F-18 fighter jet crashes in San Diego residential area

A U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet has crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, California..

The Aircraft is an F-18.  Pictures to follow.  We are locating the satellite feed at this time.  The area is in Universal City. 

Terri Potratz has updated this story at at 19:06 on December 8th, 2008

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to 3, with rescuers still searching the destroyed homes for people.

Two adults and a child were killed and officials will resume searching the site for a missing child tomorrow, San Diego Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque said in a telephone interview.

Source: bloomberg.com

Source: my.nowpublic.com via politisite

Update:  Navy is reporting that the pilot has been recovered.  (Source: Fox News)

Watch Live

1. Channel 10 News 


2. ABC News Live Feed


3. Raw Video CBS
   


4. CNN is providing a video update Here

NowPublic's Scan Tool is Active on this story.  To see the Scan Tool  in Action follow this   LINK.  This was the tool used by NowPublic that received international Attention as it provided up to the second information during the India Terrorist Attacks. In addition our Southeast Asia Corespondent, Sanjay Jha was on location and was sought by international media as he was on site and provided up to the minute updates to media outlets like Fox News. 

The Media provided came from a news Helicopter via satellite.  They were taken directly off a NTSC monitor.

F-18 Crashes in Normal Hieghts San Diego

An F-18 military jet crashed in a San Diego neighborhood on Monday, sparking at least one house fire.

It wasn't immediately clear whether anyone was injured, said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Television news footage showed one house and two cars on fire.

Fire crews were at the scene of the crash, which occurred near Interstate 805, reports Fox 5 Affiliate in San Diego.

The plane crashed shortly before noon Monday as it prepared to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman. The crash occurred two miles from the base.

The pilot ejected, Gregor said.

"We saw two big bangs," resident Scott Patterson told KNX radio. "The smoke came up. We don't know what it was."

The F-18 is a supersonic jet used widely in the Marine Corps and Navy.

Miramar, well known for its role in the movie "Top Gun," is home to some 10,000 Marines. It was operated by the Navy until 1996.

Source: fox5sandiego.com via politisite

We are asking those near the crash site to provide media and share their personal story in the comments section.  Some of those will be transferred to the main story.

NowPublic

Tags: California | San Diego | news | military | jet | World | Air | neighborhood | residential | naval | fighter | station | corps | f18 | US Marine | crashed | US Marine corps | Miramar | University City | f-18 | fighter jet crashes | F-18 crashes | F-18 crash | 92122

Sphere: Related Content

Legal Group says Clinton can't be Secretary of State

Here is an Opinion by Legal Newsline.  Politisite is a Conservative but sees the Nomination of Senator Clinton as a Positive Move my the Obama Campaign.  There was an issue during the Nixion Administartion over a salary issue.  It is Politisite's opinion that President Obama can simply resolve this with an Exexcutive Order.  The story is still worth a read.

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton is constitutionally ineligible to serve as President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state, a legal watchdog group said Tuesday.

Judicial Watch said the Ineligibility Clause of the United States Constitution says that no member of Congress can be appointed to an office that has benefited from a salary increase during the time that person was in Congress.

The Washington-based group points to a January 2008 Executive Order signed by President George W. Bush during Clinton's current Senate term that increased the salary for secretary of state.

"No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time," Article I, section 6 of the U.S. Constitution says.

Obama announced Monday that Clinton, the junior senator from New York, was his pick for secretary of state.

Judicial Watch said former U.S. President Richard Nixon circumvented ineligibility provision after appointing former Ohio Sen. William Saxbe, a Republican, as attorney general.

The Nixon administration was able to get legislation passed that reduced the salary to the level that existed prior to Saxbe's appointment.

Former President Bill Clinton used the so-called "Saxbe Fix," to allow Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, to assume the position of treasury secretary.

"There's no getting around the Constitution's Ineligibility Clause, so Hillary Clinton is prohibited from serving in the Cabinet until at least 2013, when her current term expires" said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

"Barack Obama should select someone who is eligible for the position of Secretary of State and save the country from a constitutional battle over Hillary Clinton's confirmation," he added.

Source: legalnewsline.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: order | Congress | Constitution | Nixon | Clinton | legal | World | OF | executive | Obama | JUDICIAL | group | State | watch | HILLARY | Increase | Secretary | salary | President-elect | Barack | CONSTITUTIONALLY | Clause | ineligible

Sphere: Related Content

Frankin Senate race not so Funny, 100 Ballots Still up in the Air

Frankin Senate race not so Funny, 100 Ballots found to be scanned inappropriately

By Albert N. Milliron, Editor Politisite.com, Iron Mill Interactive Media, inc

Could it be that that nearly a month after the general election that more ballots have been found.  We live in a country that prides itself in having the results are read on  the evening news and all the votes counted within three hours of the polls closing.  Is is not a laughing matter that the election numbers are still in contention between these two candidates.  This would be laughable but then again one of the candidates is the Man who was Saturday Night Lives, "Al Frankin Decade"  How appropriate for us to be sitting here still wondering who is the winning senator.  The Minnesota Board of  Elections has the results listed below. Hopefully Al Frankin isn't hoping for another decade to celebrate his greatness.

Is this over?  Has Coleman really won.  Frankin is heading to court  in Albert Gore Fashion to have the court to decide that the voters really didn't mean what they meant when 215 folks sided with Coleman in the end.  In Minnesota the winner is the candidate who gets the most votes,  Frankin doesn't think so. He is looking for a remedy that goes beyond the will of the people. 

100% Reportig
Colman (R)- 1,211,590- 42% + 215 Vote
Frankin (D) -1,211,375- 42%
Barkly (I) - 437,404 - 15%

Democrat Al Franken's campaign lodged a protest today over 133 votes that it said could not be accounted for during the U.S. Senate recount of a precinct in Minneapolis, at a potential cost to the candidate of as many as 46 net votes.

Campaign officials sent a letter to the Secretary of State's office and Minneapolis elections director Cindy Reichert demanding that the votes in one city precinct not be officially reported until a search is conducted for the ballots.

Late Wednesday, Reichert said she had decided to keep the results in the precinct open until all of the discrepancies could be resolved, by reviewing all of the precinct’s election materials at City Hall on Thursday.

“Several mistakes were made in the precinct and we need to verify all of the numbers we looked at [Wednesday],” she said.

In the first precinct of the city's Third Ward, the recount showed Franken with 1,010 votes, 80 fewer than the Election Day count. It showed Republican Sen. Norm Coleman with 34 votes fewer than on Election Day. Only two votes were challenged in the precinct, one by each campaign.

Reichert said the disparity in the numbers sent officials searching for the possibility of a missing ballot envelope. When none could be found, she said, the belief was that write-in ballots at the precinct, which were diverted on the side of the ballot box on Election Day, may have been fed through the ballot counter twice on Nov. 4.

Source: startribune.com via politisite

Minnesota Senate Race: Typo Fix Gives Franken 100 More Votes

The vote gap between Senate candidates Norm Coleman and Al Franken fluctuated throughout the day Thursday, with Franken closing to within 236 votes by Thursday evening.

The fluctuations are normal, said a spokesman at the Secretary of State's office, as county's double check their work and report minor changes.

A typo in Pine County got fixed Thursday, giving Al Franken 100 more votes and tightening Minnesota's unresolved Senate race even tighter.

Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's lead over Democrat Al Franken stood at 236 votes Thursday night.

Source: huffingtonpost.com via politisite

Norm Coleman, Biography

Norm Coleman, a handpicked candidate who helped the Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate, has set an active pace during his first term. He defeated former Vice President Walter Mondale in 2002 and quickly went to work investing his political capital.

Coleman started a leadership PAC to help fellow Republican candidates. In 2004, he ran for the chairmanship of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, but lost by one vote to Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

During the 2004 presidential election, Coleman went on the offensive against Democratic nominee John Kerry, telling reporters on calls organized by the Bush campaign that Kerry was a flip-flopper. Democrats retorted that Coleman, a former Democrat, was in no position to make that accusation.

