I Shot an Arrow Into the Air (2/3)

"The Arrow and the Song" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I shot an arrow into the air,
It fell to earth,
I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.

I breathed a song into the air,
It fell to earth,
I knew not where;
For who has sight so keen and strong,
That it can follow the flight of song?

Long, long afterward, in an oak
I found the arrow,
still unbroke;
And the song,
from beginning to end,
I found again in the heart of a friend.

Good Night, Moon (click title to entry - thank you)

Until tomorrow...

The fearless French military.

Having a place in peace keeping initiatives is not new for the French military, especially in Africa where they have deployed on many instances to safe lives of innocent civilians.

Realizing it was the French Air Force that was closest in logics to Libya.  They refused to wait for the rest of the fleet and allies to arrive. 

The French Air Force took on the challenge of recon and implementation of the No Fly Zone because they could be "The Tip of the Spear." 

Introduction  (click here)

For decades France viewed post-colonial Africa as an exclusive sphere of influence, or pré carré. France still maintains military influence and stations thousands of its troops across the continent, from western Senegal to the Horn of Africa. But changes in its strategic priorities have this posture under review. France has folded many of its African missions into multinational operations since its unhappy experience in Rwanda in 1994, when French troops failed to intervene in the opening days of that nation's genocide. But recent, small-scale interventions in Chad indicate Paris continues to reserve the right to unilateral action....

US OPERATIONS IN AFRICA - The allies are not without 'back up.'  I am not saying any of this is a good idea or necessary, but, it exists.  The USA military budget definately reflects its role as World Police.  In my opinion, this was very much a response by Bush / Cheney to the foramtion of  'The African Union,' which Gaddaffi once was the President.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (CLICK HERE)

Author:	Stephanie Hanson

May 3, 2007

Introduction

In February 2007, President Bush announced the creation of a unified military command for Africa. This puts the continent on par, in the Pentagon’s eyes and command structure, with the Pacific Rim (Pacific Command), Europe (European Command), Latin America (Southern Command), the Middle East (Central Command), and North America (Northern Command). The Pentagon and many military analysts argue the continent’s growing strategic importance necessitates a dedicated regional command....

There is also a lot of OTHER STUFF going on in Africa which the UN and French peacekeepers are involved in.  The Ivory Coast still has a very contentious President disputing any right by anyone to challenge his presidentcy.  While they make look like a backlash due to the position of France and the UN this is more or less an ongoing dispute.

10 March 2011 Last updated at 17:48 ET

Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo bans UN and French flights (click here)

The announcement came as Alassane Ouattara, recognised by the UN as the winner of November's poll, attended a meeting in Ethiopia on the crisis.
He said an African Union (AU) panel, charged with finding a solution, confirmed he had won the disputed poll.
Mr Gbagbo has refused to attend the summit in Addis Ababa.
Speaking from the Ethiopian capital Mr Ouattara said: "The panel confirmed that I am the president-elect of the Ivorian people. It's the final decision and there's no way to go back on that"....

There are many, many dynamics playing out in Africa and they cannot be lumped into one understanding of what is transpiring.

The picture of the downed aircraft appears to be a French aircraft. (click title to entry - thank you)

Pilots could have ejected.

US Aircraft have been operating in the area for some time now, but, primarily in support of relief efforts.

U.S. Military Aircraft to Aid Egyptians Leaving Libya  (click here)

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2011 – President Barack Obama announced today he has approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help Egyptians who have fled to the Tunisian border get back home to Egypt.
Speaking from the White House, Obama said the United States and the world continue “to be outraged by the appalling violence against the Libyan people.”
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered U.S. Africa Command to take the lead for defense planning regarding the situation in Libya, according to a Pentagon statement. The DOD will continue to work in close coordination with the State Department and other agencies as needed.

Since Feb. 17, Libyan citizens have protested against Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who has ruled Libya since 1969. Gadhafi’s forces have since engaged in increasingly violent clashes with protesters throughout the country, while Libya’s military forces are divided between the two sides. An estimated 180,000 people have fled Libya, many gathering along the border with Tunisia.
“The United States is helping to lead an international effort to deter further violence, put in place unprecedented sanctions to hold the Gadhafi government accountable, and support the aspirations of the Libyan people,” Obama said.

