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Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BigBrassBalls

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614</id><updated>2013-08-31T09:43:39.372-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Big Brass Balls</title><subtitle type='html'>Having The Balls To Tell It Like It Really Is</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default?alt=atom'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default?alt=atom&start-index=26&max-results=25'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>252</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-113047486110917667</id><published>2005-10-27T23:47:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-27T23:47:41.186-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Big Surprise: Someone In GOP Indicted</title><content type='html'>&nbsp;From <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9845016/">MSNBC</a>: <div>A coin dealer and major GOP donor at the center of a scandal in Ohio state government was charged Thursday with illegally funneling $45,400 in contributions to President Bush&rsquo;s re-election campaign.Thomas Noe was accused in a federal indictment of giving money directly or indirectly to 24 friends and associates, who then made the campaign contributions in their own names. In that way, he skirted the $2,000 limit on individual contributions, prosecutors said.&ldquo;It&rsquo;s one of the most blatant and excessive finance schemes we have encountered,&rdquo; said Noel Hillman, section chief of the Department of Justice&rsquo;s public integrity section.Calls to the White House and Noe&rsquo;s attorneys were not immediately returned. Prosecutors said the Bush campaign has cooperated with their investigation.Noe also is under investigation over an ill-fated $50 million investment in rare coins he managed for the state workers&rsquo; compensation fund. Noe has acknowledged that up to $13 million is missing, and Ohio&rsquo;s attorney general has accused him of stealing as much as $6 million. No charges have been filed in that case, though state officials say they plan to file charges.Prosecutors would not reveal the names of the people to whom Noe gave money to contribute or say if any of them would be charged. The indictment said Noe and those who gave his money to Bush had conspired together to violate the contribution limits.Two people who received just over $20,000 from Noe recruited others who then gave money in their own names, the indictment said.The coin dealer personally contributed more than $105,000 to Republicans, including Bush and Gov. Bob Taft, during the last campaign.An investigation into Noe&rsquo;s coin investments led to ethics charges against Taft for failing to report golf outings and other gifts. The governor pleaded no contest in August and was fined $4,000.U.S. Attorney Gregory White said prosecutors were negotiating Noe&rsquo;s surrender with his lawyer.Noe&rsquo;s attorney, Bill Wilkinson, said in a statement that Noe&rsquo;s surrender was complicated by the fact that Noe was in South Florida and that many courthouses there were still closed because of Hurricane Wilma.If convicted, Noe faces up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $950,000.</div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/113047486110917667/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=113047486110917667' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113047486110917667'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113047486110917667'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/big-surprise-someone-in-gop-indicted.html' title='Big Surprise: Someone In GOP Indicted'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-113036292577570489</id><published>2005-10-26T16:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-26T16:42:06.026-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote Of The Day</title><content type='html'>To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition. --Woody Allen</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/113036292577570489/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=113036292577570489' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113036292577570489'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113036292577570489'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/quote-of-day_26.html' title='Quote Of The Day'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-113026165877434494</id><published>2005-10-25T12:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-25T12:34:18.833-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Wingnut Alert: Fred Phelps</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91136-1200311,00.html">Sky News</a>: The Sky Report&nbsp;has secretly filmed one of America's most controversial Christian ministers praising the London bombings.Fred Phelps&nbsp;says that terrorist outrages and natural disasters such as Hurricane Rita are examples of God's wrath against countries such as America and Britain for tolerating homosexuals and homosexuality.Fred Phelps, who set up the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, told&nbsp;our &nbsp;undercover reporter about the attacks, which killed 52 people:&nbsp;"Oh I am so thankful that happened. My only regret is that they didn't kill about million of them. England deserves that kind of punishment, as does this country (America)". The church, which has 150 followers, recently started picketing funerals including those of American soldiers killed in Iraq, waving banners such as "Thank God 9/11", "God Hates Fags" and "Aids Cures Fags". The Sky Report investigation includes secret filming inside the church's fortified compound during a weekly service in which Fred Phelps also denounced the Roman Catholic Church as the "biggest paedophile organisation in the history of the world".Phelps made news just last month when the Daily Telegraph reported that the Swedish royal family were consulting lawyers after discovering that he had made outrageous claims about their sexuality on the internet.Several members of&nbsp;the Westboro Baptist Church&nbsp;congregation were planning to visit Sweden - placards in hand - ready to spread their message that Sweden is, "a land of sodomy, bestiality and incest''.&nbsp;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/113026165877434494/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=113026165877434494' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113026165877434494'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/113026165877434494'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/wingnut-alert-fred-phelps.html' title='Wingnut Alert: Fred Phelps'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112991670294241493</id><published>2005-10-21T12:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-21T12:45:03.093-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote Of The Day</title><content type='html'> All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. --T.E. Lawrence &nbsp; Seven Pillars of Wisdom </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112991670294241493/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112991670294241493' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991670294241493'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991670294241493'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/quote-of-day_21.html' title='Quote Of The Day'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112991372610945643</id><published>2005-10-21T11:55:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-21T11:55:26.120-05:00</updated><title type='text'>DeLay Requests New Judge</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051021/ap_on_go_co/delay_indictment">Yahoo! News</A>: Rep. Tom DeLay appeared in court Friday for the first time since his indictment, but his arraignment on conspiracy and money laundering charges was delayed pending a hearing on his request for a new judge in the politically charged case. DeLay, who has stepped aside at least for the time being as House majority leader, did not speak during the brief court session, and was not called on to make a plea. But at a news conference shortly afterward, he attacked the prosecutor in the case as politically motivated, and said, &quot;I will absolutely be exonerated.&quot; Inside the courtroom, Judge Bob Perkins told defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin that &quot;the best way for me to handle&quot; the request for a new judge would be to defer further proceedings. That set the stage for a pointed exchange between the two men that seemed as much a campaign debate as a courtroom exchange. In respectful tones, DeGuerin noted that Perkins had donated money to MoveOn.org, a liberal organization that he said has been &quot;selling T-shirts with Mr. DeLay's mug shot on it.&quot; &quot;Let me just say I haven't ever seen that T-shirt, number one. Number two, I haven't bought it. Number three, the last time I contributed to MoveOn that I know of was prior to the November election last year, when they were primarily helping Sen. Kerry,&quot; responded the judge. MoveOn.org denied it was selling any such shirts, and issued a statement that said, &quot;DeGuerin has either bad information or lied in court.&quot; &quot;All we want is a fair trial and a fair tribunal,&quot; DeGuerin told reporters outside the courthouse. Prosecutor Ronnie Earle signaled he intends to contest the request for a new judge. &quot;What this means is if a judge had contributed to Crime Stoppers that judge could not hear a burglary case,&quot; Earle said. &quot;Carried to its extreme, that is what I think this motion means and I think that's absurd.&quot; &quot;We don't live in a country where political party determines the measure of justice,&quot; Earle said, adding that he though DeLay could get a fair trial in the state's capital. Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub will hold a hearing on whether Perkins should step aside. Schraub is based outside of Austin in the nearby town of Seguin, has been the administrative judge for the region since 1990 and is a Republican. Three Republicans and one Democratic governor have appointed or reappointed him to his job, his assistant said. It was not clear how much the motion would lengthen proceedings in the case. The Texas congressman has said he wants a speedy trial. DeLay appeared relaxed as he sat next to his wife, Christine, in the courtroom for what turned out to be a session of roughly four minutes. Earlier, he had entered the courthouse through a side door to avoid the cameras. DeLay and two political associates are charged in an alleged scheme to funnel corporate donations to GOP candidates for the Texas Legislature. State law prohibits use of corporate donations to elect or defeat state candidates. All three deny wrongdoing. The case has had a political cast from the outset. The charges arise from a campaign in which Republicans gained control of the legislature, then used their new majority to force through a redistricting plan that netted the GOP additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. DeLay's indictment has roiled Republican politics in Washington, where he was forced to step aside as the No. 2 House Republican. With an eye on the 2006 elections, Democrats have sought to turn him into a symbol of what they depict as an ethically-challenged Republican majority. But apart from giving up his leadership post &#8212; as required under GOP rules &#8212; DeLay has been nothing but defiant. He retains a powerful influence in the House GOP high command, has repeatedly attacked Earle and now seeks to force the removal of the judge, who has donated to the organization that DeLay's lawyer described as antithetical to GOP fortunes. &quot;I will not let a prosecutor who pursues his political enemies by abusing the law and manufacturing baseless charges wreck our justice system,&quot; DeLay said at his news conference. Apart from seeking a new judge, the congressman's lawyers are asking to have the case moved out of Austin, one of the state's most liberal areas. DeLay turned himself in to the Harris County sheriff's office in Houston on Thursday, avoiding hordes of reporters waiting for him in nearby Fort Bend County, where he lives. He smiled broadly in a mug shot that was publicly released. DeLay also was fingerprinted, went before a judge and was released on $10,000 bail. DeLay's co-defendants are John Colyandro of Dallas, who was executive director of a Texas political action committee founded by DeLay, and Jim Ellis, a paid adviser who also runs DeLay's national fundraising committee. They also face conspiracy and money laundering charges, but their attorneys asked that their cases be separated from DeLay's proceedings. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112991372610945643/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112991372610945643' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991372610945643'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991372610945643'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/delay-requests-new-judge.html' title='DeLay Requests New Judge'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112991281325457073</id><published>2005-10-21T11:40:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-21T11:40:13.326-05:00</updated><title type='text'>UN Report Implicates Syria</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/20/AR2005102001690_pf.html">The Washington Post</A>: A U.N. investigation has implicated senior Syrian and Lebanese officials in the assassination of Lebanon's leading reformer in a move that U.S. and European officials expect will generate new international pressure on the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad. In blunt language, the report by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis concluded that the Valentine's Day bombing of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others &quot;could not have been taken without the approval of top-ranked Syrian security officials and could not have been further organized without the collusion of their counterparts in the Lebanese security forces.&quot; The report faulted Damascus for failing to fully cooperate with the probe and cited several officials, including Foreign Minister Farouk Charaa for attempting to mislead the investigation by providing false or inaccurate statements. Nevertheless, Mehlis said many leads now point directly to Syrian security officials. The findings have been eagerly awaited by U.S. and European officials. Along with a second U.N. report on Lebanon due in days, key members of the Security Council hope to use the findings to increase pressure on the Assad government to end years of meddling in Lebanon and to generally change its behavior both at home and throughout the region, including ending support for extremist groups. Mehlis concluded that the complex assassination plot involved several months of preparation and was conducted by a sophisticated group with &quot;considerable resources and capabilities.&quot; Although the primary motive was political, some of the perpetrators may have been motivated by issues involving fraud, corruption and money laundering, he added. Syrian officials have repeatedly denied any role in Hariri's slaying. Earlier this week, Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha said, &quot;We are absolutely categoric in saying we had nothing to do with Hariri.&quot; Messages to Syrian officials in Washington and at the United Nations were not returned last night. But Mehlis said the slaying followed a &quot;growing conflict&quot; between Hariri and senior Syrian officials, including Assad. Tensions came to a head during a 10-to-15-minute meeting between the two men on Aug. 26, 2004. The Syrian leader informed Hariri that he wanted to extend for three years the term of Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, a close ally of Damascus, in defiance of the Lebanese constitution -- a move Hariri firmly opposed. Mehlis's report included excerpts of interviews and statements about the meeting, including several by Hariri's associates and his son, alleging that the Syrian president threatened Hariri if he opposed the plan. Saad Hariri said his father told him that Assad said: &quot;This extension is to happen, or else I will break Lebanon over your head.&quot; In a conversation between Hariri and a Syrian deputy foreign minister tape-recorded on Feb. 1, the former prime minister recalled the meeting with Assad as &quot;the worst day of my life.&quot; Hariri then told the Syrian official that Lebanon would no longer be ruled from Syria. Walid Mouallem, the Syrian official and a former ambassador to Washington, warned Hariri that Syrian security services had him cornered and not to &quot;take things lightly,&quot; according testimony given to the commission. Two weeks later, Hariri was dead. When the commission tried to follow up these leads, Syria refused to provide substantive information, Mehlis reported. Assad refused to be interviewed. And interviews conducted last month produced &quot;uniform answers&quot; that contradicted the weight of evidence, he added. The commission cited one witness's testimony that a white Mitsubishi with a tarpaulin over its flatbed was used as the bomb carrier and crossed into Lebanon from Syria three weeks before the attack. It was driven by a Syrian army colonel, the report said. The day before the bombing, the same witness said he drove a Syrian officer to the St. George area of Beirut on a &quot;reconnaissance exercise&quot; -- in the area where the assassination took place. The report listed several officials who witnesses alleged knew about or played an advance role in the assassination. They included Gen. Jamil Sayyed, Gen. Mustapha Hamdan, Gen. Raymond Azar -- senior Lebanese officials who have been arrested -- and Gen. Rustum Ghazali, Syria's most recent intelligence chief in Lebanon. The day before the assassination, the report said, witnesses allege that Ghazali met with the head of Hariri's protection detail, emerging &quot;badly shaken.&quot; Another witness said Hamdan had accused Hariri of being pro-Israeli and had said, &quot;We are going to send him on a trip, bye, bye Hariri.&quot; After Hariri's assassination, the witness was &quot;strongly reminded not to discuss the conversation with anyone,&quot; the report said. The report also cited an allegation by one witness against Assad's brother-in-law, Maj. Gen. Asef Shawkat. The unidentified witness told the commission that Shawkat forced an Islamic militant, Abu Adass, to record a tape claiming responsibility for the bombing two weeks before it occurred, to create the misimpression that the attack was the act of a lone suicide bomber. Peppered with riveting detail, the report said Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officials wiretapped Hariri's phone. But the 54-page report said the full picture would require a more extensive investigation, and called for the international community to help Lebanese authorities continue the probe. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan announced late yesterday that he will extend the Mehlis mandate to Dec. 15. The Bush administration said it would not immediately comment. &quot;We intend to read and study it tonight very carefully and decide tomorrow in consultations with other interested governments what the next steps will be,&quot; said U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton. Diplomats expect the report to lead the Security Council to consider action, however. A second U.N. report on Lebanon is expected next week. It will focus on the implementation of Resolution 1559, which calls for the end of Syria's meddling in Lebanon and the disbanding of armed groups that are tied to Syria. To follow up on both reports, the United States and other nations have been discussing language for two resolutions that could be introduced as soon as next week to hold the perpetrators to account and add new pressure on Syria, according to U.S. and U.N. officials. Mehlis's probe included more than 400 interviews and reviews of more than 16,000 pages of documents. Among those interviewed was Ghazi Kanaan, the former Syrian intelligence chief in Lebanon, who committed suicide last week. Mehlis warned that many Lebanese fear the international community may not follow through, leaving them vulnerable to the return of Syrian military and intelligence services and a revenge campaign. Recent bombings and assassinations have been carried out &quot;with impunity,&quot; deterring potential witnesses from testifying, he said. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112991281325457073/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112991281325457073' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991281325457073'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112991281325457073'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/un-report-implicates-syria.html' title='UN Report Implicates Syria'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112983841001801708</id><published>2005-10-20T15:00:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-20T15:00:27.030-05:00</updated><title type='text'>More GOP Indictments?