This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
(I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
“Based on the fact that we have no major new products to show at the 2009 Detroit and Chicago auto shows, as well as the current economic conditions which will impact the shows’ marketing effectiveness, we have decided to cancel our involvement and participation in the 2009 North American International Auto Show and the Chicago Auto Show.”(click title to entry, thank you) What does that tell everyone about the 'state of the USA economy?' Huh? Lots of jobs and lots of money floating around to spend on cars, right?
NOT !
Get out of the way of progess to reinvigorating the USA economy with jobs and plenty of ECO-FRIENDLY strategies. It might just be the case that the internal combustion engine is DEAD! Let's hope so. Let's see, Bush threw a few million at the hydrogen car back in 2002? What good did it do?
Bush basically 'shut down' high speed rail, yet alone high speed magnetic rail. Cost the American consumers tonnes of money in oil revenues and tax breaks for draconian industry.
OBAMA !
OBAMA !
OBAMA !
With a few minor drops in China markets, the rest of the global community is registering far higher percentages today. This is a good thing?
If Zimbabwe is to recover an economy to benefit its people there has to be a power sharing government instilled to faciliate same. Power sharing cannot permit infiltration of terrorists or elements that would lead to instability. Any instability or violation of human rights that facilitates instability threatens economice recovery and the quality of life of the people.
...Zimbabwe's rivals are to meet on Tuesday in South Africa to salvage a power-sharing deal, South Africa's president has announced. The head of the country's ruling African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, said the situation in Zimbabwe was beyond "wait and see". "We have got to act and act now," he said....
The "$700 Billion Bailout" is NOT about the USA. It is NOT about saving jobs or preserving the USA economy or tax base; it is about bailing out the foreign investors that made LOANS to the USA under the very risky 'tender' of "Credit Derivative." It is like 'making wager' on an investment. It started with the failure of Lehman Brothers and the Korea Development Bank.
SEOUL: The state-owned Korea Development Bank said Tuesday that it was in talks with Lehman Brothers for a possible investment in the troubled American bank, but other reports said the price of the deal remained an issue. "Our CEO said a deal is ongoing and cannot disclose the content of it," a spokesman for the Korean bank, Cho Hyun Eek, said. Lehman, which has more than $60 billion of mortgage and mortgage security exposure, is under pressure to raise capital before it announces its earnings this month.
The 'tender' involved in regard to Lehman Brothers is called "Credit-linked-notes." Credit Linked Notes are something in the order of what they provide at Lords of London, whereby there is significant exposure to RISK in 'insuring' such a thing as 'Betty Grable's Legs (click here).'
Basically, Paulson looked at the 'creeping crude' of bank and investment bank failures and then looked at Goldman-Saks sitting on the horizon, the very near horizon and simply went to work 'bailing out' every 'entity' between Goldman Saks and its fiscal failure including every government that ever lent money to USA financial interests.
The Bailout has not got a thing to do about a recoverying economy for the USA. The 'world interests' being served isn't interested in our futures so much as recooperating their investment profiles. It is why Bush is 'hyping' HAVE PATIENCE speech to APEC. The Obama Transition Team is focusing on the USA economy because that is where the focus belongs. It doesn't belong on Wall Street as international venues only sap the life blood out of the USA Treasury and cause huge and insoluble debt for generations to come. The problem is that there is a lot of damage being done in the days leading upto the Inauguration because nothing is being done with the USA economy, job losses are surmounting and even the 'small' three USA car manufacturers are attempting to find a 'fiscal bailout' while having jobs in their industry disappear so they can 'get out of Dodge while the getting is good.'
Basically, the Bush administration is doing all they can to cover their losses before 'real people' with 'real vision' move into the White House and cut off the free flow of printable money to the global markets without FIRST returning a viable economy to the USA. Without an economy in the USA, its money will become worthless as debt mounts from bailing out the world from Georgie's Blunder that the Republicans 'bought into' to maintain the 'grand illusion' during 2004 elections. I find the Obama transition team interesting, but, lack luster in its 'history' of Democratic values in believing in 'people first.' While a transition team has to consist of people that understand where we have been it also needs people like Bill Richardson to be very vocal and aggressive in promoting a return of jobs and economy to the USA.
If the 'world and its lending habits' want their money they need to realize the USA can only 'make good' on all those 'fiscal notes' as it resolves its 'crisis at home.' We have to be able to 'regenerate' a tax base to pay those debts off. If we are unable to do that, the rest is history and the USA will be struggling with insolvency without recourse to its debt. I doubt if the global community wants any of that to happen. While keeping all global economies viable is vital, as noted in recent days, Pakistan is doing better, we have to keep our eyes on 'all the balls' including international terrorists networks and their proliferation during the Bush/Cheney years and where we are going from here.
I want to tell you all a story. It is about 'values systems' and 'struggling to have them survive.' Its a personal story about my father and in a way it relates to every aspect of the international struggle we face today and the balance we need to achieve as fellow human beings longing to confront the evils of terrorist rule. It's a story about believing in 'sound leadership' and having 'the end result - truly justify the means.'
My father returned home a war veteran from Korea. He was a young man of 22 years old with an honorable discharge and a high school diploma to serve him in the labor market. He was able to land a job the 'Golo Shoe Factory' and married his sweetheart to start a life promised to him by the American Dream.
While working at the shoe factory he became a union member. The working conditions were terrible and the pay was not up to standard to make a good living and buy a home. In a short time of his employ he was nominated to Secretary of the union and won the election. He served with six other officers that promised to improve the conditions of their membership. Golo was a very profitable company, do to the strong work ethics of its employees.
The newly elected officers already had a contract that was negotiated by the previous officers and would not have the opportunity to renegotiate for several years. That was a long time to wait so they called a mandatory membership meeting and a vote was taken to hold a 'Wild Cat Strike' against the company if they were unwilling to open contract talks again.
Sure enough, the company refused and the workers left the building, shutting down production. Every member, which was basically the entire plant left the work line and went to picket. The strike lastest for 90 days. No income for the company except what they had in inventory and no income for the workers except what they got in the way of 'picket line pay.' The officers faithfully went to meetings with the company to offer solutions BUT never, and I do mean NEVER gave up their values or determination to have them.
A ninty day strike was a tough thing to sustain. There was no welfare. There was no unemployment. There was no disability. There was nothing but the hope that things would get better and everyone would find a way.
