A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president.
Judge Chris Nicholson granted Zuma's application to have corruption charges dismissed and ordered the state to pay the African National Congress (ANC) leader's legal costs. South African government bonds firmed after the ruling, closely watched by investors worried that his union and communist allies may push him away from pro-business policies if he becomes president.
Nicholson said there had been political interference in Zuma's case, an allegation made by his supporters, who say Zuma was the victim of a political witch-hunt by his rival South African President Thabo Mbeki. "I am therefore not convinced that the applicant (Zuma) was incorrect when he averred political meddling in his prosecution," Nicholson said.
Zuma's advocate, Kemp J. Kemp, said the defence had always been confident of success. Zuma is virtually guaranteed the presidency in 2009 elections because of the ANC's electoral dominance. Analysts said the judge's decision cleared the way for Zuma to become South African president. "I should imagine that people will be quite relieved that the storm is over...the courts are quite respected. I presume this clears the way for a Zuma presidency," said Brian Kantor, political analyst at Investec Securities. South African government bonds firmed slightly after the verdict, with the yield on the 2015 issue down to 9.13 percent after the ruling, from 9.145 percent before. The rand was slightly weaker at 8.1495 to the dollar, compared to 8.1250 just before the ruling.
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09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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closely watched by investors worried that his union and communist allies may push him away from pro-business policies if he becomes president.
Please permit me to remove the 'worry.' You can COUNT on it!
President Robert Mugabe and the opposition will wield equal power in a unity government aimed at ending Zimbabwe's protracted political crisis and economic meltdown, sources said Friday.
Until Bob and the army have the opposition killed ...
While details of Thursday's accord will be formally unveiled on Monday, a source close to the talks told AFP that both the veteran leader and opposition boss Morgan Tsvangirai would co-lead the economically battered nation. "Mugabe will chair cabinet, while Tsavangirai takes charge of a national security council which consists of 31 cabinet ministers," said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonimity.
"Power will be shared, no one will get more power than the other party, even (in) the hiring and firing of cabinet members," the source explained. "All decisions are made by the council, but the council will have to report back to Mugabe." South African newspapers also said Friday the pact provided for a 50-50 unity government. Zimbabwe's economy has collapsed over the past decade with the world's highest inflation rate, chronic shortages of foreign currency and food, skyrocketing unemployment and widespread hunger.
Authorities have tried measures including price controls to cushion shoppers against price increases but these have fuelled the black market where scarce goods are readily available at more than 30 times the official price.
Once hailed as a model economy, Zimbabwe's fortunes have nosedived since 2000 when Mugabe seized white-owned farms and handed them over to landless blacks, often with no farming skills. While South Africa, whose president Thabo Mbeki mediated the talks congratulated Zimbabweans over the "historic" deal, the European Commission on Friday was cautious, saying that it wants to see how the agreement plays out. "The European Commission of course welcomes this significant step forward," said John Clancy, commission spokesman on humanitarian aid and development issues.
"However we will have to wait to learn much more about this on Monday," he said. "At this stage we are cautiously optimistic". The European Union said it was reconsidering Friday plans to extend its sanctions against Zimbabwe, following the Harare deal, according to the French EU presidency. "We will have to evaluate the situation during the day," said a senior presidency diplomat.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Who gets to run the thugs and the army?
I wonder if they'll get equal salaries: Mug gets US$ and Tsv gets Z$ :-)
Posted by: James ||
09/13/2008 9:52 Comments ||
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Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh confirmed Saudi Arabia's official ban on issuing visas to Bangladeshis seeking employment in households and in the agricultural sector. "Eh? We don't need to import serfs from that far away! Tell them no visas!"
"Yes, Your Immensity!" Heard of the RAB, did he ...
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of BNP, assaulted three journalists and at least 10 students of department of mass communication and journalism of Dhaka University (DU) early yesterday.
Sources said around 25 Chhatra Dal cadres led by Sir AF Rahman Hall Chhatra Dal unit President Aminur Rahman Amin attacked the journalists and students near Teacher Student Centre (TSC) on the campus with iron rods, cricket stumps, sticks and machetes.
Shah Alam Kiron, a second year student and a contributing reporter of daily New Age, was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with severe injures to his back, hand and leg. He was moved to National Institute for Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) on recommendation of DMCH doctors.
The injured journalists are: Hasan Titol, DU correspondent of TV channel ATN Bangla, Soleman Niloy, DU correspondent of Dainik Janata and Biplob Sarker, DU correspondent of Dainik Bhorer Kagoj.
The other injured include Nadim Mahmud, Ork Asif Shawon, Durjoy, Deen Islam Angel, Habibur Rahman and Tarek. They received treatment at DU medical centre.
Sources said a number of students of the department were involved in an altercation with a film crew shooting a TV series in front of Rokeya Hall around 12:30am. Amin reached the spot, called in Chhatra Dal cadres and had the students beaten up.
"We had no problems with Chhatra Dal, we did not even know Amin. The Chhatra Dal cadres suddenly attacked us," said Habib, a student of mass communication and journalism department.
Later in the afternoon, students of mass communication and journalism department held a press conference at Madhur Canteen demanding exemplary punishment for Chhatra Dal cadres who attacked them. They also demanded immediate expulsion of Amin and the Chhatra Dal cadres from the university.
The students will stage demonstrations on the campus and submit a memorandum before the DU Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz today. They will hold a solidarity rally comprising teachers, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers and students Tuesday.
DU Chhatra Dal President Hasan Mamun told reporters that Amin and his followers were involved in the incident. He said Chhatra Dal would take immediate organisational measures against the people responsible.
DU Proctor Prof AK Firoz Ahmed told The Daily Star that filming of any kind is illegal on campus if it is without permission. The university authorities would certainly take strict actions against the people responsible, he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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I was a hopin they were referring to Democratic Underground. Damn
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/13/2008 6:24 Comments ||
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led by Sir AF Rahman Hall Chhatra Dal
Damn it does sound like the DU.
Reunification of splintered BNP and the party's much awaited electoral dialogue with the Election Commission (EC) and the caretaker government seem only a matter of time as its standing committee, the highest policymaking forum, is scheduled to meet today under the leadership of its just released Chairperson Khaleda Zia. It's spelled "rapacious," right? No "w"?
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09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) was yesterday declared closed until October 10 following a clash between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Thursday night.
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09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has taken measures to ease sufferings and harassment of homebound passengers at bus and launch terminals in the capital ahead of the Eid. "Hey, baby! Y'look mighty nice in that that there sari... Aaaaiiiieee!"
