28 Days until Inauguration - Is International Cooperation possible to combat terrorist networks?

An armed British police officer guards the Old War Office in central London on July 3 in the wake of attempted car bombings in London and Glasgow, Scotland.

Interpol chief presses India to provide evidence (click title to entry - thank you)
By JEAN H. LEE – 7 hours ago
NEW DELHI (AP) — Nearly a month after the Mumbai terror attacks, India has not provided the evidence needed for Interpol to help identify and apprehend the suspected masterminds, the chief of the global police agency said Tuesday.
Ronald Noble, speaking in Islamabad after a visit to New Delhi, said Pakistan has agreed to work with the agency to help investigate the attacks that killed 164 people in India's financial hub last month.
But he said India has provided no names or information that would allow police in other countries to check their databases, calling it "not acceptable" for New Delhi to provide those details to the media first.
India's reluctance to turn over evidence — while demanding that Pakistan crack down on the militant group suspected of hatching the plot — has been a major irritant to Islamabad.
On Monday, Pakistan sent fighter jets screaming through the skies near major cities in a display of military force that raised concerns the two nuclear powers may go to war for a fourth time.
Seeking to temper tensions, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, made a second visit to Pakistan since the Mumbai attacks and urged the country's leadership to work with India to fight terrorism....

Interpol: U.K. not sharing terror information (click here)
Agency’s chief says London is reluctant to join global anti-terrorism effort
updated 8:02 a.m. ET, Mon., July. 9, 2007
LONDON - The head of Interpol said Monday that Britain has not shared any information gleaned from the investigation of three failed car bomb attacks, which he said is symptomatic of London’s reluctance to join in global efforts to combat terrorism.
“We have received not one name, not one fingerprint, not one telephone number, not one address, nothing, from the UK, about the recent thwarted terrorist attacks,” Ronald Noble, Interpol’s secretary general, said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television.
Detectives on three continents are working to piece together details of the failed attacks on two London nightspots and the airport in Glasgow, Scotland....

There was nothing illegal. The question is, however, who makes these choices and should resigning Elected officials have suggestions at all?

Valerie Jarrett. Hm. No doubt qualified. No doubt an excellant suggestion, but, did Governor Blagojevich ask for assistance or was there insistence?

There is no doubt that Obama and his staff are innocent of charges or ethical issues. There is no doubt these type of recommendations are common place in most instances.

The question remains, how appropriate is it for any resigning elected official to suggest a replacement? There is a 'shadow' of doubt that there should be suggestions at all, regardless, of its commonality of practice. You know what I mean? Why RISK any impropriety in the future should an opportunity arise that causes 'the appearance' of same?

Personally.

I think if an elected official resigns there should be no shadow cast to the successor of those powers.

I think Ms. Jarrett made the right choice, no different than anyone that is joining the President-Elect in the White House. I would rather be where the action is, than in the Legislative Branch. The overwhelming commitment to stabilize the country will be the focus of the Executive Branch to protect the sovereignty of the USA. These efforts will require a great deal of dedication and focus and no doubt if the President-Elect sees a need for 'the best of the best' to accompany him to the Oval Office, then an honor beyond any other that certainly has without a doubt. A gratitude by the country without reservation.

But, in departing the Senate seat for Illinois, does the President-Elect or any of his staff or transition team have the right or even the shadow of a right to suggest a replacement?

I think not.

And if Barak Obama is serious about change he needs to reflect on the appropriate or rather the inappropriate nature of such a ? priviledge ?

A great honor was passed to the President-Elect by a grateful country. But, no matter how grateful, it is still honor to be overwhelmingly demanded to serve when the country has such dire consequences in the balance. To that 'best result' of a general election for President should there be a trace of Obama in the Legislature by a grateful candidate that received his blessing?

There is a 'risk' of shadowing one's successor when ascending to a higher office. It is as if the President-Elect never left the Senate seat in its entirety. While I believe Obama is incapable of expecting 'special treatment' from any Senator or House Representative appointed in replacement of himself, his Vice-President Elect or any Cabinet or Staff member; it is for that reason I believe there should be a 'clean break' from any hint of suggestion to their replacement.

It could be said, that a President-Elect is trying to 'stack the deck' in his favor by looking over his shoulder at the replacements to himself and those that surround him that vacate their elected offices to serve at his pleasure. One might say, 'It is simply politics' and politics that is allowed and even politics that is coveted, but, isn't it politics 'of that nature' with a hint of impurity that the country has come to distain?

It is simply my observation that if there is to be a 'break' from politics as usual to one that borders on sainthood, then why not engage in that form of genteel purpose and allow the laws of the land to work as they were intended and not as they have come to be coveted.

I believe the USA needs a return to 'innocence.' And with that, I congratulate the transition team for a thorough searching of impropriety, yet, falling short of a sincere soul searching of its intention and purpose.