And find a way they did. The local grocers opened up 'credit accounts' for the Local's membership and the community offered to help whichever way they could. The community saw the problem clearly and pulled together. People that had nothing to do with the union, a job or any aspect of the best outcome of the strike became involved in which ever way they could, providing services and 'welcome' to ideas that would sustain the strike until it could be settled in the best outcome for all of the employees. The 'value system' of the employees was admirable, it was correct and it was fair. The community came to admire 'the esteem' of being willing to help and see them through.
One day the company finally commited to a new contract. It offered all the demands that the union demanded. With one provision. That provision was to have the six officers of the union resign from their jobs and leave the company; hence, leaving the union. The six officers took the contract and provision to the membership. The membership was most grateful for the outcome to the new contract but was up in arms at the provision by the company demanding the resignation of the six officers. The members offered to remain on strike until the provision of resignation could be negotiated.
In order to end the strike and stop the suffering of its membership, the six officers tendered their resignation to the position of their election at the meeting beginning with the signing of the new contract. Hence, they would resign from the company shortly thereafter. The membership didn't really have the opportunity to continue the strike. All the demands were met, better working conditions, better pay and fairness in employee-employer relations.
It was what the officers worked hard for and it was their determination to see their members return to work without further hardship on them or the company. The officiers left heroes to their members and the community. They ultimately had to move to other areas of the country to find work, but, they all did and my Dad eventually went to work in another factory in another state whereby he became a 'Union Shop Steward' three months after beginning his employ. Hard to keep a good man down.
I sort of see the 'juncture' of the global community at that impass. The impass where 'belief systems' are on the bargaining table along with money. I dearly believe that is not where it needs to be or actually should continue to be.
Never in the history of 'civilization' has there been so many issues shared by a 'global community.' Growing populations, shrinking natural resources, imposition of terrorist networks that threaten the very fiscal well being of their economies.
And most of all, a planet without the hopes of a viable future without the cooperation of the governments of the world and their ability to stem the deadly build up of a 'silly gas' called carbon dioxide.
While every country has to defend its sovereignty and find a way to build an economy for its people, there are huge pressures in areas of national defense and 'international intelligence' that cause barriers to potentially solving the problems that beset all the peoples of the globe and not just ONE people of this Earth. I want to impose the word 'cooperation' but it is more than that, it is a 'manner of inventory' of the global communities ability to 'survive' the incidious proliferation of terrorist networks.
The 'idea' that we are democracies or communist nations is irrelivant to the best outcome of these hideous circumstances imposed on us by a powerful man in the White House for eight years that has grossly misdirected the activities of the USA government. I have watched while the global community positioned itself in preventing the complete indulgence of a USA War-mongering President and was proud of every country that committed itself to peace rather than indulging the 'Military War Complex' of their economies and that of the USA.
We have a new awakening and a new beginning with a new USA President-Elect that has the 'guts' to speak the truth and seek alliance in ways that breaks down barriers to allow rebuilding of international standing of all countries to the end of terrorist networks globally. I believe the world has the resources, the ability and the insight to see their way clear to overcoming all the 'global problems' that exist. There has to be a venue of peace between all countries and for those lead by people that would rather build nuclear weapons before stabilizing their own economies and providing for their people need to be brought to 'answer for such' humanitarian abuses.
I believe it is possible to uphold the cultural dignity of all people, while seeking strong economies and securing a troposphere to Earth that is benevolent and sustaining. It is achievable, but, not by one country or one 'scheme' so much as the realization of all countries that we are a community that acts 'together' in ways that thwarts terrorists, hatred and inhumane outcomes.
If we are to have an Earth sustainable, we need to have economies that are sustainable in every country with the removal of poverty and the promise of tomorrow. It can be done if we all refuse to accept anything less. If we confront tomorrow with a vision of equity among peoples and the reassurance that all countries will 'survive the day' when it comes to the imposition of terrorist networks determined to undermine the very value systems that have made all countries great and survivors of an assault they never expected from a country long trusted in the USA.
It is the goal of this entry to create 'pause' that would seek different outcomes while looking away from profit before humanity. The world is far too small and the outcomes to governments far too tenuous, as we have noted recently with Pakistan and South Africa, to allow any one government to 'hang in the balance' of demise either economically or environmentally. We are at a juncture. It can be a valuable junction to the future of all people or it can become a place where 'everyone is for themselves' seeking further protections from the USA and its seemingly errandic mechanisms of democracy.
It would be beneficial to all countries including that of the USA, if there were a closure to the opportunity of leaders that would 'devolve' the best outcome of peoples and hence disaffect economies and open venues of potential terrorist proliferation. It will require determination by all governments to achieve such lofty goals. I believe in witnessing the harnessing of 'will' by the global community to the best outcome of the USA in recent months, that it can happen and the future of our children can be secured.
I propose a 'toast' to all those that can see a vision of peace, laced with national security, economic stability and environmental well being.
Come on, Michelle, lead the way. Don't expect another 'fashionably correct' Jackie O or 'Dress on Loan' Nancy Reagan, but, inspiration to a modern day woman in touch with fashion as well as her 'daily schedule' would be refreshing and a huge distraction from the drugery of economic worries.
For Hillary it was the 'pant suit,' for Jackie the Pillbox Hat, what will it be for the Obama women? I can't wait. It is stated that during Depressions and Recessions the hemlines go up to save fabric. What will 'the status quo' look like and how will DC ladies 'dress for the occasion?'
Greer lets loose on Michelle Obama's 'butcher's apron' (click title to entry, thank you) November 19, 2008 - 7:05PM Feminist Germaine Greer says the dress Michelle Obama wore to her husband's US election declaration was a "butcher's apron" and looked like a "geometrical haemorrhage". In her regular column for the Guardian, Greer calls the outfit "All black with an eye-burning red panel that splattered itself down the front like a geometrical haemorrhage". It was "a poster in the most disturbing colours known to man, the colours of chaos. Coral snakes and venomous spiders signal their destructive potential by the display of similarly violent contrasts"....