The United States also is responding to the urgent humanitarian needs that are developing, he said....

Libyan jets are MIG-23s and 25s.

BUT.

There is also this.

A Libyan Su-23

The aircraft in the picture at the New York Times could be this aircraft.

It doesn't appear to be to me.

This is what is available on the net.

Jan. 3, 2010

LIBYAN AIR ASSETS AND AIR DEFENSE  (click here)
Main bases
Libya's air force is headquartered at Okba Ben Nafi Air Base (formerly Methega, and Wheelus AFB) located 7 miles due east of Tripoli. This is a well-equipped air base that has been developed with Russian assistance to support and maintain a full air force of over 200 combat aircraft. Another large air base is located at Benghazi and a third, Gamal Abdul Nasser Air Base, is situated a few miles southwest of Tobruk. Two other air bases are located near the Egyptian border -- at Al Kufrah Oasis and at Jabal al Uwaynat in the far south.

Air Defense
Libya deploys the SA-2, SA-3, and Crotale missiles. At least one battery of each of these types have been spotted at each of Libya's three main air bases (Okba Ben Nafi, Benghazi and Gamal Abdul Nassar). One battery of Crotale sites have been detected at each of the two smaller bases in the southeast. The Libyan Army also operates three SA-5 batteries which are currently at undisclosed locations (probably in storage.)

Aircraft
The Libyan air force is believed to consist of over 500 combat aircraft, with some reports suggesting the number is as high as 700. These aircraft include MiG-23s, MiG-25s, Su-24, Fencer 'D's, Su-27s and Mirage F.1EDs. At least one squadron of Tu-22 bombers are known to be located at Okba Ben Nafi AB....

Disarming a country doesn't come easy.  It took a great deal of brevity to make the decision by NATO to go forward with stopping the assault against the Libyan people. 

The Libyan forces and air defenses cannot hold out against NATO and the United Nations Security Council has agreed on its importance. 

This is the initial staging of the initiative.  No one said this was going to be easy.  Those air defenses were mostly probably provided to facilitate the nuclear disarmament of Libya. 

Gaddafi will throw everything he has to stop the No Fly Zone.  He won't prevail.

Why does the world ever believe leaders experiencing devastation conducted by nature aren't in denial at some level?

I believe the change in reality in Japan regarding the severity of its nuclear reactor problem was marshalled in by the arrival of the IAEA.  It is no coincidence there are changes in the way the Japanese leadership is viewing this on going tragedy since the arrival of the IAEA officials into Japan.

Japan raises nuclear alert to level 5 (click title to entry - thank you)

2011-03-18 19:40:00

Japan has raised the alert level at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant from four to five on a seven-point international scale for atomic incidents.
Level 5 is used to describe an accident with "wider consequences."
The crisis is now two levels below Ukraine's 1986 Chernobyl disaster. It also places the situation there on a par with 1979's Three Mile Island nuclear accident in the US.
The crisis was prompted by last week's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami, which has left at least 16,000 people dead or missing....

Obama warns Gaddafi

The War Powers Act allows the President to act without any Congressional approval for up to ninty days.

This "No Fly Zone" resolution by the United Nations is different than that of the one enforced by the USA, Britain and France over Iraq. Similar in its design it has different etiologies and different parameters.

The Iraq Resolution occurred after the USA took military action against Iraq after it invaded Kuwait.  There were on going issues surrounding Iraq after Operation Desert Storm.  The Kurds and the Shi'ites were still very vulnerable regardless of securing Kuwait's sovereignty and safety.  The Hussein regime was attacking these ethnic populations.  Over nearly two years following Desert Storm, the then President G. H. W. Bush went before Congress on several occassions with a review of the dynamics following the dangers to the people of Iraq.  It was through this dialogue the Congress would authorize forces to uphold the UN Resolutions surrounding Iraq. 

After President Clinton took office he continued those dynamics with the success that was intended.  We know for a fact that No Fly Zones over Iraq worked.  They allowed a great deal of peace to exist within the Kurdistan area of Iraq and they were secure and able to carry on life fairly uninterrupted.

In Southern Iraq is was very different.  While the No Fly Zone was enforced successfully, the Shi'ites were deprived of water into their wetlands and suffered shortages of food and water.  At one point, in 2002, the tensions with the Shi'ites due to the fact they were dying for lack of food and water, resulted in an uprising whereby Hussein forces killed 50,000 Iraqis.

