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- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Nov. 3, 2006 at 1:05 a.m.
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MORE ABUSE of non-profits in Kansas for political purposes:
“Progress Kansas” a PAC-in-a-Box in Olathe?
A Mysterious “Non-Profit” Postal Box Sending Hit Pieces Against Certain State Rep Candidates, including at least one in the Wichita area
http://www.kansasmeadowlark.com/2006/KansasProgress/index.htm
Snoop Dog is an Eveready Bunny? Tiller’s Snoop Dog mailings just keep coming and coming?
See Snoop Dog V here:http://www.kansasmeadowlark.com/2006/SnoopDogs/SnoopDogV.htm
AND, a reported Snoop Dog VI was received today. Some families in Kansas have now received SIX mailings from Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection, a “non profit”, likely funded by George Tiller and/or his ProKanDo PAC to hide his participation in Kansas elections.
WHY do we tolerate abuse of non-profits participating in political mailings, like both Kansans for Consumer Privacy Protection AND Progress Kansas?
When does the hunting season for Sturnella neglecta open? I am tired of these infestations of scroll-over material … :)
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/world/middleeast/03reconstruct.html?ex=1320210000&en=a10afb5d74a4018d&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss
Investigations led by lawyer named Stuart W. Bowen Jr. in have sent American occupation officials to jail on bribery and conspiracy charges, exposed disastrously poor construction work by well-connected companies like Halliburton and Parsons, and discovered that the military did not properly track hundreds of thousands of weapons it shipped to Iraqi security forces
Mr. Bowen’s office has inspected and audited taxpayer-financed projects like this prison in Nasiriya, Iraq. authorization bill that President Bush signed two weeks ago is what some of Mr. Bowen’s supporters believe is his reward for repeatedly embarrassing the administration: a pink slip.The order comes in the form of an obscure provision that terminates his federal oversight agency, the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, on Oct. 1, 2007. The clause was inserted by the Republican side of the House Armed Services Committee over the objections of Democratic counterparts during a closed-door conference, and it has generated surprise and some outrage among lawmakers who say they had no idea it was in the final legislation.Mr. Bowen’s office, which began operation in January 2004 to examine reconstruction money spent in Iraq, was always envisioned as a temporary organization, permitted to continue its work only as long as Congress saw fit. Some advocates for the office, in fact, have regarded its lack of a permanent bureaucracy as the key to its aggressiveness and independence.But as the implications of the provision in the new bill have become clear, opposition has been building on both sides of the political aisle. One point of contention is exactly when the office would have naturally run its course without a hard end date
examine reconstruction money spent in Iraq, was always envisioned as a temporary organization, permitted to continue its work only as long as Congress saw fit. Some advocates for the office, in fact, have regarded its lack of a permanent bureaucracy as the key to its aggressiveness and independence.But as the implications of the provision in the new bill have become clear, opposition has been building on both sides of the political aisle. One point of contention is exactly when the office would have naturally run its course without a hard end date.The bipartisan opposition may not be unexpected given Mr. Bowen’s Republican credentials — he served under both in Texas and in the White House — and deep public skepticism on the Bush administration’s conduct of the war.a Maine Republican who followed the bill closely as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, says that she still does not know how the provision made its way into what is called the conference report, which reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.Neither the House nor the Senate version contained such a termination clause before the conference, all involved agree.“It’s truly a mystery to me,” Ms. Collins said. “I looked at what I thought was the final version of the conference report and that provision was not in at that time.”“The one thing I can confirm is that this was a last-minute insertion,” she said.A Republican spokesman for the committee, Josh Holly, said lawmakers should not have been surprised by the provision closing the inspector general’s office because it “was discussed very early in the conference process.”But like several other members of the House and Senate who were contacted on the bill, Ms. Collins said that she feared the loss of oversight that could occur if the inspector general’s office went out of business, adding that she was already working on legislation with several Democratic and Republican senators to reverse the termination.One of those, the Virginia Republican who is chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that Mr. Bowen was “making a valuable contribution to the Congressional and public understanding of this very complex and ever-changing situation in Iraq.”“Given that his office has performed important work and that much remains to be done,” Mr. Warner added, “I intend to join Senator Collins in consulting with our colleagues to extend his charter.”While Senators Collins and Warner said they had nothing more than hunches on where the impetus for setting a termination date had originated, Congressional were less reserved.“It appears to me that the administration wants to silence the messenger that is giving us information about waste and fraud in Iraq,” said a California Democrat who is the ranking minority member of the House Committee on Government Reform.“I just can’t see how one can look at this change without believing it’s political,” he said.The termination language was inserted into the bill by Congressional staff members working for Duncan Hunter, the California Republican who is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and who declared on Monday that he plans to run for president in 2008.Mr. Holly, who is the House Armed Services spokesman as well as a member of Mr. Hunter’s staff, said that politics played no role and that there had been no direction from the administration or lobbying from the companies whose work in Iraq Mr. Bowen’s office has severely critiqued. Three of the companies that have been a particular focus of Mr. Bowen’s investigations, Halliburton, Parsons and Bechtel, said that they had made no effort to lobby against his office.
From the “Will It Ever End” Department;Nov 3, 2006 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) – The president of the U.S. National Association of Evangelicals, who has had regular talks with the White House and vocally opposes gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort.
Where’s the outrage about the millions of dollars that George Tiller spends on candidates and elections? Many of you seem to get upset over any money that KOCH spends but you don’t seem to mind the fact that Tiller hides behind several organizations that funnel money to candidates and does mailer against candidates.
