Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann who campaigned for his office on the slogan "Returning Trust to Ohio"
Friday morning admitted to a "romantic relationship" with a member of his staff, apologizing to his wife and staff "for my human failings."
Dann said he would remain in office and fix problems that arose during an internal investigation of sexual harassment allegations by two women who work in the attorney general's office. . . . "Yeah. It'll prob'ly be years before I'm done investigating myself!"
Asked why he won't resign, Dann replied: "Because I was elected by the people of Ohio. We're doing great legal work in this office ... there is nobody who has raised a single concern about the delivery of services from this office."
Eliot Spitzer similarly endorsed the quality of his own work. He resigned shortly after that, too ...
Dann's porking a subordinate affair with an employee may have violated his own office policy, but he said admitting to the affair was "adequate punishment in my mind." "I've suffered enough."
"I don't know what it (the policy) says," Dann said. "A consensual affair is not necessarily a violation of the sexual harassment policy in my office." "At least, not when I do it!"
The feminists remind us that sexual harrassment occurs when the power between the two people is unequal -- for example, an attorney general and a staffer. That the staffer 'consents' to the affair doesn't change the power relationship, and doesn't change the fact that it's harrassment.
Of course, it's easier to demonstrate this when the politican is a Republican. I guess we're going to have to play 'Name That Party!'
Before this investigation, Dann fired an agent in his office's bureau of criminal investigation for having an affair with a female subordinate. Dann said "the circumstances are different" "I'm the boss, and he's a mere peon. That makes all the difference in the world." "And I wanted her for myself. The bastid shoulda asked before movin' in like dat!"
and "the employee had done something long before (Dann took office) and it was not the first occurrence." That must be the "one free grope" rule in action.
A spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland said the governor was "very disappointed in the relationship" between Dann and the female staffer. . . .Dann's comments followed the release of a report of an investigation of the sexual harassment allegations and the firing of two top aides. Two others, including Dann's former scheduler, resigned.
Dann's relationship with his scheduler, Jessica Utovich, came under scrutiny after a co-worker complaining of sexual harassment by a Dann manager said she saw Utovich in pajamas in Dann's apartment last fall.
The two aides fired were: Anthony Gutierrez, the Dann manager accused of harassing two women who worked for him, and Leo Jennings III, Dann's communication director who the report says urged a colleague to lie to investigators. Ed Simpson, Dann's chief of policy and administration, resigned.
The report recommended that Guiterrez, who has been on paid leave during the investigation, be fired immediately for misusing his public position for creating a hostile work environment, in part by claiming he had ties to organized crime. "Not only did he abuse his authority but in the process he created an atmosphere in the General Services Section that left the employees fearful by constantly reminding them of his relationship with the Attorney General and his family's involvement with the Mafia," the report said. . . .
Dann would not say whether he planned to run for re-election in 2010. "I'm committed to doing this job the best that I can," said Dann. "I don't know what's going to happen."
Regarding his wife, Alyssa Lenhoff, a journalism professor at Youngstown State University, Dann said: "I'm very hopeful she will forgive me." She was not present at the press conference.
Fun trivia activity: guess Marc Dann's party affiliation. Just take a wild guess.
#2
And he's going to stay there and "fix the problems". Wow! Whatta guy!
So how we gonna fix these problems, Mr. Attorney General? You gonna have your dick super glued to your leg?
#6
Just like Billy Boy. Too much of the "peoples" work left undone. "Ima doin' a reeel good job". Let me alone. Can't I just eat my waffle in peace? These f**kups are so clueless it's truly pathetic.
#9
Not only did he abuse his authority but in the process he created an atmosphere in the General Services Section that left the employees fearful by constantly reminding them of his relationship with the Attorney General and his family's involvement with the Mafia," the report said. . . .
Damn. Musta missed that on the background check. Better fire somebody's ass...
Posted by: AG Marc Dann ||
05/02/2008 19:25 Comments ||
Top||
#10
reminds me of that shitty movie The OH in Ohio..
Posted by: Snash Oppressor of the Mohammatans aka Broadhead6 ||
05/02/2008 21:39 Comments ||
Top||
NEW YORK (AP) -- After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."
Appearing on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.
