The weather at Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica

It is cooler at Scott Base than on the Peninsula, but, there ain't no snow. And the sailing looks remarkably easy in the middle picture.

One of my greatest concerns and one that is dearly not addressed in literature is the outcome of the Blue Ice when the Ice Terraces fail. I hope the world's populations don't learn the 'hard way.' I sincerely believe the terraces protect the Blue Ice from a shrinking base and instability of an ice mass with a very high center of gravity.

The weather in Antarctica is (Crystal Wind Chime) RIDICULOUSLY warm.

Surface winds are mostly 'still' over the Peninsula, but, there is plenty of air movement over the Blue Ice. That is what is keeping any significang accumulation of 'frigid' air. I guanantee there is sublimination of the Blue Ice in Vostok. Has to be.



Arriving Heat Transfer Systems noted.

There is absolutely no 'frigid' air over Antarctica noted below.

Why Climate Change isn't just a matter of 'warming.'

Humans have a heritage. Many have lived in one place for all their lives as have their ancestors. While others have migrated and found new ways of life without incident. But, for Ade'lie Penguines they have only known one home all their years. They only have survived on Antarctica. They don't have the 'capacity' to 'change' as people do.

They are what 'scientists' call 'hard wired.' They have lived exclusively on the Antarctica continent for so very, very long that they do not have the 'genetic variability' to change. Their instincts in nesting and feeding grounds are so deeply imprinted into their genes that they are doomed to fail on a warming Earth.

It isn't as though Antarctica will then be without Penguins. There will always be Penguins, such as the Chinstrap Penguins, that find warmer climates and migration an easy task. But, we, the people of Earth will have failed the Ade'lies. We will have allowed such drastic changes in climate that they can no longer survive in their homeland.

Oh, yeah, we can find ways to keep the species on Earth alive, but, that isn't really the point is it? We are the stewards of planet Earth, the ones that have cognition beyond most of the creatures of this planet. We are the ones that understand the dynamics of climate and science and while animals have instincts that dictate their movements and the methods they nest and reproduce, we are the 'quintessential' species that have control.

We can choose to allow an entire planet to be destroyed by our own inability to grasp the overwhelming power we have over every other species or we can find a way to be 'responsible' and protect those species that can no longer dominate a survival strategy on a warming planet they did not create.

Today, Antarctica is hideously warm. We have the ability to change the course of greenhouse gas emissions and I do not believe for one minute we cannot achieve those goals. We cannot continue on the path as we are now. Its out of the question.


Hollywood penguins threatened by climate change - January 27, 2009 (click title to entry - thank you)
...Emperor penguins rely on sea ice both as a platform to breed on, and because krill – the penguins’ main food source – thrive by grazing algae that grow on the underside of the ice. When the ice shrank suddenly in the 1970s, for instance, half of the emperor penguins in the Adélie Land were wiped out....
..."Unlike some other Antarctic bird species that have altered their life cycles, penguins don’t catch on so quickly," Jenouvrier adds – so the chances of the penguins coping with melting ice by migrating or shifting breeding patterns, for instance, are slim....


Base Arturo Prat, Antarctica (click here)

Local Time :: 3:11 AM GMT (GMT +00)

Lat/Lon :: 62.5° S 59.7° W

Elevation :: 16 ft

Temperature :: 38 °F

Conditions :: Partly Cloudy

Humidity :: 81%

Dew Point :: 34 °F

Wind :: Calm

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: 29.00 in (Rising)

Visibility :: 12.0 miles

Clouds :: Mostly Cloudy 1673 ft
(Above Ground Level)

Vostok, Antarctica (click here)

Local Time: 9:19 AM VOST (GMT +06)

Lat/Lon: 78.4° S 106.9° E

Elevation :: 11220 ft

Temperature :: -36 °F

Humidity :: 37%

Dew Point :: -46 °F

Wind :: 12 mph from the SW

Wind Gust :: -

Pressure :: in (Rising)

Visibility :: 12.0 miles

Will the voters of Minnesota ever seat a Senator?

Voters ask court to add absentees to MN Recount (click here)
By (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota voters have waded into the state's U.S. Senate election fracas as Republican Norm Coleman fights for the inclusion of disqualified absentee ballots.

Six voters told their personal stories to a three-judge panel yesterday, saying their ballots had been unfairly rejected.

A statewide recount gives Democrat Al Franken a 225-vote edge. Coleman thinks he'll have the edge, and the win, if the additional votes are counted.

Yesterday, much of the panel's time was spent with state officials, lawyers and court staff working out a plan to get about 11,000 rejected ballots to St. Paul from counties throughout the state.

The case is expected to last weeks.

Fundamental Differences - For as long as there was the North and the South it divided the country.

President Obama has a difficult job, he has to convince the elected Republican members of the House and Senate that it is in their best interest to vote 'as the people of the country' voted. The Republicans are scared of losing their party more than they already have and they simply see this as a temporary 'fix' for the Democrats.

The Republicans don't believe in Human Induced Global Warming or Stem Cell Research. They believe that religion should be taught in public classrooms and science eliminated from any cirriculum. They don't believe in a woman's right to use her own mind and morality to decide about an abortion and they don't care that 'teaching abstinence' is a failed and dangerous agenda for the country. They don't see 'helping' the states as a good idea, because they want to stop taxes and they want to eliminate government at all levels.

The Republicans are 'counter-culture' to the decisions the majority made in the election of 2008. They won't vote for any of the measures of the current President. The Republicans are waiting for the entire Obama administration to fall on its face and then reep the rewards in 2010. They are hoping the country does poorly and they are hoping the job losses increase.

The Republicans don't see the strength of this country and the will of the people as the way to economic growth and success. They cater to MULTI-NATIONAL companies and Wall Street as the only venue of saving grace for the USA economy. Yet. Those very people are the ones that caused the mess in the first place. No restraint, no regulation and now the people of the USA are supposed to bail them out and continue to do so.

I don't think so.

The Obama plan will work and it will revitalize our communities. It will put new technologies back in business creating life saving measures through genetic research, new energy measures and a change in personal transportation, either that be auto or mass transit. It will give jobs back to government infrastructure, move along necessary services, put teachers back to work, place importance on medical streamlining and advanced technologies, it will require large public work projects to replace old energy infrastructure and it will upgrade and enlighten the American road and automakers. And that is only a start.

The Republicans that are still in office don't realize how loudly the American people spoke. They aren't willing to 'give up' the idea that they will return to a majority and again attempt to rule the world with oil wars, tax cuts, rocketing deficits and outsourcing to the point where there are dearly no jobs in the USA and the country is left in ruins.

The Republicans know their people are accustomed to economic impoverishment met with religious fervor that justices their ideologies.

I don't expect to see one Republican to ever vote for a measure by President Obama. In order for him to 'reach' a bipartisan effort, he'll have to 'change the Red States' and bring them out of their economic slumps. That is his sincere challenge. Regaining the international ground is nearly the easiest part of his Presidency. Every country in the world wanted the change that President Obama has to offer, even Russia.

