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The desperate, dangerous nuclear power industry has dropped a $50 billion stealth bomb meant to irradiate the Obama Stimulus Package.
It comes in the form of a mega-loan guarantee package that would build new reactors Wall Street wouldn’t finance even when it had cash. It will take a healthy dose of citizen action to stop it, so start calling your Senators now.
The vaguely worded bailout-in-advance provision was snuck through the Senate Appropriations Committee in the deep night of January 27. It would provide $50 billion in loan guarantees for “eligible technologies” that would technically include renewable sources and electric transmission. But the handout is clearly directed at nukes and “clean coal.”
The Stimulus Package is explicitly meant to create jobs within the next two years. But according to sources at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, no new reactors could be licensed for construction within that time. Nor could any new coal plants. And thus the funds in this rider are to "remain available until committed." That means their "stimulus" might not go into effect for many years.
It comes in the form of a mega-loan guarantee package that would build new reactors Wall Street wouldn’t finance even when it had cash. It will take a healthy dose of citizen action to stop it, so start calling your Senators now.
The vaguely worded bailout-in-advance provision was snuck through the Senate Appropriations Committee in the deep night of January 27. It would provide $50 billion in loan guarantees for “eligible technologies” that would technically include renewable sources and electric transmission. But the handout is clearly directed at nukes and “clean coal.”
The Stimulus Package is explicitly meant to create jobs within the next two years. But according to sources at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, no new reactors could be licensed for construction within that time. Nor could any new coal plants. And thus the funds in this rider are to "remain available until committed." That means their "stimulus" might not go into effect for many years.
Celebrating the fact that J. Kenneth Blackwell was defeated in his recent bid for the leadership of the Republican National Committee! Actually, he did about as poorly as a guy could do. Of course though, the Dispatch left a few things out and well, Bob Fitrakis points out a few of them here. Enjoy!
George Washington raised large quantities of hemp. So did Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and virtually every other 1700s American farmer.
It is also highly likely at least some of them smoked its potent sibling, now known as marijuana.
Perhaps we should commemorate the upcoming President’s Day by honoring George Washington with a National Celebration to Re-Legalize Hemp and Marijuana.
Indeed, in the Age of Obama, this old news has a new meaning. It is time to end Hemp/Marijuana Prohibition. With Bush gone and a new generation taking charge, we may finally have a chance to do it. Our nation’s famous Founders are our key allies.
Since 1937 the US has suffered through a period of hemp persecution that all the Founders---from Washington to Franklin, from Adams to Madison---would have deemed absolutely insane.
In their honor, in renewed protest against this absurd Prohibition, PASSIONS OF THE PATRIOTS, by “Thomas Paine,” is now being published. As we approach President’s Day, this “based on true history” novel shows Washington and his cohorts in their natural state, growing and smoking what we now call “pot” in mass quantities.
It is also highly likely at least some of them smoked its potent sibling, now known as marijuana.
Perhaps we should commemorate the upcoming President’s Day by honoring George Washington with a National Celebration to Re-Legalize Hemp and Marijuana.
Indeed, in the Age of Obama, this old news has a new meaning. It is time to end Hemp/Marijuana Prohibition. With Bush gone and a new generation taking charge, we may finally have a chance to do it. Our nation’s famous Founders are our key allies.
Since 1937 the US has suffered through a period of hemp persecution that all the Founders---from Washington to Franklin, from Adams to Madison---would have deemed absolutely insane.
In their honor, in renewed protest against this absurd Prohibition, PASSIONS OF THE PATRIOTS, by “Thomas Paine,” is now being published. As we approach President’s Day, this “based on true history” novel shows Washington and his cohorts in their natural state, growing and smoking what we now call “pot” in mass quantities.
Norman Baker, who was featured in a previous Free Press article, is no longer under a court appointed guardianship. The case has been settled amicably and Mr. Baker is now living on his own in Ohio.
A retired firefighter, Baker now 82, found himself under guardianship in 2005. The Free Press article "How An Unwanted Guardianship Cost a Firefighter his Freedom & His Fortune" circulated previously on the internet.
The Fairfield County Probate Court has now terminated the guardianship, restoring Mr. Baker to competency and allowing him to regain his freedom and independence after nearly four years. Mr Baker had unsuccessfully challenged the validity of the guardianship in both the Fairfield County Probate Court and then in the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals. He had also filed with the Ohio Supreme Court an accusation that the Probate Judge assigned to his case was biased against him. That challenge was summarily dismissed by Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
A retired firefighter, Baker now 82, found himself under guardianship in 2005. The Free Press article "How An Unwanted Guardianship Cost a Firefighter his Freedom & His Fortune" circulated previously on the internet.
