Oh, one other thing.

I found it very distrubing to realize some of the "#Occupy Wall Street" protesters may have contracted multi-resistant tuberculosis at a New York City shelter when they took refuge from the cold.

Really?

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis airborne in New York City Homeless Shelters? 

Well, there is nothing like being homeless and getting more than one bargained for.

AND...

The confiscation of tents and sleeping bags is FISCAL OPPRESSION of the protesters IF they are not returned to their rightful owners.  This is something like the second time police have taken away tents and sleeping bags that provide protection and comfort.  That is a financial loss to people that cannot afford the loss while asserting their First Amendment Rights.  If Oakland and New York keep this up they'll simply use up the half million in donations.  Soemthing the "#Occupy" movement cannot afford.  THAT is financial oppression.  Plain and simple.  The tents and sleeping bags need to be returned to their owners without delay to insure their well being.

Now, until tomorrow.

The Cities decide they can ignore citizens First Amendment Rights.

The problem now as it has been during the entire history of this movement is finding SPACE to assert their First Amendment Rights to Assemble and express their objections to the loss of their rights.  This is just more of the same.

Does Oakland and New York mayors have the same speech righter, because, both mayors stated to protestors in both cities on the same evening the exact same words.

"You can come back tomorrow, but, no overnight occupation is allowed."

Like, huh? 

The oddly interesting 'tilts' on oppression across the country is interesting.  In Wilmington, North Carolina the Occupiers were told they could not set up their tents on the lawn.  So, they set up their tents on the sidewalks and hold their General Assembly everyday on the lawn.  The "Occupy Wilmington" protesters have received their 501(c)(3) today so they can accept donations for needs of their members.

The problem facing New York City is especially interesting, because, Occupy Wall Street HAD to find a private park in order to carry out their First Amendment Rights.  There were NO, as in NONE, public parks in the area the protesters wanted to assert their rights, which happened to be exactly the geographic place where the worst grievances were propagated.  Why is that a problem at all?  Well, if a citizen / citizens' group cannot FIND a suitable place for their expression of their First Amendment Rights because all the land is privately owned, then in fact that oppression of the Plutocrats is 'sealed' and unchallengable.  There HAS TO BE places for aggreived citizens to assemble, express their protests and simply asset their rights to be heard. 

If every place that would bring attention to citizen's grievances were privately owned then the oppression of citizens is complete and the USA Constitution has been disregarded by those elected to office that never recognized the necessity of the free expression of those rights in the first place.
Additionally, we have heard Republicans state over and over and over again, even the Heritage Foundation, how important  "The Public Square" is and how important it is to be robust including displays on the public square of religious symbols during the holiday season.  Yet, in the mostly densely Plutocratic section of New York City there is absolutely no public square to be found.

I remember very clearly how the "Public Square" was vital to the nominee Alito during his Senate confirmation hearings.  The Nominee Alito stated he strongly supported a ROBUST (that was his words) Public Square of free expression.

So, it would seem as though, CASE CLOSED.  New York City and Oakland are in violation of the Frist Amerndment Rights of "#Occupy"  simultaneously.  Odd.  Very odd, indeed.

Until tomorrow.

Protesters will likely appeal ruling (click title to entry - thank you)

BY Barbara Ross , Matthew Lysiak , Christina Boyle\ & Tracy Connor
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The Supreme Court indulges the Eleventh Circuits attack on Moral Protection of Citizens.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at The Labor Department (click here)

The Right Wing of the Court and 'The Party' have absolutely no decorum, decency or morality governing their overt partisanship.  They disrespect the Supreme Court by never assigning their behavior as a matter of brevity.

The Right Wing Media chronically sounds as though the sky is falling and now they simply have no control over the opportunity this could make to reverse "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."  An over reaction is not known to the Right Wing Media, it is simply there chronic "Nervous Nelly" state.