Fit first couple: Obamas find time for daily workouts, leaving no excuses for the rest of us (click here) By DEANNA BELLANDI Associated Press Writer 3:11 AM EST, November 19, 2008 CHICAGO (AP) _ Many women recoil at the thought of baring their arms in sleeveless dresses or blouses, but not Michelle Obama — half of the fabulously fit new first couple. Both President-elect Barack Obama and the future first lady have exercise routines that would put most people to shame. Michelle Obama used to join a friend for 4:30 a.m. workouts, and Barack Obama usually starts his day in the gym. Michelle Obama has hosted "The View," been interviewed on "60 Minutes," graced the cover of Newsweek and hit the campaign trail, all with her buff arms bared. "One of the things I always talk about is got to exercise," the 44-year-old mother of two told an overwhelmingly female crowd at a campaign event last year in Chicago....
Obama gains 'GQ' honors, '60 Minutes' viewers (click here) November 18, 2008 GQ has named Barack Obama one of its "Men of the Year" - along with Baltimore's Michael Phelps and actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Jon Hamm - with a cover and article that went to press before Election Day, says the Huffington Post. The article about Obama - also named "Game Changer of the Year" - was written by Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Meanwhile, Obama's appearance on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday night gave the venerable news show its highest overnight ratings in nearly a decade, according to Nielsen Media Research. Steve Kroft spent almost the entire hour interviewing the president-elect and Michelle Obama, drawing 24.5 million viewers, according to the preliminary Nielsen estimate. That is more viewers than for any other episode of a prime-time show seen this season and is the biggest audience for 60 Minutes since January 1999.
One of the aspects of China that Americans have always valued is its diverse and benevolent cultures. The aspects of Eastern medicines and 'states of emotional' well being have always been a focus to the people of the USA. The variety of cultures throughout the East is more valuable than any aspect of Western culture when one realizes how deeply these 'methodologies' of living have contributed to modern era self-reliance.
The Eastern cultures are ancient compared to the juvenile nature of the USA. By valuing their way of life and their self reliance, we have learned a great deal to enhance our own cultures. The cultures of China have added to The West's quality of life, as has the cultures of the Japanese and all Eastern countries. Through their long existence, these cultures have matured in their ability to achieve higher forms of human condition than we could ever achieve.
In the USA we use mechanization and technology in our personal lives as an expression of 'status.' That isn't status and the larger the High Definition Digital Set the more status one can claim. Somehow, being able to lock elbows over a beer belly during the half time of Monday Night Football is actully supposed to mean something, when all it means is that one more day has gone by that Americans are contributing to their 'economy of entertainment.'
The 'mindful' cultures of the East have taught us more about our own state of mind, or lack thereof, then any other aspect of Earth's resources. They reach beyond the 'idea' of war and realize 'peace' is a choice that is valuable and attainable. The Eastern cultures have a powerful message, but, one that has brought them a modern day reality they seek to avoid, that they are the most vulnerable to terrorist networks that operate on 'hate' of those 'weaker' than the automatic weapons they covet.
China needs to value all its people as well as those that can enhance its economy. The economy of 'mindfulness' has been a great asset to the USA and you can ask many cancer survivors about their reality due to 'Alternative medicines.' I call on China to protect its Tibetan people and allow them 'freedom of expression' while they find a way to remain a valuable aspect of China's rich and thriving nation.
We are all grateful to the Dalai Lama for him and his work that have contributed to the spiritual awakenings of so many. We value the work of the people that are his followers and hope they continue to find contentment in their piety of life's richest resources and that is the human soul and human spirit. The Tibetan culture is one of the most valuable among us and we cannot thank them and China enough for its continued existence and freedom of developement and worship.
By Rahul Bedi in New Delhi Last Updated: 4:11PM GMT 23 Nov 2008
Although the 73-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate was unusually critical of the Chinese leadership, he attacked calls for fresh approach, centred around demands for independence. "Total independence is not practicable" he told a conference following week-long deliberations by nearly 600 Tibetan exiles in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamshala. "In the next 20 years we must be careful in our actions and planning. Otherwise there is great danger to the Tibetan community." "A majority of views have come up supporting the 'Middle Way' path to the Tibetan issue which is right," the Tibetan spiritual leader told the conclave at Dharamshala where he established a government-in-exile in 1959 after fleeing Lhasa following a failed uprising against Chinese occupation. Tibetan exiles after the meeting said they could initiate more radical protests and demand independence if China did not respond to the leadership's overtures. But they did not indicate a deadline, saying that would be guided by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan parliament-in-exile....
There is an issue with layoffs across the country. They take many forms, extending from small business owners laying off their management staff in order to run the business themselves AGAIN (Gee, what a shame), all the way up to car manufacturers' ripple effect in having dealerships close. There won't be anything government can do about it. This is the Bush White House and their answer is to 'do nothing,' so there in lies the problem.
Let's face it, the directive of CORPORATE America is to abandon the country and its labor and to move to other countries and their cheap labor markets while sucking the life out of the USA economy.
Well, they have done exactly that. Along with their corporate operations they have also taken away the tax base of the USA and have nearly trashed the fiscal stability of the USA along with it.
It is unpredictable at this point to realize the extent of the damage done by the Republican initiative to undermine the labor force of the USA to facilitate greater profits for stockholders, but, considering there are a lot of foreign companies engaged in the USA and seeking to stabilize themselves, they'll be abandoning their operations here as it costs more to operate here (click on title to entry, thank you).
The House and Senate need to return jobs to the USA economy, they need to stand their ground and demand for a return to the job market, ultimately the tax base of the USA. Everyone wants the 'bailout' for their own purpose, but, the companies receiving them are so short sighted they can't even see the 'best way forward.' The 'bailout' monies are being used for 'short term' deficit within these corporations, they aren't looking at 'long view' stability of ANY country, much less the ones that are offering 'give aways' as an attempt to end the Wall Street Crisis.
Well, there is another crisis that has to be addressed. A bigger crisis than Wall Street has and that is the MAIN STREET CRISIS. Without stabilizing that crisis first, there is no need to stabilize Wall Street.
Offering 'free money' to corporations without understanding where that money is going and how it will 'pay off' any bailout is hideous and abusive use of government. Corporations are forced to file 'plans' of payment when they declare bankruptcy. They are forced to become more efficient. They are demanded by courts of law to become accountable. Without having a government representative on every Board of Directors of every company in trouble there is only one way to know how any bailout will be successful and that is through judicial monitoring of a bankruptcy.
