Michael Moore has an interesting entry this weekend.

Benazir Bhutto in 2006 (Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville)

"There may be five chaps here and three chaps there, sitting in huts, plotting, preparing. ... But there aren't hundreds of cells working in bunkers that look like Pentagon military operations centers."

Mike has a point. There is far too much military intervention into Tribal Areas of Pakistan without the consent of the Pakistani government. The problem is that militants live among the average Pakistani citizen. When these attacks take place they kill innocent people. In years past, I have witnessed 'targeting' of terrorists that have only destroyed the KNOWN terrorist. It is possible and it should be investigated as a potential for ending the terrorist networks within Pakistan.

I rather not make this example, but, it is valid and quite accurate. To quote the exact facts from the BBC:

Sheikh Yassin was killed in a precise missile strike on March 22, 2004 (click here).
...In December 2001, one man died in clashes with Palestinian police after Sheikh Yassin was placed under house arrest.
Shooting erupted again in June 2002 when Palestinian police surrounded his house, following a spate of bloody suicide bombings against Israel.
And, in September 2003, the Israeli army attempted to kill Sheikh Yassin, while he was at the house of a Hamas colleague in Gaza.
His killing in a missile strike on 22 March 2004 was seen by analysts as an attempt to stop his group taking advantage of a proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Sheik Yassin was considered a holy man and was revered by the Palestinian people, but, in fact he sent young boys to their deaths as recruits to suicide bombings. Israel tried on many occassion to stop the ritualist holy man from his continued recruitment for suicide bombers. They were unsuccessful until one day, a missle strike aimed exactly at the car the Sheik was riding was targeted and exploded. They never knew the missile was coming, nor did it cause any other deaths.

Pakistan is a sovereign country with the right to control the activities within its borders. As seen with Syria and with increasing regularity in Pakistan, there are self-righteous attacks by the USA military on areas of these countries without the consent or knowledge of the central authority.

The reporting of the event below is somewhat blurred. It is debatable as to why that is the case, however, under the Bush administration and due to the high rate of violence it has become increasingly difficult for accurate focus to USA military interventions. So, for the sake of example I will point out a few 'jounalistic flaws' that cause 'permission' for continued USA military strikes where they should not be.

"...U.S. drones fired missiles on Monday into a Pakistani village used by Taliban commander Jalauddin Haqqani,..."

The reporting style, for whatever reason it exists, causes the reader to believe the entire Pakistani village was in support of IF not just USED by a Taliban commander. It causes the belief that the entire village is the enemy. That is not the case.

We have witnessed in Afghanistan the oppression by the Taliban. We know they are capable of some terrible behaviors. At the time bin Laden occupied Afghanistan with his regime courtesy of The Taliban, men were required to have beards, women were required to wear burkas and although some still do, that isn't because they were terrified of their own safety. Today, in Afghanistan if a man wants to shave his beard it isn't viewed as sacriledge and a death sentence.

While I am grateful for the reporting and the direct quote and account of an eyewitness, if there could be 'content' added to such reporting that would provide a clearer picture as to why some Americans view this as an egregious act by their military it would be helpful.

Villagers of both Pakistan and Afghanistan are somewhat innocent bystanders in an equivalent to a 'drive by shooting.' They are caught in the middle of a war not of their making nor their desire. While villagers are faced with consequences for lack of loyalty to such oppressive regimes, that doesn't mean they are or should be the targets of USA military intent, when it would be better to kill or capture the oppressors than kill everyone in sight.

Three killed in strike on Pakistani village-witness (click here)
08 Sep 2008 05:37:25 GMT
08 Sep 2008 05:37:25 GMT
Source: Reuters
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Sept 8 (Reuters) - At least three people were killed and up to 20 wounded when suspected U.S. drones fired missiles on Monday into a Pakistani village used by Taliban commander Jalauddin Haqqani, witnesses said.
"There were two drones and they fired three missiles," said a resident of Dandi Darpakheil, a village near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal region.
A military official said a house and madrasa founded by Haqqani was the target of the attack. (Reporting by Haji Mujtaba; writing by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Alex Richardson)


The Tribal Areas were the focus of the Late Benazir Bhutto when she returned to run for office. It was due to that focus, violence toward her began as the campaign got under way. She did nothing to inflame the circumstances, however, her focus was evident and that brought terrorists out of the woodwork to harm her and stop her progression to power within Pakistan. It didn't work and we should all be grateful it didn't work as her spouse now leads the Pakistan Peoples Party and the country of Pakistan.

The tribal areas are where terrorist networks find their best hiding places. They move among the people of that region and seek influence of the people to protect themselves from being arrested or worse. There is little at this point the Pakistani government can do about the Taliban because the country itself is in crisis. It currently has a fiscal deficit that could threaten the elected leadership. Pakistan unemployment is high resulting in hideous circumstances of impoverishment. Where impoverishment lives, so do the opportunities for terrorist networks.

...Access to basic services like primary health care and safe drinking water is denied to nearly half of the population. About 38 % of the children under five are malnourished....(click here)

The tribal areas are dangerous territory and to state otherwise would be foolishness, yet, in the wisdom of Benazir Bhutto these were the regions of Pakistan which needed her solemn attention. They are the regions that allow the migration of terrorists into precious Pakistani cities such as Karachi, wear Danny Pearl was kidnapped and subsequently murdered. The tribal areas cause many problems, but, they also have many problems and to realize that Benazir Bhutto longed to raise these people out of misery to create employ, education and quality of life speaks to the path the USA has to take to instrument the changes required to REMOVE and DESTROY terrorist 'entities' in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

When I think of the citizens of these areas the first word that comes to mind is RESPECT. The citizens of Pakistan and Afghanistan that desire a better tomorrow deserve the respect of their government, the USA and an international community that knows the brevity and consequences of their suffering.

