Global
Convicted of 23 felonies for computer crimes, Jeffrey Dean
was sent to prison for four years. Shortly after his release
from incarceration, his company was awarded one of the
largest ballot printing contracts in history.
In a 2003 deposition, Dean states that he was a scapegoat who was left holding the bag in a series of unapproved payments from Culp, Guterson & Grader, one of the most politically connected law firms in Washington state.
One of this firm's partners at the time was Egil "Bud" Krogh, who headed the White House "plumbers" unit under Richard Nixon. Krogh ordered the burglary of Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.
Dean claimed that other persons from the firm were involved in a scheme, and upon discovery of illicit payments (averaging $14,000/month) he was made to take the blame. Krogh was a partner at Culp Guterson & Grader during the time period that Dean was receiving illicit payments of approximately $15,000 per month.
In a 2003 deposition, Dean states that he was a scapegoat who was left holding the bag in a series of unapproved payments from Culp, Guterson & Grader, one of the most politically connected law firms in Washington state.
One of this firm's partners at the time was Egil "Bud" Krogh, who headed the White House "plumbers" unit under Richard Nixon. Krogh ordered the burglary of Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg.
Dean claimed that other persons from the firm were involved in a scheme, and upon discovery of illicit payments (averaging $14,000/month) he was made to take the blame. Krogh was a partner at Culp Guterson & Grader during the time period that Dean was receiving illicit payments of approximately $15,000 per month.
Dear Molly,
My 86 year old mother and I greatly appreciate your honesty and logic. There was a recent congressional hearing on Halliburton's refusal for an entire year, to even minimally treat with chlorine, the contaminated Euphrates River water it was supplying to our troops in Iraq. The water had been taken from the river a mile downstream from an untreated sewage outlet. Two previous employees reported this gross negligence to higher-ups several times over the year, and were told to just keep silent about it. The two repeatedly complained that the fecal bacteria was giving them and troops digestive and intestinal problems but their pleas were ignored. I believe Halliburton's reaction should constitute treason, considering that such intentional negligence jeopardizes the very lives of our troops as well as their mission. Don't our soldiers have enough with which to contend under this incompetent "Commander in Chief" and Administration without sleezy, no-bid, thieving contractors trying to poison them?
Sincerely,
Nancy Khoury
My 86 year old mother and I greatly appreciate your honesty and logic. There was a recent congressional hearing on Halliburton's refusal for an entire year, to even minimally treat with chlorine, the contaminated Euphrates River water it was supplying to our troops in Iraq. The water had been taken from the river a mile downstream from an untreated sewage outlet. Two previous employees reported this gross negligence to higher-ups several times over the year, and were told to just keep silent about it. The two repeatedly complained that the fecal bacteria was giving them and troops digestive and intestinal problems but their pleas were ignored. I believe Halliburton's reaction should constitute treason, considering that such intentional negligence jeopardizes the very lives of our troops as well as their mission. Don't our soldiers have enough with which to contend under this incompetent "Commander in Chief" and Administration without sleezy, no-bid, thieving contractors trying to poison them?
Sincerely,
Nancy Khoury
Recently (January 2006), an ex FAMU Board of Trustee member said, "When Jeb Bush, our Board of Trustees and Interim President is finished, FAMU will never be the same!" What does this really mean?
Word on the street it is that FAMU will be either one of two things, 1) The South Campus of FSU or 2) Tallahassee University of Four year Degrees (The combination of TCC and FAMU Curriculum and student body)! Why is Governor Bush so interested in this Land Grant Traditionally Black University? Nothing was ever so bazaar as to see Governor Bush back on FAMU’s campus (of all [laces) giving a speech on how he is increasing Minority enrollment in Florida's Universities. Consider the brief history of this relationship of the Governor with FAMU.
In 2000 the Governor was caught on TV saying to two Black FAMU graduates and Florida Legislators, "Get their Black a_ _ es out of his office."
· In 2000 the Governor was caught on TV saying to some FAMU students, who were demonstrating on the capital grounds against the G. W. presidential election, "Get their Black A_ _ es off the capital rounds"
Word on the street it is that FAMU will be either one of two things, 1) The South Campus of FSU or 2) Tallahassee University of Four year Degrees (The combination of TCC and FAMU Curriculum and student body)! Why is Governor Bush so interested in this Land Grant Traditionally Black University? Nothing was ever so bazaar as to see Governor Bush back on FAMU’s campus (of all [laces) giving a speech on how he is increasing Minority enrollment in Florida's Universities. Consider the brief history of this relationship of the Governor with FAMU.
In 2000 the Governor was caught on TV saying to two Black FAMU graduates and Florida Legislators, "Get their Black a_ _ es out of his office."
· In 2000 the Governor was caught on TV saying to some FAMU students, who were demonstrating on the capital grounds against the G. W. presidential election, "Get their Black A_ _ es off the capital rounds"
A provision in the "Patriot Act" creates a new federal police force with power to violate the Bill of Rights. You might think that this cannot be true as you have not read about it in newspapers or heard it discussed by talking heads on TV.
Go to House Report 109-333 USA PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 and check it out for yourself. Sec. 605 reads:
"There is hereby created and established a permanent police force, to be known as the ’United States Secret Service Uniformed Division’."
This new federal police force is "subject to the supervision of the Secretary of Homeland Security."
The new police are empowered to "make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony."…
The language conveys enormous discretionary and arbitrary powers. What is "an offense against the United States"? What are "reasonable grounds"?
Go to House Report 109-333 USA PATRIOT IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 and check it out for yourself. Sec. 605 reads:
"There is hereby created and established a permanent police force, to be known as the ’United States Secret Service Uniformed Division’."
