Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn't stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.
Even the contractor questioned whether Chinese-made panels could be used under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus program that mandated use of U.S.-made products. His query in early 2010 was dismissed and the General Services Administration moved forward with using the Chinese panels on the Sen. Paul Simon Federal Building in Carbondale, Ill., records show.
Questions about the panels, which were assembled overseas, were raised in a four-page advisory memo sent by the inspector general to the GSA in the summer of 2011, but the findings take on added significance as government officials increasingly place blame on Chinese subsidies for troubles in the U.S. solar market.
Since last summer, Solyndra LLC and another solar company, Abound Solar, have filed for bankruptcy despite receiving generous federal loan guarantees. After both bankruptcies, government officials were quick to place blame on subsidies from China that allowed foreign solar panel manufactures to sell their products below cost, squeezing U.S. solar companies.
Meanwhile, the contractor on the Illinois building project, J.R. Conkey & Associates, initially questioned GSA officials on whether solar panels assembled in China could be used under the stimulus program, but a procurement officer told the company to proceed, according to records.
Posted by: Au Auric ||
09/18/2012 11:27 ||
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BuyAmerica rules prohibit the purchase of foreign product when an American-made equivalent is available
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/18/2012 14:40 Comments ||
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#2
Ah, but these are melamine-flavored photo-voltaic cells. China - making the products that America won't.
PICK your pundit when Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart face off for a special 90-minute debate about the 2012 presidential race.
The host of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor and the anchor of Comedy Central's fake newscast The Daily Show with Jon Stewart have announced they will clash in the event, dubbed The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium.
This live debate will be streamed online on October 6 from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The price is $US4.95 ($4.70), with one-half of the profits donated to a number of unspecified charities.
In a statement, Stewart quipped that The Rumble will be entertaining for all, including "people who just enjoy yelling".
It's why Al Gore invented the internet, the announcement added.
#1
Aw! As hard as they try, rodeo clowns have been distressed lately that MSM has a corner on looking like fools.
But rodeo clowns DO still have the corner on saving thrown cowboys from being stomped and gored by 2000 pound bulls. But it would be fun to see MSM types try that! Heh!
#4
Speaking of which: my local rodeo clown paper has been trying for days (unsuccessfully, as far as I can tell) to create a viral racism meme involving a rodeo clown.
Two southeast companies that make U.S. military uniforms are shedding hundreds of jobs, as the government looks to federal inmates for the fatigues.
American Power Source makes military clothing in Fayette, Ala., but its government contract expires in October. Federal Prison Industries -- which also operates under the name UNICOR will snag the work, and leave the task to inmates. FPI has the first right of refusal for U.S. Government contracts, under a 1930 federal law.
American Apparel, the Selma, Ala., based military clothing manufacturer closed one of its plants and continues to downsize others due to the loss of some of its contracts to FPI. According retired Air Force colonel and front man Kurt Wilson, the company laid off 255 employees and cut the hours of 190 employees this year alone. So private workers end up losing their jobs to prisoners.
"The way the law is -- Federal Prison Industries gets first dibs and contracts up to a certain percentage before they have to compete against us," Wilson, the executive vice president of business development and government affairs, said. "The army combat uniform, for instance, is an item that they take off the top. As a result American tax payers pay more for it -- but the bottom line is each soldier is paying more for their uniform."
American Apparel charges $29.44 per uniform, but the FPI uniform costs $34.18 -- a 15 percent difference.
FPI has been around since the 1930s. It provides training, education and employment for inmates in federal custody. With more than 13,000 inmates, FPI operates in about 80 factories across the United States. The company is not allowed to sell its goods to the private sector -- and the law requires federal agencies to buy its products, even if they are not the cheapest.
"It has been going on for some time," Wilson said. "Unfortunately what comes to bear now is, as demand for uniforms begins to decrease, budgets decrease and the problem gets bigger for us. Therefore we have to lay people off."
A college professor has been placed on leave after she allegedly forced her class to sign a pledge to vote for President Obama in the upcoming elections. Early last week Professor Sharon Sweet at Brevard Community College (BCC) allegedly told students to sign a pledge that reads: "I pledge to vote for President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket."