A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says.
#11
I remember Brooke's divorce up here in the 70's. It was nasty. Had a big part in him losing his senate seat to Paul Tsongas.
I wonder if Babs name ever came up? The timing was right.
#14
For self-centered fools and leftards it's a badge of Honor to fuck someone else's spouse:
These people brag about their faults and poor assed choices.. like If your opinions of Media Types weren't low enough to begin with....
Notice how they never brag about beating their kids or dogs. if they are caught it's that Demon Alcohol who made 'em do it! REHAB!
Barbara Walters never missed a opportunity to Fawn and Gush all over el Hefè himself, Castro.
In fact she's a good representative example of all the Castro Cult Worshipping Celebrity Rapporteurs.
Castro imprisoned and executed hundreds of thousands of Cubans in the last 45 years.. he played a significant part in that close call in the 60s when we almost had a Hot Nuke War with the Soviet Union and their satellite Cuba.
[Castro can arguably claim to be the longest winded Bore that Communism ever produced]
In September 2002, he was diagnosed with breast cancer and, since then, has assumed a national role in raising awareness of the disease among men.[3]
In 2004, Brooke was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom designed to recognize individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
He found a way to shut Babs up, at least for until he came.
The long-awaited results of Zimbabwe's presidential poll have been announced, with the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai winning 47.9%, forcing a second round.
Election officials say Mr Tsvangirai beat President Robert Mugabe's 43.2%, but neither candidate passed the 50% threshold for an outright win.
A spokesman for 84-year-old Mr Mugabe says he will stand in a run-off vote.
But Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the result was "scandalous daylight robbery".
Posted by: john frum ||
05/02/2008 16:49 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11129 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Apparently Mr Tsvangirai only won 75% of the vote, and Zimbob's goons could only change enough of them to force a runoff.
Bet Mugabe will win the runoff election, though.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
05/02/2008 19:13 Comments ||
Top||
The Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe is anchored off Luanda and shows no sign of returning to China, says the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). In a statement issued on Thursday, the ITF general secretary, David Cockroft, said the federation trusted that the vessel, the An Yue Jiang, was waiting only to refuel and "that no attempt will be made to land any of its cargo of arms."
Nobody honestly thought the Chinese would back down, did they?
The ITF said although there were 20 ships waiting to dock in Luanda ahead of the An Yue Jiang, "there is no guarantee that it will not be allowed in ahead of them, allowing it to arrive before or during tomorrow's national holiday in Angola."
The An Yue Jiang sailed for Angola 10 days ago after it was prevented from offloading its cargo, first in Durban, South Africa, and then in other ports on the east coast of Africa. In a news conference in Beijing on April 24, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said that "according to my knowledge, [the] relevant Chinese company has decided to ship back the cargo that [it] was due to deliver to Zimbabwe." The An Yue Jiang is operated by the state-owned China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO).
Cockcroft said that neither COSCO nor the Chinese government had given "any definitive promise" not to offload weapons in Angola. He added: "We can promise that the world will be watching what happens next."
The ITF said its Angolan affiliated, the Federacao dos Sindicatos dos Trabalhadores dos Transportes e Comunicacoes de Angola (FSTTCA), had declared on Thursday its members would refuse to unload any arms bound for Zimbabwe from the ship.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11128 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
hmmm possibly a "fire below decks, ship lost at sea" incident?
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/02/2008 0:32 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Aren't there pirates in those waters? Perhaps there should be....
Posted by: Ebbusolet Oppressor of the Wee Folk7609 ||
05/02/2008 0:34 Comments ||
Top||
#3
It'll be offloaded eventually, though Mugabe will have to pay extra for the Chinese 'effort'.
#4
The weapons will get through, but only to protect Chi-com interests, not Mugabe's. The debt is irrelavent by now, imaginary. Anyway, who is Bob going to have a hondo with that 'he' needs all this gear, unarmed civilians, disgruntled Zambians, a regrouped RLI?
#7
Trade Unionists Bad: won't unload Chinese ships in American ports.
Trade Unionists Good: won't unload a Chinese ship in Angolan ports.