The date for the hearing by the Court hasn't even been set yet, but the battle for political domination is being carried out as if there is actually a chance this is the doom and gloom for the Democrats of 2012.  It isn't.  It won't be.  The hearing is to take place in March, there are three topics being considered and NONE involve the Medicare provisions of "The Patient Prtoection and Affordable Care Act."  NONE.  The Medicare provisions stand.

The three provisions of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will be reviewed by the Court; which is to take oral arguments on all there provisons on the same day and time requiring extended periods of time; are the individual mandate, whether an individual mandate will end the entire bill and whether there is coersion of the States by the mandate regarding the EXPANSION of Medicare. 

The individual mandate has a long history in the USA including automobile insurance and The Sixteenth Amendment that requires all Americans to pay taxes.  If the Sixteenth Amendment isn't an individual mandate than I don't know what is.  The Sixteenth Amendment requries every American to assess their payment of taxes to the federal government without exception.  So, like, what's the problem?

The individual mandate does not sink the entire law invoked about two years previous ot the proposed hearing date by the Supreme Court.  The Medicare provision alone is a deficit reducing measure that also insures the continuous care of citizens without private failings causing a bailout of companies or a hardship to participants.

As far as the coerson goes that is pure, unadultered nonsense.  The States are subject to federal laws and regulations across the board when it comes to commerce and the lives of citizens.  The entire President's Cabinet exists to provide services to States including education, health, transportation, infrastructure, and the list goes on.  If there is coersion of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act then the entire federal government is guilty of same. 

The review of this bill is nothing more than HIGH PROFILE political horseplay and nothing more.  It has been horseplay throughout the Ninth Circuit and the State Attorney Generals that have thrown in with it.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting (click title to entry - thank you) that just hours after the United States Supreme Court huddled to decide whether it would take up the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas were honored at a dinner sponsored by the very law firm that will argue for the challengers in the case.

Among the sponsors of the fundraiser for the Federalist Society, a conservative group long favored by Scalia and Thomas, were Bancroft PLLC, the law firm that will argue that the insurance mandate provisions of the ACA is an overreach of Congress’ powers under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution and, therefore, unconstitutional. Also listed as an event sponsor was law firm Jones Day, the lead counsel in a separate case challenging the law brought by the National Federation of Independent Business....

Conservative's Flagchip Plutocratic Allegience is leaving the USA without a moral compass.

DEREGULATION, HUH?

There is no reason for Leon to grant this delay.  The tobacco industry has already adapted labeling in other countries, the labeling has proven to work to bring realism to the outcomes of the use of tobacco.  There are lives at risk and the tobacco industry knows full well if a person is smoking regularly at the age of 19, they will probably continue well into adulthood.

This is a amoral stalling tactic by Leon in hopes there is a huge wind change in 2012 and the legislation will be recended.  He is an amoral judge that favors money over life and he should be impeached.  This is the worst decision a judge could have made and it directly threatens the wellness and health of Americans.

The 30 year reign of Republicans has tainted the courts and this is only one example.

...In granting tobacco companies a delay in complying with a government order to put graphic anti-smoking images on cigarette packs, Federal District Court Judge Richard Leon sought mightily to make a case for industry. His problem -- industry doesn't have a case. Decades of deceptive advertising and incriminating medical research have taught us that....

President Obama needs a PR Campaign instilling his accomplishments to the electorate.

I have been doing some canvasing in Wilmington, North Carolina this week and I have stumbled upon an outrageous reality; the Republican obstructionism and their propaganda campaign have instilled understanding that President Obama has not delivered on any (NOT A ONE) of his campaign promises.

These are people that voted for President Obama in 2008.  I gently remind them of all the promises he did keep and they state, "Oh, that's right." 

The President's accomplishments in office are not fresh in the memories of the electorate and they are seeking an alternative, even Herman (Mc)Cain.

The President's campaign needs to remind everyone of the incredible successes he has had both on his campaign promises and otherwise.  The frustration the RNC has been pumping through the electorate is having an effect.  I believe the President's Approval Rating is a strong reflection of that.

