Links of the Day: links of the Day 3/5/2008 KUCINICH WINS!

KUCINICH WINS!

Dennis Kucinich leads in bid to retain 10th District congressional seat

Posted by Molly Kavanaugh March 04, 2008 22:46PM

Updated at 12:20 a.m Wednesday

Despite a well-financed, aggressive opposition campaign and the distractions of a failed presidential bid, Rep. Dennis Kucinich appears to be headed back to Congress.

With 204 of 641 precincts reporting, Kucinich had 26,845 votes to his nearest challenger, Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, with16,6144 votes. Other challengers: Barbara Ann Ferris, 3,192 votes; Thomas O'Grady, 2,694, and Rosemary Palmer, 1,941.

The 10th District Democratic congressman was facing his first threat of losing the seat he has held for 12 years. Kucinich spent thousands of dollars on television ads and agreed to debate his opponents, chief rival Joe Cimperman and three other candidates.

The 61-year-old former Cleveland mayor said he was encouraged by the results. "I am also encouraged because I know of all the hard work you have all put in," he told supporters at the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor union hall.

Cimperman hammered away at Kucinich's second long-shot presidential bid, constantly citing votes he missed in Congress while running for the White House and the financial support he received from Hollywood stars like Sean Penn.

Cimperman, 37, spent at least $500,000 trying to win the seat and gained the endorsement of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

We took someone who ignored the district for 12 years and made him pay attention," said Cimperman, speaking from Around the Corner in Lakewood.

Cimperman, who lives outside the district, said it was too early to say whether he would consider another run for the 10th District seat. The district encompasses Cleveland's West Side and Cuyahoga County's western suburbs.

While Cimperman said he always considered the campaign a two-way race, the crowded field did not help his chances.

Rosemary Palmer, campaigning in the HopeMobile bus, entered the race after her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder, was killed in Iraq.

Barbara Ferris, president and founder of the International Women's Democracy Center, was trying for a third time to unseat Kucinich.

During the campaign, North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady cited his military career and blasted Cimperman.

Kucinich probably will face Republican Jim Trakas, a former state representative from Independence who had to give up his seat because of term limits.

After 36 years, residents of the 16th Congressional District will have a new representative in November with Republican Ralph Regula's decision to step down.

State Sen. Kirk Schuring and Ashland County Commissioner Matt Miller were in a close race for the Republican nomination. Democrat John Boccieri, a state senator, was leading.

The 16th District covers all of Stark and Wayne counties and parts of Ashland and Medina counties.

Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton, who represents the 13th District, appears headed to a race against David Potter in November. Rep. Steve LaTourette, a Republican in the 14th District, will face Bill O'Neill, a former appeals court judge.

Reporter Michael Sangiacomo contributed to this report.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/03/_despite_a_wellfinanced_aggres.html

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I'm really not much in the mood to write today. I know Obama lost Texas to Clinton because of republicans crossing over and voting for her. Rush Limpballs sent his minions out to mettle in democratic politics while Terry McCaulif continues this "kitchen sink" (more like kitchen stink) campaign.

And Clinton the nerve of her telling her people to CHEAT when counting the caucus votes and then she claims irregularities . Woman to woman Hillary I'm not liking your old white boy politics at all. Silly me I hoped we women would act differently then the men. I wanted to win on the issues not on personal attacks and fake pictures burned on photoshop.

So here's a bunch of links that might interest you.

Lots of voting and caucus info at DKOS with a few back biting posts by some members. WTF! Why are democrats acting like republicans?

http://www.dailykos.com/

Election Guide 2008

Results: Democratic Delegate Count

Comparing Delegate Counts

A comparison of delegate projections from The New York Times and other sources. For a detailed description of how The New York Times counts delegates, see the table and description below.

http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/delegates/index.html

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I don't know where CNN is getting it's info but it looks to me like Obama is winning all the caucuses.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: Texas Democratic Party Precinct Conventions

Texas Democrats

Of the 228 National Convention Delegates, 126 delegates—the majority of the Texas delegation—are allocated based on the results of Tuesday's Democratic primary. You can view the results of the primary at the Texas Secretary of State's election returns website.

