Reason Number Five why I won't be voting for John McCain or Sarah Palin. The Republicans Bankrupt the USA! They watched while it happened !

Headlines you won't see in the USA papers.

U.S. economy suffers sharp contraction (click at title to entry, thank you)
Economy hit by biggest fall in seven years; analysts warn contraction to be prolonged
Reuters Page 16 2008-11-01 01:03 AM
The U.S. economy suffered its sharpest contraction in seven years in the third quarter as consumers cut spending and businesses reduced investment at the onset of what may be a severe and long-lasting recession.
The Commerce Department said on Thursday that U.S. gross domestic product shrank at a 0.3 percent annual rate as the biggest pullback by consumers since 1980 overwhelmed an increase in government spending.
San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen called the economy's recent performance "deeply worrisome," and said the downturn was set to worsen....

GDP signals U.S. recession (click here)
Growth shrinks at fastest pace since 2001, consumer income takes record fall
Oct 31, 2008 04:30 AM

Associated press
WASHINGTON–Scared and out of money, Americans cut spending in the third quarter by the largest amount in 28 years, jolting the economy into what could be the most painful recession in decades.
The government yesterday reported U.S. gross domestic product declined at an annual rate of 0.3 per cent in the July-September period and consumers' disposable income took its biggest drop on record.
In simpler words, "The train went off the tracks," said Brian Bethune, economist at IHS global Insight.
But economists say tougher times are ahead. Believing consumers are cutting back even more right now, they predict a larger economic decline – anywhere from a 1 per cent to 2 per cent rate – during the current October-December period. That would meet a classic definition of a recession – two straight quarters of shrinking GDP....

Reason Number Six why I won't be voting for John McCain or Sarah Palin.

There is just no way. She isn't ready. She is an extremist. The entire set of circumstances with this Republican Ticket comes to stark reality when one focuses on the Vice Presidential choice.

Sarah Palin is regressive in every sense of the word, including the fact she is charged with Ethics Violations in Alaska. Republicans have a real problem with lying and carrying on as if their lies don't matter. They 'count on' pundits to 'plow under' the realities of their adverse governing.

She is as corrupt as the Governor she replaced and never needed a state owned and operated plane to 'get around' Alaska. She has her own. We are lucky it isn't a B52 Bomber on its patrol over Russia.

Even Laura and Barbara Bush weren't THIS Conservative. They respect the rights and differences of others. No, thank you, Mr. McCain.



...Daley also pointed to a "Daily Show" television clip with Jon Stewart that illustrates her point.
In the clip, Stewart shows Bill O'Reilly praising Palin for actions committed by actress Jamie Lynn Spears, which he previously demonized. The same was done with Fox News analyst Dick Morris, who criticizes attacks on Palin as being sexist, but then makes fun of Clinton.
"It was pretty funny," Daley said....

YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN FOUND "GUILTY." What is there to understand?

Stevens has no plans to resign (click here)
by Politico.com
Friday October 31, 2008, 12:33 PM
Republican Sen. Ted Stevens told Alaska voters Thursday night that he has “not been convicted of anything” — less than a week after being found guilty on all seven counts at his corruption trial. During a debate with Democratic opponent and Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, Stevens insisted on his innocence and said that he intends to ignore calls from his Republican colleagues to resign. “I’m not going to step down. I have not been convicted,” Stevens said according to a transcript provided by the Anchorage Daily News....

Reason Number Seven why I won't be voting for John McCain or Sarah Palin. Securing Alternative Energy requires commitment from government.

When Wind Farms become an adjunct to the energy infrastructure of the USA, carbon dioxide emissions will drastically reduced.

It is a National Security Issue.

Such turbines now have a capacity of 1.5 to 3 megawatts (MW), and typically generate 3-10 million kWh (or TWh) depending on the wind conditions. A big wind farm in the USA can include up to 100 turbines (150 MW) and generate, say, 500 TWh per year, enough to fulfill the needs of 45,000 families.

When Wall Street went 'belly up' it left a huge void for investors to provide venues of alternative energy sources for the country. This is a prime example of how the federal government has to finance new infrastructure for better energy sources.

Wind Farm seeking investors (click here)

Associated Press - November 1, 2008 9:35 AM ET
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Hoping to gain local investors, Dakota Wind Energy is outlining plans at a series of meetings for a large wind farm in the northeastern part of South Dakota.
The company hopes to develop up to 750 megawatts of wind-produced electricity from turbines in Day, Marshall and Roberts counties. That would be enough power for 220,000 homes.
The firm also is offering a stake in the project to landowners who agree to lease their land for turbines.
Company officials say 80% of the land that's needed has been leased, or about 60,000 acres.
The project is to be finished in stages over the next five years.
Upcoming meetings are planned for Nov. 6 at Britton, Nov. 10 at Aberdeen, Nov. 11 at Watertown and Nov. 13 at Milbank.
On the Net: http://www.dakotawindenergy.com/

Reason Number Eight why I won't be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin !

We have witnessed the demoralizing of our public school system with no marked improvement in High School Graduations from either public schools, charter schools or private schools.

We need further investigation to the failure of the children and young people of the USA into why they are unable to achieve. We can't simply through vouchers at parents in hopes they work. We need to know what works and what doesn't work.