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Okay where's Green Steve?
1.
2.
3. 2 a.m. in deh depot
4. Wanted in 12 terminals
5. He's sleazy Jim
Twenty-four corpses were found bound and shot execution-style in the Mexican city of Atlapulco on Friday, according to Humberto Benitez, secretary-general of government in the State of Mexico. A criminal investigation is now under way to determine if the killings were a result of organized crime, a news release from Mexico's attorney general said Friday.
Atlapulco is just south of Mexico City.
The killings come roughly two weeks after tens of thousands of Mexicans marched on the nation's capital calling for greater government action to prevent the wave of violent crime sweeping the country. Non-governmental groups estimate there have been more than 1,500 killings in Mexico this year linked to organized crime.
In late August, Mexican President Felipe Calderon met with the country's 32 governors to develop a plan to battle the nation's alarming rise in violent crime Note to idiot CNN editor: nobody cares if 24 "corpses" are found shot in Mexico, except for the purely weird element. Why would somebody be going around shooting corpses?
#2
From time to time I link to this study by the Army's strategic studies group which probably better describes what's going on in Mexico IMO: Street Gangs: the New Urban Insurgency.
#3
If you're not screwing around with drugs, running them I mean, you'll be just fine. These arent nuns and tourists, they are drug runners and gangsters that tried to hamstring on their suppliers.
#4
"1,500 killings in Mexico this year"... this is not a bad crime problem, to many in the world this would be very good crime levels. - they make out that crime is rampant!! (sure - crime is bad and must be stopped, but in comparison to other places these figures are quite good) - for example, in South Africa their would have been 15 000 so far this year alone.
CNN makes out that the place is violent, out of control etc... - far from the reality - please report better next time!!
Posted by: peter ||
09/13/2008 16:35 Comments ||
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Peter, do you have any actual expertise wrt Mexico? Because its own officials have admitted they are close to becoming a failed state due to drug-related violence (and don't forget the simmering insurgency in the south highlands).
The reason I link from time to time to that Army white paper is that they predicted this as a growing problem in multiple places around the world. The issue is not simply the number of murders, but the degree to which officials have been targetted (judges, honest police leaders), corruption is rampant (drug money plus the threat of violence persuades many to look the other way) and the military suborned.
The U.S. State Department announced Friday it has informed Venezuela's ambassador to Washington that "he will be expelled". The step comes in retaliation for the expulsion of the US envoy to Caracas.
The move was announced after the U.S. Treasury said Friday it was freezing any U.S. assets of two senior Venezuelan officials and a former official after accusing them of aiding Colombian rebels involved in drug trafficking. "We have informed the Venezuelan ambassador to the United States that he will be expelled and that he should leave the United States," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday expelled the U.S. envoy to Caracas and threatened to halt crude exports to the United States in case his government is attacked, in an act of solidarity with his country's ally Bolivia. "Starting at this moment the Yankee ambassador in Caracas has 72 hours to leave Venezuela," Chavez said at a public event in the port city of Puerto Cabello, 120 kilometers west of Caracas.
Chavez made it clear that his decision was "in solidarity" with the leftist government of President Evo Morales in Bolivia, which on Wednesday ordered the U.S. ambassador to La Paz to leave. Washington late Thursday expelled Bolivia's ambassador to the United States.
Posted by: Fred ||
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How come I know everything about an important hurricane, a self important VP wanna be, trucks in England/France, but nothing about the South America crisis. The people of the US are always surprised when people hate us. That's because we aren't told the news - we are told only US news and "fun(ny) stuff. What about the trial in Africa? etc.
#8
.., but nothing about the South America crisis.
Cause of those Neo-euro socialist limousine coasties who own and operate the media. If it isn't New York, LA, or Washington or if it isn't Europe or Europeans, it really doesn't exist. If the twits at CBS had half the brains of McCain they would have made a deal with Univision, subcontracted the news division production out to Jorge and the gals [with those great gams] and done their show in English too. That is about the only way news and information from the South is going to get into the American public's view.
Sandy3862 dear, read the archives and you'll learn everything you wished you knew. Or better yet, go read some blogs from the countries that interest you. You'll find a nice list in any atlas, between the geography of the solar system and that of the U.S. School children do it all the time, so I'm sure you can handle it.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia must stake its claim to a slice of the Arctic's vast resources, the secretary of Russia's Security Council said on Friday at an unprecedented session of the council held on a desolate Arctic island. Underlining Russia's claims to the region, Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev assembled the defence and interior ministers and the speakers of both houses of parliament for the meeting on the Arctic island, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia, the world's biggest country, says a whole swathe of the Arctic seabed should belong to it because the area is really an extension of the Siberian continental shelf.
"The Arctic must become Russia's main strategic resource base," Russian news agencies quoted Patrushev as saying. The Council usually meets only in Moscow.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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By VARIOUS NET SOURCES > the RUSSO-GEORGIAN CONFLICT was FINANCIALLY, MATERIELLY [Military] + ECON COSTLY FOR RUSSIA, which is reportedly STRUGGLING TO RECOVER???
#7
Yep, NS. Russia has been invaded many time. The one from the East [Mongol-Yuan] was successful in occupying and ruling the land of the Rus for centuries.
President Dmitry Medvedev likened Georgian military action to the September 11 attacks on the United States on Friday, while Tbilisi said there was still no sign of an end to Russian occupation. The war started when Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili launched a massive assault on August 7 to regain control of the breakaway province of South Ossetia from Moscow-backed separatists. "Almost immediately after these events it occurred to me that for Russia, August 8, 2008 was almost like September 11, 2001 in the United States," Medvedev told a high-profile group of Western foreign policy experts in Moscow.
Russia responded on that date and routed the U.S.-trained Georgian army in a matter of days in a conflict estimated to have killed hundreds of people on both sides. Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes.
Moscow said it was defending tens of thousands of Ossetians granted Russian citizenship since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. Georgia accuses Russia of effectively annexing South Ossetia and a second breakaway region, Abkhazia.
"There were many useful lessons from 9/11 in the United States. I would like the world to draw its own lessons from what happened in August", the Russian leader said, adding: "The world changed."
His comments came exactly a month after an EU-brokered truce brought an end to the war and hopes of a Russian withdrawal.
