Sunday, September 30, 2007

John Murtha Ordered to Talk in Defamation Case

I don't agree with the idea that Murtha's comments would be protected no matter what he said since he made the comments as part of the debate on the war on Iraq.

He actually did not make the comments ONLY during formal debate while on the "floor" of the House of Representatives. He made similar comments while back in his home district! As well, he made the comments in press conferences outside the Capitol! Only the comments he would make during actual floor debate would be protected.

Now to determine whether the comments were defamation - that is what will be litigated. And they should be...

Net the Truth Online

Judge Orders Rep. John Murtha to Testify in Marine Sergeant Defamation Case

Friday, September 28, 2007

WASHINGTON — A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition in the case.

A Marine Corps sergeant accuses the 16-term congressman of falsely accusing him of "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" in connection with the deaths of Iraqi civilians.

The Justice Department wanted the case dismissed because Murtha was acting in his official role as a lawmaker. Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Henault said the comments were made as part of the debate over the war in Iraq.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer said the congressman might be right, but said she won't know for sure unless Murtha explains himself. She did not set a date for Murtha's testimony but said she would also require him to turn over documents related to his comments.

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,298534,00.html


Murtha Must Testify in Defamation Case
September 28, 2007 - 5:52pm

By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition about his comments alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with Iraqi civilian deaths.

A Marine Corps sergeant is suing the 18-term congressman for making the charge, which the soldier claims is false. Murtha, who opposes the Iraq war, made the comment during a May, 2006 Capitol Hill news conference in which he predicted that a Pentagon war crimes investigation will show Marines killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

Murtha's office declined to comment on the ruling. A Vietnam veteran and retired Marine Reserves colonel, Murtha has said his intention was to draw attention to the pressure put on troops in Iraq and efforts to cover-up the incident.

The Justice Department wanted the case dismissed because Murtha was acting in his official role as a lawmaker. Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Henault said the comments were made as part of the debate over the war in Iraq.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer said the congressman might be right, but said she won't know for sure unless Murtha explains himself. She did not set a date for Murtha's testimony but said she would also require him to turn over documents related to his comments.

"You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?" Collyer said, adding later, "How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

Mark S. Zaid, the attorney for the plaintiff, Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, said he wanted Murtha's deposition and limited documents from the congressman, including calendars and documents related to which reporters he spoke to.

Zaid said Murtha was not acting within his congressional duties and was instead trying to embarrass then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, with whom Zaid said Murtha had a personal dispute.

Collyer, who was appointed to the bench by President Bush, said the case wasn't about whether to recall troops from Iraq and she didn't "particularly care" about Murtha's views on the war. She said the law cares only about what Murtha intended when he made the comments.

Charges have been dismissed against four of the eight Marines who were initially charged with murder or failure to investigate the deaths in Haditha. A battalion commander has been recommended for a court-martial; a final decision is pending.

The investigating officer overseeing the Haditha case is expected to recommend soon whether Wuterich should stand trial. Wuterich, 27, of Meriden, Conn., is accused of unpremeditated murder in 17 of the killings.

___

Associated Press writer Matt Apuzzo contributed to this report.


(Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition about his comments alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with Iraqi civilian deaths.

A Marine Corps sergeant is suing the 18-term congressman for making the charge, which the soldier claims is false. Murtha, who opposes the Iraq war, made the comment during a May, 2006 Capitol Hill news conference in which he predicted that a Pentagon war crimes investigation will show Marines killed dozens of innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

Murtha's office declined to comment on the ruling. A Vietnam veteran and retired Marine Reserves colonel, Murtha has said his intention was to draw attention to the pressure put on troops in Iraq and efforts to cover-up the incident.

The Justice Department wanted the case dismissed because Murtha was acting in his official role as a lawmaker. Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Henault said the comments were made as part of the debate over the war in Iraq.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer said the congressman might be right, but said she won't know for sure unless Murtha explains himself. She did not set a date for Murtha's testimony but said she would also require him to turn over documents related to his comments.

"You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?" Collyer said, adding later, "How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

Collyer said she was troubled by the idea the lawmakers are immune from lawsuits regardless of what they say to advance their political careers.

