| 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 |
redstateupdate.net
| redstat |
source: Viroqua Institute
in bed with the red
one nation, under surveillance
red state rebate
spread of the red
News
spread of the red
number 169 09.28.08
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
redstat
Weather : mutation you can believe in
Children, Unguarded, Become Flame Retarded
Pesticide Threatens Pollen, Nation
Melting Ice Sheet Could Be a Slippery Slope
source: World Wide Fund
With Congressional leaders and senior
administration officials working to craft a
palatable sequel to the emergency
economic rescue package defeated in
the House on Monday, it was clear that
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben
Bernanke had encountered their first
significant setback since they embarked
last year on a series of increasingly
aggressive market interventions in an
attempt to sustain the failing US banking
and financial system. At the same time,
the protracted two-week “crisis”, a
flurry of meetings, press conferences,
market updates, and cable news chatter,
has inadvertently revealed the enormous
power of these two unelected stewards
administration officials working to craft a
palatable sequel to the emergency
economic rescue package defeated in
the House on Monday, it was clear that
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben
Bernanke had encountered their first
significant setback since they embarked
last year on a series of increasingly
aggressive market interventions in an
attempt to sustain the failing US banking
and financial system. At the same time,
the protracted two-week “crisis”, a
flurry of meetings, press conferences,
market updates, and cable news chatter,
has inadvertently revealed the enormous
power of these two unelected stewards
of the nation’s economy, as President
Bush and his would- be successors loiter
on the periphery of federal efforts to
bail out what’s left of the sector.
It has been reported that one provision
of the original draft of Paulson’s plan
asserted that, under the authority of the
Act, Treasury’s actions “are non-
reviewable” and “may not be reviewed
by any court of law or any administrative
agency.” The extraordinary claim of
broad powers reminded many in
Washington of Bush administration
concepts about the “unitary” executive.
But even under the revised terms agreed
with Congressional leaders, Paulson and
Bernanke will assume unprecedented
Bush and his would- be successors loiter
on the periphery of federal efforts to
bail out what’s left of the sector.
It has been reported that one provision
of the original draft of Paulson’s plan
asserted that, under the authority of the
Act, Treasury’s actions “are non-
reviewable” and “may not be reviewed
by any court of law or any administrative
agency.” The extraordinary claim of
broad powers reminded many in
Washington of Bush administration
concepts about the “unitary” executive.
But even under the revised terms agreed
with Congressional leaders, Paulson and
Bernanke will assume unprecedented
authority and discretion.
Paulson, a lifelong member of the
Wall Street investment banking
demimonde, has ironically been called
upon to oversee the receivership of
the entire collapsed sector, including
once-revered Goldman Sachs, where
he was CEO. Bernanke, an academic
who in recent Congressional
testimony stressed his lack of ties to
Wall Street, seems determined to
deny the deflationary fundamentals of
the current “disorderly unwinding.”
Their actions, taken coincidentally
during the election campaign, will
delineate many aspects of the next
presidential administration. it's all true
Paulson, a lifelong member of the
Wall Street investment banking
demimonde, has ironically been called
upon to oversee the receivership of
the entire collapsed sector, including
once-revered Goldman Sachs, where
he was CEO. Bernanke, an academic
who in recent Congressional
testimony stressed his lack of ties to
Wall Street, seems determined to
deny the deflationary fundamentals of
the current “disorderly unwinding.”
Their actions, taken coincidentally
during the election campaign, will
delineate many aspects of the next
presidential administration. it's all true
Bailout Authority a Matter of Blank Checks and Dwindling Balances
| "With the situation becoming more precarious by the day, I faced a choice- To step in with dramatic government action... |
| ...In the long run, Americans have good reason to be confident in our economic strength...democratic capitalism is the best system ever devised." Washington DC 09.24.08 |
| "We import about 60 percent of our oil from overseas - fortunately, most of it from - a lot of it- from Canada and Mexico." Lancaster PA 10.03.07 |
verbatim number 31.1
verbatim number 32.6
Ecological
footprint
per capita -
Hectares
per Person
footprint
per capita -
Hectares
per Person
nepal brazil latvia italy uk sweden denmark us
15
5
10
| oh |
| ct |
| Bankruptcy filings per capita selected states |
| 0 .5 1 |
| wi |
| me |
| hi |
| tn |
| al |
| ar |
| mt |
The Department of Homeland
Security has overseen failed contracts
more worth than $15 billion over the
last five fiscal years, according to
recent testimony before a House
subcommittee investigating
departmental contracting practices.