You are such hypocrites!!
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/1732834.php
Is this the October Surprise? And putting it in action, say, Monday?
Thanks for the morning scroll-over stuff, hearsay & meadowpoop.Good exercise for the middle finger.
AMERICA HELD HOSTAGE:
DAY 2113
Presidency held hostage:809 Days left.
Congress held hostage:64 Days left.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
GOP tactic – disagreeing with “Beloved Leader” is unpatriotic. Apparent free speech is OK for everyone but those who differ with Bush:
First lady: World listening to Iraq talk
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HILLIARD, Ohio — First lady Laura Bush cautioned Wednesday that Americans discussing the war in Iraq – especially politicians – should be careful what they say because other countries are paying attention.
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/11/02/first-lady-world-listening-to-iraq-talk/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fseattlepi.nwsource.com%2Fnational%2F1151AP_First_Lady.html&frame=true
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO!
Amid allegations, Haggard steps aside
COLORADO SPRINGS — The Rev. Ted Haggard stepped aside as senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church and resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations by a former gay male escort that the two had a three-year sexual relationship.The church issued a statement saying Haggard “could not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning.”
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5112770,00.html
It is common for Ministers to step down/aside or back away temporarily when a controversy occurs.
The reason is that it detracts from the ministry and its soul-saving objects.
They are just allegations though. Most Christians know that men are fallible and not to put their faith in me and that’s why they put their faith in Jesus Christ.
After President Meets Reporters, Sullivan — Once a Bush Backer — Now Suggests He May Have ‘Lost His Mind’…Sullivan said the president was “so in denial,” comparing the Rumsfeld endorsement to applauding the job FEMA’s Michael Brown did on Katrina: “It’s unhinged. It suggests this man has lost his mind. No one objectively could look at the way this war has been conducted, whether you were for it, as I was, or against it, and say that it has been done well. It’s a disaster.
“For him to say it’s a fantastic job suggests the president has lost it, I’m sorry, there’s no other way to say it…..These people must be held accountable.” He added that today, Richard Perle, a leading neocon and Iraq war backer, had today called the administration “dysfunctional.”http://editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_displa...
faith in me = faith in them(bad typo heh)Either way, don’t put your faith in men not to be fallable.
not enough coffee
Makes you wonder whether Eagle editors actually read their professional journal “Editor and Publisher.”
Or do they just spend all their time at The Drudge Report . . .
NYT: Congress Tells Auditors In Iraq To Close Office
Investigations led by a Republican lawyer named Stuart W. Bowen Jr. in Iraq have sent American occupation officials to jail on bribery and conspiracy charges, exposed disastrously poor construction work by well-connected companies like Halliburton and Parsons, and discovered that the military did not properly track hundreds of thousands of weapons it shipped to Iraqi security forces.
And tucked away in a huge military authorization bill that President Bush signed two weeks ago is what some of Mr. Bowen’s supporters believe is his reward for repeatedly embarrassing the administration: a pink slip.
*****
New congress in November. Let the subpeonas begin . . .
hmmmm…..Another report on the religous right, from Pat Hayes:
Annals of Crime — Dr. Dino Goes Down
As we all know, the teaching of evolution in the public schools breeds contempt for god-given moral values. That’s why we were so surprised to read a report in the Pensacola News Journal that a federal jury had convicted Kent Hovind, aka Dr. Dino of tax fraud — not giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.
Despite the conviction, Hovind remains a strong family values man. His wife, Jo, was also convicted of tax fraud. Her charges include aiding and abetting her husband with 44 counts of evading bank-reporting requirements.
Hovind, who runs Dinosaur Adventure Land, a creationist theme park that asserts Adam and Eve — like Fred and Wilma –romped with the dinosaurs, reportedly faces a maximum of 288 years in prison. His wife faces up to 225 years.
According to the report in the Pensacola News Journal, Hovind’s defense lawyers rested their case on Wednesday without presenting evidence or calling witnesses.
Hey, wait just a minute. That’s the same proof they offer for creationism and intelligent design.
# posted by Red State Rabble @ 5:45 AM
JM,
And the board of Pastor Haggard’s megachurch has sent out a press release confirming the truth of some of the allegations.
Best case:
a) Ted Haggard smoked meth with a gay male prostitute.
b) Ted Haggard smoked meth with a gay male prostitute and went on to have sex with the same gay male prostitute–for three years.
‘Just allegations.’ Uh-huh.
I wonder how all the fundos feel about the double life of Pastor Homofundo? I don’t imagine it’s going to help much on Election Day.
John Kerry saying something stupid isn’t going to keep Democrats and independents from voting Democratic. Ted Haggard being outed as a drug-user and male-prostitute customer might have just a bit more of an effect on the 30 million fundos who belong to the organization of which Haggard is president–the National Association of Evangelicals.
This is bad news for the GOP. Bad news. Karl Rove’s nightmare, in fact. Because without the fundos, he’s got nothing. David Kuo primed ‘em by blowing the whistle on the Bush Administration’s phony commitment to evangelicals, and this just drives home the point that politics is dirty, and that the kingdom of man will always corrupt the attempt to bring about the kingdom of God.
Todd Tiahrt debated Dan GlickmanTodd Tiahrt debated Randy RathbunTodd Tiahrt debated Jim LawingTodd Tiahrt debated Carlos Nolla
So why won’t he debate Garth McGinn….
