http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/category_rss/nationalsecurity cross-posted at ClimateLaws.org Under the neo-classic pen name, Justinian, several yet to be revealed policy and climate experts have released a blueprint of strategies for the incoming administration to consider with regards to climate change.  The lynchpin of these tactics is that they can all be undertaken without the need for immediate congressional action.  Like the Roman Emperor Justinian’s attempts to bring Rome out of the Dark Ages with, among other things, a complete revision of the Roman law code – the authors’ proposals offer a dramatic administrative shift in US priorities for climate change. While some of the recommendations are fairly well known, some are wonkish administrative priority setting such as strategies within federal agencies that will permit a far greater amount of environmental policy changes to successfully navigate the myriad of interagency hurdles they often face.  Two of the more public and well known recommendations include having the US join a binding international agreement on climate change, and granting California’s exemption to EPA regulation of auto emissions essentially letting that state and 18 others raise emissions standards on automobiles.  Some other suggestions include....more after the jump http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/climatelaws/CQDR http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/climatelaws/CQDR/commentary#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:35:16 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/climatelaws/CQDR User from Denver, CO User from Denver, CO 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDR/ I'm with Chris Bowers, OpenLeft.com, if news reports are correct from corporate media that Obama is going to keep Robert Gates on as SecofDef. Bowers states : This should be an open and shut case. If there was one message that Obama ran on loudly, clearly, and indisputably, it is that he was going to bring "change" to Washington, D.C. If Gates were kept on as Secretary of Defense, it apparently would also mean that all of his top advisors would also stay on, and that it all happened because long-time D.C. operatives said it should. Keeping the same guy and all of his advisors at the behest of old establishment types is about as far from change as possible. Secretary of Defense is the big enchilada. Arguably, due to the vast percentage of federal spending it receives, it is more important than all other cabinet secretaries combined. The President may be Commander in Chief, but it is the Secretary of Defense who is decides how most federal revenue is spent. We need change in the Department of Defense, and keeping Gates along with his entire team of advisors and assistants doesn't fit the bill. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDN http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDN/commentary#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:03:20 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDN Ken Ken 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDN/ As of Wed. 11/26 at 6:00 am the responses to this Impeachment OpEd had grown to over 1,246 The right wingers of both the Democrats and Republican parties were doing their best to ruin the discussion and diss the Constitution. They posted garbage using fake names which kept the right wing Dem/GOP messages on top. For instance the message "Blah.. Blah... Blah... this gets old" repeated many times really got in the way of real discussion. Regardless this is a record for comments on that paper for an impeachment discussion. It is a marvel that the Editorial Board allowed the article to be published. Our thanks to everyone who read it and commented at the newspaper. ----------------------------------------------- PLEASE: FORWARD TO YOUR LISTS NOW ! Thanks e. Suggest we all read and comment on this Pro-Impeachment op-ed piece in the Detroit Free Press today. Earlier the better. Getting to 1,000+ comments might help. Interestingly it is placed high on the paper's website. Is the paper now getting behind impeachment??? The comments have tripled to over 500 in 2 hours. Please add your pro-impeachment hearings comment and forward to your lists asap. Thanks John John H Kennedy, Denver CO impeach Colorado Coalition For economy's sake, Pelosi needs to push for impeachment now BY ROCHELLE RILEY Nov. 25, 2008 For economy's sake, Pelosi needs to push for impeachment now Rep. Nancy Pelosi's ineffectiveness became clear the day she became Speaker of the House and immediately announced that there would be no impeachment proceedings against President George W. Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney. Advertisement Guided by politics, she said leading investigations into just how much the Bush administration did - and did wrong - would be divisive. What she didn't express was her worry that too many Democrats faced elimination from the House if they took on the difficult task of proving who knew what, when. But Congress is running out of time to finally make the Bush administration own up to its actions for eight years. If Congress isn't careful, the president who already has issued 171 pardons could also pardon every appointee and employee he has ever had - and their dogs. And then Americans will never find out what happened to our country over the past eight years. Pelosi wouldn't have to start from scratch: Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the bravest member of Congress, introduced legislation 11 months ago to impeach the president and vice president. Last