Georgian officials said they had yet to see Moscow act on its pull-out promises and Russian troops continued to hold key points in Georgia on Friday. There were no signs of Russian troops moving from some of their bases near the oil terminal of Poti, the Georgian airbase at Senaki and the Inguri hydroelectric dam, which produces nearly half of Georgia's power supply.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meanwhile ruled out any discussion of Moscow's recognition of independence for South Ossetia and Abkhazia at international talks on October 15 in Geneva. The West, particularly the United States, is furious that Moscow went on to recognize the two breakaways as independent states and then establish diplomatic relations and promise military bases.
Washington argues Russia's decision to base 7,600 troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia on a long-term basis violates the ceasefire, which called for all troops to return to their pre-conflict positions.
Medvedev has agreed to pull out all troops from buffer zones surrounding the regions within 10 days of the deployment of EU ceasefire observers, scheduled to take place by October 1 at the latest. The European Union wants the monitors to be allowed into Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but Russia has ruled this out.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he is considering sending a fact-finding mission to Georgia and is willing to facilitate international talks on the two regions.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Not to worry. It'll be a short investigation. The Russians didn't leave much in the way of 5-star accomodations or Michelin-rated restaurants in Tblisi. They even left the harbors a mess, so you can't dock a decent cruise ship there either.
#3
I know: 888. Leftist blogs say MPRI corporation employees directed artillery operations in the blitzkreig phase of the war.
It is a fact that 15 of their trainers arrived on Aug. 3, and would have heard the alarm early on Aug. 7 which signalled call up to reserve troops. Corporate website data reveals that the train light and heavy infantry. And only retired US Special Forces personnel are employed.
Was there some Russian opposition to building the BTC Pipeline that I am not aware of? Right Wing Troother thought I guess.
Posted by: Open Arms ||
09/13/2008 7:11 Comments ||
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#4
Who are you, Open Arms, that we should give your words any weight? You offer no evidence to support your version of events. Nor does Christian mysticism have aught to do with sober analysis of current events, and certainly does not influence those who are not mystic Christians. Perhaps you might try one of another site, where those interested can help you explore your disparate concerns.
#7
Leftist blogs say MPRI corporation employees directed artillery operations in the blitzkreig phase of the war.
It is a fact that 15 of their trainers arrived on Aug. 3, and would have heard the alarm early on Aug. 7 which signalled call up to reserve troops. Corporate website data reveals that the train light and heavy infantry. And only retired US Special Forces personnel are employed.
And yet, oddly enough MPRI is'nt posting anyone in Georgia
Must be a seekrit plot.
Leftist blogs say...
I always go to leftist blogs to find out what a security comany is doing.
#8
The Financial Times put MPRI trainers in Georgia on Aug. 3.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bdffd9a6-7b71-11dd-b839-000077b07658.html
However, these Georgian invaders didn't show much professionalism in Tskhinvali.
http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=m4R7YzrR4Jg
I don't buy the conspiracy theory, but there are unanswered questions.
Posted by: Open Arms ||
09/13/2008 17:44 Comments ||
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#9
There is no evidence that the contractors or the Pentagon, which hired them, knew that the commandos they were training were likely be used in the assault on South Ossetia.
Left that little tidbit out in your link, didn't you?
#2
WND > MEDVEDEV - warns RUSSIA is NOT AFRAID TO SEND TROOPS INTO GEORGIA AGAIN iff the latter ever formally joins NATO. Iff it does, the "consequences will be worse"???
* TOPIX > VARIOUS - MEDEVEDEV WARNS NATO TO STAY AWAY FROM GEORGIA + RUSSIA WARNS NATO AGZ INTERFERENCE, CONTROL IN GEORGIA.
A VIDEO game made by an Australian man that encourages players to massacre Muslim people has caused international outrage. Muslim Massacre is promoted as taking place after the US "declares war" on the religion of Islam and encourages players to wipe out followers.
"The United States of America has declared war on Islam!" the Muslim Massacre website says. "Take control of the American hero and wipe out the Muslim race with an arsenal of the world's most destructive weapons."
The targets appear as bearded men wearing normal clothes or characters in black outfits with facemasks. Later levels include suicide bombers and a "boss" opponent resembling Osama Bin Laden.
Mr Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the UK Muslim youth organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said the game was unacceptable, tasteless and deeply offensive. "When kids spend six hours a day on violent games they are more likely to go outside and commit violence," he said. "If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so."
Muslim Massacre was developed by Eric Vaughn, known online as "Sigvatr", a 22-year-old from Brisbane. He first released it online in January this year.
The game begins with audio from George Bush speeches, edited together to sound like a condemnation of Muslims. The graphics are similar to 1990s arcade shooter games, with a bird's eye view showing the protagonist, a tiny pixelated US soldier, running and shooting other characters.
Mr Vaughn's website links to other projects such as a fictional sporting league for real-life massacre shooters and a webcomic.
Muslim Massacre bears a resemblance to two other independently-developed "shock" games released online: V-Tech Rampage (2007), which recreated the Virgina Tech shootings and Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (2005), which was a recreation of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.
Those who have played Muslim Massacre provided mixed feedback to Mr Vaughn. "I think it's brave, because it's the kind of satire that many people will misunderstand, especially in America and in Islamic countries," said a comment posted on Mr Vaughn's website. "Still, you can't be misunderstood any worse than the 'super columbine massacre' guy."
The Ramadhan Foundation has asked the British Government to conduct an inquiry into the game and urged internet service providers to block access to it.
#2
Hold on a second... something is coming through... I'm getting something here... yes, yes... I see it clearly now... I'm purchasing my first video game since childhood and... and... yes... I'm enjoying it greatly.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/13/2008 1:12 Comments ||
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#3
The games website seems to be down for some reason...
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/13/2008 1:24 Comments ||
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#4
How quaint. It supplements the moslem games that kill Americans and Jews.
#6
The Ramadhan Foundation has asked the British Government to conduct an inquiry into the game
And I'm sure the Ramadhan Foundation also wants an inquiry into "Special Force 2" a first-person shooter, where the player takes on the role of a mujaheed, or holy warrior, and scores points by killing Israeli soldiers, firing at tanks and launching missiles over the border into northern Israel.Bought to you by Hezbollah.
#7
The fact is an Australian putting it together about Americans and Muzzies, makes me wonder if it is put out for a anti-American slant.
If he really starts taking heat, expect this defense.
#10
What about the "Get Osama" game you could play on the internet? You know, the simple one where you blow up Osama pushing the shopping cart full of ordinance, using bombs, anvils, etc. Is that off limits?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/13/2008 13:48 Comments ||
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#11
Darth, given that it deliberately distorts and strings together Bush statements to sound like a condemnation of Muslims, it's pretty safe to say that it's not pro-American.