Mark S. Zaid, the attorney for the plaintiff, Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, said he wanted Murtha's deposition and limited documents from the congressman, including calendars and documents related to which reporters he spoke to.

Zaid said Murtha was not acting within his congressional duties and was instead trying to embarrass then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, with whom Zaid said Murtha had a personal dispute.

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=116&sid=1258119


September 28, 2007
Read More: Iraq

Federal judge orders Murtha to testify in Haditha defamation case

A federal judge has ordered Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.) to testify in a defamation case related to the deaths of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha in 2005, according to the Associated Press.

Murtha, a former Marine. accused Marines of "cold-blooded murder and war crimes'' during the Haditha incident. Frank Wuterich, a Marine sergeant involved in the incident, has sued Murtha for libel and invasion of privacy over his comments.

According to AP, U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer wants Murtha to explain why he made this statement and any documents he has related to the incident.

From the AP: 'You're writing a very wide road for members of Congress to go to their home districts and say anything they choose about private persons and be able to do so without any liability. Are you sure you want to do that?'' Collyer said, adding later, ''How far can a congressman go and still be protected?"

Frankly, I don't understand this ruling at all, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is appealed by the Justice Dept. and/or House general counsel's office on behalf of Murtha. Murtha, who can say some inappropriate things once in a while, was clearly acting in his capacity as a lawmaker when he made the comments and is thus protected by the Speech or Debate Clause from any type of prosecution for official acts.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Federal_judge_order_Murtha_to_testify_in_Haditha_defamation_case.html


History Channel discussion

http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=800030490

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Bloggers are leeches vs bloggers are last hope for free press

A local editor, (Herald-Standard editorial page editor) Paul Sunyak, said a few weeks ago on a local radio talk show: bloggers are "leeches..." they are biased, don't want to find or seek the truth, and are not journalists...

Say what? Why the "attack" so generalized? Threatened job-security, perhaps?

If you know local politics from as recent as a mere decade's worth, you're scratching your head at (Herald-Standard editorial page editor) Paul's commentary on the impending Republican Party chosen replacement candidate for Joe Hardy, who dropped out of the running for re-election as one of three county commissioners to be chosen in the Fall. Where'd all this come from - not one true issue-oriented "slight" and he doesn't even mention that Sean Cavanagh - former county commissioner - changed political party affiliation initially from Republican (back when he smartly saw the Ross Perot movement was overtaking America) to Democrat to so-called Independent and upon his yes, astonishing re-election to a commissioner's spot at the time, immediately upon taking office switched back to Democrat, (at the time he teamed with a Republican who also turned Independent) (both somehow made grave errors on candidate financial forms back in 1999's Primary when they'd sought office previously and knew all the ins-and-outs)(this time around, he teamed with fellow Democrat Vince Zapotosky who was publicly supported by Cavanagh nemesis and Democrat Party chairman, Fred Lebder)(Cavanagh once likened Lebder's leadership style to that of an ayatollah)(yup, it gets murkier)...

at any rate, Cavanagh far outdistanced any other candidate in recent history in the area hopping from one party to another...

Particularly skewed was the jab at the current incumbent County Controller Mark Roberts challenge to the candidacy of Sean Lally...

clip

Mark Roberts. Anticipating being picked by the Republicans, Roberts barges into the meeting and challenges the candidacy of Sean P. Lally in an attempt to eliminate his only competition, even though Lally isn't even being considered. Offended by Roberts' actions, the GOP hierarchy votes to pick Lally, even though they don't even know him. Lally goes on to win a commissioners' spot just by being on the ballot and not being Roberts. Roberts and his father mount an endless series of challenges before the county election board, even though it didn't oversee the process.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18817297&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=611083&rfi=6


both Mark Roberts and Sean P. Lally sought the Democrat selection for county controller in the Primary election last May... Roberts challenged the nomination petitions of Lally and sought his disqualification (in a court procedure) from the nomination based on "errors, irregularities..." Roberts contends were in the nomination petitions... that effort failed to have enough names on the Lally petitions eliminated to have Lally's name removed from the May ballot... Lally won the Democratic nomination and faces a Republican challenger (Raymond Eicher) in the Fall... meanwhile, Roberts contends the local Election board should take a look at several areas...

