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Yemen cops killed in shootout with Islamists
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Page 6: Politix
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-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Don't Count out 'Mandatory' Service Yet
HB 1388 "quietly" passed the Senate last week. Now, this bill is working itself through the process.
A proposal in Congress to study whether "mandatory" service should be required of all young people in the United States has suddenly disappeared from a bill that would reauthorize other national service programs such as AmeriCorps. But the plan has appeared in another bill at just about the same time.

WND reported more than a week ago on a plan in the U.S. House of Representatives to determine whether "a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people" should be developed across the United States. But the language that was included in H.R. 1388 suddenly disappeared.

At about the same time, H.R. 1444 by U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., appeared and was assigned to the House Committee on Labor and Education.

The bill, under Section 4 (b)6, states:

Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

The original plan not only reauthorized existing programs but added "new programs and studies" with a forecast funding level of $6 billion over the next five years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

It raised immediate concerns that the effort, which is intended to include 250,000 "volunteers," is the beginning of what President Obama called his "National Civilian Security Force" in a speech last year in which he urged creating an organization as big and well-funded as the U.S. military. He has declined since then to elaborate.

The newest plan says the aim is "to establish the Congressional Commission on Civic Service to study methods of improving and promoting volunteerism and national service, and for other purposes."

It would be directed to identify how issues that deter volunteerism "and national service" can be overcome, determine what role should government have "in overcoming" those issues, evaluate the "existing databases" for linking "would-be volunteers and service providers," and referred to the "workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement."

The proposal also speculates on a "public service academy, a four-year institution that offers a federally funded undergraduate education with a focus on training future public sector leaders."

Like the provisions in the earlier bill, it also includes children down to primary school, requiring a review of "the means to develop awareness of national service and volunteer opportunities at a young age by creating, expanding and promoting service options for primary and secondary school students and by raising awareness of existing incentives."
Posted by: Sherry || 03/29/2009 14:03 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The proposal also speculates on a "public service academy, a four-year institution that offers a federally funded undergraduate education with a focus on training future public sector leaders."

Like the École Nationale d'Administration in France. Just what we need - a small permanent government elite managing a vastly expanded public sector.
Posted by: DMFD || 03/29/2009 17:06 Comments || Top||

#2  And you can but guess at who will be the Dean of such a public service academy, who the faculty will be, and what the curriculum will be.
Posted by: Steve White || 03/29/2009 17:21 Comments || Top||

#3 
HR 1388.

I s'pose the HR numbers are assigned sequentially so it's prolly random, but I must point out that the number 88 is favored by neonazis and Hitler fanbois... 88 = HH = Heil Hitler.
Posted by: Ulolurong Henbane9825 || 03/29/2009 17:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Slavery is Slavery.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles the flatulent || 03/29/2009 18:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Done by illiterates who won't read the Constitution. They often cite the 'draft' as an excuse, but the 'draft' is constitutionally based through Article I, Section 8 which grants Congress the power to establish and regulate the militia. It does that through Title 10 USC designating every male 17 to 45 as members of the unorganized militia. The 'draft' is the selective activation of that federal militia. Any other 'mandatory' service is involuntary servitude and a violation of the 13th Amendment. Given that the words of the Constitution don't seem to matter to the ruling elite [you know, it's a living document rationale], we're watching America presided over by a black man bringing slavery back as a social institution. The mind boggles. Remember, its never been about truth or justice, it's always been about power.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/29/2009 19:11 Comments || Top||

#6  I thought it was predicted that George W. Bush would re-establish the Draft. But it seems President Obama has decided to do so instead.
Posted by: trailing wife || 03/29/2009 19:13 Comments || Top||

#7  Lovely.
I'm a available for a meeting at the White House to teach some history.
Posted by: European Conservative || 03/29/2009 19:15 Comments || Top||

#8  Procop,
The first few decades of census data reflected interest mainly in sex and those very ages, presumably because they were done to determine the size of an available militia.
Posted by: Glenmore || 03/29/2009 19:32 Comments || Top||

#9  I'm not suprised that 'U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.' introduced this bill. Remember this is the guy who 'leaked' the private cell-phone conversation between Newt and someone who a Democratic operative recorded.

