the-peoples-patriot, a political Blog

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Poker is like sex,

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Everyone thinks he's great at it but, no one really is.

MY ADVICE endeavors at keen.com. The number is 1-800-275-5336 (800-ask-keen) + ext. 0329063 for tech stuff, 0329117 for running a small business, and 0329144 on investing. Want to CHAT, I use Yahoo's IM as the_web_ster. View me in the Friends & Family part of webcamnow.com, just click on "view cams", then in the Java window click on WebcamNow Communities drop down arrow & select Friends & Family. Under the live webcams look for & click on me "the_webster".

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After the movie, fahrenheit 9/11, get-to-gether

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Around a million people -- including at least 110,000 pledged MoveOn members -- will see Fahrenheit 9/11 when it opens this weekend. The film will leave them shocked, moved, and furious at the Bush administration's duplicity. And so lets turn that anger into action.

That's why next Monday, June 28th, we're organizing "Turn Up the Heat", an evening of nationwide house parties that will culminate in a national online town meeting with Michael Moore. Friends at True Majority Action are participating, too. At more than a thousand parties across the country, we'll discuss Fahrenheit 9/11 with neighbors, hear Michael Moore and ask him questions about the film, and then plan local actions to win back the White House. It'll be a lot of fun -- meeting other members of MoveOn always is.

Want to join the party? To find parties in your area, just go to:

http://action.moveon.org/f911/?zip= Just copy (CNRL + N) and paste (CNRL + V) and put your zip in on the end and hit ENTER.

If no one in your neighborhood has signed up yet to host, set up a party of your own. All you need to have in order to host is some space in which folks can convene, and (in order to participate in the virtual town meeting) either a computer with high-speed internet access and speakers or a speakerphone. We'll provide you with a detailed guide to hosting a party and all of the tools you need to make your party a success. We'll even ask other MoveOn members to help you with snacks, drinks, and clean-up.

Want to host a "Turn Up the Heat" house party? Sign up now at:

http://action.moveon.org/f911/newmeeting.html?id=2973-3646104-Em_MH9kjxCfyiDxceORPEA

MoveOn house parties are fun, but you don't have to take our word for it. Here's some of the feedback we've received from past house parties:

"It was particularly nice that most [attendees] described themselves as people who had not been politically active before. I hosted an open party and had some concern about inviting strangers to my home. But I'll definitely do it again. Everyone was wonderful."
-- Elinor, New York, NY

"Being in Texas, I feel very much like an alien because of my political views so it was invigorating to meet with people who are of the same mind-set. I now realize that I am not alone. We had some great discussions regarding MoveOn's goals, and how we can defeat Bush and the Republican Party in November and hereafter."
-- Billye, Carrollton, TX

"It is hard to say my favorite moment. Seeing all those wonderful strangers enter my home and then work so beautifully together for this common cause was absolutely thrilling for me. "
-- Joanie, New York, NY

The last line of Fahrenheit 9/11 -- at the end of the credits -- says "Do Something." And given the powerful footage in the movie, audiences will definitely be looking for something to do. By coming together at the house parties on Monday, we'll turn that energy into effective, election-winning action.

Sign up to attend a party in your neighborhood now at:

http://action.moveon.org/f911/?zip= Just copy (CNRL + N) and paste (CNRL + V) and put your zip in on the end and hit ENTER.

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Monday, June 21, 2004

Bush Administration Blocks Information on Oil, Gas Drilling on Public Lands

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

A request for information on how much oil and gas private corporations are extracting from taxpayers' public lands has been stymied by the Bush Administration's refusal to comply with the spirit of the federal Freedom of Information Act.

The request for public information was filed by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) last March. EWG is seeking to determine the quantity and value of oil and gas extracted from public lands in the U.S. EWG's investigation also seeks to ascertain the environmental impact of extracting oil and gas from land leased to private corporations by the U.S. Department of the Interior, said Arianne Callender, general counsel for EWG.

"We are hoping to analyze the value of the Department of the Interior's oil and gas activities as it compares to other uses of the land," Callender told BushGreenWatch. "We hope to find out what these leases are really worth, and if there is potential harm to our natural resources."

But the federal government's response to the request imposes a "cost-prohibitive" $6,500 fee and asserts that it would take 200 hours of staff time to compile data, pushing the release of the information to well past the end of the year – and, notably, past the upcoming presidential election. [1]

In return for the use of public lands, companies that extract oil and gas pay the government a royalty of 12.5 percent of the value of what they remove, said Dusty Horwitt, an analyst for EWG. Without knowing how much each company extracts, it is impossible to determine the value of those leases to the public.

The agency's response denies EWG a waiver of the $6,500 fee (although a waiver is standard practice for public information requests when the information will be broadly disseminated to the public) – on the grounds that the public will not be sufficiently interested in the subject, and that the information is allegedly already available to the public. In addition, the acting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer disagreed with EWG's "view that these programs are a giveaway of public resources." [2]

"It's difficult to distinguish which of these arguments is the most specious and irrelevant," argues EWG President Ken Cook, in his written appeal of the decision.

Cook points out that, at a time when gasoline prices (and federal deficits) are skyrocketing, there is perhaps no topic less likely to be ignored. "When 59 percent of Americans surveyed in the most recent USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll said gas prices would cause financial hardships for them this summer, we are hard pressed to think of an issue that the public cares more about than oil and gas prices and supplies," Cook wrote.

Cook also refutes the assertion that the information is already available, stating that the data is not available in a form that makes it possible to determine "where the oil and gas are coming from or who is paying for them."

He especially takes issue with Acting FOIA Officer Ralph L. Johnson's argument that he can block access to data because he doesn't like EWG's assessment of "how the oil and gas leasing system works."

"Taxpayers paid to compile these data, and they are not Acting FOIA Officer Johnson's personal property," Cook wrote. "He doesn't get to decide who will or who won't get access to them, and his interpretation does not supersede the public's right to know."

EWG's appeal of the decision is pending before the Department of the Interior.

###

SOURCES:
[1] EWG letter, Jun. 2, 2004.
[2] Ibid.

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A Picture is worth a Thousand Words....

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

So in the late 60s and 70 the Goverment took 50% of our worth (influation), yes it something that goverment do to it's people), now both HAVE to work to keep the same life style and now one of us had lost his or her job and now has to have 2 or more jobs to make a third of what they made before. So much for that life style. Now it's just trying to live. Damn people when are you going to get "MAD AS HELL AND NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE". See the movie, Network. Oh! and as for that SS thing, they know it was nevr going to work within afew years of it's starting. Gave Your govrment a POWER and you never get that power back. Your working for the company store people. Walk away from it! Do for yourself that which you want.