The pledge was printed off of GottaVote.org, a website funded by the Obama campaign.
University administrators said they learned about the incident late Thursday afternoon and launched an investigation, after they received a phone call from a concerned parent.
"Based on the allegations, Associate Professor Sweet has requested, and been granted, a leave of absence without pay effective immediately," reads a statement put out by John Glisch, Associate Vice President for Communications at BCC.
"The college will continue its investigation into the matter, which will include interviews with all students in her class," continues the statement.
Sweet's actions may have also violated Florida's election laws.
Section 104.31, of Title IX in chapter 104, states that "no officer or employee of the state... shall... use his or her official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or nomination of officer or influencing another person's vote or affecting the result thereof."
Posted by: Au Auric ||
09/18/2012 10:33 ||
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#1
Paid leave. She'll be back in a couple of weeks. No harm, no foul.
She should be fired and prosecuted on criminal charges, but that will never happen. Which is why she felt comfortable doing this, and why it will keep happening.
#4
And if the good associate professor is not tenured -- highly likely at a community college, I should think -- letting her go is as easy as sending a registered letter on the official school letterhead.
#10
Unpais leave? If I were the father of one of the children I would campaign fir thay woman haveing to refund her salaries since she was hired and a million bucjs in damages for divedrting the valuable studying time of my child who later will enter a worse university and get a worse job becauise of it.
#12
No students are awake during a math class at a community college.
Raider, nowadays a goodly proportion of community college students are getting the first two years on the cheap before finishing their bachelors at the associated four year school. A good many of the trailing daughters' friends have made that choice, including one of my fosterlings, who is working toward a practical degree as an ultrasound technician.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/18/2012 21:30 Comments ||
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#15
Had a nuclear engineering prof back in the early 90s who announced in class one day that, "Anyone stupid enough to vote for a Democrat will fail my course!" A young lady loudly blurted out her displeasure then declined to identify herself at which point the prof referred to his seating chart & the daily sign-in sheets and stated, "When I call your name you will stand up, if you do not you will fail my course," and proceeded to call roll down the young lady's row. Eventually she was the only student in the row who remained seated, the prof then addressed her by name saying, "... you have failed my course. Since it is early in the semester I suggest you leave now and drop the course immediately. If you do not you will receive a failing grade." Doubt he was an affirmative action hire, he claimed to have been recruited from Austria by the US government.
The Wapo, to be precise, continuing its front-page series of why Romney can't be Prez.
But the donors, being data guys, knew that Romney's momentum had stalled. And when they looked up at the Jumbotron to watch a biographical video showing the GOP nominee as warm-hearted, frugal and even a bit goofy, it was the culmination of much of what Republicans say is wrong with the Romney campaign: There is a great story to be told, and it isn't being shared with the country. The 'Great Story' is being worn out in Northern Virginia - Obama lost jobs to China vs. Romney (Bain) sent jobs to China. Positive ads are few and far between. Come to think of it, there have been a few positive Romney ads... Now, with 49 days left until the election, Romney's chief strategist, Stuart Stevens, is being accused of not defining the candidate quickly enough over the summer and not helping the sometimes awkward nominee forge a closer bond with voters. Republicans are increasingly frustrated with the campaign's inability to capitalize on Americans' anxiety about the economy and their lukewarm approval of President Obama. I suppose that's because they really believe the polls that show a close race. What did the polls show two years ago? That the Pubs were gonna take the House?
Romney faced another distraction Monday, as Mother Jones magazine unearthed a video that it said showed the candidate speaking at a May 17 fundraiser in Boca Raton, Fla. In the video, Romney says that 47 percent of Americans are "dependent on government" and that they think "they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it." Shocking, I know. I thought the figure was closer to 48%.
Earlier Monday, progressives, Soros, advisers, donors and other top Romney supporters depicted a campaign in turmoil, saying that a series of strategic errors have set back the effort. They pointed to the decision not to aggressively combat the slew of television ads that the Obama campaign aired over the summer characterizing Romney as a ruthless technocrat who shipped jobs overseas during his time at Bain Capital and who has mysterious foreign investments. Like I said, they run ads saying Obama gave away jobs to China and does not enforce the rules against China.