The projects were subject to delays
or even cancellation despite
expenditures of hundreds of millions
or even billions in taxpayer funds.
The panel also heard testimony from
computer security experts who
recommended removing
responsibility for a major government
cybersecurity program from the DHS
because it has been plagued by
deficiencies in oversight.
Among the contracts highlighted
during the testimony were a $351
million dollar “deepwater” program
for the US Coast Guard in which
ships were built and then scrapped,
and a $1.5 billion project to equip
border crossing points with
electronic surveillance systems that
was abandoned because of technical
glitches. Since 2002, DHS contracs
have increased from $3.4 billion to
$12.2 billion a year. it's all true
Security has overseen failed contracts
more worth than $15 billion over the
last five fiscal years, according to
recent testimony before a House
subcommittee investigating
departmental contracting practices.
The projects were subject to delays
or even cancellation despite
expenditures of hundreds of millions
or even billions in taxpayer funds.
The panel also heard testimony from
computer security experts who
recommended removing
responsibility for a major government
cybersecurity program from the DHS
because it has been plagued by
deficiencies in oversight.
Among the contracts highlighted
during the testimony were a $351
million dollar “deepwater” program
for the US Coast Guard in which
ships were built and then scrapped,
and a $1.5 billion project to equip
border crossing points with
electronic surveillance systems that
was abandoned because of technical
glitches. Since 2002, DHS contracs
have increased from $3.4 billion to
$12.2 billion a year. it's all true
Waste, Fraud, and Error
True Homeland Terror
True Homeland Terror
A federal judge has ordered that
Vice President Dick Cheney
cannot destroy any records
relating to his office and the
performance of his duties.
The ruling came in a case brought
by the American Historical
Association and Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington among other public
interest groups who assert in
court papers that Cheney has
“improperly excluded records
from the Presidential Records
Act.”
The groups sought an injunction
preventing Cheney and his office
from destroying vice presidential
records because of Cheney’s
novel claim that records from his
office are not considered to be
presidential records under the
Presidential Records Act.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kottelly said
in her decision that if Cheney’s
interpretation of the law is
incorrect, then “there is no
question that the documents may
be entitled to PRA protection.”
Kollar-Kotelly also wrote in her
opinion that the “public interest is
undoubtedly served by ensuring
that all documentary material
potentially encompassed by the
PRA’s statutory language is
actually preserved as Congress
saw fit in enacting the PRA.”
The office of the VP refused
comment on the ruling stating
that it does not speak about on-
going litigation, but did not say
specifically that it would appeal
the judge's ruling. it's all true
Vice President Dick Cheney
cannot destroy any records
relating to his office and the
performance of his duties.
The ruling came in a case brought
by the American Historical
Association and Citizens for
Responsibility and Ethics in
Washington among other public
interest groups who assert in
court papers that Cheney has
“improperly excluded records
from the Presidential Records
Act.”
The groups sought an injunction
preventing Cheney and his office
from destroying vice presidential
records because of Cheney’s
novel claim that records from his
office are not considered to be
presidential records under the
Presidential Records Act.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kottelly said
in her decision that if Cheney’s
interpretation of the law is
incorrect, then “there is no
question that the documents may
be entitled to PRA protection.”
Kollar-Kotelly also wrote in her
opinion that the “public interest is
undoubtedly served by ensuring
that all documentary material
potentially encompassed by the
PRA’s statutory language is
actually preserved as Congress
saw fit in enacting the PRA.”
The office of the VP refused
comment on the ruling stating
that it does not speak about on-
going litigation, but did not say
specifically that it would appeal
the judge's ruling. it's all true
The Natural resources Defense Fund has
filed a federal lawsuit seeking
information that it claims the federal
government has connecting a pesticide
manufactured by Bayer CropScience to
the widespread decimation of bee
colonies across the globe.
In 2003 the EPA granted Bayer the right
to sell a pesticide, clothianidin, which
contaminates the pollen of treated
plants. The pesticide is known to
filed a federal lawsuit seeking
information that it claims the federal
government has connecting a pesticide
manufactured by Bayer CropScience to
the widespread decimation of bee
colonies across the globe.
In 2003 the EPA granted Bayer the right
to sell a pesticide, clothianidin, which
contaminates the pollen of treated
plants. The pesticide is known to
damage insects beneficial to the
process of pollination. Bayer was
required to perform a study on the
chemical to asses its danger to honey
bee populations, but the EPA has
refused to disclose the results.
Experts say that up to 70 percent of
all beehives have been effected by
“colony collapse disorder”
threatening 90 percent of US crops
valued at $15 billion. it's all true
process of pollination. Bayer was
required to perform a study on the
chemical to asses its danger to honey
bee populations, but the EPA has
refused to disclose the results.