THERE WAS NO $700 BILLION INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN.

...Republicans also maintain that under President Bush (click here), spending on the high-poverty schools that are the main concern of No Child Left Behind rose some 42 percent, from nearly $8.8 billion in 2001 to $12.3 billion in 2004. Democrats counter that much of that increase came at their insistence, in defiance of lower budget requests by President Bush....

"No Child Left Behind" was never fully funded, only FULLY REGULATED. If the Republicans wanted to rebuild the educational system in the USA, either do it entirely or not at all. Their methodology is typical of Republican legislation, "In Words Only."

New federal regulations on graduation rates have school officials worried (click at title of entry, thank you)
Some Minnesota officials are concerned that more high schools could be listed as making inadequate progress. (click here)
By EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune
Last update: October 28, 2008 - 9:35 PM
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced new regulations for the controversial federal No Child Left Behind law on Tuesday, and some of them might make more Minnesota high schools show up on the annual list of schools not meeting their progress goals....




Three Key States Commit to Dramatic Makeover of Education from Pre-K to Higher Education (click here)
Announcement Follows on Highly Acclaimed 'Tough Choices or Tough Times' Report
Last update: 10:16 a.m. EDT Oct. 30, 2008
WASHINGTON, Oct 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Three governors today announced their commitment to the most dramatic overhaul of education in at least 100 years by supporting state implementation of the "Tough Choices or Tough Times" reform framework. The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers' union, declared its support for state affiliates' involvement in these efforts.
The decision, by the leaders of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Utah, follows two years of discussions centered on the recommendations of the New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce ( http://www.skillscommission.org).
"Over the past 18 months, our Commission team has held serious talks with more than a dozen states from all points and corners of America. We expect to add other states in the coming months. This initial tier of states comprise a fast growth Western state and two Northeastern states with an urban-suburban-rural mix. These states know that the only way to make significant improvements in student performance is to reshape the system of education itself -- something that hasn't been done in this country for over 100 years," says Marc Tucker, Co-Chair of Implementation, New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. "These states could not be more different in their politics, demographics and general outlook. Yet all are committed to development of a very different kind of education system, one that has the potential to make each of them competitive with the countries that have consistently outperformed all the others year after year."...

October 15, 2008
Obama: Education means "more to our economic future than anything" (click here)
McCain: Freeze public education funding and push failed school voucher schemes
WASHINGTON—Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday that a cornerstone of any long-term economic plan must be an investment in quality public schools. His comments, focusing on early childhood education, professional pay, and college affordability made it strikingly clear that only his administration would prepare American students to compete in a global economy....

Reason Number Nine why I am not voting for John McCain or Sarah Palin in 2008.

There is no excuse for lacking a National Healthcare Strategy. There are over 23 million veterans in the USA currently, 2.9 million are receiving disability, there is a waiting list for others. (click here for VA Statistics)

SCHIP covers nearly a third of the nation's children (click here).
...The percentage of children covered by public programs rose from 23.6 percent in 2001 to 27.1 percent in 2002. The percentage of non-elderly adults covered rose from 9.4 percent to 10.3 percent....

As of 2005 there were nearly 5 million on Medicaid including many elderly also covered by Medicare. (click here) With widening unemployment and bankruptcy the applications will be up in 2008.

As of 2005 there were 42 million receiving Medicare (click here). We now have an entire generation of people coming into the venues of Medicare and SSI. The system needs to be addressed.

If we have all these people to care for along with a majority of people that may be underemployed and under-insured or uninsured, it is time for the nation to take control of this problem and address it in a way that can make health care affordable and ACCESSIBLE, especially when diagnosis require timely diagnosis and treatment.

McCain's proposals does not address the needs of all Americans. There are many left 'out of the loop.'


Nobel-winning economist sees hope for universal health care in U.S.
1 day ago
GENEVA — The winner of this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science says universal health care may soon become an accepted feature of American life.
Paul Krugman says he is optimistic because he feels there is a growing consensus on what is needed, unlike in 1993 when the Clinton administration tried to draft an agreement.
Krugman says the United States already has retirement and social security systems that are "in some ways more comprehensive" than those in many European countries.
He says Americans would find it inconceivable to live without universal health care once they see the benefits of a good plan.
The Princeton University professor made his remarks in an interview published Friday in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Some 45 million Americans currently lack any health coverage.

Reason Number Ten as to why I won't be voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Voter registration and empowering people a role in their democracy has to take precedent as a form of National Security.

The decision is correctly decided. A voter is a legitimate voter at the time of registration and not when they receive their voter's registration card in the mail. There can be many reasons why people could have their mail interrupted and so long as their registrations are approved by the local precincts. I could list many reasons why a voter card was not delivered including the fact some people use P. O. Boxes to receive their mail and not their physical address, roommates, family residents not involved with deeds and utilities, clerical errors with the Post Office (and don't tell me that doesn't happen) and basically every reason under the sun.

A decision in favor of stressing voter registration cards as proof of the 'right to vote' also places 'the provisional ballot' in a very odd status.