I think every American would like to see some loyality to the people of this country by corporations that have a long standing history with this country, however, I also believe every American knows that we cannot blindly look the other way to government 'hand outs' while American jobs (THAT WAS AMERICAN JOBS) are outsourced. The American workforces have made these companies among the strongest and greatest in the world. We can do it again with or without them. Yes, we can !
The moral responsiblity we have to our children and their well being is far greater than any loyality to corporations that are unwilling to provide products we demand to that goal.
That is a bunch of horse manure if I ever heard it ! Anyone care to observe the 'length' of the Iraqi coastline? Like what coastline! Anyone care to NOTE the larger and better protected coastline of Kuwait? Who do these people think they are? Better yet, what kind of fools do they think Americans ACTUALLY are?
GIVE ME A BREAK !
I do believe Iraq has a SURPLUS in their treasury? I suggest they expand their navy ! The USA is NOT the world's police !
Next thing ya know, Bush will be 'imagineering' another attack of Basra or worse. More innocent civilians dead and more impoverishment. No ! We are not fighting the never ending 'militia games' of the Iraqi territories. There is more 'fire power' within the borders of that country already than they ever should have had in the first place.
This is going to come as a shock to all the 'bosses' in Iraq, but, they ain't our 'favorite son' no more ! I do believe there are terrorist networks in Pakistan and Afghanistan that are REAL threats to the USA (click here). UNLESS of course, Iraq plans to welcome a terrorist initiative to their governments against the USA? Will Iraq become an 'oasis' to Osama bin Laden? Not likely. He's not Shia. And if bin Laden tries? I don't believe he'll be welcome for long. His longevity would be shortened immediately in the country that has nothing in common with his value system. They aren't going to replace Saddam anytime soon.
Iraq: Early US pullout will open way to piracy (click here) The Associated Press Published: November 22, 2008 BAGHDAD: Iraq's defense minister is warning that a premature U.S. pullout would expose Iraq to the danger of piracy in the Persian Gulf. Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi says U.S. forces currently protect Iraqi ports and their hasty withdrawal would have "grave consequences" and endanger Iraq's security and sovereignty. He told reporters Saturday that an early pullout would allow the kind of rampant piracy taking place in the Gulf of Aden to happen in the Persian Gulf....
The terrorist networks are attempting to destoy each other. I think its a heck of an idea! Why interfer? The real challenge to The West and the Middle East is to stop allowing the pirating. The ships need not enter the Gulf of Aden for now.
The ransoms have to end as well. There is NO WAY that paying for extra fuel and a little more time in shipping is going to cost what ransoms cost. There will be a DROP in the price of the goods, NOT an increase. Besides, the crews will still be alive at the end of the day.
Jeeze !
Ransoms are a positive feedback loop that has propagated an income for the global terrorist networks when everyone is trying to stop them. Its completely counter productive to ending the piracy. With every ransom paid the terrorists can improve their equipment, training and ability to carry out the terrorist act. Not only that but money is attracting more recruits.
The past two weeks saw the piracy of 9 ships. That wasn't done by a small band of men, it is a small army now. I understand there are currently 20 ships and their cargo and crew being held. That is not a small band of thugs either. If the ports of Somalia are being used for that purpose than the Somali government has given sanction to same by consent or by force. Either way there are dearly few friends to the global shipping community in Somalia.
The militaries involved in this mess need to make a quick inventory of the ships and cargo that have been hijacked and realize what kind of arms and potential weapons were taken from any and all ships. It will provide an estimate to the amount of munitions now in Somalia and their potential use. It will help with further strategy to disarm Somalia and eliminate potential for militia growth among that nation's people.
The United Nations Security Council with Saudi Arabia and Egypt (click here), need to place sanctions on all the participating countries in 'hosting' terrorist networks, even if under 'threat' by these networks. The networks will only grow and recuit civilians, so the governments need to provide safety to their citizens and take a stand against the existance of the networks including the pirates.
I mean the 'CIVILIZED' world cannot continue to consent to this. It just can't. The countries involved, regardless 'the runaway train' that exists within them, have to be brought into accounting for the activities within their borders and at their seaports. This is outrageous. They don't even have sovereignty anymore, they have relinguished sovereignty to terrorists and their elements within their society. Ask Saudi Arabia how long that sort of social 'element' is tolerated there? It isn't !
If Egypt and Saudi Arabia control the activities, or minimally monitor the activity in their sovereign reach of the Red Sea there can BEGIN to advance a measure of protection that will eventually reach the Gulf of Aden.
The concern is the abililty of networks all through this corridor. If one looks at the issues with Algiers (click here) as well as Sudan and the coast of the Red Sea extending into the Indian Ocean there appears to be a very fluid movement of these terrorist 'unites' in the region.
If they are finding Somalia a convenient place to find 'goods' to finance their activities then bringing the waters of the Indian Ocean under measured and purposeful control is a good idea. The corridor of control of these groups probably stretch through Libya into Sudan and out to the Red Sea coastline.
It is vital to 'civilization' that the countries enforce sovereign rights, otherwise, they will lose them if they haven't already. The country might be called Somalia, but, it does not have the ability to defend its borders or protect its commerce.
Islamic fighters enter Somalia pirate town and plan to attack (click title to entry, thank you) The piracy crisis in the Indian Ocean took a dramatic new twist as gunmen from Somalia's hardline Islamist movement entered the fray in hope of spoils from the hijacked Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star.
The fighters from the Shabaab militia, a fundamentalist movement likened to an African Taliban, were reported to have turned up in the port of Haradheere in southern Somalia, close to where the tanker is currently anchored. Some reports said the Islamists, who have tried to impose brutal law and order on Somalia's warring clans, had the pirates themselves in their sights. Others in Haradheere, however, said it was thought that they had arrived in the hope of collecting a share of any ransom money. The pirate group that hijacked the tanker, which is carrying $100 million worth of oil, have demanded a $25 million ransom for return of the vessel and its 25-strong crew, which includes two Britons. "The Islamists arrived searching for the pirates and the whereabouts of the Saudi ship," said a clan elder in Haradheere....
If the nations of the world are to be 'civilized,' they must harness their ability to stop insideous attacks from within their borders that threaten the lives, including quality of life, of their people. Every nation on this Earth has the ability to bring about an end to this hideous existance for people. It is a moral imperative of all nations to bring about the end of such activity.
