French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel told investigators he made his first secret profits in the wake of the July 2005 London bombings, a "jackpot" that put him on the path to multi-billion-euro losses for Societe Generale, according to leaked records of his deposition.
"My first experience of this kind goes back to 2005, when I took a position on [German insurance giant] Allianz shares, betting on a drop in the market," Kerviel said in comments published in Le Monde newspaper and confirmed as genuine by a judicial official. It happened that shortly afterwards the market fell as a result of the London bombings and it was a jackpot of 500,000 euros".
Unable to explain his unauthorised winnings to his bosses, Kerviel says he created a a fictitious operation to conceal them, the start of a vicious spiral that ended with losses of 4.82 billion euros for Societe Generale. "More than anything, I wanted to earn money for the bank. That was my first motivation," Kerviel told investigators, explaining how he forged e-mails and documents to cover up his actions.
From that point, Kerviel said he ran a parallel operation from his trading desk, racking up secret profits of up to 1.4 billion euros in December 2007 - but also losses of up to 2.5 billion euros in July 2007.
Deep in the red when his rogue dealing was discovered on Friday January 18, Kerviel said he was confident he would turn his loss back into a profit by Tuesday. "What I couldn't have guessed was that I would no longer be working for Societe Generale."
Kerviel insisted his bosses at Societe Generale must have been aware he was placing tens of billions of euros in risky futures trades. "Day to day, as part of normal trading with normal levels of investments, a trader cannot generate that much cash," Kerviel said. "Which leads me to believe that when I was in the black, my hierarchy was turning a blind eye towards the details and the sums involved," he said. "It suited them to let me earn money".
He says he was repeatedly challenged about high-risk operations but that each time he produced fictitious documents to cover himself - and that they were readily accepted by the bank. "Their passivity pushed me to carry on ... and I was quickly sucked into a spiral that I couldn't find a way out of."
The U.S. military is developing contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could hit North America. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will hit the ground. "We're aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We're aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."
He added, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.
#8
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Please fall on Mecca
Thousands of machete-wielding youths set buses and homes ablaze and blocked roads with burning tires Monday as they hunted down members of President Mwai Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe. One driver was burned alive in his minibus because he was Kikuyu.
The death toll from Kenya's disputed presidential election soared over 800. "The road is covered in blood. It's chaos," said Baraka Karama, a journalist for independent Kenya Television in Kisumu.
A month of ethnic bloodletting triggered by rigged presidential elections gathered frightening momentum in Kenya, spreading from town to town in the western Rift Valley, scene of the worst clashes. There was no sign of relief from international mediators trying to persuade politicians to resolve the crisis that has erupted over Kibaki's re-election in Dec. 27 balloting that international and local observers say was marred by a rigged vote tally.
Columns of smoke rose from burning homes in Kisumu. "We wish to find one, a Kikuyu .... We will butcher them like a cow," said David Babgy, 24, a casual worker among 50 young men stopping buses at a roadblock of burned cars and uprooted lamp posts. The only deaths reported there Monday, apart from the burned bus driver, were people shot by police whom human rights groups accuse of using excessive force.
Right. They want to find someone, probably someone they've never met before, and butcher him like a cow. Now define "excessive force" in controlling that little problem.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/30/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Voting by Machete?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/30/2008 0:50 Comments ||
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#3
No worries. No reference in the article to ........ cannibalism, ritual zoophilia with goats, sexual orgies, ritual places decorated with intestines and goat eyes, and that oaths included promises to kill, dismember and burn settlers? It's a tribal thing, we simply wouldn't understand.
#9
said Baraka Karama, a journalist for independent Kenya Television in Kisumu
hey! Don't we have a presidential....? Er, never mind
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/30/2008 17:37 Comments ||
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#10
Ummm, the smart ones came to America?
Not quite. The majority of the African slaves packed off to the "New World" were the misfits and dregs that could be caught by the Muslim and African slavers.
They generally purged their societies of the thieves, mentally retarded and other undesirables. There is a great documentary done by an African anthropologist and he goes into the unpleasant facts about slavery in that era.
Needless to say, the bleeding heart caring classes don't like to hear what he has to say. But they can't shut him up because he's Black and African. The documentary can be found at either PBS or TDC, can't remember which right now.
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
01/30/2008 19:55 Comments ||
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#11
They generally purged their societies of the thieves, mentally retarded and other undesirables
that, of course, is nonsense. The slaves were the defeated and captured tribes: men, women, and children. To say that it was a societal purging is utter bullshit. Check your credibility
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/30/2008 21:01 Comments ||
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#12
Do you really have to ask?
You left out Islam, which should be at the top of the list. There are plenty of muslims in Kenya.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel expressed on Tuesday their very grave concern at the rapidly degenerating situation in Kenya.
"We were shocked to learn of the murder in Nairobi this morning of a member of the Kenyan parliament and we condemn the massive human rights abuses and systematic violence being perpetrated in Kenya," they said in a join statement.
The two EU officials expressed their full support to the on-going mediation efforts of ex-U.N. chief Kofi Annan and called upon all Kenyan leaders to live up to their responsibilities by engaging fully and unconditionally in the search for a political solution through dialogue. "We very much welcome therefore the commitment to dialogue taken by both sides today," noted the statement.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/30/2008 0:50 Comments ||
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#2
No "EU hand wringing" necessary. Its actually the natural order in Africa. There has only been one brief sabatical of tribal genecide, that being the period of white colonial rule by Great Britian. After 8-10 years of Mau Mau terrorism and murder, the British finally saw the error of their African experiment, granted the murdering buggers independense and very wisely washed thier hands of it. After about 1960 all bets were off. African native governance, is quite similar to deer hunting with an accordian. The outcome is very, very predictable.
#5
Compare wid FINANCIAL TIMES [FT.com] > DRAWING THE CONTOURS OF A NEW WORLD ORDER IN AFRICA China]. Will China replace Europe as colonizer vv trade? OTOH, ASIA TIMES > AFRICAN BACKLASH AGZ CHINA.
ION, JPOST OP-ED > MEXICO, ISRAEL, AND EUROPEAN UNION.
Maybe they can remarket these dumplings as part of a weight loss program.