Michigan loses federal appeal over voter rolls (click here)
By ED WHITE – 2 days ago
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan must not throw registered voters off the rolls, even if their voter ID cards were returned as undeliverable, an appeals court said Thursday.
With the election just days away, the court refused to stop an injunction ordered by a federal judge in Detroit. The case involves 5,500 people who have registered since January 2006, just a fraction of the 7.47 million state voters.
The appeals court said Michigan voters are properly registered when applications are approved and names are added to the rolls — not if they receive a card in the mail....

"It's Saturday Afternoon" - didn't want to outshine Tina Fey, as if anyone could.

"Democracy" by Leonard Cohen

It's coming through a hole in the air,from those nights in Tiananmen Square.
It's coming from the feel
that this ain't exactly real,
or it's real, but it ain't exactly there.
From the wars against disorder,
from the sirens night and day,
from the fires of the homeless,
from the ashes of the gay:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.
It's coming through a crack in the wall;
on a visionary flood of alcohol;
from the staggering account
of the Sermon on the Mount
which I don't pretend to understand at all.
It's coming from the silence
on the dock of the bay,
from the brave, the bold, the battered
heart of Chevrolet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

It's coming from the sorrow in the street,
the holy places where the races meet;
from the homicidal bitchin'
that goes down in every kitchen
to determine who will serve and who will eat.
From the wells of disappointment
where the women kneel to pray
for the grace of God in the desert here
and the desert far away:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on
O mighty Ship of State!
To the Shores of Need
Past the Reefs of Greed
Through the Squalls of Hate

Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on.

It's coming to America first,
the cradle of the best and of the worst.
It's here they got the range
and the machinery for change
and it's here they got the spiritual thirst.
It's here the family's broken
and it's here the lonely say
that the heart has got to open
in a fundamental way:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

It's coming from the women and the men.
O baby, we'll be making love again.
We'll be going down so deep
the river's going to weep,
and the mountain's going to shout Amen!
It's coming like the tidal flood
beneath the lunar sway,
imperial, mysterious,
in amorous array:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Sail on, sail on ...

I'm sentimental, if you know what I mean
I love the country but I can't stand the scene.
And I'm neither left or right
I'm just staying home tonight,
getting lost in that hopeless little screen.
But I'm stubborn as those garbage bags
that Time cannot decay,
I'm junk but I'm still holding up
this little wild bouquet:
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.

Border Strikes, now in Pakistan. Is there no cooperation with the Pakistani government?

The Pakistani President is addressing the issue of terrorists and terrorism from a global perspective and is taking it in 'the long view.' He seeks to empower the populous of Pakistan to remove terrorist elements from the country. He is also seeking to strengthen relationships with China, a long time Pakistan ally.


Thursday, October 30, 2008
Terrorism a regional problem: Zardari (click here)
“So I think this is an opportunity for the world to correct itself,” the president said, adding when “the developed world is correcting itself, I think it’s an opportunity for countries like Pakistan and China to co-operate and take advantage” of the transition.President Zardari said democracy was imperative to get rid of terrorism. “We want to be safe and, with the help of the population, we intend to make sure that we defeat the terrorists,” Zardari said....


A Pakistani tribesman stands amongst the debris of a collapsed house hit by the missiles in the North Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan on October 10, 2008. A US missile strike targeting a high-level meeting of Al-Qaeda and Taliban commanders in a Pakistani tribal area missed most of them by just minutes. Two missiles hit the house of Pakistani Taliban leader Hafiz Sahar Gul in the North Waziristan district bordering Afghanistan on October 9, killing nine people including six Arab militants. (THIR KHAN/AFP/Getty Images )

Musharraf didn't know Pakistan has such poor ability to resist bankrupcy? Foreign debt is one of the 'key areas' why foreign currency needs stability.

Pakistan to receive $9bn from IMF in fight against bankruptcy (click here)
Pakistan is to receive a $9bn (£5.5bn) bail-out loan from the International Monetary Fund as the country has three weeks to stave off bankruptcy.

...Pakistan is facing economic turmoil after the rupee plunged to an all-time low in October, the balance of payments deficit widened to a record, and inflation jumped to a 30-year high....

We know that terrorist networks are easy to breed in oppressed areas of the world. To allow these sovereign nations to fall into socially demoralizing scenarios is to act against our own best interests. Pakistani poverty is of great interest to those in the global community that wants to end terrorist networks such as al Qaeda.

Pakistan has a very poor policy of allowing personal debt to extend into family debt with children inheriting the debt of a parent(s). It is policies such as these that serve to undermine social status and achievement. When people, especially young people, know nothing but poverty and impoverishment, they are easy prey for terrorist networks.

The USA State Department should have already had these problems solved by demanding a social restructuring of such hideous laws while the demand for equal educational opportunities for girls and women. If the people of a nation are valueless then how can their currency be worth anything substantial. The work force of any country should be able to enhance the value of currency and not detract from it. How are the people of Pakistan supposed to have a clear choice to back their government and remove terrorist elements from their homelands if there options for the future are bleak?

Below is an accounting of a release of Taliban militants by the Pakistani government in exchange for security personnel and civilians. This reality can't be understated. If an entity within a country, such as the Taliban is capable of capturing hostages and successfully hold them as leverage over a sovereign government then how secure is nuclear Pakistan?