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Nader Selects Peter Miguel Camejo As Vice Presidential Running Mate

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

the press release In Spanish and English. Listen to Peter Camejo on Democracy Now, airing Wednesday, June 23rd, at 8am, EST. If you miss it, tune in to their website for the archive,http://www.democracynow.org/ to hear a live broadcast.

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Sunday, June 20, 2004

Just go to this site and read OK

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

http://stoptrawling.org/

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Friday, June 18, 2004

BUSH ALLIES VOTE FOR CONTRACT TO CORPORATE EX-PAT

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

As reported in an earlier Daily Mislead,[1] the
Bush administration awarded
a $10 billion Department of Homeland Security
contract to Accenture, a
company that based its headquarters in Bermuda to
avoid paying U.S. taxes.
The move defied the President's promise to make
sure everyone is "paying
their fair share."[2] As if the Administration's
actions weren't enough,
yesterday the White House's Congressional allies
defeated legislation that
would have stopped the contract.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Congress "bowed
to Republican leaders" and
rejected legislation sponsored by Representative
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) that
would have prevented the contract from moving
forward.[3] Despite proponents
of the bill noting that Accenture "has shrunk its
tax bill by moving its
headquarters to Bermuda,"[4] the White House's
allies defeated the
legislation on a party line vote.

The General Accounting Office has cited Accenture
for using offshore tax
havens.[5] Because of the GAO's report, at least
one state has had the
courage to do what Congress and the White House
refuse to do. In May,
Illinois held up a $2 million state contract[6] to
the company because of
its tax behavior. In its defense, the company
denies getting serious
benefits from moving offshore. But, according to a
June 1 Bloomberg News
report, Accenture's tax liability decreased[7]
while its U.S. earnings
increased in 2002 and 2003.

Sources:
1. "Bush Gives Contract to Tax Traitor/Campaign
Donor ", Misleader.org,
6/02/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40902.
2. Presidential Remarks, WhiteHouse.gov, 4/15/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40903.
3. "House reverses course, won't bar Accenture
security contract", Chicago
Tribune, 6/17/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40904
oll=chi-business-hed.
4. "House votes to allow contract for Accenture",
Chicago Sun-Times,
6/17/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40905.
5. "GAO concludes Accenture, others, use tax
havens", Washington Technology,
10/03/2002,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40906.
6. "Hynes Blocks Payments To Overseas Company, Asks
For Policy Ruling",
KSDK.com, 5/03/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40907.
7. "Contractor vows to continue work on $10 billion
border system",
Government Executive, 6/10/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40908

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Thursday, June 17, 2004

Experts Blast Administration Setback to Wild Salmon Survival

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

The Bush administration has once again rejected its obligations under the federal plan to save wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest. On June 8, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) announced a revised proposal for big cuts in the "summer spill" on the Columbia and Snake river systems.

Reducing spill—the amount of water diverted from power-generating hydroelectric dam turbines to go over the dam spillways--imperils juvenile salmon as they migrate to the sea, further reducing the chances of survival for endangered salmon stocks.

"Slashing summer spill spurns the unanimous scientific advice of Northwest fishery agencies and Indian tribes. This continues a three-year pattern of failure of this administration to implement its own salmon plan," says Pat Fox, executive director of Portland, Oregon-based Save Our Wild Salmon.

"This is a scientifically irresponsible and indefensible decision," says Jim Martin, former chief of fisheries with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, now on the National Wildlife Federation's board of directors. "...BPA continues to disregard the hugely positive economic impact spill has on fishing communities, and takes the politically expedient route to pad the agencies' bottom line."

The BPA claims that "offsets" will make up for the harm caused by the reduced spill, but fish biologists across the Northwest disagree. There is scientific evidence that one such measure, removing Snake River chinook from the river to barge and truck them around dam turbines, ultimately increases the mortality rate of juvenile salmon. Also, BPA has "double-counted" by including the Hanford Reach Protection Program, a Columbia River salmon preservation plan, as an offset to the eliminated summer spill. The Hanford program is already required as an offset under a different agreement. [1]

"Our overall assessment is that the analyses of biological impacts [by BPA] are fundamentally flawed, and available scientific data collected in the Columbia Basin do not support the Federal Agencies' findings," the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote in a comment to the BPA in February.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife wrote that it was "extremely concerned that the recently developed [Hanford Reach] agreement is being proposed as an offset measure...Mitigation simply cannot be double counted." A joint team of state, federal and tribal agencies noted that "[T]he offset analysis and predicted benefits from the proposed offsets are highly speculative...the agencies and tribes do not believe that there is adequate technical basis to support the projected benefits of the BPA proposed offsets." [2]

The BPA claims that the reduced spill will mean lower power generation costs, which will be passed on to Northwest residents as savings on electricity bills. However, the BPA included projected earnings from selling electricity to California when it estimated power costs with the full summer spill. While the BPA may earn $26 million more this summer under the reduced spill plan, Northwest ratepayers would likely see extremely minor savings on their electric bills--as little as $0.08 to $0.36 per month. [3]

This is not the first time the Bush administration has ignored science in decisions affecting endangered Northwest salmon. As reported by BushGreenwatch on May 27, a controversial fish counting method supported by the administration threatened to remove federal protection from 15 of 26 salmon stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act. The administration also proposed cutting the budget for wild salmon restoration by 40% in the 2005 budget. [4]

###

TAKE ACTION
Visit Save Our Wild Salmon to learn more about the BPA's summer spill plan, and how to submit comments on the plan.

###

SOURCES:
[1] Save Our Wild Salmon press release, Jun. 8, 2004.
[2] "What Scientists Say about Cutting Summer Spill," Save Our Wild Salmon.
[3] "Putting the Power System Benefits of Reduced Summer Spill into Perspective," NW Energy Coalition and Save Our Wild Salmon, Jun. 8, 2004.
[4] BushGreenwatch, Feb. 11, 2004.

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Stop the Censorship of Fahrenheit 9/11

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Last nights sneak preview of Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11 was to say the lease an incredibly powerful movie that lays bare the cynicism and greed behind Bush's war policy. And the astonishing and revealing footage in it has the power to change the course of the 2004 election. (There's a full review below.)

Given how devastating the movie is to President Bush's carefully crafted facade, it's hardly surprising that right-wing groups who call Moore a "domestic enemy" are using censorship and intimidation tactics to try to get it pulled from theaters. That's why we've got to do everything we can to make the opening a huge success.