Until tomorrow.

The Gricar case sincerely bothered me the more I thought about it.

Former Centre County, Pa., prosecutor Ray Gricar went missing in April 2005. ('Patriot-News')   (click title to entry - thank you)

I don't care if it is or isn't connected to any other crimes at Penn State.

His keys and wallet were missing from his car parked in a parking lot 50 miles from his home.  It could have been destroying the laptop with the background set in a potential Penn State scandal might appear as a crime, so he probably went missing of his own choice.  If he went missing of his own accord I would think there would be evidence somewhere linking him to someone that he would disappear with, but, I haven't heard of any.  The possibility he sought shelter from threasts and succeeded in staying at a safe house somewhere; a friend, relative, etc.

He was conducting himself normally if he took his keys and wallet when he got out of the car.  I am sure there are better minds than mine that have examined every angle, but, it appears to me as though he was there to meet someone or some reason.  He took the keys from the ignition, had the wallet in his pocket and either took the laptop with him or it was removed after he exited the car.  Most people don't leave a laptop in a car.  It is an expensive item and if it was issued to him by the DA's office it would be neglectful to leave it in a place where it could be stolen.

Why would he drive to a parking lot 50 miles away to begin with and then to realize there are people mulling about in a parking lot, he would assume the 'meeting' at this location would insure his safety.

I think it is strange for someone who was anticipating to disappear to take his car keys with him.  If he wanted to destroy the laptop himself so he could not be traced because he made airline reservations or bank deposits, why bother with the keys to the car?

Whether he was paid off and he disappeared or went into hiding due to threats against his life or that of his family or he was removed unwillingly from that location, he knew who was meeting him there.  Considering the meeting place he was worried for his safety.  Considering there is no character information that states he was unstable, shadowy or suspicious, then he was probably murdered.

There has got to be a connection somewhere to his work, his personal life or otherwise that ties this all together.  I believe he knew who he was meeting and I believe he was concerned for his safety and I believe he expected to get back in his car.

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2011, a historic port side purpose for the Carl Vincent.

New memories, new image for a aircraft carrier that serves the country tirelessly.

Nice.  And a nice article by The Boston Globe.  Well done, everyone.  I can't choose sides on this one either, as my family hails from Michigan and my homes is North Carolina.  "Here's to a great game!"

...As long as the rain stays away (click title to entry - thank you) from the Carrier Classic on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Friday afternoon, coaches Tom Izzo of Michigan State and Roy Williams of No. 1 North Carolina are confident their teams will put on a great Veterans Day show for the approximately 7,000 in the crowd, including the nation's basketball-fan-in-chief, President Barack Obama, plus a national TV audience....

I haven't heard comment on the familiar appearance of at least two of the Cain Accusers.

The ladies are older now, still attractive, blond, fair skinned and what appears to be blue eyes.  At least one of these women filed formal complaints with Godfather Pizza.  The observation stands.

The only reason Cain is ahead of any other Republican candidate for President at this point is because the Right Wing Media is pouring a lot of time and energy into this Tea Party candidate.  Murdoch's empire dedicated itself to the Tea Baggers and now it is dedicating itself along with Limbaugh to electing Cain to put in place their all time favorite flat tax, which has been a focus for them for a long, long time.  The Flat Tax existed before the Tea Baggers and has been instilled in that movement, why stop now?

The other candidates are not getting the same coverage, focus or enthusiasm as Cain by the Right Wing media.  The 9-9-9 plan isn't Cain's goal, the Flat Tax is though.  999 is about 'media attention. 999 inspires fear of the candidate's power. 

This is insane. There were duplicate case files. No prosecuting attorney would rely on electric documents for prosecution.

This has the appearance of an unsophisticated murderer.  This is way out of line, but, students frequently maintain all their files on their laptop.  The files are usually an ongoing work in composition.