Experts say that up to 70 percent of
all beehives have been effected by
“colony collapse disorder”
threatening 90 percent of US crops
valued at $15 billion. it's all true
A recent study found that children have
three times the amount of a fire
retardant in their blood stream than
their mothers.
The commonly used hormone-disrupting
chemicals, polybrominated ethers, are
used in many household products
including furniture and children’s toys.
Studies have shown that a single dose of
PBDEs given to when their brains were
growing can cause permanent damage
effecting learning and memory.
The non-profit Environmental Working
three times the amount of a fire
retardant in their blood stream than
their mothers.
The commonly used hormone-disrupting
chemicals, polybrominated ethers, are
used in many household products
including furniture and children’s toys.
Studies have shown that a single dose of
PBDEs given to when their brains were
growing can cause permanent damage
effecting learning and memory.
The non-profit Environmental Working
Group reviewed a small group of 20
families and found that in 19 of the
families, children between the ages of
four and 18 had triple the
concentration of the chemicals in
their blood streams. Children who
live in California were found to have
even higher levels of the compound.
The authors of the study said that
their findings raise “concerns that
kids live very differently in the same
environment than their parents”
putting them at a higher exposure to
the chemicals. it's all true
families and found that in 19 of the
families, children between the ages of
four and 18 had triple the
concentration of the chemicals in
their blood streams. Children who
live in California were found to have
even higher levels of the compound.
The authors of the study said that
their findings raise “concerns that
kids live very differently in the same
environment than their parents”
putting them at a higher exposure to
the chemicals. it's all true
The Inspector General for the US
Department of the Interior has released
the results of an investigation that found
that government employees who were
responsible for collecting royalties from
energy firms that have leases to extract
oil and gas from federal lands engaged in
various forms of graft including contract
rigging and accepting gifts from industry
representatives.
The Inspector also discovered that the
management of the bureau and as many
as a dozen staff members engaged in
alcohol abuse, drug use and indecent
behavior. The report said that two of
the bureau’s female employees were
referred to by industry lobbyists as the
“MMS chicks" because they were known
to drink heavily and frequently have
sexual relations with oil and gas company
representatives.
Department of the Interior has released
the results of an investigation that found
that government employees who were
responsible for collecting royalties from
energy firms that have leases to extract
oil and gas from federal lands engaged in
various forms of graft including contract
rigging and accepting gifts from industry
representatives.
The Inspector also discovered that the
management of the bureau and as many
as a dozen staff members engaged in
alcohol abuse, drug use and indecent
behavior. The report said that two of
the bureau’s female employees were
referred to by industry lobbyists as the
“MMS chicks" because they were known
to drink heavily and frequently have
sexual relations with oil and gas company
representatives.
The Inspector sad, “the single-most
serious problem our investigations
revealed is a pervasive culture of
exclusivity, exempt from the rules that
govern all other employees of the
Federal Government.” The investigators
"discovered a culture of substance abuse
and promiscuity in the Royalty in Kind
program- both within the program,
including a supervisor...and in consort
with industry.”
Gregory Smith, who was the director of
the agency’s Minerals Revenue
Management bureau’s royalty-in-kind
program, is reported by the inspectors
to have taken over $30,000 in consulting
fees from an oil exploration company
that was seeking contracts from large oil
and gas companies. The Inspectors
found that Smith misrepresented to
agency ethics officers that he performed
serious problem our investigations
revealed is a pervasive culture of
exclusivity, exempt from the rules that
govern all other employees of the
Federal Government.” The investigators
"discovered a culture of substance abuse
and promiscuity in the Royalty in Kind
program- both within the program,
including a supervisor...and in consort
with industry.”
Gregory Smith, who was the director of
the agency’s Minerals Revenue
Management bureau’s royalty-in-kind
program, is reported by the inspectors
to have taken over $30,000 in consulting
fees from an oil exploration company
that was seeking contracts from large oil
and gas companies. The Inspectors
found that Smith misrepresented to
agency ethics officers that he performed
technical services for the company,
when in reality, Smith marketed the
firm’s services to energy companies
that received federal contracts from
the Department of the Interior.
Smith is also reported to have
participated in graft and influence
pedaling when worked at the agency,
accepting gifts from energy
companies who wanted to receive
government contracts.
The Inspector’s report also charges
that Smith engaged in sex with
subordinates in the agency and
frequently used cocaine at business
functions and in his office. Smith is
reported to have bought cocaine
from subordinates in the agency.
