35 Days until Inauguration - Are the wheels are falling off the National Security Car?

I think the entire region of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, including Kashmir, need to be addressed with a Summit that provides continuity and 'realistic and achievable' outcomes to end the indecision that leads to violence.

Pakistan starts releasing Jamaat-ud-Dawa guys (click here)
16 Dec 2008, 0524 hrs IST, ET Bureau
...Showing no sign of taking further tough action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the Pakistan Punjab police has already released four detained Dawa workers and also removed police guards at the house of the group’s regional head Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi. Alvi heads the PoK chapter of the Jamaat and was put under house arrest last week. Reports quoting senior Pakistani police officials said that the police had no instructions to detain the “regional or second-line leadership” of the Jamaat raising doubts about the current action.
Numerous reports from Pakistan have also pointed out that the Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s main office in Muridke near Karachi continued to operate and that there was no official order to shut down in spite of UNSC ban that involves shutting down the functioning of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Even a Pakistani newspaper report had labeled the Muridke region the home of religious militancy....

India's Defense Minister Rules Out War with Pakistan (click here)
By Steve Herman New Delhi16 December 2008
Seeking to dampen persistent media speculation a retaliatory strike is in the works against Pakistan, India's defense minister is declaring no military action is being planned. But he warns Islamabad to act against terrorists on its soil, if it wants normal relations with India. A.K. Antony says war is not an option, as a response to the terror attack on Mumbai....

...A group calling itself the Afghan Revolutionary Front had warned of "several bombs" in the store in a letter to the French AFP news agency.
"If you do not send someone to intervene before Wednesday December 17, they will explode," said the letter, which was handed over to police.
"Send the message to your president that he must withdraw his troops from our country before the end of February 2009 or else we will take action in your capitalist department stores and this time, without warning."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for vigilance and firmness in the battle against terrorism following the incident....

Oh, what a joke this is. How much of the Bailout is going to his cause?

I'd also be looking at anyone that actually walked away with plenty of profits and 'got on in time.'


Lots of computers and bright folks working for Madoff that is sorta looks like one of thoes 'boiler room deal making NIGHTMARES. What happens to the folks that helped it happen?

When is the structuring of the financial world going to reflect reality rather than, "Have I got a deal for you."

There was no protecting from this. He was eminently qualified to be carrying out independant investments. I sincerely believe the SEC has been watered down in its authority so much by this administration that it can't do anything, no different than the FDA. I mean you have to know that when two 'oily' men, one from Texas Oil and one from Halliburton get away with the crimes they committed, it has to be because the laws governing such issues have been changed and nullified. So, to completely point a finger at the SEC isn't prudent either, so much as allowing them to be scapegoated. Their authority has changed drastically under this adminisration and all that has to be examined as well.

The sad reality is that the SEC might have been told to 'do nothing' because of the size of the accounts involved, $50 billion. An investigation that would actually derail that much money could cause the Bush White House a whole lot of economic headaches all by itself. How much of what Madoff was involved in was given a 'nod' for the sake of stabilizing economic disaster. Basically, Madoff wasn't reporting his losses. He wasn't putting forward an honest 'balance sheet' and if he did there would be calamity every place, especially for him.

This is just too big a 'con' to look the other way. I am sure there are issues that reach into government, but, the question is to whom and for how long.

At least there is an attempt by David Johnson at the NYTs to sort through law and politics.

The Founding Fathers (not mothers) played politics, too.

The Illinois Governor is not wrong, he is innocent. Full of hubris and 'local political culture,' but, not guilty of a crime. He is playing a little loose with his powers both politically and legally, but, he isn't that horrible human being everyone wants to make him and his wife out to be.

If I can regress, there was a time in Arkansas when a couple that later occupied the White House knew all too well the unpleasant demands 'that came with serving the people.' It ain't easy and much of what has been so valuable regarding the service of Hillary and Bill Clinton was their ability to understand the Republican's ability to manipulate the public. I think if asked Bill Clinton would state, that the citizens of Arkansas became more sensitive to 'exploitation of their emotions' vs. 'their own ability to make informed and CORRECT decisions' about their choices for ELECTED authority.

If you recall during his run for President, Barak Obama stated (and I paraphrase), "...you will hear many bad things about me coming from the opposition. They will try to make you believe I am whom I am in a very negative way...."

I'd like to refer to a paragraph in Mr. Johnson's article.

...But talk is not enough. Any case will ultimately turn on the strength of the tapes, and whether the governor made it clear to any of the candidates for the Senate seat that he would give it only in exchange for something of value....

When I look at the 'charges,' and mind you there have been no indictments; they seem very trivial to me. Insulting. Crass. A lot of hubris and 'power speak.' Perhaps one might call some of it zealotry. All those things, but, when politics gets nasty the realm of civility becomes challenged. Talk is simply talk and when a Governor is speaking to a trusted collegue in his Cheif of Staff, you better believe feathers are going to fly in some instances.

I mean look at the viciousness of the political climate the Governor has to face today. Media services are attacking everyone and everything in trying to get a footing that will bring audience attention. The Illinois legislature is attempting to build steam against the Governor by a man whom's daughter is the Illinois Attorney General. She has stated she has ambitions to be Governor in 2010. THAT is a conflict of interest and she should have recused herself from any proceedings. That conflict of interest alone makes every proceedings either court or legislative automatically an element of appeal.

There is nothing wrong with investigating the aspects of the charges for impeachment, but, when Governor Rod Blagojevich is found innocent of any charges that will directly weigh on the legislators that have acted against him for political gain and they will find themselves voted out in the next election. If the Illinois legislature acts for political reasons without solid basis for there proceedings there will be repercussions and their are those already waiting for that to happen and hoping it does.

I find the Governor's will to stand his ground and see this through more than admirable, but, in all honesty if one is innocent then why would you not do exactly that and allow everyone else make all the mistakes and point to that reality in retrospect.

The real peril in allowing a media frenzy to dictate the outcome to ELECTED authority is that it endangers the democracy and insults the Constitution. We all have rights to Due Process and that includes ELECTED authorities. If we allow any aspect of Due Process to be underminded for 'political posturing' we are losing the basis of 'good politics,' 'good government' and the POWER of the vote.

I believe in our Constitution. It is strong. We have come out of the undermining of a very tenacious set of circumstances with a Republican dominated legislature and executive branch to elect a man I firmly believe holds the hopes and best outcomes to the USA. We have to allow the 'time' it takes for Due Process to work and believe regardless the outcome that we have acheived the ultimate 'good' of our democracy.

Hey, look. If folks in Illinois want to make a political circus of their government when there is so much in crisis including our national security, what does that tell you?

Thank you, Mr. Johnson.