This is crazy.  Whoever did this didn't think through the fact there would be other prosecuting attornies to follow Mr. Gricar.  Why would anyone believe, regardless of the source of revenge or hate, all their troubles would stop with this man's disappearance?  I suppose that is the way criminals think, that they have control over their crimes, but, this is outrageous.  A professional anyone, attorney or otherwise, does not use their laptop to safeguard their files.  Commonly professionals use laptops to access files from a distant location or to add information to those files stored elsewhere. 

Someone actually copied the hard drive?  The office of this District Attorney would have records of all the cases Mr. Gricar had prosecuted and all the cases he was working on, to believe the current and past District Attorneys don't know where to begin to look only adds to the lack of sophistication of the criminal who did this.  This pedophilia gets scarier by the day.  The lack of priorities within Penn State is the scariest of all. 

...When an investigation(click title for New York Times article - thank you) first started in 2005 over allegations that Jerry Sandusky was engaging in sexual acts with young boys, district attorney Ray Gricar was working on getting to the bottom of things, disregarding Sandusky's position at Penn State and in the community. Unfortunately in April of that same year, Gricar went missing....

Thank you, President Obama, it was the correct decision.

Alberta, Canada, where the world's largest oil companies are building massive open pit mines to get at the oil sands. photo: AP (2008)

This is NOT a political decision.  There is a lot on the line for the food supply of the USA.  Need I remind there is excitement in the farming community regarding ethanol. 

The dangers to the Midwest in regard to the changing climate was never so evident as this past year.  The flooding caused the Army Corp to destroy levies and vital farmland lay under water in order to save lives and a town.  There is just no room for error anymore.  The petroleum industry has never been vigilant about their practices causing destruction of the Louisiana shrimp beds, polluted waters in the Gulf, substantial damage to the economies all along the southern border.  We can't risk it anymore.  Our nation's farmlands in the Midwest have never been more important. 

The potential for farmers to grow prairie grass and other ethanol crops right next to fields and fields of vital food grains and crops is a wonderful use of these lands.  There should not be more stress placed on these lands or any more danger in the way of adding more greenhouse gases to the troposphere causing drought. 

This was not an easy decision for President Obama.  He could have thrown caution to the wind.  It would have been the easy and politcally lucrative thing to do. 

I can't thank him enough and I hope this will also give the Canadian government pause to realize those oil sands will always be there.  If the oil from those sands are vitally needed, would it not be more prudent to protect them now as a 'safety net' for the future and profound oil shortages. 

There may be profits in the process of oil sands to extract oil, but, there is a negative energy return for the cost of the process.  Generations have to inherit the future.  We need to give them a future to inherit.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Nov 10, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Environmental and citizen groups in British Columbia (click title to entry - thank you) say the federal government review process of the proposed Enbridge Gateway pipeline must include tar sands expansion and climate change impacts.
The groups are reacting to a decision by the State Department and President Obama to delay the proposed Keystone pipeline to include a new review of alternative routes and wider environmental impacts, including climate change.

"The State Department and the Obama administration's decision to delay the Keystone XL pipeline sends a clear signal to Canadian decision makers," says Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy campaigner with ForestEthics. "In the context of the climate change threat, credible pipeline review includes climate impacts."

A federal joint review panel is scheduled to begin hearing citizen testimony on Enbridge's proposed Gateway pipeline in January of 2012....

How much was "Waste Management" paid from Rumsfeld's DOD?

The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (click title to entry - thank you) is a 2.2 million square foot full service medical center in Detroit Michigan that provides primary, secondary and tertiary care including acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, neurological, and dermatological inpatient care. We also run mental health clinics that include substance abuse treatment, a day treatment center; a community based psychiatric program, a nursing home care unit, and a Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program....


I had an uncle that suffered from diabetic neuropathy.  He was a military veteran, received disability after his back was ruined while working in a VA facility.  He was literally picked up by a patient in a mental health ward and slammed into a wall.  When he no longer could work for the VA taking care of other veterans, he sold American flags part time for the local VFW.