Ten Japanese were sickened, including a child who fell into a coma, after eating Chinese-made dumplings contaminated with insecticide, police and health officials said Wednesday.
Three people in western Hyogo prefecture (state) and seven in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo suffered severe abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea after eating the frozen dumplings imported from China by a Japanese company, the Health Ministry said. A 5-year-old girl in Chiba regained consciousness after falling into a coma, and her mother, two brothers and a sister were in serious condition, Chiba police official Masaru Hiratsu said.
Investigators found traces of an organic phosphorus insecticide called methamidophos in the dumplings, their containers and the patients' vomit, the ministry said in a statement. Authorities were attempting to determine the source of contamination.
The ministry ordered the dumplings' importer and distributor, JT Foods Co. Ltd. an affiliate of Japan's largest tobacco company to recall the product. The dumplings were imported in November from Chinese manufacturer Hebei Foodstuffs Import & Export Group Tianyang Food Processing, the ministry said.
In Beijing, telephones were not answered at the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which oversees the safety of China's exports. The agency's Web site made no mention of the incident.
Japan's minister in charge of food safety, Fumio Kishida, said the incident prompted "grave concerns" and vowed to take urgent measures, though he did not elaborate.
JT Foods distributed 13 tons of dumplings each in Chiba and Hyogo, the ministry said. JT Foods voluntarily began recalling the dumplings and 22 other products imported from the Chinese company and dispatched officials to investigate the Chinese plant, JT spokeswoman Yukiko Seto said.
China's exports have come under intense scrutiny in the past year after a number of potentially deadly chemicals were found in goods including toothpaste, toys, pet food and seafood.
China's government launched a four-month campaign last August to improve the quality of Chinese products and restore international confidence in its goods. Officials termed the campaign a success.
#7
I think we're going to need him to run, to balance things if the other side persuades someone like Paul to go third-party. I think its going to be close.
#8
I'm fuzzy on the details (that was a loooonnnng time ago), Darrell, but I think Harold Stassen at least had some morals. And a modicum of brains.
(And, apparently, an ego the size of a house.)
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
01/30/2008 18:58 Comments ||
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#9
Okay, I'll bite, didn't NEWSMAX/OTHERS > WILL NEWT GINGRICH BE THE GOP DARK HORSE???
And lets NOT forget JEB BUSH - Various Netters are NOT convinced he's out for 2008 despite rhetoric/claims to the contrary???
Broadly speeeking, A DEMOCRAT WIN in 2008 can be interpreted as that the US HAS DE FACTO WON THE WAR IN IRAQ-ME AND WILL PROCEED WID REGIONAL-GLOBAL ENTRENCHMENT = IRAQ/ME NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT + CONTRUX AS BEGUN BY DUBYA-GOP, + FOCII ON US-SPECIFIC, GOVT-EMPIRE, REGULATION-WELFARIST CENTRIC NATIONAL STABILITY BACK IN CONUS.
IOW, SPEND SPEND SPEND, for NAT-GLOBAL [Unitary] SOCIALISM + GLOBAL ANGLO-US = ANGLO-WEST DEMOSOC EMPIRE???
2008 then > YEAR when Cold War Leftists-Marxists have to decide on tradional ANTI-AMER/WESTERNISM versus PRO-US/WESTERN, PRO-CAPITALISM UNITARIAN SOCIALISM = "NEW ASIANISM-ORIENTALISM"???
#10
Iff 9-11/WOT > WAR FOR THE DEFEAT, DESTRUCTION + SUBORNMENT OF THE USA, then anti-Amer agendists must make their move BEFORE US REGIONAL-GLOBAL ENTRENCHMENT "AS IS" BECOMES TOO STRONG TO MILPOL DEFEAT. TIME WORKS BOTH WAYS - the longer the US-West stays, expands, andor entrenches around the world, the greater the risk of ISOLATION + IMPLOSION FOR ANTI-US/WESTERN -ISMS AND NATIONS.
OWG-NWO > A PAN-DIMENSION WORLD REVOLUTION IS GOING ON, and the USA IS THE CATALYST thanx to 9-11.
#11
If Obama beats Hillary Nader won't run, he wont' have a chance.
If Hillary beats Obama Nader will run and get fairly decent numbers. It may mean a split in the party that has been long in the coming.
Ron Paul may go independent but he's faded already. The bulk of his followers will disappear or link up with someone else.
The campaign manager for Rep. Albert R. Wynn has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging fundraising improprieties by Donna Edwards, his chief rival in next month's Democratic primary.
The Wynn campaign gave reporters copies of a 34-count complaint today alleging illegal collaboration between Edwards and several of the organizations supporting her in the Fourth District contest.
"There seems to be a vast, dare I say, left-wing conspiracy designed to circumvent campaign finance laws," Wynn told reporters during a conference call. "Within this scheme, her supporters are coordinating efforts to exceed fundraising limits and engaging in illegal campaign activities." . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 10:50 ||
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There are two Americas, one in which wealthy and well-coiffed lawyers can become President on the strength of angry populist rhetoric, and one where that gag doesn't work.
We live in America #2, fortunately.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 10:03 ||
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#1
I hope Edwards reads the Rant...business opportunity for an ambulance chaser:
Chinese dumplings sicken 10 Japanese
Maybe they can remarket these dumplings as part of a weight loss program.
Ten Japanese were sickened, including a child who fell into a coma, after eating Chinese-made dumplings contaminated with insecticide, police and health officials said Wednesday.
Three people in western Hyogo prefecture (state) and seven in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo suffered severe abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea after eating the frozen dumplings imported from China by a Japanese company, the Health Ministry said.
A 5-year-old girl in Chiba regained consciousness after falling into a coma, and her mother, two brothers and a sister were in serious condition, Chiba police official Masaru Hiratsu said.
#2
Manic depression breaking out over among the Angry Left:
This is awful. I've been depressed the past couple of days and this is exactly what I don't need to wake up to. Now I have to choose between corporate sell-out A and B or sit home.
. . .
NO NO NO!
Can't he get through Super Tuesday? Come on! There goes my last illusion.
Time to get the passport and visa and get the hell out.
. . .
MOre than that - in Kucinich IMPEACHMENT push is muzzeld!