He's as slimey as they come and often does the DNC's dirty work.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 03/29/2009 21:04 Comments || Top||

#10  I believed 2 years of national service should be required once. Not brown shirts, but something. Problem is with that is this.
Posted by: newc || 03/29/2009 21:40 Comments || Top||


YouTube Star Summoned to White House?
The man who created two phenomenally successful "We The People" YouTube videos urging Americans to stand up against Congress and reclaim their republic now -- or perhaps lose it forever -- reportedly has been summoned to the White House by President Obama to discuss the subject matter of the short films.

Bob Basso, who posts videos under the name funbobbasso on YouTube, has created videos in which he portrays Thomas Paine, author of the "Common Sense" pamphlet that made the case for independence during the American Revolution.

Basso, whose website offers his services as a motivational speaker, uses the YouTube presentations to condemn "non-representing representatives" and warns, "Only when they feel the almighty wrath of 'We The People' marching in the streets from California to New York shouting 'We're mad as hell and we want our country back' will they get the message they work for you."

He was scheduled this week to appear on the "Jerry Doyle Show" when he told the radio host that Obama had personally invited him to meet in the White House "to discuss the disturbing nature of the videos."
Videos and about this guy at the link
Posted by: Sherry || 03/29/2009 13:51 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This guy has passion! O should be afraid.
Posted by: 49 Pan || 03/29/2009 14:20 Comments || Top||

#2  Strong Vids!
Posted by: 3dc || 03/29/2009 14:28 Comments || Top||

#3  BO must be saying to himself it is time to 'co-opt" this guy using community organizer lingo.
Posted by: JohnQC || 03/29/2009 18:21 Comments || Top||

#4  We all are Bob Basso now.
Posted by: newc || 03/29/2009 21:41 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
The non-accidental 'tourist'
Posted by: Seafarious || 03/29/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Complete with gummit issue Zenit camera, communications device light meter and everything! Fresh from PT and a morning workout as well! Those Russians, so very clever. Who knew?
Posted by: Besoeker || 03/29/2009 8:58 Comments || Top||

#2  Ah Zenit cameras. I had a colleague who had one and he told me he never had one with so good optics (but mechaniics weren't as good). The story of Russian optics industry deserves to be told. It was founded by a German or a Russian from German ascendency. He loyally served Russia during WWI and later Soviet Union. However he was sent to Gulag during the 30s 'or was it WWII?): the NKVD told that he had been recruited by the German Secret Services before WWI but told to stay dormant and only activate during the next war (ie long after the people who recruited him had gone into retirement. (From the second volume of Gulag's Archipielago)
Posted by: JFM || 03/29/2009 15:10 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
McCain not committed to Palin for 2012 run
Mr. Irrelevant speaks squeaks. Who the hell cares what this Mavericky RINO thinks? Would've been nice if he'd run to win in 2008
Posted by: Frank G || 03/29/2009 13:34 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  How old is he gonna be in 2012?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 03/29/2009 13:50 Comments || Top||

#2  Was he committed for the McCain 2008 run?
Posted by: JFM || 03/29/2009 13:50 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm pretty sure the ONLY reasons the McCain camp selected Sarah Palin in 2008 are these:
1) she's a good-looking governor

2) Hillary Clinton had been bypassed for the #2 slot on Obama's ticket and the campaign staff were gambling that women (at least the single women that normally come out in droves for Dems) would suddenly vote for a woman.

I rather liked Sarah, personally, but I don't think the McCain camp particularly did. She was part of a political gamble. It didn't pay off.

