Again it looks like more rats leaving the Titantic as yet another upper Justice Department prosecutor Resigns
And the Supreme Court has come to its' senses by reviewing the Gitmo situation. Now if only they'd restore the fourth ammendment we could get back to being a constitutional democracy. And after Bush's immigration loss I'm sure the neocons wanted this story buried.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
I must be crazy
A couple of thoughts came to me over the last two days. I normally don't talk much about my work because it's something you'd like to forget as soon as you can. I'm presently working in a very old section of a factory that uses some nasty chemicals. That section of the factory is being demolished so they have two cranes and a large track hoe with big steel jaws parked right at our entry. The noise is deafening. The place is beyond dirty with a six inch layer of soot covering everything. Dead pigions and poop are all over the place. The smell of the place is beyond discription. There are live steam lines (some leaking). All the metal steel supports are rusting. Rain water streams down the interior from the rotted roof. There's several inches of black water on the floor. And it's dark inside. This place would be make Steven King envious.
Once per week they test their emergency sirens in the event of a chemical release. When the time came for their test we heard nothing. The noise of the machinery drowned out any sound of a siren. And there I was two stories in the air squeezed between pipes of acid and who knows what tied off with a safety harness about two feet from water running down a column onto a hot steam pipe. Then that epiphany hit me. If something happened there was no way I'd get out of the place alive for it had taken me nearly fifteen minutes to get to this akward position.
Today I got to work most of the shift over a tank of sulfuric acid. Went to the store after work and you know how the clerk asks that "How are you doing today?" "Well, I said, at least I'm still alive."
Once per week they test their emergency sirens in the event of a chemical release. When the time came for their test we heard nothing. The noise of the machinery drowned out any sound of a siren. And there I was two stories in the air squeezed between pipes of acid and who knows what tied off with a safety harness about two feet from water running down a column onto a hot steam pipe. Then that epiphany hit me. If something happened there was no way I'd get out of the place alive for it had taken me nearly fifteen minutes to get to this akward position.
Today I got to work most of the shift over a tank of sulfuric acid. Went to the store after work and you know how the clerk asks that "How are you doing today?" "Well, I said, at least I'm still alive."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
So Dick's not a part of the executive branch
Just love it when our leaders in congress gang up against injustice (sorry the links aren't working again so here's the scoop)
Panel pushes for files on spy program
White House, Cheney get subpoenas
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 28, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday issued subpoenas to the Bush administration for documents related to its warrantless surveillance program, elevating a long-simmering dispute between Congress and the White House over classified national-security information into a possible constitutional showdown.
The Bush administration did not say yesterday whether it would comply with the subpoenas, which were addressed to the White House, the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, the National Security Council, and the Justice Department. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the administration "will respond appropriately" to the committee's action, even as he condemned it.
"It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation," Fratto said.
However, only three of the nine Republicans on the committee voted against authorizing the subpoenas, which were approved by a 13-to-3 vote. The committee, under both Republican and Democratic leadership, has been seeking information about the program and questioning its legality since The New York Times revealed its existence in December 2005.
"Our attempts to obtain information through testimony of ad ministration witnesses have been met with a consistent pattern of evasion and misdirection," wrote Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy , Democrat of Vermont, in a letter accompanying the subpoenas. "There is no legitimate argument for withholding the requested materials from this committee. The administration cannot thwart the Congress's conduct of its constitutional duties with sweeping assertions of secrecy and privilege."
Congress gave administration officials until July 18 to comply with its demand for information. If the administration refuses , the committee and then full Senate would have to vote on whether to cite the officials for criminal contempt, which could lead to a lengthy battle over executive privilege and the constitutional separation of powers.
Since 1975, according to the Congressional Research Service, 10 senior executive branch officials have been cited for contempt for failing to produce subpoenaed documents. In all 10 instances, however, the executive branch worked out a deal that satisfied Congress before any criminal proceedings were initiated.
Specifically, the committee is seeking documents related to White House authorization and reauthorization of the warrantless surveillance program, internal memos analyzing whether the surveillance is legal, agreements with telecommunications companies that assisted in the spying, orders by a secret national-security court regarding the program, and papers concerning President Bush's decision to shut down an in-house Justice Department investigation related to the program.