JM, you seem to have left out the fact the the iterim preacher confirms the illicit actions of Haggard.
” Many of you seem to get upset over any money that KOCH spends but you don’t”IF you mean funding the fact challenged Cato institute and influencing national policy for personal gain yeah I’m bothered by it.
Tracy,
Indeed that is sad for the members of that church if it is true their Pastor has fallen to carnal desires. I hope it doesn’t shake their faith.
I don’t think I ever heard of the guy until the news story.
The only Haggard I knew of was Merl Haggard, that Country and Western singer.
but but john kerry said something stewpid
http://economistsview.typepad.com/
As Bechtel Goes, by Paul Krugman, Commentary, NY Times: Bechtel, the giant engineering company, is leaving Iraq. Its mission — to rebuild power, water and sewage plants — wasn’t accomplished: Baghdad received less than six hours a day of electricity last month, and much of Iraq’s population lives with untreated sewage and without clean water. But Bechtel, having received $2.3 billion of taxpayers’ money and having lost the lives of 52 employees, has come to the end of its last government contract.
The Bush White House as the Addams Family
Gomez = George W.
Morticia = Condi Rice
Uncle Fester = Dick Cheney, of course Dick Cheney
Wednesday = Ann Coulter
Lurch = Donald Rumsfailed
Thing = Karl Rove
JM–
It isn’t “sad,” you twerp.
It’s typical.
Big money megachurch pastors living the high life by feeding their parishoners a bunch of self-rightous BS that amounts to “we all are better than _____.”
Fill in the blank with the persecuted hate object du jour, gays, feminists, secular humanists, mainline churches, Muslims, Jews, illegal immigrants, etc.
Jimmy Swaggert–frequented prostitutes
Jim Baaker–fraud
Roe Messner–fraud
Peter Popoff–claims to “sense” prayer needs–turns out they were fed to him by wireless listening device
David Brace–pastor of Faith Metro Mega-church (now part of WSU), money laundering
There’re a lot of other examples, but google them yourself.
Posted by: CapnAmerica | November 03, 2006 at 08:59 AM
“JM–It isn’t “sad,” you twerp.”
Oh, I see. Thanks for telling me what to think and feel. I thought you liberal Democrats were supposed to be passionately caring about your fellow human.
Guess not huh.
Okay, you convinced me, JM.
You’re sad.
Man, are you sad . . .
For those who still have the time, may I suggest advance voting? I did this, along with my wife, last night, and found the experience less stressful, less time consuming than trying to work around a crowded schedule on election day to make it to the polls either: 1) very early in the a.m.; or 2) before they close, on the way home.
As has earlier been reported by another, the fact that the SG county electronic machines have a paper trail associated with them gives a bit of assurance that the vote cast will be accurately reflected.
Finally, as a closet geek, the voting machines are really great!
Posted by: CapnAmerica | November 03, 2006 at 08:59 AM
“Okay, you convinced me, JM.You’re sad.Man, are you sad . . .”
According to you CapnAmerica, everyone who doesn’t have exactly your opinion is sad/wrong/corrupt.
Vaughn Tolle,
Yep, I did exactly that (voted early) a few days ago.
There will be those who be complaining on Tuesday with the long lines that ignored that option.
I advanced voted early and did so at the old county courthouse. My wife advance voted yesterday and did at the church where we usually vote. There are extended hours until 7pm now.
I expect there will be a good turn out for this election. Advance voting is a good idea.
Have we learned anything from the prisoner abuse scandals in Iraq?
http://my.netscape.com/corewidgets/news/story.psp?cat=51280&id=2006110309400001306675
Former Army Dog Handler Returned to IraqFORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) – An Army dog handler convicted of abusingdetainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq has returned to the countrywith his military police unit, a military spokesman confirmed.Sgt. Santos A. Cardona boarded a plane Monday bound for Iraq. Heis assigned to the 23rd Military Police Company, said Maj. JamesCrabtree, a spokesman for the 18th Airborne Corps, which isheadquartered at Fort Bragg.The unit will focus on law enforcement, detainee operations androute security and to a lesser extent training Iraqi police.more …
Dog handler not going back to Iraq, will be in Kuwait:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/03/iraq.cardona/index.html
Operation Rescue’s PAC, Kansans For Truth in Politics raised a total of $1200. Of that $1200, $900 was donated by OR leader Troy Newman (who claims that he’s a minister). Another $200 was donated by the group’s treasurer, Jennifer Mason. And the final $100 was paid by Mark Gietzen, head of Kansas Coalition for Life.
The funny thing is that Jennifer Mason owes over a $1000 in taxes. Mark Gietzen owes about $1800 in taxes. They have enough money to donate to political campaigns but not enough to pay the taxes the rest of us have to pay.
Maybe I ought to spam every board like Meadowlurk does.
George Bush is stumping hard for many Republican candidates in key battleground states. I wonder … will Bush help these candidates or will he hurt them? With growing dissatisfaction with Bush’s war I have to wonder if ‘nationalizing’ the election doesn’t help the Democrats.
My oldest and I have plans to vote later today. Last year, one of my other daughters and I voted early at the old courthouse and actually waited longer there than my oldest did on election day at our regular voting place. I’m hoping today doesn’t prove the same.
“HILLIARD, Ohio — First lady Laura Bush cautioned Wednesday that Americans discussing the war in Iraq – especially politicians – should be careful what they say because other countries are paying attention.”