Today, we're asking MoveOn members to pledge to see the film on the opening night -- Friday, June 25th. (If you can't make it on Friday, pledging to go on Saturday or Sunday is fine, too). It'll be fun, of course -- you'll be watching the movie with lots of other MoveOn members. It'll also send an unmistakable message to the media and theater owners that the public is behind this movie.

To see the Fahrenheit 9/11 trailer and pledge to see the movie on the opening weekend, go to:

http://www.moveonpac.org/f911/?id=2949-3646104-YRmkUta5zw10_vFfKGLFuQ

Then please pass this message on to your friends, family, and co-workers.

Fahrenheit 9/11 isn't just the most powerful and complete indictment of the Bush administration that I've ever seen - it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. It's a knockout blow: a poignant, darkly funny film that deftly interweaves footage of the President, his allies, and the Americans his policies betrayed. As Fox News' reviewer put it, the movie "is a tribute to patriotism, to the American sense of duty - and at the same time an indictment of stupidity and avarice." (See http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,122680,00.html for the full review.)

Despite years of television coverage on Iraq and the war on terror, most of the movie consists of footage you'd never see on TV. There are heart-breaking interviews with troops in Iraq, chilling scenes of the civilian consequences of that war, and footage of Bush so candid and revealing that it's hard to imagine how Moore got his hands on it. In one unforgettable scene from the morning of September 11th, Bush blithely reads a children's book to a classroom of kids for seven long minutes after his chief of staff quietly informs him that the second plane has hit the World Trade Center and "we're under attack." The film is filled with this stuff, and it's hard to imagine seeing it and not being moved, shocked, and outraged.

Fahrenheit 9/11 opens with footage of Bush administration officials putting on their TV makeup. Paul Wolfowitz sticks his comb in his mouth, slathers it with spit, brushes it through his hair, and grins a toothy grin. Colin Powell eyes the camera nervously as a makeup artist dusts his face. And, moments before President Bush goes on TV to somberly announce the beginning of the Iraq war, we see him goofing around, making funny faces at the folks behind the camera.

These candid portraits encapsulate the genius of Moore's documentary. Compared to his other films, there's little pranking or moralizing. Moore basically stays out of the picture: he doesn't have to indict the Bush administration, because with powerful and indisputable video, Bush and the rest indict themselves.

As Moore unravels Bush's story, he joins it with the stories of the real Americans who have shouldered the burden of the post-9/11 war policy. In Flint, Michigan, we hear from a group of inner-city kids whose only option for education and a better life is to enlist in the Army - and then, in a scene that's both humorous and deeply creepy, join two Marine recruiters as they case a local mall for possible enlistees. We watch a California peace group that was infiltrated by the local police department under the Patriot Act. And, in the final heartbreaking scenes, we witness the pain of a mother who lost her son in Iraq.

In the hands of other directors, the content could easily feel exploitative. But Moore is grounded by a patriotism that rings through every frame of the film. Compassion and love of country give the film its striking authenticity: it's clear that what stings most about the President's behavior, for the subjects of the film, is Bush's betrayal of our country's soul.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is a film with the power to change hearts and minds. It's brilliant, funny, moving, and authentic. And together, we can make it a huge success.

Watch the trailer and pledge to see the film opening night at:

http://www.moveonpac.org/f911/?id=2949-3646104-YRmkUta5zw10_vFfKGLFuQ

Sincerely,

--Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
Wednesday, June 16th

P.S. Fahrenheit 9/11 has already reaped widespread praise from critics. Here are just a few samples:

Roger Ebert, "Less is Moore in subdued, effective '9/11'," Chicago Sun Times, May 18, 2004
"Despite these dramatic moments, the most memorable footage for me involved President Bush on Sept. 11. [Ebert goes on to describe the scene.] The look on his face as he reads the book, knowing what he knows, is disquieting."
http://www.suntimes.com/output/eb-feature/cst-ftr-cannes18.html

Mary Corliss, "A First Look at "Fahrenheit 9/11," Time Magazine Online, May 17, 2004
Corliss calls the film, "Moore’s own War on Error."
http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,638819,00.html

Frank Rich, "Beautiful Minds and Ugly Truths," International Herald Tribune, May 21, 2004
"'Fahrenheit 9/11' is not the movie Moore watchers, fans or foes, were expecting. (If it were, the foes would find it easier to ignore.)"
http://www.iht.com/articles/521066.html

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Nader Campaign set a goal to raise $1 million by July 4th

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

On June 1st the Nader Campaign set a goal to raise $1 million by July 4th. Achieving this goal is crucial to keeping Ralph on the road and our petitioners in the streets gathering signatures. We have had a very busy month. Ralph has met with volunteers, supporters and media in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. This week he'll be campaigning through the Southern States and meeting with citizens in those states. Teams of Nader volunteers are collecting signatures all over the country as ballot deadlines approach through July and August. In Arizona we turned in more than 21,000 signatures and we're ahead of the game in Illinois with a deadline right around the corner.

All of our campaign efforts are only possible through your continued support. It is essential that we raise money to ensure the success of the Nader for President Campaign. As most of you already know, Ralph is the only candidate who will campaign in all 50 states this year. Help us get Ralph's message heard by more people all over the country by ensuring that we reach our $1 million goal by July 4th. Please, take a moment and consider how much you can invest this month and please contribute generously today.

Thank you for your important support,

Theresa Amato
Campaign Manger

As always, we need your help to make this campaign happen! Together we can make a difference:
And just to be fair Contribute!
Get Involved! -- contact your regional or state coordinator to help with ballot access
Sign the Petition to Impeach George W. Bush.

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BUSH MISLEADS ON SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

President Bush said at a press conference
yesterday, "I think it is very
important for people who are serving to make sure
there is a separation of
church and state."[1] The comments, however, stand
in stark contrast to new
legislation that the White House is pushing that
would give religious
institutions taxpayer funding and allow religious
charities to become
directly involved in political campaigns.

Just this month the President renewed his call to
use government money to
subsidize religious organizations,[2] and he has
ordered various government
agencies to establish "faith based centers"[3]
within their operations. On
Capitol Hill, the President's conservative allies
tried to pass a proposal
that would have allowed clergy to endorse
candidates for political office
without endangering the tax-exempt status of their
congregations.[4]
Opponents "called it a 'back-door' attempt to help
reelect President Bush,
whose campaign is focusing on churches."

