number 132 12.16.07
| 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 |
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one nation, under surveillance
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source: Viroqua Institute
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News
interpreting the constitution
source: Viroqua Institute
The Senate Democratic leadership has
postponed a vote on a measure
amending the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act until January, after failing
to contain a rebellion among its own
ranks over the issue of retroactive
immunity for telecommunications
companies that may have assisted the
Bush administration in illegal surveillance
of American citizens from 2001 until
2007.
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada
had hoped to pass the FISA bill before
the Christmas break, but was stymied
when legislators introduced twelve
amendments, with telecom immunity
emerging as the most contentious single
postponed a vote on a measure
amending the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act until January, after failing
to contain a rebellion among its own
ranks over the issue of retroactive
immunity for telecommunications
companies that may have assisted the
Bush administration in illegal surveillance
of American citizens from 2001 until
2007.
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada
had hoped to pass the FISA bill before
the Christmas break, but was stymied
when legislators introduced twelve
amendments, with telecom immunity
emerging as the most contentious single
issue. Democratic Senator Chris Dodd of
Connecticut, a presidential candidate,
briefly filibustered against the measure
on Monday and vowed to challenge it
again next month. The White House has
signaled that President Bush will veto any
legislation that lacks a provision granting
the companies retroactive immunity
from legal liability for actions taken in
cooperation with the National Security
Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, or
other federal law enforcement entities.
The FISA bill brought to the floor by
Reid was approved by the Senate
Intelligence Committee; an alternative
measure approved by the Judiciary
Committee does not contain the
Connecticut, a presidential candidate,
briefly filibustered against the measure
on Monday and vowed to challenge it
again next month. The White House has
signaled that President Bush will veto any
legislation that lacks a provision granting
the companies retroactive immunity
from legal liability for actions taken in
cooperation with the National Security
Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, or
other federal law enforcement entities.
The FISA bill brought to the floor by
Reid was approved by the Senate
Intelligence Committee; an alternative
measure approved by the Judiciary
Committee does not contain the
blanket immunity provision sought by
the Bush administration. Last month,
the House passed a FISA legislation
package that did not include telecom
immunity. There are about 40 civil
lawsuits pending against various
telecommunications companies
alleged to have participated in
unlawful wiretapping and data-mining
operations targeting private American
citizens.
The administration supports
retroactive immunity for telephone
companies and internet service
providers for their cooperation with
any government surveillance
programs. it's all true
the Bush administration. Last month,
the House passed a FISA legislation
package that did not include telecom
immunity. There are about 40 civil
lawsuits pending against various
telecommunications companies
alleged to have participated in
unlawful wiretapping and data-mining
operations targeting private American
citizens.
The administration supports
retroactive immunity for telephone
companies and internet service
providers for their cooperation with
any government surveillance
programs. it's all true
Supine Senate Leadership Backs Down As Some Dems Find Spines
A report released by the Office of
the Inspector General for the
Department of Defense revealed
that a Florida contractor was paid
$32 million in US tax dollars to
build a military base in Iraq that
was never constructed. The
Ramadi project was one of many
failed projects cited in the IG
report that reviewed the military's
oversight of more than $5.2
billion appropriated by Congress
for Iraq reconstruction.
The project was abandoned by
the contractor Ellis Environ-
mental Group after it had been
paid $31.9 million by the Air
Force Center for Engineering and
the Environment, the agency that
oversees construction projects
for the US military in occupied
Iraq. Ellis was to be paid $34.2
million dollars to construct
barracks and other administrative
buildings to house a brigade and
three battalions of Iraqi military
personnel in Anbar province near
the city of Ramadi. The project
was cancelled after the Iraqi
defense Ministry was unable to
acquire construction rights to
build the barracks on the land
that had been chosen for the
military base.
Although the company said that it
had performed design and
engineering work, the Inspector’s
report said that Ellis was unable
to provide documents that
showed how the millions were
spent. A spokesperson for Ellis
refused to comment on the un-
built military base stating that
rules for private contractors in
Iraq prohibited any official
comment. it's all true
the Inspector General for the
Department of Defense revealed
that a Florida contractor was paid
$32 million in US tax dollars to
build a military base in Iraq that
was never constructed. The
Ramadi project was one of many
failed projects cited in the IG
report that reviewed the military's
oversight of more than $5.2
billion appropriated by Congress
for Iraq reconstruction.