Of course, they are! And they’re learning that the majority of Americans are not happy with what this president is doing, not to mention that those in high positions aren’t happy either.
Dong! Dong! That’s the bell of truth ringing.
JM, I don’t know about his guilt.The interim said there was some indescretion, but would only say that it was not quite what Jones had said.
Sounds like Haggard’s going down though. (pun intended) HA.
Now, I don’t think the accuser should be treated well either,after all, his claim says he’s a male prostitute.No WAIT A MINUTE…..I forgot, THE WHITE HOUSE HIRES MALE ‘ESCORT’ as a phony planted news reporter, to pitch GW ’softball’ questions (all the while barring Maureen Dowd).
Hmmmm………..NEVERMIND.We need to treat this guy like the queen he is!!
Bush and republicans gave Iran nuclear tech.http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/world/middleeast/03documents.html?hp&ex=1162616400&en=8326da2ccc77699e&ei=5094&partner=homepage
Last March, the federal government set up a Web site to make public a vast archive of Iraqi documents captured during the war. The Bush administration did so under pressure from Congressional Republicans who had said they hoped to “leverage the Internet” to find new evidence of the prewar dangers posed by Saddam Hussein.
But in recent weeks, the site has posted some documents that weapons experts say are a danger themselves: detailed accounts of Iraq’s secret nuclear research before the 1991 Persian Gulf war. The documents, the experts say, constitute a basic guide to building an atom bomb.
Last night, the government shut down the Web site after The New York Times asked about complaints from weapons experts and arms-control officials. A spokesman for the director of national intelligence said access to the site had been suspended “pending a review to ensure its content is appropriate for public viewing.”
Officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency, fearing that the information could help states like Iran develop nuclear arms, had privately protested last week to the American ambassador to the agency, according to European diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity. One diplomat said the agency’s technical experts “were shocked” at the public disclosures.
Early this morning, a spokesman for Gregory L. Schulte, the American ambassador, denied that anyone from the agency had approached Mr. Schulte about the Web site.
The documents, roughly a dozen in number, contain charts, diagrams, equations and lengthy narratives about bomb building that nuclear experts who have viewed them say go beyond what is available elsewhere on the Internet and in other public forums. For instance, the papers give detailed information on how to build nuclear firing circuits and triggering explosives, as well as the radioactive cores of atom bombs.
something funny for a change …
A mother passing by her daughter’s bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then she saw an envelope propped up prominently on the center of the bed. It was addressed, “Mom.” With the worst premonition, she opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:
Dear Mom: It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m writing you. I had to elope with my new boyfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Dad and you. I’ve been finding real passion with Ahmed and he is so nice-even with all his piercings, tattoos, beard, and his motorcycle clothes. But it’s not only the passion Mom, I’m pregnant and Ahmed said that we will be very happy. He already owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. He wants to have many more children with me and that’s now one of my dreams too. Ahmed taught me that marijuana doesn’t really hurt anyone and we’ll be growing it for us and trading it with his friends for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we’ll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Ahmed can get better; he sure deserves it!! Don’t worry Mom, I’m 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I’m sure we’ll be back to visit so you can get to know your grand children.
Your daughter, Judith
PS: Mom, none of the above is true. I’m over at the neighbor’s house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than my report card that’s in my desk center drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.
A thoughtful, touching blog entry by an NBC reporter who had been embedded with Sgt. Mock’s unit in Iraq:
http://onthescene.msnbc.com/baghdad/2006/11/other_peoples_s.html#posts
As you likely recall, Sgt. Mock, from Harper, was killed in Iraq during October.
Thanks Dave S. I was wondering when that story would make it on the blog.
Do a google search. There are more than 9.7 million hits on How to build an nuclear bomb. None of this info is a secret.
But wait, how accurate can any of this info be anyway? Iraq never did anything to us. Iraq and Saddam were a peaceful nation. Any documents found with info about nuclear, chemical and other weapons must certainly be forged by the President’s own hand because there were no WMD’s…
Lying military recruiters like those “exposed” in the link below just make me want to puke:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2626032&page=1
Yes, Nathan (and others), probably a great majority of recruiters do not lie like this. However, as a former USAF Area Defense Administrator, I saw the results of, shall we say, agressive recruting come through our office weekly, the subject of potential courts-martial or administrative discharge action. This was in the early days of the “all volunteer” military, which was having great difficulties meeting its manpower needs due to the Vietnam hangover. For the record, dates of service: 7 Jun 1973 – 6 Jun 1977.
I see a great similarity to what was happening then, and what is happening now. The recruiters involved should be subject to court-martial, if the allegations can be proven, and given a BCD after reduction to E-1 and forfeiture of all pay and allowances, at a minimum.
doubt any of you are morning kfdi listeners.
But just in case.
Did any of you hear the early morning interview with Garth McGinn?
He was great.
But when they got to the topic of IRAQ war, they pulled out cut and run, and accused Garth of having a cut and run policy…
The only thing cutting and running right now is Todd Tiahrt..
Too scared to have an open debate.
Then, it reduced to asking Garth if he used a tush cushion. They actually wanted to know if he drove around with a cushion under his behind in his car..
It was a pretty sad interview, given the seriousness of things in our world today. A Garth McGinn handled it very well.