The report says he "used the term
‘office supplies’ when discussing
cocaine at work.” it's all true
when in reality, Smith marketed the
firm’s services to energy companies
that received federal contracts from
the Department of the Interior.
Smith is also reported to have
participated in graft and influence
pedaling when worked at the agency,
accepting gifts from energy
companies who wanted to receive
government contracts.
The Inspector’s report also charges
that Smith engaged in sex with
subordinates in the agency and
frequently used cocaine at business
functions and in his office. Smith is
reported to have bought cocaine
from subordinates in the agency.
The report says he "used the term
‘office supplies’ when discussing
cocaine at work.” it's all true
A federal judge has ruled that a police
authorities need to obtain a search
warrant before they use a cell phone to
track the whereabouts of its owner.
The ruling rejected the argument made
by the Justice Department that cell
phone records that can be used to
identify the location of cell phone
owners were not protected by Fourth
Amendment rights.
The ruling came in a case where the
police were attempting to obtain cell
phone records of a suspect from the
telecommunications company Sprint
Spectrum including call times and
durations and also the locations of the
cell phone towers that the phone calls
were transmitted through. The police
wanted to triangulate the suspect’s
location based on cell phone tower
locations, which can identify the location
authorities need to obtain a search
warrant before they use a cell phone to
track the whereabouts of its owner.
The ruling rejected the argument made
by the Justice Department that cell
phone records that can be used to
identify the location of cell phone
owners were not protected by Fourth
Amendment rights.
The ruling came in a case where the
police were attempting to obtain cell
phone records of a suspect from the
telecommunications company Sprint
Spectrum including call times and
durations and also the locations of the
cell phone towers that the phone calls
were transmitted through. The police
wanted to triangulate the suspect’s
location based on cell phone tower
locations, which can identify the location
of a cell phone user within 100 feet.
Government attorneys argued that such
phone records were similar to bank
records and they could be obtained from
cell phone companies by the request of
the police. The Justice Department
argued, “records of past credit card
transactions will often serve to place a
person at a given location at a specific
time, yet under established Fourth
Amendment law.”
Judge Terrence F. McVerry of the
Western District of Pennsylvania
disagreed with the government’s
argument and upheld an order rendered
previously by a panel of five federal
judges that construed cell phone records
to be more sensitive than other data
and are therefore protected by the
Fourth Amendment. it's all true
Government attorneys argued that such
phone records were similar to bank
records and they could be obtained from
cell phone companies by the request of
the police. The Justice Department
argued, “records of past credit card
transactions will often serve to place a
person at a given location at a specific
time, yet under established Fourth
Amendment law.”
Judge Terrence F. McVerry of the
Western District of Pennsylvania
disagreed with the government’s
argument and upheld an order rendered
previously by a panel of five federal
judges that construed cell phone records
to be more sensitive than other data
and are therefore protected by the
Fourth Amendment. it's all true
New research indicates that the
melting of the Greenland ice
sheet may become accelerated
over the next century, leading to
dramatic increases in sea levels
not contemplated under currently
accepted paradigms.
Scientists using computer models
based on the disappearance of the
vast Laurentide ice sheet, which
once covered most of North
America, warn that runoff from
the Greenland ice sheet could
triple the rate of sea level
increases, threatening a global rise
of more than one meter (3.25 ft.)
by 2100. Unrelated studies have
estimated that such an increase in
sea levels would displace some
145 million people at a cost of
roughly one trillion dollars.
melting of the Greenland ice
sheet may become accelerated
over the next century, leading to
dramatic increases in sea levels
not contemplated under currently
accepted paradigms.
Scientists using computer models
based on the disappearance of the
vast Laurentide ice sheet, which
once covered most of North
America, warn that runoff from
the Greenland ice sheet could
triple the rate of sea level
increases, threatening a global rise
of more than one meter (3.25 ft.)
by 2100. Unrelated studies have
estimated that such an increase in
sea levels would displace some
145 million people at a cost of
roughly one trillion dollars.
Geologist Anders Carlson of the
University of Wisconsin, who led the
project to study the melting of the
Laurentide ice sheet, told Science
Daily, “We’ve never seen an ice sheet
disappear before, but here we have a
record.” The Laurentide began melting
10,000 years ago and was almost
completely gone about 3500 years later.
Significantly, researchers found that
there were two distinct periods of rapid
melting, each causing global sea levels to
rise sharply.
