To Quote my good friend Bladesmith, “Lessee here….Legless…..Legless……DICKLESS!!!!“
Here is the whole front page:
Month: July 2007
Tillman Coverup May Obscure a Murder
While it has been clear for some time that Pat Tillman’s death resulted in an orgy of military ass covering, it now appears that there are uninvestigated evidence of foul play, so the friendly fire might not be so friendly.
It’s already clear that Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan, did not like Bush, and thought that Iraq was an illegal war, but here are the quick points of the article:
- The doctors – whose names were blacked out – said that the bullet holes were so close together that it appeared the Army Ranger was cut down by an M-16 fired from a mere 10 yards or so away.
- In his last words moments before he was killed, Tillman snapped at a panicky comrade under fire to shut up and stop “sniveling.”
- Army attorneys sent each other congratulatory e-mails for keeping criminal investigators at bay as the Army conducted an internal friendly-fire investigation that resulted in administrative, or non-criminal, punishments.
- The three-star general who kept the truth about Tillman’s death from his family and the public told investigators some 70 times that he had a bad memory and couldn’t recall details of his actions.
- No evidence at all of enemy fire was found at the scene – no one was hit by enemy fire, nor was any government equipment struck.
The above General is being demoted, BTW.
This Is Not Funny, It’s Repulsive
It appears that Municipal Judge Michael Cicconetti, of Painesville, Ohio, is a power drunk jerk, which is all the more remarkable since a municipal court judge does not have much in the way of power.
I’d call him a schmuck, but a schmuck has a head.
This might be a cute movie, or a funny Simpsons episode, but in real life it’s an example of abuse of power, and this is not the first time:
It’s not the first time Cicconetti has used barnyard animals in his sentences. He ordered a man who called a policeman a pig to stand next to a live pig in a pen and hold a sign that read “This Is Not a Police Officer.” A couple who stole a baby Jesus statue from a manger were sentenced to dress as Mary and Joseph and walk with a donkey.
I’m upset at the tone of the story too, that says we are all supposed to laugh about it.
Professional misconduct is nothing to laugh about.
News Flash, Stealth Ain’t Rocket Science
There are reports that Japan is considering development of a stealth fighter of their own.
Truth be told, the information necessary for reduced radar signatures has been available to the general public, at least those who can speak Russian, for about 40 years now.
The “secrets” of stealth derived from a Russian physics paper that allowed one to analytically determine the radar cross section of surfaces.
That being said, this is not really about Japan developing a stealth fighter. It’s about Japan getting the F-22.
Export of the F-22 is forbidden by law, but Japan wants to buy some so they are starting this research, “in the hope it will spur the United States to review a ban on selling F-22 fighters”.
The “DC Madame” Case Casts a Wider Net.
It appears now that a Navy Academy officer reportedly worked as an escort for Deborah Jean Palfrey.
Also, one of the numbers on the list is “that of an editor for the Army Times Publishing Co.”, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Sometimes you just want to pop up some popcorn, and watch what happens.
As to prostitution in general, I favor it being legal ane regulated, which would deal with most of the health issues, and rid the world of the lowest form of life on Earth, the pimp.
Bush Administration Politicized State Department Too
This comes down to despising government and what it can do. As a result, the only reason to govern is for money and power, because you believe that no actual good can be done.
Thus we have Karl Rove and his bully boys arm twisting to get the State Department to engage in actions benefiting their political allies.
White House aides have conducted at least half a dozen political briefings for the Bush administration’s top diplomats, including a PowerPoint presentation for ambassadors with senior adviser Karl Rove that named Democratic incumbents targeted for defeat in 2008 and a “general political briefing” at the Peace Corps headquarters after the 2002 midterm elections.
The briefings, mostly run by Rove’s deputies at the White House political affairs office, began in early 2001 and included detailed analyses for senior officials of the political landscape surrounding critical congressional and gubernatorial races, according to documents obtained by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The documents show for the first time how the White House sought to ensure that even its appointees involved in foreign policy were kept attuned to the administration’s election goals. Such briefings occurred semi-regularly over the past six years for staffers dealing with domestic policy, White House officials have previously acknowledged.
The point is not that Republicans are universally corrupt, though these days it certainly seems so.
Rather it is that when one comes from a position that sees government as the source of problems, and never solutions, then corruption is closer, since there is no good that comes through government service.
House Votes to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq
Good news from the Gavel,
the House has passed a ban on permanent bases in Iraq.
Today, the House passed H.R. 2929, Banning Permanent U.S. Bases in Iraq. This bill states that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing a permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. It also states that it is the policy of the United States not to exercise U.S. control of the oil resources of Iraq. The measure bars the use of any funds provided by any law from being used to carry out any policy that contradicts these statements of policy.
This is significant in a number of ways:
- Bush will threaten a veto, making it clear that he does wants permanent basis (though he’ll probably use the micro-management commander-in-chief excuse).
- This veto is likely to be successfully overridden.