I wish I had time to do a Timeline on all of this.
The Corporations have won. We are screwed.
Democracy lost today.
The primaries are meaningless to me now. A choice between the Corporate twins is no choice at all.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 10:49 Comments ||
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#3
It sounds like some people on our side who complain about McCain.
It gets going in the last half or so. When the audience gets into it, it sorta reminds me of a reading of Dayenu! Except of course, "dayenu" would have to be replaced by "they haven't"!
Former President Jimmy Carter lavished praise on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during an interview at his home on Monday, though he won't formally endorse any candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. Aw, c'mon. Don't keep us in suspense! Tell us who not to vote for!
"Obama's campaign has been extraordinary and titillating for me and my family," Mr. Carter said. The 83-year-old former president, who left the White House in 1981, compared Mr. Obama's speeches to those of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and said he believed the candidate could carry some southern states if he becomes the Democratic nominee. Ya think?
Mr. Carter also said he talked by telephone at length on Monday with former President Bill Clinton, who was "trying to explain that he was not raising the race issue" on the campaign trail. Mr. Carter said the phone call was to finalize speaking arrangements for Mr. Clinton's appearance at a meeting organized by Mr. Carter of moderate Baptists in Atlanta beginning today. But much of the conversation centered on the presidential campaign, Mr. Carter said.
Mr. Clinton "has said a few things that I think he wishes he hadn't said," Mr. Carter said. "He doesn't call me often, but the fact that he called me this morning and spent a long time explaining his position indicates that it's troublesome to them, the adverse reaction." Sniff.
"I told him I hoped it would die down...the charged atmosphere concerning the race issue," Mr. Carter said. "And I think it will."
The Clinton campaign didn't immediately comment regarding the conversation or on Mr. Carter's remarks about Mr. Obama.
Mr. Carter, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, has assiduously avoided involvement in the nitty-gritty of Democratic politics in the years since his presidency -- partly to avoid conflicts that might entangle the work of his nonprofit, the Carter off-Center.
But more than once he has given public signals of encouragement to politicians he likes. In August, he introduced Sen. John Edwards, who now trails Mr. Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nominating contest, at an event held near Plains. Twins separated at birth. Neither can handle conflict, neither can make a decision.
Mr. Carter said he has had limited direct contact with Mr. Obama but has been particularly impressed with the candidate's recent public appearances. "He has an extraordinary oratory...I think that Obama will be almost automatically a healing factor in the animosity now that exists, that relates to our country and its government." Healing? Gawd. He can't even stand to see others having disagreements! Libs and conservatives won't get along until the voters stop hedging and get decisive. Obama has nothing to do with this.
WASHINGTON President Bush was set to act Tuesday on his State of the Union promise to sign an executive order directing federal agencies to ignore any future earmarks not voted on by Congress...
...As many as 95 percent of earmarks are inserted after Congress has voted on appropriations measures, and the pork is never seen by most lawmakers... This sounds like a real Marbury v. Madison fight. By doing this with an Executive Order, he is starting a constitutional battle that cuts to the heart of congressional spending. The only way congress could get around this is either by impeachment, or refusing to appropriate money at all. Some constitutional rocket scientist came up with this plan, and it will reach the Supreme Court.
#1
Heh. Impoundment II, the sequel. Anyone remember Prezident R. M. Nixon? This could be fun to watch.
If it is handled properly, it will cause much foaming by dems. If the supremes buy it, it could be a real amusing constitutional tar baby for W's sucessors.
Posted by: N guard ||
01/30/2008 4:47 Comments ||
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#2
Sounds to me like it's on solid Constitutional grounds. If Congress didn't vote on it, there's no authority to disperse the money.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
01/30/2008 5:42 Comments ||
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Well, it's too much trouble to get Congress to vote on such things. All members of Congress use this ability to deal out pork to the home districts. It's corrupt, but there is no incentive to reform.
#5
1 - Congress can bitch and throw a fit. Seems Nancy and Harry did that last year with limited effect.
2 - Congress can sue in the court and lose, ending the discussion for now and for ever.
3 - Congress and the President and dicker for the next year on what is important and real important, Congresscritter by Congresscritter.
Given that Mr. Bush knows how things are done in the beltway, I suspect that while the EO will curtail the execution of non-voted projects, the White House will send a memo or two out to the Departments to make some of these happen after some vote buying and swapping come the next 10 months. Lame duck indeed. Those who squeal the loudest are the ones most dependent upon the trough. That becomes POWER.
#7
RIAN > BUSH NO LONGER WANTS TO REARRANGE THE WORLD.
ALso from RIAN > STOCK MARKET CRISIS [US] - NO END IN SIGHT; + RUSSIA TO REARRANGE TROOPS DUE TO US MISSLE SHIELD [Kaliningrad Region] + NICE CRUISE - PITY ABOUT THE PROPAGANDA. Russ Atlantic NAVEX, resurgent geopol ambitions not on par with reality
#3
McCain is no less conservative than Bush I and II, or Nixon or Ford, and arguably Reagan.
He is at least as solidly pro-war as GWB, which in this climate is saying a lot.
What I think is that some people are getting a little too picky, given the national mood. The realistic option for a conservative - and "realistic" should be any conservatives middle name, see Burke on the subject - is in fact to choose the lesser of two evils, not to hold out for some theoretical perfection. That sort of thing is the hallmark of the other side.
Looks like this Nov, it realy will be a choice of "who causes the least nausea". I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Posted by: N guard ||
01/30/2008 4:50 Comments ||
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#5
I wish I could vote for the Theoretical Ideal Candidate, but Theo ain't on the ballot.
I can live with either McCain or Romney because, as much as either of them might get wrong, they both get the One Big Thing (the GWOT) right.
Staying home in a snit means you help elect Hillary!/Obama/the guy with the nice hair. If any one of those three gets in, you get:
-- surrender in Iraq and Afghanistan
-- higher taxes
-- two or three more Ruth Bader Ginsburgs on the Supreme Court
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 6:49 Comments ||
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#6
I agree with you Mike. Provided the Hilderbeast loses, I certainly hope when the smoke clears that congress will take a look at the anomoly of a former president championing his "wife's" run for the oval office. There is something inherently sinister with this entire situation.