I don't believe any resignations are in order, nor, any retiring from politics, but, just a forthright observation of 'what the American people' long for and way to deliver it without compromising their best outcomes.

Just as a side note. One other thing. No one thought to ask the DNC whom they thought was the best 'electable' candidates from any district or state? Why not?

This is improvement. This is what we want. This is keeping the dream alive.

Ford Fusion Hybrid to get 41 city m.p.g. (click here)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

December 23, 2008

Ford Motor Co.’s much ballyhooed 2010 Fusion Hybrid will get 41 city miles per gallon and 36 m.p.g. on highways, based on final certification figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company said Monday.

The move is one of the final steps in getting the vehicle to dealerships next spring. Certification of the vehicle was recently completed at the company’s testing laboratories in Allen Park.
Ford said that the Fusion Hybrid tops Toyota’s Camry hybrid -- its main competitor -- mileage by 8 m.p.g. in the city and 2 m.p.g. on the highway.
The Fusion can travel up to 47 miles per hour using only battery power. After 47 miles, the car’s four-cylinder engine turns on to power the car and recharge the battery.
The Fusion’s nickel-metal hydride battery is lighter and produces 20% more power than the Ford Escape hybrid. It also devised a way to get 28% more power out of the battery cells, said Praveen Cherian, program leader for the Fusion Hybrid.
“It’s not just one thing, but thousands,” he said of the improved mileage numbers. “We’ve optimized the heck out of that vehicle, it’s individual components.”
The battery also can tolerate higher temperatures, and Ford has eliminated its battery cooling system in the Fusion, allowing the battery to cool using regular cabin air.
The company also has improved its regenerative braking system, which captures energy lost through brake friction and stores it for battery usage. Ford said 94% of brake friction energy is recovered in the new model.
The Fusion also includes SmartGauge technology, which helps drivers adjust their driving to get more mileage out of the car.
Ford unveiled the Fusion Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show last month, along with the Mercury Milan hybrid.

Let's go Fitzpatrick. We wasted half a day already. Release Obama's statement. This is censorship, Bud !

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, gestures during a House Impeachment Committee Hearing at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008. The committee considering impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be nearing the end of its work or just beginning, depending on the wishes of federal prosecutors. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

We already know you haven't got a case, it's about time you realized it, too.

It's the holiday, I got things to do !

Impeachment panel takes break (click here)

December 22, 2008 at 4:24 PM

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The committee studying impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich has ended its work for the week with no word on how deeply it can look into criminal charges against the governor.
Committee members say they won't do anything that might complicate the investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. So the committee last week asked Fitzgerald for guidance on what it should and shouldn't do.

Committee members plan to meet again Dec. 29. Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson, says he has a list of witnesses he wants to bring before the committee next week. He estimates he'll need a day to question them.
Committee members say they could finish their work and make a recommendation on impeachment during the first week of January.

Prioritizing Infrastructure Supports - None to markets with their own bouyancy. No new construction. Not yet.

Graph from an article called "The Big Picture" (click here). Used to illustrate how a housing market is NOT supposed to work and how false incentives to economic strategy causes hardship rather than economic well being.

There were far too many housing permits than justified by potential legitimate buyers. There is NO WAY, there should have been this many justifible housing starts of new homes in the USA. There was not that much of an increase in population or a legitimate increase in the number of buyers. What occurred was an increase in 'faux impetus' for people to refinance their homes and purchase many more homes way over their ability to pay.

All those that purchased homes in hopes of 'handling' the mortgages through increased housing values and potential of rental incomes were gambling. Nothing more. There was absolutely no sound decision making on the part of these buyers, nor were they educated to the extent of their RISK. Their market failure came as a complete surprise to them. This was exploitation of American hopes and dreams at its worse.

There is an interesting statement in The Washington Post (click here) today by some Real Estate Mogel/Tycoon that wants MOR' MONEY. NO ! Let me find the paragraph, it made me laugh out loud.

..."We need more than low interest rates to encourage enough buyers to enter the market and meaningfully draw down inventory, which would stabilize home prices. That, in turn, would help the economy to recover," Charles McMillan, president of Realtors group, said in a statement.

Bad loans got them into this mess and more of the same isn't going to get them out. Low interest loans are supposed to be available, the Fed can't drop rates any lower without giving money away and we already tried that with the $350 billion bailout to date, so the banks should be able to qualify buyers with fair interest rates already. In my opinino, the statement by Mr. McMillan is simply pandering to a government desperate to avoid a severe depression and nothing more.

In the same article it is noted, "Sales of existing homes fell 8.6 percent...." That was EXISTING homes. Additionally, they were selling for a full 13.2 percent of their market value previously which means there are still plenty of foreclosures going on to warrant a 'maintained' drop in housing values. Americans trying to hold on to their homes have far less reason to stay in them and maintain their mortgages at this rate and any more opportunity to purchase cheap homes will continue that trend. NOT A GOOD IDEA !

