ThinkFast: August 12, 2008
ThinkFast: August 12, 2008
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced today “that he had ordered a halt to his country’s military operation in Georgia, although he did not say that troops were pulling out and Russian forces were still authorized to fire on enemies in South Ossetia.” Medvedev said “the goal of the operation has been achieved. The security of our peacekeepers and civilians has been ensured.”
A new GAO report has found that “two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005.” The GAO “said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.”
“The number of low-income workers living in poor neighborhoods rose in 34 of 58 metro areas, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest,” between the years 1999 and 2005, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.
In an interview with Larry King, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) criticized Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) call to bring Congress back into session for an offshore drilling vote. “Well, it’s interesting to hear Sen. McCain talk about bringing Congress back,” Pelosi said. “He wasn’t even in Congress when we had two very important bills on energy.”
On the trail today: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) continues his week-long vacation in Hawaii and will hold a fundraising event tonight in Honolulu. McCain will visit York County, Pennsylvania today to host a town hall-style meeting with former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
A new Congressional Budget Office report finds that “one out of every five dollars spent on the war in Iraq has gone to contractors for the United States military and other government agencies.” This $100 billion spent on contractors is “far larger than in any previous conflict, and it has fueled charges that this outsourcing has led to overbilling, fraud and shoddy and unsafe work.”
A new report from the University at Albany finds that the “number of women in state government leadership positions is on the rise, with the percentage nearly mirroring their representation in the general population in six states … Of the governor-appointed posts in all 50 states last year, 35 percent were held by women, up from 28 percent a decade earlier.”
“Health care costs are expected to rise more than 10 percent into next year, according to a survey of insurers by Aon Consulting Worldwide. But that increase is the smallest that Aon has seen in six years. Experts say it shows that efforts to tame costs, such as employee wellness or disease-management programs, may be paying off.”
The wording of a California ballot initiative that would “amend the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage” will remain unchanged. The group sponsoring the measure had said the summary description that would appear on the ballot was “designed to encourage voters” to vote against adopting the ban, but “after two defeats in court” said that “it would not appeal to the state Supreme Court.”
And finally: On Sunday, a “quiet riot” broke out near the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO, the site of this month’s Democratic convention. These “protesters, police and counter-protesters clubbed one another mercilessly,” but they were using “peace bats” — inflatable red, white, and blue bats with bumper stickers reading, “Make Fun, Not War!” Although group was just “aiming to poke a little fun with some political street theater,” some on-lookers became worried and called the police.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced today “that he had ordered a halt to his country’s military operation in Georgia, although he did not say that troops were pulling out and Russian forces were still authorized to fire on enemies in South Ossetia.” Medvedev said “the goal of the operation has been achieved. The security of our peacekeepers and civilians has been ensured.”
McCain will take credit for this, due to his ferocious plagerized speech...
August 12th, 2008 at 9:03 amRussian President Dmitri Medvedev announced today “that he had ordered a halt to his country’s military operation in Georgia, although he did not say that troops were pulling out and Russian forces were still authorized to fire on enemies in South Ossetia.” Medvedev said “the goal of the operation has been achieved. The security of our peacekeepers and civilians has been ensured.”
McCain will take credit for this, due to his ferocious plagerized speech...
August 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am>Medvedev said “the goal of the operation has been achieved.
If "hipocracy" was a concept george bush understood, he'd let the russians borrow his "mission accomplished" banner..
August 12th, 2008 at 9:03 amMedia Disinformation: BBC distorts the News from the Georgia Region
As usual, the BBC is twisting and distorting the news coming out of the Georgia region. We keep being told that around 1500 have been killed in Georgia, the inference being that this has resulted from Russian bombing. Not so, the casualties are in Ossetia. While the Ossetians claimed over 1000 dead the BBC neither reported this or any newsreel coming out of Ossetia showing the destruction caused by the Georgian shelling of the breakaway republic. All we are getting is one-sided reports of the destruction being caused by the Russians.
Since yesterday, Russia Today was reporting the complete destruction of Ossetia's capital by Georgian shelling. Again, the destruction of the Ossetian capital was never reported by the BBC. Last Friday, RIA Novosti reported that Ossetia was claiming over 1000 dead. Meanwhile, a BBC News 24 reporter, Lyse Doucet, tried to suggest that Russia had attacked Abkhazia by sending troops into that breakaway republic! That was soon put into doubt by another BBC reporter from Moscow who speculated that the sending of Russian troops into Abkhazia was not an attack but intended to protect its citizens.
On Saturday, China's Xinhua news service reported, "Abkhazia launches operation to force Georgian troops out" and "Georgia defeats Abkhazia's attacks". So was the BBC's Doucet confused or deliberately confusing the facts? What is clear, however, is that the BBC is giving carte blanche to the Georgian point-of-view to be aired on its services while nothing whatsoever is being heard from the Ossetian side. The BBC's repetitive playing of a statement by George Bush without balancing these against statements from the Russian side indicates where the BBC is coming from.