The findings challenge those of a 2007
report by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change, which predicted
that sea levels would rise between 18
and 59 centimeters by the end of this
century. Carlson said, "For planning
purposes, we should see the IPCC
projections as conservative." it's all true
University of Wisconsin, who led the
project to study the melting of the
Laurentide ice sheet, told Science
Daily, “We’ve never seen an ice sheet
disappear before, but here we have a
record.” The Laurentide began melting
10,000 years ago and was almost
completely gone about 3500 years later.
Significantly, researchers found that
there were two distinct periods of rapid
melting, each causing global sea levels to
rise sharply.
The findings challenge those of a 2007
report by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change, which predicted
that sea levels would rise between 18
and 59 centimeters by the end of this
century. Carlson said, "For planning
purposes, we should see the IPCC
projections as conservative." it's all true
Ruling a Strong Signal on Cell Phones
Judicial Order Jams
Cheney's Shredder
Cheney's Shredder
With just over a month left before the
general election, state and local
authorities are scrambling to prepare for
projected record turnout, including an
unprecedented influx of newly registered
voters, while they also grapple with new
federal documentation requirements and
in many cases the introduction of new
polling technology. Experts predict that
the decentralized US electoral system,
which will involve more than 10,000
separate jurisdictions on Election Day,
may be severely strained in the event of
massive turnout or an unusually close
tally. Voting rights organizations have
warned that increasingly sophisticated
and aggressive vote suppression tactics
will be deployed by political parties and
their surrogates in a number of crucial
swing states. Analysis of the last two
presidential elections has produced
convincing evidence that such tactics
may have been decisive in key precincts
in several hotly contested states.
Challenges based on apparent
discrepancies in the voter registration
rolls are expected to increase sharply
this year as more than half the states
comply for the first time with a 2002 law
requiring such records to be
administered statewide, instead of
locally. Attempts to implement the new
general election, state and local
authorities are scrambling to prepare for
projected record turnout, including an
unprecedented influx of newly registered
voters, while they also grapple with new
federal documentation requirements and
in many cases the introduction of new
polling technology. Experts predict that
the decentralized US electoral system,
which will involve more than 10,000
separate jurisdictions on Election Day,
may be severely strained in the event of
massive turnout or an unusually close
tally. Voting rights organizations have
warned that increasingly sophisticated
and aggressive vote suppression tactics
will be deployed by political parties and
their surrogates in a number of crucial
swing states. Analysis of the last two
presidential elections has produced
convincing evidence that such tactics
may have been decisive in key precincts
in several hotly contested states.
Challenges based on apparent
discrepancies in the voter registration
rolls are expected to increase sharply
this year as more than half the states
comply for the first time with a 2002 law
requiring such records to be
administered statewide, instead of
locally. Attempts to implement the new
procedures in Ohio have put hundreds of
thousands of voters at risk of
disenfranchisement, according to
activists, who warn that voters who may
have moved since 2004 and failed to
update their registration could face
challenges to their vote. In both Florida
and Ohio, local Republicans have
repeatedly attempted to “purge” voter
rolls over such discrepancies.
Another source of potential disputes was
highlighted by a recent controversy in
Michigan, when a local Republican
official was alleged to have threatened
to use foreclosure data to deny voting
rights to citizens who have recently lost
their homes in the mortgage crisis.
Representatives from the Obama
campaign assailed the effort and vowed
to protect voter rights in the state,
which has the highest foreclosure rate in
the nation with more than 11,000
households receiving foreclosure notices
in July alone.
Experts warn that the hectic atmosphere
of an Election Day with record turnout
will only create more opportunities for
vote suppression, and that a narrow
result will only magnify the influence of
potentially tainted results from a few
carefully targeted precincts. it's all true
thousands of voters at risk of
disenfranchisement, according to
activists, who warn that voters who may
have moved since 2004 and failed to
update their registration could face
challenges to their vote. In both Florida
and Ohio, local Republicans have
repeatedly attempted to “purge” voter
rolls over such discrepancies.
Another source of potential disputes was
highlighted by a recent controversy in
Michigan, when a local Republican
official was alleged to have threatened
to use foreclosure data to deny voting
rights to citizens who have recently lost
their homes in the mortgage crisis.
Representatives from the Obama
campaign assailed the effort and vowed
to protect voter rights in the state,
which has the highest foreclosure rate in
the nation with more than 11,000
households receiving foreclosure notices
in July alone.
Experts warn that the hectic atmosphere
of an Election Day with record turnout
will only create more opportunities for
vote suppression, and that a narrow
result will only magnify the influence of
potentially tainted results from a few
carefully targeted precincts. it's all true
Foreclosed Voters Face Eviction From Rolls
Standards So Lax That Industry Hacks Had Federal Staffers Flat on Their Backs
| Inside Wrigley Field |