This UN Resolution is different in that it prohibits a ground war as eventually resulted in Iraq.  We already know Libya is mostly stripped of nuclear weapons so the 'idea' an invasion is necessary at this point is questionable.  A No Fly Zone works.  We know it does.  So, establishing one that will provide relief from attack by Gaddafi forces is reasonable to consider.  Here again, the coalition carrying out these No Fly Zones is also different.  The Arab League is also joining the efforts so the dynamics against Gaddafi is mostly resolved to stop him from further harming his people.

I believe the Congress will back the UN Resolution past the nintey day War Powers Act.  If that doesn't occur that doesn't mean the effort is a scrub as the USA can still support allies of Britain, France and Arab nations that continue to carry out the resolution. 

I appreciate the 'sane tone' of Defense Secretary Gates in regard to Libya.  He has been very verbal about the deployment of USA military in the Middle East as a means of national defense for the USA.  He has been very clear about his dissent regarding entering into war in the Middle East.  I appreciate that and it cannot be overlooked to the brevity his opinion must take in regard to any actions there.

..."This is not a question of whether (click title to entry -thank you) we or our allies can do this. We can do it," Gates told reporters aboard his plane after a visit to Bahrain.

"The question is whether it's a wise thing to do and that's the discussion that's going on at a political level," he said....

It seems all too clear to me this is more a humantarian resolution by the United Nations.  A humanitarian measure that requries a military effort.  That may seem strange, but, it is not unusual.  The No Fly Zones over Iraq worked out to be a humanitarian initiative that worked.  It worked very well and even disarmed Iraq for the untrustworthyness of its leaders.

The international community, with a delicate economic status and an ever increasing awareness of 'human rights' cannot simply stand by and let a dictator kill his own people.  That is especially true when the so called 'rebel' forces started out as peaceful demonstrators.  Those peaceful demonstrators WERE  FORCED into defending themselves and now they are becoming overwhelmed in their own defense by a dictator that cares little about them and rather portray them as dangerous criminals within Libya.  That is not the case, these people were never dangerous so much as helpless.  They were inherently helpless up to this point. 

In all honesty, if Gaddafi does not step back from his blood thirsty directives, it won't be difficult to stop him.  His forces can work against mostly poorly armed PROTESTERS, but, they won't work so well once the United Nations Coalition arrives.  Ninty days will be more than enough time to deal with this maniacal ruler and set up a plan that will isolate his ability to kill the people of Libya.  It will be enforceable and it will work.  It will provide enough breathing space for a new 'democratic government' to form without threat and provide electiosn to the people of Libya to conduct their desire for 'freedom' for the first time in their history.

The new Libyan government is already taking shape and there is emerging leadership.  While this appears to be 'another Iraq' in some 'characteristic' ways, there is every reason to believe it won't even come close.  The USA is not needed 'on the ground' once the new Libyan government has the soverign right to defend itself from even internal threats.  There will not be a wider war in Libya.  It won't be another Iraq.  Safe routes for humanitarian assistance will be established and the creation of a peaceful and benevolent government can commence once there aren't tanks rolling through the streets.

Did the Wisconsin Legislators sneak around in order to legislate and obstruct the public from attending an Open Meeting?

According to the complaint at the title to this entry, that might be the case.

Judge Maryann Sumi listens to arguments at a hearing in Dane County Circuit Court in Madison, Wis., on a request to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the Secretary of State from publishing the controversial budget repair bill. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Procedurally, what is happening is a 'stay' of the bill.  Judge Sumi is being painted as an activist judge by the Right Wing media.  She is a prudent judge.  She ordered the temporary restraining order because there is no reason not to.  She is obligated to provide a hearing for such complaints.  Whether that temporary restraining order turns into a permanent restraining order until a full hearing is conducted is a good question.  For now, Judge Sumi is saying she has to review the particulars of the case before she can rule on the new law. 

The State of Wisconsin wants to appeal the decision, but, in all honesty there isn't anything to appeal yet.  This is only a temporary restraining order.  It is almost obligatory for the case to proceed.

...Secretary of State (click here) Doug La Follette planned to publish the law on March 25, but the judge's order will prevent that from happening, at least for now....

