interpreting the constitution
number 106 06.10.07
Vice President's Vaunted Vindictiveness, Venality Verified
Vice President Cheney personally
intervened to block the promotion of
senior Justice Department lawyer Patrick
Philbin in 2005, apparently in retaliation
for Philbin’s involvement in an internal
administration dispute over the legality
of a then-secret domestic surveillance
program operated by the National
Security Agency. Philbin participated in a
review that raised questions about the
NSA wiretapping program, eventually
leading top departmental officials to
refuse to reauthorize the program in
March 2004. He was among eight senior
Justice Department officials who
threatened to resign over the issue in
the ensuing confrontation with the
White House. The details were disclosed
intervened to block the promotion of
senior Justice Department lawyer Patrick
Philbin in 2005, apparently in retaliation
for Philbin’s involvement in an internal
administration dispute over the legality
of a then-secret domestic surveillance
program operated by the National
Security Agency. Philbin participated in a
review that raised questions about the
NSA wiretapping program, eventually
leading top departmental officials to
refuse to reauthorize the program in
March 2004. He was among eight senior
Justice Department officials who
threatened to resign over the issue in
the ensuing confrontation with the
White House. The details were disclosed
last week in former deputy attorney
general James B. Comey’s written
answers to questions from the Senate
Judiciary Committee.
When Philbin was later considered for
appointment as US Principal Deputy
Solicitor General, the Office of the Vice
President moved to thwart the
promotion. According to Comey’s
written testimony, “I understood that
someone at the White House
communicated to Attorney General
Gonzales that the vice president would
oppose the appointment if the attorney
general pursued the matter. The
attorney general chose not to pursue
it.” Both Comey and Philbin later
general James B. Comey’s written
answers to questions from the Senate
Judiciary Committee.
When Philbin was later considered for
appointment as US Principal Deputy
Solicitor General, the Office of the Vice
President moved to thwart the
promotion. According to Comey’s
written testimony, “I understood that
someone at the White House
communicated to Attorney General
Gonzales that the vice president would
oppose the appointment if the attorney
general pursued the matter. The
attorney general chose not to pursue
it.” Both Comey and Philbin later
later resigned from the Justice
Department. A spokesperson for
Cheney said the vice president does
not comment on personnel matters.
Comey's account confirms that the
NSA program operated without legal
authorization for a period of "several
weeks" in 2004, before it was revised
according to DoJ recommendations.
In a statement, Judiciary Committee
member Sen. Charles Schumer (D-
NY) said, "The vice president’s
fingerprints are all over the effort to
strong-arm Justice on the NSA
program, and the obvious next
question is, exactly what role did the
president play?” it's all true
Department. A spokesperson for
Cheney said the vice president does
not comment on personnel matters.
Comey's account confirms that the
NSA program operated without legal
authorization for a period of "several
weeks" in 2004, before it was revised
according to DoJ recommendations.
In a statement, Judiciary Committee
member Sen. Charles Schumer (D-
NY) said, "The vice president’s
fingerprints are all over the effort to
strong-arm Justice on the NSA
program, and the obvious next
question is, exactly what role did the
president play?” it's all true
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
fun d' mental
spread of the red
Phantom Penal Colony Completes Metamorphosis of Amerika
Bush Appointee
Prescribes Bigotry
Prescribes Bigotry
A consortium of human rights groups has
reported that the United States is
currently holding 39 people in secret
detention in black-site prisons around
the globe and demanded that the Bush
administration reveal the existence of
additional unknown prisoners being held
by the US.
The report, which is the most
comprehensive accounting of the
detainees secretly held by the US and its
client states released to date, said that
the US is not only holding what it has
referred to as terror suspects, but also
the wives and in some cases the children
of suspects who were as young as seven
at the time of their imprisonment. The
groups compiled the list of ghost
detainees from documents in the public
domain and interviews with government
officials and detainees who were held by
reported that the United States is
currently holding 39 people in secret
detention in black-site prisons around
the globe and demanded that the Bush
administration reveal the existence of
additional unknown prisoners being held
by the US.
The report, which is the most
comprehensive accounting of the
detainees secretly held by the US and its
client states released to date, said that
the US is not only holding what it has
referred to as terror suspects, but also
the wives and in some cases the children
of suspects who were as young as seven
at the time of their imprisonment. The
groups compiled the list of ghost
detainees from documents in the public
domain and interviews with government
officials and detainees who were held by
the US but are now free. The rights
groups said in the report that many of
the ghost detainees have been held for
three years or more.