...Last November (click here), President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow would deploy Iskander missile systems in its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, sandwiched between NATO members Lithuania and Poland, in response to any deployment by Washington of elements of a missile defense shield in Europe....

Prime Minister Putin is talking about " inter-independence " while sounding like a capitalist.

...Putin also said the financial crisis (click here), which has already brought down energy prices, could lead to a global energy shortage.
The current dramatic decline in oil prices could trigger cuts in investment in the sector and production, and as a result a hike in prices later....

It is these changes that the future electorate of the USA will appreciate and find economic strength and rebuilding as well. President Obama will not fail. He has an entire nation and a global community intently listening to his every word and watching the signing of every bill. He will never fail, but, the Republicans that resist him will.

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park is (Crystal Ice Chime) pleasant?

We are not far from our ancestors in loving this planet, coming to know it and preserving it for generations to come !


Alexander Agassiz, a preeminent oceanographer of the 19th century, attributed the first scientific basis for exploring the Gulf Stream to American statesman Benjamin Franklin. Franklin published this map of the Gulf Stream in 1769, 200 years before a submersible named after him drifted below the surface to study this river in the ocean. (click here)


(Graph derived from Rothrock et al.: Thinning of the Arctic Sea-Ice Cover, 1999) - Click here.
...Although the U.S. Navy has collected ice data for decades, it has only allowed their use in research since the end of the Cold War. Many of the submarine sonar data on sea ice draft collected in the 1990s were acquired through the Scientific Ice Expeditions (SCICEX) program. Because these data cover most of the deep Arctic Ocean basin, they enabled an analysis of variations in ice draft over a much broader region than was previously possible....

Urgency to USA Federal Policy is an understatment.

Repeat Photography of Glaciers (click here title to entry - thank you)
High-resolution image
Image Credit: National Snow and Ice Data Center, W. O. Field, B. F. Molnia


On the left is a photograph of Muir Glacier taken on August 13, 1941, by glaciologist William O. Field; on the right, a photograph taken from the same vantage on August 31, 2004, by geologist Bruce F. Molnia of the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
According to Molnia, between 1941 and 2004 the glacier retreated more than twelve kilometers (seven miles) and thinned by more than 800 meters (875 yards).
Ocean water has filled the valley, replacing the ice of Muir Glacier; the end of the glacier has retreated out of the field of view. The glacier’s absence reveals scars where glacier ice once scraped high up against the hillside. In 2004, trees and shrubs grow thickly in the foreground, where in 1941 there was only bare rock.

Local Time :: 11:34 AM AKST (GMT -09)

Lat/Lon :: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Elevation :: 33 ft

Temperature :: 32 °F

Conditions :: Overcast

Windchill :: 26 °F

Humidity :: 87%

Dew Point :: 28 °F

Wind :: 6 mph from the SE

Pressure :: 29.70 in (Rising)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 3500 ft
(Above Ground Level)

It sounds to me as though the 'little black freezing cloud' over Al Gore's head was summoned by the Devil if that is your pleasure.

If it's Al Gore, it's cold (click here)
By Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin
POSTED January 27, 2009 1:56 PM
Stormbringer
Former Vice President Al Gore is set to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning on global climate change. Which means, of course, that it's been cold and snowing here. More of the same (freezing rain, actually) is expected while he speaks. Today's high temperature is forecast at 36 degrees, and a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until noon.
This always seems to happen to the global warming crusader. Last October, freezing temperatures followed Gore to Boston, as he gave a speech at Harvard.
In November 2006, Gore flew to Australia. Cold and snow came with him, despite that the country was nearing its summer months.
In January 2004, a Gore speech in New York was marked by a low temperature that day of 7 degrees.
In fact, climate-change skeptics and other thorns in Gore's side have dubbed the coincidental phenomenon "The Gore Effect."
Sam Kazman, general counsel with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, says it "proves that God has a really good sense of humor."
Ditto Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, who often does battle with Gore: "The ‘Gore Effect’ proves Mother Nature has a sense of humor; she seems to enjoy mocking global warming fear promoters.”

January 26, 2009, 3:08 PM
Clinton Names Special Envoy For Climate Change (click here)

On the day that President Obama took steps to change U.S. energy policy, his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, named a special envoy for climate change.

"American leadership is essential to meeting the challenges of the 21st century, and chief among those is the complex, urgent and global threat of climate change," Clinton said at a State Department ceremony, according to the Associated Press.

The special envoy is Todd Stern, who was a key negotiator for the U.S. over the Kyoto Protocol during Bill Clinton's administration. Clinton said his appointment sends "an unequivocal message that the United States will be energetic, focused, strategic and serious about addressing global climate change and the corollary issue of clean energy."

The Bush administration abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, an international effort to curb emissions, arguing that it favored other nations. There are now international efforts to draft a successor to that agreement.

"The time for denial, delay and dispute is over," Stern said, according to the AP. "The time for the United States to take up its rightful place at the negotiating table is here."

I happen to think the BBC is correct !

Protesters demonstrate in London on Saturday against the BBC (AFP photo)

Gaza is NOT an autonomous 'Nation,' but, every sympathizer on the planet seems to think any aid to that region of Palestine should be treated as if it had its own sovereignty.

It doesn't.

To continue to supply Gaza with 'aid' that is not handled and distributed in accordance with 'joint' concerns of both Palestine and Israel is a threat to the security of the children of Gaza. The children of Gaza should be secured from being human shields and child soldiers and that won't occur as long as Hamas is in control of their futures. The circumstances are loaded with potential to 'end their suffering' if handled correctly and turning 'rescue' efforts over to NOG's is NOT in the best interest of the 'security' of the entire region.

I thought Saudi Arab was involved in all this anyway. If Saudi Arabia is a 'partner' in Gaza, they need to come forward with a plan to secure the children there and incorporate it into the plans Palestine has for its people and the agreement with Israel for security of the region.

UK lawmakers pressure BBC over Gaza appeal (click here)
By GREGORY KATZ – 1 hour ago
LONDON (AP) — Emotional criticism of the British Broadcasting Corp. over its refusal to air a charity appeal for the people of Gaza intensified Tuesday as more legislators demanded the BBC change course.
More than 110 British lawmakers have endorsed motions criticizing the BBC's decision to keep the Gaza appeal off the air, said legislator Richard Burden....

Fatah, Hamas disagree on border reopening (click here)

Mona Salem I

Arab News

CAIRO: Hamas rivals Fatah called yesterday for the forming of a national unity government acceptable to the international community before Gaza’s crossings open, a position in apparent conflict with that of Hamas.

“We want a government of national unity which will supervise reconstruction and crossing points so the crossing points are completely open, so that we can bring in products necessary for reconstruction,” Azzam Al-Ahmed, who heads Fatah’s parliamentary group, told journalists....