On this alone there is an obvious violation of the public trust.  The judge has to obtain the information regarding the people that wanted to attend and could not and to determine if the room chosen for the Special Session was an OBSTRUCTION to the proceedings.  It seems obvious they manipulated the environment of the meeting room and obstructed public attendance.  That is serious stuff.  No legislation is allowed to simply carry on as if they are not in service to the public which elected them.  They cannot simply 'fix' the way a vote or hearing is conducted to have a SPECIFIC outcome.  I think this is impeachable stuff. 

The Special Session notice. 

Seating for the public and legislative staff will be limited.  Access for the public will be available by contacting the Sergeant-at-Arms staff outside the 2^nd floor entrance of the Senate Chamber 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.

LIMITED does not mean impossible to attend.  The notice to the public only needed to be announced to the people outside the door.  There were plenty of people that would have notified the Sergeant-at-Arms they wanted to attend.  It sounds like a lot of manipulation. 

The complaint

20.  That the meeting was held in the Seante Parlor, which is a small room with very limited space for the public, and was not reasonably accessible to members of the public or all citizens, in violation of Wis. Stat. %%1981(2) and 19.82(3);

I stand corrected, there were no public around to attend at all.  It was very, very manipulated.

21.  That the Capitol was locked before the meeting and that citizens who wishded to attend the meeting could not enter the building to attend the meeting, in violation of Wis. Stat. %%19.81(2), 1982(3), and 19.96:

That is only the beginning of the notice.  The notice goes on.  This is just one aspect of the complaint.  It sounds like the public trust was violated.

The proceedings violated the "3 member" provision of the notice.  There were suppose to be three members of the House and Senate.  There were only two State Senators and three House members, so the rules were violated.  This is not a minor complaint.  The public trust was violated.  There is suppose to be AT LEAST one minority member of the three representatives.  There were two State Senators because the Democratic Senators were not in state at the time.  They proceeded in violation of their own rules.  Of course, there was no Democratic Senator.

The bottom line here is that the Wisconsin Republicans VIOLATED the public trust and the procedure of the Special Session.  The law has to be struck down for it was a rush to legislate, because, their Governor was having a hissy fit.

There is nothing 'activist' about this judge.  She is upholding the law as it was written by the Repubican Senate and House.  She doesn't want to lose her job.  The best the State can do is appeal it after there is a permanent Restraining Order as it is set for hearing and HOPE there is some higher law that overrides their OWN Special Session rules.  Somehow, I don't believe the Republicans are at all realistic about this law or its integrity or its ability to be restrained by judicial review.

The Senate Democrats should still be in Illinois.

As far as I am concerned, this Special Session was simply a stunt to fool the Wisconsin Democratic Senators to return to the legislature so the Republicans can have their way about everything.  Walker puts on a lot of 'legislative drama' but very little sustance.  One has to wonder how valid ANY legislation is now that the Democratic Senators have returned UNDER  DECEPTION  AND  DURESS.   I am of the opinion that any legislation coming out of this session of the Wisconsin Legislature, including the budget, is highly litigable considering the 'circumstances' of its origins.  I also believe it can be litigated until Walker and adverse Senators and House members can be repealed.

The public outcry was significant and it is all documented both in newspapers and multi-media including video and social networking sites.  I really believe Walker and his Republicans have created a monumetal mess and they need to be removed from office.  I don't believe the problems from this session will be over soon for the people of Wisconsin.  I don't even see the concessions by the unions as valid and members need to sue for their benefits and pensions as they existed before all this happened.

I see this temporary restraining order as a beginning to restraining orders on nearly every aspect of this Wisconsin legislative session.  There are huge ethical violations and a lot impacts on the 'integrity' of the legislation.

Gadhafi's Troops Advance on Rebel-Held Cities as U.N. OKs No-Fly Zone

The sooner the 'intervention' begins the better, it will more than likely pull the Libyan military away from the rebel cities.


"No occupying forces" were words in the UN Resolution. President Obama is magnificent. I am grateful to Secretary Clinton for 'being there' and conducting the direction of this initiative. UN Ambassador Rice is awesome.

I sincerely believe at this point it is best for the rebels to find areas of shelter and wait for their freedom to be delivered. The onslaught that is about to commence is not the kind of weapons they are used to seeing in Libya and they may over estimate their ability to be discerned from targets.


