Voilà! Problem solved!
Cuba has signed two legally binding human rights agreements at the UN in New York, just days after Raul Castro was sworn in as the new president. The covenants - part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - commit Cuba to freedom of expression and association, and the right to travel.
Silly me, I thought the Cuban Constitution guaranteed all this and puppies.
Correspondents detect a possible signal of a shift in human rights policy. Critics of the Castro government have called on it to make good on the agreements by freeing dissidents.
Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque, who signed the agreements, rejected suggestions of any link to the recent change in power, insisting they merely "formalised" rights enjoyed by Cuban citizens since the 1959 revolution.
Last December, Mr Roque announced his country's intention to sign up to the two agreements, saying Cuba would allow scrutiny by the recently established UN Human Rights Council in 2009. One is a covenant on civil and political rights, and the other concerns social, economic and cultural rights.
Previously, Cuba had resisted scrutiny by the UN Human Rights Commission - the predecessor of the Human Rights Council - accusing it of pro-US bias.
It is believed that at least 200 political prisoners are currently being held in Cuba.
Carlos Lauria of the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York called on Cuba to follow up its signing of the covenants and "immediately and unconditionally release the 22 independent journalists currently imprisoned for their work". "The failure to do so would render its adoption of this important treaty [the UN Bill of Human Rights] meaningless," he added.
Cuban trade unionist Pedro Alvarez and three other Cuban political prisoners were released on health grounds earlier this month, and flown to Spain. The 60-year-old said that the Cuban authorities had given him the choice to remain in prison or go into exile.
#2
You have the right to a secret police interrogation.
You have the right to a kangaroo court.
You have the right to a summary execution.
You have the right to a $20/month wage.
You have the right to flee to Miami on an inner tube.
You have the right to free health care.
Posted by: ed ||
02/29/2008 17:18 Comments ||
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(Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush reviled on Thursday Cuba's new President Raul Castro as a "tyrant," and refused to have dialogue with him. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Bush reiterated U.S. allegation that Cuba is "suppressing human rights." He described Raul Castro as "nothing more than the extension of what his brother (Fidel Castro) did, which was to ruin an island and imprison people because of their beliefs."
"Sitting down at the table, having your picture taken with a tyrant such as Raul Castro, for example, lends the status of the office and the status of our country to him," Bush said.
Raul Castro, 76, was named by Cuba's parliament as president of the country to replace his ailing brother Fidel Castro after the latter announced on Feb. 19 that he would retire as Cuba's leader, after nearly 50 years in power. Fidel Castro, 81 pledged to continue communicating his thoughts to the Cuban people through media articles. Washington has imposed restrictive measures on trade with Cuba since 1962. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said last week the decades-old U.S. embargo on Cuba will remain in place despite Cuban leader Fidel Castro's resignation.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/29/2008 00:00 ||
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Posted by: Fred ||
02/29/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
They may do it at the national level, but it won't matter. China is becoming a confederacy of its provinces, each of whom are increasingly blowing off national government mandates and doing what they want.
And one of their biggest tools for provincial control has become the one-child policy. It is carte blanche to mess with disliked batches of people in group punishment.
Jim Geraghty, "The Campaign Spot" @ National Review
Highlights from the Clinton campaigns conference call with Chief Strategist, Mark Penn, and Communications Director, Howard Wolfson:
. . .
Wolfson: "They are pouring resources into Ohio and Texas, they know how important these states are. If they are unable to win, it sends a clear signal that Democrats want this campaign to continue, and that there is some concern and disatisfaction with Senator Obama.... Obama has every advantage heading into Texas and Ohio... if he cannot win all four states, it may indicate what some have called 'buyer's remorse.'" Note the crafty spin-down of expectations: Obama now "has" to win all four states or he's underperforming.
"I frankly have found the Obama campaign's responses to this less than definitive. Has Austan Goolsbee had any contact with anyone in the Canadian government, in the Canadian emabssy, or tried to send a message to individuals there to indicate that Senator Obama's criticism of NAFTA was not sincere? It's a simple question."
"If the Canadian reporting is true, it is a major development in this campaign. He is saying one thing and doing another." Implicit in this is a total repudiation by Hillary Clinton of the NAFTA treaty negotiated by Bill Clinton.
Posted by: Mike ||
02/29/2008 14:11 ||
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#1
This is like picking a winner in a scorpion fight...
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader named Matt Gonzalez, a former San Francisco Board of Supervisors president and 2003 mayoral contender, as his running mate today.
The consumer activist introduced Gonzalez as his vice-presidential candidate at a news conference in Washington, D.C. "I have no illusions about what's happening here today," Gonzalez said at the news conference at the National Press Club, referring to the long-shot nature of their independent candidacy. But he added, "I've never entered a political contest with the idea that it couldn't be won."
He also said he also believed he had moved debates leftward in previous runs for office, including his 2003 mayoral campaign.
