Politics
Barring a CIA drone strike on the Ecuadorian embassy in London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's sudden appeal for asylum there may spare him a prison stay in Sweden or possibly the United States. Assange's freedom now depends largely on Ecuadorian President Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado, a new breed of independent-minded leader like Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.
Correa has been a harsh critic of U.S. behavior toward Ecuador and its Latin American neighbors as well as an outspoken fan of WikiLeaks. Atypically for the region, Ecuador is not a major recipient of U.S. economic or military aid, so Washington's leverage is limited. This suggests that the Ecuadorian government may decide to defy Washington, accept Assange's request for asylum, and have him flown to Ecuador pronto.
In which case, most British "justice" officials will probably say good riddance and breathe a sigh of relief — literally. They have been holding their noses for weeks against the odor of their obeisance to U.S. diktat, after the British High Court rejected Assange's argument that he should not be extradited to Sweden.
Correa has been a harsh critic of U.S. behavior toward Ecuador and its Latin American neighbors as well as an outspoken fan of WikiLeaks. Atypically for the region, Ecuador is not a major recipient of U.S. economic or military aid, so Washington's leverage is limited. This suggests that the Ecuadorian government may decide to defy Washington, accept Assange's request for asylum, and have him flown to Ecuador pronto.
In which case, most British "justice" officials will probably say good riddance and breathe a sigh of relief — literally. They have been holding their noses for weeks against the odor of their obeisance to U.S. diktat, after the British High Court rejected Assange's argument that he should not be extradited to Sweden.
News Director Sean Gilbow of WVKO 1580AM recently outed an extreme right-wing organization that is behind the attempt by Taxpayers for Westerville Schools to repeal the Westerville Public School levy. Westerville Schools, considered one of the premier school districts in central Ohio is coming under heavy attack from a small group of anti-government zealots that are bringing the politics of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker and the Kochs to Ohio. Forum
Under Ohio law, a temporary tax issue such as the 5-year levy passed by Westerville Schools cannot be repealed. So instead, the group is seeking to repeal the permanent 2009 tax issue instead, and have elicited the help of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law.
Under Ohio law, a temporary tax issue such as the 5-year levy passed by Westerville Schools cannot be repealed. So instead, the group is seeking to repeal the permanent 2009 tax issue instead, and have elicited the help of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law.
"It was a great demonstration of democracy, whether you agree or disagree with the outcome," Huffington Post's political reporter Howard Fineman told Ed Schultz on MSNBC late tonight, while discussing the results of the historic Wisconsin recall elections.
Fineman's comment is either accurate or it is not. Just as the results reported by the computers across the Badger State are either accurate or not. Who knows? Nobody in WI does, and that's exactly the problem.
The early Exit Poll results had reportedly predicted the race between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett a virtual tie, leading media to plan for a long night tonight. A second round of Exit Polls results, however, were said to have given Walker a broader lead over Barrett. Even so, we were told, the race based on the Exit Poll data alone was still "too close to call." That data was either accurate or it was not.
Fineman's comment is either accurate or it is not. Just as the results reported by the computers across the Badger State are either accurate or not. Who knows? Nobody in WI does, and that's exactly the problem.
The early Exit Poll results had reportedly predicted the race between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett a virtual tie, leading media to plan for a long night tonight. A second round of Exit Polls results, however, were said to have given Walker a broader lead over Barrett. Even so, we were told, the race based on the Exit Poll data alone was still "too close to call." That data was either accurate or it was not.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra hopes assassins will stop hunting him, and a deal can be arranged allowing him to dodge imprisonment and return home a free man.
Mr. Thaksin also hopes his enemies will stop accusing him of presiding over a regime which allegedly included 2,600 extrajudicial executions during his failed "war on drugs" in 2003, plus personal corruption and other wrongdoing.
Ultimately, he wants this predominantly Buddhist society to twist the constitution or the judicial system -- or create other loopholes -- to cancel his two-year prison sentence imposed for a conflict-of-interest deal which enabled his wealthy, politically savvy wife to purchase government-owned real estate in Bangkok during 2003.
Mr. Thaksin, now divorced, dwells in self-exile amid five-star splendor in Dubai.
"He has already told the media that he is willing to return, to go through the judicial process," said Defense Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat in April.
Mr. Thaksin also hopes his enemies will stop accusing him of presiding over a regime which allegedly included 2,600 extrajudicial executions during his failed "war on drugs" in 2003, plus personal corruption and other wrongdoing.
Ultimately, he wants this predominantly Buddhist society to twist the constitution or the judicial system -- or create other loopholes -- to cancel his two-year prison sentence imposed for a conflict-of-interest deal which enabled his wealthy, politically savvy wife to purchase government-owned real estate in Bangkok during 2003.
Mr. Thaksin, now divorced, dwells in self-exile amid five-star splendor in Dubai.
"He has already told the media that he is willing to return, to go through the judicial process," said Defense Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat in April.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Burma's Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is predicted to easily win parliament seat in Sunday's (April 1) by-election, amid expectations that Washington will respond by easing economic sanctions, but the polls also symbolize how far she has fallen.
Forty-five of 48 seats in parliament are to be contested on Sunday (April 1). The remaining three seats in Kachin state await a ceasefire between the military and ethnic Kachin rebels.
Several of Mrs. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party candidates are also expected to win slots in the 664-seat bicameral national parliament.
Combined with other opposition politicians, however, Mrs. Suu Kyi and her allies will be little match against the regime.
Ranking military officers permanently occupy 25 percent of all chambers in parliament, and currently enjoy a 75 percent majority of the remaining seats through their pliant Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) parliamentarians.
In addition to the NLD and USDP, 15 other parties are competing in the by-elections.
