ThinkFast: May 18, 2007
ThinkFast: May 18, 2007
The search for three missing Americans taken during Saturday’s ambush enters its seventh day. “Thousands of soldiers” sifting through the tips from Iraqis “has become the hub of the manhunt.” Most have led nowhere — “deliberately so in some cases, many Americans suspect.” The false alarms “highlight the challenge American troops face…in a Sunni stronghold where many residents resent the American presence.”
In a 220 to 208 vote, the House yesterday ignored a veto threat from President Bush and “demanded that the administration develop a plan to transfer detainees from the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”
“Sources yesterday identified four additional prosecutors who were considered for termination, bringing to 30 the number of prosecutors who were placed on Justice Department firing lists between February 2005 and December 2006. That accounts for about a third of the nation’s 93 U.S. attorney positions. Nine were fired last year.”
68: Percentage of Americans who support federal hate crime legislation for gays and lesbians, according to a Gallup poll, including 60 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of weekly churchgoers.
Several senators have urged President Bush to withdraw his nomination of Michael Baroody — a corporate lobbyist picked to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission — “saying the candidate was unqualified and the appointment posed insurmountable conflicts of interest.”
“YouTube’s co-founders on Thursday challenged the Pentagon’s assertion that soldiers overseas were sapping too much bandwidth by watching online videos.” Chief Executive Chad Hurley “expressed doubt that soldiers’ use of YouTube could have any real effect on the military’s massive network.”
The House Judiciary Committee passed a controversial lobbying reform bill, but were forced to strip “a two-year moratorium on lobbying by former lawmakers and staff” over bipartisan opposition. The panel also “sidestepped or rejected several other proposals meant to beef up the bill, including a hotly disputed call to force lobbyists conducting grass-roots campaigns to register.”
Speaking of Paul Wolfowitz’s resignation from the World Bank, a “former colleague who served with Wolfowitz in four administrations said that ‘the kinds of problems he got into were predictable for anybody who really knew Paul.’” The source “voiced admiration for his intellect but said Wolfowitz ‘couldn’t run a two-car funeral.’”
“A bipartisan group of senators is pushing legislation that would force the CIA to release an inspector general’s report on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.” The CIA is the only federal agency to not make a version of such a report public.
And finally: While moving around office furniture, Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-MT) staff found an “old document.” The document, “a citizens’ petition in favor of women’s suffrage” that dated back to 1910, was turned over to the National Archives. Tester’s staffers were a bit bummed when they found out it will remain at the Archives. “We had no idea — we thought we could just hang it up on the wall,” says Tester spokesman Matt McKenna.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-MT) staff found an “old document.†The document, “a citizens’ petition in favor of women’s suffrage†that dated back to 1910
HA! so the democrats tried to hide documents to stop womens suffrage! Why do democrats hate women? Also, Tester must be really old to have held office for so long.
But that’s a cool find.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:19 amJust where are the prisoners at Gitmo going if that facility is shut down? I haven’t heard that they will be transfered to civilian facilities and given real court time. How will the ghost prisoners be accounted for? If these problems are not addressed then this is nothing more sending the problem into deeper cover.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:20 am“saying the candidate was unqualified and the appointment posed insurmountable conflicts of interest.â€
Aren’t a lack of qualifications and insurmoutable conflicts of interest pre-requisites for a bush appointment?
May 18th, 2007 at 9:21 amWithdraw Baroody? But, but . . . the Deciderer won’t be pushed around!
May 18th, 2007 at 9:22 amInteresting story in New Statesman this weekend – of 498 terrorist attacks in Europe in 2006, only one was carried out by Muslim extremists. Most were attacks by separatist groups or anarchists. Kinda changes the nature of the “War on Terror,” doesn’t it?
May 18th, 2007 at 9:27 ambaroody is simply more of the same stocking of politically appointed positions with people who are used to feeding at the public trough. He is probably not incompetent as michael brown was; he is probably very competent at making sure that his clients strip the public funds available under the office that he will head, and very competent at enabling his clients to rob the public through legal means. Every rule will be interpreted to allow his cllients more leeway in charging whatever they want. His current clients will continue to be his clients after his change of office.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:27 am” . . . said Wolfowitz ‘couldn’t run a two-car funeral.â€
That’s too bad for Wolfie. He’s responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths in Iraq. If he COULD run two-car funeral, he could profit from his failed Iraq war policy. Oh, wait, he and countless other Bush cronies HAVE profited from the Iraq war. Never mind.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:28 amWide Open Mexican Border Proves “War On Terrorism” Is Fraudulent!
Friday 18th of May 2007
by Jay Randal
The Bush Regime’s so-called “War on Terrorism” is fraudulent, because wide open Mexican border proves security for US is bogus, since terrorists could swarm across the border undetected with illegal immigrants.
About 1 to 2 million Mexican and Central American undocumented migrants cross the border into the US yearly and nothing is known about their backgrounds.
Nobody knows anything about their origins, nor their health conditions, nor if they have criminal records in their homelands, nor if any of them are real terrorists.