Earlier this month, the Associated Press reported
that the Bush campaign "is
trying to recruit supporters from 1,600 religious
congregations in
Pennsylvania - a political push that critics said
Wednesday could cost
churches their tax breaks"[5] unless Congress
passes the new legislation. An
e-mail from the Bush campaign's Pennsylvania office
asked churchgoers to
"serve as a coordinator in your place of worship.''
The message also said
the campaign planned to "undertake activities" in
places "accessible to the
congregation." The Internal Revenue Service
prohibits political campaign
activity -- for or against any candidate -- from
taking place at all
organizations that receive tax-exempt status under
a section of the federal
tax code. This prohibition includes most churches
and religious groups.

Sources:

1. Presidential Remarks, WhiteHouse.gov, 6/15/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40608.
2. "Bush calls for funds for church projects",
Houston Chronicle, 6/1/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40609.
3. "Bush Setting Up Faith-Based Centers", Kxan.com,
6/1/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40610.
4. "House Panel Drops 'Safe Harbor for Churches'
Measure", Washington Post,
6/16/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40611.
5. "Bush campaign recruiting church-goers in
Pennsylvania", The Register
Guard, 6/3/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40612.

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Tongass Forest Awaits Critical Decision As Bush Pushes Logging

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

One of the country's longest-running forest disputes has heated up again, with Congress scheduled to vote Thursday on whether or not to continue to allow taxpayer dollars to fund the Bush administration's plans to log in the Tongass National Forest.

The Tongass, which cover's Alaska's "panhandle" (where Juneau is located), is America's only rain forest -- home to eagles, bears, wolves, wild salmon, and other wildlife that have either disappeared or become scarce elsewhere in the nation. Logging in the Tongass has put America in a quandary: the U.S. had no moral standing to lecture other nations about logging old-growth forests while we were logging our only rainforest.

Prime old-growth timber in the Tongass has been protected since January 2001 under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule promulgated by former President Clinton. The rule protects 58.5 million acres of pristine land in National Forests across the country. But last December, President Bush carved out an exception for the Tongass, paving the way for clearcut logging of over 300,000 acres. Associated road building to support the logging would affect more than 2.5 million acres.

Adding insult to injury, America's taxpayers would subsidize logging in the Tongass. In 2002, despite being propped up by $36 million in taxpayer money, the Tongass could support only 195 logging jobs.

"The Tongass National Forest is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world and it is the only National Forest without Roadless protections," Cindy Shogan, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League told BushGreenwatch. "Why should America's taxpayers foot the bill to clearcut this national treasure?"

Sometime this week, the House of Representatives will vote on the Appropriations bill for the Interior Department. At that time, two Congressmen, Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) will offer an amendment to block funding for new logging roads in the Tongass this year. By passing the Chabot/Andrews amendment, Congress would stop a wasteful federal subsidy while protecting America's last remaining rainforest at the same time.

###

TAKE ACTION
Contact your representative about Tongass National Forest through the Alaska Rainforest Campaign.

###

SOURCES:
[1] Alaska Wilderness League web site.

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Hosting Service Closes 3000 Blogs Without Notice, no not me this time, but

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

"Citing the high costs of running the free service, performance concerns, and health problems, Dave Winer closed down the weblogs.com hosting service without any prior notice. As many as 3000 sites are now inaccessible, and the users who want to transfer their data elsewhere have to ask (politely) for it to be exported. As might be expected, reactions range from understanding to enraged. Netcraft has a report, too."

That is way you start see my every own blog page on a server that is controlled by members of Letsnet.org. Steelhoof, you know the guy who hates SPAM and is letsnet's GUY on Linux, well he's the one who is contributing space on his server to letsnet.org. And if your looking for a place to host your website or page or if you want to register a domain name, I.E. letsnet.org, he can handle that for you too. $10.00 appx. a month paid thou PayPal. E-mail him at Help@yourcomputers.org. Just some old "hobbyist" & non old Techs trying to help, safely. And now it looks like have a computer is not going to do it if your concerned about losing your info. I'm still trying to recover from yahoo's dropping their Ecard service and changing to a new one. I lost all my saved cards and much more. So the more I can do for myself or within letsnet the better. Something to think on. information is power and power is control, and the more control you have the better you are to handle your affairs the way you want.

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Tuesday, June 15, 2004

CHENEY LYING ABOUT HALLIBURTON INVOLVEMENT

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Vice President Dick Cheney has repeatedly assured
Americans that he has
positively no involvement in directing billions of
taxpayer dollars in
no-bid contracts to Halliburton, his former
employer. In September of 2003,
he told NBC's Meet the Press that his office has
"absolutely no influence
of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape
or form of contracts."[1]
In January of 2004, he told Fox News Radio, "I
don't have anything to do
with the contracting process,[2] and I wouldn't
know how to manipulate the
process if I wanted to." But, according to new
evidence, Cheney's office
"coordinated"[3] the Halliburton contracts and had
the Pentagon specifically
seek its input in constructing what ultimately
became a multi-billion-dollar
contract.

According to the New York Times, the Pentagon
discussed a $1.9 million
planning contract with "senior Bush administration
officials, including the
Vice President's Chief of Staff"[4] before inking
the deal. According to the
Los Angeles Times, three companies were vying for
the lucrative contract
which was seen as the precursor to a much larger,
$7 billion contract. But
instead of following the normal competitive civil
service contracting
process, the Times reports that Bush administration
political appointees
overruled the advice of Army lawyers and simply
gave Halliburton the
contract.[5] That decision was then brought to
Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis
"Scooter" Libby, who reviewed the contract and
raised no objections to the
non-competitive process.

Cheney has denied having any financial stake in
Halliburton receiving
massive government contracts, claiming, "I severed
my ties nearly four years
ago when I ran for Vice President."[6] But Cheney
still receives about
$150,000 a year in deferred compensation from
Halliburton[7] and still owns
about 433,000 company stock options[8]; options
which could become more
valuable as the company's revenues rise. That fact
was enough to lead the
nonpartisan Congressional Research Service to bill
Cheney's continued
financial ties a "potential conflict of
interest."[9]

And yet despite all these questions, the Bush
administration's allies today
formally blocked any testimony from Halliburton
employees about the
matter.[10] Specifically, when Congressman Henry
Waxman (D-CA) presented a
slate of witnesses to the House Government Reform
Committee, they were
prevented from appearing by Republicans. That move
led Senator Frank
Lautenberg (D-NJ) to demand the appointment of a
special counsel to
independently investigate the situation.[11]

Sources:

1. "Cheney denies role in Iraq deal", The Boston
Globe, 9/15/2003,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40365.
2. "Cheney faults 'desperate' attacks on
Halliburton", CNN.com, 1/23/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40366.
3. "Cheney Coordinated Halliburton Iraq Contract:
Report", Common Dreams
News Center, 5/31/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40367.
4. "White House Officials and Cheney Aide Approved
Halliburton Contract in
Iraq, Pentagon Says", The New York Times,
6/14/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40368.
5. "Appointee's Role in Halliburton Pact Told", Los
Angeles Times,
6/14/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40369.
6. "VP Interview with Wolf Blitzer, CNN",
WhiteHouse.gov, 3/2/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40370.
7. "Contract Sport", The New Yorker, 2/9/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40371.
8. "Halliburton asks employees to help defend
company", CNN.com, 10/25/2003,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40372.
9. "Cheney may still have Halliburton ties",
CNNmoney.com, 9/25/2003,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40373.
10. "Whistle-blowers say Halliburton rife with
waste", Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, 6/15/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40374.
11. "Senator Seeks Halliburton Special Counsel",
Reuters, 6/14/2004,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=40375.

send comments via Email to me,

President Bush has failed to fully repudiate the torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib.