January, the House gave a first reading of one of those articles of impeachment. Our own Rep. John Conyers, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, joined 38 other representatives to sponsor HR 635, which would form a committee to look into whether there are grounds for impeachment. Revive that effort! Last week, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, submitted a resolution demanding that Bush stop issuing "pre-emptive pardons of senior officials in his administration during the final 90 days of office." Nadler said in news reports that he was moved to action by the president's "widespread abuses of power and potentially criminal transgressions against our Constitution" and that he wanted to prevent the "undeserved pardons of officials who may have been co-conspirators in the president's unconstitutional policies, such as torture, illegal surveillance and curtailing of due process for defendants." Nadler is storming the beach; others should join him. If Congress moves quickly and forces the president to focus on impeachment, then he won't have so much time to push through last-minute regulatory changes that will continue to hurt our country and our ideals. He already has pushed deregulation that would allow employers to talk directly with employees' doctors and allow power companies to build polluting facilities close to national parks. Anyone worried that our congressional representatives can't tie their shoes and chew gum at the same time, or cannot focus on the economic crisis and impeachment hearings at the same time, will find that many answers to our economic and global defense problems will come from those hearings. The only question I have for Nancy Pelosi is this: What are we waiting for? --------------- If the House Democrats fail to hold Bush and Cheney accountable, they are unlikely to get you Single payer Healthcare or anything else that will take courage to accomplish. --------------- http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp/commentary#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:02:57 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQDp John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDp/ For several years now the evidence of the Alberto Gonzales gang's manipulation of the Federal Civil Service within the Department of Justice has been well publicized. The fact that right-wing political ideologues were being approved for career professional positions based on social issue orthodoxy, rather than competence and qualifications, is yet another blight on the scandalous legacy of the current occupant of the White House. Today's report in the Washington Post reveals that this practice of burrowing right-wing political operatives into the Civil Service is also in-place in the scientific agencies. Perhaps this is the mis-administration's strategy for making permanent the Republican obsession for combating the truth of science with their twisted political and social priorities. The Center for Public Integrity is soon to release their "Broken Government" study. The fund-raising teaser release promises 120 specific cases. This kind of investigative effort to hold the Bushies accountable as the mis-administration fades into oblivion is crucial.  Revealing and acting on the depth and breadth of this conspiracy is vital to the success of any reforms and corrects to the offenses of the past eight years. The Obama-Biden Administration will be stretched and tested to uncover and flush-out these right-wing activists who have burrowed their way into the Civil Service like so many termites. The evidence of these infestations must be met with quick action. Executive appointees selected for positions above these people must be prepared to take every possible action within the laws and regulations of the Civil Service structure to either get them dismissed, or make it too hard for them to stay and accomplish their nefarious goals. Attention to the selection of the Administrator of the Office of Personnel Management will be a key to success in this area. Various Executive agency inspectors general must be supported in investigating these political opportunists. IF they are found to be substantially unqualified for the job description that they were hired to fill, then it should be clear grounds for dismissal as an unlawful appointment. The Obama-Biden appointees who are saddled with these burdens must enforce clear, precise and enforceable performance standards. When confronted with qualitative requirements to enforce and perform based upon laws and regulations that these infiltrators are likely to hold ambitions to undermine and avoid, could more easily force them to resign. Even in its demise the minions of the current mis-administration are appearing to be increasingly unwilling to follow the current occupant of the White House and the vice out of Washington. This certainly adds to the challenge and urgency of establishing the new administration's executive leadership. Too many months and too many acting, caretaker, leaders in the executive departments will make it all the harder to untangle the tentacles of the Bush parasites. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn/commentary#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:53:14 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQDn Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDn/ If piracy is a major problem, or is becoming one, on the high seas then will it become a necessity to begin convoys of commercial vessels? From AP today : NEW DELHI – An Indian naval vessel sank a suspected pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden and chased two attack boats into the night, officials said Wednesday, yet more violence in the lawless seas where brigands are becoming bolder and more violent. Yesterday AP had a story about the capture of a Saudi oil supertanker: "This outrageous act by the pirates, I think, will only reinforce the resolve of the countries of the Red Sea and internationally to fight piracy," he said during a visit to Athens. "Piracy is against everybody. Like terrorism it is a disease that has to be eradicated." As mariners have known for decades that the Pacific rim of fire has been a fertile ground for piracy, especially for private yachts and smaller commercial vessels. A solution for larger commerical enterprises would be to begin convoying those vessels.  It would be a U.N. sponsored multinational naval force because no single country's navy could handle it.  The effect would be two fold: Greater cooperation with nations against piracy and insurance rates would go down, which should bring the cost of goods and consumables down too. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDg http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDg/commentary#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:10:49 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQDg Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQDg/ Obama advisers: Bush era war criminals will walk . No Accountability for Bush, CHENEY, Rumsfeld, Addington, and the rest of these scum. IF THAT PISSES YOU OFF Call 800-828-0498 Ask for each of Colorado's Congressmen in turn and tell them to file their own Impeachment Resolution and to do it THIS WEEK. (Hint: leave a voicemail at night) IF enough Congressmen file single crime impeachment resolutions during the same week (this week) it will get the attention of the Media. Yes the MEDIA got Obama elected, and now are much more likely to pay attention to impeachment. WE MUST GET PEOPLE RILED UP ENOUGH TO DEMAND IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS NOW John Kennedy Impeach Colorado Coalition ImpeachCO.com QUESTION: HOW MANY US SOLDIERS HAVE TO BE KILLED AND MAIMED FOR THE BUSH/CHENEY WMD LIES Before Colorado Voters (you and me) bother to call the state's US Congressmen and Demand Impeachment Hearings NOW? Hint: Over 4,197 Killed Over 30,000 Maimed (some reports say it's over 70K) .. .... http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh/commentary#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:32:56 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennedyjohn/CQzh John H Kennedy http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/5e4c96e6db734362f3_l5hmv2v71.jpg John H Kennedy 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQzh/ As we hear the comparisons of the current economic crisis to the beginnings of the Great Depression, an accompanying warning is that all the economic actions of the New Deal were ineffective, and it was the entry of the US into World War II in 1941 that ended the Depression. For example here is George Will in today's (Nov 15) New York Times: "…The Depression, which FDR failed to end but which Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor did end…" There is a scary message for us today in that idea, but it ain't so. Here is some data: In 1930, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States was $91.2 billion dollars. By 1933, when FDR became President, GDP had fallen to its lowest annual value of $56.4 billion. Under FDR, the United States GDP rose steadily through 1940, the year before the US entered the war, to $101.4 billion. In fact, GDP had recovered to the level of 1930 by 1937; it did decline from that level in 1938 but by 1939 was back again to the 1930 level. It is true that the level of GDP did not EXCEED the 1929 level until 1941, but let's also remember that Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war did not come about until the end of that year. (http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2008/08%20August/0808_gdp_nipas.pdf) So it is not necessary to have a war in order to get out of a depression. Armageddon is not a policy tool for economic recovery. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CQzn http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CQzn/commentary#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:16:34 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CQzn Doc Martin Doc Martin 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQzn/ From Wall Street Journal today : Like the president-elect, Mr. Gates supports deploying more troops to Afghanistan. But the defense secretary strongly opposes a firm timetable for withdrawing American forces from Iraq , and his appointment could mean that Mr. Obama was effectively shelving his campaign promise to remove most troops from Iraq by mid-2010.  [My emphasis] This is the reason why Gates should be replaced immediately. WSJ.com continues: Still, speculation that Mr. Gates would remain in the job increased over the weekend when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) endorsed the idea in a CNN interview. "Why wouldn't we want to keep him?" Sen. Reid said. "He's never been a registered Republican." Another Dem speaks, per WSJ.com: "He's not ideological, he's not partisan, and you could trust him to manage the wars in a competent manner while a new administration gets up to speed," said Nancy Soderberg, a Democrat and onetime U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. "It would allow the Obama administration to hit the ground running." I beg to differ but Mr. Obama can hit the ground running with his own set of advisors.  