The identities of some of the ghost
detainees noted in the report were
gleaned by detainees who are now free
including Marwan Jabour, a Palestinian
who was held in secret detention by the
CIA for two years. Jabour identified
some of the missing detainees from
photographs of people believed to have
been kidnapped by the US. Jabour also
reported seeing the names of missing
people scratched in the walls of cells that
he was held in.
A spokesperson for the groups said that
the US practice of kidnapping people and
holding them in secret detention was
unfortunately reminiscent of the political
groups said in the report that many of
the ghost detainees have been held for
three years or more.
The identities of some of the ghost
detainees noted in the report were
gleaned by detainees who are now free
including Marwan Jabour, a Palestinian
who was held in secret detention by the
CIA for two years. Jabour identified
some of the missing detainees from
photographs of people believed to have
been kidnapped by the US. Jabour also
reported seeing the names of missing
people scratched in the walls of cells that
he was held in.
A spokesperson for the groups said that
the US practice of kidnapping people and
holding them in secret detention was
unfortunately reminiscent of the political
“disappearances” carried out by
dictators from Latin America during
the 1980s. “Enforced disappearances
are illegal, regardless of who carries
them out,” said Meg Satterthwaite, a
representative of the Center for
Human Rights and Global Justice at
New York University. Of special
concern to the human rights groups
that released the study is their fear
that countries known to practice
torture against their prisoners are
holding some of the detainees.
A spokesperson for the CIA stressed
that all kidnappings performed by the
US are done in “strict accord with
American law,” and that US “counter
terror initiatives-which are subject to
careful review and oversight- have
been very effective in disrupting
plots.” it's all true
dictators from Latin America during
the 1980s. “Enforced disappearances
are illegal, regardless of who carries
them out,” said Meg Satterthwaite, a
representative of the Center for
Human Rights and Global Justice at
New York University. Of special
concern to the human rights groups
that released the study is their fear
that countries known to practice
torture against their prisoners are
holding some of the detainees.
A spokesperson for the CIA stressed
that all kidnappings performed by the
US are done in “strict accord with
American law,” and that US “counter
terror initiatives-which are subject to
careful review and oversight- have
been very effective in disrupting
plots.” it's all true
Late last month, President Bush
nominated a candidate to become
the Surgeon General of the US
who is known for his stridently
anti-homosexual bias and helped
found a Christian church in
Kentucky that claims to “cure”
homosexuality using a pseudo-
scientific procedure called
reparative therapy that combines
counseling and study of the Bible.
Dr. James W. Holsinger was
nominated to become the leading
medical officer in the US, a
position that is traditionally used
by the president to communicate
federal medical policy to
Americans. Critics of Bush’s
nomination worry that Holsinger’s
religious views about sexuality will
be reflected in the policies he
endorses as US Surgeon General.
Holsinger is the president of the
United Methodist Judicial Council,
the group within the Methodist
Church that establishes official
church doctrine and policy. As a
member of that body, last year
Holsinger voted to support a
pastor who refused to accept an
openly gay man from becoming a
member of his congregation. In
2004, Holsinger voted to ban a
lesbian associate pastor from the
church.
Holsinger wrote a treatise for the
Methodist Church asserting that
there is an “absolute consensus in
the scientific community” that
homosexuality is unnatural and no
more than a "sexual life-style”
choice, adding ominously that if
the “complementarity of the
sexes is breached, injuries and
diseases may occur.” it's all true
nominated a candidate to become
the Surgeon General of the US
who is known for his stridently
anti-homosexual bias and helped
found a Christian church in
Kentucky that claims to “cure”
homosexuality using a pseudo-
scientific procedure called
reparative therapy that combines
counseling and study of the Bible.
Dr. James W. Holsinger was
nominated to become the leading
medical officer in the US, a
position that is traditionally used
by the president to communicate
federal medical policy to
Americans. Critics of Bush’s
nomination worry that Holsinger’s
religious views about sexuality will
be reflected in the policies he
endorses as US Surgeon General.
Holsinger is the president of the
United Methodist Judicial Council,
the group within the Methodist
Church that establishes official
church doctrine and policy. As a
member of that body, last year
Holsinger voted to support a
pastor who refused to accept an
openly gay man from becoming a
member of his congregation. In
2004, Holsinger voted to ban a
lesbian associate pastor from the
church.