- It’s a direct challenge to the “it’s not abut oil” lie.
- Because it forbids expenditures, it’s is clearly in the purview of the congress, even in the view most hacktacular of pundits (OK, maybe not…they are pretty hacktacular.
- It’s a marvelous club to use in the 2008 elections.
US Subprime Markets a “Dangerous Cocktail”
Moodys Investor Services described the US subprime marketas a“relaxation of risk management and underwriting standards combined with the growth of little understood debt derivatives, many of them based on US sub-prime mortgages, had proved to be “a dangerous cocktail” yesterday.
You think?
A governor of the Bank of England said that, “there were still troubles ahead in the sub-prime sector and that the losses of large investors made it difficult to decide where borrowing costs should move next due to the volatility it created in financial markets.”
This is why I think that this is heading to an illiquid state. Exotic high risk instruments are coming home to roost, and when they do, prices will drop, because these instruments monitized (drove up the price) of residential real estate.
With people owning highly leveraged homes that are falling in value, they will be under water, owing more than they have in equity, and they will be unable to sell the homes.
Good News On Open Access on the Frequency Sale
We have reports that the ‘Open access’ provision on the 700 mhz spectrum is favored by a majority of FCC commissioners.
It appears to be both of the Dems, and one Republican on the panel, the Republicans are “undecided” (translation, waiting to see who ponies up to the RNC).
This will allow people to attach to the network with whatever equipment and using whatever software that they want, like the land lines, and the Internet.
When one notes the explosion of innovation when AT&T was told to do this in the 1970s (you could get phones that weren’t black!), this is a good thing for everyone but the Baby Bells.
Us Screwing the Pooch in Afghanistan
It appears that the Italy Foreign Minister is calling on the US to end operation Enduring Freedom in Afghaninstan.
The Italian foreign minister said Wednesday that the separate U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan overlaps with NATO’s mission and should be ended.
Massimo D’Alema, speaking to a parliamentary commission, said the NATO mission and the U.S. Operation Enduring Freedom raise problems of coordination, posing risks for the Afghan population.
His comments reflected recent NATO concerns that civilian casualties could undermine public support for the international security mission in Afghanistan.
Basically, this comes down to the fact that the US’s bomb-happy policies in Afghanistan are driving Afghans to the Taliban, and interfering with rebuilding and securing the country.
Basically, it appears that the US military needs adult supervision.
I don’t find this surprising. The US military has been disdainful of these sorts of operations since it adopted its post Vietnam mindset, as evidenced by steadfast refusals to apprehend people with credible allegations of crimes against humanity in Kosovo.
Faith Based Missile Defense
I’ve just finished reading an articleabout the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on the travails of the Airborne Laser (ABL).
In a word, it’s a mess.
We have, “The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) dropped the traditional requirements-setting process in favor of a “capabilities-based” approach, intended to more quickly field a system capable of responding to some, if not all, of the current ballistic missile threats, according to the report.”
So basically, they will field this against something like an Atlas Class liquid fueled rocket, which derives structural integrity from internal pressure and a very thin walled skin.
Problem is that only the Atlas ever used this. Liquid rockets with conventional structures, like the Titan and the Soviet systems are more robust, and can be hardened to become mroe robust. Solid fueled rockets are more robust still.
Moving to those does not require anything but a bit of time and money…After it’s not…OK, it is rocket science, but it’s not hard rocket science.
Additional problems:
- “The total ABL program cost cannot be given or estimated because of the acquisition strategy adopted by MDA for missile defense”. This is almost certainly a deliberate attempt to shield a program over budget.
- “Nor has the final system architecture been identified, meaning that the total number of ABL aircraft to be procured has not been determined.”
- “ABL will be a highly visible asset. It is very large, and will be escorted by fighter aircraft. Its high altitude will also help to distinguish it from other wide-body aircraft.”
- Long in-theater on-station time for the ABL is premised on forward basing. These forward bases would likely not have chemical replenishment capabilities, meaning return flights to the United States if the laser is used.
This is an ill conceived program that has continued through inertia, and the fact that the person who cancels this will likely have their career ended.
White Elephant
Behold the Power of Cheese
You must remember, you can’t support George W. Bush unless you are so terrified that you are at risk of wetting yourself.
Thus we have Airport security officers alerted to possibility of terrorists conducting dry runs for attacks.
The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included ‘wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances,’ including block cheese, the bulletin said. ‘The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern.'”
Another attempt to keep us all in a state of fear so that we will accept whatever Bush does.
Pathetic.
Home price depreciation at levels not seen since the Great Depression”
At the Big Picture, there aresome thoroughly shocking quotes from Countrywide Financial Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo.
I agree with Mr. Ritholtz’s assessment that the shocker quote is, “Company is seeing home price depreciation at levels not seen since the Great Depression“.
FWIW, Mr. Mozilo also said, “no one saw the deterioration of real estate values coming“. I beg to differ.
