Friday, April 16, 2010

The difference between Republican and Democratic activism is that Republicans never use this as a symbol.

"Beyond the law there is no freedom."

Poor ole Beck wants to take the next year to work with the CATO Institute boys to figure out how to run the country. Wow. Can get that from most Republicans.

Here are a few books for you to bone up on so you can run the country by Monday.

South Park’s satire on Beck and Rush Limbaugh last evening was spot on. It perfectly characterized the ultra conservatives that draw outrageous conclusions from nothing, blame everything on Obama, believe the country is falling into Communism and have enormous influence on those who possess no rational logic. 

http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/weekendwatchers/?p=3872



 Global Tax Revolution: The Rise of Tax Competition and the Battle to Defend It

https://store.cato.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&method=cats&scid=47&pid=1441407


Offers compelling analysis of key trends that are significantly shaping the future of free trade and international commerce and explores the spread of protectionist reactions to globalization, the swiftly rising market power of China and Asia.
https://store.cato.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&method=cats&scid=33&pid=1441406


Here are some of your favorite words for inspiration, honey.

Russia, Russia, Russia.  

Bolshevik.  Bolshevik.  Bolshevik.  

Marxist.  Marxist.  Marxist.


Communist.  Communist.  Communist.


Socialist.  Socialist.  Socialist.


Now, you go get em'.


You know, Beck, you might find out that a legal degree and being President of the Harvard Law Review might help, too.

Good job, Chad. I like the insight about Italy. Not bad at all.

Dissipation is related to 'CONCENTRATION.'  Kindly remember that.  The more concentrated the 'particulate matter' the less dissipated the air will be.  The concentration in the Northern Hemisphere is related to the continuation of the volcanic ash being delivered into the troposphere.  I would not take it lightly when making those calls.

The problem the Tea Party refuses to recognize is that they lack expertise on their complaints.

These folks are about PERSONAL AMBITION.  Sarah Palin is a perfect example of it.  It has nothing to do with understanding the issues facing the USA.  

They are a bunch of angry noise maker and nothing more.  Their 'grassroots' movement was spawned by people wanting to make money and a news agency that wanted to control the political theater of the USA for a variety of reasons.  The people were angry for their own reasons and it all 'came together' rather than having 'grown' out of a reason for their purpose and expertise to back it up.  It is corruption.  The Murdoch empire and the Tea Baggers have a mutalistic relationship.  It is not an ideal relationship, but, it makes them all money.  No different than their relationship with a failing RNC.  It is not a relationship made in heaven, but, if it gets them what they want, no matter the damage to the country, it is viewed as a desirable pursuit.  It is pure unadulterated corruption.  Successful political parties in the USA don't 'spring up' they 'grow.' 

The problem with the RNC is that their political platform is antiquated and simply "W"rong.  Example:  "They don't BELIEVE in the Climate Crisis."  It isn't about BELIEVING anything.  It is about reading and understanding the scientists and their reporting that lead to issues that impact the USA, its future and its economy.  The RNC has become irrelevant in protecting the USA from corrupt corporate financial institutions and its economy.  The Climate Crisis is huge in relation to the problems it reeks with the economies of the USA and allies, but, the RNC simply doesn't believe in it.  That isn't realistic.  It is a threat to the National Security of the USA to have political parties that care less about the country and more about their personal wealth.  

A country doesn't run on the rhetoric of 'hot heads.'  It has to have democratic institutions that carry brevity in their purposes.  The primary reason there have been military coups is because the democratic institutions in those countries were virtually non-existent.  The coups were bound to happen because the military was more organized and fiscally supported than any aspect of the country. Kyrgyzstan is a prime example of a country with unstable democratic institutions.  That is why, the Republicans can advocate democracy globally and get absolutely no results.  A country has to 'grow' its democracy, a better example is Brazil.  It is not yet a First World nation, but, its infrastructure supports democratic institutions within that country and eventually it will become a First World nation. 

(AP) – 1 hour ago
CINCINNATI — An Ohio tea party group says it will offer refunds after Fox News host Sean Hannity canceled an appearance at its Tax Day rally.
The Cincinnati Tea Party said in a statement Friday that it will set up a special e-mail address to handle refund requests.
The group says nearly 10,000 people turned out Thursday evening for the rally along with a planned Hannity book-signing and taping of his television show at the University of Cincinnati basketball arena.
Fox News says Hannity's appearance was canceled over admission fees. The network says the group was trying to profit from Hannity.
Organizers say the fees, which started at $5, were only to help cover costs of the event for the movement opposing big government and high taxes.

The talking heads of the Tea Party are making the rounds on cable and they don't have a clue about what the problems of the country are or how to solve them.

Yesterday on Campbell Brown these was a spokeswoman for the Tea Party and she had plenty of complaints surrounding the issues of taxes, but, when asked about specifics she stated, "Well, I'm not an accountant, that is why we elect people."

Really?

