Global
The idea of economic conversion, of retooling and retraining pieces of the military industrial complex to build what other wealthy nations have (infrastructure, energy, education, etc.) converged with the end of the Cold War two decades back. It was time for a peace dividend as well as a little sanity in public spending. Among the cosponsors of a bill to begin economic conversion in the late 1980s was a guy by the name of Leon Panetta.
Standing in the way was Congressman Newt Gingrich (Republican, Lockheed Martin.
As Mary Beth Sullivan recounts ( http://MIC50.org ,
"On the first day of the opening of the 101st Congress, Speaker [Jim] Wright convened a meeting of members who had proposed economic conversion legislation, and their aids. The purpose was to ensure that all proposals be joined into one, and that this legislation be given priority. To dramatize the importance of this bill, it would be given number H.R. 101."
Standing in the way was Congressman Newt Gingrich (Republican, Lockheed Martin.
As Mary Beth Sullivan recounts ( http://MIC50.org ,
"On the first day of the opening of the 101st Congress, Speaker [Jim] Wright convened a meeting of members who had proposed economic conversion legislation, and their aids. The purpose was to ensure that all proposals be joined into one, and that this legislation be given priority. To dramatize the importance of this bill, it would be given number H.R. 101."
For progressives and populists around the country who take an interest in Congressional races there are always a few good challengers we might hope to send to Washington. Incumbents, we assume, can take care of themselves.
But in Northern Ohio, redistricting has thrown two incumbents into one district. It's a heavily Democratic district created purposely to guarantee a number of other districts to Republicans. The incumbents are both Democrats, both white, both 65, and many imagine that they do similar work in Washington. In fact, they could not be more different. One of them does tremendous good for our national politics, working to move our government in a better direction from inside it, just as the rest of us do from the outside. We cannot afford to lose him. We would be obliged to work for his reelection even if his opponent were far above average. The record suggests something else.
But in Northern Ohio, redistricting has thrown two incumbents into one district. It's a heavily Democratic district created purposely to guarantee a number of other districts to Republicans. The incumbents are both Democrats, both white, both 65, and many imagine that they do similar work in Washington. In fact, they could not be more different. One of them does tremendous good for our national politics, working to move our government in a better direction from inside it, just as the rest of us do from the outside. We cannot afford to lose him. We would be obliged to work for his reelection even if his opponent were far above average. The record suggests something else.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama won the Democratic primary last time around largely on the strength of his extremely limited and inconsistent opposition to the war on Iraq. Then he chose as his running mate Senator Joe Biden, a man who had led efforts in the U.S. Senate to support the invasion. Obama's staff told reporters that he would be inclined to keep Robert Gates on as Secretary of War (or "Defense") -- exactly the same plan proposed by Senator John McCain's campaign. Obama said he'd like Colin Powell to be a part of his administration, and repeatedly announced that his cabinet would include Republicans. Obama had approached leading warmonger Congressman Rahm Emanuel about becoming his chief of staff.
Before President Barack Obama’s interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, aired before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu probably hoped that, if Obama discussed Iran, he would give him the strong backing that Israeli leaders crave, freeing them to lash out at Iran — militarily, if they so choose.
Few could have been more keenly interested than he in what the President would say in an interview beamed to a hundred million American TV viewers. The problem was that Netanyahu could not have been completely sure of what to expect, given the confusing mixed signals coming out of Washington in the past several weeks.
President Obama with advisers in the Oval Office (White House photo by Pete Souza)
Some of those signals had been disquieting to Netanyahu and other Israeli hard-liners — for example, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta saying flat-out on Jan. 8 that Iran is NOT “trying to develop a nuclear weapon” – undercutting the key casus belli for war – and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey visiting Israel on Jan. 19, reportedly to repeat that in person and warn his hosts against provoking war with Iran.
Few could have been more keenly interested than he in what the President would say in an interview beamed to a hundred million American TV viewers. The problem was that Netanyahu could not have been completely sure of what to expect, given the confusing mixed signals coming out of Washington in the past several weeks.
President Obama with advisers in the Oval Office (White House photo by Pete Souza)
Some of those signals had been disquieting to Netanyahu and other Israeli hard-liners — for example, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta saying flat-out on Jan. 8 that Iran is NOT “trying to develop a nuclear weapon” – undercutting the key casus belli for war – and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey visiting Israel on Jan. 19, reportedly to repeat that in person and warn his hosts against provoking war with Iran.
BANGKOK, Thailand -- After guests toasted a princess during a royal banquet inside the Grand Palace, dinner talk turned to Thailand's troubled, five-month-old government, stumbling from crisis to crisis, including its newest decision which places one of its cabinet members in the cross-hairs of the U.S. Treasury Department.
