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CONGRESS FAILS AGAIN!

September 28, 2007 8:20 AM

New Congress, New Party in charge, SAME OLD STORY! 

The Constitution says Congress must do just two things---fund the operation of the government and declare war.  Congress stopped declaring war years ago even though we have fought several and are entangled in one right now.   Congress has also stopped funding the government on time. In fact since Bush became president, Congress has enacted just 6 OUT OF 74 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ON TIME!

Monday, October 1 starts the new fiscal year.  The Congress is supposed to have all of it money bills completed and down at the white house by MIDNIGHT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th.  But guess what?  NOT A SINGLE APPROPRIATIONS BILL will be sitting on the president's desk when midnight rolls around on Sunday.

To be fair, the HOUSE has passed all 12 of theirs, but the SENATE has passed just 4, and none of the bills have come out of conference ready for final action.  So yesterday, the House and Senate passed a CONTINUING RESOLUTION, a CR.  Since Bush became president Congress has passed 38 CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS.

September 28, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"I NEED NEW VEHICLES. I NEED AMMO, I NEED GLOCKS and M4s...I'VE REQUESTED HARD CARS FROM THE BEGINNING ..."

September 27, 2007 12:08 PM

On March 30th, 2004, ONE DAY before four Americans working as private security personnel for BLACKWATER were brutally attacked, their bodies burned and strung up on a bridge in FALLUJAH, the BLACKWATER operational manager in BAGHDAD, Tom Powell, sent an urgent e-mail to BLACKWATER headquarters in NORTH CAROLINA. 

The e-mail had the subject line "GROUND TRUTH":

"I need NEW VEHICLES.  I need new COMS, I NEED AMMO, I NEED GLOCKS and M4s.  ALL the BODY ARMOR YOU GOT, guys are in the field with BORROWED STUFF and in HARM's WAY.  I've requested HARD CARS FROM THE BEGINNING and from my understanding, an order is still pending.  "GROUND TRUTH IS APPALLING."

According to a congressional report prepared for Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, BLACKWATER had an ongoing CONTRACT DISPUTE with a Kuwaiti company, Regency Hotel & Hospitality, over WHICH COMPANY was obligated to provide the Blackwater Team with ARMORED VEHICLES.  Blackwater officials instructed its employees to "STRING THESE GUYS ALONG AND RUN THIS...THING INTO THE GROUND" because "IF WE STALLED LONG ENOUGH THEY (REGENCY) WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BUY US ARMORED CARS OR THEY WOULD DEFAULT ON THE CONTRACT ..."

Prior to the Blackwater team's departure for the Fallujah mission, TWO OF THE SIX MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WERE CUT FROM THE MISSION DEPRIVING BOTH SECURITY VEHICLES OF A REAR GUNNER.  The Waxman report says the two were removed to "PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AT THE BLACKWATER OPERATIONS CENTER."

Last February Waxman chaired a hearing on private security companies and the families of the four murdered men testified.  A Blackwater representative did too and he said the company did all it could to make sure the men were properly prepared and protected for their mission.

Since that February hearing the committee's investigators have reviewed documents based on the accounts of 18 individuals with knowledge of the incident including Blackwater's Baghdad operations manager and project director, seven other Blackwater personnel based in Iraq and Kuwait, three truck drivers escorted in the Blackwater convoy through Fallujah, three personnel from a different government contractor who spoke to the Blackwater team the night before and morning of the ambush, and others.       

September 27, 2007 in Iraq | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

TROUBLE ON THE BORDER -- COULDN'T FIND THE GAO

September 27, 2007 10:03 AM

NEW GAO REPORT: "SECURITY VULNERABILITIES AT UNMANNED and UNMONITORED U.S. BORDER LOCATIONS."

"On the U.S.-Canada border, GAO found state roads close to the border that CBP did NOT APPEAR TO MAN or MONITOR.  In some locations, the proximity of the road to the border allowed INVESTIGATORS to cross WITHOUT BEING CHALLENGED by law enforcement, successfully simulating the cross border movement of RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS or other contraband into the UNITED STATED from CANADA.   In one location on the northern border the U.S. BORDER PATROL was ALERTED TO GAO activities THROUGH THE TIP OF AN ALERT CITIZEN.  HOWEVER, responding U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENTS were NOT ABLE TO LOCATE THE GAO INVESTIGATORS ..."