The article also stated, "...It was the slowest sales rate in about 18 years and down 35 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
Median new-home sales prices fell to $220,400 in November, down 11.5 percent from $249,100 a year earlier...." There is no reason to invest in building more homes as existing housing is losing far too much value and my guess is that is true of commercial real estate already.

If people are qualifying for purchase of homes and otherwise and there are already low interest rates, then there is a topping out of any recovery potential to date because of adverse effects of the economy on household income. It is the unemployment rate we are looking at and NOT more faux incentives to purchase more homes by Americans.

It is my estimation the current housing market is not going to recover until the unemployment rate comes down. No reason for tax credits or otherwise, that is simply pandering to the wealthy that have made it past this decline in an attempt to find more opportunity to a few people.

Americans need a return of a reasonsable income to their households and THEN and only then will there be a recovery of existing home prices. To build more simply to bouy an economy is a Bush Re-election Strategy and will only depress housing values and remove incentive to pay existing mortgages.

The Americans still living in their homes need to stay there and demand a market that returns their home's value to them as well as an economic upturn that returns good paying jobs to make homeownership once again affordable and an American Dream.

It might be that we are sneeking up on a return to a manufacturing sector which is where Obama is focusing his economic stimulus. There is no reason to over react. At this point there is much being prepared for a return to manufacturing in the USA, but, far more needed to achieve an increase in jobs. An increase in a sector's income is not a clear indication that the tax base is widening in regard to job 'return'/creation. Sustainable income to the tax base will revert this economy, not 'flash in the pan' economics by handing out free money.

CATEGORY: MARKET REPORT - US (click title to entry - thank you)
US open: Modest gains posted
Tue 23 Dec 2008
LONDON (SHARECAST) - Wall Street is posting modest gains in light trading as investors contemplate third quarter GDP figures.
The Commerce Department said final gross domestic product figures for the third quarter fell at an annual rate of 0.5% in line with expectations. The Department also said corporate profits fell 1.2% in the same period, more than the 0.9% expected.
Later, the Commerce Department will report on last month's new home sales, while the National Association of Realtors will report on existing home sales.
Also on Tuesday, the University of Michigan is expected to revise down its consumer sentiment index.
Commercial financial firm CIT Group said it has got preliminary approval to receive $2.33bn from the government's $700bn bank investment program.
Late Monday, Unisys said it will cut 1,300 jobs worldwide in order to reduce costs by more than $225m a year.

I think Barak Obama does need to be reminded about propriety. His inauguration is more than a change in government, it is a change of legitimacy.

...Warren waxed, "Now here's an interesting thing. There are about 2 percent of Americans, are homosexual or gay, lesbian people. We should not let 2 percent of the population determine, to change a definition of marriage that has been supported by every single culture and every single religion for 5,000 years. This is not even just a Christian issue, it's a humanitarian, a human issue."...

...When Obama saw how flammable Wright was, he took him off the stage for the announcement of his candidacy in Springfield, Ill. Warren's calling a ban on gay marriage a "humanitarian" issue should result in the same. If Warren is allowed to give the invocation, the bright American rainbow that got Obama into office will dim in a way that spells danger for what else Obama will not stand up for.
Derrick Z. Jackson can be reached at jackson@globe.com.

Reading the editorial by Derrick Jackson in The Boston Globe brought about many stark images of people being persecuted as a minority in a country, but, it also brought to focus issues that are typical of liberals and their character strengths of which 'forgiving' is a magnanimous attribute. Yes, that's right, liberals are very forgiving. If that weren't reality then the nation would be in anarchy for the half of its people that haven't tolerated the Right Wing abuse of our Democracy for over eight years beginning with the disenfranchisement of the Black Electorate in the Elections of 2000.

The editiorial also made me recall an exceptionally 'interesting' Conservative Court. I'll comment in a minute.

Let me do some background 'stuff' that might seem inflammatory, but, has legimacy in its focus. The one true figure we can all relate to as Americans is WW II and the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews. Nazi Germany had a population of nearly 70 million people in the year 1939. There were nearly 7 millions Jews killed during the course of WW II. They all weren't Germans either, approximately 160,000 were Germans, a cool one million were Russian (The Nazi Massacre of Kerch, 1942). If that isn't reason to pause at 'words in a speech' that recants 'small percentages' as a justificiation of bigotry by a religous leader than I don't know what is. We can talk about other genocides as well as none are more important than another, but, then in the USA these days we are finding the loss of any one person as tragic as the loss of many. A lot to be said about the way the world has changed and endears its people.

