one nation, under surveillance
number 117 08.26.07
| 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 |
News
Weather
spread of the red
| redstat |
source: Center for Educational Statistics
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verbatim number 23.1
"The goals of our
coalition are
limited...
coalition are
limited...
...forces will help maintain
law and order...we will
respect your great religious
traditions...we will help you
build a peaceful and
representative government...
law and order...we will
respect your great religious
traditions...we will help you
build a peaceful and
representative government...
...and then our military
forces will leave.
Washington DC 03.03.03
forces will leave.
Washington DC 03.03.03
50
b$
25
nd nh or ma ca
| Expenditures for elementary and secondary schools selected states |
Recent modifications to the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act, approved
by legislators on the eve of the
Congressional recess early this month,
have granted the Bush administration
unprecedented new authority to mount
a broad range of investigative operations
against US citizens without obtaining
warrants.
The expansive new powers permit
wiretapping, data collection, and
searches of homes and offices of
Americans within the US as long as the
primary targets of the investigations are
suspected foreign terrorists. Democrats
are already regretting their support for
the new rules, which strictly limit the
Intelligence Surveillance Act, approved
by legislators on the eve of the
Congressional recess early this month,
have granted the Bush administration
unprecedented new authority to mount
a broad range of investigative operations
against US citizens without obtaining
warrants.
The expansive new powers permit
wiretapping, data collection, and
searches of homes and offices of
Americans within the US as long as the
primary targets of the investigations are
suspected foreign terrorists. Democrats
are already regretting their support for
the new rules, which strictly limit the
role of the special FISA court in
reviewing decisions to initiate such
operations while increasing the authority
of a handful of executive branch
appointees.
Administration officials pressed for the
changes to FISA, which has been
amended more that 50 times since its
adoption in 1978, because they want the
National Security Agency to be able to
monitor, without seeking warrants,
communications that use any US-based
technological infrastructure, such as
data-routing servers and telephone
switches. In the days leading up to the
approval of the Protect America Act,
Republican legislators leaked to the
reviewing decisions to initiate such
operations while increasing the authority
of a handful of executive branch
appointees.
Administration officials pressed for the
changes to FISA, which has been
amended more that 50 times since its
adoption in 1978, because they want the
National Security Agency to be able to
monitor, without seeking warrants,
communications that use any US-based
technological infrastructure, such as
data-routing servers and telephone
switches. In the days leading up to the
approval of the Protect America Act,
Republican legislators leaked to the
media details of a classified ruling by
a FISA judge that curtailed some NSA
surveillance activities. Democrats
dropped their opposition to
expanded domestic spying and helped
to pass the Act, which critics say
gives the White House even more
sweeping authority than it had sought.
The episode, with its hurried
legislative process and last-minute
approval of a complex bill, is
reminiscent of the original passage of
the PATRIOT Act in October 2001.
Several lawmakers have since
admitted that they were unaware at
that time of the scope of the changes
they were endorsing. it's all true
a FISA judge that curtailed some NSA
surveillance activities. Democrats
dropped their opposition to
expanded domestic spying and helped
to pass the Act, which critics say
gives the White House even more
sweeping authority than it had sought.
The episode, with its hurried
legislative process and last-minute
approval of a complex bill, is
reminiscent of the original passage of
the PATRIOT Act in October 2001.
Several lawmakers have since
admitted that they were unaware at
that time of the scope of the changes
they were endorsing. it's all true
The average income in the US in
2005 was almost one percent lower
than in 2000, marking the fifth
straight year that incomes were
down since the height of the last
period of sustained growth in the
American economy. Incomes have
risen slightly since hitting a low point
in 2002, but tax data still reflect an
overall annual reduction after
adjusting for inflation, according to a
report by the New York Times.
The report notes that the five-year
period of reduced average incomes
and a corresponding four-year span
of lower total incomes are unique in
post-World War II America.
The decrease in average incomes
occurred despite a package of tax
cuts implemented in 2003 by the
Bush administration in an effort to
spur fiscal expansion. The resultant
tax savings led to income growth in a
narrow sector of the US economy.
An analysis of federal tax statistics by
Citizens for Tax Justice reveals that
28 percent of the benefit of the
investment and capital gains tax cuts
accrued to just 11,433 individual
taxpayers who reported earnings of
$10 million or more. it's all true
2005 was almost one percent lower
than in 2000, marking the fifth
straight year that incomes were
down since the height of the last
period of sustained growth in the
American economy. Incomes have
risen slightly since hitting a low point
in 2002, but tax data still reflect an
overall annual reduction after
adjusting for inflation, according to a
report by the New York Times.