</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="file://a%20uniter,%20not%20a%20divider">The Hill</A>: House Resources Chairman Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) may have violated tax laws by accepting international trips paid for by a private foundation, according to a report out yesterday. The Center for Public Integrity, which co-wrote the report with American Public Media&#8217;s &#8220;Marketplace&#8221; radio news show, alleges that the International Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources (IFCNR) funded trips to New Zealand and Japan in 2000 and 2002, respectively. The trips cost a total of $23,000. Pombo&#8217;s wife accompanied the congressman on the first trip; a staff member went along on the second. The IFCNR is apparently funded in part by donations from Darden Restaurants, the parent of the Red Lobster and Olive Garden chains. The Foundation also has received money from the National Trappers Association and the International Fur Trade Association. Pombo&#8217;s Resources Committee has partial jurisdiction over federal environmental policy such as the Endangered Species Act, which Pombo and others have sought this year to rewrite. Environmental groups have argued that the changes would gut protections. Justice Department and congressional investigations into the actions of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff have drawn increased scrutiny to congressional travel. Among the allegations facing Abramoff is that he personally paid for some member travel, a violation of House rules. The potential problem with Pombo&#8217;s trips, according to the report, is that the Internal Revenue Service precludes private, nonprofit foundations from funding international travel by government officials. The report says Pombo could have to reimburse the foundations for the costs of the trip or face what it describes as a stiff fine. The foundation should have also paid taxes on the trip, but the report alleges that it did not. It could also have to pay a penalty. Pombo told the Center and Marketplace that he had not been aware that the Foundation was private and that it was governed by different tax rules than trade associations, interest groups, think tanks and other nonprofit groups that routinely pay for congressional travel. Pombo said he would have his accountant look into the allegations made in the report. Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for the Resources Committee, said that if the review shows that Pombo owes money &#8220;he will make good on his debt.&#8221; Foundation President Emeritus Stephen Boynton told investigators for the Center of Public Integrity and &#8220;Marketplace&#8221; that the foundation asked both Pombo and the House ethics committee if it could pay for the trips and received the OK. The report also notes that Pombo served as the chairman of the Sustainable Use Parliamentarians Union (SUPU), a subsidiary to the IFCNR that was involved with the trips. Pombo allegedly served in that capacity from 2000 to July 2004. Rep. Dennis Rehberg, a Republican from Montana, is the current chairman of the group. Pombo said that he had not had contact with the IFNCR or SUPU for several years. SUPU has only had two meetings, Boynton said.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112983841001801708/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112983841001801708' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112983841001801708'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112983841001801708'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/more-gop-indictments.html' title='More GOP Indictments?'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112982888309054624</id><published>2005-10-20T12:21:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-20T12:21:23.100-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote Of The Day</title><content type='html'> Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting &quot;Jesus Christ,&quot; so that it would read &quot;A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;&quot; the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. -Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112982888309054624/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112982888309054624' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112982888309054624'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112982888309054624'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/quote-of-day_20.html' title='Quote Of The Day'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112982866785072442</id><published>2005-10-20T12:17:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-20T12:17:47.926-05:00</updated><title type='text'>GOP: Big Business Over Average Citizens (Again)</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-usgun1021,0,6833361,print.story?coll=ny-top-headlines">News Day</A>: In a move that should come as no surprise, the GOP once again placed the needs of huge cash rich corporations (i.e. large corporate donors) above the needs of average American citizens.&nbsp; This is just another sickening example of the Republican's selling out to corporate America.&nbsp; Americans should be unnerved by this unabashed corporate partisanship. Congress gave the gun lobby its top legislative priority Thursday, passing a bill that would protect the firearms industry from massive lawsuits brought by crime victims. The White House says President Bush will sign it into law. The House voted 283-144 to send the bill to the president after supporters, led by the National Rifle Association, proclaimed it vital to protect the industry from being bankrupted by huge jury awards. Opponents, waging a tough battle against growing public support for the legislation, called it proof of the gun lobby's power over the Republican-controlled Congress. &quot;This legislation will make the unregulated gun industry the most pampered industry in America,&quot; said Kristen Rand, director of the Violence Policy Center. Under the measure, about 20 pending lawsuits by local governments against the industry would be dismissed. The Senate passed the bill in July. The bill's passage was the NRA's top legislative priority and would give Bush and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill a rare victory at a time when some top GOP leaders are under indictment or investigation. &quot;Lawsuits seeking to hold the firearms industry responsible for the criminal and unlawful use of its products are brazen attempts to accomplish through litigation what has not been achieved by legislation and the democratic process,&quot; House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., told his colleagues. Propelled by GOP election gains and the incidents of lawlessness associated with the passing of Hurricane Katrina, support for the bill has grown since a similar measure passed the House last year and was killed in the Senate. Horrific images of people without the protection of public safety in New Orleans made a particular impression on viewers who had never before felt unsafe, according to the gun lobby. &quot;Americans saw a complete collapse of the government's ability to protect them,&quot; said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president. &quot;That burnt in, those pictures of people standing there defending their lives and defending their property and their family,&quot; he added, &quot;where the one source of comfort was a firearm.&quot; With support from four new Republicans this session of Congress, the bill passed the Senate for the first time in July. House passage never was in doubt because it had 257 co-sponsors, far more than the 218 needed to pass. The bill's authors say it still would allow civil suits against individual parties who have been found guilty of criminal wrongdoing by the courts. Opponents say the strength of the bill's support is testament to the influence of the gun lobby. If the bill had been law when the relatives of six victims of convicted Washington-area snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo sued the gun dealer from which they obtained their rifle, the dealer would not have agreed to pay the families and victims $2.5 million. &quot;It is shameful that Republicans in Congress are pushing legislation that guarantees their gun-dealing cronies receive special treatment and are above the law,&quot; said Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Calif. Bush has said he supports the bill, which would prohibit lawsuits against the firearms industry for damages resulting from the unlawful use of a firearm or ammunition. Gun makers and dealers still would be subject to product liability, negligence or breach of contract suits, the bill's authors say. Democrats and Republicans alike court the NRA at election time, and the bill has garnered bipartisan support. But the firearms industry still gave 88 percent of its campaign contributions, or $1.2 million, to Republicans in the 2004 election cycle. Gun control advocates, meanwhile, gave 98 percent of their contributions, or $93,700, to Democrats that cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. ------ The bill is S. 397. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112982866785072442/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112982866785072442' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112982866785072442'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112982866785072442'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/gop-big-business-over-average-citizens.html' title='GOP: Big Business Over Average Citizens (Again)'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112965378690078375</id><published>2005-10-18T11:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T11:43:06.920-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Freedom Is Not Free</title><content type='html'><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5775/63/1600/TS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5775/63/320/TS.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112965378690078375/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112965378690078375' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965378690078375'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965378690078375'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/freedom-is-not-free.html' title='Freedom Is Not Free'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112965117605515525</id><published>2005-10-18T10:59:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T10:59:36.056-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote Of The Day</title><content type='html'> Naturally, the common people don't want war, but they can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. Tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and endangering the country. It works the same in every country. --Herman Goering </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112965117605515525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112965117605515525' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965117605515525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965117605515525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/quote-of-day_18.html' title='Quote Of The Day'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112965085384082624</id><published>2005-10-18T10:54:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T10:54:13.853-05:00</updated><title type='text'>DeLay Turned Down Deal</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/17/delay.indictment.ap/index.html">CNN</A>: A Texas prosecutor tried to persuade Rep. Tom DeLay to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and save his job as majority leader but DeLay refused, the congressman's attorney said Monday. Dick DeGuerin described such an effort in a letter to the prosecutor in the case, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. DeLay has been indicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges in a Texas campaign finance investigation, both felonies. He was obligated to step aside under House Republican rules. &quot;Before the first indictment you tried to coerce a guilty plea from Tom DeLay for a misdemeanor, stating the alternative was indictment for a felony which would require his stepping down as majority leader of the United States House of Representatives,&quot; DeGuerin wrote. &quot;He turned you down flat so you had him indicted, in spite of advice from others in your office that Tom DeLay had not committed any crime,&quot; the lawyer contended. Earle had no immediate comment. In a series of filings prior to DeLay's first scheduled court appearance Friday, DeGuerin asked for: A speedy trial, because the indictments &quot;have already had adverse collateral consequences including the temporary loss of Tom DeLay's leadership position in the United States Congress and an unknown effect on the upcoming (March 2006) primary election.