No more holdovers from a failed and criminal administration. Remember that Chief of Staff Rahm said that Obama will follow through on his promises...that means a timetable for withdrawl from Iraq by 2010. The will and majority of Americans want a firm timetable for withdrawl.  This is one of the main reasons why Obama became president. Stop the killing of Americans and Iraqis.   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQzM http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQzM/commentary#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:29:07 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQzM Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQzM/ If Sec. of Defense Gates is asked to stay on then why would he stay on for " less than a year "?  The selection process would have to start for Obama to really pick an individual who would be his own choice and not that from a failed administration.  It is fairly ridiculous to consider Gates to continue after Mr. Bush leaves even though the D.C. pundits are panting over Gates staying on . Seth Walls, HuffingtonPost.com, reports : But not everyone is sold on the idea. One former high-ranking defense official now advising Obama told the Huffington Post that keeping Gates around is "the dumbest thing I've ever heard." The former official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he has told the Obama transition team as much... The official, who spoke from personal experience within the bureaucracy, said that as an administrator, "you need your own people. And a lot of those people [under Gates] were neoconservative architects of the [Iraq] war." Meteor Blades, DailyKos.com, has written about the fact that no Republican presidents have appointed a Democrat to run the Department of Defense.  I think it speaks volumes that Democratic presidents have chosen Republicans to lead the DoD more often than from their own party. Remember that the Sec of DoD must repudiate the processes set up by the failed Bush administration with regard to interrogation and treatment of prisoners.  Furthermore strict adherence to all treaties and conventions with regard to warmaking and waging of war through new guidelines must be implemented- i.e., the Bush Doctrine must be discarded and a new strategic policy must be set forth as per the Defense Department's quadriennial review. My choices would be Wesley Clark or Gary Hart or Sam Nunn.  What does the Progressnowaction community think?   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8y http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8y/commentary#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:36:29 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8y Ken Ken 6 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8y/ OBAMA CITY, JAPAN :  Banners on parade and dancing in the streets with shouts in English "YES WE CAN" KENYA:  Dancing in the streets - 2 days of national holiday declared amid chants of "YES WE CAN" FRANCE:  People pour into the streets of Paris amid dancing and singing there are shouts "YES WE CAN" LONDON, SOUTH AFRICA....ALL OVER THE WORLD: The REVOLUTION has been legitimized, accepted and praised.               WE actually won the 2nd revolution for the United States of America. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88/commentary#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:26:59 MST http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ88 The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 2 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ88/ The McCain Campaign is out answering the internet blogosphere again. A continuation of the policy of smoke and mirrors... "SO, Mr. McCain, what about the Economy?"   "uh, uh, HEY! Look over here...Obama stubbed his toe and he didn't bleed - proves he's a vampire!!! Afterall,we knew he had to be... He runs with alien terrorists from MARS!!!!! The Washington Post has films of the landing and met with their leader..... We are demanding right here and now....RELEASE THE FILM!!!!!" YES McCAIN and his Campaign are LIKE BUSH in one major way... They will SAY anything (LIE); They think WE are STUPID; And when all else fails, blame the Democrats! http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z/commentary#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:15:10 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/Jan/CQ8Z The Mad Woman http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/fcb34917d9fd3e3809_u806mvulr.jpg The Mad Woman 271 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8Z/ This ongoing negotiations between US and Iraq is not being reported by US corporate television or, especially, local television but it certainly is being followed by the rest of the world's nations.  Since Mr. Bush is leaving office he simply doesn't care about what this nation used to stand for because he wants to lock in the US to Iraq for the next president.  From McClatchy Washington Bureau, reporters Roy Gutman and Leila Fadel write : BAGHDAD _ The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq. Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail, a top Iraqi official told McClatchy Sunday. In addition to halting all military actions, U.S. forces would cease activities that support Iraq’s economy, educational sector and other areas _ "everything" _ said Tariq al Hashimi, the country’s Sunni Muslim vice president. "I didn’t know the Americans are rendering such wide-scale services." While readers on this site will be outraged.  It is time for our Senators to become involved.  