Politisite: November 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Obama's Pick for Secretary of Education Is Arne Duncan

Obama's Pick for Secretary of Education Is Arne Duncan. Problem is that he is in charge of Chicago schools. An education system that has a 52.2% graduation rate. Obama once said, "We can do better then this".

read more | digg story

Sphere: Related Content

Obama's Pick for Secretary of Education Is Arne Duncan

Sphere: Related Content

Obama Pick Sen. Salazar (D-Co) for Interior Secretary

CNN is reporting on it's breaking wire that Barack Obama will announce Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado as his pick for interior secretary, two transition officials say.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Obama's Secratary of Education Is Arne Duncan

Barack Obama's choice for secretary of education is Arne Duncan, the head of Chicago public schools, a source tells CNN.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

The Auto Industry Moving South, Study Shows Uaw Assertions Wrong

A few years ago the Center for Automotive Research published a very useful study titled "The Auto Industry Moving South: An Examination of Trends" [PDF]. The study's authors looked at a variety of factors influencing this trend, including the role of incentive packages that states offer to car companies.

What they found is that, contrary to Gettelfinger's assertion, foreign auto companies are not lured to build factories in the U.S. — or even in particular regions of the U.S. — because of incentive packages. Rather, states use incentive packages to compete with their next-door neighbors once a particular region of the U.S. has already been chosen:

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Illinois Secratary of State to Hold Press Confernece on Governor

In a Press Conferance Moments ago, Secratary of State, Madigan, stated, "

MTF, Breaking

NowPublic

Tags: Chicago | Crime | World

Sphere: Related Content

Mother Sold Her Twins for Liposuction Operation

A mother accused of selling her newborn twin boys for £9,000 to pay for a liposuction operation was involved in an online rent-a-womb trade with women desperate to have children, it was claimed today.

Restaurant worker Sonia Ringoir, 31, has been accused by police at Ghent, Belgium with treating her twins in a 'degrading' way and with fraud after a Dutch couple alleged that she had conned them.

Tamara Stegeman said that Ringoir had run sperm 'parties' at her large family home in Lovendegem, a village near Ghent, where she charged £300 a time to be impregnated with her husband's sperm.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Strip Shows Are Considered Theater in the Netherlands

Strip Shows Are Considered Theater in the Netherlands
Judges in the Dutch Supreme Court has made up their minds concerning a case of whether or not strip shows were considered theater or a means of perversion. If the judges were to decide it was simply a place for men to stare at naked women then the taxes would be astronomical. The owner of the club has already paid thousands of dollars in to the system with his taxes. The owner of the establishment claimed what he was peddling was theater.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Nowpublic Editor, Terri Potratz, Fashion Statement on Softpedia

Before taking a glance into the future fashion trends, maybe one should stop for a while and think about the mistakes of the past – if any. Nevertheless, fashion connoisseurs have already started to sum up the goods and the bads of the current fashion tendencies, which can be easily spotted on the street and not only. One of these experts is Terri Potraz, who recently revealed, on the NowPublic website, her top five worst choices, put together thanks to the enthusiastic support of fashion-wise people around the globe.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Auto Bailout Should Hinge on Saving Jobs: Caw

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Besides bailing out the Big Three and protecting Workers Jobs, one other consideration shjould be in the forefront. People who have bought New Cars from the Big 3 costing an average of 30,000 dollars may be left without a Warranty in the event the Big 3 go bankrupt. The bailout mind you is being paid for by taxpayers who are also Warranty holders of these new cars. Funny there is no mention of what will happen to the consumer in the event they are left warrantyless. But then that is par for the course when it comes to the consumer now isn't it?

Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza praised the announcement of a potential $3.3-billion lifeline to the country's car industry, but warned that it should hinge on promises by manufacturers to maintain jobs and keep plants open.

"The reason the CAW pushed for government involvement is because all governments are intervening in the economy and in particular the auto industry," Lewenza told CTV Newsnet Saturday.

"But we want to protect our existing investment and our existing facilities. So there has to be a condition of government intervening to support the existing facilities and keep them open."

Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton said automakers should be providing both employment and product guarantees, if they are receiving government assistance.

"You need to get product guarantees, in other words, you want to be producing the cars and trucks of the future that people want to buy," he said during an appearance on CTV Newsnet on Saturday.

"And secondly, you need some job guarantees."

Tags: World | Automakers | US Politics

Sphere: Related Content

'Embarrassing' to Be a Canadian at Climate Talks: Green Party Lea

Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Green Party Leader, Leader of No one by the way, as Canadians voted with their concience resulting in Elizabeth may should stick to other pursuits than politics. Anyways Elizabeth peed in Canada's Cornflakes bu stating Canada's dismal failure in Environmental Policies is something the world should be concerned about.