&quot; Dismissal of the indictments because, he contended, they failed to allege any act or omission by DeLay and improperly joined two offenses. Separation of DeLay's case from that of two political associates, because DeLay wants a speedy trial while the associates are pursuing appeals that would delay their cases.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112965085384082624/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112965085384082624' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965085384082624'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965085384082624'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/delay-turned-down-deal.html' title='DeLay Turned Down Deal'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112965061000367816</id><published>2005-10-18T10:50:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-18T10:50:10.050-05:00</updated><title type='text'>DeLay To Be Booked This Week</title><content type='html'> From <A HREF="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20051017/D8D9UAAG7.html">My Way</A>: Rep. Tom DeLay will likely be booked in a Texas county jail this week despite attempts by his attorneys to bypass the fingerprinting and mug shot process. The former House majority leader was forced to step down from the post last month when he was indicted by a Texas grand jury. DeLay initially was charged with conspiracy to violate the election code and days later was indicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to launder money in an alleged illegal scheme to funnel corporate money to Republican Texas legislative candidates. DeLay's arraignment is set for Friday before state district Judge Bob Perkins in Travis County, Texas. &quot;Perkins believes that if God was charged with a felony, he would have to go through the booking process, too,&quot; said D'Ann Underwood, court coordinator for the judge. Before Friday, DeLay, a Republican from Sugar Land, Texas, will likely spend about an hour being fingerprinted and photographed, she said. He'll also be required to state his attorneys for the record. Travis County allows some defendants to do a &quot;walkthrough&quot; booking process, in which the defendant is photographed and fingerprinted. But DeLay's bond amount would be preset so he could immediately pay it and avoid a stay in jail. DeLay also could waive going before a magistrate to have his rights and charges read to him. At Friday's court appearance, Perkins has the discretion to rule on motions to dismiss the charges, as requested by defense attorneys, but may elect to do so at a later date. The hearing will likely take less than 20 minutes, Underwood said. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112965061000367816/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112965061000367816' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965061000367816'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112965061000367816'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/delay-to-be-booked-this-week.html' title='DeLay To Be Booked This Week'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112930942769744859</id><published>2005-10-14T12:03:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-14T12:03:47.710-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Quote Of The Day</title><content type='html'>The welfare of the people in particular has always been the alibi of tyrants, and it provides the further advantage of giving the servants of tyranny a good conscience.-- Albert Camus</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112930942769744859/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112930942769744859' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112930942769744859'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112930942769744859'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/quote-of-day_14.html' title='Quote Of The Day'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112930853779579584</id><published>2005-10-14T11:48:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-14T11:48:57.803-05:00</updated><title type='text'>House of Saud Still Full of BS</title><content type='html'>&nbsp;It&rsquo;s interesting that the United States continues to fund both sides of the &ldquo;War on Terrorism&rdquo;.&nbsp; One the one side, we send large amounts of military hardware to Saudi Arabia to prop up a regime that continues to turn out citizens whose sole purpose ends up being the destruction of our way of life.&nbsp; Despite what the House of Saud might say publicly, it is well documented that their country is one of the largest terrorist creating machines in the world.&nbsp; It also directly and indirectly (many times by simply turning a blind eye) bankrolls organizations opposed to the United States on an unprecedented scale.<?xml:namespace prefix ="" o /><o:p></o:p>On the other side of the coin the United States government pours billions of dollars annually into fighting the very terrorists created by the government of Saudi Arabia, which as I stated before, we help prop up.<o:p></o:p>It&rsquo;s a great racket.&nbsp; Sell billions of dollars of military hardware to&nbsp;the government that supports your vowed enemy.&nbsp; Then, buy billions of dollars of hardware for your own military from huge defense contractors to fight the very enemy you are indirectly creating.<o:p></o:p>It&rsquo;s the perfect circle.&nbsp; A self-fulfilling prophecy, so to speak.From <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/14/D8D7QSTG0.html">Breitbart</a>: The king of Saudi Arabia says women may eventually be allowed to drive in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia will fight the "madness" of Islamic terrorism for 30 years if necessary, but it will expand the rights of women and eventually allow them to drive, Saudi King Abdullah has told an American TV channel. In an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters, the king denied assertions that his government finances schools that teach a fundamentalist philosophy of Islam which can lead to militancy. Saudi Arabia "will fight the terrorists, and those who support them or condone their actions, for 10, 20 or 30 years if we have to, until we eliminate this scourge," the king said, according to an ABC report of the interview which is due to be broadcast on Friday night. When asked why groups such as al-Qaida, the terror network led by the Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, had taken root in the kingdom, the king replied: "Madness and evil, it is the work of the devil." Foreign observers and liberal Saudis have long contended that the way Islam is taught in Saudi schools encourages attitudes that may lead students to become terrorists later. "For those who level these charges against us, I say provide us with the evidence that this is happening and we will deal with it," the king said. "It is not logical or rational for us to be supporting it. "We have also regulated our charities and we have closed offices around the world, and we have withdrawn support for institutions that we found to be extremist," he added. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, the kingdom took steps to prevent money collected by Islamic charities from being diverted to terrorist groups. The kingdom was initially faulted for being slow to clamp down on militants and their financing, but it drastically stepped up its measures after al-Qaida-linked groups launched a series of terror attacks on Saudi soil in May 2003. Abdullah, who became king on the death of his half-brother Fahd in August, told ABC that he was committed to increasing the rights of Saudi women, who are currently not permitted to drive cars and who need a male relative's permission to travel abroad or attend university. "I believe the day will come when women drive," he said. "In fact, if you look at the areas in Saudi Arabia, the deserts and in the rural areas, you will find that women do drive. Driving licenses for women "will require patience. In time, I believe it will be possible," the king said in the ABC report, which was posted on the Internet. But when pressed on whether he would legalize female driving, Abdullah indicated Saudi men were too conservative for such a step any time soon. "I value and take care of my people as I would my eyes ... I respect my people," he said. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112930853779579584/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112930853779579584' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112930853779579584'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112930853779579584'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/house-of-saud-still-full-of-bs.html' title='House of Saud Still Full of BS'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112922686981756124</id><published>2005-10-13T13:07:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-13T13:07:49.876-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Bush's "Impromptu" Teleconference</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/">Think Progress</a>: Earlier today, President Bush held an &ldquo;impromptu&rdquo; <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/13/bush-photo-op/">public teleconference</a> with a group of U.S. soldiers based in Tikrit, Iraq. Pentagon communications aide Allison Barber &ldquo;<a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N13627152.htm">insisted the questions were not rehearsed</a>. The military had been told ahead of time only about topics the president might want to talk about, not specific questions. &lsquo;We just knew broad themes,&rsquo; Barber said.&rdquo;Yet reporters could clearly hear White House handlers, including Barber herself, <a href="http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2005/10/wh_pool_report.html">prepping the troops</a> for President Bush&rsquo;s photo-op:<blockquote>WH Pooler Geoff Earle of the New York Post writes of the teleconference: &ldquo;The soldiers, nine U.S. men and one U.S. woman, plus an Iraqi, had been tipped off in advance about the questions in the highly scripted event. Allison Barber, deputy assistant to the Secretary of Defense for internal communication, could be heard asking one soldier before the start of the event, &ldquo;Who are we going to give that [question] to?&rdquo;</blockquote>Also, <a href="http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/hotline/h051013.htm">Hotline</a> (sub. req&rsquo;d) has published this transcript of pool footage featuring a Bush aide &ldquo;who was, in her own words, &rsquo;scripting&rsquo; the soldiers shortly before their &lsquo;conversation&rsquo; with Bush&rdquo;:<blockquote>WH aide: &ldquo;Capt. Kennedy are you ready?&rdquo; Kennedy: &ldquo;I am ready, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo; WH aide: &ldquo;Okay this is for the money. We are going to time this and remember that if the president cuts it short, if he asks more questions, if you have the microphone and he follows up with a question to you, no matter who has it, Captain Pratt if you have the microphone and the president hears something and he wants more information, you just keep that microphone and talk to the president.&rdquo; Kennedy: &ldquo;Okay.&rdquo; WH aide: &ldquo;But if he gives us a question that is not something that we have scripted Captain Kennedy you are going to have the mic and that&rsquo;s your chance to impress us all.&rdquo; Kennedy: &ldquo;Okay.&rdquo; WH aide: &ldquo;Which won&rsquo;t be a problem for you.&rdquo;</blockquote></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112922686981756124/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112922686981756124' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922686981756124'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922686981756124'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/bushs-impromptu-teleconference.html' title='Bush's "Impromptu" Teleconference'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112922536413623632</id><published>2005-10-13T12:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-13T12:42:44.156-05:00</updated><title type='text'>SEC Subpoenas Frist</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101202286_pf.html">The Washington Post</a>: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has been subpoenaed to turn over personal records and documents as federal authorities step up a probe of his July sales of HCA Inc. stock, according to sources familiar with the investigation.The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the subpoena within the past two weeks, after initial reports that Frist, the Senate's top Republican official, was under scrutiny by the agency and the Justice Department for possible violations of insider trading laws.Frist aides previously said he had been contacted by regulators but did not mention that the lawmaker had received a formal request for documents. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the investigation, said Frist is expected to testify under oath about what he knew about the company's health in the weeks before he sold stock. Frist has told reporters that he did nothing wrong and that he directed the sale to eliminate potential conflicts as he considered a 2008 presidential bid.The formal request for documents usually presages an acceleration of a federal probe. In Frist's case, regulators had to proceed with caution due to his status in Congress and their mutual desire to avoid triggering constitutional objections to the release of documents. The disclosure of the subpoena comes as Democrats blasted Frist anew for his financial and personal ties to Hospital Corporation of America, a Nashville chain founded in 1968 by his father and his brother, Thomas Frist Jr. Critics yesterday seized on a report that Frist held a substantial amount of his family's hospital stock outside of blind trusts between 1998 and 2002 -- a time when he asserted he did not know how much of the stock he owned.The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Frist earned tens of thousands of dollars from HCA stock in a partnership controlled by his brother, outside of the blind trusts he created to avoid a conflict of interest."It seems that for years, Frist may have misled his constituents and the American people about his health care industry stock holdings and the conflict of interest they created as he drafted our nation's health care policy," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "This deal raises even more questions about the Republican culture of corruption in Washington, D.C."During his decade in the Senate, Frist has been active in shaping health care policy, including creation of a Medicare prescription drug benefit.Republican ethics lawyer Jan W. Baran also scored Frist for his handling of his trusts. "This shows Senator Frist's capacity for clumsiness and bad timing," Baran said. "He was trying to insulate himself from political charges and now finds himself trying to defend himself because of the transparency of his holdings."The subpoena for documents related to the July stock sales was written carefully to avoid asking for documents related directly to Frist's legislative actions, according to sources. By keeping the request focused on his personal activities, experts said, the SEC avoided raising objections from Senate lawyers who might otherwise have fought the request on the grounds of constitutional separation of powers.The wording in the subpoena also ensured that Frist did not have to tell colleagues about the document request or to otherwise involve them in the investigation, congressional aides said.The executive branch is prohibited from seeking documents or testimony that relate to "legislative acts and the motivation for the performance of legislative acts," said Kenneth Gross of Skadden Arps, an ethics law expert. The ban is part of what is called the Constitution's "speech and debate" clause, which insulates Congress from unwarranted intrusions by the executive branch of government. Writing a subpoena that does not run afoul of the clause -- and also possibly trigger a public disclosure of the subpoena -- required careful work."There are some gray areas, clearly, and it could be tricky," said Baran, of Wiley Rein &amp; Fielding. Members of the House of Representatives must disclose to the full House when they are subpoenaed. The Senate has its own rules that sometimes require the body to deal with subpoenas, experts say, but the Frist subpoena apparently has not triggered any of them.A spokesman for Frist said yesterday: "As we have indicated, Senator Frist has been fully cooperating with the authorities conducting the inquiries and will continue to do so, including keeping our public comments to a minimum. The issuance of a subpoena would be an expected and normal part of that process."Within days of Frist's July stock sale, HCA warned investors about weaker-than-expected financial performance, which sent the stock price spiraling downward by 9 percent in one day. Frist may have begun the process of selling the stock April 29, months before the company's troubles were clear, according to e-mail messages between the Tennessee Republican, his chief counsel and his personal accountant that were reviewed by The Washington Post.Former SEC enforcement chief and retired federal judge Stanley Sporkin said the agency has a "rich history" of probing officials at the highest level -- from Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to Carter administration budget chief Bert Lance.SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, a former House GOP member from California, has removed himself from hearing evidence on or voting on the case, citing his ties to Frist.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112922536413623632/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112922536413623632' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922536413623632'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922536413623632'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/sec-subpoenas-frist.html' title='SEC Subpoenas Frist'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112922444699331463</id><published>2005-10-13T12:27:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-13T12:27:27.096-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Islamic Somalia?</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apafrica_story.asp?category=1105&amp;slug=Somalia%20Militant%20Leader">The Seattle PI</a>: An influential religious leader and alleged al-Qaida collaborator vowed in an interview Wednesday to establish an Islamic state in Somalia, a lawless Horn of Africa nation the United States fears could grow into a major base for Islamic terrorists."The Western world should respect our own ideas in choosing the way we want to govern our country, the way we want to go about our own business. That is our right," said Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, a key figure in a growing religious camp vying with secular factions for control of Somalia.Despite peace talks and the formation last year of a transitional government, Somalia remains a patchwork of heavily armed clan fiefdoms - with no government to provide such basics as schools, hospitals, phone service, even traffic lights.Earlier this year, the parliament and Cabinet split into two factions. As a result, fundamentalists offering Islam as a solution have drawn support in Somalia, and there are concerns that Awey's followers poses a military threat to the transitional government.The United States linked Aweys to al-Qaida shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Last week, the United Nations reported that he was arming hundreds of men to keep the Western-backed transitional government from taking power after years of clan fighting.<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><script language="JavaScript"></script></td></tr></tbody></table>U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern that Somalia, which has not had a central government since&nbsp;warlords ousted dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1992, could become an Islamic terrorist haven. Investigations have shown that terrorist attacks on Kenyan soil in 1998 and 2002 were launched from Somalia.In a report earlier this year, the International Crisis Group, a Belgian-based think tank, said the threat of terrorism inspired by an extremist interpretation of Islam "in and from Somalia is real" and identified Aweys as an important Islamist leader.Speaking by telephone from a mosque in northern Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, Aweys told The Associated Press Wednesday that his enemies invented allegations he is a terrorist and that non-Muslims too often think that all fundamentalist Muslims are terrorists."I would advise the Western world to change their mind, because all of the time they call the Islamic countries, the Islamic people, terrorists, which is not true," he said. "That is one of the things that has been pulling Islamists and the Western world apart.He said he and his followers, who include armed militiamen, would not rest until they had established an Islamic government in Somalia. He said he opposed efforts to install a Western-style democracy and called for the international community to leave Somalis alone to choose their own future.Aweys said he would wage holy war on any foreign forces that enter Somalia and that he plans to have an important role in the country's future."I can influence all of my people with the faith and our religion," Aweys said. "The existing government is not an Islamic one and we will be having our own Islamic faith and we will be very strong in influencing our people."Aweys did not answer directly when asked whether he has ever had contact with al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden or whether he has been accepting funding and weapons from Eritrea, neighboring Ethiopia's longtime rival. But he said he has the right to make contact with and have relations with anyone he wants.Aweys co-founded the Islamic group al-Itihaad al-Islamiya in the early 1990s. The United States alleges that during this time Aweys made contact with bin Laden, then living in Sudan.Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, an old enemy of Aweys, sent troops into Somalia to stop al-Itihaad. Al-Itihaad's armed wing was destroyed, but the group's founders continued to lead mosques and teach in religious schools.Aweys said al-Itihaad doesn't exist anymore and he now leads a political party, the Somali Salvation and Unity Council. In recent years, Aweys said he has helped form Islamic courts to provide security for civilians and to sort out disputes in the absence of a government.These courts have recently begun using armed militias to enforce their rulings and Aweys has become an important religious and political leader.In September, U.N. experts monitoring an arms embargo on Somalia reported that Islamic hard-liners, including Aweys, were importing high explosives, mines, hand and rifle-fired grenades, anti-tank weapons and ammunition and anti-aircraft guns and ammunition.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112922444699331463/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112922444699331463' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922444699331463'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112922444699331463'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/islamic-somalia.html' title='Islamic Somalia?'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112915356450852053</id><published>2005-10-12T16:46:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T16:46:04.606-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Senator Luger Screws Bloggers</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051012-5421.html">ars technica</a>: Senator Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.) recently <a href="http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001263585">revealed</a> that so-called bloggers would "probably not" be considered journalists by the Free Flow of Information Act of 2005, which will include provisions detailing "shield law" protections for journalists. In effect, this could mean that it will be open season on those pesky bloggers once this bill passes.<blockquote>According to the first draft of the Free Flow of Information Act of 2005, the "covered person" protected by the bill's terms includes "any entity that disseminates information by print, broadcast, cable, satellite, mechanical, photographic, electronic, or other means and that publishes a newspaper, book, magazine, or other periodical in print or electronic form; operates a radio or television station (or network of such stations), cable system, or satellite carrier, or channel or programming service for any such station, network, system, or carrier; or operates a news agency or wire service." The legislation also covers employees, contractors or other persons who "gathers, edits, photographs, records, prepares, or disseminates news or information for any such entity."</blockquote>Lugar did say that he expects plenty of debate on the matter, but added "Are bloggers journalists or some of the commercial businesses that you here would probably not consider real journalists? Probably not, but how do you determine who will be included in this bill?"The debate is nothing new; <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050409-4793.html">I raised this issue back in April</a> with regards to the definition of "blog," although some "bloggers" took offense at my suggestion that it was not clear just what a blog is. Make no mistake about it: in Big Media circles, confusion reigns supreme. How can that be, you ask? It's simple. There is no "journalist certification," no "entrance exam," no "licensing test"&mdash;in short, there's no true definition. It's not like real estate, where one is either a realtor or one is not. One could point to collegiate "journalism" or "communications" degrees, but then a problem arises when so many journalists&mdash;some would say the majority&mdash;lack such a degrees. It doesn't help that at many schools, the degrees are fluff: at a certain unnamed school, "communications" is just a synonym for "what the athletes study." I've heard it's like this at more than one school, too.And I have to ask: why does, for example, someone writing for CNet deserve protection while a "blogger" does not? Take this <a href="http://news.com.com/Dizzying+Intel+chip+choices/2100-1041_3-5893315.html">rather sensationalizing article at CNet</a>. They saw a private Intel roadmap and spun it into a story about "golly gee that's a lot of chips!". Were Intel to object, they'd likely be safe. But what about Fred's Page of CPU Madness (hypothetical site)? Why does a private roadmap in the hands of one "journalist" rate as OK, while in the hands of a blogger, it's not?Lest I fall into the trap of demagoguery, there is a difference to contemplate. How are we to know, in our hypothetical example, if Fred's Page of CPU Madness isn't run by an Intel employee or partner with direct access to the information in question? I don't think this is a "screw the Man" scenario; there are real, tangible concerns when it comes to issues of propriety. Still, I don't think professional journalism conquers these issues by design. Rather, most media shops have a least a decent understanding of their writers' backgrounds, which in theory normally precludes Joe Journalist from having a secret job with Intel, for instance (of course, this doesn't speak to the issue of leaks, sources, etc., but the point should be clear enough).The reason all of this matters, of course, is because it is essential that journalists receive special protections to ensure them freedom of the press. The <a href="http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050214-4613.html">case of ThinkSecret</a> et alia comes to mind (although that problem largely looks solved now, as TS has managed to report several conflicting rumors relating to today's big Apple event in the span of a week&mdash;one could say that they give all insanity equal billing). Sayeth Dick Lugar:<blockquote>"I think, very frankly, you can make a case that this is a special boon for reporters, and certainly for their role in freedom of the press," he said. "At the end of the day what we will come out with says there is something privileged about being a reporter, and being able to report on something without being thrown into jail."</blockquote>In all of this talk of privilege, there is a mounting fear in some journalism circles that the federal government may want to leverage this "privilege" with a federal licensing program of sorts, which is enough to make some people twitch. How else will this dilemma be solved? And two demerits to the person who pops up and says, "false dilemma!"</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112915356450852053/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112915356450852053' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915356450852053'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915356450852053'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/senator-luger-screws-bloggers.html' title='Senator Luger Screws Bloggers'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112915096681643754</id><published>2005-10-12T16:02:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T16:02:46.856-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Highlights of Captured Al-Qaida Letter</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/12/D8D6GP801.html">Bretibart</a>: In a letter to his top deputy in Iraq, al-Qaida's No. 2 leader said the United States "ran and left their agents" in Vietnam and the jihadists must have a plan ready to fill the void if the Americans suddenly leave Iraq. "Things may develop faster than we imagine," Ayman al-Zawahri wrote in a letter to his top deputy in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. "The aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam _ and how they ran and left their agents _ is noteworthy. ... We must be ready starting now." Senior U.S. military commanders have said that Iraqi security forces are improving significantly and some U.S. forces could return home early next year. Yet skeptics have raised concerns about whether such statements simply let the insurgency know how long they must wait for the U.S. to leave. In a letter taking up 13 typed pages in its English translation, al- Zawahri also recommended a four-stage expansion of the war that would take the fighting to neighboring Muslim countries. "It has always been my belief that the victory of Islam will never take place until a Muslim state is established ... in the heart of the Islamic world," al-Zawahri wrote. The letter laid out his long-term plan: expel the Americans from Iraq, establish an Islamic authority and take the war to Iraq's secular neighbors, including Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. The final stage, al-Zawahri wrote, would be a clash with Israel, which he said was established to challenge "any new Islamic entity." The letter is dated July 9, and was acquired during U.S. operations in Iraq. It was written in Arabic and translated by the U.S. government. The Pentagon briefed reporters last week on portions of the document, but the full text was not available until Tuesday. In a statement, the National Intelligence Director's office said the letter "has not been edited in any way" and its contents were released only after it was clear no military or intelligence operations would be compromised. House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., said his committee is reviewing the letter, but he cautioned "against reading too much into a single source of intelligence." In his letter, al-Zawahri, a Sunni, devoted significant attention to al-Zarqawi's attempts to start a civil war with the rival Muslim Shiite sect, the majority that now dominates the new Iraqi government. Ultimately, al-Zawahri concluded that violence, particularly against Shiite mosques, only raises questions among Muslims. "This matter won't be acceptable to the Muslim populace however much you have tried to explain it, and aversion to this will continue," he wrote. Al-Zawahri was also critical of the Taliban, which was toppled in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, because, he said, they did not have the representation of the Afghan people. He said students of the Taliban retreated to their tribes. "Even the devout ones took the stance of spectator," al-Zawahri wrote. Contrasting that, he saw fearlessness in battles waged in the Iraqi cities of Fallujah, Ramadi and Al Qaim. At times, the letter got personal. Al-Zawahri said he tasted the bitterness of America's brutality, noting that his "favorite wife's chest was crushed by a concrete ceiling" during an apparent U.S. attack. His daughter died of a cerebral hemorrhage. To this day, he wrote, he did not know the location of their graves. The letter then switches to the court of public opinion. "More than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media," he wrote. "We are in a media battle in a race for the hearts and minds of our umma," or community of Muslims, he wrote. The line is an apparent reference to a phrase _ "hearts and minds" _ often used by President Bush. ___ On the Net: Read the full letter in English or Arabic on the national intelligence director's Web site: <a href="http://www.dni.gov/release_letter_101105.html">http://www.dni.gov/release_letter_101105.html</a> </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112915096681643754/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112915096681643754' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915096681643754'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915096681643754'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/highlights-of-captured-al-qaida-letter.html' title='Highlights of Captured Al-Qaida Letter'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112915037845290376</id><published>2005-10-12T15:52:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T15:52:58.556-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Bush Nominee Chosen On Basis of Religion</title><content type='html'>Gee, here is a news flash I never saw coming.&nbsp; Thank you Captain Obvious.From <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/12/miers.ap/index.html">CNN</a>:President Bush said Wednesday his advisers were telling conservatives about Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers' religious beliefs because they are interested in her background and "part of Harriet Miers' life is her religion.""People are interested to know why I picked Harriet Miers," Bush told reporters at the White House. "They want to know Harriet Miers' background. They want to know as much as they possibly can before they form opinions. And part of Harriet Miers' life is her religion."Bush, speaking at the conclusion of an Oval Office meeting with visiting Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, said that his advisers were reaching out to conservatives who oppose her nomination "just to explain the facts."He spoke on a day in which conservative James Dobson, founder of Focus on Family, said he had discussed the nominee's religious views with presidential aide Karl Rove.<a name="1"></a><a name="rv3"></a><h3>Continuing controversy</h3>Not even a congressional recess nor Bush's preoccupation with hurricane recovery and affairs of state have shrouded the continuing controversy surrounding his selection of Miers to replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Debate about Miers' credentials was prominent on the Sunday television talk shows and has continued to occupy considerable attention on the Internet.Some of Bush's conservative critics say Miers has no judicial record that proves she will strictly interpret the Constitution and not -- as Bush says -- "legislate from the bench." They argue that Bush passed up other more qualified candidates to nominate someone from his inner circle.Miers is Bush's second pick for the court. He chose John Roberts for the bench, initially to succeed O'Connor but then gave Roberts the nod for chief justice when William H. Rehnquist died. Roberts was confirmed by the Senate on a vote of 78-22.<a name="2"></a><a name="rv2"></a><h3>Dobson: No assurances</h3>On a radio show being broadcast Wednesday, Dobson said he discussed Miers with Rove on October 1, two days before her nomination was announced. Dobson said Rove told him "she is from a very conservative church, which is almost universally pro-life," but denied he had gotten any assurances from the White House that she would vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said: "The rest of America, including the Senate, deserves to know what he and the White House know.""We don't confirm justices of the Supreme Court on a wink and a nod. And a litmus test is no less a litmus test by using whispers and signals," the Vermont senator said. "No political faction should be given a monopoly of relevant knowledge about a nomination, just as no faction should be permitted to hound a nominee to withdraw, before the hearing process has even begun."Earlier Wednesday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales asserted that Miers would bring "a unique brand of experience" to the high court and that the concerns of critics would be eased once more is known about her.Gonzales, himself once considered a leading candidate for a Supreme Court vacancy, said there is "nothing unique or earth shattering" about Miers' nomination and said people should give her time to say who she is and what she believes.<a name="3"></a><a name="rv1"></a><h3>Prospective nominees withdraw</h3>Also, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan acknowledged there were some prospective candidates who told the White House they preferred not to be considered, citing the ordeal of the confirmation process."Washington scares people away? Is that new?" McClellan asked. "There are plenty of good people willing to be considered. The president found the best person."McClellan later said that "it was just a couple of people" who asked that their names be withdrawn, and it happened when the field of candidates was "in the double digits." He declined to say whether "a couple" meant just two -- or more.Asked why Rove would have discussed Miers' religious views if the president ascribes to a conservative judicial philosophy that backs a strict interpretation of the Constitution regardless of one's views on various issues, McClellan said it was just part of an "outreach" to help people get to know Miers."What we have seen so far," Leahy said, "is more of a commentary on the litmus tests and narrow motivations of vocal factions on the Republican right than it is a commentary on the qualifications of Harriet Miers."</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112915037845290376/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112915037845290376' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915037845290376'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112915037845290376'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/bush-nominee-chosen-on-basis-of.html' title='Bush Nominee Chosen On Basis of Religion'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112914479025171500</id><published>2005-10-12T14:19:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T14:19:50.363-05:00</updated><title type='text'>DeLay Attempts To Turn The Tables</title><content type='html'>&nbsp;From <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/12/delay.prosecutor.ap/index.html">CNN</a>: Indicted Rep. Tom DeLay's attorneys are trying to compel testimony by prosecutors on their contacts with grand jurors, sending subpoenas to the Texas district attorney who normally issues them.DeLay's defense team reversed the normal direction of subpoenas in their strategy to have the charges dismissed before trial. The lawyers contend that the Travis County district attorney, Ronnie Earle, acted improperly with two grand juries that filed charges and one that refused to do so.DeLay, R-Texas, was obligated to temporarily step aside as House majority leader when charged with conspiracy and money laundering in a state campaign finance investigation led by Earle. DeLay has denied any wrongdoing.Defense attorney Dick DeGuerin said that Earle refused the subpoena delivered to his office on Tuesday, when he declined to sign a paper acknowledging its delivery. Earle countered that he voluntarily accepted it.DeGuerin wants Earle and two of his assistants to testify, and said he would redeliver subpoenas Wednesday. Earle responded that redelivery wasn't necessary."It was not a properly prepared subpoena but we accepted service voluntarily anyway," the prosecutor said. He refused to say whether he would file a motion to have his subpoena dismissed.DeGuerin also asked that grand jurors be released from their secrecy oath so they could answer questions about the prosecutor's conduct.Earle's office said in a written statement, "Because of laws protecting grand jury secrecy, there are limitations to what we can say at this time, but we fully expect to prevail in this matter."<a name="1"></a><a name="rv2"></a><h3>Focus on conversation</h3>DeGuerin wants Earle to answer 12 questions about conversations he had with grand jurors, including whether the prosecutor became angry when a grand jury decided against an indictment of DeLay and why that decision was not publicly released.He also wants to know the details of Earle's conversation with William Gibson, foreman of a grand jury that indicted DeLay on conspiracy charges, whose term has since ended."If you did nothing improper, you should not be concerned about answering these questions," DeGuerin said in his letter to Earle.The first of three grand juries said DeLay and two political associates conspired to violate Texas election laws; the second declined to indict, and the third accused DeLay of money laundering.All the charges were related to allegations that corporate money was funneled to Texas legislative candidates in violation of state law. The donations helped Republicans capture the Texas legislature, redraw congressional districts with DeLay's help and take control of the state's congressional delegation.In a motion filed last week, the defense team said that from September 29 through October 3, Earle and his staff "unlawfully participated in grand jury deliberations and attempted to browbeat and coerce" the grand jury that refused to indict DeLay.<a name="2"></a><a name="rv1"></a><h3>Foreman 'incited'</h3>The motion said Earle then attempted to cover up and delay public disclosure of the refusal, and also "incited" the foreman of the first grand jury to violate grand jury secrecy by talking publicly about the case -- in an effort to influence grand jurors still sitting.The foreman, William Gibson, gave media interviews after the grand jury finished its work but told The Associated Press that Earle did not ask him to discuss the case."That's a bunch of (expletive) there," Gibson said. "That man did not talk to me."He said Earle advised him and other grand jurors to keep an open mind as they considered evidence and cautioned them, "What goes on behind closed doors is secret."The lawyers said Earle then spoke about the case with members of the first grand jury, whose work was finished, to get their opinion of what they might have done if they had known their conspiracy indictment was flawed -- as defense attorneys alleged.Earle then submitted the grand jury opinions to the third grand jury to persuade it to hand down the money laundering indictment, the defense team contended.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112914479025171500/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112914479025171500' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914479025171500'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914479025171500'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/delay-attempts-to-turn-tables.html' title='DeLay Attempts To Turn The Tables'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112914109610972552</id><published>2005-10-12T13:18:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T13:18:16.376-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Georgia Tech Bombing Follow-up</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&amp;slug=Dorms%20Evacuated">SeattlePI</a>: A Georgia Tech freshman has been arrested after confessing to making a bottle bomb that exploded in a campus courtyard and led to the evacuation of two dormitories, authorities said.Theodore Hollot, 18, came forward Tuesday and told police that he had made several bombs in his room and tossed them into a courtyard near his dorm.The engineering major was charged with possession of destructive devices and reckless conduct, said Amelia Gambino, a spokeswoman for university police.Hollot was placed on interim suspension and faces a disciplinary hearing, Gambino said.About 100 students were evacuated from two residence halls Monday morning after a janitor picking up trash in the courtyard pulled out a bottle from the bushes and it exploded. The janitor was taken to a medical clinic for evaluation but suffered no serious injuries, Gambino said.Two more bottles were found and detonated by Atlanta police. Gambino said Hollot told police that he threw as many as 12 from his room but retrieved the others after the commotion caused Monday, when he was in class.Gambino said investigators were still trying to determine what made the bottle explode.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112914109610972552/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112914109610972552' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914109610972552'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914109610972552'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/georgia-tech-bombing-follow-up.html' title='Georgia Tech Bombing Follow-up'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112914065561565706</id><published>2005-10-12T12:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T13:11:33.913-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Remembering the USS Cole</title><content type='html'><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5775/63/1600/Coleseal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5775/63/320/Coleseal.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>
Today is the fifth anniversary of the attack on the <a href="http://www.cole.navy.mil/">USS Cole (DDG-67)</a>. I think it is important for everyone to reflect on that day, and give thanks to the <a href="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/usscole-main.htm">17 sailors</a> who lost their lives that day. As a former sailor, being reminded of this hits me preatty hard today. Let us resolve to never forget these fallen heros, and their sacrafice.
Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Luis Gunn, Rex, Georgia.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Norfolk, Virginia.
Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer, San Diego, California.
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Ringgold, Virginia.
Ensign Andrew Triplett, Macon, Mississippi.
Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan Wibberley, Williamsport, Maryland.
Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Woodleaf, North Carolina.
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Rice, Texas
Engineman 2nd Class Mark Ian Nieto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Scott Owens, Vero Beach, Florida.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Churchville, Maryland.
Fireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy, Cornwall on Hudson, New York.
Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Portland, North Dakota.
Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Mananga Santiago, Kingsville, Texas
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., Rockport, Texas</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112914065561565706/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112914065561565706' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914065561565706'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112914065561565706'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/remembering-uss-cole.html' title='Remembering the USS Cole'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13545614.post-112913758278444651</id><published>2005-10-12T12:19:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-10-12T12:19:42.910-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Plamegate Leak Investigation Broadens?</title><content type='html'>From <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/12/boader-conspiracy/">Think Progress:</a> The WSJ reports that Patrick Fitzgerald&rsquo;s investigation has <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112907415441266084.html?mod=politics_primary_hs">zeroed in on the White House Iraq Group</a> (WHIG):<blockquote>Mr. Fitzgerald&rsquo;s pursuit now suggests he might be investigating not a narrow case on the leaking of the agent&rsquo;s name, but perhaps a broader conspiracy&hellip;Lawyers familiar with the investigation believe that at least part of the outcome likely hangs on the inner workings of what has been dubbed the White House Iraq Group. Formed in August 2002, the group, which included Messrs. Rove and Libby, worked on setting strategy for selling the war in Iraq to the public in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion. The group likely would have played a significant role in responding to Mr. Wilson&rsquo;s claims.</blockquote>It sounds plausible, especially considering how much we already know about the involvements of members of WHIG:<blockquote>Chief of Staff to Vice President Cheney Scooter Libby: Visited the CIA to press them for information about uranium sales to Iraq. Helped prepare CIA director George Tenet&rsquo;s response to criticism about faulty intelligence included in the President&rsquo;s State of the Union address. Spoke with Time reporter Matt Cooper and New York Times reporter Judith Miller about Valerie Wilson&rsquo;s role at the CIA. Testified before the grand jury. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#libby">Link</a>]National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley: Received an email from Rove about his conversation with Matt Cooper. Was warned by the CIA not the cite uranium evidence. Helped prepare CIA director George Tenet&rsquo;s response to criticism about faulty intelligence included in the President&rsquo;s State of the Union address. Believed to have been questioned by special prosecutor. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#hadley">Link</a>]Chief of Staff Andrew Card: Received 12-hour head start on Justice Department investigation. Was on Air Force one with State Department memo describing Valerie Wilson&rsquo;s role at CIA. Initiated conversation between Tenet and Bush about investigation. Believed to have been questioned by special prosecutor. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#card">Link</a>]</blockquote><blockquote>Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove: Spoke with Time reporter Matt Cooper and columnist Robert Novak about Valerie Wilson&rsquo;s role at the CIA. Helped prepare CIA director George Tenet&rsquo;s response to criticism about faulty intelligence included in the President&rsquo;s State of the Union address. Testified before the grand jury. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#rove">Link</a>]Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: In July 2003 received a briefing book that may have contained a State Department memo discussing Valerie Wilson&rsquo;s role at the CIA. Appeared on Sunday shows to &ldquo;protect Cheney by explaining that he had had nothing to do with sending Wilson to Niger, and dismiss the yellowcake issue.&rdquo; Questioned by special prosecutor. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#rice">Link</a>]Senior Advisor Mary Matalin: Worked closely with Vice-President Cheney. Testified before grand jury. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#matalin">Link</a>]Communications Director Dan Bartlett: Was on Air Force one with State Department memo describing Valerie Wilson&rsquo;s role at CIA. Longstanding ties to Rove. Offered contradictory explanation of infamous &ldquo;16 words.&rdquo; [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#bartlett">Link</a>]White House Aide Karen Hughes: Denied Rove&rsquo;s involvement in leak. Helped draft State of the Union Addess with false uranium claim. Interviewed with Fitzgerald. [<a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal#hughes">Link</a>]</blockquote>Much more in our <a href="http://www.thinkprogress.org/leak-scandal">leak scandal cast of characters</a>. </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/feeds/112913758278444651/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=13545614&postID=112913758278444651' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112913758278444651'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/13545614/posts/default/112913758278444651'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bigbrassballs.blogspot.com/2005/10/plamegate-leak-investigation-broadens.html' title='Plamegate Leak Investigation Broadens?'/><author><name>Douglas Shaftoe</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16168804611605699777</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/63/5829/200/Heston%202.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>

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