Some critics complained that Coleman, who campaigned on a promise of changing the tone in Washington, had been far more partisan than advertised. Coleman moderated his positions after the 2004 presidential election, voting against Bush's proposed budget cuts to Medicaid and the Community Development Block Grant program. He has also consistently voted against efforts to allow drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Source: cnn.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: Minnesota | republican | Election | missing | Recount | senate | World | campaign | US | Ballot | Vote | VOTES | franken | minneapolis | FILIBUSTER | 215 | Colman | majoity | democrta

Sphere: Related Content

Chambliss Wins In Georgia with 58% of Vote, No Filibuster Proof Majority!

Exit Polls, Real Time Election Results, Breaking News & Commentary from Georgia's Run off. This election could determine if the Democrats  have a Filibuster Proof majority in the Senate.

December 2 2008

by Albert N. Milliron, Iron Mill Interactive Media Inc. & Politisite.com

Hello all you pundits, politicos, politstes, pollsters, politisites, political junkies, and casual political readers. Your at the right place real time election results from the senate runoff election from Georgia 

Update 10:38 pm - 96% Reproting - Chambliss 1,183,555 - 58%, Martin -873,113 - 42%

Update:  10:15 pm ET - with 92% reporting Sen Chambliss has won with 58% of the Vote.  He had to do a runoff election as in Georgia you must win with 50% and 1 vote.  He only won by 49% as there was a third party in November.

Senator Chambliss just gave his victory speech.  This win prevents The Senate Democrats from having 60 that would provide a Filibuster Proof majority.

Update: 10:08 pm -91% Reporting -Chambliss 1,119,052- 58%,Martin 801,795 42%

Update: 9:50 pm -86% Reporting-Chambliss 1,042,844 -59%,Martin (D) 726,014 41%

71% Reporting -Chambliss (R) 875,362 70%,Martin (D) 594,263 40%

GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss wins a Georgia runoff, ending Democratic hopes of a filibuster-proof majority, CNN projects.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Congratulations to Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who looks to be on his way to a second six-year term in the U.S. Senate. Democrat Jim Martin has made a good race of it, pushing Chambliss to a runoff in a state in which Republicans remain strong favorites statewide, but he had a lot of the obstacles in his path.

Source: ajc.com via politisite

The county where I was the Republican Stratagist (Columbia ) Has Chambliss at 76%.  The  Augusta area has Martin at 59%,  Atlanta Counties all Hav Martin leading Chambliss by wide margins  Martin is winning in all of the major cities.  He is also taken a strong lead in South West Georgia. Martin's Stronest County is Clayton where is commands 82% of the vote.   Having said all that, Most of Georgia is red.  In Forsyth county Chambliss Commands 85% of the vote.  Georgia can be viewed as a Red state less the I-20 counties from Augusta to Atlanta.  Then the 7 counties in the south east

NowPublic

Tags: Politics | senate | World | US | US Senate | SAXBY CHAMBLISS | Saxby | politisite | saxby chambliss for senate | georgia runoff | jim martin | georgia senate runoff polls | georgia senate runoff results | georgia senate race results | georgia senate results

Sphere: Related Content

Palin Makes a Stop in Augusta, Georgia for Senator Chambliss

Former GOP Vice Presidential candidate, and current Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, will visit Augusta Monday, December 1st to campaign for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. Governor Palin will cover several Georgia cities Monday, but Augusta is her first stop, at 8:30 a.m.

Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. The event is free for the general public, but in order to attend, you must RSVP at www.procatalog.com/saxby or by visiting the ‘Action Center’ at www.saxby.org.

Official Press Release via email:

SAXBY CONFIRMS SARAH PALIN TO CAMPAIGN WITH HIM IN GEORGIA

ATLANTA—U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) today confirmed that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will campaign in Georgia with him on Monday, December 1st.

“I was thrilled when I got the call that Governor Palin would be able to make the trip to Georgia to campaign with me the day before the runoff election,” Saxby said.  “Julianne and I are honored that she would take the time to travel to Georgia to tell everyone how important this election is and I know that she will receive an enthusiastic welcome everywhere we go.”

Governor Palin will join Saxby for four public rallies across the state on Monday, December 1st: 8:30 am in Augusta; 11:00 am in Savannah; 1:30 pm in Perry; and 4:00 pm in north metro Atlanta.  More specific details on exact locations and how to obtain tickets will be available later this week.

Saxby is seeking re-election for his second term in the United States Senate.  His re-election has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 180 Georgia County Commissioners, 190 city officials, 239 law enforcement officers, over 100 Georgia Democrats including Zell Miller, 102 State Representatives, 32 State Senators, Georgia Veterans including Vets for Freedom PAC and Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC, the Republican Liberty Caucus, National Federation of Independent Business, National Rifle Association PVF, National Right to Life PAC, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Savannah Morning News, the Albany Herald, the Waycross Journal Herald, the Athens Banner Herald, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer,  the Brunswick News, the Augusta Chronicle, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Valdosta Times and the Macon Telegraph.  He is the Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Rules Committee.  Senator Chambliss previously represented Georgia’s 8th congressional district for four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as the Chairman of the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Source: wjbf.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: Georgia | Columbia | rally | governor | Richmond | World | James | Jim | Sarah | martin | Mumbai | brown | arena | south | AUGUSTA | county | going | CHAMBLISS | Saxby | Palin | Carlina

Sphere: Related Content

Long lines at James Brown Arena as Palin stumps for Chambliss

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Thousands of people took to the James Brown Arena for a big GOP rally that featured Governor Sarah Palin. The Democrats held a rally of their own just a few blocks away. Both sides say it's a fight to the finish.

"I can't believe this line," said Susan Conger jokingly. "This line is going all the way to Hephzibah."

Sarah Palin drew thousands to the James Brown Arena, and hoped to leave the Republican base feeling good about Senate GOP candidate Saxby Chambliss.

"I'm so excited I can't stand it," said Ashley Wilson. "I may never have this opportunity again."

Fresh off a hotly contested presidential race, the Alaska governor got back to the stump, and this time it's personal.

"This is for my kids, and their future" said Governor Palin. "We need Saxby because we need checks and balances in Washington, and we will not have that if Saxby is not re-elected to Georgia."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," said Mrs Wilson. "I love Sarah Palin."

Sarah Palin spoke to a crowd of 3,000 people for about 15 minutes. Many people braved the cold for hours."

"I'm a tremendous fan," said Phillip Jones. He was first in line. He arrived at midnight.

Democratic rival, Jim Martin held his own local rally.

"My opponent had to find somebody from Alaska," said Martin. "I just had to bring somebody in from Dekalb County."

Congressman Hank Johnson made his case for Martin. Neither candidate is taking anything for granted.

"Now you're not looking at landslide Jim," said Martin. "It's going to be really close, and I'm going to need the help of everybody."

"We're cautiously optimistic these people are going to turn Columbia, and Richmond and all these surrounding counties out," said Chambliss.

Governor Palin and Senator Chambliss kicked-off a 4 city tour in Augusta. They were expected to finish the day in Atlanta. Jim Martin was slated to make appearances in Augusta, Macon, and Atlanta.

The hours for the runoff are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. All polling locations will be open. In Richmond County, elections director Lynn
Bailey is predicting a 15 to 20 % turnout overall, and she says the runoff will cost the city-county about $75,000.

Source: wrdw.com

NowPublic

Tags: Washington | Alaska | GOP | Richmond | World | James | brown | arena | AUGUSTA | county | CHAMBLISS | Palin | runoff Columbia

Sphere: Related Content

Planned Parenthood says Give the Gift of Abortion for Christmas

As Americans Celebrate the Birth of Jesus the Christ, Planned Parenthood is offering Gift Certificates for All services including Abortion.  Planned Parenthood wanting to participate in the Christian Holiday by offering what seems to be a way to mock the Christian Holiday.  I mean what better way to celebrate a birth with a gift for an Abortion?

They call it a "gift," but some would rather opt for a lump of coal.

A number of Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana and Illinois are offering gift certificates for their services this Christmas.

Officials say the vouchers enable people to give their loved ones "the gift of life" — that would help pay for annual checkups and birth control — but also can be used for abortions.Chrystal Struben-Hall with Planned Parenthood of Indiana said the idea is a response to economic woes that have forced many women to put health care at the bottom of their to-do list.

"People are making really tough decisions about putting gas in their car and food on their table," Struben-Hall said.