They cross the border and vanish into our countryside working on farms, employed in factories, as laborers in construction industry and servants for the wealthy.
They burden the Public Welfare system applying for food stamps, demanding free medical care at hospitals which cripples healthcare services for most American citizens, and suppress wages for entire United States.
(Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Georgia, USA.)
PS: If you care about the border security issue, then contact your Reps
May 18th, 2007 at 9:37 amand Senators in DC to force them to secure the Mexican border now.
Taking bets on the World Bank nomination… Tom Delay, perhaps? K Street goes global?
May 18th, 2007 at 9:44 am#5 Interesting story in New Statesman this weekend – of 498 terrorist attacks in Europe in 2006, only one was carried out by Muslim extremists. Most were attacks by separatist groups or anarchists. Kinda changes the nature of the “War on Terror,†doesn’t it?
Comment by toasterhead — May 18, 2007 @ 9:27 am
That’s the cause the whole “War on Terror” PR had never traction in Europe. We know first hand the BS that is the Bush stance really.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:45 amTaking bets on the World Bank nomination… Tom Delay, perhaps? K Street goes global?
My money’s on Falwell, he’s the least likely to cause a new scandal.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:47 amTaking bets on the World Bank nomination… Tom Delay, perhaps? K Street goes global?
Comment by DM — May 18, 2007 @ 9:44 am
I’m spreading a rumor that it’ll be Tony Blair. He might be pretty good, actually.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:50 am“unqualified”, “insurmountable conflicts of interest”? Those are the perfect qualifications to serve in the Bush administration.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:52 amSpeaking of Tony Blair, he sure did a good job of heaping more shame on himself at yesterday’s press conference. Blair is an utter disgrace, a fallen human being. The Hague is too good for him.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:55 amGood Morning Jay Randal, good post as alway’s…Let’s not forget the Canadian border as well….Washington State caught one bomber in 2000 that was coming in from Canada via the Ferry system…The Canada border is a little more secure, but not much when one consideres miles of wooded areas that are not watched……Blessings
May 18th, 2007 at 9:56 amSelf defense?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070518/ap_on_re_us/gun_giveaway
May 18th, 2007 at 9:57 amBush will choose another totally corrupt person to replace Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank. The clause in the bylaws of the bank must be changed to prevent US President appointing the bank president. The whole deal reeks of cronyism.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:58 amToasterhead @ 5
I got three words for anyone who thinks those numbers are going to impact on how we prosecute the so called war on terror: Luis Posada Carriles
May 18th, 2007 at 9:59 amThanks Sharon > I concentrated my article on the Mexican border, but the Canadian border must be secured too. Drugs come across our northern border almost as much as southern border. And terrorists could sneak in from isolated forest areas on Canadian border too.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:02 am#18 Toasterhead @ 5
I got three words for anyone who thinks those numbers are going to impact on how we prosecute the so called war on terror: Luis Posada Carriles
Comment by klyde — May 18, 2007 @ 9:59 am
And imagine what would happen in a near future if Luis Posada Carriles feels he has been left behind by the USA government. Bin Laden II, this time with a high potential number of cuban “sleeping cells” already in the USA.
Really, the USA creates its own monsters…
May 18th, 2007 at 10:04 amDamn, I wish I worked at the World Bank today.
I hear its a non-stop party. The champagne corks are popping!!
Wolfy’s gone! Party On!! Whoohoo!!!
May 18th, 2007 at 10:05 amIt’s time to send Pelosi a message.
WE WANT IMPEACHMENT BACK ON THE TABLE!
Contact her here: http://speaker.gov/contact/
Here is an example…maybe it will inspire you.
Let her know that we’re tired of this sh!t.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:06 amAnyone see the article about the Antarctic ocean reaching saturation point on CO2?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/18/ocean_carbon_sink/
May 18th, 2007 at 10:09 amMy money’s on Falwell, he’s the least likely to cause a new scandal.
Comment by squegeebooo
First good laugh of the day, Squeegy. Thanks!
May 18th, 2007 at 10:09 amYour correct Jay, last year there was a lot of new’s about tunnel’s and smuggeling from Mexico and sure enough they found one in Blane, much the same, coming into the us..Then a few month’s later they found all the tower cameras along the Canada border were broken or turned off….Guess all the fund’s for these thing’s were syphoned to chertoff’s Israel campaign’s..No word if they were ever repaired…My local paper may have buried it like every thing else…Blessings
May 18th, 2007 at 10:10 amThe whole deal reeks of cronyism.
Comment by Jay Randal
What do you expect? After all we are talking about Bush. He couldn’t possibly appoint a qualified candidate—right?
May 18th, 2007 at 10:10 amYup, I hear them Mess-kins don’t wash their hands and they smell funny too. /sarc (Some people out here really do talk that way)
I have been ranting about Chimpy’s open border policy for years. A couple years ago, Chimpy cut funding for training 9000 new Border Patrol agents. And after 9-11, Chimpy refused the Coast Guard’s request for $5 billion to secure our nations ports and inspect all shipping.