See Fayette controller won't give up fight

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_525285.html

Sunyak's comment pertaining to the election board just isn't truth.

The Election Board doesn't have to oversee the entire process of a candidate's nomination petitions in order to assume its duty as a board to "investigate" potential voting irregularities brought before it.

In fact, according to Greene County's website, the Election Board duties include "distributes and receives nomination petitions"...

Roberts has attempted to bring to the attention of the Election Board "potential" voting irregularities... and actually, any citizen has this same power, and more importantly, any sitting county commissioner has this power (when not seeking re-election - to cite potential voter fraud and/or voting irregularities (especially pertaining to voter registration).

Finding evidence of any such potential irregularities, the Election Board has the duty to forward its findings to the local District Attorney for further "criminal" investigation, and potential criminal prosecution.

But yes there is a but, to Sunyak's editorial. I found the piece did enjoyably play on the fact that in local politics, there are truly few Republicans who are really Republicans to choose from as the county has historically faced a 4 to 1 Democrat to Republican Party voter registration rate and most Republicans who enter politics were former Democrats...

Interesting, yup. All the truth, nup... see we can do that in the blogsphere, create new words... step on political toes... play no favorites...


See

Fayette Slugfest?

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_123674.html

Election bureau gives tips for seeking public office

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_119311.html

Petition Problems Highlighted

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_499600.html

Fay-West Discussion board

http://www.fay-west.com/towns/

Candidates 2003

http://www.post-gazette.com/election/20030513vgfayette0513xp9.asp

Who's gonna' get Joe Hardy's spot?
By:Paul Sunyak
09/14/2007

Now that Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A.Hardy III has announced he will not seek re-election, the focus is on the county's Republican Party, which will select a replacement for Hardy on the fall ballot.

Hardy's withdrawal leaves the local GOP high command with several interesting choices, but I have some as well. Here they are:

John "Sonny" Mikita. After serving as a school board member as a Democrat, then running for state representative as a Republican, then running for county commissioner as a Democrat, Mikita switches back to the GOP for a second time, pronounces "I feel like a Republican this month," and starts to debate himself on the issues.

Sean M. Cavanagh. Immediately after being picked by the Republicans as Hardy's replacement, Cavanagh, ignoring everyone's advice, again forms a team with Democrat nominee Vincent A. Zapotosky. When the votes are counted, Zapotosky gets 500 more Republican votes than Cavanagh, and is elected commissioner as a Democrat and a Republican, which no one can explain. "This time, I'm really moving out of state," says Cavanagh.

John "Toots" Croftcheck. Once perennial candidate Croftcheck gets the GOP nod, he says, "Nobody put me in this race. I'm in this race to win." Reminded that the Republican hierarchy did, in fact, put him in the race, Croftcheck says, "That's what I've been saying."

Timothy S. Mahoney. After powering through his open records legislation in his first eight months in office, an unprecedented achievement for a freshman state legislator, Mahoney decides, "I need a new challenge" and takes the Republicans up on their offer. After winning in a landslide on election night, Mahoney immediately drives down Route 119 and rips down the sign at the entrance of Joseph A. Hardy Connellsville Airport. "Don't worry. I've got a state grant coming for a new one," says Mahoney.

Larry Roberts. Retired state legislator Roberts, who served as a Democrat, answers critics of his selection by saying, "I've always thought like a Republican on some issues." Roberts then chides the media for never reporting that fact, saying that he offered the Herald-Standard that piece of information "along with my phone bills," but the press turned down his generous offer.

Vincent A. Vicites. A lifelong Democrat, Vicites claims he's stupefied as to how the GOP picked him. Vicites says that while he's been focused on "running a clean campaign, but defending my record when I have to," and while he never actively sought the Republican slot, he can't control what other people do and welcomes the GOP support. "I just want to move Fayette County forward, as a Democrat or a Republican, whatever the case may be," says Vicites. Mark Roberts. Anticipating being picked by the Republicans, Roberts barges into the meeting and challenges the candidacy of Sean P. Lally in an attempt to eliminate his only competition, even though Lally isn't even being considered. Offended by Roberts' actions, the GOP hierarchy votes to pick Lally, even though they don't even know him. Lally goes on to win a commissioners' spot just by being on the ballot and not being Roberts. Roberts and his father mount an endless series of challenges before the county election board, even though it didn't oversee the process. Joseph A. Hardy III. The Republicans make the ultimate surprise pick, selecting Hardy to replace himself on the ballot after he has a change of heart...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18817297&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=611083&rfi=6



As for the following, our last hope for a free press - agreed - the Internet, bloggers, podcasters, press on...

