The U.S. Government Accountability Office said it could not render an opinion on the 2010 consolidated financial statements of the federal government, because of widespread material internal control weaknesses, significant uncertainties, and other limitations.
"Even though significant progress has been made since the enactment of key financial management reforms in the 1990s, our report on the U.S. government's consolidated financial statement illustrates that much work remains to be done to improve federal financial management," Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro said in a statement. "Shortcomings in three areas again prevented us from expressing an opinion on the accrual-based financial statements."
The main obstacles to a GAO opinion were: (1) serious financial management problems at the Department of Defense that made its financial statements unauditable, (2) the federal government's inability to adequately account for and reconcile intragovernmental activity and balances between federal agencies, and (3) the federal government's ineffective process for preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Posted from a feminist site so you can read the comments. Nice to see that the left, as always, is capable of attacking its own allies.
"Sweden is the Saudi Arabia of feminism," Julian Assange has said in a recent interview. "I fell into a hornets' nest of revolutionary feminism." And there's something the Guardian left out of its report on the accusations against him. Surprise, surprise, a lefty newspaper leaving something incredibly important out of a damning report? Say it isn't so!
The knee-jerk defense of Assange against sexual assault charges has often hinged on painting Sweden as a haven for feminists gone amok, and now we see Assange himself eagerly seizing on that narrative. Funny that Assange was very likely 100% for the oppression of men by feminists, until it happened to him. Hilarious comeuppance.
He's also perfectly willing to argue that because they were interested in having sex with him, they had consented to everything. Assange told The Sunday Times Of London that Ms. A let him stay in her apartment for days and hosted a party for him, and Ms. W came to lunch wearing (and this is a newspaper paraphrase) a "revealing pink cashmere sweater, flirted with him, and took him home." Honest, officer, she wanted it!
According to the paper -- presumably drawing on unpublished portions of the police report -- when she woke up to find him penetrating her, she asked him if he was "wearing anything." He allegedly replied, "I am wearing you."
(The Guardian, which first published portions of the police report, left this out; the reporter who did so originally brokered the deal with Wikileaks and has been described as a friend of Assange's, and his own editor said he had "left out a lot of graphic and damaging material in the allegations because he thought it would be too cruel to publish them.") Speechless here. The man who made his name on publishing damaging information gets a free pass by the media because it has information on him that would be too damaging to publish. Oh, God, I don't even know how many ways this is horribly wrong and highly hypocritical.
There may be more in Assange's forthcoming memoir, which, with the Knopf deal in the States and various foreign rights, will net him $1.5 million. "I don't want to write this book, but I have to," he said in the Times interview. "I have already spent £200,000 pounds for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat."
But for now, Assange has yet to be quoted actually engaging the crux of the women's complaints against him, which is that while they wanted to have sex with him, they expressly did not want to have unprotected sex with him. Why is it so hard for him to understand that the women may have wanted to engage in some sexual activity with him, but on their terms? That one may have wanted to flirt in a "revealing" sweater but not have unprotected sex? That what he attributes to jealousy that they weren't the only women he'd slept with on that trip was actually the realization that they were at greater risk than they'd even thought? Easy, laws are for the little people. Star-struck blonde Swedish wikifans are there to be exploited for sex and then dumped. Claes Borgstrom, the lawyer for the women, late last week described Assange's approach to the case as "very upsetting." He told the AP Thursday, "He's been spreading false rumors that he knows are untrue. It's reckless against these two women. They, too, are supporters of WikiLeaks. They support its work."
Clearly, they haven't gotten the memo that if you raise concerns about the charismatic leader of a project, you must be a CIA tool.
Update: He also claims one of the women took a "trophy photo" of him naked in her bed. So yeah, she must be making it all up.
#1
Assange thinks he "fell into a hornets' nest of revolutionary feminism." I must disagree with him. What he fell into was a maelstrom of feminist insanity.
Take Claes Borgstrom (who is a man) but he considers himself to be Sweden's leading feminist. He claims that all men carry a collective guilt for violence against women, and has in this context supported Gudrun Schyman's "Tax on Men".
Gudrun Schyman is another moonbat, who moved from the Marxist-Lenist party to found The Left Party.
She was helped in this endeavour by none other than Jane Fonda.
This is going to be one long soap opera which will flush the crazy feminist out of their rat holes.
#2
Whatever happens I hope Assange is accountable for his unprotected wikileaks.