September 27, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

"GREEDY CORPORATE EXECUTIVES"

September 25, 2007 11:16 AM

Dr. E. Faye Williams is the national chair of the NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BLACK WOMEN and today in her written testimony before Rep. Bobby Rush's house subcommittee she accuses some entertainment industry executives of a corporate greed that is seriously harming African American Culture. 

"We have allowed GREEDY CORPORATE EXECUTIVES---especially those in the entertainment industry---to lead many of our young people to believe that it is okay to entertain themselves by DESTROYING THE CULTURE OF OUR PEOPLE.  We know all too well what happened to our Native American brothers and sisters in movies through the years.  The profanity, vulgarity, and obscenity we see and hear today have become common place TO THE POINT OF BEING GENOCIDAL...the CORPORATE EXECUTIVES that lure our young people into believing it is alright to destroy the culture of a people SEEM TO HAVE TARGETED BLACK WOMEN and our FAMILIES who've contributed so much to this nation..."

One of those Corporate executives, Doug Morris, the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group will also testify.  "As chairman of this company, I don't take credit for the observations and expressions made in songs that we love, nor for songs that contain lyrics that you and I may find offensive.  But I do have a compact with every artist that we sign---I WILL SUPPORT THEIR ART, AND THE TRUTH THAT IS THEIR MUSIC, and THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES"  he also says he will label any explicit performance with a Parental warning.  And he ends his testimony this way. "on my last trip to Washington I drove past the construction site for a new museum---the newseum...In my view the architect has done every American an incredible service because inscribed on the side of the building in big, bold letters are the words of OUR FIRST AMENDMENT..."

Dr. Faye Williams also talks about the FIRST AMENDMENT---"why should our CHILDREN be ASSAULTED DAILY with GARBAGE under the guise of  FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS that say NOTHING about RESPONSIBILITY?"

September 25, 2007 in Current Affairs | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

REPUBLICAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SAYS DEMOCRATS SHOULD ATTACK HIS PARTY

September 25, 2007 8:58 AM

Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is frustrated and angry.  The Iowa farmer who is now the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee has played a key role in negotiating a 5 year $35 BILLION expansion of SCHIP, the collaboration between the federal government and the states to provide health insurance for needy kids.  The President wants an SCHIP extension of just $5 BILLION over 5 years which the experts say wouldn't even be enough to continue coverage for those already in the program.  Bush says its not about the money and he used his Saturday radio address to attack the Democrats on SCHIP. 

But the President shouldn't waste his time on the Democrats.  It is conservative Republican Senator Chuck Grassley that Bush needs to worry about.  According to WASHINGTON POST reporters Jonathan Weisman and Christopher Lee, the Iowa Republican said  if the President vetoes SCHIP when it reaches his desk after it passes the house today and the senate later in the week, and he, Grassley, were a democrat, "HE WOULD SEND THE SCHIP EXPANSION TO A VOTE EVERY THREE MONTHS ALONG WITH CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS ACCUSING REPUBLICANS OF ABANDONING CHILDREN."

Now that's an ANGRY REPUBLICAN!

September 25, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

MILLER WANTS TO STOP THE AERIAL HUNTING OF WOLVES

September 25, 2007 8:53 AM

The Defenders of Wildlife video HERE shows wolves running in the Alaskan snow, baby wolves next to their mothers, a small plane with skis instead of wheels overhead stalking the animals from the air until one is isolated.  The plane gives chase and soon the wolf tires and a hunter with a high power rifle opens fire hitting the wolf several times as it tries to get away.  The plane then skis to a landing and the hunter goes over to the wolf, brushes the snow off its face and strings it up under the wing of his plane.

Today, Democrat George Miller will hold a news conference to introduce a bill that would ban the aerial hunting of wolves in Alaska.  In the past 4 years nearly 700 have been killed that way and supporters of the "sport" say it helps control the populations of wolves. 

Joining Miller at the news conference will be ATKA, a THREE-YEAR OLD ARCTIC GREY WOLF.  The Congressman's staff says there is no reason to be frightened since Atka is a lovable, tame, animal.  But at the very end of the press release announcing today's event there is this note: NO FOOD IS ALLOWED ON THE TERRACE WHEN THE WOLF IS PRESENT.   

September 25, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

GREEN FOOTBALL

September 24, 2007 8:52 AM

In the NFL the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES are 1-2, but when it comes to the ENVIRONMENT they are 3-0.  According to a front page article in yesterday's PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER written by Sandy Bauers, the Eagles are the greenest team in Football, perhaps the most environmentally friendly team in all of professional sports.