Please do not refresh your web browser. The election results will automatically reload in 2 minutes and 34 seconds.

http://precinctconventionresults.txdemocrats.org/election08district

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UPDATE: Clinton takes Ohio; Texas still undecided

Poll times extended in Ohio, Clinton campaign alleges irregularities in Texas

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Poll_times_extended_in_Ohio_Clinton_0304.html

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Don't forget to check the Vote Master's page

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

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Great youtube video of sniveling GOP Rep.

Well it seems the GOP doesn't like the young people voting. Young people like my sons who hate bigotry and GOP politics. Young people who want universal health care, college educations, good jobs etc, etc, etc.

Republican are seeing their numbers shrinking while democrats have doubled in nearly every state primary and caucus.

I been telling the young people on myspace to take the country away from the old white men and I think that's what they are doing. Bravo young people don't stop now.

It's not to late to get your friends registered to vote for the general election in November. Drag them down to voter registration by telling them your treating them to beer and pizza if you have too but get them registered.

If you kids don't take the country back it now in 2008 you never will.

Shays Can't Decide Whether 18-Year-Olds Should Be Allowed to Vote

CHRISTOPHER SHAYS: I think we made a mistake lowering the voting age to 18. I think it happened basically out of guilt, that we were sending people off to war. And we said, well, if they're old enough to die, then they're old enough to vote.....

That was Rep. Chris Shays, during an interview for last year's documentary "18 in '08," claiming 18 year olds shouldn't have been given the right to vote by the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971.

Since that interview, young voters have exceeded all expectations this year and are turning out in droves, a key part of the surge in Democratic turnout across the country.

So today, on another primary day which will likely see Democrats once again crushing Republicans in turnout across blue, red, and purple states alike, Chris Shays had yet another characteristic and conveniently timely change of heart on an issue, in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer:

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays (R., Conn.) said in the film that the 2004 youth turnout was "pathetic" and that lowering the voting age was a mistake. In an interview, Shays said he had since changed his mind.

"I think that young people are starting to take politics more seriously now," he said. "And getting them involved from the beginning will keep them focused over time."

It's obvious to all, especially Republicans, that the enthusiasm, activism, and excitement is all on the side of Democrats this year. And it's that enthusiasm which is going to carry not just the eventual Democratic nominee for President, but more and better Democrats across the country, to victories in November... including in Shays' own district.

http://myleftnutmeg.com/showDiary.do;jsessi..A86D53605E7649001F2B0900FEE95907?diaryId=9279

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Here is comes, look for more of this as we get closer to November's election.

DHS issues threats but has no potential targets or current credible information.

Republicans fear mongering for votes. We the republicans are the only ones who can protect you! Just don't forget "Bin Laden determined to attack" memo prior to 9/11.

March Madness: Homeland Security Issues Warning on Sports Arenas

FBI and DHS Issue Warning Just in Time for March Madness

By RICHARD ESPOSITO

March 4, 2008—

As the spring sports season moves into high gear, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI today issued an assessment, called "Potential Threats to Popular Sports and Entertainment Venues," that said arenas and stadiums are attractive "potential targets during events."

The assessment repeatedly noted that the FBI and DHS have no "information on any credible or specific current terrorism plots to attack stadiums or arenas in the United States."

The report, however, said "operational planning and surveillance against sporting facilities are often difficult to detect," and college and professional basketball playoffs, the stock car racing season, hockey playoffs and horse racing's Triple Crown are among the events that "regularly bring tens of thousands of fans...into large open-access facilities."

Prepared at the request of the private sector with input from federal agencies, the report is intended to provide "decision makers with the broad, analytically-based threat information necessary to inform investment priorities and program design."

"The FBI and DHS put out a joint bulletin for law enforcement concerning potential threats against sporting events. This is routine; we have no current threats against sports venues," FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said in a statement. "But with the start of the spring sporting events, we provide this information to law enforcement to be aware of any suspicious activity and to remain vigilant."

Thirty-four incidents of suspicious activities involving arenas and stadiums were reported to the FBI last year, the report noted, however these "often lacked sufficient information to investigate or determine if a terrorism nexus existed."