So you take the good with the bad ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 10:36 Comments ||
Top||
#8
Let Pirates take the Ship, then sink it, a clear two-fer.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
05/02/2008 14:09 Comments ||
Top||
#9
"The Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe is anchored off Luanda"
Sitting target.
Since the Navy ceased using Pureto Rico teritory as a bombing/strafing range, seems to me that this is a good alternate choice. all those arms just 'might' 'splode.
Zimbabwe's electoral commission began consulting presidential candidates to check if their voting figures tally with those held by the commission. Commission chairman George Chiweshe said disagreements would be investigated until there was agreement. Regional observers and diplomats are at the verification process and many believe it could take some time.
Mr. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says it will present evidence intended to prove its candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote. The Election Commission has already said the MDC gained control of Zimbabwe's parliament.
Tsvangirai spokesman George Sibotshiwe said Wednesday in South Africa that the MDC believes only fraudulent results would deny Mr. Tsvangirai outright victory. He said if the government cannot accept the real results now, what is the guarantee the results of a run-off would be accepted.
Harare lawyer and electoral researcher Derek Matyszek says the delay in announcing the results of the presidential poll, had been choreographed between the Commission and ZANU-PF so the party could retain control of key institutions, such as the military, while it regroups.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/02/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11123 views]
Top|| File under:
Boris Johnson is preparing to be unveiled as the new mayor of London later today following Labours collapse across Britain in the local elections.
Senior Conservative sources said they would be gobsmacked if Mr Johnson did not win the mayoral contest and even Downing Street aides appear to have conceded that Ken Livingstone has lost. Confidence of a Tory win was boosted after one bookmaker announced it was paying out on a Boris Johnson victory hours before the official result is expected later this evening.
Paddy Power said the "mauling" Labour had received elsewhere in England and Wales suggested the Conservative candidate was on his way to City Hall.
Winning the London mayoral contest is expected to cap an historic electoral win for the Conservatives with David Camerons party on course for more than 44 per cent of the national vote. Labour is now expected to finish with as little as 24 per cent, humiliatingly pushed into third place by the Liberal Democrats on 25 per cent.
Labour has lost more than 300 council seats the worst result since the 1960s and the Conservatives are expecting to win between 230 and 240 extra councillors. This morning, Labour announced it had lost Reading, its last council in the south outside London, while the Conservatives won North Tyneside as the party continued to make inroads in the north and Wales. More at the link...
In the last 6 months the U.S. Coast Guard along with the U.S. Navy have found 42 submersibles headed north towards the United States and off the coast of Central America. That is double the number found in the previous 5 years combined. These subs can carry as much as 10 tons of drugs or even weapons and some of the latest models can move 15 knots. This is obviously troubling and makes our war on the cartels that much more difficult. We are currently at Coast Guard Island in Alameda California, where the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sherman is located. The ship has recently returned from operations off of Central America, where finding these subs is proving difficult. They are primitive but effective and built similar to the subs used in the civil war. Usually about 6 inches or so sticks above the water, which is almost impossible to spot. During the day the subs sit, preserving their cover for movement at night. Here is some great raw video provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Posted by: Mike ||
05/02/2008 15:20 Comments ||
Top||
#3
I'm not sure depth charges would be required. Have a Navy anti-sub helo dip its towed sonar near the sub and turn the power on the active sonar to 'high'.
I'll bet a dollar that the mooks in the sub 1) come to the surface 2) surrender and 3) never, ever do it again.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 15:26 Comments ||
Top||
#5
IRONY > a strong BORDER FENCE may induce dedicated Drug traders to resort to various types of advanced HI-SPEED transports as well as slower STEALTH/COVERT variants, i.e. SHOOT-AND-SCOOT = FIRE/DELIVER-AND-FORGET, and whose DRUG DELIVERY SYS-METHODS MAY BE MISTAKEN FOR MILITARY WEAPON SYSTEM = MIL/TERR ATTACK???
OTOH, a WEAK = NONEXISTENT FENCE > "Business as usual" ala present crime methods and related problems [e.g. illegal immigration]???
UNDERWORLD-MAFIAS > RULES ARE FOR COPS, SUCKERS, AND HONEST PEOPLE, NOT EVERYONE ELSE.
SUPPORT THE "DARK SIDE", D *** YOU, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!
