False Pretenses
Following 9/11, President Bush and seven top officials of his administration waged a carefully orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
By Charles Lewis and Mark Reading-Smith
President George W. Bush and seven of his administration's top officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, made at least 935 false statements in the two years following September 11, 2001, about the national security threat posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Nearly five years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, an exhaustive examination of the record shows that the statements were part of an orchestrated campaign that effectively galvanized public opinion and, in the process, led the nation to war under decidedly false pretenses.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
MPAA Can't Count
MPAA admits mistake on downloading study
By JUSTIN POPE, AP Education Writer Wed Jan 23, 9:05 AM ET
Hollywood laid much of the blame for illegal movie downloading on college students. Now, it says its math was wrong.
In a 2005 study it commissioned, the Motion Picture Association of America claimed that 44 percent of the industry's domestic losses came from illegal downloading of movies by college students, who often have access to high-bandwidth networks on campus.
...
But now the MPAA, which represents the U.S. motion picture industry, has told education groups a "human error" in that survey caused it to get the number wrong. It now blames college students for about 15 percent of revenue loss.
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By JUSTIN POPE, AP Education Writer Wed Jan 23, 9:05 AM ET
Hollywood laid much of the blame for illegal movie downloading on college students. Now, it says its math was wrong.
In a 2005 study it commissioned, the Motion Picture Association of America claimed that 44 percent of the industry's domestic losses came from illegal downloading of movies by college students, who often have access to high-bandwidth networks on campus.
...
But now the MPAA, which represents the U.S. motion picture industry, has told education groups a "human error" in that survey caused it to get the number wrong. It now blames college students for about 15 percent of revenue loss.
...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Congress unlikely to block weapons to Saudi Arabia
Congress unlikely to block plans to sell $123M worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia
By MATTHEW LEE and ANNE FLAHERTY , Associated Press
Last update: January 15, 2008 - 12:16 AM
WASHINGTON -
The Democratic-led Congress is unlikely to block U.S. plans to sell $123 million worth of sophisticated precision-guided bomb technology to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns from some members that the systems could be used against Israel.
...
By MATTHEW LEE and ANNE FLAHERTY , Associated Press
Last update: January 15, 2008 - 12:16 AM
WASHINGTON -
The Democratic-led Congress is unlikely to block U.S. plans to sell $123 million worth of sophisticated precision-guided bomb technology to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns from some members that the systems could be used against Israel.
...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
2007 Inflation 6.3%
However, for all of 2007, wholesale prices rose by 6.3 percent. It was the biggest annual increase in 26 years.
Election Workers Get 18 Months
Article published Tuesday, March 13, 2007
2 election workers get 18 months for rigging presidential recount
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them today to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
“I can’t help but feel there’s more to this story,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal. Some of their friends and relatives sobbed as the judge imposed the sentence.
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2 election workers get 18 months for rigging presidential recount
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND (AP) — A judge suspicious of more corruption pressed two former election board workers to tell what they know and then sentenced them today to the maximum 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 presidential election recount to make their job easier.
“I can’t help but feel there’s more to this story,” said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Peter Corrigan, who allowed the women to remain free on bond pending appeal. Some of their friends and relatives sobbed as the judge imposed the sentence.
...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Fox News Outfoxed, The New York Times Spins
Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism
The video says over four billion people's media is controlled by Rupert Murdoch.
The New York Times excludes Ron Paul from their voter guide, while including Rudy and Fred who have been beaten by Ron Paul in the early states voting.
The video says over four billion people's media is controlled by Rupert Murdoch.
The New York Times excludes Ron Paul from their voter guide, while including Rudy and Fred who have been beaten by Ron Paul in the early states voting.
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Liberal's Problem
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Liberal hero Bill Clinton did in 1992, flying back to Arkansas from New Hampshire to witness Rickey Ray Rector take the lethal needle. (Since Clinton was our first black president, did that constitute black-on-black violence?) Clinton also expanded the police and prison state, in which a large number of African-Americans are trapped, and shredded the safety net for the poor, among whom reside many African-Americans. Does this make Bill Clinton a racist? Hush yo' mouf!