End of Discussion.

Fatah is not getting cooperation from Hamas to save THEIR own children.

Financial Institutions in disarray, how much of Timothy Geithner is "Old World?"

The astounding reality of the Obama Presidency is that 'he gets it.' He knows that all the factories that once manufactured 'made in the USA' were vital to the tax base of the country. Barak knows that returning jobs to Americans is more than important to 'making money' it is a matter of supporting a tax base that provides for National Security.

One of the stark realities to the American Landscape is the loss of 'small town' manufacturing jobs. The ONE prime example is the loss of American made pottery, dinnerware, etc. There are dearly few manufacturing companies for something as simple and elegant as dinnerware left in the USA and below is a husband and wife success story.

What is occurring instead, and in the case of Pfaltzgraff, everything is NOW made in China. Over the years there was a 'segment' of their manufacturing that always 'outsourced' but there was always those items consistently "Made in the USA." I don't know about anyone else, but, even when American 'distributors' demand a 'certain' quality of product to sell to the American public, imports are far less desirable and in the instance of pottery can contain lead and glazings that are unsafe.

When American products are met with government standards that are enforced as well as legisltated, we have products of longevity and safety. Today, the Pfaltzgraff stamped with "Made in the USA" is an heirloom item and should be considered valuable beyond its' 'Yard Sale' price.

It is up to us, the people of this country to look beyond the 'discount' way of life we have been living and strive to return manufacturing to our towns and cities. American made pottery is only one example. We should be asking ourselves, "How much of what we purchase actually is "Made in the USA?"


In 2003, husband and wife team, Robin Petravic and Catherine Bailey purchased Heath Ceramics. Their shared mission was to revitalize the company by placing a strong emphasis on design, while preserving Edith Heath’s handcrafted techniques and design legacy. Today, classic designs, as well as new ones are made with the highest level of craftsmanship - ensuring the lasting quality and aesthetic of each of our products. (click here)


THE PFALTZGRAFF FLEMINGTON OUTLET RETAIL STORE ~ NOW CLOSED

How important is Wall Street? In actuality, not very. It is why I truly didn't care if there was a recovery at that level or not. Wall Street is about 'sameness' and maintaining the status quo to insure profits and income, not about 'change.'

The 'real economy' of the USA lies in its ability to collect taxes. Those taxes can be corporate taxes, which when and if increased won't hurt any recovery.

Why?

Because the reduction in their tax burden received for so long under Bush/Cheney was disproportionate to the responsibility they hold to the people of the USA. Under Bush; as noted with 'the extreme' Halliburton; companies' tax burdens were cut to the bone while 'supplemented' with all kinds of 'imagineering' to supposedly support R&D and expansion of an economy.

The opposite was true. Besides being willing to 'con' the American people at the pleasure of their wrongfully elected President, Halliburton did nothing to improve the American economy and now their headquarters are in Dubai. Quite frankly, good riddens.

Halliburton agrees to pay $560 million in KBR bribery case (click here)
By BRETT CLANTONCopyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Jan. 26, 2009, 11:53PM
Nearly two years after cutting ties with KBR, Halliburton Co. said Monday it has one more big bill to pay before it is free and clear of its former subsidiary.
The oil field services giant said it has agreed to shell out nearly $560 million to settle federal bribery allegations against KBR, making it the second-biggest Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlement deal ever.
Though the deal still faces final approval by the Justice Department, Halliburton said it had already set aside more than $300 million to deal with the matter, a cost that proved to be a drag on its fourth-quarter profit, which the company also reported Monday....

In the coroporate world, the less of a tax burden the companies carried the easier it is for any CEO to satisfy stockholders and the profit margins were far more reliable. When corporations have to carry their full responsibility including paying taxes to the USA Treasury they will expand their business, employ more people and produce more product.


So much for Bush/Reagan economics. The question is how much of the Geithner Treasury will reflect 'Wall Street' indulgences rather than "Main Street" bolstering? I firmly believe that when the manufacturing sector of the USA is 'on track' Wall Street takes care of itself. There is no reason to fixate on corporations IF we as Americans support local economies where we work. Keeping automakers in business is an important sector for the USA, in my opinion the auto manufacturing sector is as much a Homeland Security issue as passenger inspections to airlines. The sector has served the county well when war machines need a 'quick start-up.'

The kiss of death as Iceland loses confidence in it's government.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R) kisses Iceland's Prime Minister Geir Haarde after a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington October 11, 2006. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES) - (click here)

The Bush Years have been extremely difficult on Iceland. It met the USA demands for alliance help in Iraq by sending some of its military to support the USA troops, but, that alliance was completely disasterous to its economy. During the years Iceland was affilitated with its support in Iraq, the USA cut major spending on foreign bases in Iceland. Some of that was due to the fact that 'Star Wars' was to have a trangulation component in Iceland and the small country simply didn't want to be 'in the way' of profound retaliation by Russia and potentially China in alliance with Russia.

continued...

Iceland holds breath on fate of government (click here)
By Alex on Jan 26, 2009

A series of meetings is taking place today between the government coalition parties of Iceland, between the party leaders and internal party meetings.
Iceland’s political future is not yet known, but all sides appear committed to coming to a firm decision today.
Options include continuing as things are until the election on 9th May, or continuing the current coalition with a significant reshuffle (possibly including a Social Democrat Prime Minister instead of the current Independence Party one). Other options are a Social Democrat/Left Green/Progressive Party coalition, or a Social Democrat/Left Green Party minority government coalition.
IceNews will keep you updated as new details emerge

A few days ago this report came out of Iceland that protestors were overtaking their government. That, by the way is not a difficult task. Icelanders are usually extreme pacificists and seek domestic peace and tranquility amoung its' thermo-energy dynamics. When Icelanders turn their plows into swords (euphemistically speaking) then there is something drasticly "W"rong in the world. They accepted 'their place' when it came to Iraq, but, when the entire Icelandic banking infrastructure was degraded and food was hard pressed to be found on the table, that was the 'last straw.'

continued below, thank you:

Iceland: Rioters Attack Parliament (click here)

author: None Of Your ConcernJan 22, 2009 17:05
"But we did it peacefully!", the jubilant disciple screams at the nihilist. "What did you do peacefully?" the nihilist asks. "We changed everything." "Please," the nihilist says. "What did you change?" "Everything" "Everything?" "Everything." The ice fell into the ocean. No one had any money.
While Americans were watching the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as successor to the deeply unpopular conservative George W. Bush, thousands of Iceland's citizens were fighting riot police around the Icelandic parliament building Althingi to try to prevent the world's oldest parliament from meeting. "We are calling on the world to help us get rid of this corrupt government," Sturla Jonsson, one of protesters said in a midnight phone call from downtown Reykjavik where a crowd of about 2,000 still surrounded the Althingi House, in front of which a bonfire continued to burn. The protesters pounded drums and other instruments, shouted slogans against the government and parliament and threw eggs and food items, even old shoes at the house of parliament. The protest was nowhere close to slowing down despite it being close to midnight. The parliament postponed meeting until tomorrow afternoon, but protesters, whom police fought all day with teargas, pepperspray, and clubs, vowed to stay downtown all night, "and as long as we have to" Jonsson said. "And I want to tell you that the people gathered here are not "activists" or "militants," he added, "they are just ordinary adults of all ages." One year ago, Iceland was named the most desirable country in the world. Today, its economy has been devastated by the catastrophic collapse of its three largest banks. Unemployment rose 45% between November and December, and a recent survey indicated that 40% of households and 70% of businesses were technically bankrupt. Since the fall of the banks in October, there have been no resignations from the government, the boards of the now nationalized banks have remained substantially the same, and weekly gatherings calling for new elections have been ignored....

