MARON v SEDER

On 12/14, Democrats.com was excited to announce Rep. Robert Wexler's campaign to demand impeachment hearings for Dick Cheney. Wexler's goal was 50,000 signatures but with your support, Wexler's petition passed 100,000!
http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com

But that leaves 13 Judiciary Committee Democrats who have NOT called for impeachment hearings. These 6 voted to send Kucinich's bill to Judiciary on 11/6, so they should publicly support Wexler's efforts: John Conyers (MI-14), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Brad Sherman (CA-27), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Mel Watt (NC-12), and Anthony Weiner (NY-09).

These 7 voted to kill Kucinich's bill on 11/6, so they need to CHANGE their positions and fulfill their oath of office to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign AND domestic: Howard Berman (CA-28), Artur Davis (AL-07), William Delahunt (MA-10), Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Linda Sanchez (CA-39), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20).

Please email all House Judiciary Democrats through this petition:
http://www.democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

"Hello to our friends and fans in domestic surveillance."

is ticking within Chris Matthews

i imagine people of all stripes thank you on an on-going basis.
i for one derive enormous pleasure in such plush surroundings

kind of a perch for...
A Partridge In A Pear Tree

Stranded in the snowy California woods for three days after losing their way while searching for a Christmas tree, a father and his three children fashioned a "Help" sign out of twigs on a nearby unpaved road, according to the helicopter pilots who found them.

from cnn:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday slapped down California's bid for first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs, refusing the state a waiver that would have allowed those restrictions to take effect.

"The Bush administration is moving forward with a clear national solution -- not a confusing patchwork of state rules," EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson told reporters on a conference call. "I believe this is a better approach than if individual states were to act alone."

The long-awaited decision amounted to a serious setback for California and at least 16 other states seeking the new car regulations to achieve their anti-global warming goals. It was a victory for automakers, who contended they would have been forced to reduce their selection of vehicles in the states that adopted California's standards.

The tailpipe standards California adopted in 2004 would have forced automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016, with the cutbacks beginning in the 2009 model year.

Under the Clean Air Act, the state needed a federal waiver to implement the rules.

"It is disappointing that the federal government is standing in our way and ignoring the will of tens of millions of people across the nation," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "California sued to compel the agency to act on our waiver, and now we will sue to overturn today's decision and allow Californians to protect our environment."

woot woot

what ever happened to the nuclear option that was held over the dems heads for so many years. shouldn't it be ours to use now that we have the majority?

Fell asleep with my computer on. Just started posting on the page that was up when I went to sleep.

Cookies coming along. I have three more different cookies to make and I am done with cookies.

Working tonight, Saturday and Sunday so I am under pressure now to get them done by Friday.

I guess I'll have to repost those articles here.

US passes tighter gun control law
The US Congress has approved the first major gun control law since 1994, improving background checks on buyers.
The bill was prompted by the deaths of 32 people at Virginia Tech University in April, when a mentally ill student used two guns he had been able to buy.

The law clarifies what mental health records must be included in checks and gives funds to states to help automate the processing of records.

It has been widely welcomed but critics say it will do "more harm than good".

The shooting rampage by student Cho Seung-hui on the campus at Virginia Tech in April shocked Americans.

That shock was all the greater when it emerged that a judge had ruled that Cho was a danger to himself and should receive mental health treatment.

But because of concerns over privacy laws, the judge's report never made it into federal records.

This meant Cho was able legally to buy the guns he used to kill 32 people and himself.

"A credible...federal database to provide accurate background checks benefits everyone," said Sen Patrick Leahy, a co-sponsor of the bill.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7153339.stm

CIA to turn over videotape documents By PAMELA HESS, Associated Press Writer
50 minutes ago

Under a subpoena threat, the CIA is expected to quickly begin turning over to Congress documents related to the destruction of videotapes showing the harsh interrogation of two terror suspects.

The agency could begin producing the material as early as Thursday, according to senior intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of ongoing investigations into the destruction of the tapes in 2005.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said Wednesday the CIA had agreed to turn over the documents sometime this week after he prepared subpoenas for former and current CIA officials and attorneys if they don't voluntarily come before the committee to testify about the tapes. The document request includes records related to the 9/11 Commission and to al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, whose attorneys were seeking interrogation videos.