Bauers says their TICKETS and PROGRAMS are printed on more than 40 TONS OF RECYCLED PAPER, 30% of the energy they use comes from WIND and the BURNING of LANDFILL METHANE GASES, they REIMBURSE EMPLOYEES who buy WIND POWER at home, they have "ratcheted down" heaters on the football field which could save enough electricity to power 275 homes and on top of the Eagles Corporate headquarters sit SOLAR PANELS "which produce 30% more power than a fixed system."

According to the article, last Monday night when the Eagles were losing to the Washington Redskins, fans were drinking beverages from 88,000 cups made from a CORN-BASED PLASTIC which supposedly takes 50% LESS PETROLEUM TO MAKE and "BIODEGRADES in as LITTLE as 50 DAYS."  Bauers says the company that supplies all the PAPER PRODUCTS the Eagles will use this year, 17 TONS of it including 1,756 MILES of TOILET PAPER, claims the products will be "TREE-FREE."   Don Lewis who runs SCA AMERICAS, the paper company, says the processes his company uses  will "save a LAKEFUL OF WATER, HALF A TON OF AIR POLLUTANTS, 70 CUBIC YARDS OF LANDFILL SPACE, and enough power to RUN 10 HOMES for a YEAR."

The truck that tows the machine that cleans the field after each game runs on BIODIESEL, the fertilizer for the turf is ORGANIC, and recycled plastic bottles will be made into new plastic bottles, carpeting and fleece clothing according to the article.  And of course the Eagles plant trees in Philly, 332 oaks, cherries, plums and ginkgos now grow in the city's schoolyards.

Now if only the Eagles could get some points for being so Green!

September 24, 2007 in Sports | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

'DTV Transition Poses a Nationwide Problem on The Level of the Y2K Threat...'

September 19, 2007 11:02 AM

That from Amina Fazlullah of U.S. PIRG, and she continues by saying "however UNLIKE THE OVER-HYPED Y2K THREAT, the DTV TRANSITION comes with guaranteed and identified problems for millions of our country's most vulnerable consumers, again, including a disproportionate number of OLDER AMERICANS."

Today Senator Kohl will hold a hearing of his Special Committee on Aging entitled "WILL THE DTV TRANSITION LEAVE U.S. SENIORS IN THE DARK?"  Amina Fazlullah clearly thinks it just might!  In her testimony she says "One thing will happen on February 17, 2009.  Every consumer who watches over-the -air tv with an analog set will have their set GO DARK.  Included in the estimated 22 MILLION consumers in this category are 8 MILLION households with at least one member older than 50.  She says even though congress has allocated funds to educate people about the pending doom, and government agencies have warned tv makers to stop producing analog sets and retailers to label the analog televisions they are still selling, "NEITHER the GOVERNMENT nor RETAILERS are ADEQUATELY PREPARING CONSUMERS FOR THE IMPENDING DTV TRANSITION."

Fazlullah also says that the CITY OF BERLIN, GERMANY set aside MORE MONEY to transition THEIR CITY than the UNITED STATE's HAS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.  She adds that the UNITED KINGDOM phased in its DTV transition over multiple years, 2008-2012 and "through their substantial preparation efforts are estimated to complete their transition ahead of schedule."

Senator Kohl says a recent study conducted by the Association of Public Television Stations found that 61% of over-the-air households have NO IDEA THE DTV TRANSITION IS TAKING PLACE.

September 19, 2007 in Current Affairs | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

'You Can Expect Just as Many Memorable Experiences on Your Next Cruise Vacation'

September 19, 2007 7:20 AM

Angela Orlich got a thank you letter from the president of Royal Caribbean when she returned from her cruise vacation.  It was a form letter and along with it came a $50 coupon for her next trip and this promise, "YOU CAN EXPECT JUST AS MANY MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES ON YOUR NEXT CRUISE VACATION."