The contrast between the brazenly pro-US, pro-Georgian views being put out on BBC News 24 and the BBC website is to be noted whilst a more balanced assessment has been published by Richard Seymour of Lenin's Tomb. He, like me, believes that the BBC is deliberately confusing the issue. I'm sure we'll get much more of that from the BBC:
"Incidentally, just so that this point isn't lost in the deliberately confusing reportage. Yes, Russian jets are attacking Georgian targets and killing civilians. Yes, the reported civilian casualties "on both sides" is reported to be over 2,000. What is quite often not stated or just gently skated over in the reporting, so laden with images of Georgian dead and wounded, is that the estimate of 2,000 civilian deaths comes from the Russian government and it applies overwhelmingly to the Georgian attacks on South Ossetia on Friday.
In fact, this is the basis for Vladimir Putin's claims of a "genocide" against South Osettians by the Georgians (is he deliberately referencing the ICTY judgment about Srebrenica here?). The Georgian side, by contrast, claims 129 deaths of both soldiers and civilians. So, if Russian figures are good enough to reference, why is the source of the figures and their context obscured? Why is being made to look as if Russian forces are behind most of those alleged deaths? Doesn't this just amount to a whitewash of the actions of the Georgian army in South Ossetia? And why not mention 30,000
refugees too?"
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9783
Those 30,000 refugees went to Russia to ask for protection, they didn’t go to Georgia. Russia did not send in their army til after the Georgian Army had killed 1,500 civilians and peacekeepers on the first day. The second day they killed another 500 civilians. After the complete destruction of Ossetia's capital by Georgian shelling did Russia start targeting and destroying Georgian military targets.
What does the media report: Russia invades Georgia-(Guardian.Co.UK), (CNN)-Georgia orders cease-fire offers talks, (after killing 2,000 South Osettian civilians), Russian Troops invade Georgia-Times Online. George Bush’s statement is- Russian response 'disproportionate'. John McCain’s response-called for the U.N. Security Council to “move ahead with the resolution” calling for a cease-fire and condemning Russia’s aggression against Georgia.
Fact-Georgia is an ally of the US and South Osettian is an ally of Russia. Fact-Georgia has an oil pipeline on their territory, South Osettian does not. Where is the media outrage over 2,000 South Osettian civilians & peacekeepers killed in 2 days? Even though Georgia is our ally why is the media supporting them and making Russia look like the bad guy? Is this suppose to pass as journalistic integrity? This is just shameful and outrageous.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:05 amGee, two more decades and correspondence to demographics will be in sight, if the planet survives.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:05 amA new GAO report has found that “two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005.” The GAO “said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.”
Where is the Republican outrage over these corporation sponging off the government?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am“Health care costs are expected to rise more than 10 percent into next year, according to a survey of insurers by Aon Consulting Worldwide. But that increase is the smallest that Aon has seen in six years. Experts say it shows that efforts to tame costs, such as employee wellness or disease-management programs, may be paying off.”
__________________________________________________________
Wow -- who would have thought that we would be cheering an increase of ONLY 10% for health care costs? This figure is still way beyond inflation and wage increases, so we should still figure on feeling more pain, but at least it's not 40%, right? [snark]
It's also good news that wellness programs are paying off. This has been one of those common-sense things that the universal health care supporters have been touting for some time. The idea that healthy people cost the system less than sick people is so basic, you'd have a hard time finding an argument against it.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:09 amAnybody notice that when corporate media finally wrenched itself from John Edwards' private peccadilloes it failed consistently and utterly to mention that Georgia was the aggressor?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:09 amWhat did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Well, in spite of everything going on in this country, and the world, you missed the 24/7 coverage of an individual who is not a member of congress, who is not running for president, who just happens to be affiliated with the Democratic party, apologizing for having an affair.
C'mon guys, get with it! Snap snap!
Never mind the ramifications of the conflict in Georgia, or the comparisons to our own quagmire.
Never mind the increase in unemployment.
Never mind the interesting development in upper Canada.
Let's talk adultery!!!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:12 amWell, now that GDumbya has resolved the Russian/Georgia conflict with his excellent diplomatic skills, it's time for him to plan his next international "farewell tour". [sarcasm off]
Looks like the Russians have taken away another republican talking-point. That's good.