The panel rejected a Bush administration request that it defer to an executive branch preliminary inquiry and has launched its own investigation into the videotape destruction.

Reyes wants acting CIA general counsel John Rizzo and Jose Rodriguez, the former head of the National Clandestine Service, to testify to the committee on Jan. 16. Rodriguez is the official who directed that the tapes, which document the interrogation of two al-Qaida suspects in 2002, be destroyed.

Rizzo will testify, though the CIA has not committed to a date. Rodriguez has his own lawyer, so his arrangements were being made separately.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071220/ap_on_go_co/cia_videotapes&printer=1...

Bear Stearns sued for fraud and deception on subprime "coverup"
by Chris in Paris · 12/20/2007 05:32:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (10) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

And the feeding frenzy begins. CYA lawsuits should start flooding the market soon enough. If anyone believes that buyers and sellers alike were not aware of what was going on, they are nuts and only kidding themselves. If the banks failed to understand what they were buying - despite teams of lawyers and supposed financial experts - well, tough. Isn't that why these companies are (were) raking in the big bucks?

Fortunately for the banks (unfortunately for everyone else) Paulson and the Bush administration are doing their best to bail out them out. This way, banks win even when they're losing. Just add the costs to the taxpayers and worry about it later. Nice work, if you can find it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/20/barclaysbusiness.subprime...

Rhythmic 8 (6-0.0.1.7)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

red rhythmic dragon ~ kin 201

ORGANIZE in order to NURTURE,
BALANCING BEING
seal the INPUT of BIRTH
with the RHYTHMIC tone of EQUALITY.
guided by the SAME power DOUBLED.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
◄ 12.19.14.16.12 ≈ bolon eb ►

Bush administration blocks California emissions law
by Chris in Paris · 12/20/2007 04:13:00 AM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (19) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Leave it to a Bush-led EPA to shoot down efforts to clean up the environment. Only a GOP team could pull off such a ridiculous stunt, using the old "we would really like to have a better system, so let's not take any action until we get there" routine. Please. This administration has no interest whatsoever in doing anything positive about the environment. Big Oil and Detroit might not like it. The Bush plan is to push the issue into the Washington bureaucracy and let it die on the vine, with a little help from dinosaurs such as Rep. Dingell (D - General Motors.)

Maybe our next president will care about an EPA that is focused on the environment and not polluting special interests. If only trees and air could pay lobbyists... If only we had a democracy that was actually about people and not the most powerful lobbyists.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22332983/

Merrill Lynch preparing for a few billion more in write-downs
by Chris in Paris · 12/19/2007 11:56:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (59) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

Well, at least their previous CEO Stanley O'Neil still has his $160 million thank-you gift for his efforts. It's only fair since he was at the helm during the period of massive failures by the bank. I'm sure that he is very, very, very sorry about your losses. With this new announcement, they are going to write-down at least $16 billion, probably more. See, in the banking industry, you are judged and compensated based on your success. You should have seen what O'Neil would have made if Merrill didn't lose billions! Fair is fair, after all.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/22313560

Government regulation is too expensive
by Chris in Paris · 12/19/2007 10:13:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comments (242) · reddit · FARK ·· Digg It!

With Morgan Stanley announcing another $9.4 billion write-down, due to the subprime lending crash, the US Federal Reserve is extending $20 billion in loans to the banks. Europe is even worse, with $500 billion thrown in, though the US may be adding more as more losses hit the street.

As you can see, between the lives ruined when houses were lost, the healthy bonuses and exit packages based on voodoo economics, creating a real estate bubble and inflating prices, job losses in the tens of thousands and now more government intervention, this hands off policy is a real winner. Boy did we save money or what? The Republicans wanted laissez faire economics for decades and this is a direct result of those policies. Don't forget to thank Greenspan and the GOP for making this all possible.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071219/ap_on_bi_ge/fed_credit_crunch;_ylt=A...