Holsinger wrote a treatise for the
Methodist Church asserting that
there is an “absolute consensus in
the scientific community” that
homosexuality is unnatural and no
more than a "sexual life-style”
choice, adding ominously that if
the “complementarity of the
sexes is breached, injuries and
diseases may occur.” it's all true
crowd control
| redstat |
Traffic Report Reveals Racial Ratio
| Total US Army recruits per 10,000 population |
An analysis performed by the Justice
Department reveals that, although
whites, blacks and Hispanics are stopped
for traffic violations at the same rate,
blacks and Hispanics are significantly
more likely to have their vehicles
searched and be arrested than whites.
The study that was made public by the
Bureau of Justice statistics reported that
approximately 8 to 9 percent of all
drivers are stopped by traffic police,
regardless of a driver’s race. Blacks and
Hispanics, however, were far more likely
have the traffic stop result in either a
search or an arrest. The study found
that 9.5 percent of blacks and 8.8
percent of Hispanics that are stopped by
police are searched while just 3.6
percent of whites stopped by police are
searched. The study also found that 4.5
percent of blacks who are stopped for a
Department reveals that, although
whites, blacks and Hispanics are stopped
for traffic violations at the same rate,
blacks and Hispanics are significantly
more likely to have their vehicles
searched and be arrested than whites.
The study that was made public by the
Bureau of Justice statistics reported that
approximately 8 to 9 percent of all
drivers are stopped by traffic police,
regardless of a driver’s race. Blacks and
Hispanics, however, were far more likely
have the traffic stop result in either a
search or an arrest. The study found
that 9.5 percent of blacks and 8.8
percent of Hispanics that are stopped by
police are searched while just 3.6
percent of whites stopped by police are
searched. The study also found that 4.5
percent of blacks who are stopped for a
traffic violation are arrested and 3.1
percent of Hispanics who are stopped
are arrested but only 2.1 percent of
whites are arrested following from a
traffic stop.
The Justice Department reported that
police made 17.8 million traffic stops in
2005, accounting for approximately 40
percent of all interaction between US
citizens and the police.
The Justice Department’s study also
found that police were far more likely to
use force or threaten the use of force
when interacting with blacks and
Latinos. While force was used by police
in 1.6 percent of all traffic stops, blacks
were four times more likely and
Hispanics over two times more likely
than whites to be subject to actual force
or threats of force. it's all true
percent of Hispanics who are stopped
are arrested but only 2.1 percent of
whites are arrested following from a
traffic stop.
The Justice Department reported that
police made 17.8 million traffic stops in
2005, accounting for approximately 40
percent of all interaction between US
citizens and the police.
The Justice Department’s study also
found that police were far more likely to
use force or threaten the use of force
when interacting with blacks and
Latinos. While force was used by police
in 1.6 percent of all traffic stops, blacks
were four times more likely and
Hispanics over two times more likely
than whites to be subject to actual force
or threats of force. it's all true
FL
MN
NM
TX
Guam
0 2 4 6
source: National Priorities Project
Traffic
News
Coverage Places Plot in Hysterical Perspective
Hours Excessive,
Results Unimpressive
Results Unimpressive
When law enforcement officials in New
York announced their disruption of a
terrorist plot to sabotage jet fuel
pipelines at JFK airport, as well as the
arrest of the alleged ringleaders, media
outlets across the country were quick to
report that investigators had averted a
major catastrophe. At a news
conference, authorities claimed that the
planned attack would have caused large-
scale damage to the airport and the
surrounding neighborhood, inevitably
resulting in significant casualties. But over
the past week doubts have arisen as to
the seriousness of the plot, as details
emerge about the suspects in custody
and their relationship with a police
informant who helped officials construct
their case. At the same time, a number
of logistics and explosives experts have
publicly questioned the credibility of the
threat, calling the alleged conspirators’
plan “technologically impossible.”
US Attorney Roslyn R. Mauskopf of
Brooklyn told reporters, “Had the plot
been carried out, it could have resulted
in unfathomable damage, deaths, and
destruction.” But the aspiring terrorists,
allegedly led by 63-year-old Russell De
Freitas, had no financial resources to
implement the plan and no access to, or
expertise with, explosive devices. De
Freitas is alleged to have conceived the
York announced their disruption of a
terrorist plot to sabotage jet fuel
pipelines at JFK airport, as well as the
arrest of the alleged ringleaders, media
outlets across the country were quick to
report that investigators had averted a
major catastrophe. At a news
conference, authorities claimed that the
planned attack would have caused large-
scale damage to the airport and the
surrounding neighborhood, inevitably
resulting in significant casualties. But over
the past week doubts have arisen as to
the seriousness of the plot, as details
emerge about the suspects in custody
and their relationship with a police
informant who helped officials construct
their case. At the same time, a number
of logistics and explosives experts have
publicly questioned the credibility of the
threat, calling the alleged conspirators’
plan “technologically impossible.”