He was a nice man.  Great uncle.  He has passed away some years ago.  But, as time went by his diabetes seemed to become more brittle and he began to have problems with circulation in his lower legs.  He eventually would have both amputated.


After the first surgery I went to visit him.  He was out of surgery less than a day, but, was permitted to get into a wheelchair to go to the lobby and visit with me while getting a diet soda.  This is a true story.  Swear.


After we got to the lobby and I found a sunlite area I went to the coffee shop and bought a diet soda for him and a ginger ale for me.  I returned to him as he pulled a small box from his bathrobe pocket.  I sat across from him in a comfortable chair without saying much.  He started the conversation.  He asked me if I knew what was in the box.  It seemed like a sturdy plastic box.  I told him no, I did not know what was in the box.  He told me it was his lower leg.  The box was given to him that morning by his surgeon when making rounds.  I asked if I could hold it and he let me.  It was sealed.  I could not open it.


When my Uncle Len went home the box was on top of his dresser and he showed it to everyone.  It was sort of like a badge of courage.  After a time and with some rehab he went back to selling American flags.  The cremated lower limb never left the top of his dresser.  His lower leg was still with him, but, in a different place, that's all.  When he lost his second lower leg the second box was stationed next to the first and when he died the two boxes were buried with him.


His surgeon and surgery, both of them, were performed at the Detroit, Michigan Veteran's Administration Hospital.  My Uncle Len (Leonard) went there regularly for any of his medical needs, received any medications there and he was always treated with dignity.


I apologize to all the veterans, families, friends and those feeling violated by the very real desceration that occurred by Waste Management.  I am only beginning to understand why Secretary Gates welcomed President Obama as Commander and Chief.  I don't know what can be done, if anything to correct this wrong, but, I am confident Secretary Panetta and Secretary Shinseki will do all they can.

Remains of war dead dumped in Virginia landfill (click here)

The Washington Post
November 10, 2011

By Craig Whitlock and Greg Jaffe
WASHINGTON 


The Dover Air Force Base mortuary for years disposed of portions of troops' remains by cremating them and dumping the ashes in a Virginia landfill, a practice that officials have since abandoned in favor of burial at sea.


The Dover mortuary, the main point of entry for America's war dead and the target of federal investigations for alleged mishandling of remains, engaged in the practice from 2003 to 2008, according to Air Force officials. The manner of disposal was not disclosed to relatives of fallen service members....

It is my feeling all the remains once cremated should have been boxed and placed together in a casket  or other burial container and buried in a common area separate from other tombstones in a national cemetary in the USA.  A place where people could know about for peace of mind. 

It was always about money, not morality.

The fans, students and alumni have a right to feel demoralized from their hero. Was Joe Paterno really a hero though?


He went up the chain of command as the university system demanded, but, he never took the abused children seriously. This isn't just a matter of jilted lovers. This is about an adult man maintaining boys in his easy reach to satisfy his sexual drive. This is about pedophilia.


One could say the chain of command was the problem, but, they were simply conspirators in the same deception.


Right now, the students and alumni have the most on the line. Not because they lost their head coach and might have a few bad years of football, but, because the 'reputation' of Penn State has been smeared. A college is more than its teams and their standing in their divison, it is about having a reputation and the value of the degree by the greater society.


I am confident some of the joy of being from Penn State revolved around its incredible record and a man by the name of Peterno. Walking into an interview often the first 'ice breaker' is reflecting on the athletic accomplishments of the university. That isn't as rewarding an ice breaker anymore.


I believe the reality of pedophilia within the ranks of coaches at Penn State was handled poorly, as was the scandal, as are the decisions that overshadowed the university last night. It seems to me the value students and alumni place on this university and education were never reflected on, but, only the 'liability' that the school would face. Expeditiously removing the coach and president from the university was more or less a legal maneuver and not thought out in a way that would have best served its reputation now or in the future.