The project was abandoned by
the contractor Ellis Environ-
mental Group after it had been
paid $31.9 million by the Air
Force Center for Engineering and
the Environment, the agency that
oversees construction projects
for the US military in occupied
Iraq. Ellis was to be paid $34.2
million dollars to construct
barracks and other administrative
buildings to house a brigade and
three battalions of Iraqi military
personnel in Anbar province near
the city of Ramadi. The project
was cancelled after the Iraqi
defense Ministry was unable to
acquire construction rights to
build the barracks on the land
that had been chosen for the
military base.
Although the company said that it
had performed design and
engineering work, the Inspector’s
report said that Ellis was unable
to provide documents that
showed how the millions were
spent. A spokesperson for Ellis
refused to comment on the un-
built military base stating that
rules for private contractors in
Iraq prohibited any official
comment. it's all true
Firm Says Charges
and Iraqi Soldiers
are Baseless
and Iraqi Soldiers
are Baseless
After a rancorous meeting, a group of
more that 180 countries that took part
in the recent United Nation’s summit on
global climate change in Bali approved
what has been referred to widely as a
significantly watered down agreement
that supplants the strong requirements
supported by the majority of the
conferees that would mandate “deep
cuts in global emissions” with the vague
concept of a “long-term goal for
emissions reductions.” The accord, the
“Bali Road Map”, is a two year
agreement that seeks to replace the
requirements of the Kyoto Protocol,
which mandates targeted reductions of
the creation of greenhouse gasses by
countries that have agreed to it’s
principals. 174 nations have ratified the
Kyoto agreement. The United States,
although a signatory to the protocol, has
not ratified the treaty.
more that 180 countries that took part
in the recent United Nation’s summit on
global climate change in Bali approved
what has been referred to widely as a
significantly watered down agreement
that supplants the strong requirements
supported by the majority of the
conferees that would mandate “deep
cuts in global emissions” with the vague
concept of a “long-term goal for
emissions reductions.” The accord, the
“Bali Road Map”, is a two year
agreement that seeks to replace the
requirements of the Kyoto Protocol,
which mandates targeted reductions of
the creation of greenhouse gasses by
countries that have agreed to it’s
principals. 174 nations have ratified the
Kyoto agreement. The United States,
although a signatory to the protocol, has
not ratified the treaty.
The agreement was met after an all night
session by conference participants where
a proposal submitted by the
Environment Minister of Indonesia was
discussed that called for dropping
mandatory targets for limiting the
production of greenhouse gasses by
developing countries by the year 2020
and replacing the mandates of the Kyoto
Protocol with a simple reaffirmation that
greenhouse gasses should be reduced by
half over the next fifty years.
A group of developed nations led by the
United States, that included Russia and
Japan, set a demand that they should not
be required to reduce their production
of destructive greenhouse gasses. The
group threatened that any agreement
that forces the reduction emissions
would result in these countries limiting
their participation in international efforts
session by conference participants where
a proposal submitted by the
Environment Minister of Indonesia was
discussed that called for dropping
mandatory targets for limiting the
production of greenhouse gasses by
developing countries by the year 2020
and replacing the mandates of the Kyoto
Protocol with a simple reaffirmation that
greenhouse gasses should be reduced by
half over the next fifty years.
A group of developed nations led by the
United States, that included Russia and
Japan, set a demand that they should not
be required to reduce their production
of destructive greenhouse gasses. The
group threatened that any agreement
that forces the reduction emissions
would result in these countries limiting
their participation in international efforts
to combat the problem of global
warming. The severely limited
language of the Bali Road Map was
itself challenged by representatives of
the US who agreed to sign the
statement of intent only after being
shouted down with a chorus of boos
and catcalls when it attempted to
reject the proposed compromise
language.
The obstructionism of the US was
reported in the international press,
but was not covered widely in US
media. Nobel laureate Al Gore said
that the US was “principally
responsible” for blocking a more
aggressive agreement and the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury called upon
Christians to fight the “evil effects of
climate change” to "do justice to
future generations.” it's all true
warming. The severely limited
language of the Bali Road Map was
itself challenged by representatives of
the US who agreed to sign the
statement of intent only after being
shouted down with a chorus of boos
and catcalls when it attempted to
reject the proposed compromise
language.