Granted Canada my be far from perfect, but then in this eco climate and job losses the world over, along with countries refusing to take our recyclables, perhaps we could do more to reduce, reuse and recycle. But do we rally need May's ever present Waggin Finger to chastise Canadians, after all isn't that why we have David Suzuki? At least David Suzuki has the credentials to critique Canada's Environmental POlicies, not a an armchair Environmentalist with no Educational background in Environmental studies?

The UN climate conference in Poznan, Poland, was a "mark of shame" for Canada, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said on Saturday.

Delegates from poorer nations were angry at Canada for not meeting its commitments under the Kyoto protocol, as well as all industrialized countries for stalling on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, May told CBC News.

During the conference, which began Dec. 1, Canada won several Fossil of the Day Awards, announced by Climate Action Network International, a group that includes more than 400 non-governmental organizations.

"It was embarrassing being a Canadian at these meetings," May said.

Tags: Environment | Climate Change

Sphere: Related Content

Grifter Takes Money and Dreams From Disabled Ottawa Man

OTTAWA - The sweetest dream of Doug Macklem’s life came to an abrupt halt on Christmas Day 2006 - via e-mail.

The message told him that the love of his life, Nicole L’Ecuyer, had died that morning from injuries suffered in a Christmas Eve car accident in the Dominican Republic.

“Other than my parents’ deaths, it was the worst day of my life,” says Macklem, 44, a computer systems analyst. “My world was just completely obliterated.”

Macklem held a plane ticket that was to take him in four days to the Dominican, where he was to meet Nicole’s family for the first time and tour the resort villas she had found and purchased for their future life together.

Macklem, born with cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound, needing help to eat and dress. Nicole was the first woman who seemed capable of seeing past his disability.

The two had met in August 2004 as Doug pursued companionship among the services advertised by an escort agency online.

Tags: Family | Crime | World

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Obama and Governor Blagojevich Appear together on November 11, 2008

I added a photo of President Elect Obama and Governor Blagojevich. The rational for posting it here is that it was taken on November 11, 2008. Obama stated that he has had no contact with the Governor. The photo appears to speak of another story. In addition, Obama's Chief Political Strategist David Axelrod stated earlier that Obama had indeed been in contact with the Governor over campaign issues, but retracted these comments following the Governor's arrest. See the Photo Here Does this photo mean anything to the story? Only that Obama and Axelrod made contrasting statements. The other question is what constitutes contact? Remember in the Clinton Administration it all came down to what you definition of, "is" is.

If Obama was able to get through this, and I will say it, culture of corruption, then he is a great man indeed. For all of us American's I am hopeful he is the reformer that he campaigned on being not an insider in the political loop. If not, comparatively, the Bush years will look like a kindergartner disobeying his teachers instructions.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Harry Reid says Congress Will Vote on $15B Auto Bailout, Despite Republican Opposition

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid says there will be a vote on the Auto Bailout dispite Congressional Republican Opposition. The vote will be today or Wendsday.

Congress and the White House are working toward a $15 billion short-term agreement to bailout the auto industry. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Congress could act on an auto bailout as early as the end of the day.

Congressional Democrats and the White House on Tuesday are expected to finalize a $15 billion emergency loan package to help save millions of jobs connected to the nation's troubled auto industry.

Talks to prevent the collapse of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have intensified in recent days, with the broad outline of a plan emerging Monday. GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co. directly employ about 350,000 people, and millions of other workers depend on the industry.

Under the deal taking shape, GM and Chrysler would get emergency loans on Dec. 15. Then an overseer — a kind of "car czar" — would write guidelines, due on the first of the year, for restructuring the Big Three automakers. If the car companies haven't taken enough steps to reinvent themselves by Feb. 15, the overseer could recall the money.

NowPublic

Harry Reid says Congress Will Vote on $15B Auto Bailout, Despite Republican Opposition

Sphere: Related Content

Illinois Governor Arrested for trying to sell Obama's Senate Seat

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested Tuesday morning in Chicago on two counts each of federal corruption charges stemming from allegations Blagojevich was trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder.

The arrest is part of a three-year probe of "pay-to-play politics" in the governor's administration. The criminal complaint by the FBI says each man was arrested on two charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

The charges also relate to allegations that Blagojevich and Harris schemed with previously convicted defendants and Obama associates Antonin Rezko, Stuart Levine, Ali Ata and others to arrange financial benefits in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state employment, state contracts and access to state funds.

In addition, the case alleges that Blagojevich tried to influence the composition of The Chicago Tribune editorial board in exchange for state aid to the Tribune Company, which owns the newspaper.

Blagojevich and Harris will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court Tuesday.