Hopefully her association with McCain won't hurt her in the future.
Posted by: eLarson || 03/29/2009 14:23 Comments || Top||

#4  Seems he has to win Senate re-election in AZ first...
Posted by: Muggsy Glink || 03/29/2009 14:25 Comments || Top||

#5  too old for 2012
Will Palin offer McCain a VP slot?
Posted by: 3dc || 03/29/2009 14:30 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm pretty sure the ONLY reasons the McCain camp selected Sarah Palin in 2008 are these:
...
3) McCain didn't want to suffer the greatest landslide defeat in modern history as the real Republican party conservatives stayed home on election day.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/29/2009 14:57 Comments || Top||

#7  I hope the GOP can come up with someone better than Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Penguin || 03/29/2009 14:57 Comments || Top||

#8  That's OK - Palin isn't committed to McCain for 2012 either.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/29/2009 15:21 Comments || Top||

#9  I doubt the trunks will come up with anybody better than Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 03/29/2009 15:24 Comments || Top||

#10  Way too early to say about 2012. And if I did have a favorite GOP candidate I wouldn't mention him/her this early, the MSM would take the next three years to destroy said candidate.
Posted by: Steve White || 03/29/2009 17:12 Comments || Top||

#11  McCain who?
Posted by: Elmuger McCoy7527 || 03/29/2009 17:42 Comments || Top||

#12  #5 too old for 2012
Will Palin offer McCain a VP slot?
Posted by: 3dc 2009-03-29 14:30


Nah, she'll, if anything, maybe offer him the Ambassadorship to AARP (American Association of RINO Politicians?)...
Posted by: Uncle Phester || 03/29/2009 17:50 Comments || Top||

#13  Way too early to say about 2012. And if I did have a favorite GOP candidate I wouldn't mention him/her this early, the MSM would take the next three years to destroy said candidate.

That is a fact.
Posted by: NCMike || 03/29/2009 18:17 Comments || Top||

#14  I'd be surprised if Palin ran again. Between the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the elitist MSM she got slammed. I think the voters were the only ones that liked her.
Posted by: JohnQC || 03/29/2009 18:40 Comments || Top||

#15  "I think the voters were the only ones that liked her."

Too bad we don't count, John. :-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 03/29/2009 18:44 Comments || Top||

#16  the MSM would take the next three years to destroy said candidate.

You mean like the are doing to Palin now and have done since the Convention?

They vetted the mother of the father of the baby of the daughter of Palin more then they 'vetted' the democratic Presidential candidate.

Tree, Rope, 'Journalist/Anchorperson' - some assembly required.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 03/29/2009 20:58 Comments || Top||


New York Income Tax Rise Hinted as Budget Gap Grows
New York Governor David Paterson said next year's record budget gap may be $3 billion greater than the $16.2 billion he announced earlier this week and hinted a tax increase on higher incomes is possible.

The newly estimated gap for the year beginning April 1 was 25 percent more than projections six weeks ago, he said.
Anyone consider cutting all the discretionary spending that was larded on in the last few years of plenty?
"We are right now on the verge of cuts and service reductions that I would have to describe as life threatening," Paterson said. "With situations like that, everything is on the table," he said in response to a question about increasing the state's income tax for high earners.

Paterson and legislative leaders said earlier this week that the deficit continues growing because of falling tax collections in a shrinking economy with rising unemployment. If next year's deficit exceeds the $16.2 billion estimate, the spending plan would be amended, as lawmakers did twice in the current year.

The state Labor Department said yesterday that New York's unemployment rate rose by a record 0.7 percentage point in February to 7.7 percent, the highest since 1993. In New York City, the jobless rate rose 1.2 percentage points to 8.1 percent in February.

Paterson said he continues to press leaders of the Senate and Assembly for spending cuts in addition to the "record" cuts already agreed upon. He didn't identify the kind or amount of the reductions.
Posted by: Fred || 03/29/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  That's not discretionary spending. Those are Human Rights of which you would be Violating.
Posted by: Seafarious || 03/29/2009 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Yeah, Human Hights violations. They're not bribes to voters, no sir!
Posted by: SteveS || 03/29/2009 8:13 Comments || Top||

#3  "We are right now on the verge of cuts and service reductions that I would have to describe as life threatening,"

There are two levels of life threatening cuts. Those that reveal that the product or services were not essential, that society and economy will muddle through as they did before such items even existed, and therefore are terminal to politicians whose death grasp upon them brought the viability of the state into jeopardy. Then there are those which indeed directly effect the health, safety, and basis of economy that politicians will resort to 'first cut' to teach the serfs that they must know their place in tax servitude by their betters. The former only is life threatening to politicians. The latter to the people they fleece serve.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 03/29/2009 9:07 Comments || Top||