#6
Actually, these are not true submersibles - only semi-submersible. The conning tower/snorkel is always out of the water, otherwise the crew drowns and/or smothers. And being built out of predominately fibreglass, a couple of rounds from a M2 .50 cal would do all sorts of nasty things to the ship and crew.
Too much here to excerpt, so just hit the link and read it all. Be sure to scroll down to get the full story.
Now, the big question is this: if the version going around today is doctored, who doctored it and who started spreading it around the Internet? Cui bono? Who benefits from a dirty trick against Hillary in the days just before the election, especially one that plays against the white, working-class voters? Hint: Does Hope and Change sound familiar?
It wont have come from any campaign or established organization, though. No one would be that foolish.
Posted by: Mike ||
05/02/2008 14:26 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11124 views]
Top|| File under:
The nations top Democrats are suddenly rushing to appear on the Fox News Channel, which they once had shunned as enemy territory as the nemesis of liberal bloggers.
The detente with Fox has provoked a backlash from progressive bloggers, who contend the partys leaders are turning their backs on the base and lending credibility and legitimacy to the network liberals love to hate in a quest for a few swing votes.
In a span of eight days, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY.) and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean are all taking their seats with the network that calls itself fair and balanced but is widely viewed as skewing conservative. . . .
Markos Moulitsas, founder of the leading liberal site Daily Kos, screamed at the top of his lungs and threw his toys around the room told Politicos Michael Calderone: "Democrats are being idiotic by going on that network.
Ari Melber, the Net movement correspondent for The Nation, told Politico by phone that progressive activists and the Netroots are not happy about it.
I dont think that it is tenable to completely neglect or ignore what your base wants, Melber said.
The Democratic leaders new openness to Fox reflects the liberal lefts diminishing power, at least at this point in the political cycle. Once feared by the Democratic candidates, these activists are now viewed at least in part as immature toddlersbatty old aunts in the attic an impediment to winning the broad swatch of support needed to clinch the nomination. . . .
Recognizing that Obamas appearance risked incurring blog wrath, a senior Obama adviser vowed to Greg Sargent of Talking Points Memo before the interview that the senator would take Fox on during the broadcast. But the interview turned out to be a civil give and take, with no pushback against Fox. Afterward, Sargent wrote that the pledge had turned out to be merely a bunch of tough talk.
This will likely further dismay liberal bloggers who had worked very hard to get Dems to be their codependent enablers boycott Fox as a way of delegitimizing the network and who already criticized Obama for agreeing to appear in the first place, Sargent wrote.
Posted by: Mike ||
05/02/2008 09:40 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11133 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Guess the dhimocrat candidates finally realized the loony left sites are poison to a campaign.
#3
It speaks volumes about the insanity of the left when they won't even think about the fact that people who oppose them might have reasons for doing so. No, it's all illegitimate and uncredible and not to be believed at all - don't even read it, you'll contaminate yourself with dangerous ideas. Best just mock it from a distance. Makes me sick.
May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies could cost $15 billion a year at last year's profit levels, a campaign adviser said. The plan would target profit from the biggest oil companies by taxing each barrel of oil costing more than $80, according to a fact sheet on the proposal. The tax would help pay for a $1,000 tax cut for working families, an expansion of the earned- income tax credit and assistance for people who can't afford their energy bills.
``The profits right now are so remarkable that one could trim them 10 percent or so, which would turn out to be somewhere in the $15 billion range,'' said Jason Grumet, an adviser to the Obama campaign.
Thus ensuring that oil companies won't bother with any big risks in exploration for the coming years ...
Obama's plan may be three times larger than the $50 billion, 10-year plan contemplated by his Democratic rival, New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Republican candidate John McCain, an Arizona senator, has no plan to raise oil and gas industry taxes, said his economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin.
Oil companies would still have ample reason to ``continue to pursue production, while at the same time providing relief to consumers,'' Grumet said. Among the options Illinois Senator Obama is mulling is imposing a 20 percent tax on the cost of a barrel of oil above $80, said Grumet, who spoke at a conference in Washington today.