But Angela Orlich would probably not use the word "memorable" to describe her experience, terrifying perhaps, but not memorable. While aboard the Royal Caribbean's Nordic Express, she signed up for one of its shore excursions packages to Cozumel, Mexico which promised everything from "unlimited domestic open bars" to scuba diving.  Scuba diving in the clear waters of Cozumel was what got Angela's attention.  But taking her scuba diving was not all her instructor had in mind.  He took her down 60 feet, kept under the water longer than she wanted, started to molest her and when she fought him, HE TURNED OFF THE AIR ON HER TANK, pulled down the top of her suit and bit her breast. "I WAS AFRAID I WOULD DIE, THAT MY BODY WOULD NEVER BE FOUND, and THAT NO ONE WOULD EVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME."  When she returned to the ship she immediately reported the crime and asked to see the doctor.  "THE SHIP DOCTOR REFUSED TO EXAMINE or TREAT ME.  HE WAS TOTALLY DISMISSIVE and TOLD ME TO SEE A DOCTOR WHEN I RETURNED HOME."

When she returned to Miami there were no law enforcement officials to help her---Orlich was left on her own.  She called the U.S. Consulate's office in Mexico and went back to file a formal complaint against the diving instructor, but as she will tell  congress today, "the criminal prosecution has gone nowhere."   

On August 3rd of this year ROYAL CARIBBEAN sent a letter to her attorney.  "ALTHOUGH LATE and ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO, we did report this matter to the FBI.  We remain ready and available to assist any law enforcement authority with their investigation should it be pursued...ROYAL CARIBBEAN has NOT communicated any WARNINGS about the tour guide as you suggest.  WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE TO INCRIMINATE HIM...Royal Caribbean's ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY establishes guidelines for reporting allegations of serious crime committed aboard our ships...Ms. Orlich's alleged assault did not happen on our ship."

Today's house hearing is a follow-up to the one held last March and will deal not only with sexual assaults aboard cruise liners, but the dangers passengers face when they sign up for excursions packages, the lack of adequate response to attacks by doctors aboard the ships and fire safety problems.      

September 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION SENT HIM BUS MONEY AND TOLD HIM TO GO FIND A JOB!

September 18, 2007 9:57 AM

Daryl Johnston played football for the Dallas Cowboys for 11 years. He was a running back. Eventually a neck injury ended his career.

He now covers football for FOX Sports and today he will tell a senate committee that injured players need more help and more money from the $7 BILLION INDUSTRY known as the NFL. His testimony is full of examples including the very depressing story of Brian DeMarco.

"Brian DeMarco, a former offensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals, is damaged SO BADLY from his five years playing pro football that he is only a FRACTION LESS DISABLED than a QUADRIPLEGIC at AGE 35. He has so many injuries that only people who have been in HORRENDOUS CAR CRASHES might understand-all from playing America's favorite sport ... After 4 attempts over several years to navigate the NFL's disability system's red tape, he was UNABLE to even get his application process started and be assigned a doctor for evaluation EVEN THOUGH HIS BACK WAS BROKEN IN 17 PLACES."

He's been homeless 3 times in the last 4 years and has LIVED IN STORAGE UNITS FOR 5 MONTHS WITH HIS WIFE and 2 CHILDREN. He has constant pain from his crushed spine, numerous physical ailments, and is unable to hold a job ... The NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION HAS GIVEN HIM VIRTUALLY NO HELP. He has called the NFLPA OVER 100 TIMES in the LAST YEAR but has experienced no success in getting a claim opened. At one point he was actually told that he needed to help himself before the NFLPA could help him and he was told TO GET A JOB and SENT BUS FARE TO SEARCH FOR ONE by an NFLPA representative ... "

Johnston says MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL which is a $4.3 BILLION a year industry pays out an average of $36,700 in benefits to its participating players while the NFL which is currently making $7.1 BILLION a year has an average benefit payout of $13,000. "THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE INJUSTICE."

Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the National Football League Players Association will counter Johnston saying the NFLPA has the most generous and flexible disability program in professional sports and adds that the NFLPA "has obtained repeated and significant increases in benefits for retired players."

September 18, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

DHS GAVE THEM THE ANSWERS TO THE TEST

September 18, 2007 9:56 AM

Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of Americans like the threat of a nuclear attack launched by terrorists.  That is why the Department of Homeland Security wants to spend $1.2 BILLION to purchase Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Monitors or ASPs to prevent nuclear smuggling. 

But a new GAO report levels some disturbing charges at DHS for the way the agency is testing what is being called the "next generation radiation detection equipment."

"DNDO, the domestic nuclear detection office at DHS, used BIASED test methods that enhanced the performance of the ASPs.  Specifically, DNDO conducted NUMEROUS PRELIMINARY RUNS of almost all of the materials, and combinations of the materials that were USED IN THE FORMAL TESTS and then ALLOWED ASP CONTRACTORS to COLLECT the TEST DATA and ADJUST their SYSTEMS to IDENTIFY THESE MATERIALS."  The GAO goes on to say, "IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY that such FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES would PRESENT THEMSELVES UNDER REAL WORLD CONDITIONS."