There was more 'steam' added to the outrage by the citizens of Iceland when they found Geir Haarde (click here), their former Prime Minister named as one of the 25 most responsible people contributing to the economic collapse of the Free World. Icelanders need some reassurance that their Prime Minister alone did not cause the collapse and more than anyone else in the global economy of The West, it was George W. Bush most responsible. Hopefully, the American outrage will continue in harmony with Iceland's and bring resolve under the new President of the USA.

I believe the 'profound' truth to the global economic crisis, now striking at the heart of the 'supply side' of the economics is that 'I TOLD YOU SO,' was sounded a full three years before any adverse consequences and it was ignored. The 'real question' is why was it ignored.

He told us so (click here)
They called him Dr Doom. He was the economist who three years ago predicted in detail a collapse of the housing market and worldwide recession - and was roundly ridiculed for it. Emma Brockes asks Nouriel Roubini what he foresees now...

The "Dr. Doom" report occurred before Hank Paulson from Goldman-Sachs took office as Treasury Secretary. In retaliation to the reports by Nouriel Roubini, Goldman-Sachs started a PR campaign that would later result in the resignation of Snow the USA Treasury Secretary and the confirmation of Hank Paulson. Paulson continued 'the denial' of obvious issues within the financial sector and road the USA economy to an all time high in the Dow of 14,000 (click here).

continued below...

...Goldman Sachs was angry with Roubini for making public statements about its poor financial health, and fought back through press statements accusing him of working from nothing more than gut instinct. (This was before the investment bank posted losses of $2.2bn.) Like the BBC's Robert Peston, he has been accused of making a bad situation worse by talking it up in public. Roubini finds this absurd. "If Ben Bernanke speaks, he can move markets, but this idea that the media is making a bigger fuss than there is [cause for] is silly. This is the worst financial crisis we've had since the Great Depression. It's going to be the worst recession the global economy has had for the last 50 years. If anything, the media were ignoring what was going on for too long. The idea that it's all driven by panic and by lack of confidence, in my view, is nonsense. If you are a consumer, think about the fundamentals: negative savings for the last couple of years, debt growth, falling home prices, losing 50% of your equity values, falling employment, everything else is going wrong for you. Of course consumer confidence is going down the tube, but is it because people are irrational? No. Your income is falling, you lose your home, you lose on the stock market. Debt, income, jobs, houses, wealth, all the things that affect welfare. If that's not bad, what's bad?"...

The entire manipulation of the 'all time high' (which wouldn't be seen again until the American people 're-harness' a manufacturing, energy and transportation sector) of the DOW was 'all steam' and no substance. It was 'blostered' on investor confidence and nothing else. It was easy to inflat egos to believe the potential was endless when investors simply continued to 'play the markets' for profit rather than 'invest' in markets for POTENTIAL.

See it goes like this and why it was easy for Nouriel Roubini to see the end coming. Markets are supposed to be places where investors can 'facilitate' expansion of 'sectors' by adding needed capital. When a company, as example Krispy Kreme, enters the market it is because it is a proven producer. So, when investors examine the prospectus of any future potential they may have many 'throughts' in mind when doing so, but the purpose of a company becoming a member of the DOW is to obtain investor capital and grow, hence returning 'dividends' to those investors. The 'dividends' are SUPPOSED to be the 'confidence' the investors seek.

The problem is that there is this 'air' that exists called 'speculation' and it can be manipulated to some extent by people who purport to 'know what is best' for investors and make market decisions for them. What Goldman-Sachs did and continues to do is supply 'air' to that speculation and when Nouriel Roubini openly stated there was a limit to any market strategy and that the current trend in 2005 was dangerous, Goldman-Sachs went ballistic and started their own campaign to 'divert' the 'truth and reality' of deception to investor profiles.

In my opinion, Goldman-Sachs was always a marginal company and should have been one of the first to be destroyed by greed and 'bad ideas.' That isn't what happened, instead, they sacrificed their CEO (A rather drastic move, wouldn't you say?) to the Bush Administration which had a HUGE 'interest' in the denial of Nouriel Roubini TRUTH. You getting the picture?

At the time when Nouriel Roubini stated the markets were headed for a huge downturn instead of harnessing 'the truth' and 'stemming' any collapse, Walker Bush decided on a Champion that would 'rocket' the markets and make a liar of Nouriel Roubini. Both Bush and Goldman-Sachs had huge interest in 'making' Nouriel Roubini to be a liar. No different than denying Human Induced Global Warming. THERE was what exactly at the center of 'the market collapse?' Come on. Based on this premise what was at the 'center' of the market collapse and why it happened?

Right. Politics and the Republican agenda for greed. Nothing else. The Republicans didn't care about the country and took all the information before them and DECIDED to 'sacrifice' the lamb rather than herding the flock. They figured if there was dire consequences on the horizon for the markets it would mean their political downfall as well. So, they slaughtered the fatted calf and decided 'if they were going to lose' THAN everyone else would as well.

The collapse of the Free World Capital Markets was due to politics NOT good government. Just that simple. Bush and Paulson 'gambled' they would win. They took speculation to the level of the USA Treasury and lost it all. The world has no other people to blame because Goldman-Sachs has been providing the necessary propaganda the entire time.

I do honestly believe most other government leaders are somewhat 'innocent' in the charges by others and while everyone can attempt to 'find the ROOT cause' of the collapse; or as Bush would say 'recession' that Iceland along with other small countires is a PROFOUND Depression; the ULTIMATE responsibility is The Republican Politica Agenda and its lack of loyalty to 'the truth' and 'good government.' The USA Republican Party runs on rhetoric and when that is tarnished by 'bad faith' in their 'philosophy/fiscal religion' than they lose elections. When investors in the USA 'get hungry' for money they turn on 'good government' and opt for people like Reagan to be elected to deregulate and exploit the USA for purposes of greed.

The USA has to 'establish' an 'honest' economy and stabilize it in the global market place so that morons that come from the RNC no longer can 'outsource' everything Americans work hard to build.