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Liberal hero Bill Clinton did in 1992, flying back to Arkansas from New Hampshire to witness Rickey Ray Rector take the lethal needle. (Since Clinton was our first black president, did that constitute black-on-black violence?) Clinton also expanded the police and prison state, in which a large number of African-Americans are trapped, and shredded the safety net for the poor, among whom reside many African-Americans. Does this make Bill Clinton a racist? Hush yo' mouf!
...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Your Papers, Please
DHS Announces New License Security Standards
Real ID Program Has Drawn Criticism From States, Privacy Groups
By JASON RYAN, PIERRE THOMAS and THERESA COOK
Jan. 11, 2008
If you were born after Dec. 1, 1964, be prepared to face something in addition to that long line at the Department of Motor Vehicles in the next few years: more scrutiny.
...
"There are three categories of people who will be very unhappy about secured driver's licenses," Chertoff said, "terrorists and people who want to get on airplanes and in federal buildings and avoid terrorist watch lists, illegal immigrants who want to work in this country by pretending to be American citizens, and con men."
There is a fourth group - those who want to be left alone and not tracked by Big Brother.
Real ID Program Has Drawn Criticism From States, Privacy Groups
By JASON RYAN, PIERRE THOMAS and THERESA COOK
Jan. 11, 2008
If you were born after Dec. 1, 1964, be prepared to face something in addition to that long line at the Department of Motor Vehicles in the next few years: more scrutiny.
...
"There are three categories of people who will be very unhappy about secured driver's licenses," Chertoff said, "terrorists and people who want to get on airplanes and in federal buildings and avoid terrorist watch lists, illegal immigrants who want to work in this country by pretending to be American citizens, and con men."
There is a fourth group - those who want to be left alone and not tracked by Big Brother.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Back to school (but not on the bus)
September 4, 2007 at 10:53 am by Michelle Leder
Back to school (but not on the bus)
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Allowing Mueller’s wife and stepdaughter to use Qwest’s jet for their personal use. As the Rocky Mountain News reported, the stepdaughter attends high school in California and Qwest is based in Denver. “The amendment reflects a great appreciation for his family situation as his daughter wraps up her current schooling in California,” Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs told the newspaper. Whether Toevs was able to say that with a straight face is open to debate.
My guru on all things corporate jet-related estimates that this perk could cost Qwest as much as $600K, assuming normal charter rates for the Falcon 2000.
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Back to school (but not on the bus)
...
Allowing Mueller’s wife and stepdaughter to use Qwest’s jet for their personal use. As the Rocky Mountain News reported, the stepdaughter attends high school in California and Qwest is based in Denver. “The amendment reflects a great appreciation for his family situation as his daughter wraps up her current schooling in California,” Qwest spokesman Bob Toevs told the newspaper. Whether Toevs was able to say that with a straight face is open to debate.
My guru on all things corporate jet-related estimates that this perk could cost Qwest as much as $600K, assuming normal charter rates for the Falcon 2000.
...
Friday, January 04, 2008
Government Forcing TV Ads On Minors
Sweden battles to keep child ad ban
Published: 4 Jan 08 08:38 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/9559/
Sweden is set to go into battle against the European Commission to preserve the country's ban on television advertisements aimed at children. Consumer Affairs Minister Nyamko Sabuni says she is prepared to take the issue to the European Court.
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Published: 4 Jan 08 08:38 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/9559/
Sweden is set to go into battle against the European Commission to preserve the country's ban on television advertisements aimed at children. Consumer Affairs Minister Nyamko Sabuni says she is prepared to take the issue to the European Court.
...
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Rights Violated During Katrina Firearm Seizures
NRA Lawsuit: New Orleans Gun Owners' Rights Violated During Katrina Firearm Seizures
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
NEW ORLEANS — The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators to find hundreds of people whose firearms were seized by city police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this week.
The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley over the city's seizure of firearms after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
In the lawsuit, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation claim the city violated gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms and left them "at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals" after Katrina.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
NEW ORLEANS — The National Rifle Association has hired private investigators to find hundreds of people whose firearms were seized by city police in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, according to court papers filed this week.
The NRA is trying to locate gun owners for a federal lawsuit that the lobbying group filed against Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Superintendent Warren Riley over the city's seizure of firearms after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane.
In the lawsuit, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation claim the city violated gun owners' constitutional right to bear arms and left them "at the mercy of roving gangs, home invaders, and other criminals" after Katrina.
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