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

By refusing to hold senior administration officials accountable, President Bush has failed to fully repudiate the torture that occurred at Abu Ghraib. Every passing day brings new photos and new news of how these despicable techniques were sanctioned at the very top, but Bush won't even condemn Rush Limbaugh for saying that the tactics were "brilliant" and the troops were "just blowing off a little steam."

So it's up to us to try to make things right. Our campaign to hold Donald Rumsfeld accountable will continue. But today, there are two other ways we can help -- joining an apology from Americans of faith to the world, and helping pass a legal re-commitment to the Geneva Conventions and what they stand for.

First, an important new group called FaithfulAmerica1 is putting a very moving TV ad on the air in Arab countries. The ad is a montage of American religious leaders -- Christian, Jewish, and Muslim -- humbly expressing the regrets so many of us feel for what happened.

You can watch the ad, sign onto it, and help get it on the air, at:

http://www.faithfulamerica.org/adclip.htm

At the end of the ad, FaithfulAmerica will state the number of people who've signed on, so the more people who endorse the message, the more effective it will be.

Please sign on today.

Second, the Senate has an opportunity now to reaffirm our opposition to torture and our commitment to the Geneva Conventions, which ban it. The Senate is debating a bill authorizing Defense Department actions for this year, and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) has offered an amendment repudiating torture and re-confirming our commitment to uphold international human rights as specified in the Geneva Conventions.2

A vote on the Durbin amendment is expected early this week. Please call your Senators now, at:

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841

Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553

Urge them to support the Durbin amendment to the Defense bill. Then say something about why it's important to you that we repudiate torture and support the Geneva Conventions.

Please let us know you're calling, at:

http://www.moveon.org/callrumsfeld.html?id=2944-3646104-DkEGWl5aGHlDwHK3Y2JElA

Thank you, for all you do.

Sincerely,

--Carrie, Joan, Lee, Noah, Peter, and Wes
The MoveOn.org Team
Tuesday, June 15th, 2004

Footnotes:

1. FaithfulAmerica is a new project of the National Council of Churches, "an online community of people of faith who want to build a more just and compassionate nation."

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Bush Energy Bill Would Reward Oil Industry Without Lowering Prices

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

When asked about our insecure energy supply and the high price of gasoline, President Bush has said, "If people had acted on my energy bill when I submitted it three years ago, we would be in a much better situation today."

But the energy bill, which remains stuck in Congress, is actually a multibillion dollar giveaway to the oil, coal and nuclear industries -- and it will actually make gasoline even more expensive, while weakening public health and environmental protections.

The House of Representatives is slated to vote on the energy bill today. But a recent study by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical arm of the Energy Department, reports that H.R. 6, the House bill, will fail to reduce either prices or oil imports. And it will cost taxpayers at least $31 billion.

According to the EIA, gasoline prices will increase by 6.45 percent by 2010. If the energy bill becomes law, however, EIA says gas prices will increase by 6.6 percent by 2010. Over the long term, by 2025, the energy bill would result in a price jump of 10.3 percent, while under business as usual the increase would be only 8.2 percent.

The energy bill would also fail to reduce oil imports. According to EIA, oil imports are projected to increase 24.7 percent by 2010 under current policies. If the energy bill passes, oil imports will increase only slightly less, 23.8 percent. Over the long term, the energy bill would only modestly affect imports. If the bill passes and is signed into law, imports will increase 82.9 percent by 2025, compared to an increase of 84.8 percent without the energy bill.

Finally, the energy bill would have a devastating effect on our environment. Most notoriously, the bill would open the spectacular Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and production. Drilling in the Refuge would have no affect on today's gas prices, because oil from the Refuge will take 10 years to reach the market. Moreover, oil from the Refuge would provide the nation at best with only a 180-day supply – a miniscule amount in the big picture. [1]

President Bush may say that his energy bill will reduce prices; but the numbers generated by his own Energy Department tell a different story.

###

SOURCES:
[1] NRDC fact sheet.

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DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY COMMANDERS OPPOSE BUSH

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Taken from the blog of Al Franken
As discussed on today's show,(Internet Radio from AirAmericaradio.com) the L.A. Times reports:

A group of 26 former senior diplomats and military officials, several appointed to key positions by Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, plans to issue a joint statement this week arguing that President George W. Bush has damaged America's national security and should be defeated in November.

The group, which calls itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change, will explicitly condemn Bush's foreign policy, according to several of those who signed the document.

D&MC4C members include Retired Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., who Reagan appointed as Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Retired Marine General Joseph P. Hoar, commander in chief of Central Command overseeing US forces in the Middle East under Bush 41, Jack F. Matlock Jr., who served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union under both the Reagan and first Bush presidencies. The L.A. Times quotes Matlock:

Ever since Franklin Roosevelt, the U.S. has built up alliances in order to amplify its own power. But now we have alienated many of our closest allies, we have alienated their populations. We've all been increasingly appalled at how the relationships that we worked so hard to build up have simply been shattered by the current administration in the method it has gone about things.

Pundits have already begun to claim that D&MC4C will have little impact on the presidential race. We here the Factor aren't so sure. The emergence of groups like this one represents one of the crucial under-reported stories of the election: the exploding frustration of the political center. The fact that these statements sound a lot like Al Gore's speech from a few weeks ago--a speech that, in fact, quoted General Hoar--doesn't mean that 26 senior diplomats and military commanders are now "insane." It means that Gore isn't. Increasingly, the people most angry about Bush's policies aren't those furthest to the left, but rather those who best understand them.