It is all about money. It has been from the beginning with the success and legend of Joe Peterno and it is still about money in his dismissal and disregard to the students and alumni.

If I could make a wish it would be to calm the students and remind them about how important their future is to not just themselves, but to their university's reputation and the contribution they will bring to a country that cares about them. I wish they could find a way to settle their hearts on their own well being and set new priorities for making that happen with a focus on graduation and the enjoyment the future holds.

If nothing else this episode teaches everyone it doesn't matter what monies involved, but, living true to one's morality and the reflection of innocence in the faces of the victimized is more rewarding.

Any students involved in disturbing episodes of anger should be given the benefit of the doubt, any charges removed in lieu of a counceling session at the Student Health Office in realization of the poor handling by the administration from the very beginning.

The favored party of the 1%. Either Americans want a government and one that works or they don't.

Two years ago, November 2010,  McConnell (click title to entry - thank you) made a speech to The Heritage Foundation declaring war on President Obama for ideological reasons.  I don't recall President Obama speaking to The Heritiage Foundation or any other prominent Democrat.  The party is closed to 'ideas' at all.

In less than a week after President Obama's election the NRA was declaring war on him.  Like what is this mess?

Published: November 08, 2008
 National Rifle Association (click here)  CEO Wayne LaPierre said President-elect Barack Obama’s vows to protect the Second Amendment might be little more than a wave of empty promises.

“I predict he’ll break his campaign promises,” LaPierre said Friday, just before speaking to a packed auditorium at the Bristol Public Library....

The Republicans are bought and sold by the Plutocrats of the 1%. 

And the one person missing in this particular picture is the only one that sincerely cares about the USA and should be leading the Republican polls, Governor Jon Huntsman.  And why should Governor Rick Perry remember the department he wants to destroy; he wants to destroy it.  It shows how insignificant any alternative energy priority is to that man.  It takes government working with the private sector and research to support the private and public sector to develop better alternatives for the people of the USA.  If that isn't a blatant and complete disregard for the well being of the American people, don't ask me what is.  All the priorities of the Republicans are ideological.  They don't make sense, they make money.

Yesterday, in Ohio, Kasich (did I spell his name correctly) made a consession speech after his attempt to destroy unions failed.  He said he got the message and he understood the priorities of the electorate.  Those statements are incomplete thoughts.  He may have got the message, but, he should verbalize the EXACT message he got because for decades there seems to be a real communication gap between the people and Republicans.  He stated he understood the priorites of the electorate, but, AGAIN failed to verbalize EXACTLY what those priorities consist of thus failing to communicate well with his citizens. 

Rhetoric and cliches are the way of the past.  Last night Governor Huntsman had no problem communicating his understanding of priorities to the people in the audience. THAT, may be his downfall. 

Alaska's Epic Storm November 2011 (11/9/11)

Morning satellite image of Tropical Storm Sean (below)
Forecast for Sean
The latest SHIPS model forecast predicts wind shear will remain about where it is now through Friday morning. However, ocean temperatures will gradually cool to 24°C during this time, and it is questionable whether Sean will have a favorable enough environment to strengthen into a hurricane. The computer models show little development of Sean, with none of our reliable models predicting it will become a hurricane. Bermuda is the only land area that need concern itself with Sean, as the storm is now caught in a trough of low pressure that will accelerate the storm to the northeast. The center of Sean could pass close enough to Bermuda to bring the island heavy rain squalls and sustained winds of 40 - 45 mph on Friday. NHC is giving a 52% chance that Bermuda will receive tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph. Wind shear will rise to 30 - 50 knots on Friday, which should be able to rip the storm apart by Saturday.

The "Iditarod" might be quite a challenge this year. It doesn't begin until March 2012.