The Bush Administration did not secure a sovereign government in Pakistan when they abandoned the fight for the USA National Security in Afghanistan. When the Republicans moved forces from Afghanistan to Iraq and opened Pandora's Box, there was a huge shift in the ability of the Taliban to reorganize into a powerful entity within Pakistan and able to move across the border with Afghanistan. These circumstances are getting worse. The new President is attempting to 'shore up' the fiscal underpinnings of a secure Pakistan while allowing the Taliban to make known their influence within that country. It is going to take a considerable effort to dismantle the Taliban and return Pakistan to the President's leadership. The tribal areas are difficult terrain, but, they have to be contained and dealt with. Quite possibly, containment is the current venue of choice while seeking secure Afghan borders and a return of Afghan security and authority.

Pak free 21 Taliban militants in exchange for hostages (click here)
Islamabad, Nov 1 (PTI) Pakistani authorities have freed 21 Taliban fighters in exchange for an equal number of security personnel and civilians kidnapped by the militants following months of secret negotiations brokered by tribal elders.The militants freed by authorities yesterday included some lieutenants of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud. They were being held in jails in Peshawar, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan, a security official said.

Sources told The News daily that the Taliban fighters were handed over to a 'jirga' or tribal council that took them to Makeen area in the restive South Waziristan tribal region, where Mehsud and other key Taliban commanders welcomed them. Most of the released militants belonged to the Mehsud tribe.

In exchange, the militants freed 19 paramilitary personnel and two non-combatants they had kidnapped several months ago in South Waziristan and Mohmand tribal regions.

An official told 'Dawn' newspaper that 16 troopers and two civilians who supplied rations to security forces were set free at Nawazkot in South Waziristan. They were captured by supporters of Mehsud on January 15. Three other paramilitary personnel, kidnapped in January and August, were freed in Mohmand Agency.

There was no official word on the development. The Taliban and Pakistani authorities have also swapped prisoners in the past. PTI

Many Soldiers In Iraq May Skip Vote

Soldiers are being ? DISCOURAGED ? to vote. Who has your back is the question we should all be asking? Voting in a war zone can be dangerous if there isn't complete privacy. Like, what gives?

...The U.S. military has traditionally tilted toward the Republican Party, and analysts said they do not expect this election to be different. But they also said Barack Obama's appeal to youth, African-Americans and Hispanics - all groups over-represented in the military - could cut into support for John McCain....

Syria is still pointing to inappropriate USA strike over its border. Iraq responds with border patrol.

Syrian men prepare to bury relatives who were killed yesterday in a U.S. military raid in the village of Sukkiraya, on the Syria-Iraq border, on October 27, 2008. U.S. forces crossed into Syria yesterday, mounting a "successful" raid against foreign fighters, a U.S. official said today. Iraq said that the deadly raid that killed eight people was targeting an area used by insurgents plotting attacks on its soil.

The Economic Disaster of Oil Based Energy Economies Continues...

Imperial Oil awash in record profits (click here)
The GazettePublished: 8 hours ago
Imperial Oil Ltd., Canada's biggest integrated oil company, said its third-quarter earnings hit a record $1.4 billion, or $1.57 a share, up from $816 million, or 88 cents a share a year earlier, with higher oil prices. That brought nine months' profit to $3.22 billion, or $3.60 a share, up from $2.3 billion, or $2.15 a share a year earlier. The upstream exploration and production unit contributed earnings of $999 million in the latest quarter, with oil prices averaging $114.58 a barrel.

The price of oil was not only UP, but, at one point it hit over $140 per barrel. This is more than likely the shape of things to come in the future? Here again we probably have witnessed the all time low for oil and it will never sink below $60.00 per barrel.


67.59
+1.63
+2.47%

Sure the markets were up yesterday after achieving it's bottom of 8500 this past week, however, so was the price of oil.


9,325.01
+144.32
+1.57%

This is NOT a secret. There is nothing that CAN be done. I have a case like this myself. I've tried.

People that come to the USA legally and are then through some arbitrary process denied their status to stay legally, don't leave because we say so. They are adults, they make their own decisions and there is absolutely NO ENFORCEMENT. We all know that is why we need reform.

The exact if not similar circumstances have happened to me. I didn't want trouble in my life or my household and when a 'good friend' fell out of legal status I reported it. It didn't make a darn bit of difference and that was five years ago.

I don't want to hear it !


October 30, 2008
Aunt Zeituni in Hub, Obama campaign says (click here)
South Boston has had a lot of famous political names over the years: John Joseph Moakley, William M. Bulger, Louise Day Hicks.
Now, Americans can add another one to the neighborhood roster: Zeituni Onyango.
Barack Obama's campaign confirmed yesterday that Onyango, who lives in a brick public housing complex on a side street not far from the headquarters of the Iron Workers, Local 7, is the senator's aunt.
Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesman, declined to comment further on the Democratic presidential nominee's relationship with Onyango, who has lived in the complex for five years....

THIS IS McCain / Palin election policy !

...The program will also ensure that all undocumented aliens either leave or follow the path to legal residence. America cannot permit a permanent category of individuals that do not have recognized status – a permanent second class (click here)....