Mukasey’s new policy limits political interference at DoJ. The Department of Justice today has issued a new policy governing the communications of DoJ staffers with the White House in an effort to restore safeguards against political interference. Recall, the Alberto Gonzales-led DoJ tore down the firewalls that existed between the DoJ and the White House, leading to increased politicization at Justice. Michael Mukasey said communications about criminal and civil investigations “must be limited.” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement:

“Today’s new policy is a clear, unmistakable and welcome repudiation of the Gonzales era, and this change takes a significant step towards restoring Americans’ confidence in the integrity of our justice system,” Whitehouse said. “I’m encouraged that Attorney General Mukasey has honored his commitment to begin restoring the firewall against White House politicization at the Department.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/19/mukaseys-new-policy-limits-political...

more support for the neocon notion that if you're sick you should do us all a favor and die.

Prognosis poor for uninsured cancer patients
They miss out on key early detection
By By Mike Stobbe
Associated Press

Thursday, December 20, 2007

ATLANTA -- Uninsured cancer patients are nearly twice as likely to die within five years as those with private coverage, according to the first national study of its kind and one that sheds light on troubling health care obstacles.

Details

Too little, too late: People without health insurance are less likely to get recommended cancer screening tests, the study also found, confirming earlier research. And when these patients finally do get diagnosed, their cancer is likely to have spread.

Impact: The research by scientists with the American Cancer Society offers important context for the national discussion about health care reform, experts say -- even though the uninsured are believed to account for just a fraction of U.S. cancer deaths. An Associated Press analysis suggests it is around 4 percent.

Reaction

Send help: Those dealing with cancer and inadequate insurance weren't surprised by the findings.

"I would just like for something to be done to help someone else, so they don't have to go through what we went through," said Peggy Hicks, a Florida woman whose husband died in August from colon cancer.

'You can't': Edward Hicks was uninsured, and a patchwork health care system delayed him from getting chemotherapy that some argue might have extended his life.

"He was so ill. And you're trying to get him help and you can't, you can't," said his 67-year-old widow.

What's next?

Call for action: The new research is being published in Cancer, the cancer society's medical journal. In an accompanying editorial, the society's president repeated the organization's call for action to fix holes in the health care safety net.

Death sentence: "The truth is that our national reluctance to face these facts is condemning thousands of people to die from cancer each year," Dr. Elmer Huerta wrote.

How many? An Associated Press estimate -- based on hospital cancer deaths in 2005 gathered by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and other data -- suggests that at least 20,000 of the nation's 560,000 annual cancer deaths are uninsured when they die. Experts said that estimate sounds reasonable.

Greater Memphis Reacts

Dr. G. Scott Morris, Church Health Center executive director: "I just spent much of the day acquiring a cancer drug for an uninsured patient. Everybody's willing to donate their time and services -- doctors, the hospital -- but the pharmaceutical company had never given this drug away to an uninsured patient before. They will this time, but if it wasn't for somebody who's persistent like me, the patient would never have gotten the drug, and there's no telling what the outcome would have been."

Dr. Cyril Chang, director of the University of Memphis' Methodist Le Bonheur Center for Healthcare Economics: "The higher cancer risk reaffirms the well known fact that 'insurance matters.'"

Dr. Albert Okunade, First Tennessee professor of economics at U of M: "Insured patients get huge treatment cost discounts and those lacking insurance bankrupt quickly and/or die sooner. Differences in cancer survival outcomes arise from the sub-optimal treatments the uninsured receive."

Steve Coplon, The West Clinic CEO: "Some cancer clinics, such as The West Clinic, provide an enormous amount of indigent and uncompensated care -- making significant contributions to reduce the impact to those who are uninsured or underinsured. This is becoming more difficult as Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and payers continue to punish providers by reducing reimbursements."

- Compiled by Mark Watson

The Royal “Us”
By: Attaturk Thursday December 20, 2007 12:57 am

In a trademark Wankitorial, Fred Hiatt manages to evaluate Congressional Democrats with this statement:

The keenest Democratic disappointment -- failing to force the president to rapidly withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq -- is no disappointment to us. Although unhappiness with the war in Iraq helped propel Democrats to victory, in the end President Bush was able to secure continuing funding for the war with no strings attached.