The L.A. Times piece quotes an anonymous "GOP strategist" on why the Bush approach to the Middle East has provoked such a strong reaction. Bush's policies, he says, represent

a huge doctrinal shift, and the people who have given their lives, careers to building the previous foreign policy consensus, see this as a direct intellectual assault on what they have devoted their lives to. And it is.

If you think this administration's direct intellectual assault on US Middle East policy has been a roaring success, vote for Bush. If not, don't.

Incidentally--the liberal, Bush-bashing New York Times buried this story in a tiny AP piece on page A16.

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Monday, June 14, 2004

Halliburton admits $6m kickbacks

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Energy services giant Halliburton has admitted that it has fired two members of staff in Iraq for taking kickbacks of up to $6m (£3.3m).

The two employees are alleged to have taken the cash from an unnamed Kuwaiti company helping Halliburton to supply US troops in Iraq.

Both workers were employed by KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary.

In a separate case, Halliburton is being accused of overcharging US forces in Iraq for their fuel deliveries.

Pentagon auditors are continuing to investigate that allegation.

Controversy continues

Regarding the kickback sackings, Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall said the company had reported the "irregularities" to the authorities.

"We found it quickly, and we immediately reported it," she added.

"We do not tolerate this kind of behaviour by anyone at any level in any Halliburton company."

American Halliburton has won a lion's share of US contracts to rebuild Iraq, a fact that has itself created a fair amount of controversy due to the firm's close connections with leading members of the George W Bush government.

US Vice President Dick Cheney was formerly Halliburton chief executive.

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"Clear Skies" Allows More Deaths Than Any Other Air Pollution Plan

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Pollution caused by coal-burning power plants causes 24,000 premature deaths in the U.S. each year, according to a new analysis of government data released Wednesday. And while the Bush administration's Clear Skies proposal will help alleviate that problem, it will save fewer lives than any other plan under consideration – including simply retaining the laws already on the books, the analysis found.

"The Bush administration is pretending their initiative would be progress, but our report shows that just carrying out the laws on the book saves 4,000 more lives than Clear Skies," said Angela Ledford, Director of Clear the Air, which released the report during a telephone press conference yesterday.

Dirty Air, Dirty Power: Mortality and Health Damage Due to Air Pollution from Power Plants reveals for the first time how many heart attacks and lung cancer deaths are caused by power plant pollution. It compares the projected live-saving effectiveness of current pollution control laws with several plans now before Congress.

According to the report, fine particle pollution from power plants shortens the lives of 24,000 Americans each year, including 2,800 from lung cancer. Those lives are shortened by an average of 14 years, the data showed.

Power-plant pollution is also responsible for 38,200 non-fatal heart attacks each year, according to the analysis, which used the same EPA data and methodology employed to develop the administration's Clear Skies plan. The report also found that 90 percent of deaths due to fine particle pollution could be avoided using currently available technology.

"We can eliminate the risk of premature death from power plant pollution if we have the political will to do so," said Conrad Schneider, senior policy advisor for Clear the Air.

According to the report, a bill sponsored by Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) would do the most to clean up air pollution caused by coal-fired power plants. The Jeffords bill would save 8,000 more lives per year than the Bush administration's so-called Clear Skies proposal.

Ledford pointed out that President Bush, prior to his election, promised to clean up power plant pollution. Instead, almost immediately after being sworn in, he reneged on a promise to require mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide.

The Bush administration has also delayed the deadlines for reducing ozone smog; delayed deadlines for removing fine particles from the air; delayed action to reduce haze in national parks; and delayed by more than 10 years reductions in toxic mercury emissions from power plants, the report found.

Details regarding how Clear Skies and competing plans in Congress stack up against current law – as well as state-by-state health impacts from coal-fired power plants – can be found in the report and on Clear the Air's interactive web site at www.cleartheair.org.

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BUSH CHANGING HIS STORY ON PRISON ABUSE SCANDAL

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

President Bush has claimed that the prison abuse
scandal at Abu Ghraib was
"disgraceful conduct by a few American troops,"[1]
and had nothing to do
with broader administration policy. But according
to a March 2003 Pentagon
memo, Bush administration lawyers issued legal
justifications for torture,
specifically claiming, "President Bush was not
bound by either an
international treaty prohibiting torture or by a
federal anti-torture
law."[2] The revelations have now forced the
President to backtrack from his
previous denials of culpability, with the White
House yesterday admitting
for the first time that Bush did, in fact, "set
broad guidelines"[3] for
interrogation in Iraq - a tacit admission that Bush
himself "opened the
door"[4] to the torture tactics in the first place.

Now, the U.S. Senate is demanding the full Pentagon
memo from the Bush
administration. But the President has refused,
instead dispatching Attorney
General John Ashcroft to tell "lawmakers he won't
release or discuss"[5] the
memo, even if he is cited for contempt of Congress.
This is the same
Ashcroft who "conveniently declassified"[6]
internal Justice Department
memos in an effort to slander 9/11 commissioner
Jamie Gorelick. It is also
the same Bush administration that leaked the
classified name of a CIA
officer[7] in an effort to intimidate a former
ambassador who had debunked
their false WMD claims.[8]

Sources:

1. Presidential Speech, White House Website,
5/24/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39670.
2. "Lawyers Decided Bans on Torture Didn't Bind
Bush", The New York Times,
6/08/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39671.
3. "Memo on Torture Draws Focus to Bush", The
Washington Post, 6/09/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39672.
4. "The Roots of Torture", Newsweek, 5/24/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39673.
5. "U.S.'s Ashcroft Won't Release or Discuss
Torture Memo (Update 2)",
Bloomberg.com, 6/08/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39674.
6. "Mr. Ashcroft's Smear", The Washington Post,
4/20/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39675.
7. "Mission to Niger", townhall.com, 7/14/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39676.
8. "White House "warned over Iraq claim", BBC News,
7/09/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=2460565&l=39677.

Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush
Administration distortion.

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A request for you to act from Moveon.org for the Climate Crisis

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

When the new disaster movie, "The Day After Tomorrow", opened a week and half ago, over 8,000 MoveOn members were outside theaters in 622 cities, talking to moviegoers about the real danger of a climate crisis.

The Senate will soon consider a bill sponsored by Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman that would commit the United States to taking concrete actions to reduce global warming. You can help by signing our petition supporting the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act, at:

http://www.moveon.org/climatecrisis/

The Senate is expected to vote on this bill within the next two weeks, and your Senators need to hear that you care. Our petition carries a powerful message to President Bush and members of Congress -- that we can't wait any longer to take action.