It only goes to prove the Tea Baggers are nothing more than rhetorical rich folks that don't want to pay taxes.  They aren't problem solvers.  They want to place candidates back into office that will give them all their money back without accepting their responsibility within their citizen status in the USA.  The Tea Baggers have absolutely NO SUBSTANCE to their ? party ?.

Poll: Tea Party supporters mostly wealthy and educated white males

10:29 AM Fri, Apr 16, 2010 

One of the most popular stories on The New York Times web site right now is a about a new poll that takes a look at the demographics of supporters of the Tea Party movement. They tend to be white, male, married, Republican, older than 45 and more educated than the general public.
The story adds: "And while most Republicans say they are "dissatisfied" with Washington, Tea Party supporters are more likely to classify themselves as "angry."
The poll also found that the majority feel Obama's policies favor the poor and 25 percent believe the administration favors blacks over whites--compared with 11 percent of the overall public.
This telephone poll represented a national sample of 1,580 adults. So this is a national story, but I post it because there are so many Tea Party supporters locally. Next door in Grand Prairie, a rally took place Thursday night.
What do you think about these findings? To be honest, just on appearances alone I thought the crowds have looked more mixed socioeconomically, though not necessarily racially. What does this mean when these demographics are less and less reflective of American demographics overall? 

http://irvingblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/04/poll-tea-party-supporters-most.html
It is all about money with absolutely no intention of solving the country's problems. 

Posted by Adele Stan at 9:52 am
April 16, 2010 

Andrew Breitbart Melts Down at Tea Party Rally

At last night’s FreedomWorks Tax Day Tea Party event at the Washington Monument, a snearing and slightly slurry Andrew Breitbart, the right’s new media entrepreneur and sponsor of the anti-ACORN provocateur James O’Keefe, delivered a rant that was at times incoherent and laced with mild profanity.
Breitbart’s overall message seemed to be that the Tea Party crowd has been unfairly described by the mainstream media as racist and violent, when in fact, it’s the “union thugs” who are violent. As for the racism, well, he seemed to say, members of the Congressional Black Caucus sought to provoke racist behavior from Tea Party activists gathered on the Capitol grounds on the day that health-care legislation won final passage.
“I study media,” Breitbart told the crowd. “I pay attention to media, I’ve gone to the circus: I know a trick when I see it. And I see Barney Frank walkin’ around, I see the Congressional Black Caucus, I see Sheila Jackson Lee, taunting with a V-sign. I’m like, ‘What on God’s green earth is happening here? A half hour later, you see Nancy Pelosi with a shit-eating grin, holding that gavel. This was a stunt. They wanted to provoke you, my friends.”

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/04/16/andrew-breitbart-melts-down-at-tea-party-rally/

The nonsense about 'having photographic proof' of racist remarks is unwarranted.  There is such a thing as an eyewitness.  Excuse, excuses.

Iceland volcano: Airlines face 'logistical nightmare'

Eruption may hurt people with breathing problems: WHO  

GENEVA
Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:57am EDT
(Reuters) - The Icelandic volcanic eruption that has paralyzed air traffic in much of Europe could also harm people with breathing problems, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

The United Nations health agency has not yet ascertained the heath risks from this specific eruption, but once the clouds settle they could be dangerous, spokesman Daniel Epstein said.
"Any particulate matter that is deposited, breathed into the lungs is dangerous to people so we are concerned about that but we don't have details yet," he told a briefing.

The WHO drew up health guidelines in 2005 on particles emitted from eruptions, Epstein said.
"This is very dangerous to health because these particles when inhaled can reach the peripheral regions of the bronchioles and lungs and can cause problems especially for people with asthma or respiratory problems," he said.
A Scottish expert on respiratory disease said ash falling on Britain was unlikely to do much harm as a very high exposure to the low-toxicity dust was needed to have much effect on people.
"There is a massive diluting effect in the atmosphere as it gets dispersed by wind which means the amount reaching land is very small," Ken Donaldson, professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh, told Reuters.
Epstein said he understood the cloud from the volcano was still suspended high in the atmosphere and particles had not begun to settle on earth.
Once that happens the health risk would increase and people with asthma or other respiratory problems should stay indoors or wear protective masks if they have to go out, as in any other case of airborne pollution, he said.
Donaldson agreed that people with existing lung disease should stay indoors if there was a measurable change in particle levels. The eruption that began on Wednesday from a volcano under an Icelandic glacier has created chaos in European air travel not seen since the September 11 attacks nine years ago.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63F3H620100416


Air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike. The 2005 WHO Air quality guidelines (AQGs) are designed to offer global guidance on reducing the health impacts of air pollution. The guidelines first produced in 19871 and updated in 19972 had a European scope. The new (2005) guidelines apply worldwide and are based on expert evaluation of current scientific evidence. They recommend revised limits for the concentration of selected air pollutants: particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), applicable across all WHO regions. 

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/

U.S. Joins HP Bribery Probe, Gibson Dunn to Advise. The fun just never stops on Wall Street.