It is unfortunate when Democracy and Due Process loses its meaning.

The Illinios State Senate Chamber

...Appearing on NBC's "Today" show, Blagojevich said the trial was "rigged and it's fixed." (click title to entry - thank you)

The one true hope to Governor Blagojevich maintaining his elected authority was the impeachment trial at the Illinios State Senate. It is true that the efforts by him through his former attorney were blunted by the inability to call witnesses in his defense. The reason the Governor is not able to call witnesses is that they Illiniois State Legislature is bowing to the federal indictment by Fitzgerald.

The federal indictment is also a bit of a 'hopeful witch hunt' to attempt to taint further the issues Rod Blagojevich is facing. Fitzgerald is attempting to paint a broader picture of corruption conducted by the Governor and is even entangling his spouse at this point. While all this interesting it is questionable as to the extent this will actually 'shape up' as a viable indictment.

Regardless of what seems like 'Pay to Play' dynamics, the fact of the matter is that any state government conducts business, especially under federal Republican dynamics, with private business. Whether or not that business was given contracts 'in exchange' for donations is highly contentious and without strong evidence of 'agreed upon' amounts or specific favors the federal authorities will have a difficult time proving their case.

Realizing that Bush threw in with the Illinois Legislature by extending the authority and records of Homeland Secruity to Fitzgerald, hence, the added 'witch hunt' hoping that the so called Illiniois Corruption Machine will be revealed. I have said before there is no 'corruption machine' in Illinios, but, a cultural remnant of 'by gone days.'

I will say this, the reason so many Democrats are 'in on' impeachment of the Governor is to save their own careers, because, it is more than obvious this is a last 'Republican Hooray' by Bush to disembody the political culture that gave us a very successful and victorious President.

Basically, Blagojevich has come to the conclusion that the Illinois 'system' is broken and indeed it would seem to be the case. The Illinois House and Senate are marching to their own drummer and not 'accommodating' a needed defense for the Governor. What the process being conducted now amounts to is 'Peer Review' and all the peers have already made up their minds.

It is difficult and extremely costly to attempt to fight a 'federal runaway train' and to that end Governor Blagojevich is left to take his case to the people. The disturbing aspect to his abandonment of a legal venue is that he still faces a serious complaint that might be defeatable in indictment, but, without good legal help he may be facing sincere peril.

I think the 'public venue' Governor Blagojevich has chosen is appropriate, but, at this point is ill considered without subsequent legal representation. In other words, his public appearances should have been conducted last week in anticipation of pressure to open legal remedies at the Illinios State Senate Hearings.

I believe it would be a mistake to allow any Gitmo Prisoners to go to Europe.

Le Vernet Internment Camp, or Camp Vernet, was a concentration camp[1] originally built in June 1918 to house French colonial troops serving in World War I but when hostlities ceased it was used to hold German and Austrian prisoners of war.
From 1942, Le Vernet became a transit camp for detained Jews.[1]. In June 1944, the last internees were evacuated and deported to the Dachau concentration camp in the "Ghost Train". In total, about 40,000 persons of 58 nationalities were interned in the camp; mainly men but also women and children.

Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:22am EST (click title to entry - thank you)

BERLIN, Jan 24 (Reuters) - France has drafted a plan for European Union countries to accept 60 detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp that U.S. President Barack Obama wants to close, German magazine Der Spiegel said on Saturday.

The foreign ministry in Paris refused to comment on the report, which said France had sent the plans to European capitals before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

European governments, which have for years called for the camp to be closed, are under pressure to help Obama find a home for some of the approximately 245 remaining detainees.

Der Spiegel said France had proposed EU countries offer homes to about 60 inmates who were deemed innocent but would risk persecution or torture if sent to their home countries....

The USA military needs to examine carefully the reassignment of the detainees at Gitmo. They need to actually assess their crimes, if any, and decide whether they should stand trial in a 'civil court' for the murders of September 11th. The 'military tribunals' are irrelivant and were simply an excuse to hold a bunch of zealous 'juvenile delinquents' of bin Laden's as a 'show case' of potential dangers to the USA.

I seriously doubt there are any 'real criminals,' except, for a few directly connected to the attacks of September 11th. Murderers are impossible to reassign to anywhere besides a maximum security prision in the USA. They must stand trial regardless of their age. Murder is murder.

But, to reassign these detainess to Europe opens up those countries to more danger and not less. The detainees need 'fair and open' hearings to 'aire' their crimes to the American public as well as the world and provide witness to American justice and the price murderers pay for their crimes.

The EU is far more vulnerable to these jihadists than the USA. The attacks of September 11, 2001 took place because those that supported bin Laden's agenda for the USA found a way into the infrastructure. They had to 'pass muster' to some extent to 'sneak' into this country and become part of the populous to learn to fly jumbo jets, etc.

In Europe there is far less protections for countries that are easy access to Pakistan and Afghanistan. To house detainees in Europe would be a mistake and open the countries there upto being a target. There is more likelihood that European prisons would become targets of extremists and even demonstrations by sympathizers. I simply don't believe it is a good idea.

What also troubles me is the 'idea' that the EU actually believes the USA cannot be trusted under President Obama 'to do the right thing' and handle the prosecution of any detainee to a civilized, moral and human rights standard. The people of the USA have elected a decent man as President in 2008 and expect him to live up to human rights standards on any front, be it needs in Africa regarding HIV/AIDS or waging war.

Europe simply needs to 'stand down' from its demands of the USA to allow them to 'handle these issues' as if the USA is incompetent to do it ourselves. We are capable of providing analysis of the circumstances of each detainee and prosecute, if necessary, within the borders of the USA. We have done it before and we can do it again. I believe our 'infrastructure' is not only ready to handle the issue, but, 'over prepared' to handle any problem that arises.

The Atlantic Ocean is a sufficient 'buffer' to allow protections for Europe and it is time the USA exhibit its loyalty to allies by keeping those that attacked this country within its borders to prosecute. It would eliminate any potential hardship from allies. Why ask for more problems in Madrid or London? It simply doesn't make sense.

California unemployment rate jumps to 9.3% in December

The Economic Stimulus of Obama. Will it achieve an outcome as ALL THE SPENDING OF BUSH never achieved anything except wealth of the Upper 2% of the nation (which then narrowed to the upper 1%).

There is dearly little that President Obama can do wrong so long as he has his sights on 'creating jobs' OR and better yet returning the infrastructure of LOST jobs to the American government and the American people.

The JOB LOSSES under Bush's Administration were PLANNED. They were even sought so that the ideology of the Republicans would come true and all would be so wonderful with the country that Democrats would no longer live or breath.

What Bush attempted to do was 'remake' the ' Republican Era under Reagan ' that actually masked the fact that there was no 'real' economy so much as an economy of exploitation of national resources. Reagan never had an economy that sustained either. He deregulated everything and people made lots of money. The deregulation of the Reagan Republican Era caused all kinds of economic 'Boomtown' upticks, including the Junk Bond King Michael Milken.