Yes, an unpopular, devastating, multi-trillion dollar war lasting for the foreseeable future without any limits. OH, GOOD PLAN!

And what, in the end, has it produced?

Iraqis of all sectarian and ethnic groups believe that the U.S. military invasion is the primary root of the violent differences among them, and see the departure of "occupying forces" as the key to national reconciliation, according to focus groups conducted for the U.S. military last month.

The very next sentence of that article contains the kicker though:

That is good news, according to a military analysis of the results.

So naturally, this conforms with Hiatt's view entirely that we stay there forever without any plan to leave...just ask him.

http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/20/the-royal-us/

Pelosi Says She Miscalculated GOP Determination on Iraq
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday December 19, 2007 6:32 pm

File this under the category of "oh really": House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., admitted Thursday that she had underestimated the willingness of Republicans to stand behind President Bush’s Iraq policy despite the drubbing the GOP took in the polls in 2006.

http://firedoglake.com/2007/12/19/pelosi-says-she-miscalculated-gop-dete...

Non-believing US
voters feel demonized

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One presidential hopeful is a preacher, another proudly Mormon, and most openly tout their Christianity. In an arena where faith can make or break a politician, the one in 10 Americans who profess no religion feel left in the cold.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071219/pl_afp/usvote2008religionpolitics_0...

BEAR STEARNS EXECS WON'T GET BONUSES; CEO SAYS MANAGEMENT 'OBVIOUSLY UPSET' WITH RESULTS...

sorry, but any job i had, if i messed up i could look forward to being fired. no bonus, no severance, no nothing. how about the rest of youse?

And the politicians they've had on this morning are making me totally sick.

Both the Dem and the Repub!

No wonder this country is in trouble!!

but the question thats nagging at me is i thought he quit a while back, or was that some other whack job?

Can I listen to maron v seder without the video feed.

I have satellite internet so my bandwidth usage is restricted.

good question. have you checked out smackchannel? fernando knows a lot about this. the heart of the wide cam page has the following html (tags have been mutated so you can see them):

OBJECT codeBase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0"

height="500" width="1024" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"

PARAM value="http://www.smackchannel.com/sidebyside_viewer_samseder_secure.swf" name="movie"

PARAM value="high" name="quality"

PARAM value="false" name="menu"

PARAM value="" name="wmode"

/OBJECT

He did announce in October that he would not seek a 6th term in Congress. Maybe that is what you are thinking of.

Here's the link to the USA Article about him today:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-12-19-tancredo_N...

or just another neocon lobbyist?

All these neo idiots land on their feet though. 2/3rds should be behind bars!

I don't think it's possible with the current technology used - but I agree that fernando is the expert around here (brett is good too) and others more knowledgeable than me - maybe they'll have a better answer for you

good riddance

(as in i totally agree with the idea of who cares) but rather keeping the scorecard up to date as the republicans spin themselves into the ground playing 10 little indians.

Another Bush news conference. Yech!

I can't stand this man!!!!!

The Tell-Tale Stall

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Wednesday, December 19, 2007; 1:22 PM

The best indicator of how seriously this White House is involved in a political scandal may be how emphatically it refuses to comment.

By that standard, the CIA's destruction of its torture tapes is shaping up to be a doozy of a White House story.

At yesterday's briefing, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino didn't even pretend to take reporters' questions about the tapes seriously. No matter what was asked, her answer was the same:

"I'm going to refer you to the Justice Department, who is working on the preliminary inquiry with the CIA. . . . I think that's a question that is best put to the Justice Department, and the Justice Department will be able to answer for you. . . . I'm going to refer you to the Justice Department. . . . I'm going to refer you to the Justice Department on that."

Perino, of course, knew full well that the Justice Department wouldn't say a thing, either.

"White House officials are refusing to answer any of these explosive questions," CNN White House correspondent Ed Henry complained on air yesterday.

CNN anchor John King responded: "A quick question, Ed. And I hope you won't refer me to the Justice Department. The White House is, you know, hiding -- my word, not theirs -- behind the lawyer question, saying they can't answer questions about this because the lawyers are all looking into it, there are ongoing investigations. I understand that to a degree from the legal perspective as the investigations go. But politically they must be cringing with Republicans in Congress questioning them, some of the lawyers involved in this case saying cover up, people saying 'what are you trying to hide?'"