Posted by: Fire and ice ||
12/28/2010 7:20 Comments ||
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#3
It's not remarkable that Assange is a rotten scoundrel in life and in bed- all areas of life it would seem. I do not care if someone is a feminist- that doesn't justify sexual misconduct done against them.
Posted by: Fire and ice ||
12/28/2010 7:28 Comments ||
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#4
Fire and ice,
The guy is an Australian. Probably thinks he is like that "in like Flynn" guy, Errol Flynn.
If he was boasting of his exploits in an Australian pub, there would be howls of laughter as he recounted how he laid three feminists, who were also probably lesbian as well. The broken rubber episode would have them rolling on the floor with laughter as well. Obviously different cultures in Aussieland and Sweden.
#5
Hopefully some large Australian feminist runs across him at a pub and boots him upside the head with her Ugg shoes. I Know I would!
Posted by: Fire and Ice ||
12/28/2010 9:41 Comments ||
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#6
The way I understand the case is that Ms A did not file charges until she learned that he had sex with Ms B (her friend). And how dare they complain about receiving the seed of King Julian. I hope one of his conquest kicks him in his wiki!
#7
FaI, they wanted an alpha and got an asshole. They were made for each other.I don't consider this feud that relevant, though I appreciate its entertainment value. This is a popcorn time.
More damaging info is coming from former wikileakers that put any notion about Assflange as a freedom of information fighter to rest.
#8
The alpha-betical wictionary of scrawny alpha males by last name:
A's: Woody Allan, Julian Assange
Posted by: Fire and Ice ||
12/28/2010 13:00 Comments ||
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#9
FaI, the perception is everything.
I suppose that most of the female posters here on RB are ones that lack the hindbrain wiring that is so prevalent in femalian part of human species and these two wictionary entries do not invoke a groupie frenzy.
I hope calling a name (handle) is not an invocation...
anon1 is an exact opposite, Assflange can do no wrong and she wants his child (whether she expressed it or not).
#10
I hope calling a name (handle) is not an invocation...
Nah, Twobyfour, no invocation required. Anon1 would flirt with a wax sculpture of Assange if it stood still long enough. Uttering words or other mating calls isn't even required for Anon1.
Posted by: Fire and Ice ||
12/28/2010 18:54 Comments ||
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I'm not sure if we can, mojo, but I sense an excellent opportunity for a sleazy lawyer to sue him in the name of someone who had relatives killed in Africa (wherever it was that Assangehole publicly stated wikileaks caused a lot of deaths) and have the proceeds frozen until the resolution of the case (and any appeals) many years hence. :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
12/28/2010 15:44 Comments ||
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American voters believe free market competition will protect Internet users more than government regulation and fear that regulation will be used to push a political agenda.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 21% of Likely U.S. Voters want the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate the Internet as it does radio and television. Fifty-four percent (54%) are opposed to such regulation, and 25% are not sure.
The survey was conducted shortly after the FCC decided on a party line vote to impose so-called "net neutrality" regulations on the Internet world. Republicans and unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly oppose FCC regulation of the Internet, while Democrats are more evenly divided. Those who use the Internet most are most opposed to FCC regulations.
By a 52% to 27% margin, voters believe that more free market competition is better than more regulation for protecting Internet users. Republicans and unaffiliated voters overwhelmingly share this view, but a plurality of Democrats (46%) think more regulation is the better approach.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters believe that the FCC would use its regulatory authority to promote a political agenda. Half that number (28%) disagree and believe the commission would regulate in an unbiased manner. The partisan divide is the same on this question as the others. A plurality of Democrats sees an unbiased regulatory approach, while most Republicans and unaffiliated voters fear a political agenda. Not surprising the Nanny State lovers want the internet regulated. You can pry my internet and blogs from my cold, dead fingers.
#1
Someone needs to tell the Federal Government that if they keep making more and more people angry, that anger is going to spark a total rejection of the Federal Government. That rejection may be conducted in many ways, up to and including violence against members of the government. That is not a pretty picture for the feds. They're outnumbered about 40 to 1.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
12/28/2010 21:54 Comments ||
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As the scrutiny mounts, Romney has begun to fine-tune his pitch for why his own plan made for sound policy, but Obama's amounted to an "unconstitutional power grab by Washington," as aide Eric Fehrnstrom put it.