A number of religious and pro-life groups are outraged, saying that at a time when millions are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Planned Parenthood is offering a gift that could fund an abortion.

"They can and will be used to end the lives of children at Christmas," said Cathy Ruse of the Family Research Council. She believes the gift certificates will anger many, even those who are not deeply religious. "A coupon for abortion at Christmastime?" Ruse said. "That’s just inherently offensive, I think, to all Americans."

Planned Parenthood of Indiana said the gift certificates will be especially useful in a state where, they say, 800,000 people are uninsured or cannot afford basic care.

Even the state’s Health Commissioner is calling the certificates a "really meaningful gift."

Christmas controversy is not new to Planned Parenthood. In the mid-1990s it began offering "Choice on Earth" holiday cards. The American Life League called the twist on the "peace on earth" message found in the New Testament book of Luke bigoted "mockery."

Source: foxnews.com via politisite

Give the Gift of Health This Holiday Season

Looking for an unusual, yet practical gift this holiday season? Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) is now offering gift certificates for services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method. The gift certificates can be purchased online in increments of $25 or for any amount at some of PPIN’s 35 health centers. Contact your local health center to see if they offer the certificates.

The gift certificates can be given to women and men to cover essential services like screenings and birth control. Services such as annual exams for women, which include breast exams and Pap tests, typically cost $58.

“Nearly 800,000 Hoosiers don’t have health insurance and can’t afford basic health services. Why not buy a loved one a gift this holiday season that they really need and one that will contribute to their health throughout the year?" asked PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum. “The gift certificates are also a wonderful idea for that person in your life who puts everyone else first and has been putting off taking care of her or his own health. Now, there’s no excuse for those people in your life not to get the basic health care that they need."

This is the first holiday season that PPIN has offered gift certificates. They can be redeemed at any of the 35 PPIN health centers around the state, no matter where they were purchased.

These gift certificates are not just for the uninsured people in your life. PPIN does take some forms of insurance and the gift certificates could be used for co-pays or medication. Please join Planned Parenthood of Indiana and give the gift of health this holiday season.

Source: ppin.org via politisite

Other Planned Parenthood Stories on NowPublic:

1. UCLA exposes Racism at Planned Parenthood


2. Obama Executive Orders Will fund Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research


3. New Study: Direct Link Between Abortion and Mental Health Problems


4. Black pro-lifers to protest at DNC due to Planned Parenthood Targeting Blacks


5. UCLA exposes Racism at Planned Parenthood


6. Report Of Baby Born Alive At Florida Abortion Business, Then Killed


7. Planned Parenthood Christmas Gift Certificates OK for Abortions

NowPublic

Tags: Politics | Christmas | abortion | Health | cards | baby | Jesus | death | opinion | World | campaign | gift | US | Season | Choice | Earth | Plan | BIRTH | BORN | CERTIFICATES | PARENTHOOD | planned | Promoted | politisite.

Sphere: Related Content

Indian Commandos use Air Assault to Free Mumbai Jewish Center Hostages

A Helicopter lifted 7-8 Government Troops on the roof and are reportedly firing at gunman who stormed the Mumbai Jewish Center, one of the 7 facilities that were attacked more then a day ago.  

MUMBAI, India — Indian commandos staged a dramatic helicopter raid and battled pockets of militants on Friday as security forces tried to end the bloody assault by terrorists on Mumbai, the financial and entertainment capital of India. The police said the death toll reached 143 with the discovery of 24 bodies in the luxury Oberoi hotel.

Commandos slid down ropes from a hovering Army helicopter Friday morning as they stormed a Jewish center that had been seized. The blue-uniformed troopers landed on the roof and soon made their way inside Nariman House, home to the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad-Lubavitch.

A gun battle was raging inside the building, with several explosions and heavy firing throughout the day , but there was no word on the fate of hostages assumed to be held there.

Source: nytimes.com via politisite

Indian Forces Battle Pockets of Militants

Fighting broke out early Friday between government soldiers in a helicopter and gunmen holed up inside a Jewish center where two or three gunmen were believed to be remaining.

The helicopter dropped off seven or eight soldiers onto the roof of the Chabad house, and then moved away from the line of fire, CNN sister station CNN-IBN reported.

The operation followed after grenades had been tossed from inside the structure toward anyone approaching the building -- three such explosions occurred in four hours.

But movement appeared imminent shortly before dawn, when several jeeploads of police, firetrucks and at least one ambulance pulled up to the five-story structure.

The fighting at Chabad house comes as Indian security forces appear to be gaining control of two Mumbai five-star hotels attacked by gunmen in a wave of violence that has lasted more than 24 hours and killed at least 125 people.

Source: cnn.com via politisite

See the NowPublic Mumbai Channel for Continued Updates

Updates on the bombings and attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

A coordinated series of attacks took place across Mumbai - in the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station; two five-star hotels, the Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; Leopold's, a popular tourist restaurant; and the police headquarters in South Mumbai.

Reports from the attack zone say that the hotel hostages were liberated and the terrorists "neutralized" late Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to catch those responsible and stated that "existing laws will be tightened to ensure there are no loopholes available to terrorists to escape the clutches of the law."

Tag your stories, photos and videos "Mumbai" to see them featured here.

Source: my.nowpublic.com via politisite

Other Mumbai News Stories:

1. Israel says 10 to 15 Israelis Held Hostage in Mumbai Attacks


2. Troops storm Mumbai Jewish centre


3. 93 hostages rescued from Oberoi hotel


4. One Canadian killed, two hurt, six missing after Mumbai attacks


5. Wrap up operations a matter of hours: Indian Army

NowPublic

Tags: Politics | Government | India | helicopter | World | Soldiers | House | Fighting | Gunmen | Mumbai | Jewish | KILLED | center | STORMED | chabad | Nariman | politisite

Sphere: Related Content

SC Tax Free on Gun Sales for Black Friday

Black Friday is a Tax Holiday in South Carolina.  If you are a Gun Owner the State smiles on you for a limited Time only.  Time to get those Glock, Ammo, and Shot Gun Stocking Stuffers while they are on sale.  Great time to Arm the entire family this Christmas Season.  Heck with the economy so bad and folks losing jobs all over it's not a bad idea to be heavly armed for 2009.  

South Carolina helps it's residentce beat the antisipated Gun control legislation from the New Obama Presidency.  But like I said, for a limited Time only at your favorite Gun Shop.

Gun enthusiasts can buy their guns tax-free in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

The gun-friendly state is kicking off the Christmas shopping season with a holiday from state and local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns. Taxes still apply to gun accessories and ammunition.

Source: politisite.blogspot.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: Culture | Politics | Christmas | Tax | sales | World | free | Carolina | FOR | Season | Handguns | GUN | black | friday | south | State | AMMUNITION | RIFLES | shotguns | tax-free | On | Tech & Biz | gun-friendly

Sphere: Related Content

SC Tax Free on Gun Sales for Black Friday

COLUMBIA, SC (AP) - Gun enthusiasts can buy their guns tax-free in South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

The gun-friendly state is kicking off the Christmas shopping season with a holiday from state and local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns. Taxes still apply to gun accessories and ammunition.

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation research group said South Carolina is the first state to offer shoppers a tax break specifically on guns, and the only one to offer a tax holiday over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Legislators this year approved the so-called Second Amendment Weekend over the objection of Gov. Mark Sanford. The tax break was tacked on to a bill giving a monthlong sales tax holiday on energy efficient products, which starts next October.

Source: wistv.com

NowPublic

Tags: first | Columbia | copyright | guns | sales | research | energy | press | holiday | weekend | World | bill | taxes | giving | Carolina | Thanksgiving | Next | October | Handguns | Foundation | Rights | Products | break | LEGISLATORS | group | south | State | accessories | over | can | Offer | AMMUNITION | MARK | SHOPPERS | year | RIFLES | only | second | buy | IN | Amendment | efficient | approved | starts | shotguns | Associated | Apply | Sanford | reserved | said | specifically | so-called | objection | tacked | tax-free | This | still | monthlong | which | nonpartisan

Sphere: Related Content

Man Arrested for Murder of Little Rock TV Anchor Anne Pressly

Curtis Vance Arrested for Capital Murder in the case of Little Rock TV Anchor Anne Pressly.  The Pressly's mother found her body Oct. 20

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas man was arrested here late Wednesday night and charged with capital murder in the death of a popular local television anchorwoman beaten almost beyond recognition in her home five weeks ago.