The Fairfield County Probate Court has now terminated the guardianship, restoring Mr. Baker to competency and allowing him to regain his freedom and independence after nearly four years. Mr Baker had unsuccessfully challenged the validity of the guardianship in both the Fairfield County Probate Court and then in the Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals. He had also filed with the Ohio Supreme Court an accusation that the Probate Judge assigned to his case was biased against him. That challenge was summarily dismissed by Chief Justice Thomas Moyer.
The world may learn next week what inherent contempt means. (It's not just a feeling in your gut.)
John Conyers just subpoenaed Karl Rove to appear February 2nd, and nobody seems terribly confident he'll show.
Jason Leopold just reported on what might happen next:
"... Last year, during a hearing on the case in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Judge John Bates said Congress could have had Bolton and Miers and Rove arrested for refusing to comply with the subpoenas. While historically Congress has ordered people detained for refusing to comply with subpoenas, the power has not been used in modern times. But on Monday, several Democrats on the Judiciary Committee said if Rove refuses to comply with the subpoena they will urge Conyers to act on Bates's advice and have him arrested."
Last August (2008), I wrote an article with the headline "How to Put Rove Behind Bars for Years", which confusingly enough began with the words "Last August" referring to August 2007. Why not get a jump on everybody else and learn what inherent contempt is now?
How to Put Rove Behind Bars for Years
By David Swanson, Aug. 6, 2008
John Conyers just subpoenaed Karl Rove to appear February 2nd, and nobody seems terribly confident he'll show.
Jason Leopold just reported on what might happen next:
"... Last year, during a hearing on the case in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., Judge John Bates said Congress could have had Bolton and Miers and Rove arrested for refusing to comply with the subpoenas. While historically Congress has ordered people detained for refusing to comply with subpoenas, the power has not been used in modern times. But on Monday, several Democrats on the Judiciary Committee said if Rove refuses to comply with the subpoena they will urge Conyers to act on Bates's advice and have him arrested."
Last August (2008), I wrote an article with the headline "How to Put Rove Behind Bars for Years", which confusingly enough began with the words "Last August" referring to August 2007. Why not get a jump on everybody else and learn what inherent contempt is now?
How to Put Rove Behind Bars for Years
By David Swanson, Aug. 6, 2008
The Uncultured Wars – Arabs, Muslims, and the Poverty of Liberal Thought.
Steven Salaita.
Zed Books, New York, 2008.
Steven Salaita.
Zed Books, New York, 2008.
“The Uncultured Wars” comprises an excellent series of thought provoking essays, the excellence deriving from their ability to provoke thought that should be one of the hallmarks of academic works. As such Steven Salaita writes as an advocate of a position rather than pretending dispassionate objectivity, or “myth of disinterest” in Salaita’s own words. I will return to that idea later as for my own personal interests it is contained in one of his more interesting essays. Generally, these essays are well constructed, leading the reader to consider how subtle and yet how obvious racism is in the U.S., Arab/Muslim racism in particular.
From the National Affairs Desk:
The 2009 Presidential Inauguration: On Location Free Press Coverage
by Kendra R. Chamberlain
Free Press Correspondent
(Editor's Note: Kendra Chamberlain, of “la Chupa Cabra” fame, served for many years as the Logistics Team for National Affairs Editor, David S. Lewis. Present for the mêlée that was Hurricane Katrina, and the months that Followed, Chamberlain was also present in Puerto Rico and for various other Free Press stories. This, her first Free Press story, was pulled as reluctantly from her as Teeth from a Wino. Look for more Kendra Chamberlain stories in the coming months.)
WASHINGTON, DC – There were large traffic signs every twenty miles or so, indicating doom ahead: “Jan. 20 Inauguration Expect Delays Plan Ahead.”
I was driving in on Monday, however, and there was hardly any traffic at all, at least not on the north side. I entered D.C at 3 pm, but it wasn’t until 4p.m. that I found my Washington, D.C. Press contact, head of the People's Media, the DC branch of the People's Media Center.
Ryme Katkhouda is a mysterious woman, in many respects; the type who demonstrates her control in the first few moments of meeting her.
A few days after the inauguration, in a piece celebrating the arrival of the Obama administration, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote that the new president has clearly signaled: “No more crazy wars.”
I wish.
Last week -- and 44 years ago -- there were many reasons to celebrate the inauguration of a president after the defeat of a right-wing Republican opponent. But in the midst of numerous delightful fragrances in the air, a bad political odor is apt to be almost ineffable.
Right now, on the subject of the Afghan war, what dominates the discourse in Washington is narrowness of political vision -- while news outlets are reporting that the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is expected to “as much as double this year to 60,000 troops.”
I wish.
Last week -- and 44 years ago -- there were many reasons to celebrate the inauguration of a president after the defeat of a right-wing Republican opponent. But in the midst of numerous delightful fragrances in the air, a bad political odor is apt to be almost ineffable.
Right now, on the subject of the Afghan war, what dominates the discourse in Washington is narrowness of political vision -- while news outlets are reporting that the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan is expected to “as much as double this year to 60,000 troops.”