Pakistan under Musharraf actually had a 'government within a government' that resulted in the re-establishment of a vicious regime of Taliban which now dominate the civilians of both countries. The Taliban have become accustomed to a great deal of comfort under Musharraf and I doubt sincerely it will continue when the people of Pakistan are empowered to reclaim their sense of freedom and well being. I am not so much worried about the people of Afghanistan, because, they already have education opportunities they thrive on that will liberate them at first opportunity.

The problem with assaulting these tribal areas is that violence serves the opposite of the purpose it intends. And YES. The USA air strikes, when they kill innocent people are assaults considered to be violence, that serve the purpose of the Taliban and not the PPP. The turmoil these people live in everyday has to end and it won't end so long as they view their government as their enemy rather than their liberator.

Benazir Bhutto was the liberator of the people of Pakistan, NOT, their sherrif or jailer and CERTAINLY NOT their oppressor !

...In an exclusive interview with Newsweek's Ron Moreau (click here) in his corner office in the prime minister's secretariat in Islamabad, Durrani, 67, discussed how American attacks are undercutting the country's struggle against militants, Pakistan's commitment to battling extremists in its own way, and how the historically testy relations between the country's political leaders and the military are, at least for now, proceeding smoothly. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: It has been reported that you made an urgent trip to Washington immediately following an unprecedented U.S. military ground attack in Pakistan's tribal area early last September. What was your message to the Bush administration?Durrani: I did go, but not immediately [following the attack]. First the president [Zardari] said we have to do something about this. Everyone was upset. So first I sent a letter three days [after the attack] to [U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen] Hadley, giving our point of view and strongly suggesting our opposition to this. I said it was highly unpopular in Pakistan and was causing greater anti-Americanism; that the [Pakistani] military is unhappy with this, and most important that it is not helping your cause and is counterproductive. It is doing exactly the opposite of what you are trying to do. We are trying to separate the good guys from the bad guys, trying to separate the tribes from the militants. We made it abundantly clear that this [attack] was pushing them together and creating sympathy for the militants. Soon after that I went to Washington and repeated my message personally to the White House....

72 Days until Inauguration - Change We Can Live With !

The Return to the Cold War is Over !



Moscow hopes for constructive defense shield dialog with Obama (click here)
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow hopes for a more constructive dialog with the administration of Barack Obama about the deployment of U.S. missile defense shield elements in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Democrat Obama, who is the first African American to be elected U.S. president, will assume office on January 20, 2009.
"Accords on strategic offensive arms and missile shield elements will surely be finally agreed with the new U.S. administration. We drew attention to the positions, which Barack Obama published on his website. They instill the hope that we'll be able to discuss these issues more constructively," Lavrov said.
Relations between Russia and the U.S. have plunged to a post-Cold War low in recent years over a host of differences, including the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Central Europe and a brief conflict in August between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, a Georgian breakaway republic....

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev looks at a banknote while visiting the crime laboratory of a city police department in St. Petersburg in Russia, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Serivce)

Sympathies to the families of the dead.

Four children rescued from rubble of Haiti school

Cuba survives third major hurricane, this time Paloma (click here)
Aida Perez, 44 years old, was waiting out Hurricane Paloma with her two daughters in a dormitory at the University of Camaguey inland, along with 900 others from Santa Cruz del Sur, a small city on Cuba’s southern coast. Her house was probably gone, she told an AP reporter, “But what’s important is that we are alive.”
In fact, no Cuban died as the third major hurricane to hit the country in seven weeks struck Cuba’s southern coast Nov. 8. The category 4 storm moved northeasterly to exit as a tropical storm. In Santa Cruz del Sur, 9,889 houses were damaged and 1,353 destroyed. A 12-foot wave traveled one mile inland.
Reports on pre-storm preparations underscore the contribution of hard work. When Paloma hit Guayabal, 15 miles along the coast from Santa Cruz del Sur, all 2,032 inhabitants had already been evacuated. Over 48 hours, civil defense services moved 1.2 million people via buses and trains....

Exiles Donate $100K to Hurricane Victims in Cuba, HaitiBrothers to the Rescue, who Cuban MIGs shot down and killed in 1996, sell final plane to fund donation (click here)
MIAMI -- Cuban exile group Brothers to the Rescue on Tuesday donated $100,000 obtained from the sale of the last of their planes for the benefit of victims of recent hurricanes in Cuba and Haiti.

The organization's president, Jose Basulto, told Efe that the aircraft - a Cessna Skymaster 337H - was acquired by Cuban-American businessman Benjamin Leon, who said he bought the plane because of its historical significance for his countrymen.

Basulto delivered the proceeds of the sale to Miami's Sisters of Charity, which regularly sends food and medicine to Cuba and has redoubled its efforts to collect funds to help victims of the hurricanes and tropical storms that have devastated the two Caribbean countries this year."

The plane was sold to help the victims in both countries and will be preserved for history by Leon, who is also a pilot. He'll keep it in the same condition it's in now and it was in on Feb. 24, 1996, when Cuban MiGs shot (two Brothers to the Rescue) planes" out of the sky, Basulto said....

Blizzard and Hurricane Paloma (click here - video)

The strong west to east flow of the jet stream across the U.S. is helping to fuel the early season blizzard across the Dakotas, while at the same time helping to steer Hurricane Paloma away from the Southeast.

The jet stream at this time of year flows from west to east as the winter weather pattern establishes itself.

According to Expert Senior Meterologist John Kocet, not only does the jet have an impact on the intensity of the storms slamming the Plains, it also indirectly influences the path of the sixteenth named storm of 2008.

The Winter Weather Center reports the blizzard conditions will continue into Friday as the core of the storm moves to the east across the Dakotas. More than three feet of snow has fallen in Deadwood, S.D., and across the Black Hills.