Published on Friday, September 28, 2007 by CommonDreams.org
The Internet: Our Last Hope for a Free Press
by Mark Klempner
I consider the Internet to be one of the world’s great wonders. And also America’s last hope for a free press.

When I was growing up in the 1970s, there were many people with a lot of things to say, but they generally had no platform. That’s why we needed figures like Bob Dylan to be “the voice of a generation.”

The present generation has YouTube, whose motto-irresistible to young people-is “Broadcast Yourself.” So now, for example, a pert 18-year-old known as “AngryLittleGirl” can challenge her peers regarding their lack of critical thinking, especially when it comes to religion, by uploading a video op-ed. As of this moment, her piece has been viewed by more than two million people.

YouTube is but one manifestation of a rapidly expanding “social media” that performs the vital function of promoting honest discussion and analysis at a time when spin, trivia, and advertising dominate the mass market profit-driven mainstream media –or MSM as it is often called on the net. Social media also encompasses web-based interactive communication tools such as blogs, message boards, forums, pod casts, online communities, and wikis.

I have seen bloggers expose mistakes and biases in the MSM within hours or even minutes of an article’s release. For instance, when New York Times science writer William Broad ran a piece deflating Al Gore’s claims about global warming, numerous bloggers pounced on it for being sloppy and skewed. Among them were Robert Dietz and Julie Millican at Media Matters, who documented how Broad had misrepresented the backgrounds of most of the supposedly “rank-and-file” experts quoted.

I don’t know what possessed Broad to so bend his reporting that he would lose credibility across a wide swath of readers (something he has in common with journalist Judith Miller, with whom he co-authored a book), but I do know that the MSM has become consolidated to the point that just a few transnational conglomerates and capital management companies control network TV, commercial radio, and most of our newspapers.

As for the repercussions of this ominous development, John Carroll, former editor of the Los Angeles Times, states them quite clearly: “Gone is the notion that a newspaper should lead, that it has an obligation to the community, that it is beholden to the public.” The current owners, he explains, care only about money, and “are sometimes genuinely perplexed to find people in their midst who do not feel beholden, first and foremost, to the shareholder.”

Bloggers are in an entirely different position: They tend to be mavericks who work for free, and operate far from the sources of power. Feeling no need to ingratiate themselves with the movers and shakers of industry and government, they simply tell it like it is from where they sit as concerned, informed citizens with diverse areas of expertise. Though they don’t often have professional training as journalists, many of them exceed professional journalistic standards, because they answer to their consciences alone rather than to corporate honchos and fund managers. We need to hear from such people, and the fact that there are more blogs out there worth reading than anyone has time to read is a hopeful sign.

Of course, the blogosphere is also filled with nonsense, and worse –as might be expected in any open space that lacks gatekeepers. The all-too-human reality of the web is that the majority of its traffic is directed to sex sites. What’s more, hate groups of all kinds find it a perfect forum to purvey their sick ideas. Even the benign Wikipedia can be used to disseminate false information with an effortlessness that has earned it the gratitude of propagandists everywhere.

How remarkable, then, that out of the cyberslime the lotus of a truly free press has been able to grow. Citizens seeking to avail themselves of the valuable commentary to be found on the web, as well as the fact checking services of legions of bloggers, can learn to easily bypass the detritus and go directly to those sites that offer valuable content.

Where, though, does one turn for in-depth investigative reporting? Though projects such as The Real News Network are attempting to create an alternative, the MSM is still pretty much the only show in town. Bloggers are generally not trained or equipped to do such reporting, and anyway, it´s a full time job that usually requires travel and a support staff, as well as knowledge and contacts developed over many years.