A good stategy against the pirates is to close their ability to carry out their directive. If there is enough control in the northern Red Sea as well as newly exerted control in the India Ocean toward the Gulf of Aden, it will be no time before the pirates won't have a safe haven. Closing off the waters of Aden will provide a 'lack of opportunity' and will provide NO REASON for the piracy to be an attractive way to 'fund terrorist networks' throughout the region.
Securing the captured ships is still another issue. The people on board are valuable. It will provide a difficult situation unless the people taking them hostage need food and water to survive as well. Either way, I think there will be casualities. I am not sure there is any getting around it.
To simply 'secure' shipping channels could also provide the same 'lack of opportunity' for the terrorists of these waters, however, it increases the potential for military and civilian casualities that seems unacceptable to me. By allowing the potential for piracy to continue is nearly as bad as having it being successfully conducted.
Bush is using his Lame Duck Administration to instill regulations that will lead to wide ranging lawsuits. They are all about money and only money. The Neocons have no conscience and the 'monkeying' with the Family - Medical Leave Act is proof. Let this day, 60 days from inauguation, represent the two faced nature of the Republican Party. They 'play' with people's emotions to become elected and then slash their rights and the well being of the unborn to suit their cronies.
American should remember this day. November 21, 2008. The Day President George Walker Bush turned his back on the Unborn !
He is proposing hideous and irresponsible changes in 'regulations' beginning with the Family and Medical Leave Act whereby those taking leave will not be able to substitute paid vacation time off. Is that ridiculous or what? Now, parents (the beloved Baby Pro-Life Producers) will have to bring their infants into the world without the benefit of financial security for the length of time the mother and/or father determines to be best for that transition into parenthood by either birth or adoption.
Amazing. Bush is a hypocrit and carpetbagger.
He states he is Pro-Life, but, in the next breath denies the unborn of financially secure parents to welcome it into the world. That is incredible, how do people like him look themselves in the mirror? He favors the whims of business over that of a stable circumstance to a child birth. But, mind you, according to Bush, the newly conceived is an American citizen. Unbelievable.
Other regulatory changes are predictable from the 'hated filled' President of the USA, exploitation of National Parks and assaulting the Endangered Species Act. Bush has done nothing in his irrational 'rationalizing' except created litigation issues.
Most of these assaults won't stand for the four year tenure of the President-Elect. They are all old enough to require a revisit and bolstering especially considering the ravages of the Republicans for eight years.
After Obama takes office it will be an eye-opener to realize the extent corruption has played into the Bush/Cheney years. They can 'paper shred' from now until January 20th, but, they won't be able to hide from the very shadows of their actions that have dismantled the USA economy left by Former President Clinton and placed the USA at the disposal for war that increased the opportunity for global terrorist networks.
Somali pirates seize ninth vessel in 12 days (click title to entery - thank you) November 20, 2008 Catherine Philp, Diplomatic Correspondent The battle with pirates operating off the coast of Somalia grew yesterday when raiders seized two more ships but lost one of their own in an uneven firefight with the Indian Navy. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) described the situation yesterday as “out of control”. The surge in hijackings came as Saudi Arabia confirmed that a ransom demand had been made for the freeing of the Sirius Star supertanker, seized at the weekend with her crew of 25 and a cargo of oil worth $100 million (£65 million). Two more vessels – a Thai fishing boat with a crew of 16, and a bulk carrier, believed to be Greek, with an unknown number of people aboard – were seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, bringing the total to nine vessels in 12 days....
UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the decision of India and other countries to cooperate with Somalia to fight piracy in its waters, an issue that has gained immediacy with Somali sea bandits attempting 95 hijackings this year alone....
The terrorist networks have their own supply routes. They are well established and can strike whenever they want. The Gulf of Aden belongs to the Pirate - Terrorists. This is a sovereignty issue for all the countries in the region.
The problem is that three countries along the Gulf of Aden are dominated by the ravages of terrorist networks, the Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. What needs to occur is that all other countries accessing this shipping channel need to provide their own 'armed escort fleet' for safer shipping.
Maritime Courts have to be bolstered and the United Nations Security Council has to aggressively address the issue of piracy as a method of advancing terrorist networks which threaten national security of most nations in the region and potentially a global security issue as these networks take over more and more countries. They already have three, not including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The world's media continues to follow the long-running piracy problems in the Gulf of Aden, with interest stimulated by last week's fatal shootings by Royal Marines off the Yemeni coast and the reported sinking of a buccaneer "mothership" by the Indian Navy yesterday evening. Meanwhile, other seaborne raiders in the region successfully hijacked five merchantmen including a 300,000-ton supertanker loaded with crude oil....
The USA's response is pathetic. Bush is everyone's cheerleader !
US Navy to Global Community, "Go Get 'Em, Team. Sorry, but, we are busy testing sonar and blowing whales out of the water."
WASHINGTON — The commander of American and allied naval forces off the coast of Somalia has begun efforts to halt a spike in piracy, urging merchant vessels to sail with armed guards on board and to travel only within lanes now patrolled by warships. The commander, Vice Adm. William E. Gortney of the United States Navy, said crews of merchant ships were being taught measures that did not involve the use of force to prevent pirates from boarding their vessels. The techniques include complicated rudder movements and speed adjustments that make it hard for pirate speedboats to pull alongside, as well as simple steps like pulling up ladders that some ships leave dangling for an entire voyage....
The sovereignty issue regarding the Arctic Ocean is in regards to who gets to protect it since we are all going to be signators of The Kyoto Protocol.
It isn't about oil.
Its about saving the planet and humanity now in a void of dangerous proportion. The lack of participation by the USA in Kyoto has opened a void not easily breeched. That void will close and the 'safe keeping' of the land of the Polar Bear, Caribou (click here) and dense, flourishing fisheries will become the focus to all that is possible in returning an intact ICE CAP. We need the Arctic Ocean's cooling ability for habitable continents.
There is no war over drilling rights. That's nonsense and the next USA administation will have to address that in a Summit Agreement between all the countries involved.
...The progressive summertime opening of the Arctic (click here) has intensified a longstanding international tug of war over shipping routes and possible oil and gas deposits beneath the Arctic Ocean seabed. Last week, Russians planted a flag on the seabed at the North Pole. On Wednesday, Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, began a tour of Canada’s Arctic holdings, pledging “to vigorously protect our Arctic sovereignty as international interest in the region increases.”...