``The industry has profited greatly -- over $150 billion in 2007 -- due to global instability fueled by conflict in Iraq, failing domestic fiscal policies that have weakened the U.S. dollar and skyrocketing global demand resulting from a lack of investment in alternatives,'' said the Obama fact sheet.
The Saoodis have benefitted more. Any chance 'Bamer wants to take away their profits?
Energy companies argue that new taxes will discourage production at a time when supply is needed most.
Clinton would impose a $20 billion windfall profits tax on oil companies over the next decade and repeal $30 billion in tax breaks over 10 years to pay into a so-called strategic energy fund, said Brian Deese, Clinton's economic policy director.
Which she gets to direct. All that money ...
Clinton has proposed a gas-tax holiday for the summer paid for by about $9 billion in windfall profits taxes on oil companies. She would repeal an 18.4 cent per-gallon tax on gasoline and a 24.4 cent per-gallon tax on diesel fuel. Obama opposes the idea, saying it will provide minimal relief to consumers.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11131 views]
Top|| File under:
#5
As if they wouldn't send that expense on to the consumer?
I want oil prices down as much as anyone, I live in a rural area and drive 45 miles each way to work, but this isn't going to drive prices down. I may even make it go up. There may very well be some intelligent regulation that can rectify the market, but this isn't it.
#7
Kick open ANWR and the coasts off-shelf to exploration and exploitation (by OUR OWN companies not some Dictator's) and go Nuclear in a big way - that is what will most likely bring down oil prices. Eventually.
#11
The tax would help pay for a $1,000 tax cut for working families
What a concept skim profits from selective industries to pay for populist government ploys. These truly are historic times. Perhaps this ruse should be called the PT Barnum /Charles Ponzi Economic Relief Plan of 2009. Not to mention, the ghost of Karl Marx must feel complete vindication knowing that both leading US Democrat presidential candidates are proposing sweeping economic dirigism.
Of course, theres always the chance that people will make the distinction between record profits and you know profit margins. You see, its actually the margin of profit that would indicate consumer exploitation. Evil Big Oil posted profit margins around 9.5%. (Thats about a dime profit on every dollar of revenue.) However, Standard and Poors lists the average, of all industry, around 8.5%. Both percentages are well below Fortune 500 companies. For instance, Microsoft once posted its margin over 25%. Look out Big Computer Software. Can the notion of Green-Tech jobs be that far over the horizon?
A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton switched his allegiance to Barack Obama on Thursday and urged fellow Democrats to end the bruising nomination fight. "This has got to come to an end," former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew told reporters in his hometown of Indianapolis just days before Tuesday's crucial state primary. He said he planned to call all the other superdelegates he knows and encourage them to back Obama.
Bill Clinton appointed Andrew chairman of the DNC in 1999, and he led the party through the disputed 2000 presidential race before stepping down in 2001. Andrew endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton last year on the day she declared her candidacy for the White House.
In a lengthy letter explaining his decision, Andrew said he is switching his support because "a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain."
Posted by: Fred ||
05/02/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11125 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Joe was always a little slow to the party. Notice how few endorsements the Messiah's gotten in the last week? Political hacks unsure which way the wind is blowing. Gotta like the waffling
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/02/2008 8:23 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Right, Frank - they're all hoping for a big 'statement' next Tuesday.
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/02/2008 12:06 Comments ||
Top||
#3
They got parks in Indianapolis, Joe?
Well stay outta them. Especially at night.
Three European countries are mounting a campaign for two available seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council, even as the prestige of the Geneva-based body reaches a new low. France, Britain, and Spain are lobbying the 192 U.N. member states, seeking to gain support for their claim to two available slots among the seven that are reserved for Western countries on the 47-member council. America has declined to run for membership on the council, which in the two years since its inception has faulted only Israel for human rights violations.
The council committee in charge of organizing a follow-up to a 2001 conference on racism, known as Durban II, suffered a new setback this week when African countries reportedly decided not to host the parley. The first indication that South Africa would not host the conference which is named for Durban, the South African city that was home to the first parley emerged two weeks ago, when President Mbeki said "no decision" had been made on the conference's venue. Diplomats now are saying that next year's conference is likely to take place in Vienna or Bangkok.