"DNDO's NTS tests were NOT DESIGNED to test the LIMITATIONS of ASPs detection capabilities ... DNDO did NOT USE a sufficient amount of the type of materials that would MASK OR HIDE dangerous sources that ASPs would likely encounter at ports of entry." 

When DOE officials confronted DHS about this, according to the GAO, they rejected their suggestion of including additional and more challenging masking materials because there would not be sufficient time to obtain them and still make a June 26, 2007 deadline.

"DNDO did NOT OBJECTIVELY TEST the performance of HANDHELD DETECTORS ..."   

The GAO says DNDO is now "attempting to compensate for weaknesses in the original test plan by conducting additional studies -- ESSENTIALLY COMPUTER SIMULATIONS."  BUT the GAO says "in our view and those of OTHER EXPERTS, COMPUTER SIMULATIONS are NOT as GOOD as ACTUAL TESTING with NUCLEAR and MASKING MATERIALS."

A DHS spokesman told the WASHINGTON POST that "ASP systems will have been subjected to the most rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of any radiation detection equipment ever deployed by the U.S. government.  The department has put forth a prudent approach to testing a system that is very much needed, and is already showing promise of considerable improvements over current capabilities."

Rep. Bart Stupak who is holding today's hearing would disagree.

September 18, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

'IT'S LIKE BEING KICKED IN THE TEETH BY A HORSE'

September 17, 2007 8:29 AM

"I've been sitting here for THREE YEARS.  I don't even know 'what going on with my life' means.  I WANT TO SCREAM AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS.  I'M AT THE END OF MY ROPE." 

That is what staff sgt. John Daniel Shannon, a soldier who suffered a severe brain injury in Iraq, told WASHINGTON POST reporters Dana Priest and Anne Hall for their Saturday article entitled "ALMOST HOME BUT FACING MORE DELAYS AT WALTER REED."

After three major investigations, all sorts of congressional hearings -- Priest and Hall say Shannon testified before some of them -- promises from President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, some things at Walter Reed still just don't work. 

According to the article, after nearly three years at the army hospital during which time his wife and family had nearly gone broke and "lived five to a tiny room" so they could be near and help care for him, Shannon had been given a 30 day leave to prepare for civilian life in Suffolk, Va., where his wife had started a house cleaning business to support the family. 

But Priest and Hall say that was when Shannon got word some signatures he needed on his disability forms were missing and others had expired.  He had to come back to Walter Reed, check himself in again, make new appointments to be reevaluated and get new signatures before he could finally go home for good and that was going to take a lot of time.  Clearing frustrated, he told the reporters, "IT'S BEEN 33 MONTHS, WHAT KIND OF BEER ARE THEY DRINKING?"

Priest and Hall got Walter Reed spokesman Charles Dasey to admit that "THERE WAS A FAILURE OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CURRENCY OF HIS PAPERWORK" and Dasey added the army has NOW decided the signatures Shannon has already collected are just fine and the "LAST STEP, DETERMINING SHANNON'S ARMY DISABILITY PAY AND BENEFITS" WILL BEGIN TODAY. 

The article says Shannon would like to take over the job of his case manager at Walter Reed and help other soldiers get what they deserve. "I WISH I COULD TAKE HIS JOB SO I COULD KICK SOME DOORS IN AND SAY, 'HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!' "             

September 17, 2007 in Iraq | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

"A CONTRIBUTION WAS MADE TO MARIE ROBERTS."

September 13, 2007 8:33 AM

While the rest of us spend hours listening to endless testimony about Iraq and terror and prepare for yet another presidential explanation of why the surge is working, a tiny Pennsylvania community quietly prepares for the one year anniversary of the October 2 slaughter of five young girls and the serious wounding of five others in their Amish School in Nickel Mines.

Yesterday the Nickels Mine Accountability Committee which is an all-volunteer panel of Amish and non-Amish organized to handle the $4.3 Million in donations that came in from all over the world after the massacre issued a very lengthy statement on behalf of the community and families who were affected by the shootings.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS printed it.