Bush Admin Seeks Closure of Iraq Reconstruction Corruption MonitorThe New York Times is reporting the Bush administration and leading Congressional Republicans are trying to close the office overseeing corruption and abuse in the US-led reconstruction of Iraq. A provision attached to this year’s military authorization bill says the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction will close on October 1st of next year. The office is headed by Republican lawyer Stuwart Bowen. Bowen’s investigations have indicted several American officials on corruption charges, documented wasteful and inept work by large contractors and found the Pentagon did not properly track hundreds of thousands of weapons given to Iraqi troops. Democratic Congressmember Henry Waxman said: “It appears the administration wants to silence the messenger that is giving us information about waste and fraud in Iraq.”
No surprise at all RH.
Has the president actually lied to the public about Social Security?
Yes. President Bush has repeatedly said that those who put their money in private accounts are “guaranteed” a better return than they’ll receive from the current Social Security system. But every sale of stock on the stock market includes the disclaimer: “the return on this investment is not guaranteed and may be negative”–for good reason. During the 20th century, there were several periods lasting more than 10 years where the return on stocks was negative. After the Dow Jones stock index went down by over 75% between 1929 and 1933, the Dow did not return to its 1929 level until 1953. In claiming that the rate of return on a stock investment is guaranteed to be greater than the return on any other asset, Bush is lying. If an investment-firm broker made this claim to his clients, he would be arrested and charged with stock fraud. Michael Milken went to jail for several years for making just this type of promise about financial investments.
In fact, under the most likely version of the Bush privatization proposal, a 20-year old worker joining the labor force today would see her guaranteed Social Security benefits reduced by 46%. Bush’s own Social Security commission admitted that private accounts are unlikely to make up for this drop in guaranteed benefits. The brokerage firm Goldman Sachs estimates that even with private accounts, retirement income of younger workers would be reduced by 42% compared to what they would receive if no changes are made to Social Security.
President Bush also misrepresents the truth when he claims that Social Security trustees say the system will be “bankrupt” in 2042. Bankruptcy is defined as “the inability to pay ones debts” or, when applied to a business, “shutting down as a result of insolvency.” Nothing the trustees have said or published indicates that Social Security will fold as a result of insolvency.
Until 1984, the trust fund was “pay-as-you-go,” meaning current benefits were paid using current tax revenues. In 1984, Congress raised payroll taxes to prepare for the retirement of the baby boom generation. As a result, the Social Security trust fund, which holds government bonds as assets, has been growing. When the baby boomers retire, these bonds will be sold to help pay their retirement benefits.
If the trust fund went to zero, Social Security would simply revert to pay-as-you-go. It would continue to pay benefits using (then-current) tax revenues, and in doing so, it would be able to cover about 70% of promised benefit levels. According to analysis by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a 70% benefit level then would actually be higher than 2005 benefit levels in constant dollars (because of wage adjustments). In other words, retirees would be taking home more in real terms than today’s retirees do. The system won’t be bankrupt in any sense. On this point, President Bush is “consciously misrepresenting the truth with the intent to deceive.” That is what the dictionary defines as lying.
Very interesting:http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2005/0505orr.html
After reading this it came to me that it would be best to leave this insurance nest egg alone rather than have politicians throw trillions at Wall Street.
Quote of the Day:
“A newspaper has three things to do. One is to amuse, another is to entertain, and the rest is to mislead.” Aneurin Bevin
V.L.R.B!!
Richard, are you our regular heckler?If you are that’s great you’re using your full name.
Based on the nature of the posts I do not think that is the Heckler we are familiar with.
Headline: Bush says he will be BEHIND Haggard ALL the way.
President Bush stated in a news conference today that having a “little toot” was alright with him, so long as he was a good Christian.
Bush went on to say that a “little toot, never hurt him or his ability to “misstratergize.”
The president said that he “remained firm” in his desire to “be right behind” Haggard.
In related news: Rush Limbaugh advised that he knew a “good doctor” that could get Haggard a few “little blue pills” that would help him “stand on his own” during this crisis.
Also in related news, Jerry Falwell said that Haggard should “be on his knees” when repenting for his sins.
The Bush admin has been a free spending entity with our tax dollars. Unfortunately thus far he seems not to have a grasp on how any of it is spent much less where it is going. However someone is keeping a close eye on things. Practical and frugal the president is not. Too bad he is not throwing trillions into our public education and higher education system or into healthcare for those items would provide some bang for the buck.
Meanwhile:
http://www.corpwatch.org/
Scientists say White House muzzled them (AP)
Two federal agencies are investigating whether the Bush administration tried to block government scientists from speaking freely about global warming and censor their research, a senator said Wednesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061102/ap_on_go_co/global_warming
Is administration muzzling warming research?Senator: Two inspectors general investigating ‘censorship and suppression’
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said he was informed that the inspectors general for the Commerce Department and NASA had begun “coordinated, sweeping investigations of the Bush administration’s censorship and suppression†of federal research into global warming.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15519947/
Pardon our confusion.
If you are new to posting here, welcome R Heckler. Thing is we have a regular here called “heckler”. His posts would be very different from what you’ve put up. You gotta be new or our regular heckler has had a life alering experience! THIS could be interesting.
Think back to pre-2000 election. Even then Bush was saying he wanted to put SS money into the stock market. Didn’t anyone take him seriously?
hmmmm, good joke (letter from daughter). I heard it back in the late ’60’s/early 70’s as a letter from a college coed.
Our election system cannot be the envy of the world to any nation paying attention. What happens nationwide happens also takes place at the local and state levels. No one has envy for elections controlled by large corporate special interests including the media.