In an indication that Durban II would see a repeat of the anti-Semitic overtones that plagued the first conference, the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy this week withdrew its application to the organizing committee for credentials as a nongovernmental organization. One member of the committee, Iran, set up a series of obstacles to the Canadian NGO's application "for no apparent reason other than the inclusion in its name of the words Jewish and Israel," the executive director of U.N. Watch, Hillel Neuer, said.
Canada has already said it will skip Durban II, and Israel and America are expected to follow suit. But the European Union has yet to decide on participation, the French ambassador for human rights, François Zimeray, told reporters yesterday in New York, where he was visiting to lobby for a seat on the Human Rights Council. A British Foreign Office minister and former deputy U.N. secretary-general, Mark Malloch Brown, recently visited several countries, including China, and lobbied U.N. member states in New York in an attempt to gain one of the two council seats.
The "Western European and Others" council bloc includes America, Canada, Australia, and Israel. Spain has mounted a similar campaign, as has France. "France and human rights is an old couple," Mr. Zimeray said yesterday. Mr. Zimeray described the first Durban conference as a "laboratory of hatred" and said it would have become the most significant event in international "political life" had it not been immediately followed by the attacks of September 11, 2001. Durban II risks the same fate, he said, and he acknowledged that the Human Rights Council "is not perfect." Asked why France should lend its prestige to a body that he said has an "obsession" with Israel, Mr. Zimeray said that if Western countries withdrew from the Human Rights Council and established a separate rights panel, they would create a situation like that in ancient Greece, where democracy was reserved for Athenians only.
Oklahoma Set to Plant First-Ever 1,000 Acre Switchgrass Field
ARDMORE, Okla., April 24....secured land for the world's largest stand of switchgrass devoted to cellulosic ethanol production....Oklahoma advances switchgrass,.. The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center (OBC)... planting of more than 1,100 acres of production-scale demonstration fields for cellulosic energy crops...Planting will take place within the next 45 days.
-- Planting will be in the OK panhandle. The panhandle gets about 20" of precip a year. Its not enough for corn and only some inferior wheat varieties could grow there (and since precip is variable, a lot of years are too dry to grow even that). The biorefinery will be only 40 miles away from the fields. Probably it will take a few years to get this working decently but its a step in the right direction.
#1
I'm surprised that nobody is planting tumbleweed, as it has one of the highest and fastest water to cellulose ratios around. It also grows in very marginal soil.
Come to think of it, I wonder if kudzu would work as well?
#2
Use kudzu to make ethanol and I'd be able to drive through the South whilst thinking I'm in Kansas ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 15:27 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Now what happens to all this biomass that is consumed as fuel. Does it return to the ecosystem somehow? I imagine switchgrass and corn will get consumed and "returned" as "fertilizer". I kind of get the idea that this may be unsustainable.
#5
I believe switchgrass is a native species, Nimble Spemble. It will provide habitat to lots of animals and birds until harvested each year, so that that isn't a bad thing.
US President George W Bush has announced fresh sanctions against the military regime in Burma. He said he had ordered the US Treasury to freeze the assets of state-owned firms in Burma "that are major sources of funds that prop up the junta".
Last October, Mr Bush asked the treasury to freeze the financial assets of members of the military regime. The move followed a violent suppression of anti-government protests in Burma (Myanmar) led by Buddhist monks. The US has already imposed substantial trade, investment and diplomatic sanctions on the regime, freezing assets and imposing visa bans on senior generals and their families.
In Washington, Mr Bush said his executive order targeted "companies in industries such as gems and timber that exploit the labour of the downtrodden Burmese people but enrich only the generals".
"I'm sending yet another clear message that we expect there to be change, that we expect these generals to honour the will of the people," he said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/02/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11125 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Compare wid WAFF.com threads > YOUTUBE VIDEO - ARAB AND US CIA TERROR IN TURKEY, IRAQ, MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL ASIA, AND AFGHANISTAN; + CIA PLAN TO DESTABILIZE AND BALKANIZE[split up] CHINA.
Thousands of chanting, flag-waving immigrants and activists rallied in cities across the country Thursday, attempting to reinvigorate calls for immigration reform in a presidential election year in which the economy has taken center stage. Sorry, when it is hard to put food on our own tables you really take back seat.