Inside the grand ballroom of the palace's Borom Raja Sathit Maholarn Hall, which sits about 150 guests at long, white-clothed banquet tables under massive chandeliers, a small orchestra played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as dinner and wine was served.
After some guests chatted about Thailand's gorgeous orchids, ambitious medical system, poor education policies and other topics, they were asked about Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who was elected in July with a large mandate.
A handful of Bangkok-based Thai guests -- including a teacher, a media director, a doctor and other senior professionals -- condemned Mrs. Yingluck's handling of the July-to-December floods which killed more than 800 people.
Inside the grand ballroom of the palace's Borom Raja Sathit Maholarn Hall, which sits about 150 guests at long, white-clothed banquet tables under massive chandeliers, a small orchestra played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as dinner and wine was served.
After some guests chatted about Thailand's gorgeous orchids, ambitious medical system, poor education policies and other topics, they were asked about Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who was elected in July with a large mandate.
A handful of Bangkok-based Thai guests -- including a teacher, a media director, a doctor and other senior professionals -- condemned Mrs. Yingluck's handling of the July-to-December floods which killed more than 800 people.
Alfred Nobel's will, written in 1895, left funding for a prize to be awarded to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
The first such prize, awarded in 1901, went to Jean Henry Dunant and Frédéric Passy, two men who held and promoted peace congresses, two peace activists, two men who were not elected officials. Nor were they war makers who had exercised restraint in some instance or other. In 1902, again, the peace prize went to two peace activists. In 1903 the prize went to a member of the British Parliament, but one who had worked for peace and not for war. In 1904, the laureate was what we would now call an NGO, but one that had worked for peace and not for war. In 1905, a woman who had played a role in the creation of the prize, an author and a peace activist, someone who indeed held and promoted peace congresses, was the first female winner. And then came 1906.
The first such prize, awarded in 1901, went to Jean Henry Dunant and Frédéric Passy, two men who held and promoted peace congresses, two peace activists, two men who were not elected officials. Nor were they war makers who had exercised restraint in some instance or other. In 1902, again, the peace prize went to two peace activists. In 1903 the prize went to a member of the British Parliament, but one who had worked for peace and not for war. In 1904, the laureate was what we would now call an NGO, but one that had worked for peace and not for war. In 1905, a woman who had played a role in the creation of the prize, an author and a peace activist, someone who indeed held and promoted peace congresses, was the first female winner. And then came 1906.
Concerning Fracking and other matters
Dear Senator Brown: I am writing you about the technology of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (often referred to as “fracking”), a mining method for extracting gas from deep in the earth, first drilling down for a mile or more and then angling the drillbore horizontally into shale gas rock.
This method is much more complex than the older method of vertical drilling. Fracking just one well, with perhaps six or more bore holes, requires millions of gallons of clean water, sand, propellants, and chemicals, many of which are consider proprietary information and not available to the public or even to elected officials.
Dear Senator Brown: I am writing you about the technology of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (often referred to as “fracking”), a mining method for extracting gas from deep in the earth, first drilling down for a mile or more and then angling the drillbore horizontally into shale gas rock.
This method is much more complex than the older method of vertical drilling. Fracking just one well, with perhaps six or more bore holes, requires millions of gallons of clean water, sand, propellants, and chemicals, many of which are consider proprietary information and not available to the public or even to elected officials.
Rock against the Machine at the Roccupy concert fundraiser on Friday, February 10! Featuring music by Connie Harris, Dan Dougan & nephew, Ukulele Man Tom Harker, Victoria "Queen Victrola" Parks, New Pollution, Kique Infante, the Chicken Hawk Bird Getters and Uncle John's State House Band. It all starts at 7pm at Kobo, 2590 North High Street. Donations welcome!
Are you devastated by yesterday's news that the Komen Foundation is severing its ties to Planned Parenthood? Tell the Komen Foundation that this is not the way to help women. The Komen Foundation has raised millions of dollars in funding for breast cancer marketing and research since its inception. Last year alone, they gave $680,000 of that money to Planned Parenthood to fund almost 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammograms.
For many women in need, Planned Parenthood is the only available, affordable source of life-saving cancer screenings. To deny them this service because of baseless political pressure is not just irresponsible; for some women, it could be literally deadly. Join in the fight to save hundreds of thousands of women. Tell the Komen Foundation to get its priorities straight.
For many women in need, Planned Parenthood is the only available, affordable source of life-saving cancer screenings. To deny them this service because of baseless political pressure is not just irresponsible; for some women, it could be literally deadly. Join in the fight to save hundreds of thousands of women. Tell the Komen Foundation to get its priorities straight.