When Bush attempted a Reaganesque economy he forgot that American Resources 'left behind' by Reagan were down to the bare bones. Bush didn't care. He wanted 'some way' of buoying an economy. He figured when he finished there would be so many opportunities to spark entrepreneurs that all the losses would be disregarded for the wealth the nation now knew. Bush's economy, just like Reagans was illegitimate. It never 'had the qualities' of sustainability so much as 'flash in the pan' and that is what Obama has to avoid.

So. When Obama speaks of and promises change he has to insure that the monies in his stimulus package are going to deliver 'sustainable job infrastructure' and not just 'flash in the pan ideologies.' He has a unique way of looking at it as well. He doesn't support blanket 'shovel ready jobs' in the manner that one 'traditionally' thinks as 'CONSTRUCTION.' We don't need more building in this country, we need to reclaim the value of the homes and buildings that already exist. We do that through finding an economy of 'value' that 'deserves' Americans working within it.

What the Governors of the country have the luxury of doing is absorbing monies from a stimulus package and deliver 'some kind' of infrastructure to their states that provides decreases in unemployment. Obama has more responsibility than they do. He has to structure his stimulus to deliver a 'recovery' and not just a 'Boomtown.'

The 'type' of construction jobs that will result from Obama's stimulus package will come in the way of bridge repairs and alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. Accompanied by those 'temporary' construction jobs will be long term employment by workers that monitor 'the maintainence' of the construction. There will be a 'replacement' of temporary jobs with 'sustainable' jobs. The problem then arises as to how much of a 'tax base' remains after the spending for necessary infrastructure changes.

Follow?

See, the 'Boomtown' aspect to the infrastructure building in the way of alternative energy sources, that might also include ethanol plants and pumps along with the manufacture of new autos that can accommodate that change in fuel source; will provide some tax base strengthening, but, not a sustainable tax base. What can come out of 'that aspect' of the recovery and change in infrastructure is enough of a 'tax payment' to restore the ability to 'continue' to change the infrastructure of the USA by training medical technicians and maintenance mechanics, railway conductors, etc.

With changes in infrastructure there will be an automatic demand for skilled employees but DIFFERENT than what the nation 'got used to' under Bush. What occurred with lack of job creation under Bush was a focus on 'where the jobs were' and how to get there, only to realize an applicant was one of hundreds or thousands with the same idea.

In some ways, Barak's responsibility is a lot easier than first anticipated and in some ways not. Returning necessary government workers to their jobs to collect taxes and stop law breakers to make the 'Rule of Law' actually mean something is the 'easy' part. Increased budgets in environmentally sensitive departments (and not to be blind to a reality which oddly enough includes the military that oversees vast tracks of important wilderness and encourages protections of wilderness abroad) will start to take care of 'tax base creation' but it will also add to the budget of the country and a draw on the tax base. Creating jobs in the private sector that will be sustainable tax base contributors is the greater challenge of this administration, but, I do believe he is up to it.

So, how is it that Obama can succeed where every Republican has failed? By allowing the private sector to 'service' the growth of the stimulus. In other words, rather than seeking to increase government beyond the return of vital workers, he can 'outsource' to Americans the maintainence of the new infrastruture. Sustainable energy sources given over to sustainable job creation. From that will grow the remainder of our private sector in other areas as well including education and health care.

It will happen and it will be an America we can all be proud of. The problem of the Nay Sayers will be the complaining when they finally have to pay higher taxes as the wealthiest people in the country. Boy, will they 'belly-ache' then. Toooooooo BAD !

Buy USA Savings Bonds !

Job Watch (click here)



The December level, up from 8.4% in November, is the highest in 15 years, highlighting the severity of the economic slowdown. The jobless rate in Los Angeles County was 9.5%.
By Marc Lifsher

9:42 AM PST, January 23, 2009
Reporting from Sacramento -- California's unemployment rate jumped to 9.3% in December, highlighting the severity of the economic slowdown as the state heads into a second year of recession. The December level was the highest in 15 years.Unemployment in Los Angeles County in December was 9.5%.

More tomorrow. Nite.

Okay. So where did you hear it first? Right here. And for how long? Years.

It is good to know the NYTimes has finally come to its senses after eight years of 'screwed up' priorities dominated by censorship at the FCC. It's about damn time.

So, here it is; "I told you so."


Why was I an activist on the NYTimes Message Boards, then on this blog for the entire time the Bush/Cheney Regime was in control of the powers of my nation? Why is that? Why have I sat watch and sacrificed within my own life for years to 'bring the truth' to others? Go figure, huh?

An illustration that depicts the warming that scientists have determined has occurred in West Antarctica during the last 50 years. The dark red shows the area that has warmed the most. (click on title of entry - thank you)

Don't tell me for one minute there hasn't been frank lies from DC regarding Human Induced Global Warming and extreme censorship with an FCC that didn't care about THE TRUTH ! Investigation. I want an investigation. Is Michael Powell still at The NYTimes. If so, maybe I'm being too trusting of that paper yet ? Is he still there?

July 8, 2008, 12:38 pm — Updated: 8:53 am -->
Obama Addresses Critics on ‘Centrist’ Moves (click here)
By Michael Powell

Doesn't look like it. The lousy, control freak seems to have disappeared. Good riddens ! Most admirable of Powell to realize early on that he was defeated. I guess when Dad came out for Obama the tirade to elect the mavericky McCain ended.

But, it has taken a good long time for Antarctica scientists to finally reconcile the fact that the coldest places on the planet can become far too warm to be good for human beings. It is these vast ice caps that have provided for cool enough oceans to bring weather, percipitation and 'benevolent' climate to the continents. Without our ice caps there is no 'thermostat' to cool the oceans that then cool the land.

Antarctica and the Artic Ocean are far more than a natural wonder and a place for Polar Bears and Penguins. They are vital to the climate of Earth that provides our very existence in a VERY, VERY narrow range of temperatures that human can survive within. It was difficult for 'these ice scientists' to come to terms with the fact that Earth could actually loss it's ice caps given the many variables in its arrangement of multiple combinations of gases and elements in the troposphere, especially when 'measuring' same in such frigid climates can be impossible at times.



By KENNETH CHANG
Published: January 21, 2009
...“Obviously the situation is complex, resulting from a combination of man-made factors and natural variability,” said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences at Princeton, who was not involved in the research. “But the idea of a long-term cooling is pretty clearly debunked.”
Dr. Monaghan, who had not detected the rapid warming of West Antarctica in an earlier study, said the new study had “spurred me to take another look at ours — I’ve since gone back and included additional records.”...

Barak Obama needs to put more employees to work at US Fish and Wildlife.