...In recent months, a Cold War-style game of imperial conquest (click here) has developed beneath the ice of the Arctic Ocean and the Northwest Passage, a submarine-driven dispute involving the United States, Norway, Denmark and especially Canada and Russia. Mr. Harper used this week's Throne Speech to signal the federal government was stepping up its presence in the Far North, pledging a bold and expensive military campaign to assert sovereignty over territory claimed by Canada, and areas of the Arctic that are still in dispute....
Moscow Asks to Stop Arctic War Intimidations (click title to entry, thank you) Wednesday, October 22, 2008 7:15 PM (Source: Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English) MOSCOW. Oct 22 (Interfax) - The talk about a possible military conflict for Arctic resources is baseless, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "Many alarmist assessments reach almost as far as the World War III in the struggle for Arctic resources. In our view, such assessments are excessive and sometimes provocative," Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy Anton Vasilyev told a press conference in Moscow on Wednesday. The region's problem will be solved on the basis of international law, in particular, Russia is currently preparing an application to expand the external borders of its continental shelf, said the Russian diplomat, but did not name the exact date of filing this application. Even if Russia is allowed to expand the borders of its continental shelf, it will not mean that Russia will have total sovereignty over this entire zone. "Article 76 of the International Convention on the Law of the Sea only stipulates the sovereignty to explore the seabed and mineral resources and the exclusive right to use the seabed and mineral resources. Pipes, cables can be built over this territory no problem, without a permit of respective nations, this zone is open to navigation," Vasilyev said. The same applies to the fishing resources, he said. "The state does not acquire any additional rights of control over the fishing resources," he said. (c) 2008 Daily News Bulletin; Moscow - English. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved. A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
This is the Australian Satellite now. The Queensland storms are directly connected to a peripheral reaching Antarctica vortex. The Antarctica Vortex actually envelopes the entire continent as it reaches the Equator in a 'heat transfer system' that has removed the frigid air from above the 3 mile high blue ice.
In the image above the peripheral dynamics coalesced at the southern tip of Australia, but, reaches to the Equator as noted in the satellite image at the bottom of this entry.
The Australian continent landmass, hot and dry, interrupted the peripheral dynamics and divided the 'air mass' into east and west wind tunnels. The reason Queensland is getting the worst of it, is because, its air circulation is more 'torturous' as it moves across a longer shoreline. It is that shoreline that is receiving a battering.
Posted 1 hour 46 minutes ago (Time is now 6:52 AM EDT on November 20, 2008) The clean-up bill following the floods and storms is tipped to go into the hundreds of millions of dollars. (ABC Online: Ben Atherton) Video: More storms forecast as clean-up bill mounts (ABC News) Audio: Storms still wreaking havoc in Brisbane (PM) Audio: Wild storms flattening NSW, Qld crops (PM) Map: Brisbane 4000 Related Story: Rain sparks calls for Qld to quit recycling plans Related Story: Parents praise ambulance after baby delivered during flood Related Story: More severe SE Qld weather likely this summer: expert Related Link: SE Qld flooding photo gallery Authorities are worried that emergency workers will be exhausted if more severe storms hit Queensland's south-east. The Bureau of Meteorology says a band of violent storms has swept through north-eastern New South Wales and is heading for south-east Queensland. Wind gusts of up to 82 kilometres per hour were recorded at Cape Byron, while Coolangatta has been battered by winds of up to 86 kilometres per hour. The weather bureau warned at 6:55pm (AEST), severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Coolangatta, Cleveland, Manly and Wynnum. "These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect Dunwich, Peel Island, southern waters of Moreton Bay and Amity Point by 7:25pm and Point Lookout and waters off North Stradbroke Island by 7:55pm," it said in a statement. Damaging winds, large hailstones, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding are likely, it said. A wind gust of 95 km/h was recorded in Toowoomba, while hailstones measuring 2 to 3cm has been reported in the Brisbane area. Fifty-two millimetres of rain fell in 25 minutes at Wonglepong. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today inspected floods after the second extreme weather event in a week, and she says hundreds of exhausted personnel are working or standing by for the next challenge. "The issue now for emergency service workers and the Australian Defence Force is managing their resources, including fatigue," she said. "For those of us who've waited a long time to see rain it's coming far too hard and far too often." Ms Bligh thought Brisbane was just starting to recover from Sunday night's storm. "We thought we'd broken the back of it last night," she said. "Overnight we say new challenges, we've got more rain on the way tonight and we know we have severe storms coming on Saturday." Ms Bligh says 100 homes and businesses have been affected by last night's flooding around Ipswich, and Lockyer Valley fields are sodden. State Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg says the scale of the disaster is enormous and he has praised the clean-up effort. Mr Springborg says it is too soon to say whether anything more could have been done to help affected residents. "The real hope that I have is if there are recommendations made, that certainly we do learn from them and improvements are made in the future," he said. "I think generally it's gone quite well and what we need to consider is whilst there may be some criticism or concern, there are a lot of people who've had very good response right from the start." Brisbane's inner-city bypass is still flooded, so tolls have been waived this evening on the Gateway Bridge. Another northside Brisbane storm centre has been set up at Keperra. There will be one at Ipswich and another is planned for Deception Bay. Lindsay Ruggieri is one of those trapped in the township of Rosewood, west of Ipswich. "I've got a set-up under the house with a couch and stereo unit and my laundry's under there," he said. "It was above my knees under water and just it's still sitting in water - it hasn't gone away." Storm warnings Boat owners are also being urged to ensure their vessels are securely moored. Police say several broke free last night and could cause problems with more storms predicted for this evening. Boat owners are asked to take extra care with high levels of debris in the Brisbane River as well as water levels continually rising and falling. The chaotic weather has prompted the Brisbane City Council to cancel all high-speed ferry services tonight. The move has been prompted by concerns about fast flows in the river, as well as floating debris. The last service will be at 6:00pm AEST and the situation will be reassessed in the morning. Meanwhile the Royal Life Saving Society of Queensland is urging motorists not to drive on flooded roads. Director Michael Darben says when roads are covered in water it can be difficult to tell what condition they are in. "Particularly when it's dark, it's cloudy, there's not much light, and when the roads may have been washed away, there's the potential that that car could get bogged or stuck in the area as the water rises," he said. The Water Commission says south-east residents can use water to clean up after storm damage without breaching the region's restrictions. Gerald Tooth says the guidelines allow for "reasonable" water use to prevent any health and safety hazards. Power out Forty thousand homes across the region have been blacked out. Energex says there have been 3,000 lightning strikes on the power network in the past two hours. Supplies have been cut across a wide area including parts of Caboolture, the Gold Coast, Logan, Beenleigh, Ashgrove, Bardon, Paddington and Red Hill. Energex says suburbs which lost power on Sunday have also suffered again tonight. More than 7,000 customers are without power in the Borders Region and on the Darling Downs after an electrical storm swept through about 4:00pm AEST. Ergon Energy says customers in Warwick, Stanthorpe and in the north-west suburbs of Toowoomba are affected. Crews are working to restore power.