The program dates to the weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when Bush signed an order authorizing the military's National Security Agency to monitor Americans' international phone calls and e-mails without a judge's approval.
A 1978 statute makes it a felony to conduct such surveillance without a warrant, but the president's legal team secretly asserted that his wartime powers include an unwritten right to bypass such laws at his own discretion. Cheney and his counsel, David Addington , were the leading proponents of the program and the controversial legal theory supporting it, former administration lawyers have said.
To Tony Fratto I say " It's unfortunate that this administration has and continues to violate the Constitution of the United States." You people remind me more and more of the Sapranos every day. And if Cheney says he's not part of the executive then he has no executive privilege.
Panel pushes for files on spy program
White House, Cheney get subpoenas
By Charlie Savage, Globe Staff | June 28, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday issued subpoenas to the Bush administration for documents related to its warrantless surveillance program, elevating a long-simmering dispute between Congress and the White House over classified national-security information into a possible constitutional showdown.
The Bush administration did not say yesterday whether it would comply with the subpoenas, which were addressed to the White House, the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, the National Security Council, and the Justice Department. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the administration "will respond appropriately" to the committee's action, even as he condemned it.
"It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation," Fratto said.
However, only three of the nine Republicans on the committee voted against authorizing the subpoenas, which were approved by a 13-to-3 vote. The committee, under both Republican and Democratic leadership, has been seeking information about the program and questioning its legality since The New York Times revealed its existence in December 2005.
"Our attempts to obtain information through testimony of ad ministration witnesses have been met with a consistent pattern of evasion and misdirection," wrote Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy , Democrat of Vermont, in a letter accompanying the subpoenas. "There is no legitimate argument for withholding the requested materials from this committee. The administration cannot thwart the Congress's conduct of its constitutional duties with sweeping assertions of secrecy and privilege."
Congress gave administration officials until July 18 to comply with its demand for information. If the administration refuses , the committee and then full Senate would have to vote on whether to cite the officials for criminal contempt, which could lead to a lengthy battle over executive privilege and the constitutional separation of powers.
Since 1975, according to the Congressional Research Service, 10 senior executive branch officials have been cited for contempt for failing to produce subpoenaed documents. In all 10 instances, however, the executive branch worked out a deal that satisfied Congress before any criminal proceedings were initiated.
Specifically, the committee is seeking documents related to White House authorization and reauthorization of the warrantless surveillance program, internal memos analyzing whether the surveillance is legal, agreements with telecommunications companies that assisted in the spying, orders by a secret national-security court regarding the program, and papers concerning President Bush's decision to shut down an in-house Justice Department investigation related to the program.
The program dates to the weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when Bush signed an order authorizing the military's National Security Agency to monitor Americans' international phone calls and e-mails without a judge's approval.
A 1978 statute makes it a felony to conduct such surveillance without a warrant, but the president's legal team secretly asserted that his wartime powers include an unwritten right to bypass such laws at his own discretion. Cheney and his counsel, David Addington , were the leading proponents of the program and the controversial legal theory supporting it, former administration lawyers have said.
To Tony Fratto I say " It's unfortunate that this administration has and continues to violate the Constitution of the United States." You people remind me more and more of the Sapranos every day. And if Cheney says he's not part of the executive then he has no executive privilege.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
The day the music died (at least on the internet)
If this isn't totally anti business I don't know what is. The record companies have put the screws to internet radio. In effect making net radio pay the record companies all of their profits. Can you say Greedy?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Dedicated to Monkeyfister's rant
Their may be hope for the next generation yet. Seems some presidential scholars (high school kids) had a bit of a confrontation with the shrub in chief today. They handed Bush a letter signed by all 50 on the subject of Torture
Scholars urge Bush to ban use of torture
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Bush pauses during remarks on the" No Child Left Behind" reauthorization, Monday, June 25, 2007, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to "violations of the human rights" of terror suspects held by the United States.