The victim, Anne Pressly, 26, was discovered in her bedroom on Oct. 20 by her mother, alarmed that her daughter had failed to answer her wake-up call. The authorities said Ms. Pressly had suffered blunt force trauma to her head and neck. She died five days later.

The man, Curtis Lavelle Vance, 28, offered no resistance when he was taken into custody 90 minutes after Little Rock police disclosed at a news conference that a warrant for his arrest had been obtained earlier in the day, officials said. Mr. Vance was a resident of Marianna, a small town about 100 miles east of Little Rock, they said.

“This is a very, very solid case built on solid detective work,” Chief Stuart Thomas of the Little Rock Police Department said at the news conference, although he declined to reveal any details of the investigation or a motive for the attack.

Source: nytimes.com via politisite

Other NowPublic Coverage:

1. Arkansas TV anchor Anne Pressly dies days after attack


2. KATV's Anne Pressly Attacked in Home Dies UPDATE


3. Anne Pressly KATV anchor assaulted - in critical condition

NowPublic

Tags: Arkansas | arrest | murder | death | television | World | Curtis | Killing | Anchor | BEATEN | Little Rock | anne | Pressly | Vance | Lavelle | politisite | anchorwoman

Sphere: Related Content

Let the Auto Industry Go Bankrupt

Mitt Romney Makes a good argument while American Taxpayers should not Bail out the Auto industry.  Bankrupsy wouold MAKE the Auto industry restructure through the Court System allowing them to negociate it's failled deals.  What is wrong with that? 

IF General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. It won’t go overnight, but its demise will be virtually guaranteed.

Without that bailout, Detroit will need to drastically restructure itself. With it, the automakers will stay the course — the suicidal course of declining market shares, insurmountable labor and retiree burdens, technology atrophy, product inferiority and never-ending job losses. Detroit needs a turnaround, not a check.

I love cars, American cars. I was born in Detroit, the son of an auto chief executive. In 1954, my dad, George Romney, was tapped to run American Motors when its president suddenly died. The company itself was on life support — banks were threatening to deal it a death blow. The stock collapsed. I watched Dad work to turn the company around — and years later at business school, they were still talking about it. From the lessons of that turnaround, and from my own experiences, I have several prescriptions for Detroit’s automakers.

First, their huge disadvantage in costs relative to foreign brands must be eliminated. That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers.

That extra burden is estimated to be more than $2,000 per car. Think what that means: Ford, for example, needs to cut $2,000 worth of features and quality out of its Taurus to compete with Toyota’s Avalon. Of course the Avalon feels like a better product — it has $2,000 more put into it. Considering this disadvantage, Detroit has done a remarkable job of designing and engineering its cars. But if this cost penalty persists, any bailout will only delay the inevitable.

Second, management as is must go. New faces should be recruited from unrelated industries — from companies widely respected for excellence in marketing, innovation, creativity and labor relations.

The new management must work with labor leaders to see that the enmity between labor and management comes to an end. This division is a holdover from the early years of the last century, when unions brought workers job security and better wages and benefits. But as Walter Reuther, the former head of the United Automobile Workers, said to my father, “Getting more and more pay for less and less work is a dead-end street.”

You don’t have to look far for industries with unions that went down that road. Companies in the 21st century cannot perpetuate the destructive labor relations of the 20th. This will mean a new direction for the U.A.W., profit sharing or stock grants to all employees and a change in Big Three management culture.

The need for collaboration will mean accepting sanity in salaries and perks. At American Motors, my dad cut his pay and that of his executive team, he bought stock in the company, and he went out to factories to talk to workers directly. Get rid of the planes, the executive dining rooms — all the symbols that breed resentment among the hundreds of thousands who will also be sacrificing to keep the companies afloat.

Investments must be made for the future. No more focus on quarterly earnings or the kind of short-term stock appreciation that means quick riches for executives with options. Manage with an eye on cash flow, balance sheets and long-term appreciation. Invest in truly competitive products and innovative technologies — especially fuel-saving designs — that may not arrive for years. Starving research and development is like eating the seed corn.

Source: nytimes.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: Politics | Detroit | bankrupt | Ford | Toyota | auto | labor | unions | World | george | US | America | Automotive | GENERAL | UAW | go | MOTORS | Automakers | Chrysler | LeT | Bailout | Tech & Biz

Sphere: Related Content

Taj Hotel Attack in Mumbai Puts NowPublic in Worldwide Spotlight

According to many travel sites, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces are arguably the finest 5 star luxury hotels in India. It appears that their security is not up to the same standard.  Terror struck the Hotel today along with many other areas around India (see bottom for NowPublic Coverage).  Presently the hotel has fire raging and Terrorists have taken hostages.

NowPublic Editor, Sanjay Jha, was interviewed on Fox News putting  NowPublic in the national spotlight,  highlighting that NowPublic contributors,  located throughout the world,  can provide on the spot reporting from anywhere.

See Sanjay Jha NowPublic Editor on Fox Here 

Update 9:00 pm ET- Sanjay is being interviewed on Fox News Hannity and Colmes the top Cable news program in this time spot in America

Mumbai attacks reported live on NowPublic, Twitter, Flickr

Online encyclopedia sites including Wikipedia and Mahalo, as well as the citizen media aggregators NowPublic and GroundReport are being constantly updated with new photos, videos and information from Mumbai.

The scale of the attacks, which spanned 12 different locations, meant most media outlets struggled to provide timely, comprehensive accounts. The sheer number of people on the scene, constantly filing reports from their mobile phones, upstaged the relatively small number of professional journalists filing reports from Mumbai.

Source: theage.com.au via politisite

Yes, Twitter is a news source, NowPublic Mentioned as well with a link to the Mumbai Channel

Like a lot of other people, I've been following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) throughout the day, using Twitter and blog search and Wikipedia and Flickr and YouTube and pretty much any other tool I can get my hands on. Sites like Global Voices -- the excellent blog network set up by Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca MacKinnon of Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society -- and NowPublic have a lot of content, and Amy Gahran of Poynter has a pretty good roundup as well. Searching Twitter for mentions of the word "Mumbai" also produced a steady stream of messages, some of them from people close to the scene.

Source: theglobeandmail.com via politisite

NDT- Mumbai terror drama unfolds on Net-

For those wishing to follow the conversation on microblogging site Twitter, a general search for 'Mumbai' will collect everything. There are also geotagged tweets originating from within 15 miles of Mumbai.

Besides Twitter, Netizens are following the chain of events on Wikipedia's Current Affairs page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Curr...), Mahalo (http://www.mahalo.com/Mumbai_Terrorist_A...) and Now Public (http://www.nowpublic.com/tag/mumbai).

Source: ndtv.com via politisite

Mumbai Terror Attacks

Updates on the bombings and attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

A coordinated series of attacks took place across Mumbai - in the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station; two five-star hotels, the Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace & Tower; Leopold's, a popular tourist restaurant; and the police headquarters in South Mumbai.

Reports from the attack zone say that the hotel hostages were liberated and the terrorists "neutralized" late Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to catch those responsible and stated that "existing laws will be tightened to ensure there are no loopholes available to terrorists to escape the clutches of the law."

Tag your stories, photos and videos "Mumbai" to see them featured here.

Source: my.nowpublic.com via politisite

Update 7:00 GMT (UTC) - 'We want US and British' say Mumbai gunmen

On Thursday morning at least two gunmen were believed to be holding around half-a-dozen hostages inside the Oberoi, while more hostages were also being held in the city's Taj Mahal hotel.

Source: google.com via politisite

Update: 0219 GMT (UTC)  NDTV Live is reporting that Police stormed the Hotel, 4 Terrorists Killed, 9 Arrested.  Police related that the Terrorists came in to the city by Boat.  Many people are now being able to leave the hotel. There are still gunshots being heard about the Hotel and Hostages are still being held. 

Update:  23:37 GMT (UTC) Al Jazeera is reporting that troops are staging to storm the Taj Hotel

Eye-witness  NowPublic - on Mumbai bomb blast

Other crowd-sourcing sites were at work providing coverage as well. At NowPublic, there was first-hand reporting as well. 