Henry: "Absolutely. It's very difficult and it is a question of credibility. But I think the White House realizes that they have used this before.

"As you know, in the Scooter Libby case, they were able to deflect questions for probably a couple of years in that legal case by continually saying there is an ongoing investigation, an ongoing legal matter, we're not going to answer any questions. In the end, though, obviously they still took a political and a public relations hit. But they were able to sort of kick the can down the road for a couple of years."

And indeed, White House reporters waiting for a handout yesterday had nothing to write about.

But look what we get when reporters dig a little deeper on their own. Mark Mazzetti and Scott Shane write in the New York Times: "At least four top White House lawyers took part in discussions with the Central Intelligence Agency between 2003 and 2005 about whether to destroy videotapes showing the secret interrogations of two operatives from Al Qaeda, according to current and former administration and intelligence officials.

"The accounts indicate that the involvement of White House officials in the discussions before the destruction of the tapes in November 2005 was more extensive than Bush administration officials have acknowledged.

More here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/12/19/BL200712190...

dan. We all want the same thing.

Let me just say, I think your nic is really cool. That said, I will attempt to record the audio so folks with bandwidth limitations can listen to it later. Any problems with the feed (guaranteed to happen, every freakin' time) with be evident in the recording, so don't blame me. :)

Sam announced the webcast on Randi's Show, so expect the server to get slammed by first time listeners checking out M v. S.
That could result in some serious problems with the feed.
Let's hope not, but I got a bad feeling about this.

Was hopin' you might do me a favor.

From what I is seen of the SammyCam, it appears Sam answers IMs purty regular.

Rather than post my question for Sam on the blog, where he may or may not see it, I was wondering if you would ask Sam via IM on my behalf when the show's up? (I'ma gonna be outside workin'.)

Little background on my questions:

Part of the 97 has flatly stated on at least two occasions that Sam Seder is a "dear friend" of his. POT97 also intimated something to the effect of "a deal's a deal" re: Sam, suggesting (in my interpretation of what he said; happy to be corrected) that POT97 haunted this blog at Sam's behest.

So, tryin' to keep it c&p short, was wondering if you'd pose the followin' question to Sam via IM:

Sam, Part of the 97 claims you are a "dear friend" of his? Was curious if this is true? And if so, would you mind saying how and in what capacity you know him? Is POT97's intimated claim true that he blogs here at your behest? If so, why is this desirous to you? -- dr

(No worries if you'd rather not relay the questions. I'll figger sumpin' out, but wouldn't mind gettin' to the bottom of POT97's repeated claims 'bout this. --dr)

...H. Jon Benjamin? Having fun at our expense?

Hmmmm?

The [Other] Daughter of a Soldier
H. Jon Benjamin

Last week, I was at the Atlanta airport returning home from a very important conference when I heard several people clapping behind me. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve seen a lot of patriotic things in my life. For instance, I’ve seen a child beaten to death for letting the flag touch the ground on Flag Day. (Note– There is no better sacrifice to this great country than the death of child.).

Anyhoo, moving thru the terminal were a group of soldiers in their camouflage uniforms. As they were heading to their gate, everyone (well, almost everyone–there were one or two tea-loving liberals sitting there with that sanctimonious look in their eyes eating their Wolfgang Puck salads and feeling too superior to honor those who fight for our freedom) rose to their feet, waving and cheering. It was then that it hit me. I’m not alone. There are others like me who spontaneously applaud when we see the unmistakable pattern of camoflauge. I’m not the only hot-blooded, passionate, sex-starved, underpaid American who would unflinchingly show my support for our troops.

Of course, I began clapping wildly, almost to the point of confusion. I would not let these unsung heroes pass by without recognizing just how much I listen to conservative talk radio. These boys and girls need to feel special, and I’m not just talking about putting on a uniform and flying off to some rotting cesspool and shooting people. I’m talking about being appreciated for all that. It’s too easy to just dismiss these brave heroic individuals who put their lives on the line for the American dream of dying young.