Nader said he got to know Gonzalez during a 2005 anti-Iraq war campaign in which they traveled up and down California. Gonzalez, an attorney, also worked on ballot access issues for Nader's 2004 presidential bid, when the candidate was listed in just 34 states. "He has a great, steadfast commitment to justice," Nader told The Chronicle after the press conference. "He's shown it in his work on the Board of Supervisors, he's shown it in his work on criminal justice issues, electoral reform and his work in urban politics and problems."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/29/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Many Democrats have not forgiven Nader for his 2000 campaign, which many party members believe was responsible for handing the election to George Bush.
Dontcha just love that obligatory line in every article about Ralphy boy.
Dont they realize that the Bush-Cheney Campaign (aka. Karl the Brains Rove) conspired with US Attorney General John Ashcroft, FL Governor Jeb Bush, FL Secretary of State Katherine Harris, Rep. John Sweeney, Rep. Steve Buyer, Rep. Tillie Fowler, Michael Higgins, Rob Carter, Clay Roberts, Bucky Mitchell, Andrew Goodman, J.M. Stipanovich, Donald Tighe, John Ellis, GE CEO Jack Welch, NBC News President Andrew Lack, the entire Florida Republican Party, all the County Election Officials from Okaloosa; Palm Beach; Escambia; Orange; Bay; Palm; Duval; Miami/Dade; Osceola; Beach; and Broward counties, the corporate media of FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS, the FL Supreme Court, the Federal Election committee, the US Internal Revenue Service, the US Department of Justice, as well as the US Supreme Court to pull off the now infamous Florida Optiscan Butterfly-Ballot Conspiracy of 2000?
#3
"I have no illusions about what's happening here today," Gonzalez said at the news conference at the National Press Club, referring to the long-shot nature of their independent candidacy. But he added, "I've never entered a political contest with the idea that it couldn't be won."
And, yet, you tell us you have no illusions.
Yeah, looks like Ralphie's really serious this time. At least up until those matching federal funds are in the bank...
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton offered a plan to improve childhood nutrition and set a goal to reduce by half the 12 million youngsters living in poverty over the next dozen years.
Sounds like a plan to give at least six million people money. Pretty good sized vote purchase.
The package of proposals includes a "comprehensive" early education initiative that starts with nurse's visits for pregnant women, lets children begin the Head Start program earlier and calls for universal pre-kindergarten programs.
Ahah. The cookies and milk from the Head Start and pre-K programs will improve their nutrition, whilst being in Head Start and pre-K will occupy their time and attention span, though not do particularly much to educate the little darlings because their minds aren't up to it at that age.
The New York senator also says she would deal with childhood hunger by putting in place a food safety net, and give children "greater access to healthy, fresh food."
What the hell is a "food safety net"? What're food stamps supposed to buy? And which children, particularly where, are cut off from access to healthy, fresh food? Maybe in Nome, in the middle of winter, but every place I've ever been has had a grocery store within some sort of reasonable distance, and grocery stores are notable for providing healthy, fresh food. And if that doesn't work, go to McDonald's and have a salad. We don't need a multibillion dollar bureaucracy scheduling children appointments with grocers, though I'll admit that the government could go back to handing out surplus cheese, powdered milk, butter, and other staples, which'd be healthier than buying Doritos with the food stamps -- but really, it's not my business if you do.
She spelled out her proposals in a speech Thursday at the child care development center on Ohio University's southern campus, and toured a Head Start program serving economically challenged southern Ohio. It was part of her effort to focus the Democratic campaign on bedrock economic issues. "You should have a president again who actually gets up thinking about you every day," Clinton told about 200 people at the event. "I have spent a lifetime working to help children, which is my first passion. If our children get off to a good start so much of the other stuff is taken care of."
Posted by: Fred ||
02/29/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
Someone leaked the details, nothing available on the girls yet:
Kameradschaft was the smallest unit with 10 to 15 boys. Schar consisted of 3 Kameradschaften totaling 50-60. Gefolgschaft consisted of 3 Scharen totaling 150-190. Each Gefolgschaft, roughly the size of a military company, had its own flag and was the primary unit each Hitler Youth boy identified himself with.
Unterbann consisted of 4 Gefolgschaften totaling 600-800. There were 223 Banne with each Bann consisting of 5 Unterbanne totaling about 3,000.
An Oberbann consisted of 5 Banne totaling 15,000. The 223 Banne were divided into 42 Gebiete with each Gebiet totaling about 75,000.
The 42 Gebeite were divided into 6 Obergebiete with each Obergebiete totaling about 375,000 boys.
#3
And how does the good Senator propose she will pay for this you may ask?
"Clinton aides said the new programs would carry an annual price-tag of $5 billion to $6 billion. A significant portion of her plan comes by expanding existing programs. She would cover the cost by toughening tax enforcement to collect money currently owed but not paid."