This is a speech made by Barak Obama in 2006:

...I believe successful, comprehensive immigration reform can be achieved by building on the work of the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee bill combines some of the strongest elements of Senator Hagel's border security proposals with the realistic workplace and earned-citizenship program proposed by Senators McCain and Kennedy (click here)....

Bush never had a policy that worked or was 'in step' with the legislature. A Democratic Legislature and a Democratic Executive Branch will get the job done !

The Republican Trickle Down Theory has never worked.

At least retired California employees will have an income to support some kind of economy. The sad Republican TRUTH is that they actually believe what the say. Dangerous. Very dangerous.

In this photo provided by his press office, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs an order creating the Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission in his hospital room in Santa Monica, Calif., on Dec. 28. (click here)




Has Ahnold been able to stimulate jobs and an economy in California?

NO.

Current California unemployment rate is 7.7% (click title for information).

Why?

Because the economic depression across the USA has anchored deeply into every state's economy and without state sponsored economic rehabilitation there WON'T BE A RECOVERY. The ONLY way out of this economic depression and I'm sorry but with some states reporting 10% unemployment rates, some registering over 5% in the month of September alone, this is a DEPRESSION with nearly every investment bank gone and consolidations and mergers eating up the infrastructure. This is an economic depression.

The INFRASTRUCTURE the Republicans are relying on to reduce taxes to stimulate growth and jobs DOES NOT EXIST. The USA, including California, has to rebuild its infrastruture. The economic policies of Schwarzenegger have failed and failed royally and he actually believes a temporary sales tax will turn the corner on his budget short falls. Whom exactly is going to pay that sales tax, visiting Europeans spending Euros.

We need a Democrat in the Executive Branch along with a Democratic House and Senate to take back the country and return economic viability to an American landscape that has all but disappeared !

California's single-family building permits drop 60% (click here)
Apartment demand lifts multifamily starts
By Inman News, Friday, March 28, 2008.
Single-family housing starts, as measured by building permits issued, plunged 59.8 percent in February compared to the same month last year, the California Building Industry Association trade group reported this week, and total housing starts dropped 27.9 percent.
CBIA reported 2,540 total single-family building permits issued in February, compared with 6,326 permits issued in February 2007, according to building-permit data supplied by the Construction Industry Research Board, a nonprofit research center.
Multifamily building-permit activity, meanwhile, rose 35.8 percent year-over-year in February, according to the report, with 4,315 multifamily permits in February 2008.
Single-family permit activity dropped 5 percent in February 2008 compared to the previous month, while monthly multifamily building-permit activity rose 112.2 percent compared to January.
The increase in multifamily construction was expected because of an increased demand for apartments, said Alan Nevin, CBIA chief economist, in a statement.
He also said that federal actions to increase the conforming loan limit and reduce the federal funds rate could "gradually induce activity in new-home production."
The Los Angeles metro area led in permit activity with 1,635 housing permits issued in February, followed by the Riverside area with 973 and the Anaheim area with 906, according to the report.

What is in your mind's eye for the future?

Happy Halloween !

When does this UNCONSTITUTIONAL Voter Tampering Stop? Florida does it AGAIN.

Under a Jeb Bush lead Republican legislature the "Florida's Voter Verification Law" was passed. It uses every opportunity to oppress the vote in Florida. THIS TIME, if your driver's license address doesn't perfectly match the voter registration YOU LOSE and so does your candidate !

ELECTION 2008 VOTER VERIFICATION LAW
No-match list catches regular voters by surprise (click here)
The state's list of 'no match' voters includes some surprises -- a Miami Heat player, a candidate's wife and many people unaware they were on it.
BY CURTIS MORGAN AND CHARLES RABIN
cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
What do a promising rookie for the Miami Heat, a systems analyst from Bulgaria, the wife of a Republican congressional candidate and Fidel Castro have in common?
They can't just show up Nov. 4 and fill out a regular ballot. Theirs are among 12,000 names statewide flagged under Florida's Voter Verification Law, a ''no match'' screening process embroiled in legal and political controversy....

If Voters find themselves between a Rock and a Hard Place, simply go to the 'online' address change site and be sure it matches your voter registration, while the hideous law is challenged in court.


Driver Privacy Protection Act Warning (click here and check "I Agree" at the site and change your driver's license address)
The personal information contained within this site is protected by 18 U.S.C. 2721-2725, et seq., (the Driver Privacy Protection Act) and Section 119.0712(2), Florida Statutes. You are not authorized to access personal information for anyone other than yourself through this web site unless you have specific written permission to do so. Any access or attempted access to personal information of others may subject you to criminal prosecution or civil liability.

The illegitimacy of these 'qualifying' laws date back to 1870 when a bunch of wise guys placed A BARRIER to voting to disaffect those that would seek justice to their plight through representation, when a 'literacy' component was added to the law.

...African Americans exercised the franchise (click here) and held office in many Southern states through the 1880s, but in the early 1890s, steps were taken to ensure subsequent “white supremacy.” Literacy tests for the vote, “grandfather clauses” excluding from the franchise all whose ancestors had not voted in the 1860s, and other devices to disenfranchise African Americans were written into the constitutions of former Confederate states....