Newspapers carry out at least 80% of primary reporting. And yet the newspapers have repeatedly failed us, sometimes with tragic consequences, such as during the buildup to war in Iraq...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/27/4171/
The North American Union secret
Posted: September 29, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

When Jerome Corsi and I first began reporting on the quiet conspiracy to integrate the U.S. politically, socially and economically with Mexico and Canada, we were castigated, ridiculed, marginalized ands demeaned by elected officials, our colleagues in the press and some radio talk-show hosts.

We were making it all up, they said.

Congress has never considered any such action, they scolded.

Show us the legislation, they demanded.

Not one responsible official in Washington sees any such threat, they claimed.

This is black-helicopter stuff, they scoffed.

Recently, all seven of the 11 candidates who showed up for the Republican presidential debate organized by "values voters" in Florida acknowledged this European Union-style movement and pledged to halt it should any of them be elected.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57862
Study finds CO2 didn't end ice age
Counters major premise of global warming theory
World Net Daily
Posted: September 29, 2007

A new peer-reviewed scientific study counters a major premise of global warming theory, concluding carbon dioxide did not end the last ice age

The study, led by University of Southern California geologist Lowell Stott, concluded deep-sea temperatures rose 1,300 years before the rise in atmospheric CO2, which would rule out the greenhouse gas as the main agent of the meltdown.

"There has been this continual reference to the correspondence between CO2 and climate change as reflected in ice core records as justification for the role of CO2 in climate change," said Stott. "You can no longer argue that CO2 alone caused the end of the ice ages."

The study will be published in the next issue of Science magazine.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57895


Linked from World Net Daily

Skeptic leaves climate office

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070927/METRO/109270054/1004

Monday, September 17, 2007

Ultra-Conservative Farah to Quiz Republicans

Farah's base is the ultra-fervant Christian and Jewish religious... his questions on values are going to surely be designed to further the agenda of those who see absolutely no wiggle room on answers attendees might give. If the answer isn't in line with Farah's - the negative campaign will begin against the Republican candidate... The four front-runners have every reason to stay away... if they desire to encompass those who hold religious beliefs, but aren't so "in-your-face" my way or no way about those beliefs.

Republicans debate 'real values' tonight

WND Editor Joseph Farah moderator for presidential showdown in Florida
Posted: September 17, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Note: Live video streams of the debate are available from the American Family Association and ValuesVoterDebate.com.

By Joe Kovacs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The latest Republican presidential debate takes place here tonight, but all four of what some in the national news media call the "top-tier candidates" will not be on the stage.

Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson have all chosen not to participate in the Values Voter Debate being moderated by WND Editor Joseph Farah.

"Isn't it amazing they all have more important things to do to get elected president than to meet face to face with Christian and Jewish leaders who represent millions and millions of votes?" asked Farah who called them "gutless wonders" in a column previewing tonight's event.

"I tell you it is gut-wrenching fear that kept them away. They are scared to death of the questions. They're scared to death they won't have a good answer. They're scared to death they might say something they will live to regret."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57616

http://www.afa.net/

http://www.valuesvoterdebate.com/

What Greenspan really said about Iraq and oil

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Emails in County Zoning Case are Public Records

The Herald-Standard has longstandingly been a champion of the case for open public records. A recent promotion for the just cause urges the public to seek public records to learn first-hand of the "difficulty" of obtaining what the public has a right to see.

In this local zoning case, the public is given an indication that e-mails were sent and received between county employees and potentially elected public officials.

The emails should be made public, each and every one of them. It isn't enough to simply report their existence. The public has the right to know the content of the emails.

The Herald-Standard should publish all of the emails. The public can then make its own determination about them.

It would be tedious and time-consuming for individuals to go through the process of requesting the emails now.

The newspaper would be irresponsible if it told us to go and try to obtain these records on our own...

Zimmerlink says she was not improperly involved in zoning case
By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
09/13/2007
Updated 09/14/2007 12:06:05 AM EDT

Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink said Wednesday it is not unusual for her to take her role as a county commissioner seriously and for her to take the time and effort to make sure county offices are operating "properly, effectively, efficiently and fairly."

Speaking at the conclusion of a Fayette County Zoning Hearing board appeal hearing, Zimmerlink was addressing assertions that occurred throughout the testimony that she was improperly involved in the process in which members of the Cellurale family were issued zoning violations.
Wednesday's testimony marked the fourth day of testimony - stretched out since April - for the three separate appeal hearings, which center on property in close proximity to the historic Meason House in Dunbar Township.