#4  NY state has been in iffy financial condition since 9/11. The state bore the economic brunt of the attack in many ways. Yeah, there's plenty of dysfunction in NY as well, but the problems aren't all or even primarily due to discretionary spending.
Posted by: lotp || 03/29/2009 19:35 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Varun Gandhi charged with attempt to murder, rioting
PILIBHIT: BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi has been charged with attempt to murder, rioting and other offences in an FIR filed in connection with violence that erupted in Pilibhit even as police on Sunday maintained a close vigil to maintain law and order in this district. ( Watch )

29-year-old Varun, along with Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Kalraj Mishra, local MLA Sukhlal and former party MLA BK Gupta, have been named in another FIR registered for violation of prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC on Saturday when the BJP candidate courted arrest in a case related to his alleged anti-Muslim speeches, Kotwali police sources said.

Varun, who is in judicial custody, has been booked under sections 147, 148 and 149 (rioting and related charges), 307 (attempt to murder), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 336 (doing any act that endangers human life or the personal safety of others) and certain sections of IPC and public safety and certain state acts for the violence around the district jail here, they said.

The FIR relating to rioting and other charges has been filed by Pilibhit district jailor Mukesh Arora against Varun and his supporters after BJP activists fought a pitched battle with the police and laid a siege of the jail premises.

Meanwhile, Pilibhit district magistrate Ashok Chauhan discounted the allegation of BJP MP and Varun's mother Maneka Gandhi that a Muslim officer had injured several of supporters and said he was not deployed there.

Chauhan said, "I strictly don't agree with the comments of Maneka Gandhi. The person she is naming was not at all deployed at that place.

"We checked the records and we were careful about his deployment. He was at another place and the allegation is totally false," he said.

On the situation in Pilibhit, he said, "it is under control. People may be spreading rumours but as of now the situation in the city and rural areas is totally under control".

In Lucknow, additional director general of police Brij Lal, said, "A close vigil is being maintained in Pilibhit with deployment of adequate number of personnel from Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and police".

Asked about the cases registered against Gandhi, who courted on Saturday, he just said, "A case under section 188 of IPC has been registered against all those who violated the prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC".

During the violence yesterday, BJP workers, who were demanding Varun's release, had indulged in heavy brick batting and laid a siege of the district jail.
Posted by: john frum || 03/29/2009 07:45 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:



Who's in the News
56[untagged]
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2TTP
2al-Qaeda in Pakistan
2Jamaat-e-Islami
2Taliban
1Hamas
1Hezbollah
1Iraqi Insurgency
1ISI
1Islamic Courts
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh
1Moro Islamic Liberation Front
1Palestinian Authority
1PFLP
1Pirates
1Govt of Iran
1al-Qaeda in Yemen

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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Sun 2009-03-29
  Yemen cops killed in shootout with Islamists
Sat 2009-03-28
  76 killed in Jamrud mosque Pakaboom
Fri 2009-03-27
  Pakaboom kills 11 in Tank
Thu 2009-03-26
  Drone attack kills six in Pakistain
Wed 2009-03-25
  North Korea loading rocket on launch pad
Tue 2009-03-24
  Indian Army:16 Infiltrators: 8 in Kupwara overtime
Mon 2009-03-23
  Five soldiers, 6 militants killed in Kashmir battle
Sun 2009-03-22
  Prabhakaran & Son sighted in ''No Fire Zone''
Sat 2009-03-21
  Pak fires on Indian army positions
Fri 2009-03-20
  Jihad Unspun Proprietress Held for Ransom by Taliban
Thu 2009-03-19
  Canadian-Lebanese in court over Paris bombing
Wed 2009-03-18
  Islamic courts go to work in Swat
Tue 2009-03-17
  Death toll at 11 in Pindi kaboom
Mon 2009-03-16
  Zardari caves: Judges restored
Sun 2009-03-15
  Nawaz arrested!


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