The committee explains how they used the generous donations for medical, rehabilitative surgery, physical therapy and counseling services for the 5 wounded girls and their families, how they gave some of the money to the charity funds of medical providers and volunteers who have helped them and at the very end is this sentence. "A CONTRIBUTION WAS ALSO MADE TO MARIE ROBERTS." Marie Roberts is the widow of the gunman who first terrorized and then shot the five Amish girls.

"The forgiveness extended by the Amish community to the Roberts family was noted around the world," their statement says. It goes on to say, "The Amish did not wish such publicity for doing what Jesus taught and want to make sure that glory is given to God for that witness. Many from Nickel Mines have pointed out that forgiveness is a journey, that you need help from your community of faith and from God, and sometimes even from counselors, to make and hold on to a decision to not become a hostage to hostility. It is understood that hostility destroys community."

The committee statement also says that "recently 29 people, mostly members of families from the Nickel Mines School traveled to BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA to meet with school officials and the FAMILIES of the VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING VICTIMS to show their concern and to deliver the Comfort Quilt that had been given to Nickel Mines."

The Amish sure know how to forgive and give!

September 13, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

"CHILDREN ARE IN OUR DNA ..."

September 12, 2007 9:54 AM

When you run a company that either makes or sells toys which could harm children the first thing you want to do when called to capitol hill is tell congress that you are a parent too, and deeply concerned about the safety of kids.

"First and foremost, however, I SPEAK TO YOU AS A PARENT.  My wife Jacquie and I have five children, and THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIVES." 

That is how Jerry Storch, the CEO of TOYS "R" US starts his testimony and when he talks about his big toy store he adds, "CHILDREN ARE IN OUR DNA and helping parents keep their kids safe is part of our brand mission."

"LIKE MANY OF YOU, I AM A PARENT," says Robert Eckert the man who runs MATTEL.  "I, like you, care deeply about the safety of children.  And I like you, am deeply disturbed and disappointed by recent events ... We were let down, and so we let you down.  On behalf of Mattel and its nearly 30,000 employees, I apologize sincerely." 

In their prepared testimony both Storch and Eckert detail new steps they are taking to make sure their toys don't poison or choke children.   

I don't know if Sally Greenberg is a parent or not. The senior product safety counsel for  CONSUMERS UNION doesn't mention it in her testimony.  What she does do is attack the anemic actions of the CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, the government agency that is supposed to reduce or eliminate "unreasonable risk of injury or death to consumers from MORE THAN 15,000 TYPES OF PRODUCTS."

Greenberg points out that with 70 to 80 PERCENT of the over $22 BILLION worth of toys sold in this country each year coming from China, the CPSC "which opened its doors in 1974 with a staff of 786 and a budget of $34.7 MILLION, the EQUIVALENT of about $125 MILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, now gets just over $63 MILLION and has only 401 EMPLOYEES. 

"By comparison the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which oversees auto and highway safety, and works to reduce the fatalities on our roadways (approximately 43,000) has a budget this year of $833 MILLION.  The CPSC estimates that 27,000 people DIE EACH YEAR from product hazards under its jurisdiction.  IF CPSC's BUDGET WERE EQUIVALENT to NHTSA's relative to the fatality rates each is confronted with, the CPSC's BUDGET WOULD BE $523 MILLION."

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who is holding today's hearing has introduced a bill to increase funding, staffing and regulatory powers for the CPSC and joined forces with Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fl.,  to write another piece of legislation to require all children's products to be certified as having met "rigorous product safety standards set by independent laboratories." 

September 12, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND THE GENERAL

September 11, 2007 8:32 AM

Five men and women who are running to become President of the United States and General Petraeus' boss sit on the two senate committees that will hold hearings today on the surge.

At 9:30am in the senate committee room built for big media attention grabbing hearings, SH-216, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Democratic hopeful JOE BIDEN will host General David Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker.

CHRIS DODD and BARACK OBAMA who are also running for president sit on the same committee and this morning's WASHINGTON POST quotes Obama saying "changing the definition of success to stay the course with the wrong policy is the wrong course for our troops and our national security. The time to end the surge and to start bringing our troops home is now, not six months from now."

At 2pm in the same room a different committee, Senate Armed Services, will take over. Democratic frontrunner HILLARY CLINTON and republican presidential candidate JOHN MCCAIN both sit on that committee. Senator John McCain, in reaction to Petraeus' testimony yesterday, told the WASHINGTON POST, "I don't think there is any doubt that it's good news that he feels we will be able to withdraw some troops ... To change the strategy from the surge would be a terrific mistake."