In a country where fingerprint scanners and retinal scanners are used to secure the border access and egress of the USA there is ABSOLUTELY no reason why every registered voter has to be challenged to their identity. Individuals that qualify to vote and know they are legitimate voters should NEVER be INTIMIDATED. These 'qualifying events' are unconstitutional and have always been used to oppress the vote. The very people that need to be able to vote in any election are those with 'logistical' issues in 'their lifestyles.' It's nuts already.

The Provisional Ballot is the other alternative to any barrier as it presents itself at the time of voting.

Supervisor of Elections (click here)
Brevard County, Florida
Provisional Ballots
Last updated 8/4/08
Provisional ballots are issued to voters in four situations:
1. When a voter claims to be properly registered in the county and eligible to vote at the precinct or early voting site in the election, but the voter's eligibility cannot be determined (Section 101.048, Florida Statutes).
2. When an elector has been mailed an absentee ballot but desires to vote in person and he or she does not bring the ballot to the polling place or early voting location, and it cannot be determined whether the supervisor has received the elector's absentee ballot (Section 101.69, Florida Statutes)
3. When an elector fails to furnish the required identification (Section 101.043, Florida Statutes).
4. When the polling time is extended by court or other order; these provisional ballots are segregated from all other provisional ballots (Section 101.049, Florida Statutes).
Provisional ballots are not issued to a voter who is found to be in the incorrect polling place. These voters are directed to their correct polling place to vote....

The so called well meaning legislators that pass these hideous laws do so in full recognition of the obstacals they place in the path of people that need to vote in order to elect representatives that can most assist with their issues of 'living' in the USA. These laws have to be challenged in a court of law and replaced with provisions that FACILITATE 'ease' in voting rather than prevention of voting.

Placing obstacles in the way of unwitting voters has always been a favorite of Republicans to insure their victories. It was the case in 2000 in Florida when thousands of legitimate voters were disenfanchised AND the then 'Ruling Jeb Bush Administration' did NOTHING to recognize that fact, in order to 'instill' his brother at the federal supremacy. It is time "Gore v. Bush" was replaced with a Constitutional challenge that places THE VOTE at the focus of any measure rather than a Republican victory at the focus of a Supreme Court Decision.

In deciding "Gore v. Bush" a travesty of justice occurred and the decision was passed into precedent law by three NEOCON judges to facilitate their political preference in the Executive Branch. "Gore v. Bush" was wrongly decided and during the questioning preceding that decision by a three vote majority it became obvious the proceedings were nothing but a formality to all too anxious decision makers while the ACTUAL majority of the court disqualifed themselves from such a decision that would profoundly disaffect a nation.

THE VOTE needs the dignity it should be afforded and the next federal legislature needs to pass 'guidelines' to Voter Laws for states to once again return dignity to 'the process' and fluidity to the ability of any voter to participate in their elected representation !

Marching is good. Aggression is not good. This last attack across the Syrian Border shows EXACTLY what is "W"rong with American Neocon Policy.

Demonstrators denounced the US raid as a "criminal act" and "terrorism" [AFP]

This is the "USA's side" of the raid.

This is the "Syrian side" of the attack.

The attack was 'self-righteous' by the USA. To begin the USA military did in fact cross the Syrian border without the appropriate demeanor of international relations. They crossed the Syrian border and killed people. Whether it involved enemies of the USA military or not is still debatable and there in lies the rub.

The USA 'never' worked within the appropriate venue of 'diplomacy' to promote the 'intelligence' of the USA military. In other words, if there was indeed operatives within Syrian borders that migrated freely over the Iraqi-Syrian border there should have been established diplomatic dialogues between the USA and Syria before any attack in the region took place.

In recent months the Syrian government has established a diplomatic consulate with Iraq. An international incident could have been avoided if proper diplomatic channels were taken and it was well established through shared intelligence that there was a 'mutual' enemy of the people of the region that needed to be dealt with. At that point if the Syrian government refused to cooperate and continued to protect 'a well established operative of terrorism' then the USA would have a better platform to launch attacks and/or take their case before the UN Security Council.

Here again, the Neocons of Bush UNILATERALLY take action because they can and not because they should causing irritation of the people and further disintegration of relations between countries that SUPPOSEDLY Bush claims to invite to be a part of the regional support of the Iraqi central government.

The USA policy is that we will not tolerate countries that harbor terrorists. When the USA military is allowed to have free reign to attack anywhere they like, including inside the sovereignty of another nation, how will it ever become established whether KNOWN terrorist activities are sanctioned by the nation in which these terrorists take refuge?

Establishing the guilt of a nation in harboring terrorists that cause the people harm and attack USA military personnel and instillation does NOT require a SUMMIT so much as active and ESTABLISHED diplomatic relations. With alacrity the information regarding a KNOWN terrorist and 'international' criminal could have been brought to the diplomatic channels between Iraq and Syria for resolve of the circumstances.

The BEST possible outcome to such profound realities of the region is that Syrian troops went into the small hamlet and removed the terrorist without deaths of innocent people. The Syrian military could have established a definition of authority in the region and if necessary could have been backed up with American and Iraqi forces if there was a greater threat of retaliation. More than likely the Syrian military and/or police could have handily arrested the 'terrorist operative' without further incident.

