Archive for March 20th, 2007
In response to the current Whitehouse scandal over the firing of U.S. Attorneys, Bush had the following response.
Bush said his White House counsel, Fred Fielding, told lawmakers they could interview presidential counselor Karl Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and their deputies — but only on the president’s terms: in private, “without the need for an oath” and without a transcript.
I’ve never been a huge fan of impeachment for Bush, even though he deserves it. The alternatives are just as bad, Cheney or Pelosi if Cheney is swept away with Bush. However, this meaningless “help” that Bush proposes makes a mockery of the whole government.
It has been said that Bush signs laws with his fingers crossed behind his back. Now, he wants to afford the same wiggle room to his staff.
Source: Bush rejects Dems’ subpoena threat - Politics - MSNBC.com
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If you’ve never visited Wolfgang’s Vault, you lead a shallow life. You will find a musical archive with treasures never before available . . .and you can listen FREE! There are hundreds of original recordings made from rock concerts, dating from the 60’s through the 90’s. New concerts are added to the vault each week. (click the photo for a large version)
These are not just any original recordings, they were made directly from the soundboard during the live shows. As I write this, I am listening to one of this week’s new releases — Genesis, recorded live at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, January 24, 1975. (I was a senior in High School) Here’s a description of the concert:
This show has been counted among the “Holy Grail” items for Genesis fans, as it’s rumored to be the only professional recording made on the band’s final tour with Peter Gabriel. Recorded on the band’s celebrated 1975 Lamb Lies Down On Broadway tour, this show features the entire Lamb rock opera, plus an encore of the band’s classic 1971 opus, “The Musical Box.”
This show, recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour, was taken from a tour that was particularly interesting for the fact that Peter Gabriel had informed the band he was leaving to pursue a solo career before the album was released and the tour commenced. In order to maximize the momentum of the band at that time, it was agreed that Gabriel’s impending departure would be kept a well guarded secret. Therefore, he had to spend a year with the band knowing he was leaving as soon as the tour was over. Despite the fact - or perhaps as a result of it - Gabriel and the band deliver a spectacular performance here at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, highlighted by Peter’s legendary visual theatrics. Included here is a blistering version of “Back In New York City,” as well as the album’s hit single, “The Carpet Crawlers.”
Credit must also be given to keyboardist Tony Banks, who was the real musical heart and soul of early Genesis and their classic progressive rock music. Phil Collins, who would step up front soon after and take Genesis to much greater commercial success as the new lead singer, was waiting in the wings for his turn as front man. For this show, he was simply the drummer in the band.
Besides free concerts, there is a gold mine of rock memorabilia available at Wolfgang’s Vault.
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March 7, 2007
Comptroller DiNapoli: Executive Budget is
a Step Towards Reform, but Cautions that
Spending Increases are “Unsustainable”Rate of Spending Grows Nearly Twice as Fast as Revenues in $120.6 Billion Plan – Outpaces Inflation, Leads to Three-Year Combined Gap of $13 Billion
The 2007-08 Executive Budget takes a significant step toward budget reform by providing more detail on spending, revenues, debt and impacts on local governments around the state; simplifying appropriations bills; and proposing to increase reserves to 5 percent of the General Fund, according to a report issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
However, the report also finds that the $120.6 billion budget calls for increasing spending at two-and-one-half times the projected rate of inflation – $7.1 billion, or 6.3 percent, over the current year, with State Funds spending set to increase $6 billion, or 7.8 percent, over 2006-07 and ultimately leading to an estimated $13 billion three-year gap. Moreover, there is approximately $2.7 billion in off-budget capital spending that if accounted will push year-to-year spending growth to nearly 9 percent. The report also identifies $1.2 billion in financial risks for 2007-08 and an additional $5 billion in out-year risks to the financial plan.
“With more in-depth information on current and future spending and increases to reserves, this budget takes a significant step toward much-needed reforms in the budgeting process,” DiNapoli said. “By streamlining the language of the appropriations bills, the Governor is addressing a matter that has in recent years slowed negotiations with the Legislature and has been one of the stumbling blocks to attaining an on-time budget.
“But spending is still increasing at an unsustainable rate, almost two times faster than revenues, and the result is a three-year budget gap of $13 billion,” DiNapoli said.
Continue Reading “Spending Still Out of Control Under Spitzer” »
Democratic subpoenas are beginning to darken the D.C. sky like the English arrows at Agincourt. The subpoenas and scandals generate congressional testimony which spur the number of political appointees who could be indicted for perjury. The scandals are accelerating while support for the Bush administration seems to be collapsing.
— James Bovard
This is one anniversary that should never have happened.
A difficulty in explaining Iraq to the outside world is that since 2003 the US and British governments have produced a series of spurious turning points. There was the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003, the supposed hand back of sovereignty in June 2004, the two elections and the new constitution in 2005 and - recently - the military “surge” into Baghdad. In all cases the benefits of these events were invented or exaggerated.
An Iraqi woman pleads with Iraqi National Police as they detain her son during a joint patrol with US soldiers in the Dora neighbourhood of southern Baghdad, 17 March. Iraqis are increasingly pessimistic about their future, according to a new opinion poll as the nation battles to curb relentless bloodshed four years on from the US-led invasion.(AFP/File/David Furst)
Today in Iraq:
- three people were killed and 10 others wounded when an explosive device went off near a Shiite mosque
- A bomb exploded during prayers at a Shiite mosque in the capital, killing at least eight worshippers
- a number of Iraqis were killed and wounded in twin blasts
- A roadside bomb wounded four people in southern Baghdad
- Iraqi army soldiers killed eight insurgents and arrested 66 others
- The mayor of a small Shiite village south of Baghdad was kidnapped and killed
- A mortar round landed on a house, killing a woman and her daughter
- Gunmen killed a policeman in the town of Iskandariya
- Three people were killed when gunmen opened fire on them in the city of Hilla
- Three car bombs and two roadside devices killed 18 people and wounded 37
Source: Independent Online Edition > Middle East
Many people after jumped on the global warming bandwagon, especially since Al Gore’s dramamentory. The media has played a tremendous role in making global warming a “politically correct” cause. The media isn’t always right and neither is the “politically correct” crowd.
You owe it to yourself, and humanity, to watch a counter-view from many scientists and climatologists. Among those debunking the popular global warming beliefs are a Co-founder of Greenpeace and a former Director of the National Weather Service.
Technorati tags: global warming, debunked, Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, politics, economy, CO2, scientists, UK, documentary