Democrat Russ Feingold also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. At one time he toyed with the idea of running for President. He decided against it. The General could get his toughest questions from the non-candidate, Russ Feingold.

September 11, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Manic Monday on Capitol Hill

September 10, 2007 10:03 AM

Mondays are usually very quiet on Capitol Hill, but not this one!  On the eve of another September 11th anniversary Two committees, one on the senate side and other on the house, will hold major hearings and they are sure to be well attended.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chaired by Joe Lieberman will host DHS Secretary Chertoff, DNI Director Michael McConnell, FBI Director Robert Mueller and National Counterterrorism Center boss John Scott Redd.  Chertoff will use words we have heard many times before during political campaigns, "it is no accident that we haven't suffered a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.  I believe it is the result of the President's leadership..."  Chertoff who also thanks the committee for its support, and praises the efforts of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have worked to keep the nation safe will, like the other witnesses, tout his agency's successes and warn of complacency.

Over on the house side, Two committees, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs will hear from General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker as the Bush Administrations kicks off it PR assault for the surge.  The Two committees have a combined membership of 112, and staffers expect the majority to show up in the largest house hearing room available which is being specially configured to hold them.

Not appearing on the hill anywhere today are THOMAS KEAN and LEE HAMILTON who chaired the Commission that published that best seller on what went wrong before  9/11.  Their ideas were relegated to an essay in yesterday's WASHINGTON POST. among their thoughts:

"two years ago, we and our colleagues issued a report card assessing the U.S. government's progress on the bipartisan recommendations in the 9/11 commission report.  We concluded that the nation was not safe enough.  OUR JUDGMENT REMAINS THE SAME TODAY:  WE STILL LACK A SENSE OF URGENCY IN THE FACE OF GRAVE DANGER...and later they add, NO CONFLICT DRAINS MORE TIME, MORE ATTENTION, BLOOD, TREASURE and SUPPORT FROM OUR WORLDWIDE COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS THAN THE WAR IN IRAQ.  IT HAS BECOME A POWERFUL RECRUITING AND TRAINING TOOL FOR
AL-QAEDA."      

September 10, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

"No, Rep. Baird, I am not upset, I am livid!"

September 06, 2007 3:24 PM

Brian Baird is a DEMOCRAT from the state of Washington.  His district includes Olympia and Vancouver.  In 2002, he voted against the Iraq War Resolution and recently called the invasion of Iraq "ONE OF THE WORST FOREIGN POLICY MISTAKES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION."   Baird has made 5 trips to Iraq, but it was what Baird said after his last visit in August that has caused many of his constituents to say he is now making a foreign policy blunder of his own. 

Baird who still opposes the war now says he is convinced by the evidence that the "SITUATION HAS AT LONG LAST BEGUN TO CHANGE SUBSTANTIALLY FOR THE BETTER.  I BELIEVE IRAQ COULD HAVE A POSITIVE FUTURE...PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND THERE IS A REAL REASON FOR HOPE.  IT WOULD BE A TRAGIC WASTE and LASTING STRATEGIC BLUNDER to let the HARD-FOUGHT and IMPORTANT GAINS SLIP AWAY, LEAVING CHAOS BEHIND TO HAUNT US and OUR ALLIES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME."

When Baird returned from his August visit to Iraq, he found over 500 very angry constituents crowded into a town hall meeting in Vancouver and another 100 outside waiting for him to explain.  Most were not buying what he had to say including Joyce Weber who sent a letter that was published in THE OLYMPIAN newspaper.

Weber wrote: "Rep. Baird returned from his fifth guided tour of Iraq and neighboring countries.  He concluded that our troops should fight on.  NO, REP. BAIRD, I AM NOT UPSET, I AM LIVID...I BELIEVE IT IS NOW TIME FOR REP. BAIRD and the U.S. CONGRESS TO DO THEIR JOB, an orderly WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS and MASSIVE EFFORTS OF DIPLOMACY to include the whole middle east..."

Rep. Baird told THE OLYMPIAN newspaper, "I HAVE GOOD FRIENDS WHO WON'T TALK TO ME ANYMORE."  On Monday, Baird who does not sit on either house committee hosting Petraeus and Crocker will listen to the hearing and then make himself available to the press to explain once again why he now supports a continued surge even though he has called the war such a horrible blunder. 