What’s the answer? We want representative government that will promote economic growth instead of outsourcing without promoting expensive retail or residential sprawl and unplanned growth.
Voters,taxpayers and citizens may want to consider placing a cap on campaign spending in order to contain special interest financing of political campaigns. Too bad Washington D.C. writes their own rules regarding campaign spending. Better yet eliminate special interest funding.I say put this matter on the 2008 ballot. The USA must keep its’ elected positions within reach of real,practical and prudent people. The neoconservatives and corporate america who have taken over the republican party have made a mockery of the system. It’s time to stop.
If individuals want to invest THEIR SS money perhaps that should be given some thought. The Bush deal is trillions of tax dollars for Wall Street. Forget that concept.
If the sky should fall as it did during the savings and loan scandal,ENRON scandal and othersSocial Security Insurance should be left alone. It was never intended to generate enough funding to retire in Aspen. I say there are millions out there who in the end are thankful their SS was safe from Wall Street evils.
My grandfathers advice to me was if a person cannot afford to lose money don’t play Wall Street. G W Bush has yet to impress upon me that he is an economic giant of our time. He isn’t rich due to his own accord.
I did have a life altering experience aka Reagan,Bush,Bush very corrupt politics.
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0825447.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/neo-conservatism/pnac.html
http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
NOW meet real republicans:http://www.republicansforchoice.com/partyunitypress.htm
To many weirdo’s out there for me to use my real name on a forum like this.
Welcome to Richard.
Regarding Tiller. He is doing nothing different than all of the corporate special interest groups have been doing for the neoconservatives. Speaking of which I contend that Barnett,Wagle,Kline,Ryun and Tihart are being dishonest with the voters in calling themselves Republicans. They are not republicans.My contention is they are Christian Coalition Neoconservatives which in reality is a party in and of itself. Instead of becoming a “legal” third party they replaced real republicans over a period of about 25 years and now are the over whelming controlling majority. Jerry Falwell is quite proud of this achievement not to mention a bit boastful.Where did the train load of money come from?
The USA needs to end special interest financing of political elections.
Regime change in DC . That can happen only with a huge voter turnout. Remind your friends,relatives,secret lovers and anyone else.
Sen. Pat Roberts was one of the republicans calling for Bush to release the documents on the web! Way to go, pat!http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/03/18/us_puts_iraqi_documents_on_the_web/
Now that Pat Roberts and other members of the Noeconservative Party realize they might lose control of the house and senate it is a losers attempt to appear as though cooperation is in the air after a tremendous amount of stone walling.
Sen Pat Roberts alos does not support the middle class whether they are republican or democrat. Received an F…but then again the entire Kansas republican delegation received an F on many issues put before them.
Instead of listening to big brother(CIA) this administration dropped the ball on 9/11/01. This administration then proceeded reducing Afghanistan and Iraq to rubble thus killing thousands upon thousands of innocent men women and children who were not terrorists.
how many:http://www.icasualties.org/oif/
How may tax dollars:http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182
Any politician who stands behind a president just because they are all of the neoconservative party is NOT doing a good job. Neoconservative Presidents are NOT be worshipped. Meet the Neoconservative Party:http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/neo-conservatism/pnac.html
Republican and democrat presidents do not deserve worship status either. For that matter no elected official deserves worship status.
CF,Regarding your question about why Tiahrt debated Glickman, Rathbun, Lawling and Nolla, but runs from McGinn, Tiahrt didn’t have direct ties to corrupt politicians then. He does not want to answer questions about it and he knows the Wichita media won’t press him on it. So, why would he debate a condidate who would?
Endorsements
Kansas Families United for Public Education is pleased to endorse thefollowing supporters of public education. Send this list to a friend
* Qualified endorsement, candidate supports teaching of creationism or Intelligent Design in the Science Classroom
** Qualified endorsement, candidate does not fully endorse equal education rights for all Kansas children, regardless of immigration status.Federal Office:Nancy Boyda (D), U.S. Congress (District #2), http://www.nancyforcongress.com/index.phpDennis Moore (D), U.S. Congress (District #3), http://www.mooreforcongress.com
Kansas Board of Education:Janet Waugh (D), State Board of Education (District #1), http://www.janetwaugh.comDon Weiss (D), State Board of Education (District #3), http://www.donweiss.orgSally Cauble (R), State Board of Education (District #5), http://www.caubleforcommonsense.comJack Wempe (D), State Board of Education (District #7), http://jackwempeforstateboard.com/Jana Shaver (R), State Board of Education (District #9), http://www.janashaver.com