They also said the candidate's overseas trip in July, which some top advisers urged him not to take, turned into such a mess that it jeopardized his credentials. Says the main stream media progressives.
Furthermore, supporters said the Republican National Convention was a missed opportunity because Romney did not lay out a clear policy-driven vision and because the lauded biographical video was scrapped from prime time in favor of Clint Eastwood's performance, which featured an empty chair. I thought Clint's thing was a sideshow, only the media obsesses about it to make it a central issue.
In late August, Romney's ad gurus took on the task of defining their candidate. They produced a powerful video for the GOP convention, revealing Romney's emotion and humanity. Yet the video was scrapped from the prime-time lineup, and the campaign has not aired parts of it in its commercials.
When donors in New York saw the video last week, they responded with a standing ovation. Then, according to one top bundler who was at the event, some of them asked, "Why aren't we pushing this film more?" Because the networks can only fit it into the 3 am time slot?
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/18/2012 05:27 ||
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Where's the companion WaPo piece of Axelrod and Jarrett wringing their hands over their candidate's failures?
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/18/2012 7:41 Comments ||
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It is funny to lOok at the headlines on Real Clear Politics and see all of the Romney campaign in disarray articles coming from, and only from, the leftest papers. Watching an attemp to frame the narrative in real time.
They are following Rumsfields reality comments by trying to change the reality. I hope it doesnt work but ive already seen a wishy washy semi-conservative friend start to take up a few talking points.
#4
I hope it doesnt work but ive already seen a wishy washy semi-conservative friend start to take up a few talking points.
If you think that's bad try talking to a California liberal. Their entire perception has been shaped by the MSM. They've bought the narrative lock, stock and barrel. They have drunk deeply of the Kool-Aid. When you try to present another point of view they literally freak out. Then they always say something like, "Well, let's talk about something else."
I was shocked the other day when a guy who I thought was pretty reasonable said the producer of that bad, bad, anti-Muslim movie should be stoned. When I asked him whatever happened to the First Amendment he said "Well, let's talk about something else."
I'm beginning to wonder if we can ever recover from it.
#5
#4, Ebbang Uluque6305, "Well, let's talk about something else." That is the usual lib response to anything that requires thought or analysis. They would line up for the Jim Jones (or Obama) koolaid without a blink. I doubt there is any changing their minds. However, I heard a call-in from a vet who said he and some of his friends didn't like the party system and would probably vote for a libertarian or an independent. They certainly have that right but such a vote IMO is throwing away your vote that will result in four more years of what we have had--a disaster.
Should have watched in:be che this morning. Had the Virgin Atlantic guy drinking up, talking about how Obama did right for the private space industry by cancelling NASA - not as a side effect but by design, man. Then a popular pastor, I'm told, was grilled about his political views when all he wanted to talk about was his new spirit and book; he made it obvious and they kept pushing. Just aweful.
Also, tv had on what had to be a big budget flick starring two well-paid actors, takin' on big tobacco and big business man! Even headlined 60 Minutes. I had never heard of this film. Ever. It sucked. I tried to watch it. I could predict the next scene and dialogue.
#1
Traditional Democrats also have been written off in my opinion. Years of loyal service. I believe many will not vote. They will not go independent or Republican either. Should the Democrats have a Tea Party moment they would gather a great rebirth. Like the Blue blood Republicans the powers that be will feed off the power and live on for another day. Both want a new world order. Both want control of the money and people(socialism). Both will fail just as they are now. Greed is their undoing.
#4
All O would have to do to win the election is to
make sure it's his people counting the votes (and discovering/losing boxes of ballots as needed.) Probably easier than actually winning the vote (see Gov. King, Washington, Sen. Franken, MN for examples.)
I don't think this election will be close, either R&R runs away with it, or Obama wins. Apparently he and his team think that as well. It looks as if he is going for broke and telling it like it is.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
09/18/2012 10:18 Comments ||
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#6
I'd try something else if the guy I was supporting was found to be a fraud, and liar--or worse.