Just when I thought I could not be more proud, a young girl, not more than six or seven, ran up to one of the soldiers. The soldier, himself no more than 20 or 21, kneeled down. What transpired next was beyond all fathoms of my patriotic fantasies–and I’ve had many. The little girl asked if the soldier would give something to her Daddy who was fighting over in Iraq. Suddenly, she grabbed the soldier and hugged him. Throughout this awesome display of pathos and American love, I was still clapping. Clapping so fervently that it distracted from the moment. But how was I to quell the patriotic lust that pumped through my American veins? And I was crying. Crying so loud and proud that I felt like the tears would never stop sending a message of support to our troops. I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve had a rough life. I rarely have taken responsibility for my actions and I have often projected my negative self image onto others. I guess you could say I’m a failure, but there is some hope. Hope in the idea that this scene with this little girl would turn out okay in the classic sense of melodrama.

The soldier conferred with another soldiery-looking guy and he pulled out a large walkie-talkie device and talked back and forth on it. He then turned back to the little girl and said, I just spoke to your Daddy and he told me to give you this. He hugged her. I couldn’t help noticing how that brave young soldier so deftly lied to that innocent little girl about talking to her Dad and that lie resonated so much about how and why we are fighting this all-too important war against our mortal enemies.

As I stood there applauding, I couldn’t also help but notice how long I had been applauding. I’ll never know what will happen to that soldier and that little girl, but I can only assume bad things. But, I do know this, I’ve never been more proud to have been flying American Airlines that day.

Junkiness

A word before signin' off:

Should sez my Sam-query tain't in no way accusatory, but exploratory.

Stranger things have happent than two very unlike people who share no political views in common bein', unlikely as it seems, friends. (If they was a couple they could throw down once ever two weeks or so 'n have really angry grudge-fuck sex 'n then let the bite 'n claw marks heal 'n do it all over again.)

But if it ain't true, would like POT97 to stfu about it. If it is true that they's "dear friends", then I gotta b'lieve there's an innerestin' story about how that came about and if Sam'd like to share it, I'd like to hear it.

Mostly curious if there's any there there to POT97's personal world b/c I think it's purty well established that there tain't naught but delusionality emanatin' outta his political world.

dr

here

I'm going to be in a meeting during the show so I can't.

I don't think it matters if Sam is POT97's friend. POT97 said he considers Sam to be a "dear friend". Don't we all consider Sam a "dear friend"? I saw him write that and all of a sudden that blogger became more human to me. He can't be all bad if he considers Sam a good friend.

I'll submit your question for you.

Stronger Whistle-Blower Protection Passes Senate

By Stephen Barr
Wednesday, December 19, 2007; Page D04

With nary an objection, the Senate approved legislation to strengthen protections for federal employees who reveal waste, fraud and abuse, setting up negotiations with the House on the first major expansion of whistle-blower rights since 1989.

The bill, sponsored by Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), was approved on a voice vote late Monday. The House in March approved a bill to strengthen whistle-blower protections for federal employees.

For six years, efforts to get whistle-blower legislation through Congress have been opposed by the Justice Department, blocked by senators and dropped from legislative packages at the last moment.

"It is easy to be cynical, but this is one genuine reform where Congress is doing its share," said Tom Devine, legal director for the Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower protection organization.

The bill would protect federal employees who make any disclosure, permit employees to share classified information with members of Congress and protect whistle-blowers whose security clearances are revoked because of retaliation.

It also would set up a five-year experiment under which federal employees could take their cases to a nearby federal appeals court when challenging administrative rulings, rather than to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, as is now required.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/18/AR200712...

Bold faces lies! I can't stand this man!!!!

He said by taxing the rich we are taxing LLC's and Small Businesses and that will hurt them. Bold faces lie!

These small businesses are not part of the top 1% of the rich!

What an ass!!!

and dr.... I know POT97 is tedious and understand your frustration.

I predict tonights Malloy Show will be priceless.

Citizen-driven dialogues provide a gateway to more significant talks -- and could help interrupt a violent crisis.

...