Forty-five of 48 seats in parliament are to be contested on Sunday (April 1). The remaining three seats in Kachin state await a ceasefire between the military and ethnic Kachin rebels.
Several of Mrs. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party candidates are also expected to win slots in the 664-seat bicameral national parliament.
Combined with other opposition politicians, however, Mrs. Suu Kyi and her allies will be little match against the regime.
Ranking military officers permanently occupy 25 percent of all chambers in parliament, and currently enjoy a 75 percent majority of the remaining seats through their pliant Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) parliamentarians.
In addition to the NLD and USDP, 15 other parties are competing in the by-elections.
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has, this week, been considering various aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). While political pundits and court watchers have been holding forth on what this all means, the ability to discern anything from the oral arguments is nearly impossible.
The first day of arguments centered on the whether or not cases brought against the PPACA should even be heard in light of a law called the Anti-Injunction Act. The basic concept under this statute is that a person who has petitioned for relief (brought a lawsuit), must be able to demonstrate actual harm in order to have standing to bring the case. In the case of the PPACA no one has had to pay a penalty for not purchasing healthcare insurance so far. In fact, under the PPACA, this won’t happen until at least 2015 when folks who don’t or can’t purchase insurance will have the penalty enforced by the IRS.
The first day of arguments centered on the whether or not cases brought against the PPACA should even be heard in light of a law called the Anti-Injunction Act. The basic concept under this statute is that a person who has petitioned for relief (brought a lawsuit), must be able to demonstrate actual harm in order to have standing to bring the case. In the case of the PPACA no one has had to pay a penalty for not purchasing healthcare insurance so far. In fact, under the PPACA, this won’t happen until at least 2015 when folks who don’t or can’t purchase insurance will have the penalty enforced by the IRS.
Michael Zarzano attended the December 10, 2011 statewide meeting of the Ohio Liberty Council, or as it’s popularly known, the Tea Party. As one of the early supporters of the movement and a leader of an affiliated “Patriot” group, Zarzano brought his videocarmera to the meeting on behalf of his Internet Media Services for anybody to watch. He claims he was completely surprised when he was grabbed by three males and forcibly removed from the meeting.
The Ohio Liberty Council not only barred Zarzano and his camera from their meeting, but they won a temporary restraining order against him on January 13 and on March 21 they won a preliminary injunction barring him from participating in the movement. The preliminary injunction issued by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas forbids Zarzano from “…entering, interfering with, and/or blocking ingress and/or egress to any meeting held by” the Ohio Liberty Council.
The Ohio Liberty Council not only barred Zarzano and his camera from their meeting, but they won a temporary restraining order against him on January 13 and on March 21 they won a preliminary injunction barring him from participating in the movement. The preliminary injunction issued by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas forbids Zarzano from “…entering, interfering with, and/or blocking ingress and/or egress to any meeting held by” the Ohio Liberty Council.
The first Israel missile sped down to its target, scorching the Gaza earth and everything in between. Palestinians collected the body parts of two new martyrs, while Israeli media celebrated the demise of two terrorists.
Zuhair Qasis was the head of the Popular Resistance Committee. He was killed alongside a Palestinian prisoner from Nablus, who had recently been freed and deported to Gaza.
Then, another set of missiles rained down, this time taking Obeid al-Ghirbali and Muhammad Harara.
Then, a third, and a forth, and so on. The death count began on March 9 and escalated through the day. The Hamas government urged the international community to take action. Factions vowed to retaliate.
In these situations, Western media is usually clueless or complicit. Sometimes it’s both. The Israeli army was cited readily by many media outlets without challenge.
Zuhair Qasis was the head of the Popular Resistance Committee. He was killed alongside a Palestinian prisoner from Nablus, who had recently been freed and deported to Gaza.
Then, another set of missiles rained down, this time taking Obeid al-Ghirbali and Muhammad Harara.
Then, a third, and a forth, and so on. The death count began on March 9 and escalated through the day. The Hamas government urged the international community to take action. Factions vowed to retaliate.
In these situations, Western media is usually clueless or complicit. Sometimes it’s both. The Israeli army was cited readily by many media outlets without challenge.
(Photo by Bob Studzinski)
“Solutions don’t come from above. What is socialism? I don’t live in socialism? But I live and suffer in capitalism. Some people have told us that what we’re doing in Tlaxcala is anarchism. But we said, ‘what we’re doing is Tlaxcalan.’ Grand schemes won’t work. It’s got to start with the people…Use the Tlaxcalan style here in Columbus. We’ll use the Columbus style in Tlaxcala.” ---Luz Rivera-Martinez, thru interpreter Tony Nelson of Mexico Solidarity Network.
She said don't expect those in power to solve our problems.
“We, the people of the city of Columbus, in order to secure and exercise the powers of local self government under the constitution of the state of Ohio do enact and ordain this charter.”
So begins the Charter of the City of Columbus, enacted by the voters in 1914. The Charter became the city’s authorizing and governing document following the State of Ohio’s enactment of Home Rule legislation in 1912.
But it is not a static document. The charter provided “the machinery with which the people may amend its provisions as future necessity may arise. The people will have the power to change it at any time to suit the requirements of a rapidly growing city, or to correct any possible defects which may develop in the new form of government.”
So begins the Charter of the City of Columbus, enacted by the voters in 1914. The Charter became the city’s authorizing and governing document following the State of Ohio’s enactment of Home Rule legislation in 1912.
But it is not a static document. The charter provided “the machinery with which the people may amend its provisions as future necessity may arise. The people will have the power to change it at any time to suit the requirements of a rapidly growing city, or to correct any possible defects which may develop in the new form of government.”