Chimpy’s latest fiasco? The Border Patrol is understaffed, but Chimpy is sending 140 Border Patrol agents to IRAQ… to teach Iraqis how to have their own open borders, I guess.
I believe you can be against illegal immigrations without being against illegals. I like the amnesty proposal in the new bill. We cannot throw 13 million workers out of the US, we need a practical solution.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:12 amJay @ 17 according to the BBC there is nothing in the World (US) Bank charter that gives the US exclusive right to appoint the bank president. It has just been custom since the banks founding as US banks are the biggest stockholders.
The World Bank should be abolished as it has nothing noting but spread neo-liberal suffering for the past 25 years. As that is not going to happen the job of president should be opened up to all just like the SecGen of the UN. Publish the job description and let all nations who hold a stake nominate and the board of governors choose the best man or woman.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:19 amI believe you can be against illegal immigrations without being against illegals. I like the amnesty proposal in the new bill. We cannot throw 13 million workers out of the US, we need a practical solution.
Comment by Tom3 — May 18, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Spot on. But be prepared for grilling.
And, well, to the ones saying “there are good immigrants, the one that wait for many years to have a VISA to enter legally the USA”. You have never tought that the whole process is inneffective and clumsy and, it’s thanks to the excessive slowness (between others), that people decide to enter illegally (or overstay VISAs)? Maybe an agile and quick system would help, and decrease the resent between “legals” and “illegals”.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:21 amComment by Lupeyg2
______________________
Good letter but it seems better aimed at the Republican leadership. The Democrats don’t have enough votes for impeachment and until the Republicans are equally outraged, the Democrats would be wasting time and effort on pursuing impeachment which would be doomed to fail. Once there is a failed attempt, I don’t see any way a second try could be made.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:21 amZooey
First good laugh of the day, Squeegy. Thanks!
If I can bring just one smile into the world, my day is complete. Alternatively, making small children cry also completes the day.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:24 amPLC – I agree, but it is also her duty to galvanize support. She can do that by turning up the heat and showing the American people that she is serious.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:31 amAnd, well, to the ones saying “there are good immigrants, the one that wait for many years to have a VISA to enter legally the USAâ€. You have never tought that the whole process is inneffective and clumsy and, it’s thanks to the excessive slowness (between others), that people decide to enter illegally (or overstay VISAs)? Maybe an agile and quick system would help, and decrease the resent between “legals†and “illegalsâ€.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — May 18, 2007 @ 10:21 am
This is exactly what I’ve been saying for years. All the debates we’ve had in the past two years about “immigration reform” have nothing to do with reforming the immigration system. The border fences and guest worker programs and databases are all band-aid measures that don’t get at the real problem which is the backlog in the immigration system itself. It’s ludicrous that it can take 10-15 years for someone from Mexico or El Salvador to legally immigrate to the United States.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:42 amIf I can bring just one smile into the world, my day is complete. Alternatively, making small children cry also completes the day.
Comment by squegeebooo
I thought your name had been hijacked — until I read your second sentence. :-D
May 18th, 2007 at 10:49 amAccording to the DOD, the three missing Americans is actually FOUR.
It’s amazing that six days since the incident, the media continues to report the error despite the May 15 DOD announcement.
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10878
May 18th, 2007 at 10:52 amLest we forget there is one soldier that has been missing for 3 year’s…His parent’s made a TV appeal to the pres. last week…So that would mean there are 5, now….Blessings
May 18th, 2007 at 11:14 amSeveral senators have urged President Bush to withdraw his nomination of Michael Baroody — a corporate lobbyist picked to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission — “saying the candidate was unqualified and the appointment posed insurmountable conflicts of interest.â€
Chimpy: I do what I want!!
May 18th, 2007 at 11:16 amThe House Judiciary Committee passed a controversial lobbying reform bill, but were forced to strip “a two-year moratorium on lobbying by former lawmakers and staff†over bipartisan opposition. The panel also “sidestepped or rejected several other proposals meant to beef up the bill, including a hotly disputed call to force lobbyists conducting grass-roots campaigns to register.â€
Why even bother at this point? Give it teeth or give it up.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:17 amThe source “voiced admiration for his intellect but said Wolfowitz ‘couldn’t run a two-car funeral.’â€
Ouch!
Heh.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:18 amLupeyg2
I agree with you as well. I also believe Pelosi and Reid are, indeed, galvanizing support, putting extreme pressure on the recalcitrant Republicans, and keeping the issues on the front burner. We must not eat our own or who will speak for us between now and the next election?
May 18th, 2007 at 11:31 amThe House Judiciary Committee passed a controversial lobbying reform bill, but were forced to strip “a two-year moratorium on lobbying by former lawmakers and staff†over bipartisan opposition. The panel also “sidestepped or rejected several other proposals meant to beef up the bill, including a hotly disputed call to force lobbyists conducting grass-roots campaigns to register.â€
The Democrats are all for lobbying reform! Oh wait……….
May 18th, 2007 at 12:36 pm