From Washington to Miami to Los Angeles, immigrant rights activists demanded citizenship opportunities for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. and an end to raids and deportations.
"We come here to fight for legalization. We're people. We have rights," said Eric Molina, an undocumented factory worker who immigrated to Zion, Ill., from Mexico. You don't have rights unless you are a citizen or are allowed (see Visa) to come in. Otherwise you are a criminal. Deal with it. Mexican law ain't no different.
Molina, his sister and his 13-year-old daughter Erika, a U.S. citizen, were among about 15,000 people who rallied in Chicago in one of the largest demonstrations of the day.
Turnout has fallen sharply since the first nationwide rallies in 2006, when more than 1 million people - at least 400,000 in Chicago alone - clogged streets and brought downtown traffic to a standstill. Activists say this year's efforts are focused less on protests and more on voter registration and setting an agenda for the next president. Bullshit. Your "supporters" are in the unemployment line and you can't pay illegals to come since they are heading home.
Illegals also are likely to be working and can't take time off.
Some said participation likely was lower because many immigrants increasingly fear deportation. Margot Veranes, a volunteer organizer in Tucson, Ariz., - where 12,000 took to the streets last year but early estimates Thursday put the crowd at about 500 - blamed the turnout on aggressive enforcement by Border Patrol and police. And the fact the job market sucks.
"People have been stopped and deported in the last week. This is a community living in fear," said Veranes, a researcher for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. "You never know when you're going to be stopped by Border Patrol and now the police." Then go home.
But she said that's also why people were marching. "We're marching to end the raids and the deportations, but we're also marching for health care and education and good jobs," she said. Ah, feeding off the government teat. How... liberal.
In Washington, immigrant rights groups and social justice organizations were demanding that Prince William County, in northern Virginia, rescind its anti-illegal immigration measure. They also called for an end to raids and deportations and for establishment of worker centers in Washington, Maryland and Virginia.
Activists also asked the Republican and Democratic national committees to have their presidential candidates enact immigration reform. Good luck. We've been asking the same thing for years. Oh wait, you want amnisty...
A crowd of about 1,000 gathered on the steps of the Oregon Capitol in Salem to call for changes in immigration and workplace laws within the first 100 days of the next congressional session. Many demanded that Oregon reverse a decision, imposed by the Legislature in February, to require proof of legal residence to get a driver's license.
Hugo Orozzo, 17-year-old high school senior, was among hundreds who marched through the streets of southwest Detroit. He was born in the U.S., but his father was born in Mexico and some other family members are originally from Mexico. "It is going to help my family and friends," Orozzo said of the effort. He carried a preprinted sign that read: "Stop raids and deportations that separate families!" in both English and Spanish. Stop breaking our laws. End the child anchor amendment.
And in Milwaukee, factory worker Miguel Tesillos, 29, was among hundreds who lined sidewalks waiting for the march to begin. "Our people, we pay taxes, we pay the same as a citizen," said Tesillos, who has a Green Card. "Maybe the new president can see this point, and do something for us." Green card holders are guests, not citizens. You want to be the same as a citizen? Naturalize.
But activists say they know it will be a challenge to push their issues to the political forefront.
Immigration reform did not resonate with voters in primary elections who overwhelmingly listed the economy as their top concern. Immigration legislation has stalled and been defeated in the Senate, and presidential candidates have not extensively addressed the issues.
Democratic presidential rivals Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton supported a 2006 bill, sponsored by Republican candidate John McCain, that offered illegal immigrants legal status on conditions such as learning English. All three also have supported a border fence. And yet it is unbuilt...
In Chicago, 17-year-old Celeste Rodarte marched with a group of her friends from the city's West Side. She said her parents came to the United States more than 20 years ago and became citizens last year. "I know a lot of people who don't have papers and I want to help them out," Rodarte said.
Seventh-grader Vicente Campos of Milwaukee was granted an excused absence from school to attend the march. He said he was concerned by stories of immigration officials separating parents and children. "Immigrants come here to support their families in Mexico," said Campos, 13. "They're not all here to do crimes." Guess what? If they are here illegally, they are criminals. End of fucking story.