And, as the price of oil declines, their "stunt" in D.C. is looking evermore foolish as well.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:12 amWake up Grandpappy. You took three months off and you're criticize Congress for not reconvening to vote on a measure(offshore drilling and drilling in ANWAR) that recent polls show American's do not support. If you want to reconvene Congress, Mr. McCain,I suggest a better reason. Have Nancy Pelosi call back the Judiciary Committee and begin hearings into the forgeries of documents committed by Mr. Cheney to falsify our reason for killing 4,000 servicemen. At least we should start investigations into the possible impeachment of Mr. Cheney.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:14 amTape: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Tape_Top_CIA_officer_confesses_order_0808.html
In damning transcript, ex-CIA official says Cheney likely ordered letter linking Hussein to 9/11 attacks
A forged letter linking Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks was ordered on White House stationery and probably came from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a new transcript of a conversation with the Central Intelligence Agency's former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer.
The transcript was posted Friday by author Ron Suskind of an interview conducted in June.
On Tuesday, the White House released a statement on Richer's behalf. In it, Richer declared, "I never received direction from George Tenet or anyone else in my chain of command to fabricate a document ... as outlined in Mr. Suskind's book."
The denial, however, directly contradicts Richer's own remarks in the transcript.
"Now this is from the Vice President's Office is how you remembered it--not from the president?" Suskind asked.
"No, no, no," Richer replied, according to the transcript. "What I remember is George [Tenet] saying, 'we got this from'--basically, from what George said was 'downtown.'"
"Which is the White House?" Suskind asked.
"Yes," Richer said.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:16 amWill McTeleprompter choose Ly'n Joe Lieberman for VP?
We all know that presently we have 'Dumb & Dangerous' at the helm.
What would we call the new pair?...
'Old & Dirt'? 'McCain & Conscience'? 'Holy Joe & Holy Cow'?
McCain / Lieberman - 1908!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:17 amunbelievable Says:
Where is the Republican outrage over these corporation sponging off the government?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
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Oh, that's just the free market at work. No outrage to be had.
But heaven forbid any poor people try any of that tax avoision stuff.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:17 amCorporations get tax breaks and buy the vote, citizens pay taxes and may get to vote. Is everyone happy?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:18 amWill McTeleprompter choose Ly’n Joe Lieberman for VP? What would we call the new pair?…
Frick and Frack
Old and Older
Maverick and Fence Post Turtle
Road-Kill and Deer Caught in the Headlights
August 12th, 2008 at 9:22 amZimzone Says:
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Will McTeleprompter choose Ly’n Joe Lieberman for VP?
We all know that presently we have ‘Dumb & Dangerous’ at the helm.
What would we call the new pair?…
‘Old & Dirt’? ‘McCain & Conscience’? ‘Holy Joe & Holy Cow’?
McCain / Lieberman - 1908!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
McDepends/LIEberman '08 - The real life Statler and Waldorf (the 2 old guys on the Muppet Show)
August 12th, 2008 at 9:22 amIt's noteworthy that during the Georgian / Russian conflict this past week, we heard nothing from the State Dept.
I say that because Condi is an 'expert' in Russian history, etc.
It would seem to be a golden opportunity for her to show her skills. We realize she's in over her head with Middle East conflicts, but Russia is her specialty.
Condi? Condi? Condi!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:23 amDRxJ Says:
Never mind the ramifications of the conflict in Georgia, or the comparisons to our own quagmire.
Never mind the increase in unemployment.
Never mind the interesting development in upper Canada.
Let’s talk adultery!!!!!
Well real news is boring, don't ya know?
Now who's in your bed?
/snark
I got so disgusted last night with all the Edwards stuff instead of real news and the fact when they reported on the Russia/Georgia conflict there was so little fact involved. I had to turn the news off. WWE wraslin' seems more fact based than the MSM news now days, sad.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:24 amhussein toasterhead Says: Oh, that’s just the free market at work. No outrage to be had.
I'm so sick of the Cons definition of "free market".
Adam Smith was quite clear that the market was free only when the power and wealth were distributed to the masses. Otherwise, the Founding Fathers wouldn't have embraced such a concept to go with their 'of, by and for' the people democractic government.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:25 amSportscaster Bob Costas Shows Up Political Colleagues In Bush Interview
It's not for nothing that Matt Yglesias seems to be nominating NBC Sports eminence grise Bob Costas for the Meet The Press chair. Last night's interview with President George W. Bush demonstrated that there's a world of difference between a reporter with chops, knowledge, and genuine curiosity and those who work for the empty calories of a "gotcha" moment. The ten-minute sit down included sufficient Olympics content to suit the occasion, but centered mainly on probing foreign policy questions from a superbly prepared Costas. The result was an interview that was neither softball nor pointlessly antagonistic.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/11/sportscaster-bob-costas-s_n_118209.html
August 12th, 2008 at 9:27 amA new GAO report has found that “two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005.” The GAO “said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.”
And the dirty secret is that if our corporations were taxed at the rate they were taxed in the 60's (and they made plenty of money) and all the tax loopholes were closed, we could pay off our national debt in a couple of years. Then there would be plenty of money to take care of our country and give tax cuts to the workers.