In the past Mr. Bush has tried to circumvent the Senate's confirmation of treaties power.  This "Status of Forces Agreement" should roundly be condemned by Senators as a whole.  The only way this will happen if we put some pressure on our Senators to make this an issue. Ask them is it ethical to blackmail Iraq "partner" into a new agreement by the torture and blackmail President?  Ask them if "status of forces" agreement is a transparent attempt to circumvent the constitutional duty of the Senate to confirm "treaties"? What do you think Senator Salazar would say?  Allard?  How about candidates Udall or Shaffer?   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8n http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8n/commentary#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:52:04 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CQ8n Ken Ken 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8n/ Reports are coming in that Barack Obama's Colorado appearances today were record breaking. One Democratic Party insider says that the Denver Rally pulled in over 100,000 supporters. I was within a softball toss of Barack in Fort Collins. One early estimate claims 45,000 attended; it sure looked like a lot more than that to me.  The Eastern half of the CSU Oval was filled with people, and more were crowded into the Southwest quarter of the Oval. If I were priviledged enough...I would paste in one of my low-res pictures of the crowd.  But, even Barack said that the setting was incredible.  The trees surrounding the Oval were in full color. Barack's message has evolved, even from the acceptance speach at Mile High.  Focused, positive and thoroughly inspiring. I was struck by several uses of "the future" today.  Each time was full of hope and desire for the best for all Americans.  Barack's comments were on-target for a number of topics:  the economy, healthcare, primary education, secondary education, jobs and how John McCain is out of touch. The program started with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and an a capella performance of the National Anthem.  Betsy Markey gave one of her best speaches as did Governor Bill Ritter. Other news organizations will have a full transcript of the speach.  The press contingent was impressive.  But, news coverag does not compare to being there...being there to see the future President. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8V http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8V/commentary#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:40:01 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8V Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8V/ Two years ago I was fortunate to see Barbara O'Brien and Jeanne Ritter devote some of their campaign time to the cause of military families. It is so good to see that continue. Politico.com has posted a great story that is popping-up in several of my veterans e-newsletters. The example and precedent that Michelle Obama is setting is not only the right thing to do, but holds great promise for correcting a decades-old problem within the Democratic Party. Here's the link, and the full story is in the Extended Post Text. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14733.html I continue to see signs and symptoms of a Colorado Democratic Party that hasn't figured out how to get past the Vietnam-era paradigms of domination by anti-war activists. Perhaps with Michelle's example we'll see more Democratic Party officers who will behave as if they are not afraid of the Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem, and will remember to include either/both of those in party functions. The barrier between Democratic events and spoken prayer is lowly crumbling. Releasing the anxiety for Democratic candidates to speak openly about religion. But, there are still too many occassions where a Democratic event will include a 10-foot tall American flag and silence on that final Patriotic step of including the Pledge or Anthem. Democrats who have served in the Armed Forces and would like to continue their service in political office are often dismayed and disappointed by this behavior. There are too many really nice renditions of the National Nathem available to not allow the 2-minutes it takes to play one on a tape deck or over the PA system. Yet every time a group meets, and the American flag is in the room, the failure to make this Patriotic effort will disappoint a veteran, offend a veteran's family member or friend, and the favorite charge by the opposition of Democrats being "un-patriotic" is perpetuated. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B/commentary#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:15:47 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CQ8B Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQ8B/ I was just listening to former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder on a radio show. He made a critical and brilliant observation about John McCain. His evaluation of the Sarah Palin selection rests on that decision as an indicator of how McSame would later decide on the people to fill the other leadership positions in a supposed McSame mis-administration. This is a powerful indictment of a candidate for president of the US when the nation so despirately needs a clear change of direction. The specter of Sarah Palin equivalent appointments throughout the US Executive Branch shows no chance of reforming, and certainly not reversing, the criminal excesses of the past seven years. There will be no resolution to the US Attorney firings, and little hope of removing the fraudulently hired radical right-wingers who have been peppered throughout the Department of Justice to undermine, rather than enforce, the law. This demonstrated decision-making pattern by John McCain is a screaming warning to America. No other fact shines so brightly than the selection of Sarah Palin to confirm that McSame is the incarnation of a third, and perhaps more devastating, term for the G.W. Bush policies. Considering everything you find important, think your retired relatives who will be hurt if McCain succeeds and leads America down the path of more for the wealthiest and less for the rest. Victory in the race for the White House is critical, but top to bottom electoral victories on the ballot is equally important for our communities and state. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9/commentary#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:22:03 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZB9 Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZB9/ Call for Schaffer to Disclose His Relationship between Controversial Group and his oil company: Group to endorse Schaffer may have actually helped him on war profiteering For Immediate Release October 14, 2008 Contact: Michael Huttner (303) 931-4547 cell Denver - ProgressNowAction called on ex-Congressman Bob Schaffer to fully disclose his relationship between his oil company and a controversial group that plans to endorse him tomorrow in Colorado Springs. "We call on Schaffer to disclose whether he ever worked on Iraq oil contracts with this controversial group before they endorse him," stated Huttner. Schaffer is planning to be endorsed by Moving America Forward (MAF), which originated in a public relations firm that worked to attract international oil companies and other firms to do business in northern Iraq against U.S. policy. ( GJS , 10/14/2008) "This relationship doesn't pass the smell test," stated Huttner.  "We want to know whether Schaffer worked with any one involved in MAF on his war profiteering." Schaffer was one of several executives from Denver based Aspect Energy who went to northern Iraq to lay the groundwork for an oil deal between his company and the regional government, in violation of U.S. State Department Policy recommendations. ( RMN , 10/14/2008) The controversial endorsement is set for 10:00am Wednesday in Colorado Springs. # # # http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/al/CZB4 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/al/CZB4/commentary#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:25:01 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/al/CZB4 Alan Franklin http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/1b6fb917dd91e10cc0_ge5omv53a.jpg Alan Franklin 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZB4/ This was not the one-word headline I expected to see in this morning's Foreign Policy magazine Morning Brief email.  Similarly, the Financial Times brought gloomy articles confirming the depth of the current fiscal decline.   "Falling by more than 20 percent over seven straight trading days, the U.S. stock market's recent performance now meets the standard definition of a crash."  - FP Morning Brief, 10 October 2008   this is the first attention grabbing fact from FP.  Realistically a seven point consecutively repeated 20% downward trend line is what I've always called a "death-slide."    It's a very effective way to get the attention of executive decision-makers and mid-level managers.  I've seen motivation and attention to detail factors show a marked increase.   "Investors have lost an estimated $8.4 trillion dollars so far this year, with the Dow Jones industrial average sinking another 678 points or 7.3 percent Thursday."  - FP Morning Brief, 10 October 2008  My proposal is to add this figure to the existing National Debt burden enacted by the current occupant of the White House.  In addition to being a condemning legacy of this presidency, it should be a lesson in who, and how, to elect the next president.   Personally, I'm watching the value of my supposedly solid Federal employee Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account in a similar decline.  Holding a large percentage of my shares in a Standard & Poors 500 fund isn’t such a happy place at the moment. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBF http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBF/commentary#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:22:20 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBF Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZBF/ One of the most disagreable experiences I've had during this year's political campaign came when national, and local, groups viciously attacked the integrity, motivations and message of General Petraeus. Yet, on Wednesday the conservative Heritage Foundation heard policies and concepts from Petraeus that confirm the campaign platform of Barack Obama. The complete story from the "Washington Independent" is in the Extended Post Text (via Foreign Policy magazine's Daily Brief service). This is an online news outlet associated with Colorado Confidential. This can't stay a minor story. Petraeus' comments must be shared, and the Obama campaign should advertise these policies and tactics with enthusiasm. Part of the value in this this is seeing a competent national leader, Obama, openly discuss a strategic vision and mission for the US military.  