How badly did they distort what she said? On some issues they stooped to chopping and glueing together sentence fragments.
I'm not tracking this stuff in our Politics category any more. This one goes in Fifth Column.
GIBSON: Let's start, because we are near Russia, let's start with Russia and Georgia.
The administration has said we've got to maintain the territorial integrity of Georgia. Do you believe the United States should try to restore Georgian sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?
PALIN: First off, we're going to continue good relations with Saakashvili there. I was able to speak with him the other day and giving him my commitment, as John McCain's running mate, that we will be committed to Georgia. And we've got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable and we have to keep...
GIBSON: You believe unprovoked.
PALIN: I do believe unprovoked and we have got to keep our eyes on Russia, under the leadership there. I think it was unfortunate. That manifestation that we saw with that invasion of Georgia shows us some steps backwards that Russia has recently taken away from the race toward a more democratic nation with democratic ideals. That's why we have to keep an eye on Russia.
And, Charlie, you're in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia. They are our next door neighbors.We need to have a good relationship with them. They're very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor.
GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?
PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they're doing in Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I'm giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia. We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
Sarah Palin on Russia:
We cannot repeat the Cold War. We are thankful that, under Reagan, we won the Cold War, without a shot fired, also. We've learned lessons from that in our relationship with Russia, previously the Soviet Union.
We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along.
Journalistic Ethics?
September 13, 2008 - 07:58 ET by SouthernRoots
The Constitution grants special protections to "the Press". This is because a free and open exchange of ideas is essential to our form of government. This also gives "the Press" a responsibilty to be the watchdogs of government.
When the press become politicized to a particular viewpoint, they stop presenting both sides of an issue and they lean only towards the views they share with one party. When they do this, they become an extension of the party rather than an independent reporter.
From the Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, how does this editing stack up?
* Test the accuracy of information from all sources and exercise care to avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate distortion is never permissible.
* Make certain that headlines, news teases and promotional material, photos, video, audio, graphics, sound bites and quotations do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
* Never distort the content of news photos or video. Image enhancement for technical clarity is always permissible. Label montages and photo illustrations.
* Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
* Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant
* Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
* Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. - J.B. Books (John Wayne)
#3
Reagan won the Cold War? His European missile initiative led to overwhelming Western European opposition. Soviet Communism collapsed when ruling class practises were exposed in the 1986 Chernobyl fiasco. Gorbachev tried to save same with Perestroika and Glasnost. Reagan wasn't President when East Berliners began walking through the Berlin Wall. As for "Reaganomics," recovery didn't begin until the 5th year of his presidency. In fact, in face of failure his ran in 1984 on a "Stay the Course" platform. Sorry to disappoint, but Reagan was not a neo-conservative. McCain is one.
Posted by: Open Arms ||
09/13/2008 18:02 Comments ||
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#4
Yes, despite your attempts at revisionist history, Reagan did win the Cold War. The Russians spent themselves into oblivion (Anyone with a brain could figure out their economy couldn't support the required spending) and Perestroika and Glasnost were about keeping up more than opening up.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/13/2008 18:20 Comments ||
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#5
One thing we can agree on, Reagan wasn't a Neo-conservative. He was a conservative. Bad news for you, OA, McCain is also.
#6
As for "Reaganomics," recovery didn't begin until the 5th year of his presidency. In fact, in face of failure his ran in 1984 on a "Stay the Course" platform. Sorry to disappoint, but Reagan was not a neo-conservative. McCain is one
Wrong. Read American history: The "Stay the course" theme was brought out for the 1982 midterm electons. Reagan may have picked up on that in 1984, maybe not, but primarly that was the main theme for the midterms.
The Reagan recovery began in December 1983 after a huge rally by Wall Street.
The only disappoinment I see is that you haven't gotten one fact right since you started posting here.
#8
"Not in the sense of 'let's hunt him for sport'"
Too bad, Steve. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/13/2008 19:50 Comments ||
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#9
I was on active duty with the Air Force during the entire Reagan era, working in imagery intelligence. Signs that Russia was coming apart began to appear as early as 1985, and by 1989, it was pretty significant. There were a dozen different and overlapping reasons for that collapse, but Reagan's insistence on having a military that could overpower the Russians, if necessary, certainly contributed.
It would be purely a guess, but I'd say Russia began to decline internally as early as 1975. It wasn't noticeable at the time, but bits and pieces began to appear once the Russians invaded Afghanistan. By 1988, it was all downhill. Collapse and the disolution of the Soviet Empire didn't surprise me that it happened, but the extent of it (as well as some limitations) did. No matter how much money Putin gets from selling Russian oil and gas, military equipment, or drugs, they will never again be able to rebuild what they lost in 1991.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/13/2008 21:15 Comments ||
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#10
"they will never again be able to rebuild what they lost in 1991"
GOOD!
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/13/2008 21:22 Comments ||
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#11
His European missile initiative led to overwhelming Western European opposition.
That's a feature, not a bug - Evil Empire rattled them and he told the CIA to use some fresh thinking........
#2
"The most amazing aspect of the OODA loop is that the losing side rarely understands what happened."
And that is exactly what we are seeing here. Sen. Obama counted on owning the media so that any "minor" gaffes he made would be overlooked, and his opposition would be nullified by the lack of relevant coverage.
Now it's all blown up in his face over a person with substance and character, and he has no clue why. Nor do I think his dupes, the MSM, do either.
#3
The idea that they have no idea what's happening squares well with this piece from The Telegraph. But there's still time for The One to turn to a sane strategist in his desperation, keep your fingers crossed that everyone around is as arrogant as they appear to be.
#5
But there's still time for The One to turn to a sane strategist in his desperation...
Ordinarily I'd agree, Cat. Obambi might be trying to turn to the Clintons right now...but who do you think are the ones who set the scuttling charges?
The wonderful effects of the OODA loop aside, we're not out of the woods yet - those lovely folks at ACORN are at it again.
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) ||
09/13/2008 21:24 Comments ||
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#6
I don't think the Clintons will help him at all but he doesn't need them to win this election. He just needs to get back on message, drop the Chicago politics, and restore his Captain Hope & Change persona. There's time enough for him to do that, all it would require is dropping Axelrod for, well, pretty much anyone else not of the radical far urban left.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/13/2008 15:00 ||
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#1
Apparently Udall is enraged. Not at the main point of supporting a 'Department of Peace', but rather at the smoke coming out of the van at the end. Heh.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/13/2008 16:47 Comments ||
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#2
This reminds me so much of "The Peace Song", from "Springtime for Hitler", in the movie "The Producers".