US Attorney Roslyn R. Mauskopf of
Brooklyn told reporters, “Had the plot
been carried out, it could have resulted
in unfathomable damage, deaths, and
destruction.” But the aspiring terrorists,
allegedly led by 63-year-old Russell De
Freitas, had no financial resources to
implement the plan and no access to, or
expertise with, explosive devices. De
Freitas is alleged to have conceived the
scheme to sabotage the JFK fuel facilities
a decade ago when he worked at the
airport handling cargo, but made no
attempt to act on it until approached by
a government informant, wearing a wire,
who offered to assist in the attack.
The informant gave the destitute
plotters money and provided video
equipment to conduct reconnaissance;
he even drove the conspirators to and
from the airport because none of them
had a car. The informant, referred to in
court papers as “the source,” is a
convicted drug dealer whose sentence
“is pending as part of his cooperation
agreement with the government.”
The technical feasibility of the plot has
been called into question by specialists in
jet fuel storage and delivery systems, as
well as security professionals familiar
with international airports, particularly
JFK. Causing a massive explosion in the
fuel tanks or pipelines is virtually
impossible, according to experts,
because the stored fuel lacks a sufficient
quantity of oxygen. Slow-burning fires,
which could be easily isolated and
controlled, would be the likely result of
such an attack. Security consultants said
they doubted the plotters could have
obtained the necessary access to airport
fuel facilities. it's all true
a decade ago when he worked at the
airport handling cargo, but made no
attempt to act on it until approached by
a government informant, wearing a wire,
who offered to assist in the attack.
The informant gave the destitute
plotters money and provided video
equipment to conduct reconnaissance;
he even drove the conspirators to and
from the airport because none of them
had a car. The informant, referred to in
court papers as “the source,” is a
convicted drug dealer whose sentence
“is pending as part of his cooperation
agreement with the government.”
The technical feasibility of the plot has
been called into question by specialists in
jet fuel storage and delivery systems, as
well as security professionals familiar
with international airports, particularly
JFK. Causing a massive explosion in the
fuel tanks or pipelines is virtually
impossible, according to experts,
because the stored fuel lacks a sufficient
quantity of oxygen. Slow-burning fires,
which could be easily isolated and
controlled, would be the likely result of
such an attack. Security consultants said
they doubted the plotters could have
obtained the necessary access to airport
fuel facilities. it's all true
More than 22 percent of the global
workforce is working excessively long
hours, according to the results of a
study by the International Labour
Organisation, an agency of the
United Nations. The study found
that over 600 million workers
averaged more than 48 hours a week
in the 50 nations surveyed.
Peru, with 50.9 percent of its
workforce logging excessive hours,
topped the list, followed by South
Korea (49.5), Thailand (46.7), and
Pakistan (44.4). Among developed
nations, Britain had the most
overworked populace, with 25.7
percent averaging more than 48
hours. The UK was followed by Israel
(25.5), Australia (20.4), Switzerland
(19.2), and the US (18.1).
The standard of a maximum 48-hour
workweek was first established by
ILO member states almost a century
ago. The authors of the study point
out that excessive working hours
typically result in increased health
problems among workers, a greater
incidence of workplace accidents, and
generally lower levels of industrial
productivity. it's all true
workforce is working excessively long
hours, according to the results of a
study by the International Labour
Organisation, an agency of the
United Nations. The study found
that over 600 million workers
averaged more than 48 hours a week
in the 50 nations surveyed.
Peru, with 50.9 percent of its
workforce logging excessive hours,
topped the list, followed by South
Korea (49.5), Thailand (46.7), and
Pakistan (44.4). Among developed
nations, Britain had the most
overworked populace, with 25.7
percent averaging more than 48
hours. The UK was followed by Israel
(25.5), Australia (20.4), Switzerland
(19.2), and the US (18.1).
The standard of a maximum 48-hour
workweek was first established by
ILO member states almost a century
ago. The authors of the study point
out that excessive working hours
typically result in increased health
problems among workers, a greater
incidence of workplace accidents, and
generally lower levels of industrial
productivity. it's all true
redstateupdate.net
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
| Slim Harpo Tribute Page |
verbatim number 20.6
"Information is
moving...
moving...
…you know, nightly
news is one way, of
course, but it's also
moving through the
blogosphere…
news is one way, of
course, but it's also
moving through the
blogosphere…
...and through the
Internets."
Washington DC 05.02.07
Internets."
Washington DC 05.02.07