Winds topping 60 mph have created extreme whiteout conditions, forcing the closure of Interstate 90 and dozens of other highways and local roads across the western half of South Dakota.

Conditions are just as bad in North Dakota. Interstate 94 is closed west of Bismarck, as are other roads and highways in western North Dakota. As of the late afternoon hours Thursday, Bismarck was being slammed with heavy snow and temperatures tumbling into the 20s. Associated Press reports that the storm knocked out power in parts of southwestern South Dakota and western Nebraska. More than 1,000 customers in Scottsbluff, Neb., were still in the dark Thursday morning.

Snow totals in South Dakota through 10 a.m. Thursday, CST include:
Deadwood: 38 inches
Spearfish: 19 inches
Sturgis: 16 inches
Whitewood: 12 inches
Newell: 12 inches
Ralph: 10 inches

Additional snowfall information is available at the National Weather News Summaries. The snow totals are made worse by the drifting caused by the wind. Drifts as high as ten feet have been reported in Ralph, S.D. Heavy snow fell in the mountains from the Cascades to the Rockies as the storm system blasted out of the Pacific Ocean.
Cars are buried by snow in the parking lot of the Alta Ski Resort in Utah, Wed. Nov. 5, 2008. Phot courtesy of Alta Resort.The snow is good news for ski resort operators.

The combination of the storm and lake-effect snow off the Great Salt Lake has dumped over 3 feet of fresh snow at the Alta Ski Resort in Utah's Little Cottonwood Canyon. Snow is on the slopes of Keystone and Breckenridge resorts in Colorado, which will open on Friday.

The Severe Weather Center reports that showers and thunderstorms erupted Thursday afternoon in the lower Mississippi Valley. No severe weather was reported with these storms.

On Wednesday, severe storms spread across the central Plains, with Oklahoma the target of the strongest storms. Winds gusted to 60 mph during a thunderstorm in Oilton, Okla., golf ball-sized hail slammed Oklahoma City, and nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell in Guthrie, Okla.

The South Regional News story reports that the severe weather threat will continue to lessen on Friday as the storm system moves east of the Mississippi Valley. Showers and thunderstorms will slowly push through the South into Saturday.

While the winter storm batters the northern Plains, the tropics have become active late in the 2008 Atlantic basin hurricane season. The AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center reports that Paloma formed on Wednesday in the western Caribbean.

Paloma is expected to pass near the Cayman Islands Friday and to strike Cuba over the weekend as a hurricane. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands.

Paloma will reach Cuba by Sunday, becoming the latest storm this year to slam the island nation. If Paloma continues to curve to the northeast and perhaps the east, the island of Hispaniola could be threatened. Several named storms this summer led to widespread devastation that killed hundreds in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The westerly flow through the tropics will help to steer Paloma to the south of the Florida peninsula. However, rain bands could reach as far north as the Florida Keys and parts of South Florida.

Nov 16, 2008 3:21 pm US/Mountain
Colorado Couple Shares Stories Of Hurricane Paloma (click here - video)
Reporting Dave Aguilera

DENVER (CBS4) ― Lynn and Linda Martin were looking forward to their dream vacation to the Cayman Islands. They are divers and were excited about two weeks of ocean diving.

But Hurricane Paloma disrupted their plans. The Category 4 storm ended up being the second strongest storm to hit in the month of November.

"They originally said if the hurricane hit, it was going to hit Grand Cayman as a Category 1, so they figured we'd probably be safer on Cayman Brec," said Linda Martin.

The Matins ended up riding out the Category 4 hurricane."

There were a lot of people down there who had been through hurricanes before," Linda said. "They were like, 'you're going to be better off staying here. It's a cement building. It's got boards on the window.'"

The Martins say it was a long night for them.

"I was lying in the bed going 'Please God, please God,'" said Lynn Martin.

The Martins are home now but their pictures show how lucky they were. They show a destroyed island.

"Looking at the pictures brings some sadness," said Lynn. "It's a place that we've really enjoyed. It also brings sadness for the people we knew down there that lost their homes."

Luckily the Martins made it through Hurricane Paloma, but it's a vacation that won't soon forget.

She lost the election. She wore the clothes. There isn't else to say.

She needs to 'fucking' shut up and wait to appoint herself to the Senate when Stevens goes to jail.

END OF DISCUSSION !!!

Did you ever think you would see the day when Republican mouths were Weapons of Mass Destruction?

Wait. Oh, yeah. Bush.

I'll NEVER vote for her when she tries to run for President of the USA either !

She should go shoot a moose or something, it might make her feel better ! There are laws to prosecute people that do exactly this and cause harm to others by their words and actions. If anything happened OR happens to Barak or any member of his 'limited' family she could be brought up on charges.

She needs to stop whining about her lose and stop blaming OTHERS for the loss and take RESPONSIBILITY ! Typical 'Run at the Mouth' Republican, all hubris and ego without substance.

In social circles she'd be called a 'Junk Yard Dog.' Who needs it?



Palin linked to death threats against Obama (click at title to entry, thank you.
9 Nov 2008, 1243 hrs IST, PTI
WASHINGTON: The defeated Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been blamed by the Secret Service for provoking a spike in death
threats against US President-elect Barack Obama.
During the bitter election campaign, the Alaskan governor had questioned Obama's patriotism and accused him of "palling around with terrorists", citing his links with the sixties radical William Ayers.
Palin's demagogic tone may have unintentionally encouraged white supremacists to plan attacks on the future president of the US.
The Secret Service warned the Obama family last month that they had seen a dramatic surge in threats against the Democratic leader, coinciding with Palin's attacks, the Daily Telegraph newspaper has reported.
The latest details of the increase in threats to Obama come as a report by a top think tank last week had warned that he is a high risk target for racist gunmen.
"Two plots to assassinate Obama were broken up during the campaign season, and several more remain under investigation. We would expect federal authorities to uncover many more plots to attack the president that have been hatched by white supremacist ideologues," warned Stratfor, a security and intelligence analysts.
The verbal attacks by Palin on Obama had provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric, the British daily said....