State House of Representatives:Julie Menghini (D), District #003, http://www.juliemenghini.com* Shirley Palmer (D), District #004Ginny Rigney (D), District #006Richard Proehl (R), District #007* Jerry Williams (D), District #008** Tom Holland (D), District #010, http://www.tomhollandforkansas.orgNO ENDORSEMENT, District #011Jeff King (R), District #012Aunesty Janssen (D), District #014, http://www.aunestyjanssen.comHeather Cessna (D), District #015, http://www.cessnaforkansas.blogspot.comGene Rardin (D), District #016Ed Coleman (D), District #017, http://www.colemanforkansas.comStephanie Sharp (R), District #017, http://www.stephaniesharp.comCindy Neighbor (D), District #018, http://www.cindyneighbor.orgTim Owens (R), District #019Alex Holsinger (D), District #020, http://www.kansansforalex.comKay Wolf (R), District #021, http://www.kansansforkay.comSue Storm (D), District #022** Milak Talia (D), District #023, http://www.milack.comEd O’Malley (R), District #024, http://www.edomalley.orgAndy Sandler (D), District #024, http://www.andyforkansas.org/Terrie Huntington (R), District #025, http://www.terriehuntington.comMissy Taylor (D), District #025, http://taylorforkansas.orgNO ENDORSEMENT, District #026NO ENDORSEMENT, District #027Pat Colloton (R), District #028, http://www.patcolloton.comAmber Bachelor (D), District #029, http://www.bachelorforhouse.comCheryl Spaulding (R), District #029Ron Worley (R), District #030Louis Ruiz (D), District #032Tom Burroughs (D), District #033* Valdenia Winn (D), District #034Broderick Henderson (D), District #035Margaret Long (D), District #036Michael Peterson (D), District #037Diane Bryant (D), District #038Corey Mohn, District #039, http://www.votemohn.comCary Mohn (D), District #039* Lee Urban (D), District #043Barbara Ballard (D), District #044Tom Sloan (R), District #045Paul Davis (D), District #046, http://www.davisforlawrence.orgJames Farris (D), District #047, http://www.farisforkansas.comPam Ippel (D), District #048Bond Faulwell (D), District #049, http://www.bondfaulwell.comPENDING ENDORSEMENT, District #050NO ENDORSEMENT, District #051Ann Mah (D), District #053, http://www.annmah.orgTanya Dorf (D), District #054Annie Kuether (D), District #055Annie Tietze (D), District #056, http://www.annietietze.usVaughn Flora (D), District #057Harold Lane (D), District #058PENDING ENDORSEMENT, District #059Sydney Carlin (D), District #066, http://www.sydneycarlin.comTom Hawk (D), District #067, http://www.tomhawk.com/Tom Thull (D), District #072, http://www.thullforkansas.orgSarah Johnston (D), District #075Debbie Logsdon (D), District #077, http://www.debbielogsdon.comEd Trimmer (D), District #078Vincent Wetta (D), District #080Judy Armstrong (D), District #081Jo Ann Pottorff (R), District #083Oletha-Faust Goude (D), District #084Guy McDonald (D), District #085Judith Loganbill (D), District #086Raj Goyle (D), District #087, http://www.rajforkansas.comJim Ward (D), District #088Melody McCray-Miller (D), District #089H.W. Collier (D), District #090** Walt Chappel (D), District #091, http://www.chappell4ksrep.comNile Dillmore (D), District #092Marcey Gregory (D), District #093, http://www.gregory4rep.comTom Sawyer (D), District #095Terry McLachlan (D), District #096, http://www.TerryMc96.comDale Swenson (R), District #097Geraldine Flaharty (D), District #098Charlie Mahoney, District #099, http://www.charliemahoney.comMark Treaster (D), District #101, http://marktreaster.orgJanice Pauls (D), District #102Delia Garcia (D), District #103, http://www.deliagarcia.com* ** Jane Byrnes, District #105Josh Svaty (D), District #108Dennis McKinney (D), District #116
Statewide Office:Paul Morrison (D), Attorney General, http://www.morrisonforag.comKathleen Sebelius/Mark Parkinson (D), Governor/Lt. Governor, http://www.ksgovernor.com
America is now seen as a threat to world peace by its closest neighbours and allies, according to an international survey of public opinion published today that reveals just how far the country’s reputation has fallen among former supporters since the invasion of Iraq.
Carried out as US voters prepare to go to the polls next week in an election dominated by the war, the research also shows that British voters see George Bush as a greater danger to world peace than either the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, or the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Both countries were once cited by the US president as part of an “axis of evil” but it is Mr Bush who now alarms voters in countries with traditionally strong links to the US.
The survey has been carried out by the Guardian in Britain and leading newspapers in Israel (Haaretz), Canada (La Presse and Toronto Star) and Mexico (Reforma), using professional local opinion polling in each country.It exposes high levels of distrust. In Britain, 69% of those questioned say they believe US policy has made the world less safe since 2001, with only 7% thinking action in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased global security.The finding is mirrored in America’s immediate northern and southern neighbours, Canada and Mexico, with 62% of Canadians and 57% of Mexicans saying the world has become more dangerous because of US policy.Even in Israel, which has long looked to America to guarantee national security, support for the US has slipped.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1938434,00.html
How did Rep Ryun and Rep Tihart vote on bills regarding the middle class?
How did Rep Jim Ryun and Rep Tihart Vote?
http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/outerenvelope_house.htm
State Republican Majorities Waste Much Time and Money
“Wagle said the first thing that needs to be done is to lower income taxes, eliminate the death tax, and increase the child tax credit.”This line is as old as the hills and they have been in the majority for too damn long and saying the same thing over and over. All they can think about is making the cookie jar empty. Neither clear nor prudent thinking.
The state republicans have been in the majority for a very long time. Once they are elected it becomes all about abortion,creationism ,NOT supporting public schools,unite AGAINST stem cell research and sex education which ultimately wastes valuable time.
Then they will want to do this again.
Beware: TABOR Is ComingAfter devastating government services in Colorado, the “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” threatens to spread.BY MICHAEL REBNE
This article is from the July/August 2005 issue of Dollars & Sense magazine.