Twitter and NowPublic, and other crowd-sourcing sites, such as Flickr, were doing a much better job at getting participation. 

Forget CNN's iReport service. The last update on Mumbai was an hour ago. 

Source: vator.tv via politisite

APNews Report on Taj Hotel Blast and Hostage Situation

Flames and smoke poured from the Taj early Thursday, and at the Oberoi the military reportedly entered the building and a large explosion was heard shortly afterwards.

Another hostage situation was unfolding at Cama Hospital, CNN's sister network in India, CNN-IBN reported.

Earlier, A.N. Roy, the police chief of Maharashtra state, said there were ongoing battles at the two five-star hotels.

One witness told local reporters that gunmen tried to find people with U.S. or British passports and took about 15 of them hostage.

Andrew Stevens, a CNN anchor who was staying at the Taj with a CNN crew, estimated about half the hotel's guests were Westerners.

IBN, quoting police sources, reported hostages were taken at the both hotels.

Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades hit nine sites including the hotels, a cafe, a hospital and a train station in coordinated attacks, police say.

Maharashtra state government spokesman Bhushan Gagrani said 78 people were killed and about 200 wounded, while police confirmed 26 deaths.

U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said: "We are monitoring the situation very closely and stand ready to support the Indian authorities as they deal with this horrific series of attacks."

Source: wctv.tv via politisite

Watch Live

1. Al Jazeera


2. IBN Live


3. NDTV Live (English)


4. DDin News

Other NowPublic Coverage:

1. Mumbai attacks: Indian commandos open fire at last hostage place


2. NowPublic Member Reports Live on Foxnews


3. Indian Financial Capital Mumbai Under Attack


4. Shootout at Taj Mahal Hotel and Three Other Locations in Mumbai


5. INDIAN ARMY READY TO STORM OBEROI HOTEL: 40 British Hostages - Three Hostage


6. Bombay under attack. Terror spreads all around

NowPublic

Tags: fire | India | Bomb | hotel | terror | World | Hostages | attacks | Mumbai | taj | KILLED | Ahmedabad | rampage

Sphere: Related Content

Van der Sloot Sold Natalee Holloway for 10 Thousand Dollars

Joran Van Der Sloot appeared on Fox News program, "On the Record" with Greta Van Susteren.  Joran sold Greta that he "sold" Natalee to a Venezuelan man for ten thousand dollars.  He came to the program with evidence, in the form of a digital recording,  that showed his father knew the facts of the case.  He further related that his Father had "paid off" two police officers who had knowledge of the case. 

Watch:

• Natalee Sold? Her Last Moments
• Van der Sloot's Near Walkout
• Police Cover-up?

In an interview with the US news channel, he claimed he repeatedly met the man in a casino. The Venezuelan offered him 10,000 US dollars.

Joran van der Sloot told how he watched Natalee, who was drunk, being hauled on board a vessel chartered by the Venezuelan. There was no struggle or anything, he said.

Natalee vanished on the Caribbean island of Aruba - part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands - on 30 May 2005. Joran van der Sloot has been arrested twice in connection with her disappearance, but without conclusive evidence he has never been brought to trial.

He now lives in Thailand, where he has come under suspicion of being involved in sex trafficking.

Joran van der Sloot said in the interview that he was helped by the two brothers Deepak and Sateesh who were briefly detained by Aruba police when Ms Holloway had gone missing.

Source: radionetherlands.nl via politisite

NowPublic Coverage on the Natalee Holloway Case:

1. Van Der Sloot Confesses to Natalee Holloway Death


2. Three Years--Still No Justice for Natalee Holloway


3. Tips renew hopes of solving Holloway case--Or More False Hopes?


4. Joran Van der Sloot--A Man Without a Country


5. Joran Van der Sloot--A Man Without a Country Part II


6. Is Joran Van Der Sloot Trafficking Women?

Recent Media Coverage of Joran Van Der Sloot:

1. Holloway suspect says he lied again


2. Former Suspect In Holloway Disappearance Linked To Thai Sex Ring?


3. Who's Lying About the Holloway Case?

NowPublic

Tags: Thailand | Netherlands | beach | news | sex | World | Fox | Evidence | arrested | CHANNEL | SLAVE | van | Aruba | susteren | sold | joran | HOLLOWAY | Greta | Sloot | Natalee

Sphere: Related Content

Citi (TaxPayers) Field Name Safe, According to Mets

Baseball is America's favorite past time, so it sounds like a great deal for American Taxpayers to foot the Bill for a 400 million dollar name rights to the new Mets Stadium.  That's right Citigroup still intends to go through with the deal it cut with the New York Mets to name the new Stadium, "Citi Field".  They are going through with it despite the fact they have laid off thousands of workers, decreased the credit Limits of hundreds of thousands of  credit accounts, and will be receiving a massive bailout by you the taxpayers.  Here's the problem, I don't want to pay for The New York Mets Stadium name rights as I am a Atlanta Braves Fan.  Wouldn't it be appropriate for the name to read, "Taxpayers Field"?  Might not be a bad time to call your Congressman and Senators and say No to Citi Field. 

Just over two years ago, the New York Mets announced that they had reached an agreement with Citigroup for the naming rights to their new ballpark slated to open in 2009 for a record $400 million over 20 years, or $20 million annually.

The extraordinary deal highlighted the power of MLB and naming rights allure in the New York market. And, even at $20 million annually over 20 years, it has a provision by which the parties can extend the deal for up to 35 years, showing the investment and returns that Citigroup saw in the Mets' new stadium. Given that naming rights for new Yankee Stadium were not up for grabs, the Citigroup deal was seen by many as the next best thing.

It was a staggering deal, eclipsing the record amount for a naming rights deal brokered by the NFL Houston Texans and Reliant Energy for $10 million annually to 2032. The deal brokered in 2002 is $100 million less than the Mets will pull in from Citigroup.

The deal with the Mets was before the economic downturn. Even before the heavy slide in the credit market, Citigroup had begun to cut costs, reducing their assets by 20 percent since the first quarter of this year.

Today, Citigroup announced that 53,000 workers will be laid-off – a staggering sum totaling 20 percent of their workforce.

According to The Associated Press, “a Citigroup spokesman said that while certain regions and businesses might have higher concentrations of job cuts, they would generally be across the entire company and around the world.”

And while the steep declines in the financial sector have Citigroup deeply entrenched within it, in the naming rights world, one is reminded of the self-inflicted collapse of Enron that cut short the deal that the energy giant had with the Houston Astros for the name of their stadium.

So, the question is, will the steep losses at Citigroup scuttle the most lucrative naming rights deal in American sports history with the Mets?

The answer from the Mets is, no.

Reached for comment, Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz simply replied that the deal with Citigroup is not in peril.

“Everything is fine with our naming rights deal for Citi Field,” Horwitz replied by email.

With cuts being made by Citigroup over the course of the year, and today's announcement, if the Mets' comments are true, it may be that nothing short of a total collapse by Citigroup will derail the record naming rights deal.

Source: bizofbaseball.com via politisite

  Seems like New York Politicians Read NowPublic!

Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo, who sit on New York’s City Council, are suggesting a name change for the Mets new ballpark.

The two politicians say that in light of the government bailout of Citigroup, the ballpark’s name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field. Both the Mets and Citigroup say that there are no plans to alter the naming-rights deal.

Source: blogs.wsj.com via politisite

Others want Txpayers Field or Joe Six Pack Field-

How about John Q. Taxpayer Field? Or Joe Sixpack Park, in honor of all the people paying for it who have no chance of ever sitting in one of its 40,000 high-priced seats? Bailout Ballpark, anyone?

Source: newsday.com via politisite

SEE ALSO Jon Azpiri story- NY Politicians Propose to Change Name of NY Mets New Stadium To Citi/Taxpayers Field

Well, it seems that politisite isn't alone. 

Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark’s name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

Source: sports.yahoo.com

Source: my.nowpublic.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: New York | Sports | Houston | stock | collapse | market | opinion | stadium | financial | World | Field | street | Wall | million | mets | ballpark | Rights | CITIGROUP | Bailout | Citi | Tech & Biz

Sphere: Related Content

Who are the Obama Economic Team Members

President Elect Obama provided short Biographies of his economic team on his transition website today. 