There was a Conservative Court not very long ago that manifested huge rights for individuals. I am sure everyone knows 'the court' I am referring. It was The Burger Court. Most Americans think of this court as a liberal court. It wasn't at all, as a matter of fact Richard Nixon advanced Warren Burger to the Chief Justice seat and at one time considered asking him to run as his Vice President. It's interesting to think about Burger at this time of transition because he was a 'Nixon supporter' and at the same time nullified Nixon's powers during Watergate when he tried to EXPAND the powers of the Executive Branch to disqualify any impeachment due to Nixon's paranoid looting of The Watergate.

The definition of marriage was 'narrowed' during the Clinton White House and it was more than likely a 'political survival' decision which never was meant to cause discomfort in any populous of the USA, so much as satisfy folks like Rick Warren who demand to 'feel' more comfortable than Civil Rights in the USA should provide for them. The basis of some of our laws can be stated, by Neocons especially, as based in religion. Well. Yeah. If one considers 'murder' and 'Thou shalt now kill' exclusively a Christian dogman. It isn't and I defy anyone to point to any American law that has 'exclusive' basis in any religious dogma EXCEPT "The Defense of Marriage Act," which definately cross the line of church and state.

Christians have no overwhelming Civil Rights than any other member of the American populous and to consider they actually 'PLOT' against minority members of this country because so many Americans have their religious preferences in some type of Christianity is more than scary. Unlike the Anglican Religion, Rick Warren and his Evangelical Peers have a long way to go to remove their biased and bigoted dogma from the face of American politics and place it back within the walls of their churches where it belongs. No American should be the 'SOCIAL' vicitm of another. NONE !

In the Hebrew faith, Homosexual Members of society are welcome with open arms and have been for a long, long, long time. Jews recognize humanity in a way that is sincerely based in UNDERSTANDING and endearing every life that breaths which God placed on Earth. So, don't start with me about marriage. Marriage is not a 'judicial' term it is a 'spiritual' term and probably should be removed from the laws of this land and replaced ONLY with a process of recognition of 'Amicable Responsiblity' toward each other.

Legal recognition has its place in a social venue. Children and adults have security issues and when all fails in a relationship, the fiscal responsiblity of dependants does not 'go away' simply because a 'partner' wishes it to be so. When people consent to be responsible for each other in life, there needs to be a brevity to that and after all 'Who do you trust with YOUR living will?'

Rick Warren is a political animal and if that means as a Preacher his congregation finds that to be an asset to their denomination, than so be it, but, in the USA there is much to be said about 'the legal and tax rights' of such a man. He has crossed the line. If he continues in that way he needs to have his Saddleback Church as a Corporation WITHOUT tax exempt status. If he sincerely wants to 'make his responsibility' for his words 'go away' then he needs to apologize and not simply state, "I love all Gays and otherwise.' Like I said, he is a political animal. He either apologizes and redefines his 'legitimacy' as a religious leader or he doesn't, but, he can't be both.

That said, I believe some of Warren's political dogma matches the future hopes of the President-Elect. Warren has come out opposing the deadly trend of Human Induced Global Warming and I am sure somewhere on this blog that is noted. Warren has been someone that likes to think of himself as a man that has the capacity to change the character of people's souls, but, I assure you if folks needed a purpose to define their 'goodness' than the 'goodness' was already there, simply not the 'outreach' to find them. Given Warren's political willingness to make statements about controversial issues, it is not surprising Barak Obama made clear that he found Rick Warren a desireable man to place in the spotlight at his inauguration. It is just that at 'this inauguration' when 'legitimacy' is such a focus to the country's demands of its leadership, one has sincere pause when a complete two percent of our people are left out in 'the emotional and legal cold' by a man that should be inclusive.

In realizing members of the GLBT Community have stated they accept Barak Obama's choice of Rick Warren, on the basis of inclusion, I might point to that characteristic I mentioned before of 'foregiveness.' I will also note that strides in 'individual' rights by the Burger Court should not be trashed based in religious bias and bigotry, but, built on. It is time the 'religously' minded come to terms with their insecurity when it comes to the separation of church and state. The religous community, while verbal in ridiculing its own members from time to time, needs to issue their own policy statements include the words, 'A SOVEREIGN AUTHORITY' has the right to conduct itself in autonomy of any religous body.

In the same manner, those members of the GLBT Community that find forgiveness a 'nice' place to be for the 'sake' of peace, should also demand "The Defenses of Marriage Act" be amended by this administration to INSURE the inclusion of all members of society realizing Civil Unions for all its populous is a measure that is 'legally correct' and 'marriage is sequestered' to the spiritual rhelm. If the USA Constitution wants to defend marriage than it should do it in recognition of its exclusive 'spiritual' nature and not crossing the line of church and state.

Now, I've said MY PEACE with the subject. I suggest everyone GET BUSY.