73 Days until Inauguration

The job losses have hit the economy hard because they are in the places where Bush manipulated his re-election of 2004, the construction industry.

We don't need more construction, we need to evaluate the infrastructure and bring its marketability back. New housing statistics IS NOT a measure of a good economy in the USA. It is the measure of wrongful spending. The PROBLEM is that we have too many houses now. Their value needs to come back to them by providing demand through less new housing starts AND the return to the USA economy of good paying jobs. Its the jobs market that needs to be addressed and it be addressed in several ways, realizing that the American Economy is like a pyramid in that good paying jobs provide 'the stimulus' to consumerism and more jobs as demand for services by the 'well employed' come into demand. Once American workers are 'back on track' the rest takes care of itself.


US lost 240,000 jobs in October: Unemployment rate rose from 6.1% to 6.5%; Job losses in 10 months at 1.2m - over half decrease occurred in past 3 months (click here)
By Finfacts Team
Nov 7, 2008 - 2:36:29 PM
...job losses continued in manufacturing, construction, and several service-providing industries. Health care and mining continued to add jobs

It is no secret that Michigan has some of the highest unemployment/joblessness rates in the USA. There is a real reason why.

The car industry in the USA has been UNWILLING to change their strategy for the 'type' of vehicle Americans drive. They have been 'stuck' in limbo between sports car and SUV for decades. Its nonsense. Getting from one place to another shouldn't involve 'ego' so much as practicality in energy efficiency and safety in transportation.

The collapse of the American Auto Industry is a perfect opportunity for the incoming President Elect to set them back on their feet in a way that brings about the change he is demanding from any 'infrastructure partner' in the NEW America we are all looking to engage.

I believe as a 'model' for rehabiliating the American Auto Manufacturer, President Elect Obama can look toward the 'tried and true' strategy used for decades by airlines, but, with a twist.

The Airline Industry chronically declares bankruptcy only to recover in a short period of time. They use that strategy to realign their debt and income while continuing to conduct business. We all would like to see 'well run' airlines without the fiscal turbulence, but, when one looks at the 'nature of the beast' there is little the airlines can do about it due to 'industry market' fluctuations including competition from small 'start up' operations that seek to undercut the fairs of the Corporate Guys.

The American Auto Industry has before it an opportunity to become a partner to the American people through better design of their product and giving the American consumer realistic choices for their 'personal' transportation needs. Within this understanding is that Americans are finding mass transit a benefit in a world dominated by the loss of a plentiful oil supply. The American Auto Manufacturer has a place in the USA, but, it has to be realized that many modern consumers with a conscience for their children's futures are seeking a product the Ameican Auto Manufacturer might not be interested in providing.

There is peril for the President Elect if he allows currently viable jobs to leave the economy, but, at the same instance if he sinks into corporate bargaining to maintain those jobs at the COST of real change that we all can live with, there will be a continued problem in the environmental concerns of the American consumer and the industry will remain in limbo.

I propose this, let the American Auto Manufacturers continue to conduct their businesses as they see fit. Allow the bankruptcy courts supply relief to them. However, there is a place in the this for the President Elects' new administration, in that, they can offer fluid captial to the industry IF they are willing to become an American Partner and I think that is the best we can hope for with the past history of the American Auto Industry.

We can't dictate what their products can be, but, we can 'STIPULATE' in any government relief what the outcome of an American Partnership should be. The bankruptcy laws can allow the American Auto Industry to take a hard look at unions and pensions. If the President Elect offers a Partnership Act to the American Auto and Energy Industry, he can make provisions that protect unions and pensions while allowing assessment of both those assets and placing high priority on their administration and prudent use. In other words, unions can't overrun the industries for the sake of government backing and nor should pension funds be a bargaining chip in any restructuring.

The Obama Administration MUST be the adminisration of change, not because it is a political venue that is popular, but, because 'the time' is NOW to reinvigorate the American infrastructure to insure the futures of our children and their planet.


GM grapples to avoid filing bankruptcy as cash vanishes (click title to entry, thank you)
BY KATIE MERX
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
November 8, 2008
General Motors Corp., for 77 years the world's largest automaker and an icon of American industry, revealed a dire financial outlook Friday that has the company teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Ford Motor Co. delivered its own grim forecast -- although not immediately as dire as GM's position....

It is really very nice for President-Elect Obama to welcome the American Family to be a part of their family and the intimate decision between parent and child as to the best family dog. So, in keeping with the spirit of 'family fun' I propose "The First Dog" should be The Shaggy Dog.

A Wheaten Terrier is a variety that doesn't shed and is considered hypoallergenic. There is also a Wheaten Variety that is called The American Wheaten Terrier. I wish the Obama Family a great deal of luck on deciding on a family dog. It is a thrill to find the right puppy.

By the way, there are pedigree puppies that need good homes, too. They all aren't 'show stock.'





The American Wheaton Terrier (click here)

74 Days until Inauguration

Gee, whiz. I thought there were economic hard times in the USA. Personally. I think this 'run on guns' is a waste of money. But, if people want to waste their money, who's to say differently.

Gun sales spike after Obama election (video) (click title to entry, thank you)

Thank you to the New York Times. There might actually be a chance we can void the Bush aggressions with THE TRUTH !

The "idea" that we can actually assemble a re-alliance of Russia and the USA to defeat global terrorist networks that have escalated since the illegitimate war in Iraq is paramont to world peace and economic stability.