Joe Warin, chairman of Gibson Dunn's Washington D.C. litigation department (photo by Christopher Matthews / Main Justice)

By Christopher M. Matthews | April 16, 2010 11:37 am

The U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have joined a widening German and Russian probe into potential bribes paid by Hewlett Packard Co. executives to officials in the Russian government, according to a Wall Street Journal story published Thursday (subscription required).
Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the Journal said that the DOJ and SEC were investigating whether the California-based computer manufacturer had violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
According to the article, a company spokeswoman said that HP had discussions talked to the SEC Thursday about the German investigation “and is fully cooperating with U.S. and German authorities on this matter.”...

U.S. Accuses Goldman Sachs of Fraud

The graphs above are from Goldman Sachs.  One year ago and the events of today.

No, the Bush Administration didn't do anything "W"rong.  Sure they didn't !

Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
July 10, 2006 - January 20, 2009
Under President George W. Bush
Official Portrait in process


President George W. Bush nominated Henry M. Paulson, Jr. to be the 74th Secretary of the Treasury on June 19, 2006. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Paulson to the position on June 28, 2006 and he was sworn into office on July 10, 2006 by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. As Treasury Secretary, Paulson is the President's leading policy advisor on a broad range of domestic and international economic issues.
Before coming to Treasury, Paulson was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs since the firm’s initial public offering in 1999. He joined Goldman Sachs Chicago Office in 1974 and rose through the ranks holding several positions including, Managing Partner of the firm’s Chicago office, Co-head of the firm's investment Banking Division, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Co-Senior partner.
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Paulson was a member of the White House Domestic Council, serving as Staff Assistant to the President from 1972 to 1973, and as Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon from 1970 to 1972.
Paulson graduated from Dartmouth in 1968, where he majored in English, was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and an All Ivy, All East football player. He received an M.B.A. from Harvard in 1970. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Amanda and Merritt.


...The move marks the first time that regulators (click title to entry - thank you) have taken action against a Wall Street deal that helped investors capitalize on the collapse of the housing market. Goldman itself profited by betting against the very mortgage investments that it sold to its customers.
The suit also named Fabrice Tourre, a vice president at Goldman who helped create and sell the investment.
The instrument in the S.E.C. case, called Abacus 2007-AC1, was one of 25 deals that Goldman created so the bank and select clients could bet against the housing market. Those deals, which were the subject of an article in The New York Times in December, initially protected Goldman from losses when the mortgage market disintegrated and later yielded profits for the bank.
As the Abacus deals plunged in value, Goldman and certain hedge funds made money on their negative bets, while the Goldman clients who bought the $10.9 billion in investments lost billions of dollars.
According to the complaint, Goldman created Abacus 2007-AC1 in February 2007, at the request of John A. Paulson, a prominent hedge fund manager who earned an estimated $3.7 billion in 2007 by correctly wagering that the housing bubble would burst...

Expert: Iceland's Ash Cloud Only Going to Get Worse


All those high tropospheric vortexes that are running out of control because of the Climate Crisis resulting from Human Induced Global Warming are spreading the ash of a 'chronically' spewing volcano all over the northern hemisphere.  Congratulations, the wizards of Conservative Party have AGAIN caused impacts to the USA economy due to corruption and denial of 'the truth.' 

Ash Plume across the North Atlantic
...Eyjafjallajökull (or Eyjafjöll) is a stratovolcano composed of alternating layers of ash, lava, and rocks ejected by earlier eruptions. This volcano rises to a height of 1,666 meters (5,466 feet) above sea level. It began erupting for the first time in 190 years on March 20, 2010. The eruption opened a 500-meter (2,000-foot) fissure, and also produced lava fountains that built several hills of bubble-filled lava rocks (scoria) along the vent.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43670

With the eruption of the volcano in Iceland, the globe can be looking at high levels of soot with the vortexes to send it around the planet.

A Chinese high speed train ready to depart the Beijing South Railway station

ANALYSIS - China banks on rail boom to fire inland growth 

Mon Apr 12, 2010 8:28pm IST

By Alan Wheatley, China Economics Editor

BEIJING (Reuters) - In southwestern Yunnan province, giant concrete pillars bestride the fields, tracing the route of one of scores of new rail lines that China is building.

In western Xinjiang, construction crews toil on a lonely line crossing the desert wastes to the Silk Road city of Kashgar.

From one end of the country to the other, China is in the midst of a railway boom that promises to transform the world's third-largest economy.

By making it easier to move people and goods, the railway mania will gradually shift the centre of economic gravity inland, accelerating the development of central and western China in an echo of America's experience in the 19th century.

Jing Ulrich, chairman of China equities and commodities at J.P. Morgan, also sees comparisons with the construction of the U.S. interstate highway system and Japan's Shinkansen high-speed rail network. Both wrought far-reaching socio-economic changes....

http://in.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idINIndia-47628220100412