November 9, 2011
0333.54 PM
Satellite Radar (click here for animation of current weather map)

November 9, 2011\
2030.00 gmt
NOAA Infrared Satellite of Alaska (click here)

In the lower center of the image is the Alaskan island chain.  That should help find Alaska and the west coast of Canada.

November 9, 2011
0730.15z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of the north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop)

Bit of a mess, huh?  There are simply vortices everywhere, in the center of the continent, at the Arctic Circle off the east coast in the Atlantic.  Just everywhere.

North American Continent Map with Alasak and the west coast of Canada.

November 7, 2011                   Snyder Oklahoma            Photographer states: 

This is the Tipton-Snyder, OK tornado. This supercell produced multiple tornadoes over a couple of hours.

Oklahoma battered by tornadoes, hail (click here)

November 7, 2011 |  4:08 pm

 

Also at risk: damaged homes and buildings near the central Oklahoma epicenter of the state's record 5.6-magnitude earthquake on Saturday.
No major injuries from the storms had been reported late Monday.
An Oklahoma State University extension field office was destroyed as tornadoes touched down in southwestern Oklahoma on Monday, university officials told the Associated Press.
Some residents two miles south of Tipton, Okla., were trapped after their house was damaged by the storms, but they were eventually rescued and were not injured, Tillman County emergency management director Jeffrey Rector told the Associated Press.
At about 3 p.m. Central time Monday, storm spotters reported a large tornado south of Tipton, about 130 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, headed toward Snyder....

November 9, 2011
1928 gmt
North Pole Satellite











November 9, 201
1928 gmt
South Pole

There is sparce frigid air over the Antarctica continent.  Significane turbulence over Argentina, SA.

"Peaceful Purposes" may have a different definition in Iranian.

I would imagine 'Peaceful Purposes' to the Iranian President would include a regional peace the Iranian government considers important such as their National Defense against anything living.

Senator Gretchen Whitmer Responds to Pro-Bullying Legislation

Tea-vangelical Governor Bob McDonnell claims today the Republicans election success was do to job growth. It could not be further from the truth.

Virginia Unemployment Rate - Seasonally Adjusted (click here)

The unemployment rate in Virginia is a stagnant as the rest of the nation, otherwise McDonnell would be running for president as well.

The reason the Republicans were somewhat successful yesterday in Virginia is due to the face McDonnell has been CRYING "Poor me" in regard to judicial appointments. 

The lowest rate of unemployment in Virginia occurred from September to Noverember 2000 of 2.2%.  January 2008 the unemployment rate was 3.3%.   Ocober 2008 the rate was 4.8%.  By Janaury 2009 it was 5.7% and it kept climbing to an all time high of 7.2% in January 2010.  Below the national average, of course, but the pattern is the same as every other state in the nation.

The current unemployment rate in Virginia is 6.5% with a low between January 2010 and the current rate of 6% in May of this year.  The unemployment rate, its pattern and stubborness is as lackluster as the rest of the nation and even more profound when one considers the all time low in recent years was 2.2% in 2000.

I rarely quote the Washington Times as they are 'creative' at times, but, just the same there was this:

McDonnell wants action on judicial appointment (click title to entry - thank you)

By David Sherfinski

The Washington Times

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Thursday sent a letter to leaders in the Virginia General Assembly telling them to move quickly on selecting judges for state courts, including the Supreme Court,  as he is prepared to do it himself should they adjourn their special redistricting.

The legislature has been mired in a partisan gridlock over judicial appointments as they remain in a special session called to re-draw congressional district lines. Mr. McDonnell wrote that House conferees have agreed on new lines, but the Senate will not acquiesce....

This was on his Twitter feed yesterday evening with the statement "Voter Turn Out is Low."

Link:  Find Your Local Polling Center  (click here)

Candidates for Senate eager to sway voters (click here)

No one has more riding on the outcome than the governor, who reaches the midpoint of his term in January.