When American aggression causes the deaths of innocent people that interprets into anger and uprising of the people in believing their government allows these type of problems to happen within their lives. They fear for their families and children and seek retribution against others for the deaths of innocent people.

We have seen the handy work of terrorists in the region that like to disrupt the government of Lebanon. It is NOT difficult to discern whether a terrorist has been discovered. The governments of the region know fully well the potential for disruption to their governments and actively act on 'tips and intelligence.' The best honed of these governments is Saudi Arabia.

The Neocons of Bush do NOT use diplomatic channels to establish understandings of military operations to gain concensus of its necessity. As a result they have estranged any and all potential to ending conflict through peace and only seek to continue conflict until their demands for economic corporate infrastructure are satisfied.

Bush cannot run a war against the Middle East to solely destroy all that he does not approve of no matter how much munition he throws at it. Bush has been and continues to be the worst Commander and Chief to the military of the USA. His decision making is solely his own without bothering to enlist the support of governments that will be disaffected by aggressive actions by the USA military. The USA cannot simply decide to invade Syria. They HAVE TO enlist the support of governments when 'a border' becomes 'a barrier' to successful dismantling of a terrorist network or cell.

The death of innocent people CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be tolerated in a place that is chronically an international powder keg. In this case, it was the diplomats of Great Britain in discussions with the Syrian President that has resolved this INCIDENT for now. Bush and his military SHOULD NOT engage in any further actions across the Syrian border, but, should establish dialogues with the Syrians to factiliate an understanding that the USA has 'intelligence' regarding people that seek to cause innocent Iraqis and Syrians harm. This incident was 'W'rongfully pursued and can be registered as an unauthorized aggression by the USA against Syria. The USA military needs to be careful of their aggressions as I do believe the Syrians will not tolerate such surprise raids on their people again.

END OF DISCUSSION !

Did I tell you? Yes, I told you. No one ever listens. They will now. VOTE OBAMA in 2008 !

New York Gov. David Paterson talks to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford prior to a hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill, Oct. 29. The session focused on economic recovery.


For the most up-to-date information on state budget shortfalls, please view our newer analysis: "State Budget Problems Worsen: 13 States Face New Shortfalls" (cliick here)
Updated August 5, 2008
29 STATES FACED TOTAL BUDGET SHORTFALLOF AT LEAST $48 BILLION IN 2009By Elizabeth C. McNichol and Iris Lav
At least 29 states plus the District of Columbia, including several of the nation’s largest states, faced an estimated $48 billion in combined shortfalls in their budgets for fiscal year 2009 (which began July 1, 2008 in most states.) At least three other states expect budget problems in fiscal year 2010.
In general, states closed these budget gaps through some combination of spending cuts, use of reserves or revenue increases when they adopted a fiscal year 2009 budget. At this point in the year, most states have already adopted those budgets; only two states — California and Michigan — continue to deliberate.[1] In order to present a complete picture of the impact of the current economic downturn on state finances, we report both the gaps that have been closed and those that will be closed in the future.
The bursting of the housing bubble has reduced state sales tax revenue collections from sales of furniture, appliances, construction materials, and the like. Weakening consumption of other products has also cut into sales tax revenues. Property tax revenues have also been affected, and local governments will be looking to states to help address the squeeze on local and education budgets. And if the employment situation continues to deteriorate, income tax revenues will weaken and there will be further downward pressure on sales tax revenues as consumers become reluctant or unable to spend.
The vast majority of states cannot run a deficit or borrow to cover their operating expenditures. As a result, states have three primary actions they can take during a fiscal crisis: they can draw down available reserves, they can cut expenditures, or they can raise taxes. States already have begun drawing down reserves; the remaining reserves are not sufficient to allow states to weather a significant downturn or recession. The other alternatives — spending cuts and tax increases — can further slow a state’s economy during a downturn and contribute to the further slowing of the national economy, as well.

A nation or a state cannot have a tax base WITHOUT employment. Some of these states have the highest unemployment rates in the nation !

METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT: SEPTEMBER 2008 (click here)
Unemployment rates were higher in September than a year earlier in 349 of the 369 metropolitan areas, lower in 14 areas, and unchanged in 6 areas, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department ofLabor reported today. Ten areas recorded jobless rates of at least 10.0 percent, while nine areas registered rates below 3.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in September was 6.0 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 4.5 percent a year earlier....
...Elkhart-Goshen, Ind., recorded the largest jobless rate increase from September 2007 (+5.1 percentage points). This area has experi-enced layoffs in transportation equipment manufacturing for several months. Rocky Mount, N.C., had the next largest rate increase (+3.9 points), followed closely by El Centro, Calif., and Yuma, Ariz. (+3.8 points each). Seventy-eight additional areas registered over-the-year unemployment rate increases of 2.0 percentage points or more, and another 179 areas had rate increases of 1.0 to 1.9 points. Two Arkan-sas areas experienced the largest jobless rate decreases from Septem-ber 2007: Jonesboro and Hot Springs (-1.0 and -0.8 percentage point, respectively).

Don't rely on "Drill, Baby, Drill" to answer USA Energy Needs

'This is an unbelievable crowd for this kind of weather,' Obama told the nearly 9,000 supporters who showed up donning hoods and carrying umbrellas in Chester.