#7
Everything Mike said, plus government takeover of health care and the conversion of 14% of the private sector economy to socialism, probably forever.
You think staying home to "make a statement against" against some less than ideal candidate like Romney or McCain to prove how angry and pure you are is noble? Bullshit. It's acting as foolishly and irrationally as any leftist. You've sunk to their level at that point.
Staying home and thereby getting a Dem elected will put in the bad guys, Americans everywhere will smack their foreheads and say "Gee, Mr. Pure was right all along and doubleplus extra smart, n' stuff", and will want a glorious revolution and create a society 100% the way you want it, and get rid of all the Gramscian and collectivist damage done by a Dem prez and his/her court appointees? That's the fantasy mindset of an angry sixteen year old. Grow up.
McCain and Romney are a long way from ideal from my perspective. Staying home to permit the election of others who are light years further away isn't going to help my cause more than if I voted for the RINOs. I don't like it, but that's the truth of it.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
01/30/2008 7:18 Comments ||
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#8
Other than the fact that 17% of those who voted for McCain identified themselves as "independents", and 3% identified themselves as democrats, this may actually turn out to be to the benefit of conservatives.
That is, by forcing a brokered convention. All it takes is one vote, the first vote, not being able to pick a candidate. Then all the delegates are freed up.
The convention could decide it didn't like either of them, and pick a dark horse. Duncan Hunter ran a strong conservative campaign, but without offending anyone, so he would be high up among the choices.
#10
My brother and I discussed this last night. My first choice was Thompson, second is romney. Of all the candidates, I dislike McCain the most for campaign "reform" and the illegal alien issue.
Still, I agree with Mike: for all his faults, McCain "gets" the War on Terror, and WAS pointing in the right direction when he called for more troops to Iraq.
The problem I see with McCain, if not with ALL the Republican leadership, is that they believe a vote for them is an endorsement and approval of current policies, when in reality they are merely the less evil of all the alternatives. I have, as yet, to figure out how to knock some sense into such narcissistic heads.
#11
As an aside, I do plan to vote Republican, both in the primary and in the general election, and will hold my nose and vote for McCain, mainly because the Democratic candidate (definitely coming from the current field) is definitely going to be a whole lot worse.
#12
If McCain gets the nom I really don't know where to go. I would like to vote for Obama for no other reason that it will put Sharpton, Jackson, and the rest of the race baiting industry out of business forever.
#13
The problem I see with McCain, if not with ALL the Republican leadership, is that they believe a vote for them is an endorsement and approval of current policies...
As an aside, I do plan to vote Republican, both in the primary and in the general election, and will hold my nose and vote for McCain, mainly because...
And you wonder why the 'pubs think they have a mandate! If anyone other than Romney is nominated on the Republican side, I'm voting a straight Democrat ticket. Most people I know, are doing the same thing. We plan to cut the GOP's throat and help plunge the nation into at least 4 years of abject misery.
Why? Because we are inexorably sliding that way anyway, might as well get it out of the way. Maybe a real tasty helping of socialism will cure the idiots of their delusions, maybe it will be the needed kick in the backside to do what needs to be done. Whatever, I predict the GOP takes a mauling...I hope so, they deserve it.
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
01/30/2008 9:09 Comments ||
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#14
The talking heads don't even try to hide their joy at the prospect of McCain being the Republican nominee. It would guarantee a Dem sweep in November and put all those icky conservatives like Rush Limbaugh in their place. For me the only worse result than McCain would be Ron Paul. Something about McCain has always bothered me. Looking at his biography, McCain bio, explains it. He was a spoiled, self-indulgent rich kid who, with the exception of his time as a POW, has pretty much done as he wanted regardless of consequences. I don't trust him and think that as the Republican nominee will precipitate an electoral blowout worse than Hoover's.
A number of States are already making substantial progress on the illegal immigrant situation. Also, McCain is pretty good on earmarks.
There are some big problems with his arrogance, his self righteousness, his instinct to raise taxes, his incoherence on the GITMO situation and a host of other issues. But, compared to Hillary it isn't even a close call.
#18
A Hubert Humphrey Democrat or a raving Socialist power monger. Great choice. Both of whom will betray their oath office to the Constitution of the United States and surrender our southern border to the ruling caste of Mexico. To me that breaks the compact.
IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME: McCain Derangement Syndrome arrives. I understand people having issues with McCain, but people need to calm down soon. This is politics, the art of the possible, not the ideal. Some people on the right are starting to sound almost Kossack-like.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 11:23 Comments ||
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#21
Mike, when they offer us the choice of None of the Above, I'll listen. However, there also comes a point when the system is so rigged in the manner you get the candidate that it makes no difference. It's like a contest within the Chinese Communist Party over which flavor of rule is in style today.
#22
"I would like to vote for Obama for no other reason that it will put Sharpton, Jackson, and the rest of the race baiting industry out of business forever. "
No it won't. They can always "Uncle Tom" Obama if it comes to it, its what they have done with hundreds of others. They are being sidelined already anyway, on the whole they are no longer fashionable.
And annoying as those people are, in the big picture they and their ilk are just annoying insects. Best to ignore them.
I'd rather vote for Obama and Bring The Boys Home than send them out there to bleed and hollow out our industrial base to the point where all they're armed with are sharpened paperclips.
#24
"For me the only worse result than McCain would be Ron Paul."
Really? Worse than Hillary Clinton? Worse than Barack Obama?
What color is the sky in your world?
And to "Grease Lord" I would say that you are precisely the type of immature, inverted reality-based submoron (not an epithet, but a diagnosis) that I referenced in a previous post.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
01/30/2008 12:43 Comments ||
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#25
Wow, what a choice - the crash of republicans or the lollypop guild.
#26
Procopius, I respect your feelings in this matter (and those of the other commenters expressing similar views), but you have to keep in mind, politics in not just the "art of the possible," it's the long march toward the possible. If you're hoping for immediate results, everything up to specification, and perfection ever after, you're on a fool's errand. The Left didn't get the power it has today by giving up in disgust after Henry Wallace lost to Truman in 1948, and we conservatives won't get the country where we want it to go by handing it to Hilbama in a fit of pique.