THE REBELS NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY !!!!!!

17 March 2011 Last updated at 20:54 ET

Libya unrest: UK reaction to UN vote in quotes (click title to entry - thank you)

..."We have said for a long time that there should be three criteria for being able to take action under this kind of authorisation - a demonstrable need, and the actions and statements of the Gaddafi regime in recent days have provided that demonstrable need; secondly, a clear legal basis, this is the clear legal basis in a resolution of the United Nations Security Council; and third, broad support from within the region itself, and that is evident in the statement of the Arab League and the readiness to participate in a no-fly zone.
As of tonight, those three criteria are satisfied and fulfilled....

TODAY,  WORDS  BECOME  A  NEW  REALITY.

Carrie Prejean Threatens To Leave Larry King's 'Inappropriate' Interview

Donald Trump has a liability as he states he can out fund any other candidate in a run for President of the USA. He may not be able to just 'deal away' this Right Wing Former Miss USA.

Ms. Prejean would have to endorse 'The Don" and if she did;  it will be problematic in the general election.

...King asked Prejean (click title to entry - thank you) why she agreed to strike a deal with the Pageant and drop her claims of libel, slander and religious discrimination.

"Why settle since you had a fight to carry on?" King pressed.


Prejean demurred.


King asked again: "You can't even say why you settled?"...

Minutes Silence in European Parliament, as Japan dominates concerns

International Atomic Energy Agency admit worry over Japan situation

The IAEA considers the circumstances in Japan serious.

The damaged number 4 unit of the Fuhushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex in Japan on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

"...The situation is very serious," Amano, (click title to entry - thank you) who is Japanese said to the damages at the core of reactors 1,2 and 3.

Nevertheless, with workers engaged in an-all out effort to stabilize the situation, Amano stressed thta "it is not the time to say things are out of control...."

There are currently 2 missing employees and the remaining employees rotating through the site are concerned for their lives, but, they persist in carrying out efforts to stop further nuclear contamination.

March 13 - 19 is "Sunshine Week." It celebrates an open and transparent government or lack there of.

President Obama Promotes U.S.-India Partnership on Open Government  (click here)

Posted by DipNote Bloggers

November 08, 2010

As Samantha Power writes on the White House blog, President Obama attended an Expo on Democracy and Open Government in Mumbai, India, yesterday. The event highlights transparency, citizen participation, government responsiveness, and political accountability.

Before delivering his remarks, President Obama spent some time talking with expo participants and learning about their approaches to promoting open government....
.........................................
President Obama is being presented an award for his initative in Open Government.

White House Site for "Open Government Initiative."  (click here)

.................................................

The conference’s organizers (click here) are some of the nation’s most high-profile transparency advocates. Gary Bass is the founder and executive director of OMB Watch, Tom Blanton is director of the National Security Archive at the George Washington University, Danielle Brian runs the Project on Government Oversight, Lucy Dalglish is executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Patrice McDermott is director of Open The Government, a coalition of good-government groups.

“There is no question this is the first President in my experience who has personally elevated open government issues to the extent that Obama has,” Brian said in an e-mail. “That does not mean that the job is done, or that we will stop pushing for a lot more.”

............................................

Section 1  (click title to entry - thank you) 

WHEREAS, James Madison, the father of our federal Constitution, wrote that “consent of the governed” requires that the people be able to “arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,” and
WHEREAS, every citizen in our participatory democracy has an inherent right to access to government meetings and public records; and 

WHEREAS, an open and accessible government is vital to establishing and maintaining the people’s trust and confidence in their government and in the government’s ability to effectively serve its citizens; and

WHEREAS, the protection of every person’s right of access to public records and government meetings is a high priority of (name of governmental unit), and

WHEREAS, the (name of governmental unit) is committed to openness and transparency in all aspects of its operations and seeks to set a standard in this regard; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the (name of governmental unit) commits during this Sunshine Week, commemorating the 261st anniversary of James Madison’s birth, and throughout the year 2011 to work diligently to enhance the public’s access to government records and information, to increase information provided electronically and online, and to ensure that all meetings of deliberative bodies under its jurisdiction, and their committees, are fully noticed and open to the public....