#4
Which Udall, please? Is it the dud running for senator here in Colorado, or the one in Utah, or the one in New Mexico? Mark Udall (D-People's Republic of Boulder) is one of the prime instigators of the ban on even researching getting oil from oil shale. He's also against drilling - anywhere, anywhen, anyhow. We're trying to find a way to trade him to Connecticutt for 40lbs of radioactive waste.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/13/2008 21:34 Comments ||
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#5
O.P.,the ad says call MARK Udall and gives a Colorado telephone number. So it must be your favorite Congress-critter and Senator wannabe...
Gov. Palin comes from a small town with small-town values. Sarah was sworn in as Alaska's youngest and first female governor, in 2006. This mother of five was tired of seeing government running amuck and awry and stepped into public service to reform it. And she has a clear and long record of doing just that: bucking the status quo, cutting taxes and government waste, reducing big government, establishing ethics committees, pursuing alternative energy, and being pro-family and pro-life (as witnessed by her choice to cherish her baby with Down syndrome and to support her 17-year-old daughter keeping her baby and marrying the father).
The fact is far-left liberals don't know how to respond to strong, conservative female political leaders. They hail Hillary but try to impale Palin. But Sarah has sparred them many times before and has come out of the ring without a scratch. Sarah is so tough that she inspired a new tongue-in-cheek Web site (www.PalinFacts.com), which parallels the "Chuck Norris Facts" folklore Web site. It gives some mythical, yet complimentary "facts" about Sarah Palin's life, potential, character and career. Here are three of my favorites:
--Sarah Palin once carved a perfect likeness of the Mona Lisa in a block of ice using only her teeth.
--Sarah Palin doesn't need a gun to hunt, because she can throw a bullet through an adult bull elk.
--And my favorite: Sarah Palin is courageous and tough enough to shave Chuck Norris's beard -- and face off against his third fist disguised as a chin.
All joking aside, one real fact about Gov. Palin is that both Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are shaking in their boots over her candidacy and prospective appointment to the vice presidency. Obama talks about change, but McCain further lived out his commitment to reform with his choice of Palin to be his running mate. . . .
Well done, Sen. McCain. You have rallied the conservative base and others who were still on the fence. You have thrown a political Hail Mary into the end zone of the District of Columbia and scored a touchdown.
So move over, Mr. Smith, because Mrs. Sarah is going to Washington. Give 'em hell, Sarah! Give 'em hell!
Remember, kids:
Grizzly bears are known to sit upstream and trap oncoming salmon. Sarah Palin sits upstream and traps oncoming grizzly bears.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/13/2008 09:54 ||
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#1
My favorite is still "Global warming doesn't kill polar bears, Sarah Palin does - with her bare hands."
#5
Send Chuck Norris and Sara Palin to Afghanistan. The talibunnies will surrender in a week.
Maybe they should start with Oprah's (the feminist who used to attend church with Uhbama) "Talibabes"
A guest post from an anonymous insider on the Right.
In general, when Congress funds a specific product or program, companies engage in a competitive process to receive the money. However, earmarks circumvent the process and allow Politicians to determine who gets the government funds. Earmarks allow Politicians to fund their pet projects or provide benefits to companies which help fund their campaigns.
If cloture is invoked, America will suffer a $5.9 billion cover up.
For instance, General Motors has contributed $29,000 to Sen. Carl Levin's campaign. In exchange, he earmarked $10 million dollars for them in the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill. That's a substantial return on an investment.
Senator Levin apparently does not like the press he is receiving from his earmarking efforts (49 requests in this legislative cycle alone), so he has devised a scheme to cover up his activity - a scheme that threatens the entire fight against earmarks.
I am reliably told that Senators DeMint and Senator Coburn are willing to go to war on this issue.
To cover up his activity, Senator Levin is attempting to place earmarks in committee reports instead of including them as part of the legislative language. He did this by hiding some language in the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill which changes the way earmarks are viewed.
Most senators don't bother to read legislative language and even fewer have time to read more extensive committee reports. Under Senator Levin's cover up scheme, he can hide behind committee reports that are never voted on and talk out of both sides of his mouth by arguing that committee reports do not have the force of law. What Levin will not tell you is that, because of the special language he slipped in, earmarks in committee reports do have the force of law.
Senator DeMint has an amendment (cosponsored by Senators Coburn and Burr) to strike the requirement that earmarks which have not been voted on in committee or otherwise be treated as law. Senator DeMint attempted to offer his amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill on Thursday afternoon, but Senator Levin objected to even the right to debate the issue and would not allow Senator DeMint to introduce the amendment for consideration.
Obviously, Senator Levin has something to hide.
If Senator DeMint is not allowed to offer his amendment, $5.9 billion in earmarks will be handed out at the taxpayers' expense without the benefit of any debate.
As the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Levin has the responsibility of writing the committee report and he can place anything in the report he chooses. He has chosen to use his Chairmanship to the tune of $198 million. And to cover it up so that the corrupt earmarking status quo would continue.
Senate Democrats promised more open government. This is not it.
Senator Levin announced on Thursday that cloture on the bill will be filed on Friday. If cloture is invoked, America will suffer a $5.9 billion cover up.
Inspired by Iowahawk, I introduce to you our latest portrait: Wile E. Reporter.
On Fridays CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith talked to Rudy Giuliani about Sarah Palins performance in an interview with ABCs Charlie Gibson on Thursdays World News and Giuliani observed: "The whole issue of whether she knows world affairs or not, these are questions that were never asked of Barack Obama, never asked of him to this day."
A visibly upset Smith vigorously denied such bias: "That's not true. That's not true." Giuliani continued: "To this day he hasn't been asked these questions, about travel-" Smith kept up his defense: "That's not true. That is absolutely not true...That is absolutely not true. Those -- all those questions have been asked over the last 19 months." Giuliani got in the last word: "I don't know where."
Despite Smiths assertions that Obama has been pressed on his foreign policy credentials,
since October of 2007, Smith has interviewed Obama eight times and asked the less than one-term Senator a total of two foreign policy questions.
Despite Smiths assertions that Obama has been pressed on his foreign policy credentials, since October of 2007, Smith has interviewed Obama eight times and asked the less than one-term Senator a total of two foreign policy questions. The first question came in a December 18, 2007 interview in which Smith asked: "Obama is positioning himself as a candidate for change, particularly on the war. Were you a fan of the surge?" The second question occurred on April 2, 2008: "And there is concern about China's violations of human rights. Should we be a full participant in the Olympic games?" On July 9, 2008 co-host Russ Mitchell hit Obama from the left on the troop surge: "What do you say to those folks out there who are saying 'I voted for this guy because he told me he was going to bring the troops home in 16 months now he says he wants to refine his position." None of those questions challenged Obamas qualifications to be President of the United States.