Go to the polls. Vote for the best available choice. After the election, get engage and stay engaged--support people you like in the primaries, volunteer, write comments and letters to the editor with the goal of persuasion. (Subtle hint: the Kos method of debate--daisy-chaned curse words and personal insults dirceted at the opposition--is not, on the whole, persuasive.) Work to convince people of the rightness of your cause, but don't be afraid to change your views if the evidence warrants. Repeat each election cycle. It's a long slog, but it's the only way.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 13:01 Comments ||
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#27
The loser in Florida was democracy.
Countless democrats and independents voted for McCain, when in FACT, only Republicans were allowed to vote in the Republican primary. Florida and dozens of other states have not clearly and honestly refined their voting to avoid voter fraud. This is an unforgivable failure of those states, and of the federal government. We should all hold our heads in shame because we allow our government the possibility of stealing an election. And the worst news is that now no regular citizen can run for office and win because it takes millions of dollars to win....another reason to hold your heads in shame. As a voter, I vote for my choice, not the one who buys a barrage of 15 second commercials and pounds the hell outta me with unrelenting mud slinging. I have a brain, for Pete's sake. I don't accept influence from the BOOB TUBE, so my choice would be unaffected by the unending mud slinging and breast beating. And yet, that is exactly what works. How stupid is America ?
What makes you think McCain will be a good Commander in Chief? Because he was shot down over North Vietnam? I can admire his courage. I can be grateful for his service. But lot's of good men suffered more and served better and it doesn't mean they're qualified to be Commander in Chief.
What has he done since then? Endorsed the surge? OK. He got one right. But then, he endorsed the bombing of Serbia when they were fighting to counter Albanian/muslim invasion of the Serbian province of Kosovo. Now we're in the middle of an intractable problem there. That just proves to me that he really doesn't understand the WOT, at least not the way I understand it. He let the Albanians have Kosovo the same way he's letting Mexicans have California. What will he let them have next? Macedonia? Iowa?
What has McCain done about trade with China? Correct me if I'm wrong but I just went to his web site and couldn't find a word about it. I have a problem with that. How is it good for national security to run up a huge trade deficit with a country that has nuclear missiles pointed at us? Some people think China won't hurt us because they can't afford to lose our trade. But I think the Chinese are looking at the long term and not the next quarterly report.
And then there's the border. Yes, I believe our country has done a good thing in Iraq. But what good does it do to win Iraq if we lose our own country? And believe me, we're losing it while McCain, Bush and Clinton pander to the likes of Tyson Chicken, Vicente Fox and all the illegal aliens who will vote in this election. You don't think the illegal aliens will vote? Who's gonna stop them? Clinton didn't. Bush hasn't. McCain won't. These days he says he wants a secure border but he had plenty of time in the Senate to do something about it and he failed. I don't think that's good for national security.
I'll stay home in November if McCain is the Republican nominee because I hope that in 2012 Republicans will remember that a RINO cannot beat a donk. I think that's important enough to let a donk win especially when the RINO is McCain.
I'm not jumping up and down for Romney but he is our last hope. Hopefully, when the rest of them get out of the race and the choice is narrowed the rational, pragmatic Republicans will nominate Romney.
#29
we are inexorably sliding that way anyway, might as well get it out of the way. Maybe a real tasty helping of socialism will cure the idiots of their delusions, maybe it will be the needed kick in the backside to do what needs to be done.
Maybe. Or maybe, as with Britain and the EU treaty/constitution, during those 4 years steps will be taken that cannot be repaired afterwards.
That's not far fetched -- and it's a huge huge risk.
#30
Again, with all respect to those on the other side of the debate:
The political theory of "it has to get worse before it gets better" bothers me greatly. It's like those Dems who were--hell, still are!--rooting for defeat in Iraq because they think it will boost their prospects. Remember the clown who was hoping for another mass-casualty terror attack because he thought it would give the Dems a boost in the '06 midterms?
There's something vaguely creepy about that kind of thinking. Don't fall into it.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 14:08 Comments ||
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#31
Boy. A lot of sensitive egos out there.
You vote for the lesser of two evils, or the best of the bunch, because it's your obligation as a citizen of a free country that offers you that privilege.
Feeling powerless? Like the Kos Kiddies? Remember what happened to Teddy Kennedy's immigration shamnesty? {Hey. Come to think of it, wasn't McCain's name associated with Teddy's?} The majority of the country rose up and yelled and screamed, and it died, did it not? Hillary's health care 15 years ago? Killed by the Sheeple.
But just because other folks don't think like you is no reason to suck your thumb. How many of us here spend as much time writing our Congressman as we do Rantburging? Not me, but I have written dozens, and some I even get answers to! Even Queen Nancy wrote me back and said, (in essence) "Thanks for your opinion. Write you own Congress person, but your opinion is important to me."
When you don't vote, and you don't write, the only message they hear is every other person that does. Part of the problem? Stay home and whine. Part of the solution? Write your Congressman once a month and never, ever miss a chance to vote.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/30/2008 14:13 Comments ||
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#32
Maybe. Or maybe, as with Britain and the EU treaty/constitution, during those 4 years steps will be taken that cannot be repaired afterwards.
If you apply enough high velocity lead it can be undone. And that's where we're heading. Before it is all said and done, there is going to have be serious blood shed in this nation. Many of us have been preparing for that for quite some time.
I had hoped it could be rendered unnecessary or delayed another 10 years or so, but that isn't going to be possible.
There was someone that used to post here, I forget their nym, but they said something very interesting. I'll have paraphrase. They said that a situation can be rolling along, and you can be trying to get a handle on it, when in the blink of an eye it can spiral out of control and go over the edge.
Well, we're on that edge right now. 80% or more of Americans are fat, dumb and happy! Oblivious to the freight train that is about to collect them. I think we need to let that disaster happen as soon as possible, it is the only way we are going to be able to pick up the pieces and rebuild.
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
01/30/2008 14:38 Comments ||
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#33
McCain vs Hildebeast?
I can't decide which is the lesser evil. I just can't do it.
#36
If it were domestic issues only, Id vote dem hands down, for either Clinton or Obama over either Romney or McCain.