Chicago -- President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden officially announced key members of their economic team today, naming Timothy Geithner as Secretary of the Treasury and Lawrence Summers as Director of the National Economic Council. Obama and Biden also named Christina Romer as Chair of the Council of Economic advisors, and named Melody Barnes and Heather Higginbottom to serve as Director and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

"Vice President-elect Biden and I have assembled an economic team with the vision and expertise to stabilize our economy, create jobs, and get America back on track. Even as we face great economic challenges, we know that great opportunity is at hand -- if we act swiftly and boldly. That's the mission our economic team will take on," said President-elect Obama.

The economic team members announced today are listed below:

Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury
Timothy Geithner currently serves as president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he has played a key role in formulating the nation's monetary policy. He joined the Department of the Treasury in 1988 and has served three presidents. From 1999 to 2001, he served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs. Following that post he served as director of the Policy Development and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund until 2003. Geithner is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Lawrence Summers is currently the Charles W. Eliot University Professor at Harvard University. Summers served as 71st Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 and as president of Harvard from 2001 to 2006. Before being appointed Secretary, Summers served as Deputy and Under Secretary of the Treasury and as the World Bank's top economist. Summers has taught economics at Harvard and MIT, and is a recipient of the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded to the American economist under 40 judged to have made the most significant contribution to economics. Summers played a key advisory role during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Christina D. Romer, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors
Christina Romer is the Class of 1957 Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where she has taught and researched since 1988. Prior to joining the faculty at Berkeley, Romer was an assistant professor of economics and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Romer is co-director of the Program in Monetary Economics at the National Bureau of Economic Research and has been a visiting scholar at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Melody C. Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Melody Barnes is co-director of the Agency Review Working Group for the Obama-Biden Transition Team, and served as the Senior Domestic Policy Advisor to Obama for America. Barnes previously served as Executive Vice President for Policy at the Center for American Progress and as chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee from December 1995 until March 2003.

Heather A. Higginbottom, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Heather Higginbottom served as Policy Director for Obama for America, overseeing all aspects of policy development. From 1999 to 2007, Higginbottom served as Senator John Kerry's Legislative Director. She also served as the Deputy National Policy Director for the Kerry-Edwards Presidential Campaign for the primary and general elections. After the 2004 election, Higginbottom founded and served as Executive Director of the American Security Project, a national security think tank. She started her career as an advocate at the national non-profit organization Communities in Schools.

Source: change.gov via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: California | New York | Jobs | Chicago | president | bank | economy | policy | World | federal | affairs | Berkeley | LAWRENCE | nation | America | Wilson | International | create | vision | Great | Domestic | Face | Obama | Role | Director | TREASURY | Economist | presidential | team | SUMMERS | hand | back | Council | ECONOMIC | under | heather | chair | track | department | Deputy | opportunity | Reserve | serve | romer | Secretary | challenges | currently | played | Monetary | Timothy | Christina | joined | swiftly | have | expertise | advisor | From | With | know | President-elect | BARNES | Barack | even | That | stabilize | Melody | assembled | Where | Geithner | Higginbottom

Sphere: Related Content

Disturbing Issue of JFK's Secret Illness

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

New Facts come to light that US President John F Kennedy suffered daily from a Host of Ailments and was in excruciating pain because of it. Guess, just not excruciating enough to keep his "pecker in his pants" while "Banging Babes in the White House" while holding the Nations Highest Office, employing fixers to get him trysts on the public payroll, in his eternal quest to give "Free Baloney Pony Rides" to any young woman or Hollywood starlet who was within eye distance, much to the embarrassment to wife, his family a Nation and American voters as President of the United States.

Funny how History makes a Holier than Thou of someone, when Joe Public would be hauled into court or jail for doing the same thing. The old adage, "Money Talks, Bullsh*t Walks" certainly applies! One wonders if US President Bill Clinton ever broke JFK's Record?

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE3D71630F935A35753C1A964958260

THE DOCTOR'S WORLD; Disturbing Issue of Kennedy's Secret Illness

By LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN, M.D.,

Published: October 6, 1992

An issue that has to be raised every Presidential campaign is the health of the candidates. The reason is that many Presidents have suffered serious illnesses while in the White House. All too often they, their families and aides have misled, if not lied to, the public about their health, with the malady becoming known only many years later.

Yet another instance of such reticence about Presidential disease is being published this week in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Two pathologists at the autopsy of John F. Kennedy have broken a long silence and stated that the President's adrenal glands were found to be almost completely gone. The glands produce key regulatory hormones, and their absence, if they are not replaced, can cause wasting and death.

This establishes that contrary to repeated denials from Kennedy and his family, and cleverly worded cover stories issued by his aides, Kennedy did suffer for many years from adrenal insufficiency, or Addison's disease. The pathologists were persuaded to talk about the case by the journal's editor, Dr. George D. Lundberg, as part of his seven-year effort to answer lingering questions about the Kennedy autopsy and to help rebut conspiracy theories.

Tags: USA | Clinton | Presidents | World | babes | jfk | MONROE | MONICA | Ilness | Baloney Pony Rides

Sphere: Related Content

Burundi abolishes death penalty, criminalizes homosexuality

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Yeah, guess baby steps are better than nothing. But then considering this African Country continues to suckle on the generous Teats of Western World Aid, I wonder how they would feel if the Head of the World Aid group was Gay? Would these Government Wonks refuse that billions of dollars in aid in which it is assured many in power sock away a portion of that monetary aid into a swiss bank account or to maintain their palatial mansions? Hell No! These government officials would not refuse the aid, they'd be rushing in line to cup the ball sack with their chin of the Gay World Aid President if it meant maintaining their life of luxury, the common folk can only dream of.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=f5ebf949-2088-4581-b042-48308d2459b9

Burundi abolishes death penalty, criminalizes homosexuality

Esdras Ndikumana, AFP

Published: Saturday, November 22, 2008

BUJUMBURA - Burundi's parliament on Saturday adopted a new set of laws abolishing the death penalty for the first time in the troubled central African country.

The new penal law also incorporates elements of international law on genocide and crimes against humanity but criminalizes homosexuality.

The law overwhelmingly passed by Burundi's MPs still needs to be approved by the senate and promulgated by President Pierre Nkurunziza, both steps seen as a "I would like to thank the Burundian lawmakers who have achieved a historic landmark by adopting a new penal law by 90 votes for, no votes against and 10 abstentions," Speaker Pie Ntavyohanyuma said.

Tags: Africa | death | homosexuals | World | Crisis | crimes | Burundi | food aid

Sphere: Related Content

Canada: Stoned driver who killed 2 people gets 4-year sentence

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Yep, anyone who says marijuana should be legalized, and lefty ass bandit advocates who say Police administering drug tests to drivers violates their Human Rights, should be looking the victims families square in the eye when they say it. But we know cowards that they are won't!

I have added undated stock photos to this story to stress the other side of Marijuana

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/11/21/edm-sentence-marijuana-driver.html

Stoned driver who killed 2 people gets 4-year sentence

Last Updated: Friday, November 21, 2008 | 6:44 PM MT

CBC News

An Edmonton man, found guilty of killing two people and injuring two others while he was driving high on marijuana, was sentenced Friday to four years in prison — reduced to 37 months after the judge gave him credit for time served.

James McIlwrick, 36, was found guilty in September on two counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm.

McIlwrick slammed head-on into an SUV carrying four people around 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2003. He had smoked two marijuana joints before heading off for work that day.

Tammy Engelking, 27, and Henry Yao, 40, died in the crash, while two others in the SUV were injured.

McIlwrick showed no emotion as the judge sentenced him, but his mother and girlfriend burst into tears.

Engelking's sister, Shelleen Shultz, expressed relief outside court that the long process is finally over.

"This has been a long time coming and I think we're all relieved that Mr. McIlwrick is finally going to be paying for what he did," she said. "It doesn't get any better even after five years, but I think there's going to finally be some closure."

In sentencing submissions last week, Crown prosecutor Greg Merchant had asked the judge to impose a prison sentence of four to five years.

McIlwrick's lawyer, Bill Tatarchuk, asked for a two-year sentence to be served in the community.