We asked MoveOn members who passed out information about global warming outside the movie theaters to tell us about their experience. Here's what a few of you said were your favorite parts:

"A mom walking out with her teenage daughter and just lighting up when I handed her the flyer, turning to her daughter and saying, 'See, we can do something about this.'"
"When a 20-something said 'I didn't think anyone your age would care anymore' (I'm 60)."

"When we all began to arrive and there were so many of us from MoveOn and we could connect from the heart about our concern for our world and the comfort that came from the sense of belonging to a kind of community!"

"When a theatre security guard went in and explained to theatre management that we were not only promoting the movie, we were trying to save the world!"

Four years ago, candidate Bush promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As president, he's broken that promise, consistently siding with his campaign contributors from the energy and automobile industries to block new policies that would help prevent a climate crisis.

Scientists are now telling us that the earth is heating up faster than at any time in its history. Now is the time for our leaders to act, before it's too late.

Please sign the petition today, and please ask your friends to sign as well, at:

http://www.moveon.org/climatecrisis/

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
--Carrie, Joan, Lee, Noah, Peter, and Wes
The MoveOn.org Team
Wednesday, June 9th, 2004

P.S.: See our website for background information.

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PRESIDENT BACKS BIG DONORS OVER 50 MILLION

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

As president, George W. Bush is charged with
protecting consumers from being
bilked. But yesterday, the president decided to
side with four major
campaign contributors against 50 million American
consumers in a court case
that could force serious increases in phone bills
all over the country.

As the New York Times reports, the president sided
with four large
telecommunications companies in a federal court
case about consumer
protections. Instead of defending government
regulations that prevent price
gouging on phone bills, the White House and its
Solicitor General, Ted
Olson, opted to drop out of the case. The decision
by the president
"substantially reduces the chances that the Supreme
Court will accept the
appeal".[1] The decision could affect 50 million
customers nationwide.

The president and the Solicitor General have a
substantial interest in
helping the four companies who benefit from their
decision. The four
companies have given the Bush-Cheney campaign more
than $173,000 since 2000:
Verizon has contributed more than $85,000[2] to the
Bush campaign, BellSouth
more than $44,000,[3] U.S. West/Qwest more than
$34,000,[4] and SBC
Communications more than $10,000.[5] Meanwhile,
Olson was previously a
partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher;[6] a law firm
that represents
telecommunications companies.[7]

Sources:

1. "In Pivotal Case, Bush Backs Off Rule That Eased
Phone Line Fees", The
New York Times, 6/10/04,
www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/business/10PHON.html.
2. Opensecrets.org,
www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=&txtState=(all+sta
tes)&txtZip=&txtEmploy=Verizon&txtCand=Bush&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&Or
der=N.
3. Ibid,
www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=&txtState=(all+sta
tes)&txtZip=&txtEmploy=BellSouth&txtCand=Bush&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&
Order=N.
4. Ibid,
www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=&txtState=(all+sta
tes)&txtZip=&txtEmploy=U.S.+west&txtCand=Bush&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&
Order=N.
5. Ibid,
www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=&txtState=(all+sta
tes)&txtZip=&txtEmploy=SBC&txtCand=Bush&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&txt2000=Y&Order=
N.
6. U.S. Department of Justice,
www.usdoj.gov/osg/aboutosg/t_olson_bio.htm.
7. Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher,
www.gdclaw.com/practices/detail/id/632.

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Just in case you don't read the L.A. Times,

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

Just this morning, the L.A. Times released a new Halliburton bombshell: it's now clear that over the protests of an Army official, Vice President Cheney's office helped ensure that Cheney's old company Halliburton would receive a $7 billion no-bid contract for rebuilding Iraq.[1] Faced with a choice between serving our troops and helping out his corporate buddies, Cheney chose the latter.

The timing for our new ad exposing how Halliburton and Bush administration officials took taxpayers for a ride couldn’t be better. And starting tomorrow, Congress will be holding hearings on whether Halliburton used its close ties to administration officials to get sweetheart deals, shortchanging both our troops and U.S. taxpayers. Since Thursday afternoon, we've already raised about $420,000 to air the ad. But in order to get the ad in front of swing-state voters for a week starting tomorrow, we’ll need to raise about $1.1 million. Together, if we all pitch in what we can, we can make it happen.

Take a look at the finished ad and help get it on the air at:

https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/halliburton.html?id=2940-3646104-FE55yvmAsOOk1Wovo6HbDQ

The list of governmental investigations against Halliburton just keeps on growing. Just last Friday, Halliburton disclosed yet another one -- the SEC is investigating one of its subsidiaries for foreign corruption. Halliburton's unethical behavior is in the news this week, and with your help we can get it in front of key voters in battleground states as well.

Thanks for all of your help. We've attached the original email on the ad – which has a lot more detail about Halliburton's shady deals with the Bush administration – below.

Sincerely,

--Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
June 14th, 2004

PAID FOR BY MoveOn PAC
P.O. Box 9218, Berkeley, CA 94709

-----------------
Original Message re: Help Take On Halliburton
June 10, 2004
-----------------

Dear MoveOn member,

There are lots of reasons that things are going south in Iraq. President Bush alienated the international community, lied to the world about the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, failed to plan for reconstruction . . . and the list goes on. But there's another less talked-about reason that things are turning out so badly: President Bush and Vice President Cheney simply can't resist a chance to help their corporate friends make a buck, even when it undermines the troops.

Today, we're launching a new ad to call the Bush Administration on its ties to the scandal-plagued company Halliburton. In just a year in Iraq, Halliburton employees have accepted $6 million in illegal kickbacks (1), the company overcharged taxpayers millions for gas (2), and charged hundreds of millions of dollars for meals for our troops that were never delivered (3). It's a perfect example of how Bush and Cheney's taste for corporate cronyism has weakened our country and cost taxpayers billions.

We know from polling that for many people the Halliburton debacle illustrates a core weakness in the Bush program, and helps convince independent voters to vote against Bush. That's why it's so important that we get this ad, which hammers that point home, in front of as many people as possible. If we can raise $1.1 million, we can run the ad deep for a week in a number of the key "battleground" states. Please contribute what you can to help us get it on the air today at:

https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/halliburton.html?id=2940-3646104-FE55yvmAsOOk1Wovo6HbDQ

On that page, you can also read a full script of the ad and take a look at the story boards.

Revelations regarding Halliburton's unethical and at times illegal behavior continue to pop up at a regular pace. But perhaps more worrisome are indications that the Bush administration isn't just turning a blind eye to Halliburton's corrupt business practices -- it's actively helping the company along. For example, Time Magazine exposed last week that newly disclosed internal Pentagon emails suggest that the office of Vice President Dick Cheney was instrumental in sealing an $18 BILLION no-bid contract for the Vice President's former company (4).