The obstructionism of the US was
reported in the international press,
but was not covered widely in US
media. Nobel laureate Al Gore said
that the US was “principally
responsible” for blocking a more
aggressive agreement and the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury called upon
Christians to fight the “evil effects of
climate change” to "do justice to
future generations.” it's all true
| Bush administration document shredding costs escalate |
02 03 04 05 06
3m
1m
2m
$
The Election Assistance Commission
recently released the results of a
nationwide survey conducted of election
officials about the 2006 presidential
elections that showed over 3 million
ballots that were cast that year were
never counted.
Based upon the responses received by
the commission, election administrators
in the hotly contested state of Florida
say that 122,759 votes were never
counted and California election
administrators reported that over
400,000 votes (approximately 5 percent
of the state’s total votes) were not
counted in the 2006 election. The state
of Illinois reported the most uncounted
ballots. 889,012 ballots were never
counted in Illinois in 2006.
The report found that election officials
recently released the results of a
nationwide survey conducted of election
officials about the 2006 presidential
elections that showed over 3 million
ballots that were cast that year were
never counted.
Based upon the responses received by
the commission, election administrators
in the hotly contested state of Florida
say that 122,759 votes were never
counted and California election
administrators reported that over
400,000 votes (approximately 5 percent
of the state’s total votes) were not
counted in the 2006 election. The state
of Illinois reported the most uncounted
ballots. 889,012 ballots were never
counted in Illinois in 2006.
The report found that election officials
reported that only 79.5 percent of the
provisional ballots cast by voters in the
presidential election of 2006 were
counted. Nationwide, voters cast over
794,000 provisional ballots. Provisional
ballots are used in situations where, for
example, a voter arrives to vote in the
wrong precinct. The commission also
found that election administrators
reported that 347,000 absentee ballots
were disqualified and never counted in
the 2006 election.
The Commission’s reporting was limited
to only those election officials who
chose to participate in the survey
because responding to the commission’s
poll is not mandated by federal law. The
commission was created after the 2000
presidential election that ended with a
Supreme Court decision to halt ballot
counting in Florida. it's all true
provisional ballots cast by voters in the
presidential election of 2006 were
counted. Nationwide, voters cast over
794,000 provisional ballots. Provisional
ballots are used in situations where, for
example, a voter arrives to vote in the
wrong precinct. The commission also
found that election administrators
reported that 347,000 absentee ballots
were disqualified and never counted in
the 2006 election.
The Commission’s reporting was limited
to only those election officials who
chose to participate in the survey
because responding to the commission’s
poll is not mandated by federal law. The
commission was created after the 2000
presidential election that ended with a
Supreme Court decision to halt ballot
counting in Florida. it's all true
Major League Baseball and players
union representatives met this week
to begin to address the issues raised
by the Mitchell Report on the
widespread use of performance
enhancing drugs in the sport. The
report, which was released last week
after a 20-month investigation,
described the past two decades as
the "steroid era" in baseball, blaming
ownership, management, and the
union for ignoring the problem of
performance enhancing substances.
The report was published just weeks
after the indictment of career home
runs leader Barry Bonds on perjury
and obstruction of justice charges in
the federal BALCO investigation.
High profile stars named in the
report include Bonds, Roger Clemens
and Andy Pettite. The report
revealed for the first time the
widespread use of the substances
among pitchers. Former player Jose
Canseco, whose controversial
autobiography foreshadowed
many of the current allegations, was
barred from attending the Mitchell
press conference. The baseball
media has routinely ridiculed, but
never successfully refuted,
Canseco's claims. it's all true
union representatives met this week
to begin to address the issues raised
by the Mitchell Report on the
widespread use of performance
enhancing drugs in the sport. The
report, which was released last week
after a 20-month investigation,
described the past two decades as
the "steroid era" in baseball, blaming
ownership, management, and the
union for ignoring the problem of
performance enhancing substances.
The report was published just weeks
after the indictment of career home
runs leader Barry Bonds on perjury
and obstruction of justice charges in
the federal BALCO investigation.
High profile stars named in the
report include Bonds, Roger Clemens
and Andy Pettite. The report
revealed for the first time the
widespread use of the substances
among pitchers. Former player Jose
Canseco, whose controversial
autobiography foreshadowed
many of the current allegations, was
barred from attending the Mitchell
press conference. The baseball
media has routinely ridiculed, but
never successfully refuted,
Canseco's claims. it's all true
Fallout from the growing scandal
touched off by revelations that the CIA
had destroyed videotapes showing the
interrogation and alleged torture of
terrorist suspects mounted further this
week as angry leaders of the House
Intelligence Committee from both
parties proceeded with their own probe
into the matter, despite advice from
Attorney General Michael Mukasey to
defer to a preliminary investigation being
conducted by the Justice Department.