Dear God I don't believe this article. Pinch me.

Russia and its beautiful people are NOT our enemy ! They never have been but are easy scapegoats for Republican Neocon rhetoric and politics. Putin is a genius. I am so grateful for him and to him that he navigated the international waters as well as he did while there was a Bush in power.


Georgian forces fired rockets at South Ossetia in August.

Georgia Claims on Russia War Called Into Question (click title to entry, thank you)

This article points to the FACT that the new government in Georgia was more full of hubris and "W"rongful directives than actual competency. What was Russia supposed to do? Stand by. Stand by and let people die because to 'escalate' a cross border offensive when Bush was demanding to place a missile shield there and ANY movement by Russia would be considered an act of war that Bush, no different than Iraq, would meet with unrelenting and overpowering force?

Russia was CORRECT. Putin had Bush well contained into Iraq and overwhelmed with the inability to move into a global scale world war so that when Georgia tried to instigate same they met with appropriate and undenial opposition from Russia and its peacekeepers.

No 'Western journalist' bothers to look through the eyes of Russians. I remember when Kristof from the NY Times was covering the democratic movement in The Ukraine, Russia was demonized as a 'problem.' There is a REALITY no one bothers to discover because it might actually mean there IS NO REASON FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS. Gee wouldn't that be a shame?

Every country is allowed to have its sovereignty UNLESS it proves to be so unstable that it complicates the well being of its people, other peoples and their governments. Russia is not only allowed to have its sovereignty, but, to lose Russia as a people and nation would be completely "W"rong and would cause a global shift of 'stability' that would destroy democracy.

Democracy in the USA under Bush/Cheney was nearly destroyed. If it weren't for those willing to be 'the counter culture' to the Neocons, the USA would be a far different country than it is today and Barak Obama would never be President. So, everyone that begins to USE the Old World Russian image of 'communism' as a reason to HATE, needs to put that idea away FOREVER. As a matter of FACT, with the new expansion of Russian influence globally and it's military fluidity, Bush actually did THE BALANCE OF POWER a great big favor.

Russia is more interested in peace than any country on Earth and when it comes to defending its sovereignty, the old Oligarchs need to MEASURE THEIR STEPS in the world. Russia is allowed to defend itself on any terms.

The issue with the breakdown of the Soviet Union isn't as much 'an issue' to Russia as one might consider. Russia has a profound vulnerability. It is HUGE. The land mass of Russia ALONE creates sovereignty issues. If a country cannot defend itself and defend itself well, it won't remain sovereign. Russia has an issue with its 'square mile' content. Every leader of that county, especially KGB, understands that, acknowledges it and acts to thwart that reality.

Into that reality governs the leadership of Russia that has demanded ONLY one thing from its 'nation-states' when it was the Soviet Union and its' 'border Former States' now that it is Russia. THAT ONE THING is the 'idea' of 'stable governing bodies' within a nation. It is a means of control for the protection of Russia. If a country, especially a border country, is 'knocked' off balance it is a direct threat to Russian sovereignty that can escalate exponentially in a short period of time.

The global community should NEVER permit incompetency in governments anywhere and the 'tone' of The West needs to begin to lead to reconciliation of Old World Images of communism and the 'ideology' that the world can actually be entirely a democracy. Its a hideous notion and one that has to end.

There is ONLY ONE approach to 'individual rights' of the peoples of any nation. That approach is to be guaranteed to any people the idea of 'human rights.' The 'rest' takes care of itself. Where people are guaranteed quality of life whereby they are fed and healthy, then and only then, can other hierarchies come into play such as education and individual freedoms. Achieving 'democracy' for the sake of democracy through war is egregious to human rights. Using the 'spread of democracy' as a reason for war is nothing but expansionism.

But, to realize that the nations bordering Russia can be lead by idiots like the kind of Georgia is to realize that Russia is not going to put up with the entire mess and shouldn't.

Russia had done the right and best 'thing' here and I defy anyone to say differently. They stopped the 'childish' ideology that was manipulated by the Bush ? diplomatic ? corp that actually thought they could justify a missile defense shield in Georgia while using Iranian potential to mask its' TRUE rational, which was to find methodologies to invade Russia.

It is my estimation that Bush/Cheney were attempting to instill enough 'false security' to Russian border states that they would actually amass armies to cause instability along the 'entire' of their shared borders.

Yeah, right !

The 'breed' of American Neocon is the worst enemy the world has had since Hitler. At least Hitler was realistic in the potential of Germany's threat. The American Neocon are nothing but 'hubris experts' that use images to create false hopes to those that are 'power hungry' laced with greed and wealth.

The FACT of the matter is that The American Military Industrial Complex was never meant to be a 'profiteers' dream come true. Under Eisenhower, it was supposed to establish MILITARY SECURITY for the USA following Hitler's reign. That 'entity' is supposed to be an intricate part of the USA national defense, but has been used by Neocons over the decades to exploit wealth and build false sense of security in places like Georgia whereby 'immature' leadership thinks they can actually roll over top of people rather than find a PEACEFUL solution to unrest within their country.

Georgia leadership attempted a 'genocide' of South Ossetia because they were a 'separatist' ETHNICITY within 'current' Georgia borders. That genocide was facilitated by the American Military Industrial Complex and it should be held JUST as responsible for arms sales that allowed the Georgian President to nearly annhilate its own people in an entire region of the country.

Russia has facilitated 'a security' for the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by moving into the territory, stopping the aggression by the Georgian government and declaring autonomous sovereignty of both these small countries (ethnicities) while taking them on as allies to Russia.

Russia did good and I admire them.