The report notes that the five-year
period of reduced average incomes
and a corresponding four-year span
of lower total incomes are unique in
post-World War II America.
The decrease in average incomes
occurred despite a package of tax
cuts implemented in 2003 by the
Bush administration in an effort to
spur fiscal expansion. The resultant
tax savings led to income growth in a
narrow sector of the US economy.
An analysis of federal tax statistics by
Citizens for Tax Justice reveals that
28 percent of the benefit of the
investment and capital gains tax cuts
accrued to just 11,433 individual
taxpayers who reported earnings of
$10 million or more. it's all true
The US Air Force has released a
policy manual regarding Irregular
Warfare that suggests how that
branch of the military can respond
to future battles with insurgents
in US occupied countries using
methods that include attempting
to “recruit, organize, train, and
advise indigenous guerrilla or
partisan forces.”
As the US is fighting the resurgent
Taliban in Afghanistan and have
sworn out a war on the shadowy
world wide organization Al Qaeda
that had its roots in Afghanistan’s
Mujahideen, both indigenous
guerrilla groups that the US
military previously sponsored, the
Air Force reports that it’s special
operations units are “ideally
suited” to function in support of
insurgent military forces.
The report posits that most
future adversaries of the US will
use “indirect and asymmetric
approaches” that will call for
“unconventional warfare” tactics
in response. A section of the
report called Support to
Insurgencies sets forth the type of
assistance that the modern Air
Force is ready to give to guerrilla
militias.
The report says that the Air
Force is prepared to provide
training, equipment, intelligence
and “advisory assistance” to local
partisan fighting forces when
certain “political considerations”
require. The report also said that
the Air Force should be ready to
“involve US direct-action" in
insurgent operations that support
the “specific campaign goals” of
the US military. it's all true
policy manual regarding Irregular
Warfare that suggests how that
branch of the military can respond
to future battles with insurgents
in US occupied countries using
methods that include attempting
to “recruit, organize, train, and
advise indigenous guerrilla or
partisan forces.”
As the US is fighting the resurgent
Taliban in Afghanistan and have
sworn out a war on the shadowy
world wide organization Al Qaeda
that had its roots in Afghanistan’s
Mujahideen, both indigenous
guerrilla groups that the US
military previously sponsored, the
Air Force reports that it’s special
operations units are “ideally
suited” to function in support of
insurgent military forces.
The report posits that most
future adversaries of the US will
use “indirect and asymmetric
approaches” that will call for
“unconventional warfare” tactics
in response. A section of the
report called Support to
Insurgencies sets forth the type of
assistance that the modern Air
Force is ready to give to guerrilla
militias.
The report says that the Air
Force is prepared to provide
training, equipment, intelligence
and “advisory assistance” to local
partisan fighting forces when
certain “political considerations”
require. The report also said that
the Air Force should be ready to
“involve US direct-action" in
insurgent operations that support
the “specific campaign goals” of
the US military. it's all true
A series of recent international polls
reveals a growing anti-American
sentiment worldwide that is linked to
what is perceived to be the belligerent
foreign policy stance of President Bush.
A survey of 28,000 people in 27
countries that was performed for the
BBC World Service and the University of
Maryland’s Program on International
Policy showed respondents' perceptions
of Bush and America have both declined
at similar rates since 2000. Participants
in the poll said they felt that only Israel,
Iran and North Korea had a more
negative impact on world affairs than the
US. The president’s favorability rating
has declined precipitously over the past
few years across the globe. In European
countries that have been traditional
alliesof the US, such as the UK and
Germany, respondents reported low
reveals a growing anti-American
sentiment worldwide that is linked to
what is perceived to be the belligerent
foreign policy stance of President Bush.
A survey of 28,000 people in 27
countries that was performed for the
BBC World Service and the University of
Maryland’s Program on International
Policy showed respondents' perceptions
of Bush and America have both declined
at similar rates since 2000. Participants
in the poll said they felt that only Israel,
Iran and North Korea had a more
negative impact on world affairs than the
US. The president’s favorability rating
has declined precipitously over the past
few years across the globe. In European
countries that have been traditional
alliesof the US, such as the UK and
Germany, respondents reported low
approval ratings for Bush that average
between 15 and 25 percent. In Muslim
countries that are allies of the US;
Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt, Bush’s
approval ratings range between eight and
20 percent. In Europe confidence in
overall US leadership in world affairs has
declined from 64 percent in 2002 to 37
percent last year.