The ACLU asked a federal judge to hold
the CIA in contempt of court for
violating a judge's order in a Freedom of
Information Act action, which sought to
preserve documents and material related
to the detention and interrogation of
so-called "enemy combatants." On
Wednesday, the New York Times
reported that four top administration
lawyers, including White House counsels
Alberto Gonzales and Harriet Miers,
participated in numerous discussions
about the disposition of the videotapes
between 2003 and 2005.
Justice Department lawyers have been
summoned to a hearing on Friday by US
District Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. to
determine if the destruction of the tapes
violated his order in a case involving
Yemeni citizens challenging their
detention by the US military at
touched off by revelations that the CIA
had destroyed videotapes showing the
interrogation and alleged torture of
terrorist suspects mounted further this
week as angry leaders of the House
Intelligence Committee from both
parties proceeded with their own probe
into the matter, despite advice from
Attorney General Michael Mukasey to
defer to a preliminary investigation being
conducted by the Justice Department.
The ACLU asked a federal judge to hold
the CIA in contempt of court for
violating a judge's order in a Freedom of
Information Act action, which sought to
preserve documents and material related
to the detention and interrogation of
so-called "enemy combatants." On
Wednesday, the New York Times
reported that four top administration
lawyers, including White House counsels
Alberto Gonzales and Harriet Miers,
participated in numerous discussions
about the disposition of the videotapes
between 2003 and 2005.
Justice Department lawyers have been
summoned to a hearing on Friday by US
District Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. to
determine if the destruction of the tapes
violated his order in a case involving
Yemeni citizens challenging their
detention by the US military at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The
govern-ment has argued that the order
did not apply to the destroyed videos,
because the taped interrogations were
of suspects being held at secret CIA
prisons, rather than at Guantanamo Bay.
Legal observers point out that such a
distinction can not be applied in the
ACLU Freedom of Information Act case,
because the court order is more broadly
stated.
Conversations about whether to destroy
the tapes, and the legal ramifications of
doing so, continued intermittently over
the course of three years, according to
the Times. In addition to Gonzales and
Miers, National Security Council senior
attorney John B. Bellinger III and
Counsel to the Vice President David S.
Addington were involved in the
consultations. The group also discussed
the issue with senior CIA lawyers. The
tapes were eventually destroyed in
November 2005 on the instructions of
CIA clandestine services chief Jose A.
Rodriguez, Jr.
Despite the fact that both Gonzales and
Miers are among Bush's closest advisers
the President continues to maintain that
the first he heard of the tapes was in a
briefing by CIA Director General Michael
Hayden two weeks ago. it's all true
govern-ment has argued that the order
did not apply to the destroyed videos,
because the taped interrogations were
of suspects being held at secret CIA
prisons, rather than at Guantanamo Bay.
Legal observers point out that such a
distinction can not be applied in the
ACLU Freedom of Information Act case,
because the court order is more broadly
stated.
Conversations about whether to destroy
the tapes, and the legal ramifications of
doing so, continued intermittently over
the course of three years, according to
the Times. In addition to Gonzales and
Miers, National Security Council senior
attorney John B. Bellinger III and
Counsel to the Vice President David S.
Addington were involved in the
consultations. The group also discussed
the issue with senior CIA lawyers. The
tapes were eventually destroyed in
November 2005 on the instructions of
CIA clandestine services chief Jose A.
Rodriguez, Jr.
Despite the fact that both Gonzales and
Miers are among Bush's closest advisers
the President continues to maintain that
the first he heard of the tapes was in a
briefing by CIA Director General Michael
Hayden two weeks ago. it's all true
Taint of Torture Tapes Can't Be Erased
Clemens Seeks Clemency,
Bonds out on Bond
Bonds out on Bond
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"Well, first of all, you
got to understand
some of my view on
freedom...
got to understand
some of my view on
freedom...
verbatim number 25.6
...see, freedom is
God given.
Romania 11.23.02
God given.
Romania 11.23.02
...it's not
American's gift
to the world...
American's gift
to the world...
Election Survey Finds that Every Vote Doesn't Count
US Calls for Cuts in Mandates not Emissions at Climate Conference