Tatarchuk told the court McIlwrick smokes marijuana to help him deal with pain from medical problems, and told the judge his client posed no danger to the community as long as he doesn't drive.

Tags: Canada | drugs | driving | death | marijuana | World | victims | LAWS | automobile | Courts | impaired

Sphere: Related Content

Obama's "I have a Dream" Will Be a Nightmare~!

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Obama, a man of smarts and intellect whose "Yes We Can" job creation plan may be good on paper, but Obama has yet to see the Presidents Inbox, which I assume in the current economic crisis must be pretty friggin overflowing thanks to to Bush/Cheney Fiasco, and many Corporates who will be a calling with Cap in Hand, in which Obama will inherit as President.

Surely Obama cannot claim ignorance to this fact, yet despite a overflowing Presidential Inbox, Obama has promised the Moon, with subsidized or free health care, housing, drug plans, generous welfare etc, etc, and other election goodies, has his plan to get Americans to work, may have those Americans who voted for him to counter "No we Ain't" cause with all these Freebies you promised us, "What the Hell do we need Jobs for?" 

Yep, I see a dream no one will want to wake up from, cause when they take a look at reality, they'll soon realise being awake is a nightmare for anyone who takes the nations highest office!

Corporates will want money for Job Creation, cause let's face it!  Everyone wants something for Nothing, especially those who voted for Obama! 

2009 and the next 4 years will be an interesting turn of events in the good ole US of A.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081122/obama_jobplan_081122/20081122?hub=World Obama outlines rebuilding plans to create jobs

Updated Sat. Nov. 22 2008

7:33 AM ET The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Saturday outlined his plan to create 2.5 million jobs in coming years to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize schools while developing alternative energy sources and more efficient cars.

"These aren't just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis; these are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long," Obama said in the weekly Democratic radio address.

The economic recovery plan being developed by his staff aims to create 2.5 million jobs by January 2011, and he wants to get it through Congress quickly and sign it soon after taking office.

He called the plan "big enough to meet the challenges we face" and said that it will jump-start job creation but also "lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy." Aides said the economic plan outlined Saturday went further that the president-elect has gone before.

Tags: Jobs | president | economy | opinion | United States | World | Obama | Unemployed

Sphere: Related Content

Somalia Piracy, What to do? Does Anyone Care?

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Some critics say, "Nuke their Country back to the Stone Age" to which I counter, "they are already in the Stone Age". Though I bet their country would look pretty from space as a big chunk of "Decorative Glass"!

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/abc/home/contentposting.aspx?isfa=1&feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V3&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20081121%2fpirates_somalia_081122 New brand of pirates lured by easy cash and girls They've made headlines around the world, collected millions of dollars in ransom, and terrorized the high seas.

By Parminder Parmar

But despite their notoriety, little is known about the pirates who have been hijacking ships off the coast of Somalia for the past decade.

The relatively lawless nature of Somali society, where a functioning federal government has been all but missing for more than a decade, has created a lack of knowledge about who is behind the spate of ship hijackings in recent months.

Even one of the world's foremost experts on international piracy says there is limited information about the makeup of the pirate ships because most of their crews come from isolated villages in a remote part of Somalia, the quasi-independent region called Puntland. But Peter Lehr, a professor of terrorism studies, says scholars and security experts have concluded that most of the crew members on the Somali pirate ships are not what most people would imagine pirates to be from the movies or novels.

Forget images of seafaring bearded men with eye patches and hooks for hands, he says. Instead, the crews on the Somali boats are sometimes no older than pubescent boys.

They generally range in age from teenagers to men in their thirties. And the phrase "pirate" is probably not the most accurate term for people who have generally spent their lives as fishermen. Ironically, that's what makes them good pirates.

"(They) have very good maritime skills because of their fishing background," Lehr told CTV.ca by phone from Britain. At one time, those skills would have allowed the men to provide for their families.

But Somalia's collapse into near anarchy since the 1990s has left the country's economy in shambles.

Tags: opinion | World | nukes | Somalia | piracy | SHIPS | naval | Decorative glass

Sphere: Related Content

Senior Officials: Obama Offered Clinton Secretary Of State Position

President-elect Barack Obama offered Sen. Hillary Clinton the position of Secretary of State during their meeting Thursday in Chicago, according to two senior Democratic officials. She requested time to consider the offer, the officials said.

Multiple reports have indicated that Clinton was under serious consideration for the nation's top diplomatic post, in addition to Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, the Republican Senator from Nebraska.

A longtime aide to the New York Senator argued to the Huffington Post that there are strong reasons why Obama would be inclined to make the post worth Clinton's time.

"She is a beloved figure around the world. She has visited over 80 countries, as first lady and senator together," the aide told the Huffington Post. Noting the fact that Clinton learned as first lady how to be effective as a "backdoor diplomat," the former White House assistant said Clinton mastered "a lot of the intricacies of these issues before ever joining the Senate's Armed Services committee. She's tough; she had meetings with some Prime Ministers and Presidents where she had to deliver some blunt messages for us."

Source: huffingtonpost.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: Election | video | Hillary Clinton | World | US | politics news | President Obama | clinton secretary of state | Clinton Met Obama | Clinton Obama Administration | Hillary Clinton Secretary Of State | Obama Cabinet | Obama Clinton Secretary Of State

Sphere: Related Content

Jessie Foster Case to be Aired on America's Most Wanted

Free-Spirited Young Woman Disappears From Vegas Home Jessie Foster went missing from the North Las Vegas home she shared with her boyfriend in late-March/early-April 2006.
  View Larger

Canadian-born Jessie Foster was a beautiful, free-spirited young woman, who cops say got mixed up with the wrong crowd.

After visiting the United States in 2005, she eventually moved in with a man almost twice her age on the outskirts of Sin City.

The man lived in the swanky suburb of North Las Vegas and, according to reports, he drove a number of expensive cars. 

Jessie told her family that he was independently wealthy, but cops believe he was a pimp -- and Jessie may have become one of his prostitutes.

The petite blonde last called her mother on March 24, 2006, planning to come visit her at home in Canada a few days later.

But that trip never took place, and cops believe Jessie disappeared for good between March 28 and April 3, 2006.

Jessie Foster was last known to be at the home she shared with her boyfriend/pimp, and she has not been seen or heard from ever since.

Now, cops need your help to piece together the mystery surrounding her bizarre disappearance.

Three of the women were dismembered, and their remains had been dumped just off of remote stretches of highway. Cops Try To Determine Link Between Missing And Murdered Prostitutes Jessie Foster's mysterious disappearance has raised some red flags among investigators. Her physical traits are quite similar to those of three other Vegas-area prostitutes who went missing and were ultimately murdered in between March 2003 and April 2006.   View Larger

Due to the demographic that Jessie fits in, cops feel that there are numerous similarities between her and three other Vegas prostitutes who were discovered dead and dismembered since 2003.

Between March 2003 and April 2006, Misty Marie Saens, Jodi Marie Brewer, Lindsay Marie Harris and Jessica Edith Louise Foster all disappeared under similarly suspicious circumstances.

All were white, skinny and pretty, with strawberry blonde hair and ranging in age from 19 to 26. Each girl ranged in height between 5'4" and 5'6", and all of their boyfriends or pimps were black males.  Three of the girls' middle names were "Marie."

Three of the women were dismembered, and their remains had been dumped just off of remote stretches of highway. Two of them were found near industrial areas, and the body of the fourth woman, Jessie Foster, has never even been found.

Are all of their similarities mere coincidence, or is there someone out there abducting and viciously taking the lives of Las Vegas-area prostitutes?

Cops are actively pouring over all of the evidence and are hellbent on finding the culprit or culprits, though leads are few and far between.

If you know anything about the brutal, cold-blooded murders of Misty Saens, Jodi Brewer or Lindsay Harris, as well as the disappearance of Jessie Foster, you've got to call our hotline right away at 1-800-CRIME-TV.