In 1992, after tireless nagging by Grover Norquist and his minions at Americans for Tax Reform, Colorado voters amended the state constitution to strictly limit the government’s ability to raise revenue. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, has forced Colorado to spend the last 13 years writing mandatory rebate checks to taxpayers, while vital education and human-service programs have been nearly choked to death. According to David Bradley and Nicholas Johnson at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), for example, “between 1991 and 2003–a period in which the percentage of children who are uninsured declined nationally–the proportion of low-income children who lack health insurance in Colorado rose from 15% to 27%. Colorado now ranks 48th in its level of taxpayer support of colleges and universities, down from 35th in 1992.”
Despite the pain TABOR has caused in Colorado, some 23 states were facing similar initiatives at the close of 2004. But Norquist’s drive shows signs of floundering. “For businesses to be successful you need roads and you need higher education, both of which have gotten worse under TABOR and will continue to get worse,” Tom Clark of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce told the Washington Monthly. “I’m a Republican,” Clark said, “but I made the decision not to give any money to the state party.” Likewise, Colorado Governor Bill Owens is having trouble garnering support from his own party’s legislators, most of whom know their constituents no longer believe TABOR is a good thing. The anti-TABOR movement, meanwhile, continues to gain momentum, as the story of Colorado’s misery begins to spread nationally.
More:http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2005/0705rebne.html
Yes we need to begin getting rid of Kansas neoconservatives who appear to take their orders from national and state level neoconservative think tanksthat support measures such as TABOR.
Gropups such as:Kansas Chamber of CommerceKansas Club for Growth – Established in Washington D.C. as Club for Growth by former Brownback chief of staff.
I consider Ryun,Kline,Barnett and Wagle neoconservatives NOT EVEN republicans.
Only 8% of Americans Support Iraq Strategy
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & ResearchOnly 8% of Americans Support Iraq StrategyNovember 6, 2006
- Many adults in the United States believe their federal administration should alter its tactics in Iraq, according to a poll by the New York Times and CBS News. 61 per cent of respondents believe the U.S. should change its military strategy.
In addition, 27 per cent of respondents think the U.S. should remove all of its troops from Iraq, and eight per cent believe the current military strategy is correct.
The coalition effort against Saddam Hussein’s regime was launched in March 2003. At least 2,829 American soldiers have died during the military operation, and more than 21,400 troops have been wounded in action.
In December 2005, Iraqi voters renewed their National Assembly. In May, Shiite United Iraqi Alliance member Nouri al-Maliki officially took over as prime minister.
On Nov. 3, Bush discussed the situation in Iraq, saying, “We are constantly adjusting our tactics to meet the enemy. The enemy adjusts, we adjust. I’ve given our commanders the flexibility necessary and whatever they need to win this war. And we’ve got a lot going for us. We got a strategy that helps us achieve victory, and we got a military that is the finest military any country has ever assembled.”
Polling Data
Which comes closest to your view? The U.S. should continue fighting the war in Iraq using the same military strategy and tactics it is using now; or The U.S. should continue fighting the war in Iraq by need to change its strategy and tactics; or The U.S. should remove all its troops from Iraq.
Continue strategy
8%
Change strategy
61%
Should not be in Iraq
27%
Not sure
4%
Source: The New York Times / CBS NewsMethodology: Telephone interviews with 1,084 American adults, conducted from Oct. 27 to Oct. 31, 2006. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
Neocons Jumping Ship = Iraq is Lost
Neo Culpa
As Iraq slips further into chaos, the war’s neoconservative boosters have turned sharply on the Bush administration, charging that their grand designs have been undermined by White House incompetence. In a series of exclusive interviews, Richard Perle, Kenneth Adelman, David Frum, and others play the blame game with shocking frankness. Target No. 1: the president himself.
Read the rest of this mind-numbing story called Neo Culpa at the Vanity Fair website:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/12/neocons200612
Murtha has way too much big time dirty laundry!
Email Nancy Pelosi and suggest let the women run the show for a change!http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html
Lynn Woolsyhttp://woolsey.house.gov/contactemailform.asp
Tammy Baldwinhttp://www.house.gov/formbaldwin/IMA/get_address.htm
Julia Carsonhttp://www.juliacarson.house.gov/
Nancy Boydahttp://www.nancyforcongress.com/issues.php
If not select Dennis Kucinich to run the house.
Dennis Kucinichhttp://kucinich.house.gov/
Women are often busy raising children, juggling family schedules, work, and general quality of life issues. Almost everyone has heard the phrase, “Whoever rocks the cradle rules the world.” So why have women given up their rights to voice their opinions and the power of voting?
The fact that millions of women do not vote says they have abdicated and submitted their lives to the decisions and power of predominately male managed world governments. Why? If 57% of registered voters are women, why do they not represent 57% of the votes cast in an election? Why do women not register to vote? Do they think the men in society know how to run the government and social programs better than they? I don’t think so!
Every woman who has raised children, juggled schedules, balanced budgets, made do with available resources, held a job, and managed a home is certainly more than qualified to hold government office, make solid policy decisions, and to certainly vote for qualified candidates—not based on “soccer mom fear”, but on intelligent choices for the best candidate for office.
I cannot imagine a single valid reason for a registered woman to not vote on November 7th. You know that we can all find time for what we want to do regardless of our busy schedule, so lets see a 57% showing of women voters in America!
Unless all women step forward to bring about change and end the corruption and incompetence in government, bring our sons and daughters home from a endless and invalid “war” with only continued death and destruction, work to change policies that have diminished our middle class and economy and the ever growing divide between the “haves” and “have-nots”, what will you tell your children and grandchildren?
I didn’t have time to vote or I didn’t care enough about your future to vote?