How many people know that our "income tax" was never meant to tax wages? Income is described as money you make off investments NOT as wages. But over the years the tax has shifted from income to wages. Welcome to the United Corporations of America.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:28 amTrue dat, Wayne.
When the conflict started, when Georgia became the aggressor, it was just a blurb with the MSM.
Once Russia retaliated, it suddenly was a "crisis", especially when Dubya was talking tough over in Bejing.
Yet, from my understanding, it was Georgia invading a Russian country.
Imagine if China decided to invade Guam, or Hawaii.
Would we retaliate?
Oh wait, according to the current administration's logic, we would attack Malaysia for China's aggression.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:32 amunbelievable Says:
Where is the Republican outrage over these corporation sponging off the government?
They have carefully folded their outrage and placed it in their hip pocket. And they do have plenty of outrage.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:32 am“Well, it’s interesting to hear Sen. McCain talk about bringing Congress back,” Pelosi said. “He wasn’t even in Congress when we had two very important bills on energy.”
It frustrates me how the Democrats miss so many golden opportunities to tell it like it is about McCain. She should have then gone on to tell the audience about all the energy bills McCain voted against that had incentives for clean renewable energy. That would make a lie out of his commercials where he is saying he's all for renewable energy as evidenced by the pictures of windmill farms in the background.
Every senior member of Congress should be well versed in quotes about all the flip flops McCain has made in the last year and all the lies he has told in his commercials. Then when they are interviewed, they should bring McCain up and tell the audience about him.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:33 amRepublicans love welfare for the wealthy!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:34 amA new GAO report has found that “two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005.” The GAO “said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.”
This is tragic. With 32 percent of corporations actually paying taxes, it points up the serious shortage of conniving accountants in the U.S.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:35 amunbelievable Says:
Adam Smith was quite clear that the market was free only when the power and wealth were distributed to the masses. Otherwise, the Founding Fathers wouldn’t have embraced such a concept to go with their ‘of, by and for’ the people democractic government.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
_____
The neocon definition of "free market" works best in a totalitarian state. It's incompatible with democracy. A government can't govern by consent of the people if all its functions have been auctioned off to the highest bidder.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:35 amMcCain will visit York County, Pennsylvania today to host a town hall-style meeting with former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
I really do wish the press would do its job and expose these "town hall" meetings as a fraud. They are invitation only with only pre-screened questions allowed. That's hardly a "town hall" meeting. The only thing that makes them that is that they are held in a town in a hall.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am5 years after blackout, power grid still in ‘dire straits’
By Jason Leopold
Five years ago this month, a devastating blackout rippled through the northeastern United States. The blackout plunged more than 50 million people into darkness for nearly three days and left a gaping $10 billion hole in the nation’s economy.
The power outage, however, wasn’t an isolated incident.
Three years later, in July 2006, Queens, New York, lost power for nine days, which resulted from the deterioration of decades old electrical cables responsible for sending power to that area’s 100,000 residents.
The US power grid -- three interconnected grids made up of 3,500 utilities serving 283 million people -- still hangs together by a thread, and its dilapidated state is perhaps one of the greatest threats to homeland security, according to Bruce deGrazia, the president of Global Homeland Security Advisors and a former assistant deputy undersecretary for the Department of Defense, who spoke at an electricity industry conference in Shepherdstown, Va.
The slightest glitch on the transmission superhighway could upset the smooth distribution of electricity over thousands of miles of transmission lines and darken states from Ohio to New York in a matter of seconds, bringing hospitals and airports to a standstill.
“The U.S. electrical grid -- the system that carries electricity from producers to consumers -- is in dire straits,” the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank, said in a report last year. “Electricity generation and consumption have steadily risen, placing an increased burden on a transmission system that was not designed to carry such a large load”
read full article:
http://www.pubrecord.org/nationworld/1-nationworld/239-5-years-after-blackout-power-grid-still-in-dire-straits.html
cross-posted at:
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_3607.shtml
**infrastructure collapsing, economy falling apart, climate in dire straits...we face far more peril from ourselves than some terrorist organization. It's hard to keep our eyes on the ball when the ball is bouncing all over the map. It's all part of the neocon grand plan. I feel sorry for Obama inheriting this in January but I can't think of snyone who is better equipped to lead us out of this mess.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:37 amThis $100 billion spent on contractors is “far larger than in any previous conflict, and it has fueled charges that this outsourcing has led to overbilling, fraud and shoddy and unsafe work that is being totally ignored by the Bush Crime Family.
This is one place that Obama can show his mettle without having to worry about accusations of "partisan politics". He needs to have the GAO investigate every contractor that did work in Iraq and when fraud is found, prosecute the company and its executives to recover the funds and/or send people to jail.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:37 amDRxJ Says:
Oh wait, according to the current administration’s logic, we would attack Malaysia for China’s aggression.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:32 am
______
Jacobim Mogatu and the global fashion industry would appreciate this move.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:38 amZimzone Says:
McCain / Lieberman - 1908!