I am not understanding some of the 'hype' about US Fish and Wildlife saving the Grey Wolf from delisting under an Obama directive. The decision to delist the Grey Wolf has been made. It is only a 'select' populous that is still being protected and that decision was made before inauguration (see title to entry - thank you). So. Like. What's the deal with the media? I am looking for 'real change' not more Bush Propaganda.

There are many 'W'rong decisions that were made by the EPA regarding the 'natural treasures' of the USA under the Bush Executive Branch. Many.

Please see below to continue...



Gray wolf is back on the endangered species list (click here)
Thursday, January 22, 2009, 4:22 PM
by Bob Meyer
The gray wolf is back on the Endangered Species list in the Western Great Lakes and northern Rocky Mountains…at least for a while. On Tuesday, President Obama signed an executive order putting a “hold” on all last-minute rules made by the Bush Administration, one of those rules was the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reinstatement of the delisting last week.

The wolf was originally delisted early last year and management of their population was turned over to the affected states. A federal judge put them back on the list saying the state management plans could not guarantee a sustained recovery. Last week the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said they had met the concerns of the court and reissued the delisting.


Some of the worst decisions made by Bush's EPA was to drastically cut funding and personnel from US Fish and Wildlife. Bankrupting the country was a way of 'persuading' the American populous to realize that 'exploitation' of their natural resources while cutting to the bone any scientific and support staff to the USA's natural world was THE ONLY WAY out of Bush's negligence of the USA economic stability.

continued below...

January 19, 2007
Contact(s) Deborah Bagocius, (202) 772-0239
Feds Slash Staff at National Wildlife Refuges in Midwest (click here)
Over 70 Refuge Positions Cut in 8 Midwest States, 3 Refuges to Lose Entire Staff
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is making drastic reductions and redeployments of staff in the National Wildlife Refuge System throughout the Midwest region. Reductions in services will be felt in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. The consequence of these reductions will be the elimination of environmental education programs for school children, endangered species recovery programs, reduced habitat management and law enforcement. These cuts come on the heels of a crippling budget backlog of over $2.5 billion....

The US Fish and Wildlife Service are 'the police' to prosecutions taken before US Attorneys when violations to our nation's laws exist. Without US Fish and Wildlife 'agents' protecting the USA's natural heritage through 'protection' laws there would be no way that any US Attorney could bring charges of violators. (And by the way, the protection laws need to STOP being misdemeanors and take on far more serious consequences. The more exploitation that occurs, the more precious the species and the costly it is to restore it. The laws aren't WEIGHTED CORRECTLY to oppress violators. They are OLD standards when restoration wasn't as critical as it is now given the extent that Human Induced Global Warming is causing damge to the nation's natural world.)

Convenient. Bush could actually say that convictions fell during his years as the 'enforcement' of laws worked better than ever before, while our natural world was being exploited and reduced by profiteers that 'simply got away with it.'

And they did get away with it. The EPA cut US Fish and Wildlife to the bone through most of the nation. There were poachers caught here and there, one or two. But, for the most part the departments of the EPA have been grossly understaffed and in some cases redirected to 'track what might be potential terrorists' in cities and towns. Chemical plants were more the focus of agents, yet under Bush there were numerous Chemical Plant explosions as the 'rules and regulations' they had to abide by became less and less in number and restriction.

The new Secretaries of the EPA and Interior have a lot of work ahead of them to restaff their agencies and begin again to protect forests and wildlife from damage and extinction.

Encroachment and 'over building' in our nation has gone to nearly ever corner of the county in what was "W"rongfully called an economy. It is going to require the 'RE-HIRE' of qualified people to return protections under the law to this country.

Why is it important? I'll use the Bald Eagle as an example. In places in Maryland, along the Chesapeake Bay there have been reports of the destruction of nests since the delisting of our national symbol. As soon as the delisting occurred, within days there were permits issued for building homes in what once was protected areas. That put 'pressure' on the nesting Bald Eagles and today there are abandoned nests that no longer provide for the return of a precious and endangered species.

The article below is from 1995 and discusses the success of the Bald Eagle program. You have to understand these programs were important enough to Americans to 'spend money' on the restoration of the Bald Eagle and now in the year 2008 with the 'W'rongful delisting of the nation's raptor; the bird is becoming less in number in some of their territory. All those monies were wasted for the 'gain of wealth' of a few housing contractors that caused a 'flooding of the housing' market.

Md. survey finds eagle numbers up (click here)

March 1995

By Karl Blankenship
Maryland in January recorded the second highest number of bald eagles ever counted near the Chesapeake Bay during the 20 years it has conducted a midwinter eagle survey, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
"Surveys of both breeding and wintering bald eagle populations in Maryland continue to demonstrate the success of the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts," said former Natural Resources Secretary Torrey Brown.
This winter, 194 bald eagles and one golden eagle were counted at three of the state's primary eagle concentration areas. That is second only to the 263 bald eagles counted in 1990.
"That year, extremely cold weather conditions prevailed throughout the northeastern United States, forcing more eagles into Maryland," said Glenn Therres, DNR's bald eagle biologist. "This year's number is extremely encouraging given the mild winter we have had so far."
On Jan. 13, biologists found 72 bald eagles and one golden eagle at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge on the Eastern Shore. Surveys on Jan. 15 found 101 bald eagles at the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground and 21 along the lower Susquehanna River.
Maryland's midwinter survey does not include most of the 159 pairs of bald eagles that nested in the state in 1994 because those birds are dispersed to their breeding areas.
The midwinter bald eagle survey is a national effort conducted in the lower 48 states to assess the wintering population of the endangered bird. Last winter, 15,305 bald eagles were counted during the national survey. The survey is designed to measure changes in eagle populations; it is not intended to be a complete census.
In Maryland, the survey is conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army. The National Biological Service coordinates the survey nationally.
Contributions on line 63 of the Maryland Income Tax Form, and donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species Fund help to support threatened and endangered species work such as the eagle survey, as well as other nongame wildlife and Chesapeake Bay projects.

In a nation dedicated to 'doing the right thing' and unholding their right to a natural world to protect within our borders it requires PERSONNEL to 'stand the line' on species demise and delisting. US Fish and Wildlife can't carry out its enormous responsibility and literally there are plenty of examples throughout this country were species laws have been abandoned for one reason and one reason only and that is because QUALIFIED scientists and agents were removed from positions within departments of the Federal Government.

There is a lot of work to do and none of it is frivilous or unnecessary. If we are to 'Save Earth for our Children' we have to FIRST restore the staffing to agencies that carry out that responsibility before we can RESTORE our nation's species that are now facing hideous threats from negligence and criminal intent by the 43rd President of the USA.

We are closing Gitmo. Get over it. It's real. End of discussion.

There was no real reason for Gitmo. There wasn't anything about Gitmo that was any more dangerous than Zacarias Moussaoui. He was the final terrorist that didn't make his flight on September 11, 2001. There were more dangerous men than him? No.