[A]n interdenominational delegation of about 15 traveled to Tehran and met with the president, with religious leaders and with members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs -- becoming, according to their hosts, the first Americans to step inside the ministry's building since the Islamic revolution in 1979.

It would be fair to call these encounters the beginnings of a sustained dialogue -- and the Americans wanted to continue it. With the permission of the State Department's Iran desk, they invited a group of eight Iranians to the United States. Early in 2007, the first four of those Iranians traveled to Dubai to apply for visas -- since the U.S. has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran -- which the State Department swiftly granted.

Then, suddenly, progress stopped. And in September, just days before the dialogue was to resume, the department rejected visa applications for the remaining four Iranians -- the leaders of the delegation. It was among the more striking examples of how the administration has thwarted attempts to create pressure valves for U.S.-Iranian hostility.

Critics say these sorts of citizen-driven dialogues represent the gateway to more significant talks -- and may help interrupt a violent crisis, should one emerge. "Engagement should not be limited to government-to-government contact," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., insisted in a speech earlier this year. "We must reach out at all levels." But up and down the line, arbitrary and easily lifted barriers have stood in the way of doing just that.

-~-~-

Morning everyone. :)

: )

usual today

yep Marc. as of last night the downloads were still as you described

not like they're walking over each other.

trust on maron to come up with some unusual shit every time

only real cure for the cold i've found.

Golden Seal is ok, too.

neato.

need to take over the morning slot that The Young Turks are vacating.

Holistic is nonsense.

Only trust real drugs.

Maron starts off so bitter, but then he cheers up.

I hope his divorce is over quickly. It must suck to be getting divorced over the Holidays.

Janice Brown

Stronger Whistle-Blower
new
Submitted by toniD on Thu, 12/20/2007 - 10:46am

♦♦♦♦
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
♦♦♦♦
One election at a time...

"real drugs" make me drool

Just use the term " Special Needs Person " instead of "retarded".... its just as funny.

about Ann Coulter!
Janice Brown

[Marc & Sam
need to take over the morning slot that The Young Turks are vacating.
»]
What's going on over at AAR? I've heard rumors of a shake up. TYT are leaving the network?? Kent Jones has been laid off?? Can we expect more cuts/changes? Is there going to be a new show in the 6-9 slot or just dead air or what?

Tell me its not going to be another David Bender snoozefest.

Sam means they created him INADVERTENTLY

oregon oil?
new
Submitted by mire

♦♦♦♦
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
♦♦♦♦
One election at a time...

Submitted by red on Thu, 12/20/2007 - 11:13am.
Just use the term " Special Needs Person " instead of "retarded".... its just as funny.
-----------
tard and feathered: air-ono and his cockatiel

thats a new one.

"tard and feathered: air-ono and his cockatiel"

ouch

Sounds like it will stay vacant. Is the AAR empire abandoning the network concept? They sure don't have a lot to syndicate. They used to.

Just wonderin'.

[Marc & Sam
need to take over the morning slot that The Young Turks are vacating.
»]
What's going on over at AAR? I've heard rumors of a shake up. TYT are leaving the network?? Kent Jones has been laid off?? Can we expect more cuts/changes? Is there going to be a new show in the 6-9 slot or just dead air or what?

Tell me its not going to be another David Bender snoozefest.]]

I don't know, but sure looks they are gearing up for some major changes. I'd like to know what their plan is for the 6-9 slot. After loosing Sedition I finally started liking TYT, now it's going away.

I'm not sure he'd know, really.

Here we go with the lose is not spelled loose stuff again.

Will not have an early morning program after Jan. 15, according to Sam on yesterday afternoons sammycam.

Of course, that could change, who knows.

I think Sam said the same thing

[I don't know, but sure looks they are gearing up for some major changes.]

There's something going on. Did anyone hear Randi's last show? She got all weepy talking about her staff and how she wouldn't want to work with anyone else. It sounded more sentimental than a person usually gets before going on a two week break...

Marc would, like, repeat sentences, like, 3 or 4 times while SAM was frozen. It was very entertaining.
Janice Brown

maybe it's just the thought of cruzin' with lionel

between 6 and 9 AM.