Another poll performed by the US
Council on Foreign Relations found that
citizens of other countries feel that
America’s foreign policy is motivated by
self interest and characterized by an
arrogant attitude. Participants reported
that they believe that America’s program
of “democracy promotion” in the Middle
East has backfired. Respondents in 10 of
14 countries said that the occupation of
Iraq by the US has made the world a
more dangerous place. it's all true
between 15 and 25 percent. In Muslim
countries that are allies of the US;
Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt, Bush’s
approval ratings range between eight and
20 percent. In Europe confidence in
overall US leadership in world affairs has
declined from 64 percent in 2002 to 37
percent last year.
Another poll performed by the US
Council on Foreign Relations found that
citizens of other countries feel that
America’s foreign policy is motivated by
self interest and characterized by an
arrogant attitude. Participants reported
that they believe that America’s program
of “democracy promotion” in the Middle
East has backfired. Respondents in 10 of
14 countries said that the occupation of
Iraq by the US has made the world a
more dangerous place. it's all true
Government contracting with private
industry continued to expand in 2006,
reaching a record $412.1 billion, with
more than half of that amount spent on
no-bid and limited-competition
contracts, according to the results of a
comprehensive analysis released last
month by the House Oversight and
Government Reform Committee. The
investigation found that private
contractors now receive an
unprecedented 40 cents of every dollar
of federal discretionary spending, and
that such expenditures have increased an
average of 12.6 percent a year since
2000. In 2006, total federal spending on
limited-competition contracts exceeded
$206 billion, a single-year increase of 43
percent. The report concludes, “For the
first time on record, a majority of
federal procurement spending is now
awarded without full and open
competition.”
The report focuses on three “worrisome
trends” that “worsened significantly” in
2006: the rapid growth of government
contracting, the tendency to approve
noncompetitive contracts, and the
increasing incidence of waste, fraud, and
abuse of the contracting process by
private firms. Federal auditors have
identified 187 contracts currently in
force, worth a total of $1.1 trillion, with
industry continued to expand in 2006,
reaching a record $412.1 billion, with
more than half of that amount spent on
no-bid and limited-competition
contracts, according to the results of a
comprehensive analysis released last
month by the House Oversight and
Government Reform Committee. The
investigation found that private
contractors now receive an
unprecedented 40 cents of every dollar
of federal discretionary spending, and
that such expenditures have increased an
average of 12.6 percent a year since
2000. In 2006, total federal spending on
limited-competition contracts exceeded
$206 billion, a single-year increase of 43
percent. The report concludes, “For the
first time on record, a majority of
federal procurement spending is now
awarded without full and open
competition.”
The report focuses on three “worrisome
trends” that “worsened significantly” in
2006: the rapid growth of government
contracting, the tendency to approve
noncompetitive contracts, and the
increasing incidence of waste, fraud, and
abuse of the contracting process by
private firms. Federal auditors have
identified 187 contracts currently in
force, worth a total of $1.1 trillion, with
“documented significant overcharges,
wasteful spending, or mismanagement.”
The Departments of Defense, Energy,
and Homeland Security paid the most to
private contractors in 2006, but the
report reveals that 18 federal agencies
have procurement expenditures of more
than a billion dollars. The report also
notes that the classified intelligence
budget may include more than $40
billion for contract work.
The committee also found that
government contracts are concentrated
among a few preferred vendors, with the
20 largest federal contractors receiving
more than 38 percent of the contract
dollars awarded last year. More
significantly, just six companies received
24 percent of federal contract dollars, or
$99.9 billion. The top six are Lockheed
Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman,
Raytheon, General Dynamics, and
Halliburton. The fastest-growing federal
contractor is Halliburton, which has
moved from 28th to sixth on the list
during the Bush administration as its
earnings from government contracts
increased by 700 percent.
Last year, more than 50 percent of
federal contract dollars were awarded
without full and open competition,
according to the report. it's all true
wasteful spending, or mismanagement.”
The Departments of Defense, Energy,
and Homeland Security paid the most to
private contractors in 2006, but the
report reveals that 18 federal agencies
have procurement expenditures of more
than a billion dollars. The report also
notes that the classified intelligence
budget may include more than $40
billion for contract work.