I dont think Clinton is all that dovish. She DID vote for the intervention in Iraq, and shes never apologized for it. Shes been pro-Israel since her election to the Senate (granted from New York) and her husbands admin was pro-Israel (being friendly to the Israeli Labour Party doesnt make you anti-Israel to me). Shes recognized the threat from Iran, and all in all has been good on MOST for pol issues.
Shes not anti-EU like some of y'all are, but thats not part of being hawkish to me.
Shes joined the "time table on Iraq" chorus - that may make her someone willing to say things to get the Dem nod - I still think its clear she understands the need to get a satisfactory outcome in Iraq, and I think she will implement any timetable with that in mind.
I also think its essential that the WOT ceases to be a GOP project, and the Dems take responsibility for all the hard decisions involved, and can no longer snipe from the sidelines.
I have to weigh all that, as well as my opinions on domestic issues (I do have an interest in the country we are defending, as well as its defense) against my belief in McCains qualifications and his resoluteness on foreign policy in general.
As for Romney, I have no strong feeling for his resoluteness at all.
#37
Bobby, Kiss my liberty loving ass. I am under NO OBLIGATION to choose evil, even if its the LESSER of the two.
McCain as he stands will not win. The press and Libs will drag out Keating, and a pile of other skeletons. And Conservatives will, justifiably, not lift a finger to defend someone who differs only 4% from Hillary. Its Bob Dole all over again.
Aside from that, McCain has been terrible on the process of getting judges confirmed - his betrayal with the Gang of 14 shows his disloyalty.
McCain-Feingold shackled political free speech, and he has not disavowed it.
McCain-Kennedy was amnesty, and he has not disavowed it - as a matter of fact he has a LaRaza type former Mexican Cabinet member as his Hispanic Outreach director - a fellow that said he wants "the seventh generation to think Mexico First" and wants open borders.
McCain-Leiberman creates a huge maze of government regulations and bureaucracy that ties us to the UN for "global warming" issues. He believes in the hoax of anthropogenic global warming.
McCain also voted against the tax cuts - and is now lying about his excuse for doing so.
Add in his lying about Romney's record, his endorsement by liberals due to his tendency to like liberal, big government policies, and hsi latest backslid, talking down conservative justices (Alito) then lying about it...
Lets just say John McCain is too flawed to vote for even when you consider Keating, his temper, his age, etc.
McCain can still win me and other conservatives over, but he has a lot of work to do to repair the repeated thumbs to the eye he has administered gleefully over the past 8 years.
Start with firing the "Dual Citizen" Hispanic Outreach director and a WRITTEN promise to not enact ANY amnesty or guest worker program until after the dfnece is build and internal enfrocement is in place. Reject any Soros organization money as well.
Promise to not do ANYTHING about global warming until at least a year worth of study and review with two teams - one on each side of the issue, and publish BOTH sides of the case on anthropogenic global warming - to see which is the more grounded and scientifically valid path. No Kyoto, no treaties that cripple us while leaving China and others to run rampant and decimate what manufacturing we have left.
Swear on a stack of Bibles to appoint strict constructionist/originalists to the Supreme court and to attempt to do so for the appellate and district courts.
Border, Environment, Judges.
Thats a start.
If he cannot get it right on those 3 vital issues, then he is not getting my vote - he will damage the nation just as surely as Hillary or Obama woul given they hold the same policies in those areas.
If he really wants to unite the party and get the conservatives back on board, do all of the above, and talk to his "old friend" Fred Thompson about fixing social security and the tax system (dual track approach), and promise to uphold resident Bush's executive order on extra-legislative earmarks (i.e. ones not explicitly in the bill, but hidden).
If he REALLY wants to be president, then ALL of the above plus choose a solidly conservative but telegenic "Balancing" VP (Steele of MD comes to mind), and take a pledge to be a one-term president if he can achieve his agenda - call it "Shaking Up and Cleaning Up Washington". Pre-Appoint SecDef Hunter, AG Giuliani, SecState Bolton, Sec Commerce Romney, and a solid CoS. Run as a team.
If he does not come around, he will surely lose, because Conservatives like me have had enough of his Bullshit.
Truth is we may need a "Jimmy Carter" to get to our next "Reagan" - be it Gov Jindal of La or Gov Sanford of SC. Obama or Clinton would both serve that "Carter" (malaise, one term) role well - 4 and done, and we own 2012 (get the Congress back in 2010)
#38
Sounds to me like you're a little too ready for it, Grease.
There is no such thing as being "too" ready! Don't confuse preparation for eagerness. There are some of us that have been watching very closely as history has replayed itself. And there is no doubt in our minds where it is going, only the time line remains to be revealed.
Posted by: Grease Dark Lord of the Algonquins9226 ||
01/30/2008 15:29 Comments ||
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#39
If the trunks run McCain and the Libertarians don't run Ron Paul, I know where my vote goes. I'm not voting for a donk wearing a trunk mask, even a Scoop Jackson donk.
#40
I cannot vote for Hillary under any circumstances-period! Eight years of those clowns in the White House more than enough. Both Slick Willie and Hillary are a couple of lying, self-aggrandizing, self-serving, power hungry sociopaths. The "trunk" choices are not so good but they are better, in my opinion, than what the "donks" offer.
#42
If the Libertarians don't run Ron Paul, they'll run someone just like him. The Party's official platform is to surrender as quickly as possible.
Posted by: Mike ||
01/30/2008 17:25 Comments ||
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#43
If he REALLY wants to be president, then ALL of the above plus choose a solidly conservative but telegenic "Balancing" VP (Steele of MD comes to mind), and take a pledge to be a one-term president if he can achieve his agenda - call it "Shaking Up and Cleaning Up Washington". Pre-Appoint SecDef Hunter, AG Giuliani, SecState Bolton, Sec Commerce Romney, and a solid CoS. Run as a team.
From your mouth to God's ear, OS. That would be a pretty good team.
If not SecDef for Hunter, Homeland Security would be a good bet, too. Unless you were--I mean, John McCain was thinking of tapping Tom Tancredo.
McCain stinks mightily, but J-C, I'll take magnum nose-plugs and pull the lever if need be.
Too bad Fred didn't put more into the fight..
We Have Good Folks RBees.