It will be up to the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia to promote their small sovereignties to the global community and seek acknowledgement with international recognition by exhibiting stable economies (in a troubled economic climate that ain't easy) and a recognizable social culture. They do not need huge military complexes to protect their sovereign ethnic countries, they simply need to have strong alliances with a country such as Russia that will defend the new nation as it would defend itself while leaving autonomous and benevolent government structures in place.

Losses today on the DOW a little less than 5%.

8,695.79
–443.48
–4.85%

The severe 'fall off' slowed significantly at about 1:45 PM. I still believe 8500 is the low point. It hasn't really descended very far below 'that mark' since it started its decline this year. Lately, the markets seem to 'be happy' about 'that mark.' The other markets are sustaining losses as well, all are around 4 - 5 percent. This will go on. I'm not really more worried today than two weeks ago.

The USA has to wait for a transition into a government that are WILLING to put people back to work to re-establish the American economy rather than faux stimulus plans that simply drop enough cash in the markets to 'see it through the holidays.' It is a flash in the pan economy. It isn't sustainable and contributes to the debt of the country. Grow the tax base and solve the country's problems, basically. I don't see any other alternative.

Change is coming.


WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Commercial banks, investment banks, American International Group, and commercial paper issuers borrowed $590 billion from the Federal Reserve as of Wednesday, the Fed reported Thursday. This is up from $408 billion in the previous week. The increase reflected $243.3 billion in commercial paper purchased by the central bank under a new facility. The program is aimed at allowing nonfinancial firms to restart issuing commercial paper to pay for near-term funding needs. As of Wednesday, Nov. 5, commercial banks borrowed $108.6 billion, the investment banks and broker-dealers borrowed $71.6 billion and AIG borrowed $81.2 billion.

Did the 'bailout' work?

No.

Global financial markets close with major losses (click here)
Published: Thursday 06 November 2008 21:45 UTC Last updated: Thursday 06 November 2008 21:45 UTC On Thursday, global financial markets closed showing major losses, with investors worried that the credit crisis is having an increasing impact on the real economy. Central banks in Europe announced steep interest rate cuts, but were unable to halt the markets' decline....

Paloma rapidly strengthens into Category 1 Hurricane

Interactive Atlantic hurricane tracking map (click here)


Paloma rapidly strengthens into Category 1 Hurricane (click here)
by NOLA.com
Thursday November 06, 2008, 6:06 PM
...At 6 p.m., the center of Hurricane Paloma was located near latitude 16.9 north, longitude 81.7 west, about 165 miles south of Grand Cayman and about 280 miles west-southwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Paloma is now moving toward the north near 12 mph. This general motion is expected to continue tonight and most of day on Friday, with a gradual turn toward the northeast forecast to occur late Friday and on Saturday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts. Paloma is now a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Paloma continues to rapidly organize and additional strengthening is likely. Paloma is expected to become a category 2 hurricane on Friday.
Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center. During the past hour, NOAA buoy 42057 located just east of the center reported a one-minute sustained wind of 71 mph and a wind gust to 78 mph.
Paloma is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches of rain over the Cayman Islands with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches possible.


November 7, 2008
1030z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite - click title to entry for 12 hour animation, thank you

Democrats need to START to define 'failure' rather than 'just chronically run for office.'

Bush is out of there. There is dearly little that matters to any of his policy decisions especially when it comes to ratching up rhetoric or the tensions in a Return to the Cold War.

But, if Democrats are already retreating on 'the ability' to even DEFINE success, then they will begin to lose the ground they have won in a 'hard fought for' majority.

Having RUSSIAN MISSILES parked at the borders of FORMER Soviet States is NOT success.

Okay?

Got that?

RUSSIAN MISSILES parked at the borders of FORMER Soviet States is NOT success.

Tauscher is reacting as a typical WASHINGTON "bureaucrat" that huffs and puffs as if there is actually something that can be done with Russia from the standpoint of strong arming that nation. There isn't. The USA is tied up in an illegal, immoral and unnecessary war in Iraq, it is the USA that has increased tensions globally by playing 'brinkmanship' at every turn and has FAILED to secure either Afghanistan or Pakistan leaving them WIDE OPEN to the resurgence and SUCCESSFUL resurgence of the Taliban.

It would seem to me that 'bureaucrats' regardless of party affiliation that have NO real way of measuring the abilities of the USA to LEVERAGE power ANYWHERE in the world right now. Let's see what is the value of the US dollar today? Need to begin to understand they have a new 'lease on life' internationally and they should harness the ability to negotiate and bring about peace and non-proliferation as a 'global answer' to any form of aggression regardless where it started.

Honestly. I thought most Democrats were at least savvy enough to realize THE MAP has changed as of November 4, 2008; but; maybe they only think they have been given FREE REIGN of the power of the USA.

I don't think so ! We've already seen what that does and if that occurs again, come 2010, the Democrats won't be very happy.

THINK ABOUT IT !!!! Jerks !

Tauscher Calls Russian Comments ?unfortunate? (click here)
Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif.) dismissed recent comments by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev about redeploying missiles as primarily for his country’s “domestic consumption.”In a speech Wednesday, Medvedev said that if the United States proceeds with plans to install a ballistic missile interceptor system in Poland and the Czech Republic, Russia would deploy short-range missiles near Poland.The election of Barack Obama was recognized around the world as a positive step, said Tauscher, who leads the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee. “The only person who didn’t get the memo was President Medvedev. It was an unfortunate tenor and an unfortunate speech. But it is something we can work with.”...

Why am I not surprised? I am pleased his marriage is still intact. He should return to public office.

No Charges For New York's Ex-Gov. Spitzer

75 Days until Inauguration

Medvedev let his back bone slip seeking peace and non-proliferation.

During the years of escalating tensions between the USA and Russia under the current administration, Russia has proven its ability to reach every corner of the planet with its military prowess, including recently the shores of South America.

