs.unionleader.com/andrew-cline/?p=575No

Dig out all your old Bob Dornan files and press clippings. B-1 Bob is back.

Election Night: A Blue Revolution

From Bob Fertig at Democrats.com…

“When the polls close, we propose that Democrats across the country gather outside their County Election Office for a candlelight vigil to Count Every Vote, all wearing the same color: Blue.

Imagine a Blue Revolution, every bit as joyous and historic as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution Lebanon, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and the other democratic revolutions of recent years – right here in the United States of America.

Help us organize a vigil in your county – just create a new Forum Topic coded “Blue Revolution,” select “County,” post the location of your County Election Office, and spread the word to your friends. More details below…”
“…Should we start a Blue Revolution across the USA on Election Night to stop Republicans from stealing Election 2006?

This Congressional election has witnessed vastly more local polling than ever before, and every poll points to the same result: Democrats will win more than the 15 seats we need to win the House of Representatives, and we are ahead or tied in the 6 seats we need to win the Senate.

These polls are not isolated local phenomena, but are part of a national tidal wave visible in every national poll….”

“…Yet despite this overwhelming polling evidence, George Bush – along with Dick Cheney and Karl Rove – adamantly insist that Republicans are going to win on November 7.

What do they know that we don’t know?

As time runs out for an October Surprise, there’s only one possibility: that they have rigged the election process to guarantee Republicans win….”

“…there’s one more thing we’d like to ask you to do after all of the votes have been cast.

It’s quite simple really. But for it to work, thousands of us would have to participate.

When the polls close, we propose that Democrats across the country gather outside their County Election Office for a candlelight vigil to Count Every Vote, all wearing the same color: Blue.

Imagine a Blue Revolution, every bit as joyous and historic as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution Lebanon, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and the other democratic revolutions of recent years – right here in the United States of America.

Gathering outside County Election Offices is crucial because that’s where our votes are counted.

In some counties, they simply tally the results from counts in each precinct. In some counties, they count the absentees at the county office and add them to the precinct tallies. In the remaining counties, they tally all the absentees and ballots at the county office. They also review provisional ballots to determine which will be counted. And if a race is close enough to require a re-canvass or recount, it is done there.

If Republicans plan to steal the November elections, most of their thievery would be at the county level because that’s where large numbers of votes can either be shifted from Democrats to Republicans, or Democratic ballots thrown out, or fraudulent Republican ballots manufactured. And it’s just as likely to happen in “red” counties where Democratic lawyers aren’t watching as in “blue” counties where they are.

A crowd of Democrats outside County Election Offices might not be able to detect or stop a Republican election stealing plan. But at a minimum we would send an extremely powerful message to George Bush, the Republican Party, the corporate media, and the world: that we’re watching and prepared to do whatever it takes – peacefully of course – to make sure every vote counts.

If we gathered together on Election Night, we can also do valuable organizing work like collecting a list of Election Day problems (mechanical, administrative, and otherwise) and blogging what we find. We can volunteer if a manual recount is required in close races. We can plan local campaigns to replace electronic machines with hand-counted paper ballots, which might be a very popular idea if your county’s election goes badly.

And if our votes are honestly counted and we win, we can have the biggest outdoor party in American history – and start planning to work with Congressional Democrats to restore Democracy, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights in America….”

Go sign up. NOW!

http://bluerevolution.us

or

http://democrats.com/bluerevolution

Why are you still reading this? Get over there.

Breaking: North Korea Reportedly Tests Nuke

“Breaking News: North Korea Reportedly Tests Nuke

(AP) SEOUL, South Korea South Korean government officials said North Korea performed its first-ever nuclear weapons test Monday, the South’s Yonhap news agency reported.
South Korean officials could not immediately confirm the report.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun convened an urgent meeting of security advisers over the issue, Yonhap reported.

The North said last week it would conduct a nuclear test as part of its deterrent against a possible U.S. invasion….”

http://keyetv.com/national/topstories_story_281224338.html

Torture/International Law Open Thread

The US just violated International Law by passing the Torture Law.

I’m starting this open thread specifically for discussion of International Law and Torture. I need someone that understands International Law to fill us in on the specifics.

-What is does International Law actually say?

-What is the next step is regarding a citizen’s responsibilities in upholding International Law?

-What are we now required by International Law to do to get the US back in compliance.

Hotel Minibar Key Opens Diebold Voting Machines

From Ed Felten at freedom-to-tinker.com and Billosaur at slashdot.org…

“As if Diebold doesn’t have enough to worry about! On the Freedom To Tinker blog, Ed Felten, one of the co-authors of the recent report ‘Security Analysis of the Diebold AccuVote-TS Voting Machine’, reveals an even more bizarre finding related to the initial report. It turns out that you can gain access to an AccuVote-TS machine using a hotel minibar key. In fact, the key in question is a utilitarian type used to open office furniture, electronic equipment, jukeboxes, and the like. They might as well hand them out like candy.”

slashdot.org link

“…The access panel door on a Diebold AccuVote-TS voting machine — the door that protects the memory card that stores the votes, and is the main barrier to the injection of a virus — can be opened with a standard key that is widely available on the Internet.

On Wednesday we did a live demo for our Princeton Computer Science colleagues of the vote-stealing software described in our paper and video. Afterward, Chris Tengi, a technical staff member, asked to look at the key that came with the voting machine. He noticed an alphanumeric code printed on the key, and remarked that he had a key at home with the same code on it. The next day he brought in his key and sure enough it opened the voting machine.

This seemed like a freakish coincidence — until we learned how common these keys are.