Definately a bear market, in every sense of the word.
Far different than the Paulson Fortune 14,000.
The markets are global. During the current departing administration that reality was made a priority. Wall Street opened up venues in Europe and Lord only knows where else. That 'broader' sense of uncertainty adds to the possibility of the markets doing worse than even at the time of September 11th.
Speaking of September 11th, wasn't that magnanimous of Ayman al-Zawahiri (click here) to send such a warm greeting to the NEW leader of the free world. And don't believe for one minute that the rise of the ugly head of al Qaeda didnt' impact the market today, because it did.
At any rate, the uncertainty is due to the gross mishandling of the 'bailouts' and the path countries took to attempt to 'rescue' their faultering stocks. The poor judgement to date by Bush / Paulson has ADDED to this turbulence.
There is even more upsetting news in that, the USA isn't being stupid anymore in regard to its 'free money giveaways' noted today with the auto makers.
Its ONLY a 5% drop. The markets are still within the range of 8500. I'll maintain confidence in that capacity right now, although more monies are headed for bonds rather than stocks now.
7,997.28
–427.47
–5.07%
Did everyone catch the appearance of Michael Moore tonight? You should have. He is more than correct in that the car industry is NOT going to be waging the dog this time.
The majority Democratic Legislature is taking a hard look at the 'bail out' by Paulson after the continued failure of AIG. They are looking at the car manufacturers and wondering if any bailout WITHOUT a structured bankruptcy will ever work and IF there were a 'Free Money Giveaway' would the USA funds end up giving jobs to Europeans or Russians or otherwise.
The USA cannot continue to increase the debt WITHOUT returning jobs to the economy to widen the tax base and allow Americans to keep their homes.
And why provide a 'bailout' for companys that CONTINUE to deny the American consumer the products they are demanding? Why should the American Taxpayer provide any monies to an industry that continues to INSULT OUR INTELLIGENCE?
That makes sense?
No, it makes no sense.
For $25 billion, the federal government could go to Michigan and take over the current infrastructure, remodel it (WHILE PROVIDING JOBS TO THAT REMODELING PROCESS) and finally have a product that helps the USA achieve its goals of stemming Human Induced Global Warming while providing a thrifty car to Americans that puts 'disposable income' back in their pockets rather than the coffers of Big Oil.
Perhaps the Auto Manufacturers' CEOs and Wall Street didn't notice the campaign slogan of the Obama campaign. It was only one word. Just one word. Do you remember? Easy one. Go ahead I'll give you three guesses and the first two dont' count.
There ya go. See you remember now. Yep.
C H A N G E.
The difference though is that THIS TIME, the President-Elect really means it.
So, today when the three freshly 'jetted' CEOs gave their 'prepared statements' we all knew they were lying like hell ! They all made what can easily be coined as 'POLITICALLY CORRECT' statements. You know, like the rhetoric of Bush, Rove and the Republicans.
Never once did any of the three honestly state, "We really blew it all these years and dictated the type of product the American consumer could have rather than giving them what they wanted and NEEDED.'
So, there you have it. Wall Street DOESN'T UNDERSTAND Main Street. No surprise there. In not understanding Main Street, Wall Street doesn't know which way the wind is blowing and whether its filled with concern for Arctic Air rather than oil and natural gas.
There is also the issue of falling oil prices. That has an impact. That trend may continue for at least one more year. After a year, the price of oil is again believe to skyrocket. Where does that leave future investments? If in one year, there is increased inflation because better and less expensive forms of energy haven't been harnessed than what will happen to consumer's prices and the best outcome of Wall Street?
Add to that, the awakening that al Qaeda is still 'out there' and doing well with threats by Omar to march into Kabul with protections of Karzai, the resurgence of the Taliban in Pakistan, Ayman al-Zawahri calling the President-Elect a 'house negro' and the pirating of ships, and there is a lot of reason to be fiscally restrained, don't you think?
So, with all that, there is a new kind of bravery that Wall Street can't seem to muster.
I say to that 'fine' we can do without all of you to rebuild this country. And its true. Oh, yes we can. We rather not, but, if it means 'more of the same in government' than keeping and protecting the future of our democracy, our Constitution with our children in mind, than Americans will make the sacrifices. They will 'stare down' the lousy demons handed to us by over 30 years of Republican exploitation of this country and 'Take Our Country Back' and that ain't just politically, 'We Want It All Back.'
KYOTO GOALS - These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
Kyoto Protocol expires within The Barak Obama Administration, the change in USA Climate Crisis initiative can be a huge boost for the USA economy that will stop and reverse the trend in CO2 emissions.
There is a primary goal for the USA regarding Climate Change to focus on leadership while setting an example of excellance.
The USA must be a signator to Kyoto Protocol, but, it doesn't stop there. If we are to 'example' to the world we need to 'be where they are' and that is coalescing around values already recognized globally.
Realizing Kyoto expires in 2012, the USA must stop the trend of increased global emissions by taking responsibility for its' huge carbon dioxide emissions. It can BEGIN to do that by recognizing high emissions of CO2 as 'TOXIC' and CLASSIFYING it under The Clear Air Act and New Source Review (click here).In actuality, this is a human rights issue where deadly and adverse climates result from high CO2 levels. There is NO NEED to restudy the problem as the IPCC (click here) has already established 'the truth and facts.'