Nor does Halliburton's track record end at fraud. In a Pentagon audit, Halliburton was warned that its food service facilities which serve our troops in Iraq were dangerously unsanitary, with "blood all over the floor" of its kitchens, "dirty pans," and "rotting meats ... and vegetables." (5) As Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) put it, Halliburton is ultimately "a company that arrogantly is overcharging when they can get away with it and not providing the quality of service that they agreed to do." (6)

Vice President Dick Cheney still holds hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of stock options in the company.(7) So it's hardly surprising that the Administration's response has been anemic, even when faced with clear evidence that the company is bilking taxpayers.

That's why we need to get this ad on the air. Can you contribute to make that happen? Go to:

https://www.moveonpac.org/donate/halliburton.html?id=2940-3646104-FE55yvmAsOOk1Wovo6HbDQ

Sincerely,
--Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
June 10th, 2004

Footnotes:

1. Halliburton admits $6m kickbacks
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3425043.stm

2. Halliburton: $61M Overcharge?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/12/politics/main588216.shtml

3. Halliburton Grilled Over Meals
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/02/eveningnews/main597566.shtml

4. Time reports Cheney hand in contract
http://www.iht.com/articles/522594.html

5. Contractor served troops dirty food in dirty kitchens
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/12/14/2003079545

6. See 5, above.

7. Cheney may still have Halliburton ties
http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/25/news/companies/cheney/?cnn=yes

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Bush EPA Stalling on Fuel Economy Standards

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

While the Bush administration continues to promote a national energy policy favoring more fossil fuel use -- oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, denying widely accepted scientific data on climate change, underwriting oil exploration and drilling in wilderness areas with public tax dollars -- the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is dragging its heels on revisions for tests that determine automobiles' actual miles-per-gallon performance.

The Bluewater Network, a California-based environmental policy organization, petitioned EPA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) in 2002 to update their fuel economy programs, which were initially mandated by Congress in the mid-1970s.

EPA last adjusted its testing methods in 1985. "In today's environment with mounting evidence of global warming, concern about the security implications of our dependence on foreign oil, and relatively high gasoline prices, consumers and policymakers are increasingly taking fuel economy into account. It is vital that they be provided with accurate information on which to base these decisions," Bluewater wrote.

While drivers now spend more time in congested driving conditions due to urban sprawl than in the mid-70s, and drive at faster highway speeds, fuel economy is still calculated based on driving conditions and auto technologies over two decades out of date. According to figures cited in the Bluewater petition, cars are getting 14.5 percent fewer miles per gallon than EPA's estimates, and light trucks 19.3 percent less. These shortfalls are likely to rise over time.

Without updated standards and testing, consumers cannot judge how much they will really spend on gasoline for a new car or truck, or how much carbon dioxide (CO2)—a significant greenhouse gas—a vehicle will emit. Cars and light-duty trucks contribute nearly 20 percent to annual U.S. emissions of CO2 -- roughly five percent of the world's annual CO2 emissions. [1]

Late last year the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (part of DOT) proposed revisions to fuel economy standards, including the creation of new weight classes for current types of cars and trucks. This new system would close a current loophole that exempts certain weights of trucks from fuel economy standards, but it would also establish weaker standards for heavier vehicles. U.S.PIRG notes in a recent report that automobile manufacturers may actually add weight to vehicles in order to avoid the stricter requirements.

"The Bush administration should be looking for ways to save consumers money at the pump and wean us from oil—foreign or domestic—in the long term," U.S.PIRG writes. "Instead of taking advantage of [existing] automobile technology to achieve a 40 mpg standard, the administration is pushing an energy policy that emphasizes the technologies of yesterday and has opposed all meaningful increases in fuel economy." [2]

###

TAKE ACTION
Submit comments to EPA through the Bluewater Network: http://bluewaternetwork.org/alert_gw_fuelstickers.shtml.

###

SOURCES:
[1] Bluewater Network petition, Jun. 7, 2002.
[2] "Going Nowhere: The Price Consumers Pay for Stalled Fuel Economy Policies," U.S.PIRG, May 2004.

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Bush is pushing for the US to do work on small. nukes

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

It was illegal and congress made it that way. But as part of some other Buch stuff that was undone. And now Bush is pushing for 35 million in the 05 budget for rearch on making our own durty bombs. And yes it's just for rearch and in another year we'll be told that we'ver done the reach and that not to do something with it would be wroung. one cut at a time. Just keep cutting away at what this country is. Or was. They keep dumbing down America. By they I mean our goverment. Fed. and State. The more you gave them to do for you the more they do what they want and the next thing YOU'LL be saying is "Well, there's nothing I can do" Take your country back while you can...

First, get him out of office then have Congress take back the the powers that they gave "The president" that our founding father know not to do. Or just change the name of the country from American to Bushland. Cause befor he's done we be finding out that he's going to stay in office till he's done with the war.
Bush says he's found God. Well God hasn't found him.

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Pentagon admits to Chaney's Aide approved Halliburton Contracts

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

White House Officials and Cheney Aide Approved Halliburton Contract in Iraq, Pentagon Says
By ERIK ECKHOLM
The newly disclosed details have raised questions about the repeated assertions by Vice President Dick Cheney that he knew nothing in advance about contracts given to the Halliburton Company. taken from New York Times look under PROCUREMENT.

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Reagan blasts Bush - Jr. on Jr.

"One useless man is called a disgrace; two useless men are called a law firm; and three or more useless men are a congress" John Adams

"My father crapped bigger ones than George Bush," says the former president's son, in a flame-throwing conversation about the war and the Bush administration's efforts to lay claim to the Reagan legacy.(taken from the blog of Al Franken)(listen to him over the Internet at www.airamericaradio.comfrom 9 to noon pacific time. Repeats at 8pm to 11.

By David Talbot

April 14, 2003 - The Bush inner circle would like to think of George W.'s presidency as more of an extension of Ronald Reagan's than of his one-term father's. Reagan himself, who has long suffered from Alzheimer's disease, is unable to comment on those who lay claim to his political legacy. But his son, Ron Jr., is -- and he's not pleased with the association.

"The Bush people have no right to speak for my father, particularly because of the position he's in now," he said during a recent interview with Salon. "Yes, some of the current policies are an extension of the '80s. But the overall thrust of this administration is not my father's -- these people are overly reaching, overly aggressive, overly secretive, and just plain corrupt. I don't trust these people."

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Tuesday, June 22, 2004

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Agree or not, talking it over is better...

Saturday Night Live - Palin / Hillary Open

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