Although there is no information on specific or credible current terrorist plots, the report noted that detainee statements, captured material and domestic and overseas terrorist attacks were all part of the information used to prepare the assessment of these events as potential targets.

Click Here for the Investigative Homepage.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=4387469

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Congressional oversight office at NSA headquarters sits empty

Government Accountability Officers - The ungrateful job of a Government Freedom Fighter

Diary Entry by Liza Persson

The Intelligence Reform Act provides the newly established position of Director of National Intelligence with

centralized authorities similar to but significantly more extensive than those formerly held by the Director of Central Intelligence.

The Director of National Intelligence oversees and coordinates the intelligence activities of the other members of the Intelligence Community, which

include sixteen other components spread throughout much of the executive branch.

Acting on these new authorities, the DNI has proposed a

host of management reforms including changes in IC personnel policies, acquisitions, information sharing, and business practices.

Congress has the constitutional duty of oversight and regulation of the executive branch – which includes the intelligence community,

The US has many sordid and shameful passages in its short history, and abuses committed in the name of collecting "necessary and vital" intelligence for the sake of avoiding diffuse and always "imminent attacks" on ill-defined "national interests" features extensively.

Congress has typically been complicit or ignorant, and only when the shit hits the fan of public opinion has it reacted decisively and passed laws to ensure that it will "never happen again".

Sadly, it was rarely the case that the Congress lacked the tools needed to do its job – it just did not use the ones it had.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is making sure that taxpayers get their money's worth from the government. Formerly known as the General Accounting Office, the Government Accountability Office is the investigative arm of Congress, and like the name suggests strives to ensure accountability in the legislative and executive branches of government.

However, in spite of intelligence gathering scandals and abuses of the past and present – Watergate, COINTEL, the ongoing and unresolved issue of the illegal wiretapping – and a more powerful and insulate Intelligence Community than ever – it consumes more than double the spending of its share of tax money compared to a decade ago, but is not subjected to more oversight – the GAO, and in extension the US public, is effectively cut out from any real insight.

This is EVEN though the GAO is subjected to the same strict rules for leaking information to press or other agencies outside the government, as federal employees and the reports– if necessary – can be classified.

Once again – the Administration pursues its efforts of making the Executive branch self-governing, a monolith under one man and accountable only unto itself.

Consider the record of presidents and executive branch agencies in the past and present, the amount it consumes of the resources the people of USA are alternately willing and forced to provide it with, the opportunities provided it to violate the privacy and rights of individuals.

Then ask yourself if a simple "trust me" is enough to make you safe.

"The intelligence community is proposing far-reaching

transformational policies. It clearly could benefit from

independent analysis and sufficient congressional oversight. But the response of the DNI to Congress is, in effect, "Trust us, we know what we are doing." Unfortunately, history provides numerous examples of intelligence failures that became evident only after it was too late to correct them. The stakes are too high to operate on trust. Congress must redouble its efforts to ensure that U.S. intelligence activities are conducted efficiently, effectively, and with due respect for the civil rights and civil liberties of Americans"

Congressional oversight office at NSA headquarters sits empty

I am a Political and Behavioral Scientist with Psychology as my main subject and people as my main interest. As thoughts are the source of all human accomplishment I hope to be part of the exchange of them

Also see:
http://wildwickedwonderfulupfront.blogspot.com/

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Bush urges OPEC to weigh pain of high oil prices

Reuters

Tuesday March 4 2008

(Adds analyst and IEA comments) By Chris Baltimore WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush warned on Tuesday it would be a "mistake" for OPEC ministers meeting in Vienna to ignore the pain record-high oil prices are inflicting on the United States, the world's top energy consumer.

In some of his strongest language to date, Bush turned up the heat on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, source of about a third of the globe's oil supply.

Oil prices set new highs above $100 a barrel this week and average U.S. gasoline pump prices crept nearer to their record $3.22 a gallon set last May.

"My advice to OPEC -- of course they haven't listened to it -- my advice to OPEC is understand the consequences of high energy prices, because I do," Bush told reporters after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah at the White House.