#2
and the a-holes up here in WA decided to enhance their cause by going on a rampage in downtown Olympia and smash windows. then when the cops pulled out their pepper-ball firing guns, they (the illegals)and their liberal whining babysitters started crying about brutality. boo-hoo.
Article 33. Foreigners are those who do not possess the qualifications set forth in Article 30. They are entitled to the guarantees granted by Chapter I, Title I, of the present Constitution; but the Federal Executive shall have the exclusive power to compel any foreigner whose remaining he may deem inexpedient to abandon the national territory immediately and without the necessity of previous legal action.
Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country.
One set of rules for me another set of rules for thee - liberalism.
#4
P2K, I wish we treated these bastards the same way the Mexes treat illegals. The ones who survived the first attempt wouldn't try again. And we've GOT to end the damned anchor baby nonsense. If both parents aren't fully legal, neither is the kid. Just because your cat has kittens in the oven doesn't make them biscuits.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
05/02/2008 17:39 Comments ||
Top||
Northwestern University has withdrawn its offer of an honorary degree to the former pastor of Democrat Barack Obama. A university official says the school had offered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology.
But vice president for university relations Alan Cubbage now says the offer has been rescinded because of the controversy surrounding Wright. He also says the school wants "to ensure that the celebratory character of commencement not be affected."
Wright is the former senior minister at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. His criticisms of the United States have drawn criticism to Obama's presidential campaign.
A phone call to Wright's beautiful palatial home wasn't answered.
#5
Amazing coincidence with the views of the Obamessiah. It is almost as if Wright has never earned his plaudits or his opprobrium. As if he is just a puppet in some kind of leftist psychodrama.
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.
Dann said he would remain in office and fix problems that arose during an internal investigation of sexual harassment allegations by two women who work in the attorney general's office. . . .
Dann's comments followed the release of a report of an investigation of the sexual harassment allegations and the firing of two top aides. Two others, including Dann's former scheduler, resigned.
The report recommended that Guiterrez, who has been on paid leave during the investigation, be fired immediately for misusing his public position for creating a hostile work environment, in part by claiming he had ties to organized crime. "Not only did he abuse his authority but in the process he created an atmosphere in the General Services Section that left the employees fearful by constantly reminding them of his relationship with the Attorney General and his family's involvement with the Mafia," the report said. . . .
NEW YORK (AP) -- After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as "exciting" and "brilliant."
The Chinese ship carrying weapons for Zimbabwe is anchored off Luanda and shows no sign of returning to China, says the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). In a statement issued on Thursday, the ITF general secretary, David Cockroft, said the federation trusted that the vessel, the An Yue Jiang, was waiting only to refuel and "that no attempt will be made to land any of its cargo of arms."
Markos Moulitsas, founder of the leading liberal site Daily Kos, 
May 1 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies could cost $15 billion a year at last year's profit levels, a campaign adviser said. The plan would target profit from the biggest oil companies by taxing each barrel of oil costing more than $80, according to a fact sheet on the proposal. The tax would help pay for a $1,000 tax cut for working families, an expansion of the earned- income tax credit and assistance for people who can't afford their energy bills.
A leader of the Democratic Party under Bill Clinton switched his allegiance to Barack Obama on Thursday and urged fellow Democrats to end the bruising nomination fight. "This has got to come to an end," former Democratic National Committee Chairman Joe Andrew told reporters in his hometown of Indianapolis just days before Tuesday's crucial state primary. He said he planned to call all the other superdelegates he knows and encourage them to back Obama.
Three European countries are mounting a campaign for two available seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council, even as the prestige of the Geneva-based body reaches a new low. France, Britain, and Spain are lobbying the 192 U.N. member states, seeking to gain support for their claim to two available slots among the seven that are reserved for Western countries on the 47-member council. America has declined to run for membership on the council, which in the two years since its inception has faulted only Israel for human rights violations.
Thousands of chanting, flag-waving immigrants and activists rallied in cities across the country Thursday, attempting to reinvigorate calls for immigration reform in a presidential election year in which the economy has taken center stage.
Northwestern University has withdrawn its offer of an honorary degree to the former pastor of Democrat Barack Obama. A university official says the school had offered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology.