During the Friday segment, Smith went on to ask Giuliani: "Let me ask you this. Do you have every confidence that she's ready to be president in case she needs to be?" However, on February 29, 2008 Smith interviewed Time magazine editor Richard Stengel, on a story in that publication about whether experience really matters in the presidency: "The question of experience dominating the Democratic campaign, does it really matter?...Time Magazine has two articles on the subject, on the issue that hits news stands today. 'Does Experience Matter in a President' and 'The Science of Experience." Stengel explained: "...character trumps experience...It's really the way you are as a person. Your temperament, your intelligence, all of those things make up for what you may lack in experience."
Just prior to Smiths interview with Giuliani, co-host Maggie Rodriguez got reaction to Palins interview from New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who argued: "I think in that interview she failed the national security threshold test." Smith then quoted Richardson in his first question to Giuliani: " First thing Bill Richardson said was that Sarah Palin failed the national security threshold test." Giuliani chuckled at the Democratic talking point and Smith admonished him: "Don't laugh for a second, just -- I need -- I want to have a serious conversation with you."
#1
The left/MSM don't get it, even though its their own game plan. The ONE is an empty suit. It's a method by which people project their own hope and desires into the ONE, aided and abetted by an establishment media that will not disclose who the ONE really is. It's a blank slate for anyone to sell his soul into. And it has worked up till now.
Sarah is not an empty suit. She has a record [while the media has shied away from more than a tepid inquiry into the record of the ONE, has been drilling like a Wild Cater sure of a big one just another 100 feet down on Sarah]. Sarah has become the vessel in which real American womanhood [not the media created pseudo-feminist harpies, academic bound studies coasties, or Donk professional faces] has projected their hope and dreams. If you think the rabid reaction of the believers of the ONE were something to behold and react to, imagine a sea of equally dedicated mothers who are numbers beyond comprehension [and the target of billions of dollars of advertising revenue].
P2K's first principle of American elections - you want to get Americans to the voting booths come November, make them mad. Just make sure you're not the target of that unhappiness.
#2
First thing Bill Richardson said was that Sarah Palin failed the national security threshold test." Giuliani chuckled at the Democratic talking point and Smith admonished him: "Don't laugh for a second, just -- I need -- I want to have a serious conversation with you."
If only they'd have serious conversations with Obama...
#4
Stengel explained: "...character trumps experience...It's really the way you are as a person. Your temperament, your intelligence, all of those things make up for what you may lack in experience."
And the MSM DOES get it, they just don't know what true character is since they have none themselves.
#8
The important thing for the McCain/Palin ticket is to be on the offensive against the MSM. Those that want to have a real dialogue, welcome the opportunity. Those that want to play the smear, FOAD and bypass like the US did in the Pacific against Japanese bases during WW2 and left them to wither on the vine.
McCain/Palin need to control this battlespace. The MSM has been used to calling the shots and manipulating public opinion, and now they need a smackdown.
Sun Tzu 'em. OODA loop 'em. Put the MSM on the defensive. Yar!
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/13/2008 14:01 Comments ||
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Long, readable and reasonable piece from USA Today. The governor comes across as a reformer and populist who kept her social conservative views in check, and got the Democrats in the state legislature to work with her.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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WND [paraph]> DICK MORRIS: IT'LL BE "PALIN VERSUS HILLARY CLINTON" IN 2012.
Perhaps not unlike TED KENNEDY, Uncle FIDEL, + KIMMIE, POTUS? MCCAIN may NOT be come Year 2012 = MAYAN CALENDAR???
A pretty scathing charge from Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., this morning as he spoke to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and assailed Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., position on free trade.
"So, when American workers hear John McCain talking about putting 'Country First,'" Obama said, "it's fair to ask --- which country?" Please God let there be video.
#3
It's not a question of stupidity, OS. It's a question of values and character. Obama's an unreconstructed Chicago machine pol with hard lefty instincts. He and his supporters need to be taken down hard in this election before they destroy the country.
#7
Obama is now behind in all the polls and is wetting his pants. THIS is Obama crisis management mode, lurching from one misstep to the next. It is despicable, incompetent and counterproductive. He is not fit to be a dogcatcher.
Posted by: Minister of funny walks ||
09/13/2008 9:28 Comments ||
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#8
It's the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers so what country do they care about? Did the rank and file IAMAWs applaud wildly? Do they consider themselves Americans first, or International Workers?
Posted by: regular joe ||
09/13/2008 9:29 Comments ||
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#9
Good job, Genius. All McCain has to do is bring up his stay at the Hanoi Hilton.
Y'know where that is, right, Obama? It's to the north of Indonesia.....
Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields ||
09/13/2008 9:32 Comments ||
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#11
America, which is not the Amerikkka you knew in church, Baracky
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/13/2008 10:56 Comments ||
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#12
There's some interesting politics behind this one IIUC. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are involved in airplane production and have clashed a lot with Boeing in particular over the last 5 years or so. McCain is known as a critic of Boeing from the angle of military procurement, and of course there's the open issue of the USAF tanker buy. So Obama's indirectly critiquing Mac's pressure on BMAC. As an intellectual position it has some (small) merit. Might even strike an emotional chord with some workers in states like Washington. We'll see what happens when McCain starts stressing the economic steps he talked about in his acceptance speech, including retraining and investment in energy-related industries.
#13
I can see the point lotp, but it would have been better put if his opponent was Mitt or someone else. Saying about a former POW that gave up so much for his country is just crass.
#17
WA seems in play, but it's a state w/elections in the "Chicago Way." Remember the last governor's race?
Posted by: regular joe ||
09/13/2008 14:37 Comments ||
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#18
Unfortunately I do. ugh. Contribute to the McCain/Palin/RNC compliance fund, folks - they're gonna need as many briefcases on the ground as we can surge in states like WA.
#23
Are the Washington poll numbers are product of the Palin addition?
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/13/2008 21:08 Comments ||
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#24
I don't think they're completely a product of Palin's addition. IIRC the Democratic governor up there isn't particularly popular so there's likely a local effect going on as well.