"I think it's a mistake to have your biggest customer's economy to slow down ... as a result of high energy prices," Bush said.

In real terms, the U.S. oil price of $103.95 a barrel set on Monday is the highest on record, including the price shocks of 1978-1980, when prices doubled due to a revolution in Iran.

As oil prices have climbed, Bush has become more outspoken on OPEC. During a January visit to Saudi Arabia -- the world's biggest oil exporter -- Bush said it "will be helpful" if OPEC raised its production.

"They're definitely heating up the rhetoric and saying it's not their fault" that oil prices are so high, said Frank Verrastro, an energy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Verrastro said that if the White House was truly interested in lowering oil prices it would stop sending crude oil into the U.S. emergency stockpile. "If you're begging people to put oil on the market why in the world are you taking it off?" Verrastro said.

The Energy Department says reserve shipments have a minuscule price impact. Bush spoke as OPEC ministers met in Vienna to chart policy amid indications the 13-member group will hold output steady.

OPEC has said triple-digit fuel has been driven not by a lack of oil but by factors beyond its control, such as speculative investment and a weak dollar.

At a U.S. energy conference, Energy Secretary Sam Bodman was more restrained than the president, saying it "would be good" if OPEC raised production. But Bodman said speculators help drive the global oil market.

"Look, the price of oil is set in the trading rooms in New York and London and Tokyo and Frankfurt and all around the world," Bodman said. "Whatever it is, it is." The International Energy Agency, adviser to 27 industrialized nations, did not urge an output increase.

It merely said OPEC should hold output steady, even though oil markets are "very tight" and spare capacity to meet unseen outages is slim.

"The level of production -- if OPEC continues that, maybe that will replenish the necessary level of the stocks in coming quarters," IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka told reporters.

Guy Caruso, head of the Energy Department's statistical arm, said OPEC needs to boost its output by 300,000 to 500,000 barrels per day to help sagging global oil stockpiles.

That would be an increase of only 1.5 percent from OPEC's total January output of 32.23 million bpd, according to EIA data. (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Tom Doggett in Washington; Editing by Russell Blinch and Matthew Lewis)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7357755

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Lots of good links for news on China

http://www.chinaview.cn/index.htm

Hu Jintao: "Taiwan independence" activities doomed to fail

BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Tuesday that secessionist activities in Taiwan have become the greatest menace to China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, but such activities are doomed to fail.

"The 'Taiwan independence' activities have run counter to the Chinese nation's strong will to safeguard national unity. Such activities will get nowhere and are doomed to fail," Hu told political advisors attending the first annual full session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing.

Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, observed that the "Taiwan independence" activities have become "the biggest menace to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the biggest obstacle to the development of cross-Strait relations, and the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits." Full story

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Iraq Occupation News

New York Times Violence Leaves Young Iraqis Doubting Clerics After almost five years of war, many young people in Iraq, exhausted by constant firsthand exposure to the violence of religious extremism, say they have grown disillusioned with religious leaders and skeptical of the faith that they preach.

03/04/08 KUNA: Five US soldiers injured in bomb attack south of Baghdad Five US soldiers and two Iraqi civilians were injured as a result of an improvised bomb attack south of Baghdad on Tuesday, Media Consultant for Iraqi Multi-National coalition forces Abdul-latif Al-Rayyan said.

03/04/08 AFP: US soldier, seven others killed in Iraq chopper crash A Russian-made helicopter belonging to the Iraqi military has crashed in northern Iraq, killing eight people on board, including a US soldier, a US military official told AFP on Tuesday. "There were eight onboard, including one coalition force member..."

03/04/08 Reuters: Iraq's Sadrists demand U.S. release former minister Anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's political bloc demanded on Tuesday that the U.S. military release a former deputy health minister after terrorism charges against him were dropped.

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AFGHANISTAN

03/04/08 Reuters: Suicide car bomb kills Afghan policeman A suicide car bomber killed an Afghan policeman and wounded four others in an attack on a government building in the southeastern province of Khost on Tuesday, the district governor said. 03/04/08