For starters, team Romney has begun arguing that the better indication of his policy preference would be the 2008 campaign's white paper, not the Massachusetts model. The former, as Fehrnstrom noted in a pre-Christmas exchange with the Huffington Post, is a reflection of what Romney would do nationally -- a "federalist approach to health care reform." It doesn't have an individual mandate but, rather, encourages states to deregulate their insurance markets.
"Mitt said repeatedly in the 2008 campaign that his plan was not designed for the nation as a whole," said Fehrnstrom. "He said states may want to copy parts of it, and perhaps improve on its features, but he was very explicit in saying the federal government should not impose a one-size-fits-all plan on the
Whether that frees Romney from the burdens of his own health care law is another story. The former governor has been unapologetic about the legislation he passed, but always with the caveat that his was a state-tailored solution. There was, however, a time-period when he seemingly championed the plan as a template for the nation as a whole.
Two days after slamming the tri-state, millions of people affected by a post-Christmas blizzard continue to dig out from a storm that shut down area airports, crippled commuter train and subway service and stranded thousands traveling during the holiday weekend.
The sixth largest snowstorm in the history of New York City dumped two feet of snow and left many people, especially those living in the outer boroughs and small suburban side streets, feeling trapped or ignored as city resources went to dig out Manhattan. Mayor Michael Bloomberg blames the fast pace of snowfall and the huge gusts of wind.
Though the storm came just after Christmas, and while many people were already on vacation, those that had to commute found the trip long, exhausting and complicated. And those who found themselves still under a blanket of white two days later were irate.
"I'm furious at Mayor Bloomberg, he's a rich man, so he doesn't care about the little people," said New Enrico's Car Service livery driver Julio Carpio, speaking in Spanish. "I have to work, why aren't people out there plowing? Why does the mayor always go on TV the night before to say, 'We're all set with a fleet of salt trucks,'? and then you never see a single truck. They always abandon Queens." Why does this remind me soooo much of the bitching about Bush after Katrina? I'm not about to pass judgement on Bloomberg as I am not there and don't know the logistics, but man this is giving me flashbacks. Any 'Burg New Yorkers have an on-the-ground feedback of this?
#2
Any 'Burg New Yorkers have an on-the-ground feedback of this?
Yes... it hasn't even been 72 hours since the snow stopped... the assets are deployed and working 24hr shifts; all subway lines are stumbling back to life except the one *I* use (of course- it's all a plot against *MEEEEEE* 'cause Bloomberg is rich and stuff); I think people got caught off guard because the last couple of 'blizzards' they forecast were damp squibs. This (for NYC metro) was a real one- 2"/hr for 12 hours, visibility down to 100m. A LOT of vehicles are stuck and it raises hell with the plows.
#3
Thanks FR. I have been in snowstorms that come down faster than the plows can clear it. And if that happens for 24-48 hours, you can pretty much count on the city being shut down for 2-3 days after the snow stops. Happens at once a year on average in Colorado.
#5
Bloomberg has a point when he cites the wind (which was quite strong during this storm). Transit is especially vulnerable when snow gets into places that are hard to clear.
While almost all the MTA in Manhattan is underground, some of it in the other 4 boroughs is at grade or elevated and clearing snow off these takes special equipment that has to be moved from site to site (without damaging it).
Regarding streets, the wind is not as much an issue.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
12/28/2010 11:49 Comments ||
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#6
It's never a good idea to be parked on the street when the NYC Department Of Sanitation is playing with big toys.
#7
While almost all the MTA in Manhattan is underground, some of it in the other 4 boroughs is at grade or elevated...
Or worse- the line I use is mostly in a cutting- open air but below grade. All the snow blew into it, so it's completely KO'd. But this is only hour 30 since the clock started.
A fair amount of the Long Island RR and the other commuter lines are also in depressed, uncovered sections.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
12/28/2010 12:23 Comments ||
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#9
Grew up in Anchorage. Never missed a day of school for anything but earthquakes.
However, it takes a major investment to be prepared to guarantee 100% up time for roads in major metropolitan areas. I personally don't think that New York has experience enough of these to justify that investment.
However, if global warmng continues then they may have to reconsider.
#10
Actually, this sounds superficially like John Lindsay's catastrophic leadership failure during a nor-easter in February 1969; there's the same bellyaching about the outer buroughs being neglected by a Manhattan-centric liberal Republican-fusionist mayor.