Eric Cantor is incorrect.

The USA House is trying to be the tail that wags the dog.  The House Democrats will keep the government running and raise the debt ceiling if necessary.  Cantor could not be more incorrect.  Just because the Senate cannot resolve the budget for this year has no reality about the outcome of the government infrastructure and its funding.

 

We know what the Democrats are doing.  What are they suppose to do, become ideologues?  The House Democrats need to point to their constituents exactly how ludicrous the split is in the Republican ? majority ? and how it is their responsibility to keep the lights on.  It is not the fault of the Democrats if Republicans can't govern.

 

 

Posted at 03:22 PM ET, 03/16/2011

Cantor: Next step on government funding debate is up to Senate (click title to entry - thank you)

By Felicia Sonmez

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Wednesday that when it comes to figuring out a way forward on funding the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, the ball is in Senate Democrats’ court....

The difference between Republicans and Democrats can be summed up in to words.

In the case of the North Carolina legislation whereby an Emergency Room Physician could never be held liable for any actions it is easiest understood this way.

Republicans legislate because it can be done.

Democrats legislate because it should be done.

The difference between the two is morality.

The questions regarding this action by the House are simple.

House to Vote on Cutting off Funds for NPR (click title to entry - thank you)

House to vote on cutting off federal funding for National Public Radio

House Republicans are preparing another strike against public broadcasting with legislation to bar federal funding of National Public Radio and prohibit local public stations from using federal money to pay NPR dues....

What has NPR done that should remove vital funding from their programs?

Not a thing. 

So, how much has to be cut from their funding as well as every other item in the budget?

Nothing, although good politics dictates every item should receive a reduction.

Why nothing?

Because the small cuts that occur for ideological reasons won't make any difference in the final analysis of the economic recovery of the country and if anything at this point it would hurt.  The real CHANGES and not CUTS have to occur with entitlements that improve the long term deficit reduction in a real way.

Do we know exactly the best approach with entitlements?

No, altlhough changes from the past are a good guide post.

What about changes to the military budget?

There needs to be changes to the USA military budget to provide the ready force the USA needs to defend itself without having a military machine that dominates the priority of the country for political favors to cronies which in the past has lead to unnecessary wars.  It is immoral for the USA to have a mlitary that threatens global stability with the change in leadership at the federal level.  Any war the USA enters should require a concensus of support from the international community as was the case after September 11, 2001.

So, are the Repubican budget cuts moral and appropriate?

No.  They victimize citizens in the USA while providing very clear income increases to their wealthy cronies.

Is raising taxes back to Pre-Bush tax levels moral and appropriate for the most wealthy in the USA?

It is not only moral, it is appropriate and necessary.  Many of the wealthy in the USA have obtained their wealth through government initiatives and not sincerely because they invented the electric car.

I want everyone in the USA electorate to take the 4-H Pledge before going into the voting booth.

I am serious!  We ask our children to do it, so we will, too.

Now, say it along with me.

I pledge my head to clearer thinking.

My heart to greater loyalty.

My hands to larger service, and

My health to better living.

For my club, my community and my country.

THE 4-H Motto is:

"To make the best better"

Every time a voter enters the voting booth they need to clear their emotions and realize they are voting for dynamics that will definately effect their lives and the lives of their familes.

SAY THE PLEDGE.  I mean it.

The Madison Movement Grows



The New Freedom Bus

 Never realizing how draconinan, ideological and Anti-American the new Republican Governors with any majority in any legislature were going to be there are more and more movements to remove these carpetbaggers from their elected positions by the same people that put them there.

The beginnings of the Michigan movement is really interesting.  It hits at the heart of the corruption Snyder brought with him from the private sector by robbing the Michigan Brain Trust of their jobs market.

Michigan Governor to Cut Taxes for Corporations While Cutting Services for the Poor and Middle Class  (click title to entry - thank you)

Mar. 15 2011 - 4:42 pm

..."Gov. Rick Snyder (R-MI) has proposed ending his state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, cutting a $600 per child tax credit, and reducing credits for seniors, while also cutting funding for school districts by eight to ten percent. At the same time, as the Michigan League for Human Services found, the state’s business taxes would be reduced by nearly $2 billion, or 86 percent, under Snyder’s plan."....