The committee also found that
government contracts are concentrated
among a few preferred vendors, with the
20 largest federal contractors receiving
more than 38 percent of the contract
dollars awarded last year. More
significantly, just six companies received
24 percent of federal contract dollars, or
$99.9 billion. The top six are Lockheed
Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman,
Raytheon, General Dynamics, and
Halliburton. The fastest-growing federal
contractor is Halliburton, which has
moved from 28th to sixth on the list
during the Bush administration as its
earnings from government contracts
increased by 700 percent.
Last year, more than 50 percent of
federal contract dollars were awarded
without full and open competition,
according to the report. it's all true
The Bush administration was admonished
by a federal judge who found the
administration had violated the law by
refusing to produce two congressionally
mandated reports having to do with
global warming. Judge Saundra
Armstrong said that the administration
has “unlawfully withheld action they are
required to take” under the Global
Change Research Act of 1990.
The act requires the administration to
update the federal Research Plan that
coordinates all federally supported
research about global warming and
provide a National Assessment that
summarizes effects of global warming
on the environment, the economy and
health and safety in the US. The report
is used by Congress to guide it in making
funding and legislation decisions about
how to respond to the threat posed by
by a federal judge who found the
administration had violated the law by
refusing to produce two congressionally
mandated reports having to do with
global warming. Judge Saundra
Armstrong said that the administration
has “unlawfully withheld action they are
required to take” under the Global
Change Research Act of 1990.
The act requires the administration to
update the federal Research Plan that
coordinates all federally supported
research about global warming and
provide a National Assessment that
summarizes effects of global warming
on the environment, the economy and
health and safety in the US. The report
is used by Congress to guide it in making
funding and legislation decisions about
how to respond to the threat posed by
global warming. The last National
Assessment was released in 2000 by the
Clinton administration.
The Bush administration was sued in
2006 by a coalition of environmental
groups including the Center for
Biological Diversity and Friends of the
Earth who said that the administration
had violated the law by suppressing the
reports and seeking the release of the
important ecological policy documents.
Judge Armstrong said that the Bush
administration was simply “wrong” when
it reinterpreted the law that mandated
releasing the reports and decided instead
to release a series of 21 smaller studies
over the course of the past six years.
The Bush administration had also
attempted to dismiss the lawsuit arguing
that the information was only intended
Assessment was released in 2000 by the
Clinton administration.
The Bush administration was sued in
2006 by a coalition of environmental
groups including the Center for
Biological Diversity and Friends of the
Earth who said that the administration
had violated the law by suppressing the
reports and seeking the release of the
important ecological policy documents.
Judge Armstrong said that the Bush
administration was simply “wrong” when
it reinterpreted the law that mandated
releasing the reports and decided instead
to release a series of 21 smaller studies
over the course of the past six years.
The Bush administration had also
attempted to dismiss the lawsuit arguing
that the information was only intended
for Congress and therefore US
citizens could not sue the
administration to force it to produce
the reports. Judge Armstrong told
attorneys for the Bush administration;
“Congress has conferred no
discretion upon the defendants as to
when they will issue revised Research
Plans and National Assessments.”
The judge also indicated that the
public has a right under the law to
comment on the plan and assessment
that was being denied by the
administration’s refusal to produce
the documents.
A spokesperson for the Center for
Biological Diversity praised the
judge’s ruling stating that the Bush
administration has “denied and
suppressed the science of global
warming at every turn.” it's all true
citizens could not sue the
administration to force it to produce
the reports. Judge Armstrong told
attorneys for the Bush administration;
“Congress has conferred no
discretion upon the defendants as to
when they will issue revised Research
Plans and National Assessments.”
The judge also indicated that the
public has a right under the law to
comment on the plan and assessment
that was being denied by the
administration’s refusal to produce
the documents.
A spokesperson for the Center for
Biological Diversity praised the
judge’s ruling stating that the Bush
administration has “denied and
suppressed the science of global
warming at every turn.” it's all true
Democrats Ensure Foreign Surveillance Begins in the Homeland
Federal Judge Says Bush Administration Suppressed Global Warnings
Enlisting Insurgencies
In Future Emergencies
In Future Emergencies
Pugnacious Prez Takes US Down With Him
Federal Agencies Do Contractors’ Bidding
Tax Cuts Yield
Income Reductions
Income Reductions