CORRECTION:
McCain / Lieberman - 08
August 12th, 2008 at 9:39 amI had a dream last night -- the mainstream media actually noted that McCain hasn't been in attendance in the Senate since April - then I awakened to reality.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:39 amHealth care costs and therefore their profits are expected to rise more than 10 percent into next year, according to a survey of insurers by Aon Consulting Worldwide.
Just think how much money we could save on our health care costs if we put everyone on Medicare. Medicare spends 10% of its income on overhead, private for-profit health care spends 50%. That extra 40% could go a long way towards providing good, affordable health care to every American.
Health care is a right and not a privilege. At least that's how every over industrialized nation operates. So what is wrong with the USA, supposedly the "greatest nation on earth".
August 12th, 2008 at 9:41 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says: And the dirty secret is that if our corporations were taxed at the rate they were taxed in the 60’s (and they made plenty of money) and all the tax loopholes were closed, we could pay off our national debt in a couple of years. Then there would be plenty of money to take care of our country and give tax cuts to the workers.
I'm still waiting for a response from an email 'discussion' I've been having with a college friend who is a lock-step Republican. I asked him how is it that GE, an American company, can go to France to do business, follow French law that requires them to give a lot ofquality benefits to their French employees that require them to also pay higher taxes than here, and still make enough of a profit to want to stay there?
(I don't really expect a response.)
August 12th, 2008 at 9:42 amunbelievable Says:
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Tape: Top CIA official confesses order to forge Iraq-9/11 letter came on White House stationery
http://rawstory.com/ news/ 2008/ Tape_Top_CIA_officer_confesses_order_0808.html
In damning transcript, ex-CIA official says Cheney likely ordered letter linking Hussein to 9/11 attacks
A forged letter linking Saddam Hussein to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks was ordered on White House stationery and probably came from the office of Vice President Dick Cheney, according to a new transcript of a conversation with the Central Intelligence Agency’s former Deputy Chief of Clandestine Operations Robert Richer.
Cheney, "So?"
Impeachment is off the table. Pelosi and Conyers tossed us a bone with their "show" hearing a while back. They're co-conspirators, as far as I'm concerned.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:43 amIolair Says: And they do have plenty of outrage.
Yeah, especially over all the taxes that they aren't paying :)
August 12th, 2008 at 9:44 amAnd the beat goes on Says:
**infrastructure collapsing, economy falling apart, climate in dire straits…we face far more peril from ourselves than some terrorist organization. It’s hard to keep our eyes on the ball when the ball is bouncing all over the map. It’s all part of the neocon grand plan. I feel sorry for Obama inheriting this in January but I can’t think of snyone who is better equipped to lead us out of this mess.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Well, with some significant investment in renewable power generation and decentralization of the elctrical grid, Obama could tackle the climate and infrastructure problems in one fell swoop.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:46 amunbelievable Says:
Sportscaster Bob Costas Shows Up Political Colleagues In Bush Interview
I always liked Bob Costas and his interview style. He is intelligent, seems to always do his homework on the issues and will usually point out factual inaccuracies when asking the interviewee for clarifications.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:46 amI always felt his talents were wasted on just sports interviews.
Since yesterday, Russia Today was reporting the complete destruction of Ossetia’s capital by Georgian shelling. Again, the destruction of the Ossetian capital was never reported by the BBC.
This has also not been reported in the USA. To listen to the news reports (and John McSame) what is happening in Georgia is an unprovoked attack by Russia. At least Obama addressed the fact that Georgia is as much to blame as Russia (or almost). Russia may have over reacted, but they certainly were NOT unprovoked. Georgia's unprovoked act of aggression against it's neighbor started it. And Georgia was encouraged and even aided by the USA in their act of aggression. People in Ossetia are reporting finding Georgian soldiers wearing US symbols on their uniforms and many soldiers dressed in black (the Blackwater uniform).
I am hoping that Obama addresses the US complicity in one country invading its neighbor, but I suspect he's not going to touch it with a ten foot pole since he knows that the US has been sold a bill of goods on the conflict.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:47 amhussein toasterhead Says: The neocon definition of “free market” works best in a totalitarian state. It’s incompatible with democracy. A government can’t govern by consent of the people if all its functions have been auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Exactly what the Bush Regime has spent the last 8 years doing. Turning the US into a plutocracy. They've even managed to get many of ths very people that they are making poor through their policies to support this as 'freedom'. Amazing.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:48 amtom Says:
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Will McTeleprompter choose Ly’n Joe Lieberman for VP? What would we call the new pair?…
Dumber and dumberer?
August 12th, 2008 at 9:49 amHere in MN we had the 35W bridge collapse a year ago.
A few days later we found out that a Dept of Transportation official, Sonja Pitts, was on an unauthorized trip, supposedly doing 'business'.