There were a few people, including me, who were noting that house prices were insane, as early as 2002. (Not on this blog, on a message board)
I’ve also said that the dollar and the balance of payments in the US is unsustainable, and this will create a situation where interest rates going up makes real estate illiquid, and rates going down puts the US dollar through the floor.
We’ll see how it goes.
More GOP Family Values
Former GOP aide admits to sexual battery
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Jim Nichols
Plain Dealer ReporterThe former head of the Michigan Federation of Young Republicans admitted Tuesday that he sexually abused a colleague during a national convention in Cleveland last summer.
Michael Flory, a 32-year-old attorney from Jackson, Mich., pleaded guilty to sexual battery on the day his rape trial was to begin in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
The college student he overpowered in a downtown hotel room gasped and dabbed her eyes as Flory replied to Judge Peter Corrigan’s question, “Are you indeed guilty?”
“Sure yeah,” Flory said.
Sure, yeah….That’s showing remorse.
Assistant County Prosecutor Carol Skutnik said Flory’s lawyers, Henry Hilow and Bill McGinty, surprised her with a plea offer as trial witnesses from several states arrived to testify.
Translation, when the other half dozen or so victims showed up, he decided to cop a plea.
The plea bargain, she said, doesn’t include any suggestion of leniency, and the state will seek incarceration. She also said she hopes to present evidence of several “other incidents of sexual misconduct” in which Flory took advantage of vulnerable young women.
…..
She and some supporters lamented when the incident became public last winter that Flory and his followers within the Republican organization smeared her reputation in retaliation for accusing Flory of rape. Skutnik said she found that to be true.Lovely fellow, huh?
House Democrats pass contempt citations
TPM is reporting that the House Democrats have passed contempt citations.
A few interesting facts here: The president cannot pardon, this is an offense against the congress, not the nation. Congress has a jail in the basement, and the master of arms can take people into custody for the duration of a congress.
They need to pass this, and then pinch one of the miscreants
Pathetic Republican Wife Beater
Well, former US Representative John “Drunken Wife Beater” Sweeney is in the news again.
Sweeney says he lied about domestic spat
Ex-congressman claims he wanted to shield wife from blameBy KATE GURNETT, Staff writer
Click byline for more stories by writer.
First published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007JOHNSTOWN — Former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney admitted to a gaggle of TV cameras Monday that he lied last year in a news conference when he said “there was no domestic violence” at his home.
He’s claiming that she hit him.
Yeah….sure.
….
On Monday, Sweeney turned to a former wife to defend him publicly. Betty Sweeney went on camera to admonish Gayle Sweeney for allegedly assaulting her ex-husband, saying “I am appalled.”
Hiding behind a former ex-wife? Classy dude, huh?
Last November, with her husband’s congressional seat on the line, Gayle Sweeney, 36, made an 11th-hour campaign commercial accusing Gillibrand of leaking the report in a bid to win office. Mrs. Sweeney told the Times Union last week she was “coerced” by her husband’s political advisers into making certain statements defending him on the eve of the election.
Once again proving that the only thing lower than a Republican politician is a Republican political consultant.
Dollar Hits Another Low Against Euro
Well, the Dollar Hits Another Low Against Euro: Financial News.
The thing about these sort of moves is that they are not gradual. The dollar will slowly drift lower, then it will drop off a cliff when the herd mentality cuts in.
Bush Less Popular than Cheney, Who Is In Turn Less Popular than Hemorrhoids
“Preparation I” (impeachment). There is no substitute.
Washington Post-ABC News Poll July 23, 2007
Bush’s net disapproval is 65%, Cheney, 59. It’s 33 and 34 respectively for approval.
Nixon got as low as 66% disapproval, but only for about a week before he resigned.
The US Government Wants to Record Religion, Sex Habits, and Politics
The Grauniad has a the scoop on what the US Government wants for Britons coming to the US.
Highly sensitive information about the religious beliefs, political opinions and even the sex life of Europeans traveling to the United States is to be made available to US authorities when the European Commission agrees to a new system of checking passengers.
It appears that the EU is upset about this agreement. So am I.
Eventually, Karl Rove is going to want to get his hands on this sort of information for political micro targeting, and considering that we know that DHS has been compromised politically, he will get this information too.
Why You Should Run Numbers on Stories Like This
Typical headline, Microsoft, Feds, and Chinese authorities seize $2bn in pirated software. It’s a typical lie. One that could be revealed in 10 minutes with paper and pencil, 5 minutes with a calculator.
Both software and drug busts suffer from the same inflated reporting.
Assuming Microsoft products have a value of $500 each, which is generous considering discounts, site licenses, bulk discounts, etc, that would say that they seized 4 million, that’s right 4 followed by 6 zeros copies of their software.
A CD is about 1-½ mm thick, 4 million would stack over 3-½ miles high.
My guess is that they are using the bogus $50-100K/copy number that comes up in copyright cases.
It’s like those drug busts during my college days, they would quote a street value for the pot that was 10-20x what I paid retail.