Joe Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs, is moving forward with plans to bankroll a major ad campaign to help Willard Mitt Romney ...former governor of Massachussetts, currently the Publican nominee for president. He is the son of the former governor of Michigan, George Romney, who himself ran for president after saving American Motors from failure, though not permanently. Romney has a record as a successful businessman, heading Bain Capital, and he rescued the 2002 Winter Olympics from the midst of bribery and mismanagement scandals. More to the point, he isn't President B.O... and Republican candidates.
The Wall Street Journal reports today that Ricketts will spend $12 million on ads starting this week, with $10 million to back Romney and $2 million to assist Republicans running for Congress.
The ads funded by Ricketts will feature ex-Obama supporters talking about Romney, a tactic that Romney used on his own in a video played at the GOP convention in Tampa. The WSJ says the ads will run in battlegrounds such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia and Iowa.
It's unclear what impact the new pro-GOP ad campaign will have on the Ricketts family as it seeks to get the city of Chicago's help in renovating Wrigley Field. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, an Obama friend and the president's former chief of staff, has refused to negotiate with the baseball team's ownership since word of Joe Ricketts' anti-Obama ad plans were published in the spring.
#3
Where I live, campaign adds on the radio or tv are non-existent from either side - guess my state is not in play. I also notice driving around town that I never see bumper stickers or yard signs for either candidate. Its like its not even happening here...
Posted by: Yosemite Sam ||
09/18/2012 10:13 Comments ||
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Not many adverts here in Georgia, and the Robo-calls have tapered off. Fulton County (Atlanta) will obviously vote for The Champ. The remainder of the State of Georgia, probably R&R, but I would not place any bets on it.
Citizens United, the group whose lawsuit opened the door to unlimited political spending by individuals, corporations and unions, has reached a deal with a half dozen television networks to air an hour-long film before Election Day about people who have reversed their support of President B.O..
The conservative production studio announced the agreement on Monday, saying "The Hope and The Change," a play on Obama's 2008 campaign slogan, will reach 130 million homes.
#4
Actually, the movie: 2016 Obama has done fairly well for a documentary about $26+ million. It has done better than several Michael Moore (Loon of the left) movies: Link
Some black clergy see no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, so they are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day. That's a worrisome message for the nation's first African-American president, who can't afford to lose any voters from his base in a tight race.
Posted by: Varmint Oppressor of the Hatfields7975 ||
09/18/2012 2:43 Comments ||
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#2
I call BS on this.
For two reasons.
First of all, blacks specifically will vote tribally for Obama no matter what. There is NOTHING he could do that will change that. Yes, there may be some statistically insignificant percentage that will not, but the truth of the matter is that Obama could set fire to a busload of third graders (of ANY race), have it captured on video and shown on the alphabet networks with him saying he'll do the same every day for the next four years, and 95% of blacks of voting age would still vote for him. I wish it weren't so, but all the wishing in the world won't change it. Anyone on the center/right who doesn't understand this is deluding themself.
Secondly, because blacks are overrepresented in the population of people who are either on the dole or involved in government employment, they will be voting on the basis of keeping the checks/food stamps/ EBT cards coming. In this they are no different from other races, nonetheless this is a powerful factor, as seen by the fact that pundits are calling Romney's honest comments about people who don't pay federal witholding being essentially unreachable by the Republicans in this election a "gaffe".
We really need to get off this "blacks will stay home" business, people. Don't be fooled and don't get cocky.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
09/18/2012 5:53 Comments ||
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#3
If the boss signs my check, will I fail to vote for the boss ?
#4
#1. It appears the traditional black churches were instrumental in the passage of the California amendment repealing same sex marriage [a democratic plebiscite that was subsequently struck down by the unelected judicial autocracy].
#6
First of all, blacks specifically will vote tribally for Obama no matter what.
The story is in regards to CHRISTIAN African Americans. Not the African American community at large. They work. They vote. They do not live on the dole. They agonize over their Christian principles vs real world decisions.