It was noted on this blog later in the campaign during the Governor Election that Mr. Snyder enjoyed a conflict of interest regarding a new technology developed by graduates of the Michigan State university system but then employed with a burgeoning company based in Michigan.  

Snyder was President of the company financing the new technology while being CEO of the exact same company.  He never took the company to a global market but instead cashed in his chips for sales to BD which in turn has absorbed the new technology into its corporate structure promising to continue its global marketing out of Maryland.

Conflict of Interest.  Robbing Michigan of its Brain Trust to outsouce to Maryland if the USA is lucky.  And blatant corruption didn't prevent him from being elected.  Now, he is joining the ranks of the RNC's Crony Conspiracy in demoralizing a new part of the nation after they already demoralized the South.

Students began an occupation of the Michigan Capital while rallies with citizens were conducted outside.

Now, in recognition of the draconian Governor's origins the Students don't want him as a commencement speaker which he is probably demanding a handsome sum for speaking.

...Following this year's commencement, Snyder will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree.... (click here)

The University of Michigan administration is probably being intimidated into having a brand new Governor speak and awarding this degree.  Snyder is not just a controversial choice, he is an extremely poor choice that exhibits NO American sentiment toward a strong Middle Class that actually has powered a global eocnomy which initially started in the USA.

Snyder is a typical Wall Street owned and operated Republican with NO IDEAS about how a sincere economy works.  He, as they, corruptly weed through legislative actions to drain the REMAINING ASSETS of the state for exploitation.  That is NOT bringing NEW jobs to Michigan, these actions simply exhaust the State's assets.  When the assets are gone then what happens to Michigan.  Snyder will be replaced after reaping whatever rewards he can and then another Democrat will come along to built it back up again IF that is possible.

The narcissism is amazing.  Me, me, me and more me.  To hell with you.  You don't have the power.

This is what is happening in the South.  Talk about malpractice of legislators, they are today emperiling the lives of people in emergency rooms in North Carolina.  Next year it will be the entire hospital. 

Senate passes bill protecting ER doctors  (click here)

The state Senate on Wednesday voted 36-13 to approve the medical malpractice bill that gives emergency-room doctors more protection from lawsuits and limits the amount of noneconomic compensatory damages to $500,000 for each plaintiff.
Senators amended the bill to adjust the damages cap with the consumer price index every three years, so that it will keep pace with inflation.
The Senate defeated an attempt by Sen. Josh Stein, a Raleigh Democrat, to retain the current standard of "ordinary negligence" for emergency room physicians instead of the bill's "gross negligence, wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing."...

When electing conservatives to office, be afraid, be very afraid.

Sadly, the North Carolina legislature is NOTHING BUT corrupt.  They pander openly to their cronies and get away with it.  That is true in most Southern states.  This is what the RNC wants for all its cronies throughout the entire country. 

Beware of whom one votes for, you just might get what you voted for out of a fit of anger and faux propaganda.  Protest votes are NOT a good idea and voting while demoralized by hard times is DEFINATELY not a good idea.

...(State) Sen. Daniel Clodfelter, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, predicted the bill, if it passes the House as expected, will be invalidated in court. Two state Supreme Court cases have held that limits on compensatory damages amount to an unconstitutional restriction of property rights....

...(Democratic Governor Bev) Perdue vetoed a bill last week that would have saved about the same amount of money, but scooped unspent cash out of specific accounts and diverted money from trust funds. Perdue objected to taking about $8 million from job creation programs....

Catering to Chronies is a TERMINAL condition of the RNC and it will never, ever change.  The electorate needs to realize they are not voting for 'the person' when they vote for a Republican, they are voting for an ideology.  An ideology that becomes more and more extreme with each passing election in the USA.

The International Nuclear Event Scale

I believe this was developed after Chernobyl.

One might note the two other major events with nuclear plants, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, were not in a sequelae to earthquakes or tsunamis.

In my opinion, the radiation plums from Japan are NOW over fisheries with weather persciptation and this is more than a serious accident, Level Six.  There are multiple reactors at varying stages of 'deterioration' and there are significant structural damages.  It's a seven, though no fault of the Japanese and their scientists. 

This may seem bizarre to state at this time, but, even the search and rescue effort can be enhanced with salvage operations.

This boat needs to be moved back to water.  It should begin now.