Combined with the Ocean-Hill Brownsville teachers strike of the year before, the '69 snow emergency was a symbol of the administrative collapse of New York City under Lindsay.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
12/28/2010 12:58 Comments ||
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#11
Ha! Two feet of snow. It takes two whole inches of snow to close down my city.
#12
They always get Manhattan first, followed by the Bronx (b/c it's right there- no bridges.) Then they 'radiate' east and south.
If NYC didn't clean up the financial district first, we'd lose it- they would move. It would also have international implications (don't tell a foreign government that their money is snowed in...)
#13
Even Buffalo, NY gets shut down when the snow is falling heavily, then blown by the wind into packed drifts, and we were told Buffalo has more snowplows than anywhere else in the country.
As for the complaints from the outer boroughs and side streets, plows work radially from their storage place. I presume that is in Manhattan. They can't get to you until they've cleared where they're coming from. Perhaps y'all should consider clubbing together to buy your own snowplows and road salt, and hire your own crews -- I'd bet the volunteer firemen would be thrilled to have new toys to play with... although they'd leave 'em where they were in a New York minute when the fire alarm went off.
#14
When one gets snow in a city, with nowhere to blow the snow, things come to a standstill pretty quick. Plow the snow aside and you have stuck parked cars. Bring dump trucks to haul away the snow and you have traffic jams. When we get blizzards in Anchorage, Alaska, I work at home until the commuter destruction derby ends on the Glenn Highway into town.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
12/28/2010 15:53 Comments ||
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#15
There are no bridges between the Bronx and Manhattan? They must be levitating trucks over the Bronx River these days...
Why the hell would they be storing all of their snow removal equipment in Manhattan? I'd think that real estate costs alone would dictate that the outer boroughs would have their own equipment stored in their own borough buildings.
Everything I've ever read about the governance of New York City tells me that the incorporation of the outer boroughs was a fundamental error. The city was, is, and always will be over-hierarchical, a Hayekian nightmare of distributed knowledge and centralized power.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
12/28/2010 16:05 Comments ||
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#16
We had a little rain in San Diego, well, quite a lot for us, maybe a whole seven inches. But today was gorgeous. That's just a little report for all of you who would abandon us to our fate. :)
Posted by: Abu Uluque (new computer) ||
12/28/2010 19:31 Comments ||
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#17
Rain tonight, Abu, about an inch...oh, the humanity!
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/28/2010 19:34 Comments ||
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#18
As for the complaints from the outer boroughs and side streets, plows work radially from their storage place. I presume that is in Manhattan. They can't get to you until they've cleared where they're coming from. Perhaps y'all should consider clubbing together to buy your own snowplows and road salt, and hire your own crews -- I'd bet the volunteer firemen would be thrilled to have new toys to play with... although they'd leave 'em where they were in a New York minute when the fire alarm went off.
Maybe if they got enough resources together they could even incorporate, and form a city government.
#19
20 hours with no power up here around Boston. The snow was bad but they were handling it. The winds, however, were hellacious. Roaring, house shaking winds from about 9 Sunday night to 8 Monday morning. When I finally got outside, the house looked like it was made out of snow. Totally coated.
#21
your landscaping looks a little...mono-color. I suggest you brighten it up with some flowery annuals and the occasional perennial with vibrant hues.
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/28/2010 21:05 Comments ||
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#22
but that's just me...
Posted by: Frank G ||
12/28/2010 21:07 Comments ||
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#23
If I didn't have the fireplace, which I rarely use, I'd be dead. Jacked the heat up to 75 when they started to talk about power failures. Good thing. It was 48 degrees inside when I finally got the power back.
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The National Alliance unanimously elected Ibrahim al-Jaafari as a leader of the bloc on Monday, a media source said.
The Leader of the National Reform Movement, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, was unanimously elected as a head of the National Allinace during a meeting held this evening, the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Head of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmad al-Jalabi, he added.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/28/2010 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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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. Government Accountability Office said it could not render an opinion on the 2010 consolidated financial statements of the federal government, because of widespread material internal control weaknesses, significant uncertainties, and other limitations. 
American voters believe free market competition will protect Internet users more than government regulation and fear that regulation will be used to push a political agenda.
Two days after slamming the tri-state, millions of people affected by a post-Christmas blizzard continue to dig out from a storm that shut down area airports, crippled commuter train and subway service and stranded thousands traveling during the holiday weekend.