Duncan Hunter
Tom Tancredo
Michael Steele
Fred Thompson
Alan Keyes
If the Repubs had half a brain cell they'd chose one of the tens of thousands of Conservative Hispanic Veterans who have gone on and become very successful businessmen out here in Caliphornia, or the greater South West.
WE Have Good People but a horrible party machine out here in Caliphornia.
#45
WE Have Good People but a horrible party machine out here in Caliphornia.
That phrase pretty much covers all the blue-blood republicans that run the damn party too. Combined with the MSM rooting for the most liberal (R), little wonder Fred Thompson or Hunter ever got going.
I think this election will break the current republican party since the mass of unwashed, republican plebes will sit this election out.
#48
So McLame 'steamrolls' along with 36% of the vote?
Let's have this discussion a week from today, look at the real numbers, see if the brokered convention is in the cards like I suspect it is. (First Rino that pulls a Dole and mentions Mc14 has earned the nomination, ...it's his turn to the woodshed with no slack.)
#49
I'm w/PTAH. I can't stand McCain but I will hold my bile & pull the lever if he gets the nod.
FWIW - my guy was Fred. Romney was a distant 2nd. Rudy next, then the Hucksterbee. McCain last. If Ron Paul had a grip on the war he would've been the guy.
Hillary? Obama? LOL. Besides raising taxes and playing class warfare they have almost no record of real gov't service. Obama is barely a one term sen. Hillary's a joke. W/out willie she's no one. If you count making very bad decisions and never running a staff like a Gov as experience then hillary has a lot of it.
Gimme a break LH. Hillary is no warrior on iraq, and most of us in the mil dislike her. You think we forget how the clinton's viewed us in the mil?
I also like how the dems dupe the union mooks to vote for them & then same dems have no problem offering amnesty to those who will be competing in the labor market for union jobs. Thus driving wages down for real Americans by flooding the market w/more available illegals. Both these clowns will raise corporate taxes and then cry foul when the corporations head overseas - economic retards.
I agree w/Grease wrt preparing for some crap coming down the pipe. Hopefully not in my lifetime, but what the heck if it does happen......all enemies, foreign & domestic. TJ had a quote for a patriots duty toward a tyrannical govt.
A govt that will not honestly enforce its own sovereignty but will send its sons to maintain the sovereignty of a nation 8K miles away is at least negligent and at worst reckless. I went to iraq twice to fight a war only to find my elected officials don't have the f*cking balls to protect our own borders. How many American civilians die each yr due to illegal aliens drinking & driving, violent crime, taking up space & resources in the ER? I guarantee it's more then the # of soldiers that died in Iraq in a yr.
As it stands now methinks Romney is the best hope for the GOP. He's far from a perfect candidate but he's better then McCain. Has a proven grasp of the economy and a fairly clean record. Ask Fred to be the VP.
You want to see the problem? Look in the mirror you arrogant ass.
Complaint pliable useful fools like YOU are the problem. You just bend over and take it. You and those like you are the enablers of the power brokers and party apparatchiks that would betray our nation bit by bit. You're like the frog being boiled slowly - your brain still hasn't registered the fact that they are heating you up bit by bit.
I laid out the case, and how McCain can overcome it. But moral midgets and cowards oc conscience like you are unwilling to even push back for vital things like the border, proper immigration policy, no on antrhopogenic global warming until both sides publicly make the case (and not just the MSM's version), no on bigger government, etc.
Ahnd in case you still havent figured it out, re-read this: "Of Mexicans who move to the US", Hernandez has said "I want the third generation, the seventh generation, I want them all to think 'Mexico first.'" These are Americans that Hernandez is talking about. Does John McCain agree that they should always "think 'Mexico first?'" Thats the man who began serving as John McCains "Hispanic Outreach Director" last year and is still at his side - and served as a Mexican Citizen at the Cabinet level.
The company McCain keeps...
And you ignored ALL that to willingly become a lemming for the GOP.
There's a word for folks like you who surrender your liberty to false duty of a political party:
SLAVE. Thats where you end up if you fail to draw the line somewhere.
I stand for my principles. And am willing to take my lumps.
But what I'm not willing to do is let a condescending prick like you lecture me about obligation and duty.
I've put my life on the line. I've given up time with my family, I've given up large chunks of my life where instead of getting rich like others, I protected this nation for foodstamp wages. I gave it up, and its worth it. I know what it costs.
So I will not vote for or sanction someone who will throw away my sacrifices and those with whom I served, and destroye the soveringty of this nation. Especially a lying untrustworthy egomaniacal jerk like McCain. (Keating ring a bell?)
And yes, damn skippy I'm pissed by people and politicians like you who are selling out your princples. It. Does. Not. Work.
In my opinion, you and those like you are so f'd in the head that you have confused duty to country with party loyalty.
They are NOT the same. Get that through your head.
I do not owe the GOP squat. Neither do you or anyone else. If anything, they owe ME for the the time talent and treasure I have given them as a volunteer over the decades.
I will vote, and it will be my own conscience - and right now, any conservative can withhold his sanction from the presumptive D (Clinton/Obama) and R (McCain) candidates in good conscience. And any collectivist societal "obligation" to vote against my princples and conscience you invent to the contrary is just that much more bullshit.
What I will do is support conservatives. When the GOP runs one, I will vote for him or her, and work hard to get him or her elected.
One thing to remember - it took the near demolition of the moderate Nixon/Ford GOP in 1976 and the misery of 4 years of Jimmy Carter for us to get the Reagan Revolution.
#51
And if you need further proof, go look at tonight's debate - McCain kept repeating a lie about Romney and timetables, kept chancing the subject when questioned on the economy, resorted to jingoism and class warfare stuff instead of STRAIGHT TALK.
John McCain is a small-minded egomaniacal jerk, and it showed tonight.
The U.S. House overwhelmingly approved $146 billion in income tax rebates and business tax breaks Tuesday to give the economy a quick jolt, but the Senate planned a different approach later this week that will delay final action. The House's 385-35 vote was unusually swift and bipartisan, reflecting lawmakers' fears that they may be blamed at election time the economy may be heading into a recession unless taxes are cut. Together with the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cuts, Republicans and Democrats hope a fiscal stimulus package could reverse that slide.