Ms Pitts didn't return for 10 days after the bridge catastrophe.
She was fired, while Gov. Pawlenty scrambled furiously to avoid any charges of negligence related to bridge inspections. (He was negligent, by the way.)
Now we find out Ms Pitts had been hired by Mikey Chertoff's Dept. of Homeland Security. WITHOUT A BACKGROUND CHECK!
In summary, we have DHS hiring known slackers, all without a background check.
Ironic that Ted Kennedy is on DHS's terrorist list, but Ms Pitts is hired by the same agency with no security consideration.
Ms Pitts has since been fired by DHS, but why on Earth would DHS hire people w/o background checks?
Chertoff, go back to Israel. You're not needed here anymore.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:53 amtom Says:
And, as the price of oil declines, their “stunt” in D.C. is looking evermore foolish as well.
But, the only reason why the price of oil is declining is because of their courageous stand.
Actually, the price of oil is going down because we are driving less, therefore their profits are plummeting. So, the oil companies are lowering the price of oil to encourage us to drive more. It would be sweet if the American public learned their lesson and continued to drive less, even going further in that direction.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:53 amDNC Releases First Exxon-McCain '08 Web Ad: 'Exxon John'
Ad Highlights McCain's Promise of More Giveaways for Big Oil
WASHINGTON, Aug 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Democratic National Committee today launched the first web ad of the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign. The ad, called "Exxon John," highlights McCain's promise of more giveaways for his new friends in Big Oil. Released on the same day activists across the country are participating in an Exxon-McCain '08 National Day of Action, "Exxon John" is a parody of the "Big John" video released earlier this year by Republican Senator John Cornyn.
Last week, the Center for Responsive Politics reported that campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry to Senator McCain are triple the industry's contributions to Senator Obama. When contributions to the Republican National Committee are included, the McCain campaign has raised more than $2 million from Big Oil, and more than twice as much from the three most recognizable oil companies: Exxon, BP and Chevron. In return, Exxon John has promised $4 billion in new tax giveaways for Big Oil, offered new gimmicks that will line Big Oil's pockets but do nothing to help Americans deal with skyrocketing energy costs, and resisted efforts to raise fuel efficiency standards and promote alternatives to oil.
"Exxon John's out of touch agenda may be a boon for Big Oil, but it's a bust for America's working families," said DNC spokesman Damien LaVera. "Exxon-McCain '08 is the perfect ticket for Big Oil because only McCain looks at record profits and promises $4 billion more. The choice in this election is perfectly clear. If you want four more years of flawed energy policies dominated by gimmicks and giveaways for Big Oil, vote for Exxon John in November."
To view the new Exxon-McCain '08 web ad "Exxon John," click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtXOBH6U89Y
August 12th, 2008 at 9:57 amConyers Announces Review of Allegations of Bush Administration's Forged Iraq Intelligence
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) today announced plans to review allegations that senior Bush Administration officials ordered the forgery and dissemination of false intelligence documents as reported by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Ron Suskind, in his new book, "The Way of the World: A Story of Truth and Hope in an Age of Extremism."
"Mr. Suskind reports that the Bush Administration, in its pursuit of war, created and promoted forged documents about Iraq," said Conyers. "I am particularly troubled that the decision to disseminate this fabricated intelligence is alleged to have come from the highest reaches of the administration. The administration's attempt to challenge Mr. Suskind's reporting appears to have been effectively dismissed by the publication of the author's interview recordings and transcripts. I have instructed my staff to conduct a careful review of Mr. Suskind's allegations and the role played by senior administration officials in this matter."
Read the entire release:
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6263
**And then what? Investigate impeachment NOW!!!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 9:57 amdennis Says:
McCain, not Obama, was right about Georgia
The next day his language finally caught up with toughness of McCain’s.….
____________
Suuuuuuuuuuuuure... Dennis... no doubt, McShame's "tough talk" scared Putin silly. Absolutley the reason the Russians... kept pushing deeper into Georgia.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:00 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says: It would be sweet if the American public learned their lesson and continued to drive less, even going further in that direction.
Attention span isn't long enough.
However, I think the rising inflation on food and household goods will force them to buy less gas, even at $3.50 a gallon simply due to limited resources, and shrinking paychecks.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:01 amdennis Says:
McCain, not Obama, was right about Georgia
Steve Huntley
Chicago Sun-Times
While we don't get fossil fuels from Russia, Western Europe does, and the Kremlin's energy might is fueled by the worldwide demand for oil. Developing U.S. domestic energy sources and alternatives to oil will only enhance our national security and, by reducing the world's petroleum demand, undermine the economic, political and military advantage vast oil and gas reserves give to unfriendly powers like Russia, Iran and Venezuela.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Wow - Steve Huntley not only has no understanding of economics, he can't even get basic facts right.