Yes folks, its the latest Progressive version of the ole Blood out of a Turnip scheme. Its based on estimates, projections, and all that technical stuff that peons like us cant really comprehend. Never mind that tax experts have determined that the added bureaucracy alone required to accomplish this would eventually make this a wash. But thats really never the issue with these proposals is it? Just get it started and when the revenue dries up we will find other ways to pay for it. After all, its a Safety net for the children for Gods sake. Ask yourself, if there was any unused tax money out there to spend, dont you think the Democrats would have already found a way to get their mitts on it?
#5
The Specter of Poverty in America
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
By Robert Rector
...But to really understand poverty in America, it's important to look behind these numbers â to the actual living conditions of the individuals the government deems poor.
For most Americans, the word "poverty" suggests destitution: an inability to provide a family with nutritious food, clothing and reasonable shelter. But only a small number of the million persons classified as "poor" by the Census Bureau fit that description. Real material hardship certainly does occur, but it's limited in scope and severity. Most of America's "poor" live in material conditions that would be judged as comfortable or well-off just a few generations ago.
The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:
â Forty-six percent of all poor households own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and porch or patio.
â Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
â Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
â The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other European cities. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)
â Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.
â Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions.
â Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.
â Seventy-three percent own a microwave oven, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.
Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family isn't hungry, and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, activists and politicians.
Even better news is that remaining poverty can readily be reduced, especially among children. Child poverty in the U.S. is caused largely by low levels of parental work and by the absence of fathers from the home. While work and two-parent families are the surest ladders out of poverty, the welfare system continues to reward idleness while failing to provide support to keep families in tact.
To further reduce poverty, welfare should be overhauled: All able-bodied welfare recipients should be required to work or prepare for work in exchange for the aid they receive. Also, new parents in low-income communities who express interest in marriage (and research tells us there are many) should be equipped with the skills they need to create a healthy marriage, rather than be penalized when they do get married.
Poverty is the three card monty game of politics. They show you the images of classical poverty, but use the numbers of statistical poverty. If anyone else played that game it would be seen clearly as fraud. And of course, it is. Classical poverty will remain as long as there is human free will. The bulk of classical poverty in America can be summarized into four categories each of which people in the exact same economic, class, color, gender, or race are able to escape by 'choosing' other behaviors - substance abuse, creating families before attaining the skills to sustain them, blowing off one's education, and keeping to the "old ways".
#6
Probably make it a vegetarian program to 'preserve the rights of the animals'. It worked so well for Germany.
You want people to have more, cut taxes. I see how government spends money, I am sure people are more efficient with their own money rather than woodstock and prison museum programs, levies to pay for sports arenas and so on; nobody spends my money as well as I do. Damned communists and socialists, both hillarity and cheery-O
#9
As I've said before, as long as the guvmint pays for it and I don't have to, I'm all for it. If they run into problems, they can just print more money.
#10
The package of proposals includes a "comprehensive" early education initiative that starts with nurse's visits for pregnant women
Sounds like a scheme to allow children to vote, before they're even born yet.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/29/2008 13:12 Comments ||
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#11
The package of proposals includes a "comprehensive" early education initiative that starts with nurse's visits for pregnant women
Sounds like a scheme to allow children to vote, before they're even born yet.
Let's see now, what is your child's name going to be? Sign here. OK Now (S)he's a registered Democrat.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/29/2008 13:22 Comments ||
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#12
The package of proposals includes a "comprehensive" early education initiative that starts with nurse's visits for pregnant women
Sounds like a scheme to allow children to vote, before they're even born yet.
Let's see now, what is your child's name going to be? Sign here. OK Now (S)he's a registered Democrat. and you're now eligible for these benefits.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/29/2008 13:27 Comments ||
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#13
The package of proposals includes a "comprehensive" early education initiative that starts with nurse's visits for pregnant women
Sounds like a scheme to allow children to vote, before they're even born yet.
Let's see now, what is your child's name going to be? Sign here. OK Now (S)he's a registered Democrat. and you're now eligible for these benefits.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/29/2008 13:32 Comments ||
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#14
Mods, I don't have a clue, it refused to post, and I just waited it out, now multiple posts, let's see if this one multiplies as well.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
02/29/2008 13:50 Comments ||
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#15
Here, Hillary, take all my money. I'm sure you know what to do with it better than I do. /sarcasm
It's the Great Society all over again. She reminds me over and over again of old LBJ. Obama needs to think about that when he's selecting a running mate.
#17
"Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton offered a plan to improve childhood nutrition and set a goal to reduce by half the 12 million youngsters living in poverty over the next dozen years."
What with the declining birth rate and the fact that children do, in fact, grow up, this might just happen all by itself w/out any /sarc/ 'help'/sarcoff/ by Da'Beast.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader named Matt Gonzalez, a former San Francisco Board of Supervisors president and 2003 mayoral contender, as his running mate today.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton offered a plan to improve childhood nutrition and set a goal to reduce by half the 12 million youngsters living in poverty over the next dozen years.