Proponents of the House plan, led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., warned that changes in the Senate could delay congressional approval and push back the mailing of rebate checks, already likely to take two to four months.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/30/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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#1
Went from $800 to $600 to $500. I'm feeling understimulated. Still, it is our money and we should be glad to get it back, no matter how bogus the reasoning in DC. Oh, wait, some of the people getting a check PAID NO TAXES in the first place...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/30/2008 0:43 Comments ||
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#2
About 62% of the people in this country pay NO taxes Murcek. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
#3
bigjim-ky is quite right. I found a link to a spreadsheet for taxes paid: since the Bush Tax cuts, the rich have paid MORE taxes than before. Of course, they made more profits than before, but I don't mind.
NEW DELHI - A month after scrapping a 600-million-dollar deal to buy nearly 200 helicopters, India is now seeking bidders for an even bigger contract worth almost one billion dollars, officials said on Tuesday.
New Delhi earlier this month contacted four aviation firms in France, Italy, Russia and the United States, asking about their ability to supply 312 helicopters for the armed forces on an urgent basis, defence officials said. Letters of interest have been sent to Kamov (Russia), Bell (US), Augusta Westland (Italy) and Eurocopter (France) expressing our urgent requirements, a senior defence ministry official said, asking not to be named.
State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), meanwhile, joined the race, stating that as Indias largest aircraft manufacturer, it had the capacity to build light observation helicopters for the army and the air force.
India last month scrapped a 600-million-dollar deal for 197 helicopters with Eurocopter, the helicopter unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), after accusing it of deviating from the contract. Eurocopter, the global leader in sales of civil and military helicopters,has denied any wrongdoing and has rejected allegations it used middlemen to clinch the now-dead deal.
Earlier this month, the Indian air force added its requirement of 115 helicopters to the 197 units the army wanted, pushing the value of the deal to almost one billion dollars and the number of aircraft to 312. A combined global tender will be issued in a few months time after we receive a response from the four companies, the ministry official said.
The new helicopters would replace the vintage fleet of French- and Russian-built light helicopters bought in the 1960s for the million-plus army and the air force.
You do get the sense that the Indians are serious about becoming a global power both economically and militarily, and that the first step in this is to be the pre-eminent power in the Indian Ocean.
#1
The problem seems to be that India's procurement process is torn between corruption and a push to clean up the corruption. There are a lot of regulations set up to ensure that the procurement process is bribe-free, but the triggers are set so low, anybody can nix any deal for almost any reason, including suspicion of bribery. I heard of one procurement officer (Colonel NO) who vetoed all procurement contracts that came to him for review, mainly because people got in trouble for approving contracts that later went sour and the scapegoating began. Say "NO", and stay in your job.
Capital city police officer, Additional IG Malik Muhammad Iqbal on Tuesday lauded the services of clerics for maintaining religious harmony during Muharram.
"Brotherly chest bumps all 'round, gents! And then perhaps a visit with the flock. F'r old times' sake, of course!"
He was talking to a delegation of Bainul Mazahib Aman Council, headed by Qari Muhammad Saleem Zahid at his office. The delegation prayed for the GPO Chowk blast victims. Pir Sayyed Muahmmad Usman Noori, Allama Muhammad Saleem Zahid, Allama Professor Muhammad Shabeer Anjum Madni, Allama Tanvir Hussain, Professor Abdul Rauf Qureshi, Pir Syed Shafiq Hussain Gillani, Dr Anwarul Haq, Allama Dr Amjad Hussain Alvi, Qasim Ali Chaudhry, Dr Muhammad Amir Chishti, Mufti Liaqat Ali Siddiqi, were present on the occasion.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/30/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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#1
Clerics are pathetic, no edged weapons and their spells are weak.
#3
Clerics are pathetic, no edged weapons and their spells are weak.
rjschwarz||
ALL RIGHT,another Baldur's Gate player.
I prefer a full mage myself, plenty of other fighters to pick up for the group. Spells are powerful.
Robe of the Good Archmagi provides the same protection as armor, and other goodies such as the Gauntlets of dexterity, add speed. Boots of grounding and Nymph cloak help a lot too.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/30/2008 20:37 Comments ||
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This article gives some insight in the on-going dance between Irbil and Baghdad.
Iraq has provisionally suspended crude oil exports to Koreas top refiner, SK Energy Company, to protest an exploration deal between Korean companies, including SK, and the Kurdish regional government.
SK Energy confirmed that it has not received any crude shipments from Iraq this month after Iraqs state-run oil company, SOMO, did not renew its contract to export up to 90,000 barrels per day to the Korean firm on Jan. 1. The contract had been renewed every six months since July, 2004.
Last month, Iraq warned Korea that it would suspend crude oil exports if Korean companies continued with the exploration project in the Bazian oil field in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq. Baghdad argues that the deal, signed with the semi-autonomous Kurdish government, is illegal.
We dont think this is an end of the contract with SOMO, an SK Energy official said on the condition of anonymity. We are in negotiations.
And we also have no plan to withdraw from the exploration project, the official added. SK Energy is the only firm that imports crude from SOMO and at the same time is participating in the exploration project. We are making efforts to maintain both deals.
The Korean consortium, which also includes the state-run Korea National Oil Corporation, GS Holdings Corporation and UI Energy, signed an agreement in November to take a 38 percent stake in the Bazian field, which is estimated to hold 500 million barrels of crude oil.
Iraqs move results from the friction between the central government and the Kurdish authorities over control of new mining areas.
Iraq accounted for about 5 percent of Koreas total crude imports last year, according to Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy data. The ministry also confirmed the suspension of the oil shipments to SK Energy yesterday but had no comment.
Iraq also represented 5 percent of SK Energys crude imports, as the company imported 20.3 million barrels of crude from the country last year. The Korean company said it can source imports from elsewhere, including the Singapore oil spot market.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The U.S. military is developing contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could hit North America. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and will hit the ground. "We're aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We're aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."
He added, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel expressed on Tuesday their very grave concern at the rapidly degenerating situation in Kenya.
Capital city police officer, Additional IG Malik Muhammad Iqbal on Tuesday lauded the services of clerics for maintaining religious harmony during Muharram. 