LAHORE: Water in the Chenab River has been reduced by 50 percent after India made the Baglihar Dam operational, Irrigation Secretary Babar Bharwana said on Friday. Talking to Express News, Bharwana said Pakistan had lodged a strong protest with India over the reduction of water level in the Chenab and demanded a visit to the dam. He said the minimum water level in the river at this time of the year is 40,000 cusecs, which had fallen to 18,000 cusecs after the dam started operating. He said that non-provision of the relevant information by India has led the Pakistani authorities to believe that India was stopping the river water.
Posted by: john frum ||
09/13/2008 12:40 ||
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New Delhi: Even as controversy continues to bedevil the terms of Indias proposed bilateral nuclear commerce with the United States, France stepped forward Friday to declare it was ready and open to engage in comprehensive nuclear cooperation with the Indian side.
Unlike the U.S., which does not wish to make binding commitments on fuel supply or grant irrevocable reprocessing rights to India, France has made it clear that the provision of fuel for any reactors it sells as well as reprocessing are not issues. We believe India has the capability and the right to reprocess spent fuel, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont told reporters here.
But in line with the apparent political commitment India has made to not ink deals with other suppliers until the 123 agreement with the U.S. passes through Congress, the ambassador was unwilling to say when the framework agreement for bilateral nuclear cooperation initialled during the visit to Delhi by President Nikolas Sarkozy this January would finally be signed. We have to complete some procedures for it to be signed and we are presently discussing with India this issue in terms of timing.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be in Marseilles on September 29 for the India-European Union summit and in Paris on September 30 for a bilateral summit with Mr. Sarkozy. But it is far from clear whether India will be ready to sign its agreement by then.
Asked what these procedures whose completion was holding up the actual signing were, Mr. Bonnafont gave, as an example, the preparation of an official Hindi translation of the Indo-French draft agreement. (Indian officials say a Hindi translation is needed because the English original has also been translated into French. A second procedure to be completed, they say, involves France securing clearance for the agreement from Euratom).
The ambassador said the passage of the Indian waiver at the Nuclear Suppliers Group last week marked the culmination of a process that [France] had initiated in a way when Jacques Chirac, who was the French President at the time, came to India in 1998 and suggested a special status needed to be created for India to enable it to access nuclear supplies from abroad.
France has a specificity in the world as far as the capability of its nuclear industry was concerned, he said, and its national company, Areva, was currently developing a new generation of nuclear reactors - the EPR.
This new generation will be proposed to India, he said, adding that France envisaged cooperation in four distinct areas: scientific collaboration and research, training, safety and industrial collaboration.
Including Areva, there were 35 French companies which were looking to get involved in different aspects of the nuclear power generation sector in India, the ambassador said.
France currently has 58 nuclear power plants in operation which collectively generate 80 per cent of the countrys electricity production.
Posted by: john frum ||
09/13/2008 12:39 ||
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A Senate body on Friday gave a deadline of one month to Balochistan Police Inspector General Asif Nawaz to submit an inquiry report about the alleged live burial of five women in Balochistan.
Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights members expressed their dissatisfaction over the performance of the police in apprehending the 'real' culprits, and suggested the state should become a complainant in order to pursue the case.
They said the police should arrest influential people allegedly involved in the case, and include a provincial minister and the Naseerabad district nazim in the investigation.
Preliminary reports presented to the committee, which was presided over by chairman Senator SM Zafar, revealed that the bodies of two women were exhumed but the post mortem report was vague.
The committee observed that the progress in the case was poor as only four accused had been arrested. The police have not implicated tribal elders involved in the killings.
National Police Bureau Director General Tariq Khosa told the committee the bureau had imposed anti-terrorism charges on unidentified suspects involved in the case.
Leader of the House in the Senate Raza Rabbani disagreed with a suggestion to include two senators in the investigation team.
Female member of the committee Senator Yasmeen Shah said she had been facing death threats after highlighting the case in the House. She said Senator Israrullah Zahri had conveyed to her that 12 people from a Baloch tribe were allegedly plotting to kill her.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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A United Nations agency is quietly drafting technical standards, proposed by the Chinese government, to define methods of tracing the original source of Internet communications and potentially curbing the ability of users to remain anonymous.
The U.S. National Security Agency is also participating in the "IP Traceback" drafting group, named Q6/17, which is meeting next week in Geneva to work on the traceback proposal. Members of Q6/17 have declined to release key documents, and meetings are closed to the public.
The potential for eroding Internet users' right to remain anonymous, which is protected by law in the United States and recognized in international law by groups such as the Council of Europe, has alarmed some technologists and privacy advocates. Also affected may be services such as the Tor anonymizing network.
"What's distressing is that it doesn't appear that there's been any real consideration of how this type of capability could be misused," said Marc Rotenberg, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C. "That's really a human rights concern."
Nearly everyone agrees that there are, at least in some circumstances, legitimate security reasons to uncover the source of Internet communications. The most common justification for tracebacks is to counter distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attacks.
But implementation details are important, and governments participating in the process -- organized by the International Telecommunication Union, a U.N. agency -- may have their own agendas. A document submitted by China this spring and obtained by CNET News said the "IP traceback mechanism is required to be adapted to various network environments, such as different addressing (IPv4 and IPv6), different access methods (wire and wireless) and different access technologies (ADSL, cable, Ethernet) and etc." It adds: "To ensure traceability, essential information of the originator should be logged."
The Chinese author of the document, Huirong Tian, did not respond to repeated interview requests. Neither did Jiayong Chen of China's state-owned ZTE Corporation, the vice chairman of the Q6/17's parent group who suggested in an April 2007 meeting that it address IP traceback...
#2
Nearly everyone agrees that there are, at least in some circumstances, legitimate security reasons to uncover the source of Internet communications. The most common justification for tracebacks is to counter distributed denial of service, or DDoS, attacks.
S'plain to me please how knowing who the origin of a DDOS will stop the attack itself?
As it is now with the coming of gigabit interface DDOS may soon be thing of the past with a concomtant lack of need for any new routing or id protocols
Opinion polls on Friday showed Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni leading her closest rival by at least 15 points ahead of next week's ruling party election to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has stressed he would quit immediately following the vote.
The two polls were more favorable to Livni than another survey published on Thursday which showed her lead over Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz narrowed to just under five percentage points.
A poll of registered Kadima party voters published by the Maariv daily saw Livni taking 46 percent of the ballots on Wednesday, with Mofaz scoring 28 percent. The Yediot Aharonot showed Livni garnering 47 percent and Mofaz, a hawkish former general, taking 32 percent.