A local Christian radio station that broadcasts Christian messages/sermons from ministers of all races throughout the day to its listeners played a tape during each of its hourly news cast yesterday day of a local African American pastor pleading to Obama to restore Christian values because they felt he turned his back on them in regards to gay marriage. It was a genuine, heartfelt plea of a Christian minister in front of his congregation this past Sunday morning.
That group is indeed a fractured point of lost support of Obama within the African American community.
#7
American pastor pleading to Obama to restore Christian values because they felt he turned his back on them in regards to gay marriage. It was a genuine, heartfelt plea of a Christian minister in front of his congregation this past Sunday morning.
But Lonzo my friend, we must take The Champ at his word, no ?
#8
That group is indeed a fractured point of lost support of Obama within the African American community.
Okay, but just what percentage of the overall Black demographic do they represent? My expectation is that tribalism will win out.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
09/18/2012 10:39 Comments ||
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#9
There is NOTHING he could do that will change that. And that goes for the greatest bulk of Obama's 2008 supporters, nothing he did or didn't do will make any difference to them, they will support & vote for him regardless.
#10
We'll see whether race trumps morality on Nov. 6th. Past performance does not bode well. There is now a Randy Newman spoof song out that is titled: "I'm Dreaming of a White President." He will probably get flack over it.
#14
Why are African American pastors allowed to give voting advice to their parishioners? Catholic priests and bishops must tread very carefully, or they are threatened with loss of their tax exempt status. They can say "here is the Church's position on abortion (for example). Here are the positions of the candidates." But they cannot say "Vote for this candidate." So how do African-American pastors get away with it?
This issue predates Obama, by the way. Bill Clinton visited a church in New York to urge the people to vote for Mario Cuomo.
Personally, I don't see how any faithful Catholic could vote for a Democrat this year, given their position on abortion and other issues.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
09/18/2012 13:51 Comments ||
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#15
Why are African American pastors allowed to give voting advice to their parishioners? Catholic priests and bishops must tread very carefully, or they are threatened with loss of their tax exempt status. They can say "here is the Church's position on abortion (for example). Here are the positions of the candidates." But they cannot say "Vote for this candidate." So how do African-American pastors get away with it?
For the same reason that Vallerie Jarrett went before the members of a liberal African American church recently and bashed Republicans.
The Democrats know waht a white, Republican leaning preacher once told his congregation recently. The IRS tax exempt rule has never been challenged before the Supreme Court and if it did it would not stand constitutionally. At least until Stevens ruled in favor of Socialist Government Healthcare Hell.
#17
One of the things we learned in California with Proposition 8 is that blacks, and African American pastors in particular, are opposed to same sex marriage in no uncertain terms. Latinos, in general, are also opposed. Could be their survival instincts haven't yet become as badly compromised as white liberals. This will put them at odds with any candidate who endorses same sex marriage. To what degree remains to be seen. Not very likely it will be enough for Romney to carry the state.
It was interesting that after the gays didn't get their way they were quick to stage protests in front of Mormon temples but they left the black churches and the Catholics alone.
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.
Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn't stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.
Since last summer, Solyndra LLC and another solar company, Abound Solar, have filed for bankruptcy despite receiving generous federal loan guarantees. After both bankruptcies, government officials were quick to place blame on subsidies from China that allowed foreign solar panel manufactures to sell their products below cost, squeezing U.S. solar companies.
A college professor has been placed on leave after she allegedly forced her class to sign a pledge to vote for President Obama in the upcoming elections. Early last week Professor Sharon Sweet at Brevard Community College (BCC) allegedly told students to sign a pledge that reads: "I pledge to vote for President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket."
Now, with 49 days left until the election, Romney's chief strategist, Stuart Stevens, is being accused of not defining the candidate quickly enough over the summer and not helping the sometimes awkward nominee forge a closer bond with voters. Republicans are increasingly frustrated with the campaign's inability to capitalize on Americans' anxiety about the economy and their lukewarm approval of President Obama.
Joe Ricketts, whose family owns the Chicago Cubs, is moving forward with plans to bankroll a major ad campaign to help 