Chris’s key was left over from a previous job, maybe fifteen years ago. He said the key had opened either a file cabinet or the access panel on an old VAX computer. A little research revealed that the exact same key is used widely in office furniture, electronic equipment, jukeboxes, and hotel minibars. It’s a standard part, and like most standard parts it’s easily purchased on the Internet. We bought several keys from an office furniture key shop — they open the voting machine too. We ordered another key on eBay from a jukebox supply shop. The keys can be purchased from many online merchants….”

freedom-to-tinker.com link

Norton Security.

No, not that Norton…

…THAT Norton.

White House tied pedophile busted FOR 2ND TIME!

A change in focus from a diary posted by Mike Stark at DKos based on ABC News story…

“…An Ivy League business school professor is in federal custody for allegedly having videos of himself engaging in sexual acts with children, ABC News has learned….According to published reports, in 1999 Ward was fined $2,500 and sentenced to five years probation on charges of attempting to promote prostitution and corrupt minors….Ward’s resume lists several government consulting assignments including work with the Executive Office of the President”

How does a pedophile busted for deviant sex acts in 1999 get hired to work in the Executive Office of the President after he was busted for being a sexual predator??

(more below)
More from the ABC story…

…Lawrence Scott Ward, 63, Professor Emeritus of Marketing at University of Pennsylvania’s renowned Wharton School of Business, was caught with child pornography in his luggage and on his laptop computer after arriving at Dulles International Airport on a flight from Brazil, according to court documents.

An affidavit in support of a criminal complaint filed today in federal court in Alexandria says Ward’s luggage was flagged for a more thorough inspection for possible child pornography after a customs officer noticed Ward’s “excessive” trips to Thailand.  Federal agents recovered at least three DVDs, in which Ward appears to be “engaging in sexual contact” with children, the affidavit reads.  A video of children as young as eight engaged in sexual activity was also allegedly found on Ward’s laptop computer.

Ward’s resume says he has been a visiting professor at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.  Federal officials believe Thailand to be a well-known destination for so-called “sex tourists” who travel there to exploit minors.  Wharton’s website also lists pro bono consulting work in Brazil as one of Ward’s current projects….”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/08/caught_on_tape_.html  

Everybody else that’s looked at the story seems to have only given the 1999 conviction a passing glance. As shocking as a pedophile with White House ties getting busted is, that’s not the story. The story is Ward was busted for deviant sex acts in 1999, and he was still hired to do work for the Bush White House anyway.

Hurricane Ernesto aimed at Gulf

The water N of the Yucatan are some of the warmest in the Gulf. Ernesto gets over that water, and that storm will be Cat 4 or 5 within 36 hours. If Ernesto gets to that water N of the Yucatan, there should be immediate mandatory evacuation orders all over the Gulf Coast.

If anyone close to the Gulf Coast sees Ernesto get to that breeding ground N of the Yucatan, don’t wait for the orders. Pack and LEAVE immediately.

We just can’t mess around waiting to see exactly where storms are coming ashore. The levees in New Orleans are not repaired. The pumps are running a minimal capacity. Strong tropical storm conditions could fill New Orleans with water all over again.

Consider this thread open to any discussion related to Ernesto.

Edited 8/27 for the change in Ernesto’ status

New weapon to whip Wal-mart

The city of Chicago is considering a new living wage law for big box stores. Walomart so made they are threatening not to open Chicago stores

“In Chicago, New Pay Law Is Considered for Big Stores

By GRETCHEN RUETHLING
Published: May 28, 2006

CHICAGO, May 27 — Chicago may become the first city in the nation to require “big box” retailers like Wal-Mart or Home Depot to pay employees a “living wage” of at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour in benefits….”

(more below fold)
“…So far, 33 of 50 City Council members have signed on to the proposed ordinance — more than enough to pass it, perhaps as soon as next month.

The bill would affect only stores that have at least 75,000 square feet and are operated by companies with at least $1 billion in annual sales, allowing smaller retailers to continue with the state minimum wage of $6.50 an hour….”

link to NY Times article

John Edwards is now Iowa Front-Runner

John Edwards is leading the field in Iowa.

Edwards at 30%. Hillary at 26. Kerry 3rd way back at 12%
For the record… this is Kos/Armstrong’s worst nightmare. Mark Warner isn’t even an afterthought. Warner is way down in 7th and no way to gain support in the South with Edwards thriving in the areas Warner needs to make a move.

Warner needed Edwards to disappear to thrive. Warner had to win on Edwards turf. Warner had to have some of Edwards Iowa support, and all of Edwards SC support. Guess what ain’t happening now that Edwards is one of the front runners?

Ooops. Kos/Armstrong’s relevance in this Presidential campaign cycle just lasted a grand total of about 48 hours. I almost feel bad for them. Armstrong must have elaborately planned Warner’s coming out at YKos for months, and this Iowa Straw poll guts any legitimacy as a candidate Warner might have gained two days later. Ouch.

Sept. 5th ’06 Direct Action Discussion

Since I’m the guy who opened the topic of setting the date for a large Tuesday, September 5th boycott/work stoppage, I guess I should open a thread for discussion of the topic.

Why September 5th?

It’s the day vacations traditionally end and workers and students all go back to work and school. It the day that everyone’s focus is supposed to return to “business as usual.”
Targeting that date would draw a heightened level of focus upon the act of refusing to return to “business as usual.”

Any/all organizing would have to include immigrant civil rights groups from day 1. These groups have demonstrated they are organized in ways we can only dream about at this point. As a result, the specific theme of the event should be chosen after their input for a theme of a shared action has been heard. A general theme of “Enough is Enough” or “Just Stop It” seems to be popular, though.

I’m using this thread to open the floor to further discussion and development of the concept.

(Cross-posted at My Left Wing)