The U.S. DOES import oil from Russia. As of June, we imported 199,000 barrels/day in crude oil and 441,000 barrels of petroleum from Russia.
And as anyone with even a high-school understanding of economics should tell you, increasing supply does not lower demand. The demand curve and the supply curve are irrelevant to each other. In classical ecomomic theory, when you increase supply, demand stays the same and the price drops as the two reach a new equilibrium. In the real world, however, demand often expands in response to an increase in supply. So he's completely wrong.
Great article to cite, Dennis! I'm sure a writer with that sort of grasp on reality has some very worthwhile things to say about whatever he was talking about.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am#dennis Says:
Later Friday, he again called for mutual restraint but blamed Russia for the fighting. The next day his language finally caught up with toughness of McCain’s.
The person who wrote that article must have been listening to a different speech. I heard Obama blame Georgia for its aggression against a neighbor and Russia for what he called an "overreaction" to the situation. Whereas McSame placed the blame solely on Russia. To hear McCain speak, Russia invaded Georgia unprovoked. And we all know that is a lie, don't we fool troll.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:02 amRussia Rocks Says:
I salute Russia’s victory over the neocons. Bush has been humiliated by Russia and I am proud. This is a historic win for the Anti-neocon movemen
We heard this same lame song yesterday Troll. Peddle your crapola elsewhere.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:03 am. . . all of which means that the coast of Cheney-Bush's profligate spending is being borne on the backs of the working men and women of America--all part of the conservatives' class war!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:04 amExploiting Poverty Is Now Big Business: Transcript: Bill Moyers Journal
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08082008/transcript2.html
The Poverty Business: A Predatory Economy is now the American Way of Life. There's always been money to be made from people who have no money. That's because low income families turn to fast, easy, and pre-approved credit to make ends meet. But once they've signed on the dotted line, they often find their troubles have just begun. According to the Federal Reserve, the amount of money owed by households earning $30,000 or less between 1989 and 2004, soared to $691 billion — that's an increase of nearly 250%. These households are what one entrepreneur describes as "low-hanging fruit" — just waiting to be plucked. Nothing new about this. Loan sharks have been around to prey on the poor for centuries, but now the sharks are trying to spiff up their image, relocating from back alleyways to friendly-looking storefronts. They hide their sharp teeth behind promises of ready cash to people who need it now. BUSINESSWEEK magazine dubbed this industry "the poverty business." Its reporters looked at companies ranging from subprime credit card dealers and rent-to-own electronics stores to some of the biggest financial institutions in America, all of them turning the needs and desires of the working poor into bottom-line, bottom-feeding profits. Here's a report from our colleagues at "Expose."
August 12th, 2008 at 10:05 amRussia Rocks Says:
Tweedster,
Like everyone here, I support Russia. They kicked neocon ass!
I wish Putin would be our president. He’s the man!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:05 am
______
Reported for thread pollution.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:09 amFlag the Latin Queen @52 before Traj gets settled in for the day.
Throw Denice a flag while you're at it, I hate to see another day with that whiny btch around.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:11 amI read the other day that Republicans want to lower corporate taxes. Personally, I think zero is low enough.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:11 amRussia Rocks Says:
hussein toasterhead,
Dop you deny people here supported Russia?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am
_____
Only you and your plethora of multiple personalities. As soon as we get your trolling deleted, there will be nobody here who supported Russia.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:12 amTrollups regurgitating falsehoods this early in the morning?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:12 amCredit Card Debt: This Popping Bubble Is Really Going to Hurt
Let me try a few words out on you: "Charge It," "Swipe It" and "Priceless."
You know exactly what I am talking about. We all have credit and debit cards. We all use them, and many of us keep our lives going because of them.
That is, until the bill becomes due.
The sad truth is that we are all complicit in our own economic servitude even if, at bottom, it's not our fault because we live in a consumption society, and don't feel we could live without them.
While many eyes are focusing on the housing meltdown and its hugely negative effect on an economy clearly moving into recession, few are paying attention to the next bubble expected to burst: credit cards. You would never know it by watching those slick VISA card ads on the Olympic TV broadcasts.
Combined with the subprime losses, such a credit card nightmare has the potential, experts say, of bringing down the entire financial system and global economy.
Read it all:
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/94701/credit_card_debt%3A_this_popping_bubble_is_really_going_to_hurt/
**I was able to pay off credit cards last month. Got a loan with a fixed rate and a specific term to do it, but at least there is an end in sight with it. We put the cards away and sure hope they stay there! I was able to drop my monthly payments quite a bit as well, which sure helps the budget. I know it takes a lot of discipline but we are trying to go cash only -- if we don't have the cash we don't do it.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:14 amWell dang... tha wee trollie is gone...
August 12th, 2008 at 10:20 amAnd the beat goes on Says: **I was able to pay off credit cards last month. ... I know it takes a lot of discipline but we are trying to go cash only — if we don’t have the cash we don’t do it.