Osama bin Laden is more dangerous than the young men he suckers into dying for a cause with no purpose? No. He is a figure head, no different than Dr. Aimon Muhammad Rabaie al-Zawahiri. They are the sociopathic icons of a global terrorist network that was successful because Bush and Cheney allowed it to happen. No one will convince me differently. Diane Feinstein knew the attacks were on the way and Richard Cheney simply stated, "Hey look, Diane, we're busy here. We'll get to taking some action in about six months." The FBI and CIA told the Bush Executive Branch they had three months or less and literally Cheney called for a 'study' of the issue.

So. All in all, there were no really MORE dangerous men in Gitmo than Zacarias. What were the detainess going to do, overcome the USA military, escape into the USA, disappear and destroy more lives? I mean for real.

The USA has successfully arrested and tried terrorists, both international and domestic, for decades. These so called 'global terrorists' are actually more dangerous than any other criminal that we have held within our prisions before? Heck, no. Monsters are monsters, either the USA can contain them with the virtue of 'human rights' or not. But. We never sink so low as to allow our own dignity to be tarnished by them. Never.

Literally, what Bush and Cheney did by creating the 'spectacle' called 'Gitmo' was to encourage the Ameircan imagination that those men were "Super Terrorists." It added to the Culture of Fear that Rove propagated. Gitmo was a 'prop' in the prolonged propaganda of the Bush/Cheney administration. That is all it was and that is all it is today.


By Al Pessin Pentagon


21 January 2009
Image reviewed by US military, shows 'Camp Justice' sign near high-security courtroom in Guantanamo, Cuba, 08 Dec 2008U.S. military judges in Guantanamo acted quickly Wednesday morning to suspend two of the 21 terrorism trials now in progress, based on a request from the Obama administration. Judges in the other trials are expected to do the same.


One of the trials suspended Wednesday was the biggest of them all - the case against five men accused of involvement in the September 11th attacks on the United States in 2001. The moves came based on requests from military prosecutors, acting on orders from President Obama.


The military trials are suspended for 120 days, and Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman says he expects the Defense Department will soon receive further instructions from the new president.


"The president has clearly made his intentions well known, running up to taking his oath of office yesterday in terms of what his intentions are," he said. "And he has taken the first steps with respect to his direction to the secretary of defense to order a pause to military commissions proceedings. I would expect that the department will get additional guidance and direction in the near future."


Whitman says that additional direction could come within days, and he expects it to involve "a broad, comprehensive review."...

The First Lady stole the show. She really is lovely and the ball gown was refreshing.

The Obamas are wonderful people and a great couple. They are charismatic, warm, and affectionate with each other and dedicated parents as well.

I watched Barak turn to look up at the instrumental ensemble when they first started playing. He eventually settled back into his chair and 'tuned into' the sound, as I did. The selection was lovely. But, in those first moments when he turned to look at the performance above him, he noted Sasha restless in her chair and struggling to stay under a blanket to keep warm. He looked at her for more than pause and he finally had her attention and smiled in reassurance of her presence and patience. It was a charming moment between a Father and Daughter and a statement of his love and concern for his children.

I believe he carries his devotion of his family in his heart and measures the importance of America's children and families and their outcomes and safety with that same depth of commitment he shows his own.

They are a remarkable couple and I look forward to their leadership from here on.

Did everyone else, besides me, realize the youthfulness of the Democrats as they took the platform at the inauguration. Our former Presidents and Vice Presidents are young and were young when they took office. In the long view, their longevity, insight and faithfulness to this nation counts. Nice. To realize in eight years we will still 'have Obama' to steady the ship is more than a treasure there are words to describe. It is going to be a great eight years and the Democrats in 2010 will take an unchallenged majority in both the House and Senate.




January 20 2009
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during the Commander-in-Chief Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington DC.

We have a real President. A President that loves us and has a deep abiding love of this nation.

..."Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations....

His speech yesterday was one of the greatest speeches ever made by a President. He was passionate, intelligent, spoke to us not Wall Streeet, called up the spirits of the dead and they came to remind us all of the GREATNESS that America was born.

You have to be reminded once in awhile of the cornerstones a country was founded. He paid reverence to those that found diligence in hours of 'trial,' that summoned up the will of spirit, loyalty and veracity to found a nation devoted to 'truth' and freedom. Barak Obama stood on the shoulders of men he has come to respect and reminded us all of the greatness within us. He was magnificent and for the first time in a long time I heard the voice of my nation speak to me.

The crowds were innumerable. I think it was something close to 6 billion people that 'listened in' on the words of a man removed from praise of himself and spoke only of the greatness that was displayed before him on the edge of an "Icey Potomac" on a great mall where millions of people withstood winter's cold to admire the man that deserved their trust.

He is our America. He is without hesitation a man that cares deeply and is willing to listen to us all and return our country to us. As he is our partner and the world's friend, we should remind ourselves of our responsibility in placing our votes and bringing forth the one 'true patriot' that can return our Constitution and Bill of Rights to us. In our vote lay a responsibility to 'tend' to our nation, now a greater expanse than in the years when Washington braved the winters of The Delaware, to secure an independant nation for generations to find expression of freedom and the love of life and happiness.

Yesterday was a happy day. A day full of the richness that only America can contain. A heritage of bravery, trustworthiness, enlightenment and adventure. I have enjoyed the time since yesterday recalling the sounds of our Revolutionary Army, Paul Revere, the scientific heart of Benjamin Franklin and the willingness of an open spirit that was Thomas Jefferson. If it were anyone other than Barak Obama would the speech have been so reverent, so correct and so inspiring. I think not.

I reflected for awhile on the words that could have been said. Realizing what he did say made me realize that he could never taint the love of this country with words that would not heal the wounds cast on this nation by predecessors with tainted agendas and wrongful use of our freedom and strength.

We have a President that loves us. He loves this nation. He was molded by years of devotion and dedication and it is his time as sure as the sun rises on the horizon. I am grateful for him. I am grateful for my country. I know today, we have a country that was worth the wait and a President to return it to us.

Time stood still yesterday. I knew that when I looked at the pictures yesterday evening of Times Square. The only other time I have witnessed so many standing in absolute silence in that great city was when Neil Armstrong took the first step on the moon. There has been dearly other times of triumph when such silence feel across this nation and time stood still.

The ceremony was magnificent, from the voice of the First Lady of Soul, to the instrumental sounds of some of the greatest the world has to offer and spiritual words of poetry by an American. The Obama children were charming and the First Lady of our nation was disarming.

There is much work to do, much pointing to the injustices of past administrations and the path to correct the course of our nation lies ahead of us in anticipation of achievement. The Nay Sayers can banter all they want, but, they will never disrupt this country again, nor remove us from a path of freedom and justice.

I look forward to tomorrow and its challenges made much easier by a President that sees the future of our country solidly based in American values of the highest order.

Until tomorrow then.