By Michael Sluss
981-3373

...Republicans have waged an all-out effort to gain control of the Senate, fielding candidates in 36 districts and waging aggressive, well-funded challenges to several Democratic incumbents — including three who represent parts of Southwest Virginia. The fates of incumbents John Edwards of Roanoke, Roscoe Reynolds of Henry County and Phillip Puckett of Russell County may determine whether Democrats keep the Senate majority they won four years ago. More than $4 million has been spent in the fights for those three seats.

No one has more riding on the outcome of Tuesday's vote than McDonnell, who will reach the midpoint of his four-year term in January. A Republican Senate could give McDonnell the legislative muscle he needs to enact policy reforms in state government, public education and the state employee pension system that Democrats have blocked....

Ran into my good friend Governor Doug Wilder at my polling place this afternoon! Polls are open until 7pm - please get out and vote! (from
Facebook)

Something on the International side: Could Lord Ashcroft have been the hub of the current drug cartels in Central America?

This is where the picture came from (click here)

£Ashcroft: Biggles, Bertie, Algy and Ginger Flaunting the Rules? via Labour of Love March 1st, 2010 at 23:54

We've been following the rather ridiculous Baron Muchhousing Ashcroft of Belize for some time. Here, for example is our archive featuring "Flying Lion" - the good Lord's private jet company - which has been ferrying shadow mimicsters and MPs around willy nilly. Not a UK company. Not paying tax here. With no base here. With no direct company interest in the demented big-C wasting involved in dashing around the globe.Michael Ashcroft's Flying Lion has exploited an apparent loophole in the donations rules. These bar overseas companies and overseas based individuals from donating either money or in kind goods and services to UK political parties. With one exception. That being Travel. This concession being designed to allow the Sultan of Brunei say to summon some UK polis at his own expense.

Lord Ashcroft is a British Tori that lived in Belize more than the UK.  He was found to be issuing tens of thousands of Passports and Visas while living in Belize under British authority.

Just in this past year he was given a free pass by the Cameron government and sent to what normally would be considered a 'safe' place to put him.  I believe it was a country somewhere along the Mediterranian.  Not sure, exactly.  At any rate, there is no reason to believe he isn't still as toxic to global security as he was while in Belize.

He is a worry and now this turns up.  It is reasonable to be suspicious as to any connection between the antics of this corrupt Brit and the drug cartels.  Passports and Visas probably facilitate the migration of the cartels into the USA.  So, much for border fence security when passports and visas abound.
Tonight 24 persons, (click title to entry - thank you) most of them Belizean Immigrants in the United States are facing federal charges for drug trafficking and passport fraud.

It's the result of a major operation by US Law Enforcement, a three year investigation into and infiltration of the Belizean Bloods Gang, a drug trafficking operation based in Chicago.
 
The biggest name to come up so far is Jerry Johnson, who, according to investigators, ran the operation out of Chicago. According to informants who gave police information, JOHNSON inherited his father's drug connections when that father was deported to Belize. Once the drugs got to Chicago the Belizean Bloods had a narcotics distribution route including Illinois, Utah, Ohio, Indiana, New York and California....

Congress needs to pass the "American Jobs Act."

Paper clip or no paper clip, the best option for returning teachers, police and emergency workers back to their jobs was written by President Obama.  It is just a fact.  There is no other viable solution and everyone in the country knows it.

John Kasich dumped on Ohioans that could least afford to lose their jobs.  I guarantee you there are more houses in foreclosure now since Kasich took office and they belong to those he laid off in some of the most vital jobs in the state.  The American Jobs Act HELPS states continue their vital services and supports education. 

The states need this bill.  They need it intact as it stands.  The members of Congress that have stood in opposiition to passing this bill, including those in the Senate demanding yet another filibuster are causing state budget shortfalls that are causing more and more contraction of the economy. 

The Governors should be pushing their Congress persons to pass this bill and turning it down.  The bill is paid for.  The country's extremists are hurting people, not helping them.

PASS THE BILL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!