Congrats! I did the same a year ago, and have been living by the same principal. It's nice not to have that burden, but as prices go up while salaries go down, there always seem to be new burdens to replace the old ones.
If things don't change soon, I really will consider moving to a real Democracy... What's the point in living like this - a slave to greedy, bully corportions?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:22 amMy oh my.
Mr.P's minions of horrific spelling trolls are out early this morning.
Summer schooling done for the year?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:22 amDamn TP, you are good. Thanks for the vermin control.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:27 amthis is weird... anyone catch this?
from the googlenews page:
Video: CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report RussiaToday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVNblG9PJMk&eurl=http://news.google.com/
August 12th, 2008 at 10:27 amRussia Rocks Says:
Tweedster,
Like everyone here, I support Russia. They kicked neocon ass!
I wish Putin would be our president. He’s the man!
Don't speak for everyone here. It was W that gazed into his soul and believed him to be a good man. Nice try. What was your handle on here yesterday? OP1?
Boo.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:33 amThanks for the troll clean-up y'all...
August 12th, 2008 at 10:35 amPelosi open to vote on offshore drilling
CNN - 1 hour ago
(CNN) -- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reversed her opposition to a vote on offshore drilling on "Larry King Live" on Monday night, saying she would consider a vote if it were part of a larger energy package.
no surprise... but ON LARRY KING!?!?!?!!!!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:41 amshoeless at 10:11 am
So if the corporations pay zero taxes and get government subsidies also, isn't that negative taxes? Like the cons claim the low income people get with Earned Income Credit?
August 12th, 2008 at 10:42 amThe GAO Report is an important story that I hope isn't overlooked in this campaign.
Monday morning on C-Span, one of McCain's chief economic advisers argued that "the corporate tax rate is too high", and THAT is the reason U.S. companies are moving overseas. She says we "need to lower the corporate tax rate from 28% to 24%" to attract business back to the United States.
Well, if they are already paying ZERO in taxes, lowing the tax rate to 24% isn't going to do anything except reduce tax income for those few companies that ARE paying taxes while doing NOTHING to attract jobs and tax revenue to the United States.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:43 amMcCain/Lieberman...?
EXXON/ISRAEL 08!!
August 12th, 2008 at 10:51 amA new GAO report has found that “two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005.” The GAO “said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.”
Our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are in the toilet and the deficit is at a record high. So what is the Republicans' answer to our problems? Cut taxes. You can't make this s**t up.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 12th, 2008 at 10:57 amTheme might offer a clue to VP choice
It's national security on the night Obama's running mate will make an acceptance speech .
By Steven K. Paulson
Associated Press
August 12th, 2008 at 11:04 amDENVER - Looking for clues on Barack Obama's pick for a running mate? Consider the Democratic convention's theme for the night the vice presidential candidate speaks: national security.
[...]
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20080812_Theme_might_offer_a_clue_to_VP_choice.html
Addendum to my #73 above:
The GAO report reveals that corporations evade paying taxes by declaring themselves an "S-Corp" and file their profits under "personal income taxes".
McCain's surrogate on C-Span likewise attacked Obama's call to tax "small businesses that filed on their personal income taxes", once again implying Obama would tax EVERY small business this way instead of those making over a quarter million a year.
The fact Obama already recognized this loophole BEFORE the GAO report speaks volumes about his qualification to be President.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:06 am#68 katy Says:
this is weird… anyone catch this?
from the googlenews page:
Video: CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report RussiaToday
http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NVNblG9PJMk&eurl=http:/ / news.google.com/
Good Morning Katy :) Good to see you.
Weird, it was more like a big mistake because, (CNN use footage of Tskhinvali ruins to cover Georgian report)
In one of its news bulletins CNN has shown Russian tanks and ruined buildings which they claimed are in the Georgian town of Gori. Russian cameraman of the Russian TV channel, who did the footage in reality in South Ossetian city of Tskhinvali says CNN aired footage of Tskhinvali district close to former Russian peacekeepers headquarters, nearly all of them were killed by Georgians after the footage was made.
More of that unbiased reporting we have come expect from the MSM. CNN got caught using the wrong footage.... they did however show the devastation of what the Georgian Army had done.
August 12th, 2008 at 11:08 amMcCain/Lieberman
Hmmm, how about Methuselah/Droopy Dawg 1908
or maybe The Crypt Keeper/Max Wright 1908
For those who do not remember Max Wright:
August 12th, 2008 at 11:18 amhttp://www.amrep.org/images/headshots/wright.jpg
House of Roberts Says:
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shoeless at 10:11 am
So if the corporations pay zero taxes and get government subsidies also, isn’t that negative taxes?
Sure. Got a problem with that? What are you, some kinda commie or something?
August 12th, 2008 at 11:28 amIs it me or the comments are acting up today?
August 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pm