This new federal police force is "subject to the supervision of the Secretary of Homeland Security."
The new police are empowered to "make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony."…
The language conveys enormous discretionary and arbitrary powers. What is "an offense against the United States"? What are "reasonable grounds"?
Regarding her Jan. 20, 2006 column, Molly Ivins is right, er, correct. As usual, she hit the nail right on the head. Time for Democrats in D.C. to show some backbone and leadership. Thank you, Molly.
John DeRosier
Eau Claire, W
John DeRosier
Eau Claire, W
AUSTIN, Texas -- Several great minds were asked to help think up interview questions for George W. Bush. I liked, "Are you the worst president since James Buchanan, or have you never heard of him?"
Sorry about the snarkiness quotient, but is there anything these folks can't screw up -- and then refuse to own up to? Iraq is the most difficult to judge because it's so far away. I can find no indication -- from hours of electricity available to amount of oil being pumped to number of dead people -- that hints at any improvement.
On the other hand, even though I don't think it's my job, I can't prove that pulling out won't make things worse. Judging the good news-bad news volume from Iraq took such an exceptional lurch to ludicrous, it's now difficult to even try to judge it with a straight face.
Sorry about the snarkiness quotient, but is there anything these folks can't screw up -- and then refuse to own up to? Iraq is the most difficult to judge because it's so far away. I can find no indication -- from hours of electricity available to amount of oil being pumped to number of dead people -- that hints at any improvement.
On the other hand, even though I don't think it's my job, I can't prove that pulling out won't make things worse. Judging the good news-bad news volume from Iraq took such an exceptional lurch to ludicrous, it's now difficult to even try to judge it with a straight face.
This brilliant tour de force is testimony that film making can still have quality and value in this country. It is a mesmerizing docu-drama, superbly written and acted, with multiple messages for a nation now facing its worst civil liberties crisis ever.
Like Arthur Miller’s justly iconic Crucible, this film cuts to the heart of the McCarthy Era. The Crucible does double-duty, illuminating both the repression of the 1950s and the horrors of the Salem witch trials, which it depicts with stunning impact and accuracy.
Good Night, and Good Luck takes on McCarthy directly, but also demands an in-depth examination of the role of the modern electronic media, just in its birth. It does the job plainly and directly, with no punches pulled and no cutesy trucks, cutting right to the heart of this most serious of matters.
Like Arthur Miller’s justly iconic Crucible, this film cuts to the heart of the McCarthy Era. The Crucible does double-duty, illuminating both the repression of the 1950s and the horrors of the Salem witch trials, which it depicts with stunning impact and accuracy.
Good Night, and Good Luck takes on McCarthy directly, but also demands an in-depth examination of the role of the modern electronic media, just in its birth. It does the job plainly and directly, with no punches pulled and no cutesy trucks, cutting right to the heart of this most serious of matters.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006; Page A17
… By not engaging the national security debate, Democrats cede to Rove the power to frame it. Consider that clever line about Democrats having a pre-Sept. 11 view of the world. The typical Democratic response would be defensive: "No, no, of course 9/11 changed the world." More specifically, there's a lot of private talk among Democrats that the party should let go of the issue of warrantless spying on Americans because the polls show that a majority values security and safety.
What Democrats should have learned is that they cannot evade the security debate. They must challenge the terms under which Rove and Bush would conduct it. Imagine, for example, directly taking on that line about Sept. 11. Does having a "post-9/11 worldview" mean allowing Bush to do absolutely anything he wants, any time he wants, without having to answer to the courts, Congress or the public? Most Americans -- including a lot of libertarian-leaning Republicans -- reject such an anti-constitutional view of presidential power. If Democrats aren't willing to take on this issue, what's the point of being an opposition party?
… By not engaging the national security debate, Democrats cede to Rove the power to frame it. Consider that clever line about Democrats having a pre-Sept. 11 view of the world. The typical Democratic response would be defensive: "No, no, of course 9/11 changed the world." More specifically, there's a lot of private talk among Democrats that the party should let go of the issue of warrantless spying on Americans because the polls show that a majority values security and safety.
What Democrats should have learned is that they cannot evade the security debate. They must challenge the terms under which Rove and Bush would conduct it. Imagine, for example, directly taking on that line about Sept. 11. Does having a "post-9/11 worldview" mean allowing Bush to do absolutely anything he wants, any time he wants, without having to answer to the courts, Congress or the public? Most Americans -- including a lot of libertarian-leaning Republicans -- reject such an anti-constitutional view of presidential power. If Democrats aren't willing to take on this issue, what's the point of being an opposition party?
Want to see atrue Democratic or sorry, we have to call them progressive now if they are sincere and don't take PAC money. Check out Chuck2006.com. Chuck is running as a pro: choice, universal health care, living wage, stem cell research and anti: Iraq war, medicare drug bill, deficit, marriage protection, Alito, lobbyists.....
PLEASE check out his web site and give him some ink. How else will we take back the Democratic Party?
Steve Karas
Pittsburgh, PA
PLEASE check out his web site and give him some ink. How else will we take back the Democratic Party?
Steve Karas
Pittsburgh, PA
One decision doesn't make a career, but an alarm should have sounded when
Chief Justice Roberts joined Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas in
overriding the will of Oregon voters and attempting to overrule Oregon's
Death With Dignity law. Although the Court's current majority sustained the
law, this was the first major split decision of the Roberts court. And by
contradicting all his fine-sounding phrases about Federalist principles
(much as the five justices did in Bush v. Gore) Roberts made clear that his
political beliefs will guide his interpretations. If there are doubts about
his agenda, and where his loyalties lie, I'd suggest that this should bury
them.