A statement by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Grant said Blagojevich and Harris "allegedly conspired to sell U.S. Senate appointment, engaged in pay-to-play schemes and threatened to withhold state assistance to Tribune Company for Wrigley Field to induce (the) purge of newspaper editorial writers."

"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

"Blagojevich put a for sale sign on the naming of a United States Senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism," he added.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Monday, December 08, 2008

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

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

Watch Live

Channel 10 News

ABC News Live Feed

Raw Video CBS

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.

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

2750 jet crash site as seen from Mira Mesa

A Fighter Jet has Crashed in a Residential Area in San Diego, California.

Sphere: Related Content

Thursday, December 04, 2008

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.

NowPublic

Hillary Clinton's Speech Not Great but pointed to Obama, Your Comments?

Senator Clinton accuses Barak Obama of doing work for Slum Lords

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

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.

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.

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.

NowPublic

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

Sphere: Related Content

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

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.

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

Politisite Chambliss Win In Georgia with 58% of Vote, Election Results, Breaking News & Commentary from Georgia

Jim Martin: Selling American Citizenship

Politisite Exit Polls, Real Time Election Results, Breaking News & Commentary from Georgia

Saxby Chambliss Gropes his Granddaughter

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.

NowPublic

Palin Makes a Stop in Augusta, Georgia for Senator Chambliss

Sphere: Related Content

Monday, December 01, 2008

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.

NowPublic

Sphere: Related Content

Friday, November 28, 2008

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."

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.

Other Planned Parenthood Stories on NowPublic:

UCLA exposes Racism at Planned Parenthood

Obama Executive Orders Will fund Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research

New Study: Direct Link Between Abortion and Mental Health Problems

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

UCLA exposes Racism at Planned Parenthood

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

Planned Parenthood Christmas Gift Certificates OK for Abortions

NowPublic

Planned Parenthood says Give the Gift of Abortion for Christmas

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.

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.

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.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

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.

NowPublic

Kids play with Uzi's at Machine Gun Shoot event, 1 shoots himself

Last Nights Debate, GOP Wins Without a Shot Fired

Governor Sanford: House Turns Its Back on Taxpayers

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.

NowPublic

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.

Other NowPublic Coverage:

Arkansas TV anchor Anne Pressly dies days after attack

KATV's Anne Pressly Attacked in Home Dies UPDATE

Anne Pressly KATV anchor assaulted - in critical condition

NowPublic

Curtis Vance Arrested for Killing Little Rock TV Anchor Anne Pressly

Sphere: Related Content

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

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.

NowPublic

Photo By Albert Milliron Politisite.com / Iron Mill Interactive Media Inc

Mitt Romney Op-Ed- Let the Auto Industry Go Bankrupt

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.

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.

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).

Mumbai Terror Attacks

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

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

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.

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.

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."

Watch Live

Al Jazeera

IBN Live

NDTV Live (English)

DDin News

Other NowPublic Coverage:

Mumbai attacks: Indian commandos open fire at last hostage place

NowPublic Member Reports Live on Foxnews

Indian Financial Capital Mumbai Under Attack

Shootout at Taj Mahal Hotel and Three Other Locations in Mumbai

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

Bombay under attack. Terror spreads all around

NowPublic

Explosions, fire at Taj Hotel - Mumbai 26 november 2008 terrorist attacks

Sphere: Related Content

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

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.

NowPublic Coverage on the Natalee Holloway Case:

Van Der Sloot Confesses to Natalee Holloway Death

Three Years--Still No Justice for Natalee Holloway

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

Joran Van der Sloot--A Man Without a Country

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

Is Joran Van Der Sloot Trafficking Women?

Recent Media Coverage of Joran Van Der Sloot:

Holloway suspect says he lied again

Former Suspect In Holloway Disappearance Linked To Thai Sex Ring?

Who's Lying About the Holloway Case?

NowPublic

Natalee Holloway sold for 10 Thousand Dollars, Van der Sloot Admits to Fox News

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.

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.

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?

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

NowPublic

Citi (TaxPayers) Field Name Safe, According to Mets

Sphere: Related Content

Monday, November 24, 2008

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.

NowPublic

President-elect Obama announces two more leaders of economic team

President-elect Obama announces economic team

Larry Summers - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2007

Lawrence Summers - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008

Sphere: Related Content

Saturday, November 22, 2008

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.

Disturbing Issue of JFK's Secret Illness

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.

Burundi abolishes death penalty, criminalizes homosexuality

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Somalia Piracy, What to do? Does Anyone Care?

Sphere: Related Content

Monday, December 15, 2008

Slideshow

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Monday, December 08, 2008

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Monday, December 01, 2008

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Monday, November 24, 2008

Saturday, November 22, 2008

About Me

Our Recommendations

Politisite Story Archives

Slideshow

Twitter Updates

Twitter Updates