September 6, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

DHS GETS A REPORT CARD AND ITS NOT GOOD

September 06, 2007 7:05 AM

David Walker, the comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office has spent most of the week on Capitol Hill delivering BAD NEWS about IRAQ. 

Today he appears before Joe Lieberman's Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to release some MORE BAD NEWS. 

This time it is a REPORT CARD on the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, that huge government monster created in MARCH 2003.  The GAO did an "OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS" across 14 DHS mission and management areas assigning a rating of "SUBSTANTIAL" to the best and "LIMITED" to the worst.   

Only 1 of the 14, MARITIME SECURITY,  got a rating of SUBSTANTIAL which the GAO defined as having achieved more than 75% of the "identified performance expectations."  Among 4 that got the LOWEST RATING OF LIMITED defined as having achieved 25% OR LESS of the "identified performance expectations" was EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE.

The GAO said in this area DHS had "generally not achieved" 18 of 24 performance expectations.  Included in those, a failure to develop the capacity to provide NEEDED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES IN A TIMELY MANNER, a failure to establish a COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS, a failure to ensure the CAPACITY AND READINESS OF DISASTER RESPONSE TEAMS, and a failure to implement a program to improve "INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, and LOCAL AGENCIES."

The GAO does say in its report that "successful transformations of large organizations, even those faced with less strenuous reorganizations than DHS can take at least 5 to 7 years to achieve" and adds that when shown a draft of their work, DHS strongly disagreed with "our assessment for 42 of the 171 performance expectations."  But as we approach yet another 9/11 anniversary, this new GAO work doesn't provide much comfort.   

Below is a link to a letter from DHS to David Walker of the GAO saying the agency strongly disagrees with the conclusions of the GAO and questions the methodology used to reach them:

Although the GAO recognized our progress in certain performance expectations, we disagree with many of their assessments, conclusions and methodological approach.  They have inaccurately represented DHS’ progress and fail to accurately reflect our progress in many specific program areas.  This not the first time we have expressed our concerns over their methodology and content.

Below is a link to documents on the DHS website which provide more details on our response to the report, including a letter from Under Secretary for Management Paul Schneider to the GAO Comptroller General. 

(LINK)

September 6, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

"THIS DISASTER WAS NOT AN ACT OF GOD..."

September 05, 2007 10:00 AM

This morning a senate subcommittee holds a hearing on the August 6th Crandall Canyon Mine disaster, a story that has pretty much faded away even though the 6 miners trapped there have not yet been found dead or alive. 

Cecil E. Roberts, the President of the United Mine Workers of America International Union will be a witness.   This is what he says in his written testimony.

"My most important message to you today is that the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2007, NOT AUGUST 6, 2007, because JUNE 3rd is the date when the mine operator submitted to MSHA a plan to engage in RETREAT MINING at the Crandall Canyon Mine."

"Likewise MSHA's BEST CHANCE FOR SAVING THE MINERS WAS ON JUNE 15th, NOT AUGUST 6th or 7th.  But when MSHA approved the Crandall Canyon mining plan on JUNE 15th, THAT CHANCE WAS LOST." 

"Make no mistake about it, THIS DISASTER WAS NOT AN ACT OF GOD, BUT AN ACT OF MAN AND IT WAS PREVENTABLE."

According to Congressional staffers, the very talkative Robert E. Murray, the Chairman, President and CEO of Murray Energy Corporation which operates Crandall Canyon Mine, was invited to testify but will not attend.

September 5, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

MR. CHERTOFF, ARE YOU GOING TO STICK AROUND?

September 05, 2007 8:40 AM

Rep. Bennie Thompson, who chairs the house committee on Homeland Security is conducting a hearing this morning entitled "Holding the Department of Homeland Security Accountable for Security Gaps."  His only witness will be DHS boss Michael Chertoff. 

Thompson, who in his opening statement makes mention of the Gonzales resignation and rumors that Chertoff could be the President's choice to replace him, gets right to the question: "and so before you begin your testimony, MR. SECRETARY I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INFORM US WHETHER YOU PLAN TO REMAIN SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THE DURATION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.  I ask this question not to put you on the spot but rather to gain some clarity on the future picture of this department.  As you know, in a July report committee staff found that NEARLY ONE-QUARTER OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS LOCATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ARE VACANT."

Thompson goes on to point out that DHS has failed to provide Congress with programs, plans, and reports like the revised version of the NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN that he says are "ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO SECURING THE HOMELAND."            

September 5, 2007 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)