The polls suggest the Kadima leadership contest will be decided in the first round, with Livni easily passing the 40 percent hurdle to avoid a September 24 run-off. But experts say the reliability of opinion polls is uncertain in the case of a comparatively small and young party such as Kadima, which has never before held a leadership election.
A poll published on Thursday indicated Livni would get just under 40 percent of the vote, with a lead of about five points over Mofaz.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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Thailand's ruling party yesterday abandoned its bid to put its ousted Prime Minister back in power, raising hopes of an end to a political crisis that has tied up the country for months.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I hope any denizens of the 'burg in harm's way are safe.
I'm gonna check with my buddy later and see how he's doing.....he's locked up with four dogs, but he's got plenty of vodka, so he should be just fine. ;)
Posted by: Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields ||
09/13/2008 10:02 Comments ||
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#2
Oh goody, locked in with a pack of drunk dogs in the middle of a major storm. ;-)
#3
Our long time family friend in Houston just called, there's no power, it's expected to be out at least three days, there's also no Gasoline(Makes sense, no power, no pumps) they're evacuating to another family members home in Austin, got enough gas to get there, they'll call when settled.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
09/13/2008 20:15 Comments ||
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#4
My brother in Spring, Texas, called me this morning, letting us know they were ok and that their house survived the storm. Their biggest worry right now is flooding, since the rain is coming down faster than it can drain off.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/13/2008 21:17 Comments ||
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#5
Boyfriend sent me a text message a few minutes ago. He's got power but no phone, no cable, no water. Hope he remembered to buy bottled.
He said there were many trees down at the apt. complex, but he was fine. I didn't think of it this time, but during Rita I worried about the giant pine trees right outside the window.
The worst oil shock since the 1970s has put a permanent mark on the American way of life that even a drop in oil's price below $100 a barrel won't erase.
Although oil prices dipped beneath the $100 mark Friday for the first time in five months, it still isn't cheap and Americans have long memories. They are saddled with debt, high food costs and home prices worth far less than two years ago. At $100 a barrel, that's about $2.50 a gallon for unrefined product. Add another 50 cents a gallon for refining, transportation, local, state, and federal taxes, for about $3.00 a gallon. That's still not cheap as far as I'm concerned. Not even affordable for the long term. I believe LNG prices out around $2 a gallon equivalent -- but that's before it's subject to widespread demand as an auto fuel. And the Dems will want to add more taxes on it, natch, to "encourage conservation."
Experts say some relief at the pump is probably coming within weeks after light, sweet crude fell to $99.99 before closing later at $101.18, up 31 cents. But the era of "staycations," four-day work weeks, airline fuel surcharges and costly commutes could be here to stay.
A sustained period of $100 oil should eventually lower pump prices from the current national average of about $3.65 a gallon to within a range of $3 to $3.25--around a buck lower than the all-time record average of $4.114 a gallon set July 17 when crude prices peaked above $145 a barrel.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
That's still not cheap as far as I'm concerned.
Please don't strike me dead.... but that's dirt cheap considering what gasoline does.
Walk, bike or take the hoss to work for 3 days. You'll see things much differently.
#2
Note that GM's stock prices have been going up since the public display of the Volt's production model pictures. There are LOTS of people out there who are going to take quick advantage of the opportunity to buy an auto that will eliminate most of their gasoline usage.
That's just the beginning. It's my feeling that the American people are DONE with the oil ticks. It's NEVER going to be the way it was again. Oil is an addiction and we're going to get off it no matter what it takes. Electric cars are just the start. Johnny Mac and Sarah saying, "Drill here, drill now" is going to carry them into office on a landslide, and I don't think they're going to forget it once in office, either.
Posted by: mac ||
09/13/2008 6:43 Comments ||
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#3
The silver lining of the evil cloud, Ike. 30% of the entire nation's gasoline comes from Houston's refineries. They may be hit hard, very hard. And the shipping channel that allows the tankers in as well.
And the effect will be felt everywhere, through November, at least. This will at one time drive down demand for and price of crude and reduce the supply of gasoline, driving up its price. The worst thing possible for OPEC and their environazi allies. But at what a cost to everyone else.
#4
If McCain and Palin get in, then they will push for alternative energy, and this country will start to diversify its energy base.
If Obama bin Biden gets in, then we will still be beholden to the oil ticks for our crude, they will tax the sh*t outa petroleum and the economy will go in the tank.
That should about sum it up.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/13/2008 13:53 Comments ||
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#5
Gas has jumped up to 4 bucks in Mobile JUST TODAY, the pumpers have the usual reasons
Feared Shortages in the future.
Same price as the competition across the street.
And other bullshit as comes to their tiny minds.
Just for the record I filled up Wednesday at 3.49
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
09/13/2008 20:28 Comments ||
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#6
The profit margin on gasoline to the station owner is less than 1%. Price at the pump = what they expect to have to pay to replace what you're taking, plus that less than 1% profit. Plus taxes, of course, and in my state those are quite high.
#7
I can't believe the price gouging on Christmas wrapping paper. At Walmart they want $3.00 per roll and last December I could get it for $0.25, on the 26th.
#8
Combined Federal, State, and Local taxes on gas here in Colorado Springs is $0.48.5. A tax "holiday" here would drop the cost of gas by about 50c a gallon. Long-term, it would severely put a crimp in the ability of the state to maintain our roads, which are in bad enough shape as it is.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
09/13/2008 21:30 Comments ||
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#9
You're lucky, OP. It's more than a dollar a gallon where I live.
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.
A South African judge threw out corruption charges against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, clearing the way for him to become the country's next president. 
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has taken measures to ease sufferings and harassment of homebound passengers at bus and launch terminals in the capital ahead of the Eid.
President Dmitry Medvedev likened Georgian military action to the September 11 attacks on the United States on Friday, while Tbilisi said there was still no sign of an end to Russian occupation. The war started when Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili launched a massive assault on August 7 to regain control of the breakaway province of South Ossetia from Moscow-backed separatists. "Almost immediately after these events it occurred to me that for Russia, August 8, 2008 was almost like September 11, 2001 in the United States," Medvedev told a high-profile group of Western foreign policy experts in Moscow. 
A Senate body on Friday gave a deadline of one month to Balochistan Police Inspector General Asif Nawaz to submit an inquiry report about the alleged live burial of five women in Balochistan.
Opinion polls on Friday showed Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni leading her closest rival by at least 15 points ahead of next week's ruling party election to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has stressed he would quit immediately following the vote.
The worst oil shock since the 1970s has put a permanent mark on the American way of life that even a drop in oil's price below $100 a barrel won't erase. 