Now we're seeing that a widely praised general is able to accept that mission and describe the operational policies and tactics to accomplish what is apparently Barack Obama's security policy in opposition to McCain's irrational Iraq fixation. http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBc http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBc/commentary#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:33:58 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/ralphtrenary/CZBc Ralph T http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/profile_picture/22970b0cb82ab5861b_e6yymv1de.jpg Ralph T 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZBc/ In a wonderful article, Peter W. Galbraith reviews the recent history and current status of the war in Iraq. He starts by looking at the definitions of victory used by President Bush - a unified, democratic and stable Iraq. McCain's definition is similar - an Iraq that is a "democratic ally." So the issue on the table is the path that makes democrats out of theocrats, sidelines Iran and "reconcile Kurds and Sunnis in Iraq's new order. According to Galbraith, the surge has not been the main reason for the decline in violence. Rather, it is the rise of the Sunni "Awakening" that, supported by the Americans, have driven out al-Qaeda from the Sunni areas and diminished the awful attacks on the Shiites. This enabled the Shiite Moqtada al-Sadr to order his Mahdi Army to stand down, thinking that the US presence was temporary, and keep his powder dry for a subsequent renewed civil war with the Sunni. But once the Shiite party most closely aligned with Iran assumed power in the central government under Maliki, the Shiite national army with American help was used to oust the Mahdi Army from most of Basra and reduced their power in Sadr City, Baghdad's Shiite slum. So in 2007 and 2008, according to Galbraith, Sunnis and Shiites fought civil wars, the Awakening (not the Americans) emerged to defeat al-Qaeda, the ruling Shiites undercut the Mahdi Army. So it was not the Shiite Iraqi army defeating insurgents but the Sunnis. Maliki wants the US to withdraw so that he can turn his forces against the Sunni and the Kurds because he leads a Shiite party that wants to turn Iraq into a Shiite Islamic state, allied with Iran. Until 2007, the Americans fought alongside the Shiite-led Iraqi army, but under General Petraeus backed the Sunni Awakening that is deeply hostile to the Shiite government. So Maliki want the US to get out. With Americans gone, the Iraqi army and police could attack the Awakening. And Iran would back them up. Meanwhile the Kurds in the north, who are secular, pro-western and democratic according to Galbraith, have been attacked by the central government forces at Khanaqin. Although the forces withdrew later, it was a danger sign to the Kurds, who have opposed us slaes of F-16s to Iraq because they fear they will be used against them. Meanwhile, the political reconciliation that was supposed to happen once the surge bought some time has not occurred. For Maliki, the Kurds and Sunni are obstacles to achieving a Shiite Islamic state. Iran, not the US, is his primary ally, and he is a hard lineShiite militant from the Dawa Party, having spent twenty years in Iran and Syria. John McCain says often that due to the surge, we are winning the Iraq war and that he wants to continue supporting a government and Iraqi factions that are Iran's closest allies in the Middle East. "He praises the Awakening and but [sic] seems not to have realized that the Iraqi government is intent on crushing it." His denunciations of Obama and Biden offer no protection to Iraq's Kurds. "George W. Bush has put the United States on the side of undemocratic Iraqis who are Iran's allies. John McCain would continue the same approach. It is hard to understand how this can be called a success - or a path to victory." http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CZBJ http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CZBJ/commentary#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:58:52 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/bullwinkle/CZBJ Doc Martin Doc Martin 1 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZBJ/ Is this what the neocons want?  Where the enemy is "known" and "understandable" with conventional hard force use that the military-industrial complex can create weapons for?  Cold war strategies based on war gaming studies of "Fulda Gap" utilizing an NBC combat environment would be "comforting" to the neocons because it is based on the past fifty years of mutually assured destruction philosophy of Herman Kahn and his ilk. (h/t to Buzzflash.com) From Novosti, Russia News and Information Service, press release : MOSCOW, October 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russian strategic bombers will conduct training flights with full combat payloads and live fire all cruise missiles on board for the first time in over two decades, an Air Force spokesman said. The live firing exercises in Russia's northern latitudes on October 6-12 are part of the Stability-2008 strategic maneuvers in various regions of Russia and Belarus with the goal of practicing strategic deployment of the Armed Forces, including the nuclear triad, to counter potential threats near the Russian border.... Is the eastward expansion of NATO a wise decision?  Wouldn't Russia see this as provocative due to it's history with western Europe?   http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CZBg http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CZBg/commentary#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:31:01 MDT http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/post/kennethdebacker/CZBg Ken Ken 0 http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZBg/