independentsforkerry.org

The Hankster

(excerpt from) World Socialist Web Site
Thanksgiving in America
US corporations shatter profit records
25 November 2010

US corporations took in .659 trillion in the third quarter, breaking records going back 60 years, according to a Commerce Department report released Tuesday. It was the seventh consecutive quarter of profit growth at “some of the fastest rates in history” according to the New York Times.

If any more proof were needed, the third quarter profit record exposes the lie promoted by Democrats and Republicans alike that only the “free market” and private businesses can reverse the nation’s 9.6 percent unemployment rate. The corporations and banks are sitting on a cash horde in the trillions of dollars. This money is not being used to hire workers, but to line the pockets of the executives and top shareholders…

The holiday season finds the lame duck 111th Congress putting the finishing touches on two years of wealth redistribution to the rich. It is almost certain to extend Bush-era income tax cuts for the richest Americans…

One result of these policies is that more people than ever, including those with jobs, are forced to turn to soup kitchens, even on a day when families traditionally gather for a holiday associated with the “bountiful harvest.” Charities across the country are reporting record demand for help on Thanksgiving—a holiday established at a national level by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to honor the material abundance of the Republic, even in the midst of the Civil War…

Independent Political Report

The Hammer To Visit The Slammer, Delay Convicted

As his last name says Tom delayed justice for years and the appeal process may waste a few more but tonight Tom DeLay is a convicted criminal who has gone from Dancing With The Stars to facing life behind bars.     It took too much time but at last this republican scam artist and low life has met the verdict he deserved.

Five to life behind bars on the money laundering charge and two to 20 years on the conspiracy charge.    Right wing apoligist for the criminal element will be crying the blues as one of their own gets the frog march.       It was reported that Shawn Hannity of Fox Propoganda collapsed and required medical treatment after learning of Delays fate.    (Shawn was diagnosed with a severe case of the vapors.     He breathed into a paper bag for a few moments, recovered and returned to the mike to shill for another right wing republican.)    Shawn shouldn’t be so shakey as the Hammer will only do 2 to 5 and a few years on probation.

Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay – once one of the most powerful and feared Republicans in Congress – was convicted Wednesday on charges he illegally funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.

Jurors deliberated for 19 hours before returning guilty verdicts against DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.      He faces up to life in prison on the money laundering charge.


Prosecutors said DeLay, who once held the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives and whose heavy-handed style earned him the nickname “the Hammer,” used his political action committee to illegally channel 0,000 in corporate donations into 2002 Texas legislative races through a money swap.

DeLay and his attorneys maintained the former Houston-area congressman did nothing wrong as no corporate funds went to
Texas candidates and the money swap was legal.


The verdict came after a three-week trial in which prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses and volumes of e-mails and
other documents. DeLay’s attorneys presented five witnesses.


Prosecutors said DeLay conspired with two associates, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, to use his Texas-based PAC to send
0,000 in corporate money to an arm of the Washington-based Republican National Committee, or RNC.     The RNC then sent the
same amount to seven Texas House candidates. Under Texas law, corporate money can’t go directly to political campaigns.


Prosecutors claim the money helped Republicans take control of the Texas House. That enabled the GOP majority to push through a Delay-engineered congressional redistricting plan that sent more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 – and strengthened DeLay’s political power.


DeLay’s attorneys argued the money swap resulted in the seven candidates getting donations from individuals, which they could legally use in Texas.


They also said DeLay only lent his name to the PAC and had little involvement in how it was run.    Prosecutors, who presented mostly circumstantial evidence, didn’t prove he committed a crime, they said.

DeLay has chosen to have Senior Judge Pat Priest sentence him. He faces five years to life in prison on the money laundering charge and two to 20 years on the conspiracy charge. He also would be eligible for probation.


The 2005 criminal charges in Texas, as well as a separate federal investigation of DeLay’s ties to disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, ended his 22-year political career representing suburban Houston. The Justice Department probe into DeLay’s ties to Abramoff ended without any charges filed against DeLay.


Ellis and Colyandro, who face lesser charges, will be tried later.

Except for a 2009 appearance on ABC’s hit television show “Dancing With the Stars,” DeLay has been out of the spotlight
since resigning from Congress in 2006.     He now runs a consulting firm based in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land.

From our desks here at ACVDN we waive fondly to Tom as he starts this new phase of his life.    A great many of his friends are already serving time and others of his friends are scheduled for trial and will soon join him.     The only unanswered question is why did it take so long for the system to work?

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

Every few years, the public, generally as a result of disappointment or opposition to either the incumbent, the political process, the economy, or certain policies, decides to do the equivalent of a political purge, or “vote the bums out.” Unfortunately, in most cases, all this has done is replace one set of dysfunctional office holders [...]
Best News & Politics

[Note: For an interactive map, with a state-by-state list of demos, go to wewontfly.com]

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Nov. 23, 2010

National Opt-Out Day activities at San Francisco International Airport

WHO: Those opposed to invasive TSA screening practices that threaten liberty, privacy, and health.

WHAT: Press conference, handing out literature, waving signs, and car caravan, at San Francisco International airport.

WHEN: NOVEMBER 24th, 8am-5pm, Press Conference at NOON

WHERE: Handing out fliers and displaying signs outside SFO Domestic Terminals 1 and 3. Press conference will be held by the “Free Speech Zone” counter located in Domestic Terminal 1, across from the area between Southwest and AirTran airline check-in counters.

WHY: To demonstrate dissent and educate the public about the new policies and practices enforced by the TSA and private airport
security contractors like Covenant Aviation Security at the San Francisco International airport. We will urge members of the public to fly with dignity or not fly!

-WeWontFly SF

MEDIA CONTACT
Starchild
Outreach Director, Libertarian Party of San Francisco
(415) 625-FREE (3733)
www.LPSF.org

GENERAL CONTACT
Sheila Dean
Identity “blog-vocate”
(310) 857-8257
BeatTheChip.org
511Campaign.org

Independent Political Report

The headline is correct, the Republicans are Playing Politics with START Treaty.     As the parties last candidate for president John McCain is the leader of the republicans and he supports doing anything to make President Obama a one termer.

Over many months of negotiations, the administration committed to spending billion to do that over the next 10 years, and on Friday offered to chip in .1 billion more over the next five years. As a gesture of commitment, the White House had made sure extra money for modernization was included in the stopgap spending resolution now keeping the government operating, even though almost no other program received an increase in money.    All told, White House officials counted 29 meetings, phone calls, briefings or letters involving Mr. Kyl or his staff.    They said they thought they had given him everything he wanted, and were optimistic about completing a deal this week, only to learn about his decision on Tuesday from reporters.


Who is Jon Kyl?…What Is His Major Malfunction?….Was there a shortage of letters in the alphabet when he was named?

How is it that having 1,550 nuclear weapons (the number AFTER the treaty) is not enough?    Because while the treaty would reduce nuclear weapons on both the U.S. and Russian sides, we would still obviously have more than enough to say, wipe any two continents off of the map immediately, and most likely the rest would die off from nuclear winter.     Not to mention that reducing nuclear weapons means a reduction in spending, as nuclear weapons really don’t look after themselves.    

 The GOP says that they need to study the issue further, which of course is the standard phrase that they say now when they want to block something until such a time as when they are back in the majority and hold the White House, and then they can declare what a wonderful thing they have done when they pass the exact same idea off as their own.


While Jon Kyl, a Republican from Arizona has said he wanted to halt the treaty, another Republican at least realizes that hey – maybe it might be a good idea if we could actually monitor what happens to nuclear weapons in Russia.
 
Dick Lugar demands passage of New START Treaty.     In doing so he proves that leadership in the GOP is not totally dead.     There is still a weak spark of love of country and doing the right thing for the people.     Click and view.

 
Dick Lugar in Support of Treaty

I think President Obama and the American people will win this one.

 As John McCain has said many times “I can’t believe that guy beat me for president”.     John really means it.

  John has been on every side of every issue during his long stay in Washington but due to his poor and failing memory he thinks every one of his positions is brand new.      Recently re-elected John has realized his dream of riding out his time as a Senator.     He has found a place where his temper is tolerated and faulty memory is par for the course.    As a GOP Star he has no responsibility for anything and can devote 100% of his time to partisan dirty deeds and naps.
 

Amherst County Virginia Democratic News

An apparent grudge match between warring gang members left three men dead, police and friends said yesterday as…

Home – BostonHerald.com

Sent by Brent McMillan, Executive Director of GPUS:
Herb Gura was re-elected to Konocti Unified School Board, Lake County
He will be about to start his third four year term.
He finished third of six candidates for three seats with 1,638 votes or 18.2%

http://acm.co.lake.ca.us/elections/results/result21.htm#c3043

Jim Smith, President of the Canyon School Board, Canyon Township, Contra Costa, CA was [...]
Green Party Watch

The mutilated body discovered on a Milton lawn last week was identified as a missing 16-year-old North Carolina…

Home – BostonHerald.com

FOXBOROUGH – Tom Brady passing, Danny Woodhead running – and tackling. An unbeatable combination, even for Peyton…

Home – BostonHerald.com