Source: amw.com

NowPublic

Tags: Canada | Culture | Cars | Family | Las Vegas | three | vegas | march | cops | missing | Home | women | murders | Woman | girl | Highway | United States | Mother | Blonde | city | Jessie | Harris | found | Crowd | days | beautiful | Young | PROSTITUTES | pimp | BOYFRIEND | view | april | north | Mystery | NUMBER | other | JODI | mixed | misty | Brewer | WEALTHY | remote | lindsay | visit | become | been | after | between | Reports | last | expensive | Call | Planning | according | SUBURB | foster | were | DROVE | Just | Twice | remains | marie | lived | wrong | moved | DISMEMBERED | independently | larger | later | shared | their | told | have | ranged | dumped | eventually | outskirts | believe | From | With | there | culprit | come | never | That | Similar | almost | since | petite | swanky | stretches | disappears | went | Free-Spirited | Canadian-born | Saens

Sphere: Related Content

9 Injured in a 2nd School Collapse in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A second school has collapsed in central Port-AU-Prince, Haiti, a top Red Cross official has confirmed. 

CNN is reporting that a Red Cross Official has stated that another school has collapsed in Central Port-Au-Prince.  Our contact is a Mission to Haiti Missionary who has built schools in the area.  Following this tragedy one wonders if the 3 hurricanes this season caused some structural damage.

Update 2100 hrs ET -

PORT-AU-PRINCE -- A second school in Haiti has partially collapsed, injuring nine people.

Portions of the Grace Divine school in Canape Vert came crashing down Wednesday while class was in session, authorities said.

Port-au-Prince Building Inspector Edouard Ernseau said two students were hospitalized with severe head injuries.

Seven others outside the school suffered minor injuries. No one was trapped in the rubble.

Source: miamiherald.com via politisite

Update 12:49 pm ET - 9 injured in 2nd Haiti school collapse

Portions of the Grace Divine school in Port-au-Prince came crashing down Wednesday while class was in session.

Port-au-Prince Building Inspector Edouard Ernseau says two students were hospitalized with severe head injuries.

Seven others outside the school suffered minor injuries. No one was trapped in the rubble.

The cause was not immediately known. But Haiti's president recently warned that many buildings in the country are at risk because of poor construction and lax oversight.

Source: iht.com via politisite

Update 12:33 pm ET- Haitian Radio speculates that the collapse comes following heavy rains on Tuesday.

Update- 12:29 pm ET-

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNN) -- A second school collapsed in Haiti on Wednesday in central Port-au-Prince, a top Red Cross official has confirmed.

Dr. Jean Pierre Guiteau, executive officer of the Haitian Red Cross, told CNN there are casualties at the Grace Divine Primary and Secondary School.

No further information was available.

Source: cnn.com via politisite

Update 12:28 ET -Second school collapses in Haiti: reports

PORT-AU-PRINCE (AFP) — A second school collapsed in Haitian city of Port-au-Prince on Wednesda radio reports said

The reports said people had been injured in the new collapse

The accident came after heavy rains hit the capital late on Tuesday in what is one of the world's poorest countries.

Source: afp.google.com via politisite

More structures could collapse in Haiti

andscape, and many fear the recent school collapse is a sign of things to come. President Rene Préval said constant turnover in the government and poor oversight by inspectors are responsible for the collapse. "There is a code already, but they don't follow it," he said. "What we need is political stability." Toronto Star, The (11/10)

Source: smartbrief.com via politisite

Other Haiti related stories on NowPublic:

82 children dead in Haitian school collapse

School collapses in Haiti: 30 dead

Saving Mud-Covered Haiti's Crops – And Mountains

Haiti Struggles After Violent Storm Season

Flooding From Ike Kills 58 In Rain-Soaked Haiti

Haiti Hurricane Recovery Effort at Ti Goave

NowPublic

Tags: Politics | School | dead | World | Disasters | Haiti | International | INJURED | Port-au-Prince | breaking | COLLAPSED | cross | developing | haiti school collapse | official confirmed | Haiti school | NewsRed

Sphere: Related Content

Obama Executive Orders Will fund Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Conservatives had concerns about Obama's views on Abortion and Embryonic Stem Cell Research but thought that any change would have to be approved by Congress.  Not the case as President Elect Obama has stated that one of his first acts as President will by by executive order.  He will fund Abortion and Embryonic Stem Cell Research with American Tax dollars.  Americans who have moral issues will be forced to fund these programs.

The Authority of the President to issue executive orders is wholly based on Article II of the U.S. Constitution.  The President's power is limited by Article II.  The President's authority to issue an executive order cannot interfere with any other branch of Governments authority.  Funding the government and it's programs through taxation are left for Congress and Congress only.  President Barack Obama may meet his first Constitutional law issue.

A couple of Questions for the reader to consider

1. Is it right to force folks with religious issues to fund Abortion or Embryonic Stem Cell Research? 

2. Is it appropriate for a President to change how taxes are spent  by executive order?

Members of the team Barack Obama has put together confirmed over the weekend that the incoming president will immediately overturn executive orders President Bush put in place as soon as possible after he takes office. The Bush orders have protected taxpayers on key pro-life issues.

The advisors confirm the concerns pro-life advocates had during the presidential election campaign.

They indicated Obama would overturn a Bush policy that prevents forcing taxpayers to fund groups that perform or promote abortions in other countries. Known as the Mexico City Policy and first instituted during the Reagan administration, President Bush expanded the policy to make sure no State Department funding goes to the pro-abortion groups.

Obama would also overturn President Bush's policy against funding any new embryonic stem cell research.

Put in place in August 2001, the policy prevents taxpayers from paying for new embryonic research that involves the destruction of human life. Bush directed most of the public funding for the science to adult stem cells, which are more ethical and have proven more effective than their embryonic counterparts.

Embryonic stem cells, in addition to including the destruction of days-old unborn children, has yet to work in humans because of significant problems after they are injected into the body -- ranging from the growth of tumors to immune system rejection issues.

The Washington Post reports that the transition team members are working with top special interest groups and leading pro-abortion members of Congress on prioritizing the executive orders that Obama will reverse.

President Bill Clinton overturned the Mexico City Policy on his first day in office and the reports indicated Obama will too.

Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion business, told the Post that she expects Obama to rescind the protections on taxpayer-funded abortions and abortion counseling immediately after his inauguration.

"We have been communicating with his transition staff" almost daily, Richards said. "We expect to see a real change."

Source: lifenews.com via politisite

Not worried about those issues?  Your pet issue may be overturned by one strike of the pen as well. Obama will  target Bush executive orders in first days

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they regard as the most onerous or ideologically offensive, said a top transition official who was not permitted to speak on the record about the inner workings of the transition.

In some instances, Obama would be quickly delivering on promises he made during his two-year campaign, while in others he would be embracing Clinton-era policies upended by President Bush during his eight years in office.

Source: hotair.com via politisite

Other Related NowPublic Coverage:

Obama 'to reverse Bush decisions'

Obama's Plans for Health Care Reform: New FDS, Stem Cell Law Veto

Obama: 600 Million Dollars Later Is the Question Still Above Your Pay Grade?Obama's Health Care Plan Covers Abortion, Requires Tax-Funding

Recommended Reading:

Executive Orders 101

NowPublic

Tags: Bush | abortion | president | World | executive | Obama | CELL | stem | orders | PARENTHOOD | immediately | planned | embryonic | Overturn

Sphere: Related Content

Follow McCain's Example in Defeat

Lee Judge’s cartoon (11/6, Opinion) showing the White House with the caption “How many houses does John McCain own? One less than he thought” is just one more jab at an American hero.

No, John McCain will not be “owning” the White House, but neither will Barack Obama. The presidents are guests there during their time of service. In his concession speech, McCain was very gracious. It was an inspiring and well-written speech — the best concession speech ever, at least for the last three elections.

McCain was respectful in his loss. Unfortunately, The Star has decided to not do so in its victory. Yes, the media won. Their candidate was elected. To be so gloating is tasteless. To be a sore loser is one thing, but a sore winner is worse.

Let us respect the candidates, win or lose, for their service to democracy. May we all move forward to do our best for America.

Source: blogs.kansascity.com via politisite

NowPublic

Tags: speech | Presidents | World | House | Hero | McCain | Obama | CANDIDATE | Respect | white | ELECTED | inspiring | decided | least | concession | well-written | gracious

Sphere: Related Content

Haitian School

NowPublic

Tags: School | World | Haiti | Colapse

Sphere: Related Content