In order to facilitate non-proliferation and the reversal of the Bush / Cheney brinkmanship there needs to be a welcoming to American soil of President Medvedev.

I am confident the first 'ground breaking' of new understandings of non-proliferation between the USA and Russia can be garnered through a comprehensive policy regarding the nuclear status of Iran. Russia has been a partner to the Iranian reactor since it was discovered some time ago that the USA had given the Iranians bogus plans for its reactor. They have monitored the reactors progress and is ready to supply nuclear fuel rather than Iran's continued use of centrifuges.

There is much that can and should be pursued to insure the well being of allies.

Non-proliferation also includes removing 'safety nets' that permit a far to wide margin of potential deployment or exchange of nuclear weapons in the Star Wars Missile Shield. There is no need for pursuing a 'pre-emptive' strategy IF there is to be active reductions of nuclear weapons between these two countries. When Iran is made to 'stand down' from its ambitions and accepts Russian nuclear fuel and waste handling; the USA should be reassuring its European allies that a better strategy is emerging, one of sustained peace through nuclear disarmament.

Allowing Russia to feel secure within its borders is paramount to a sustainable trust and active return to strong alliances to facilitate stability to the region, including Afghanistan. Russia was one of our strongest allies post September 11, 2001; we need to reclaim the trust that will INSURE the defeat of al Qaeda and regional terrorist networks, including those at work in the Caucasus'.

RF ratification of treaties with Abkhazia, S Ossetia (click here)
29.10.2008, 20.52

MOSCOW, October 29 (Itar-Tass) -- The ratification of Russian treaties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia will give a start to their international recognition, Federation Council chairman Sergei Mironov said.
He welcomed the State Duma’s decision to ratify the treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with these states and stressed that these documents “create a legal framework for the development of cooperation in all fields, including defence”.
Having recalled that most of the population in these states are citizens of Russia, Mironov said, “Our country must ensure their security and prevent a recurrence of the Tskhinval tragedy.”...

I never doubted Russian reports that appeared at RIA Novosti, in the very first days of the war by the way, that there was a reason for the actions with Georgia. Medvedev is NOT that much further from Putin. Putin was progressive. The 'good' relations between the USA and Russia has deteriorated with the Bush Executive Branch, especially since ignoring any findings by the UN Security Council regarding the invasion of Iraq.

Joe the Plumber escapes speeding ticket due to 'negative repercussions'

Another great Republican American, 'gets off' for speeding and proud of it.


Wednesday, 5 November 2008
John McCain's electoral mascot Joe the Plumber scored a victory in his battle to keep big government off his back when police let him off the hook for speeding.
Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher, dubbed Joe the Plumber, was clocked at 50mph in a 35-mph zone in Toledo, Ohio but officers didn't issue a ticket.
They did not because it could have "negative repercussions to the department and city as a whole," according to a leaked police document reported in the Washington Post.
Mr Wurzelbacher was incorporated by Republican candidate Mr McCain into his campaign after he had confronted Barack Obama about his tax.

Hurricane season is SUPPOSED to end November 1st.

Last year TS Olga came to visit on December 11, 2008 and Cat 1 Hurricane Noel dissipated on November 2, 2008. These storms fall outside the definition of Hurricane. As I have chronically stated, these are NOT hurricanes according to the definition. They are the 'surface' manifestations of high altitude vortices.

DIFFERENT.

Very Different !!!!

Jeeze, what does it take, an act of Congress ?


Tropical Depression SEVENTEEN (click here)


November 5, 2008
2330z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)


November 5, 2008
2330z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of Northern and Western Hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop)

Kinda strange. There is this huge high pressure over the Gulf, but, a gathering storm in the Caribbean east of the Yucatan. Hm?

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:

Polar bears dying out in Russian region: expert (click here)
Oct 24, 2008
MOSCOW (AFP) — Polar bears are dying out in the remote Arctic region of Chukotka because of melting ice and increased killing by humans, an expert with the International Fund for Animal Welfare warned on Friday.
"If this tendency continues, the population will disappear very quickly, said Nikita Ovsyanikov, a researcher from Wrangel Island natural park in Chukotka who has spent the past 18 years studying polar bears in the region.
"We need to create new protected areas in the Arctic," said Ovsyanikov, who has conducted research on behalf of IFAW.
The shrinking of the Arctic ice sheet is forcing more bears to live on land in the summer where they often have trouble finding food, which means they have to go into villages to scavenge and are more likely to be shot, he said....

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W



Local Time: on November 4, 2008 at 8:22 PM AKST (12:22 AM EST on November 5, 2008)



Elevation :: 33 ft/ 10 m



Temperature :: 34 °F / 1 °C

Conditions :: Overcast



Windhill :: 34 °F / 1 °C



Humidity :: 87%



Dew Point :: 30 °F / -1 °C



Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 29.80 in / 1009 hPa (Steady)



Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers



UV :: 0 out of 16



Clouds :: Overcast 7000 ft / 2133 m
(Above Ground Level)

...and what will become of Hillary?

I hope she stays in the Senate, but, I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up with a Cabinet position either. I think she is needed in the Senate to help bring in bills that will benefit health care, the environment and give her a basis of support for her next run.

Hillary Clinton Calls Obama to Offer Congratulations (click here)
By Anne E. KornblutSen. Hillary Rodham Clinton called Sen. Barack Obama at around 11:30 p.m., offering her congratulations and her condolences on the loss of his grandmother, a Clinton spokesman said. Obama thanked her for her help, and said he looked forward to speaking to her and her husband soon.
Clinton was among the first to release a statement upon Obama's victory.
"Tonight, we are celebrating an historic victory for the American people. This was a long and hard fought campaign but the result was well worth the wait," she said.

Why would Stevens run? To keep the Alaskan Senate seat RED.