That would get the day off to a warm and fuzzy start.

you are too funny today!

;D

I'm having to refresh and reconnect every 2 minutes. I might lose the signal. I'll get it cleared up before 3:00pm for SAM on Randi. Later!
Janice Brown

maron's is ok but sam's has frozen up a few times on my screen.

probably a problem here more than there.

Janice Brown

Marc, was the man's name Mike Malloy.

I kid... or do I?

didn't write a question mark after first sentence ... my bad

you counterpunch posters?

This is how a lot of Christians feel when they hear people saying that "all Christians" are like the whacked out fundamentalists. There's a lot of liberal and moderate Christians who can't stand that crowd.

Thanks again for fixin my mp3 post! Crank Bait's sure to win the votes now, with a good campaign song!

CRANK BAIT IN '08!

Media photo: http://www.pbase.com/ssmithx/image/27169475

Slogan: Many Fish Bites If Ya Gots Crank Bait!!!/

wth?

little children who can't fucking close their tags

ought to have their fingers removed

(or something less drastic)

whatever

♦♦♦♦
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
♦♦♦♦
One election at a time...

I'd like to see you try, biatch!

I bite. ;-)

hey air ono

what the fuck ?

where are you now? you still in indonesia? got grow / jungle / etc.

?

trying...

I heard we can chat directly to Sam via AIM. His IM name is "samsedershow", right?

======================
Some people are like Slinkies... not good for much, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

YAY!!!

I did it!!!!! Yee freakin' ha!!!

you somehow managed to use the bold tag < b > like a dozen times in your post, but only half a dozen closing < /b > tags.

I fixed it.

♦♦♦♦
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
♦♦♦♦
One election at a time...

an old proverb

i can hire a crane to lift a mule onto my pick-up truck

and drive it to a water hole

but i can't make it seperate the wheat from the chaff

*

you don't learn it

you get shaft

*

yes, red...

indonesia

having a spot of bother selling these darkies a bridge

it turns out the indonesian word for "bullshit" is "fuck-off"

: )

Vote for Bait in '08! He be bold.

Bold. Get it? Eh heh.... :-)

I figured out where these positively yummy grapefruit came from. Apparently, they are "Rio Star" grapefruit from Texas.

They are dee-lish!

the pickers of those grapefruit were LEGAL Aliens?

♦♦♦♦
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true; by the wise as false; and by the rulers as useful." -Seneca 4-65 CE
♦♦♦♦
One election at a time...

"Jews You Can Use"

That old president of Mexico - forgot his name - said that he could take Texas without firing a single shot. So, I wouldn't begin to speculate.

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN DAMN BLOG!

Who's POT97... I mean really.

20 bucks? how much is this thiing gonna cost?

] CDXVIII [

annette

:p

[warning: extreme cussin' - so if there's any kiddies in the room, send them off to indonesia]

I feel really bad for Marc. He seems like he is really struggling.

Stay strong Maron!

We love you!

for answering my theological question.

Oh, I get what you were saying. You're recalling an old old conversation in which you disagreed with me over the political correctness of the word "illegal alien". Fine, we'll agree to disagree,

...and I'll continue to resent paying taxes so that 60 million people from a different country who don't pay taxes can come here (a new one every 15 seconds) and get free shit and take jobs that my teenager and friends with only high school diplomas can no longer get, and I'll continue to bitch about how my insurance premiums are going up because the fuckers can't read street signs or drive on the right side of the roads or observe one-way street signs and they run from accidents so I have clients forced to turn in accidents against their own insurance coverage...

and you can spend your time worrying about whether or not it hurts their feelings to be called illegal aliens. Yeah, you're better than I am for it.

I got 2 words for ya.

edit edit Annette's rantiness... :-)

always have been, always will be.

Damn Raygun for breaking the unions.

OMG I hate neo-scum

Sowwy pbtrue - I love you too!!!

And you're right - they probably do.

I'm a spinner. :-)

in his endevour to help out a damsel in distress

[see: Submitted by dan on Thu, 12/20/2007 - 9:07am.]

he stretched the fucking blog

(you wanker)

now anything goes...

_bolding

_long posts

_dancing girls

_wanking