Barak Obama IS the Change We Need !


Solar Paneled Roof.

The NEW BREED Oil Tycoons have had their worst nightmare dealt to them, "THE PRICE OF OIL HAS DROPPED."

The oil gluts in the world no longer exist. We are at the end of our oil supplies globally. Gas for the internal combustion engine is no longer 30 cents a gallon. As gas and oil prices have gone up over the decades so has the general cost of living. We have witnessed this past year how energy prices, when relying on oil and gas, drive up not only the price of personal transportation, but, the cost of food, clothing and most consumer items.

And explore this 'concept' with me. The cost of USA labor is directly related to the energy sector and the cost of oil as well. How? Easy. When the 'cost of living goes up' for Americans they demand higher wages 'on the job.' What does that do to the 'best labor force in the world?' It prices it out of the market for many consumer goods and hence 'outsourcing.'

When the USA has a lousy energy policy is resonates throughout the infrastructure of the USA. When Barak 'gives back' our country to us and places the replacement of our infrastructure as the top priority to the American agenda, he is not only increasing the tax base with new jobs, he is increasing the buying power of the American consumer when this new infrastructure begins to provide energy WITHOUT unpredictable costs.

A solar panel doesn't have wide fluctuations. Now, does it? How much will 'consistent' energy and transportation costs STABILIZE the cost of American Labor and return the USA (nearly overnight) back to 'the best labor market for the money?'

Think about it !

Inflationary trends have been true the entire time oil and gas have been the primary fuel sources. It is just that in the year 2008, at the end of oil availability, we are 'feeling' it more in our budgets because the price is exorbitant.

Previous to 2008, the prices would go up but were still within reach of American's budgets. How many households now can't afford their energy costs, yet alone their mortgages?


The very sad reality is that as oil demands fall because of anticipated and actual changes from fossil fuels to alternative "Earth Friendly" energy, the possibility of continued exploitation of the Earth's natural resources for oil and gas will become less and less desirable an investment.

If Americans are to believe that "...ending their dependance on foreign oil..." is a matter of simply drilling offshore; they need to think again. Offshore drilling is no longer a viable investment, nor is it an environmentally safe one regardless of whether one is looking at CO2 emissions or pollution free oceans.

The Republicans have no viable energy plan if they are seeking oil and gas as an integral part of providing energy needs for Americans. Get over it. Oil is an immoral and hideous choice for future energy needs, besides robbing our children of their entitlements to a healthy and viable Earth.

...With oil at $60 per barrel, some deepwater projects in Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa are looking uneconomic in a market when drilling rig and offshore vessel rates are at record levels, so something has to give, said Matthew Simmons, chairman of investment group Simmons & Co.
“Oil sands and gas shales in North America and deepwater projects do not work at $60 oil. The problems are oilfield service costs are too high and we need to change this for projects to go ahead,” Mr Simmons told Lloyd’s List at the Oil & Money Conference in London on Tuesday.
“Rig costs are so high and we cannot get enough spare capacity to lower costs. Even if more rigs are built, it is hard to recruit people, so crew costs are high.”
Deepwater-capable drilling rigs are being hired out at $600,000 per day and oil companies are willing to pay more than $130,000 per day for subsea support vessels and $300,000 day rates for rig towing anchor handlers.
The price of subsea equipment such as the flowlines and wellheads needed for deepwater projects have also soared, but equipment and service prices will soon come under pressure.
“When oil prices increase everything goes higher including oil services and when oil prices fall service costs will decrease, so at $65 per barrel we expect costs will also go down as well,” said Paolo Scaroni, chief executive of Italian oil firm Eni.
The oil price fall and tight financial markets have prevented companies from finding credit to undertake their oil and gas field development plans.
Brazil has already acknowledged that the lower oil price is delaying its plans to develop the deepwater pre-salt discoveries, which would require new fleets of offshore vessels, drilling rigs and oil producing ships.
Qatar Energy Minister Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said no banks were offering finance for energy projects any more, whereas even four months ago they were jumping over one another to give out their cash....

Offshore Oil is UNDEPENDABLE source of energy as Climate Change continues to progress. These oil rigs have been offline for a month and a half. "Ike" dissipated on September 14, 2008. We don't need it. Our military doesn't need it either, they have been looking at domestically produced fuels and some of the alternative fuels for over a decade. The military has jets that fly on fuel produced without oil or gas. THAT is another complete series of entries. Another time maybe.

Gulf of Mexico energy production slowly being restored (click here)
by The Times-Picayune
Tuesday October 28, 2008, 1:15 PM
Energy producers in the Gulf of Mexico are slowly restoring production after hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
More than 27 percent of all Gulf of Mexico oil production remains shut down in the aftermath of last month's storms, the Minerals Management Service reported this afternoon. Roughly 33 percent of the Gulf's gas production also remains shuttered. Roughly 10 percent of the platforms in the Gulf remain evacuated because of the storms, but all of the drilling rigs have been fully restaffed. Platforms are the offshore structures from which oil and natural gas are produced. Rigs are offshore drilling facilities.

Hillary Clinton to N.H.: Ignore the polls

The Lady loves her country !