The White House said Bush had not expected the letter but took a moment to read it and talk with a young woman who handed it to him.
"The president enjoyed a visit with the students, accepted the letter and upon reading it let the student know that the United States does not torture and that we value human rights," deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.
The students had been invited to the East Room to hear the president speak about his effort to win congressional reauthorization of his education law known as No Child Left Behind.
The handwritten letter said the students "believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions."
For some reason none of the links I've tried to use seem to work so here's the above story via AP
Scholars urge Bush to ban use of torture
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Bush pauses during remarks on the" No Child Left Behind" reauthorization, Monday, June 25, 2007, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON -- President Bush was presented with a letter Monday signed by 50 high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to "violations of the human rights" of terror suspects held by the United States.
The White House said Bush had not expected the letter but took a moment to read it and talk with a young woman who handed it to him.
"The president enjoyed a visit with the students, accepted the letter and upon reading it let the student know that the United States does not torture and that we value human rights," deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.
The students had been invited to the East Room to hear the president speak about his effort to win congressional reauthorization of his education law known as No Child Left Behind.
The handwritten letter said the students "believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions."
For some reason none of the links I've tried to use seem to work so here's the above story via AP
Sunday, June 24, 2007
This doesn't look good
Delphi
(the big auto parts maker) is set to close or sell off all but 8 of it's 29 plants. We all knew this was coming earlier but it 's still not an easy pill to swallow. The thing that irritates me is the fact that hourly wage workers are having their wages cut by nearly $10 an hour while I'm sure the CEO's and the CFO's and the rest of management won't suffer one iota. The buy out that will cover 17000 workers doesn't look that great either. They'll get $105,000 over 3 years. I'm guessing that's a little over two years salary for how many years of work? The article doesn't mention if they can keep their medical.
(the big auto parts maker) is set to close or sell off all but 8 of it's 29 plants. We all knew this was coming earlier but it 's still not an easy pill to swallow. The thing that irritates me is the fact that hourly wage workers are having their wages cut by nearly $10 an hour while I'm sure the CEO's and the CFO's and the rest of management won't suffer one iota. The buy out that will cover 17000 workers doesn't look that great either. They'll get $105,000 over 3 years. I'm guessing that's a little over two years salary for how many years of work? The article doesn't mention if they can keep their medical.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Friday odds and ends
Just looking at a few news articles after a long and painful week.
First up new EPA regs on ozone levels. See if you can find the alterior motive behind the new standards Remember the guy who came up with these rules was hand picked by Bush. Did George make a mistake and actually pick somebody with credentials? Or is this some kind of rouse?
Speaking of standards We now have new fuel econemy standards for cars 35mpg by 2020. Now you might think that this would be an accomplishment except that we all know that the EPA fuel economy ratings for cars and trucks are inflated anyway. The EPA takes a car, truck or whatever and runs it empty at a constant speed of 45mph to get the numbers. Anybody out there under the age of 85 do that? The other aspects of the article deals with trying to actually fund alternative energy. You know that won't happen until the oil companies get a strangle hold on other sources of energy. If they could make us pay for sunlight they would. You know it.
Last article The goofy security surrounding Mitt Rommney. All I can say is Barney Fife actually had a badge.
First up new EPA regs on ozone levels. See if you can find the alterior motive behind the new standards Remember the guy who came up with these rules was hand picked by Bush. Did George make a mistake and actually pick somebody with credentials? Or is this some kind of rouse?
Speaking of standards We now have new fuel econemy standards for cars 35mpg by 2020. Now you might think that this would be an accomplishment except that we all know that the EPA fuel economy ratings for cars and trucks are inflated anyway. The EPA takes a car, truck or whatever and runs it empty at a constant speed of 45mph to get the numbers. Anybody out there under the age of 85 do that? The other aspects of the article deals with trying to actually fund alternative energy. You know that won't happen until the oil companies get a strangle hold on other sources of energy. If they could make us pay for sunlight they would. You know it.
Last article The goofy security surrounding Mitt Rommney. All I can say is Barney Fife actually had a badge.
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