But, would 'Little Miss Sunshine' state that she would be appointing a Republican if Stevens was re-elected? Heck, no. Why? Because her Veep run would be overshadowed by consenting to corruption, that's why?

Sen. Ted Stevens holding thin margin in Alaska (click here)
By Sean Cockerham

McClatchy Newspapers

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was leading challenger Mark Begich with most of the election returns in hand Tuesday night, despite being found guilty of seven felonies and polls showing him in deep trouble.
With more than 80 percent of the precincts reporting, Stevens held a 2-percentage point advantage over Democrat Begich. About 4,000 votes separated the candidates. The razor-thin margin means the Senate race might not be decided for two weeks.
Still to be counted are roughly 40,000 absentee ballots, with more expected to arrive in the mail, as well as 9,000 uncounted early votes and thousands of questioned ballots. The state Elections Division has up to 15 days after the election to tally all the remaining ballots before finalizing the count.
If the lead holds, Stevens will shock the nation and be the first person ever re-elected to the U.S. Senate after being found guilty on criminal charges. Polls had shown the Republican down by at least 8 percentage points on the day before the election....

A word about the media. I can have a frank opinion from time to time.

Yesterday went well. I think the jubulation about 10:30 PM last night when the West Coast reported in was wonderful. It was like a veil of freedom was returning to our presence. The enthusiasm all day has been incredible and I welcome it all.

I found the interactive maps of The New York Times incredible.

But, yesterday evening until the election was won, I watched someone with an electronic map provide expert information that enlightened me to the strategies involved in winning the elections of 2008. I think John King did a remarkable job and I learned a few things last night about 'how the game was played' this year.

I hope the relationship with the public by the mass media continues to return to a happy, healthy balance. I caution. We need our country returned without any doubt or influence peddling to the status it had before there was such doubt cast on the USA or the people that are citizens.

I thank you all for a great day yesterday and the lingering effects yet today. I hope we find the audacity to be Americans again with as free a media without reprisals or victimization.

Open Letter to All - Absence of Fear

This is a picture of a solar storm that visited Earth in 2001 (click title of entry for film loop, thank you). It created an extensive borealis near the North Pole. So bright were some of the Northern Lights, I betcha Sarah Palin could see Russia from her front door.

This is the 'type' of natural event that has happened to Earth since the beginning of time, and before and after there was Modern Day Human Induced Global Warming. It has absolutely nothing to do with Human Induced Global Warming or any other warming for that matter. See, it isn't the 'incoming' cosmic storms that cause Earth to warm. It is the daily light from Sol, our sun, AFTER it enters Earth's troposphere and is converted BY EARTH into 'infrared' that Earth actually heats.

The lies and 'enforced' depetions of the Republican Party for decades have been toxic to the truth and this is simply one example. To enter into conversation otherwise, 'in the days of Republican domination, especially under the juvenile administration of Bush,' regarding Human Induced Global Warming, was to allow attacks that would cause real damage to the facts and allow 'doubt' to surface by those that would hammer away at 'the truth.' It is called oppression and intimidation. And for those that weren't intimidated and knew the truth, the Republicans inflicted 'hell' into daily lives.

The last eights years have been nothing short of a nightmare. When the election was stolen from Al Gore it seemed like there was some kind of 'glitch' in the voting status of the American Electorate. In reality, it was the Floridian Republican Machine at its best while insuring a victory for "W."

Then there was the defaming of John Kerry, who still has image problems due to Vietnam Veterans that can't live with 'the truth' of that war. His potential win was reclaimed by a Revolutionary Filmmaker and a man determined to protect the democracy promised to all of us by our Constitution. Those of us that saw through the deception and realized that 'profiteers' were along for the ride including main stream media, became those 'rebels' and 'counter culture' folks that would keep 'the truth' alive enough to make it count in 2006 and 2008.

Yesterday, the definition of "American Hero" returned to my vocabulary along with the FREELY SPOKEN truth regarding science and the dangers that lay ahead of us as we prepare to return balance to Earth's troposphere. There aren't muted words anymore. Every discussion can now be engaged without fear of reprisal. The 'oppression' of 'truth' is over and we now have an administration that says words like, "...planet in peril." He also said words like gay and lesbian. He isn't afraid of science and seeks expertise to find solutions based in solid math and science.

The Elections of 2008 have done more than give us our first real President to cross the racial divide. The Elections of 2008 have returned 'the freedom of speech' to our country without FEAR of reprisal. Reprisal that came swiftly through programmed lies to insure the status quo wasn't so rattled that it couldn't be recaptured at any given 'power play.'

Rovian hatred of 'the truth' is over. The USA is again a free country. I am looking forward to the day we have our new Hero in the White House and we can return our country to greatness.

Wasn't his speech something yesterday?

Why is it I am breathing easier today?

Joe Biden and Barak Obama to resign as US Senators

If the Obama / Biden ticket isn't careful they might lose their clear House and Senate majorities. The Governors of Delaware and Illinois will appoint new Senators to the vacant seats with the victory yesterday of the President-Elect and Vice-President Elect. But, how many more will follow suit?

Finding good help for their administration and cabinet won't be easy and a clean sweep of the Bush Bunch has to be mandatory as well as the US and global economies. Both wars are a disaster and in Afghanistan and Pakistan they are asking The Taliban to please negotiate.

So, the question remains, whom will join the new Democratic Executive Branch, how much talent will leave the House and Seante and what will Michelle's responsibilities be? The First Clinton White House saw a very active First Lady attempting health care reform, what indeed will the New First Lady's pleasure be after standing by the President on Inauguration Day?


Vice president-elect Joe Biden holds one his grand-daughters during President-elect Barack Obama's election night party at Grant Park in Chicago, Tuesday night, Nov. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

The NEW Senator from Delaware is?

The NEW Senator from Illinois is?