Within in The Clear Air Act and New Source Review there can no longer be allowed the 'status' of UNATTAINABLE. Either emission standards are met or the plants are SHUT DOWN to provide for NEW CONSTRUCTION of plants and factories that CAN MEET the new standards. IT CAN BE DONE, the federal legislation just has to 'go there.' The rest will take care of itself. They are Capital Investments that Republicans like to 'pocket' rather than 'invest' in the future of their own children. It is all very doable.
Once the USA has 'in place' the vital legislative tool to 'handle' emissions, the global standards can be set for 'beyond Kyoto 2012.' In all honesty, if the USA achieves its ambitious agenda for CO2 emissions control, the reversal will happen without disaffecting other countries. The PROBLEM always is that subsequent USA administrations can 'under cut' advances made by the Obama Administration and begin to cause a global problem again. It is up to the USA to 'set an example' and work with all other Kyoto nations to achieve their goals as an 'insurance policy' against future failure by any subsequent USA administration.
One area of International Protocol that is chronically neglected for the control of emission standards is that of 'POINT SOURCE' controls rather than 'regional' allotments. There are some 'interesting' views internationally of how 'emission sources' are identified and controlled, but, none as aggressive and 'correct' as the 'Point Source Standard' of the USA.
I sincerely believe once the USA sets its goals to controlling 25% of the carbon dioxide emissions globally, the trend will stop and reverse within this administration's influence and within its current 4 year tenure. THEN with 're-election' and continued mandate for a total of 8 years tenure by Obama we may very well see a return to freezing in the Arctic Ocean rather than a further degradation of the icefields and the ice ocean INSURING habitat for The Polar Bear. It is ambitious, but, doable ESPECIALLY considering a vital economy for the USA surrounds a change in 'infrastructure' for its work force that focuses on environment responsibility. I don't believe this is going to be all that UNACHIEVABLE for the prolonged neglect it has been given for decades and gross disregard by the Bush Administration.
...It said the biggest recent gains were by nations of the former Soviet bloc, whose emissions had risen 7.4 percent since 2000 to 3.7 billion tonnes after crashing in the early 1990s with the collapse of former smokestack industries....
...The 2006 dip of 0.1 percent from 2005 was caused mainly by a fall in U.S. emissions to 7.0 billion tonnes from 7.1 billion tonnes in 2005, helped by factors including rising oil prices and a mild winter that cut demand for heating....
Hyundai Petrochemicals Daesan 2 cracker and power plant in South Korea burns residual fuel oil and emits greenhouse gases. It is the world's 11th largest power plant. (Photo courtesy Hyundai Engineering Co Ltd)
...For the smaller group of industrialized countries that ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol (click here) setting reduction targets, emissions in 2006 were about 17 percent below the Protocol’s 1990 base line, but they still grew after 2000. The pre-2000 decrease stemmed from the economic decline of transition countries in Eastern and Central Europe in the 1990s. "The biggest recent increase in emissions of industrialized countries has come from economies in transition, which have seen a rise of 7.4 percent in greenhouse gas emissions within the 2000 to 2006 time frame," said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC....
Poland's Belchatow is the largest coal-fueled thermal power plant in Europe. (Photo courtesy Elektrownia Belchatow)
Richard Barbee climbs out the window of his ruined home in Kenly. He and his family were salvaging items from the structure Monday after a tornado ripped through early Saturday.
Martha Quillin, Staff Writer ELM CITY - The tornado that killed a boy near this Wilson County town and a woman in Kenly early Saturday morning also displaced more than 100 people and 16 of the Pittman family's dogs. "I can't have children, so the dogs are like my babies," Crystal Pittman said as she sat outside the two-story rented house she shared with her mother-in-law, Mary, and all those pooches. The dogs -- 10 adults and six new puppies -- are temporarily at the Wilson County Animal Shelter. "We don't know where we're going to live, much less where the dogs are going to live," Mary Pittman said. "We have to find a place that will let us take all the dogs."...
JOHNSTON COUNTY (WTVD) -- Residents are picking up the pieces after tornadoes cut a path of destruction through several area counties. A total of five communities, Clement, Meadows, Kenly, Elm City and Pine Level are cleaning up from the weekend storms. The twisters touched down around 3 a.m. Saturday morning killing 2 people in Wilson and Johnston Counties. The victims include 61-year-old Maryland Gomez of Kenly and 11-year-old Joshua Wiggins of Elm City....
By Martha Quillin (Raleigh) News & Observer Posted: Monday, Nov. 17, 2008 'COREY LOWENSTEIN – (RALEIGH) NEWS & OBSERVER', Richard Barbee, 39, of Kenly, holds the bumper of his overturned truck in the yard of his home. "The hand of the Lord was over us," he said. The double-wide trailer he and his family had lived in for 10 years was destroyed overnight by a tornado. He and his family were not injured. COREY LOWENSTEIN – (RALEIGH) NEWS & OBSERVER Volunteers help clean up a home destroyed by a tornado in Kenly, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 after severe weather moved through the area, killing at least two people and destroying a number of homes. Hunter Stephenson, 14, carries his dog Parker from his destroyed home in Kenly, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 after severe weather and tornadoes moved through the area. KENLY Authorities think a single tornado hop-scotching through northern Johnston and southwestern Wilson counties was responsible for the middle-of-the night destruction of 16 homes and deaths of two people, Gov. Mike Easley said today. The tornado was clocked at 140 mph in Wilson County and 135 mph just outside Kenly in Johnston County, Easley said after a helicopter tour in which he viewed piles of rubble where homes once stood. He said he viewed the damage from the air, rather than the ground, to avoid interfering with emergency workers....
Mark Begich Upsets Stevens; Wins Race for US Senate(click on title to entry, thank you)
KIMO news Story Created: Nov 19, 2008 at 3:23 AM AKST Story Updated: Nov 19, 2008 at 3:23 AM AKST It wasn't the birthday present Sen. Ted Stevens was hoping for, as he has been defeated in his attempt for re-election. On Tuesday, the Alaska division of elections counted the remaining absentee and questioned ballots - and the lead for Mark Begich only got wider. As it stands, Begich has won the race by 3,724 votes - an insurmountable lead with only a few thousand absentee ballots left to be counted. So far, there has been no word if Sen. Stevens will ask for a recount. For the latest, join ABC Alaska News tonight at 5, 6 and 10.