Joseph "Joey" Cellurale Jr. was cited for failure to meet the conditions set forth in a special exception to operate his Joey's Auto Body business in 2001, and James and Marilyn Cellurale were cited for discarded material and equipment on the property, as well as using and office trailer for storage and having a Dumpster on the parking lot property.

The zoning violations were issued in January and subsequently appealed.

Throughout the separate days of testimony, Cellurale's attorney David Toal implied Zimmerlink's involvement was out of the ordinary and improper.

Toal questioned Zimmerlink about e-mail correspondence he provided her with that occurred among courthouse employees, although Zimmerlink said she did not provide the copies to Toal. Tammy Stenson, director of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, who was a part of the e-mails, also testified she did not provide the interoffice correspondence to Toal.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18814349&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

Leave Britney Alone Leave General Petraeus Alone

This is so creative... fill in the blank...

Leave General Petraeus Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiuRhy4CqzU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecrooksandliars%2Ecom%2F

Original Concept

Seriously now, does anybody believe Chris Crocker is the "person's" real name???

That's a lot a crock. Oh the naive Lamestream media...

http://www.google.com/search?q=leave+britney+alone+video&hl=en&sourceid=gd&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-40,GGLD:en&aq=t

Tear-stained video plea makes YouTube vlogger an Internet rock star
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20750575/

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Risk Heart Attack Stroke Association PAD

Often described as poor circulation in the legs, Peripheral Artery Disease, or P.A.D., is a serious condition that more than doubles your risk of heart attack or stroke. Learn how P.A.D.develops, what puts you at risk for P.A.D., and what treatment options are available to help reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke associated with it...

http://www.padfacts.org/padfacts/home/index.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Fairness Doctrine Political Correctness Sickness

Geesh, gosh, with the rise of the Internet and blogs and podcasts - every individual has opportunity to display videotaped viewpoints with access to the world! So what's the fuss about?

'Hush Rush' supporters draw 'no comment'


http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57575

NAFTA superhighway preparations ahoy

Canada preparing ports for NAFTA Superhighway
Building 'free trade gateway' between Asia, North America
Posted: September 11, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern


By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

Canada is developing Pacific ports to compete with the U.S. ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, as well as with the Mexican ports of Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas, in an attempt to draw a substantial market share of the millions of containers expected to flow into North America in the coming decades from China and the Far East.

To attract Chinese container traffic, the Canadian government has launched a major ports-rail-truck-airport transportation infrastructure designed to build its version of the emerging NAFTA Superhighway.

In October 2006, the Canadian minority government under the direction of Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper launched the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, or APGCI, as a key component of Canada's national transportation policy.

The idea is to prepare deep-water Pacific Ocean ports on Canada's West Coast to facilitate the import of millions of multi-modal containers from China as a "free trade gateway" between Asia and North America.

WND reported Mexico plans to extend the Trans-Texas Corridor south in what government officials in Mexico are calling a "Trans North America Corridor."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57567

Think We'd Have Won WW2 With Today's Media?

A caller believes not. So do many others. Media bias, media's coverage of anti-Iraq war rallies which always appear to feature messages only targeted at George W. Bush.

Where are the messages signs against Congress which authorized action against Iraq?

Congress voted in a resolution to permit Bush to take action if the president deemed that necessary for the security of the United States.

The United Nations with all of its resources, thousands of employees dedicated to finding out what was happening with Saddam Hussein's known at that time "weapons of mass destruction" - believed Saddam continued to possess such weapons - biological weapons of mass destruction.

The anti-Iraq war groups would have much more believability if they spread their criticisms equally.

Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction
National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 80
Updated - February 11, 2004

Edited by Jeffrey Richelson

Originally posted December 20, 2002
Previously updated February 26, 2003

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB80/


Inspectors Find Decade-Old Iraqi Chemical Gas in U.N. Office

By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 31, 2007; Page A09

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 30 -- U.N. weapons inspectors stumbled upon evidence of Saddam Hussein's elusive weapons of mass destruction: a vial of potentially lethal chemical gas that was stored in a U.N. shipping crate in Midtown Manhattan more than 10 years ago and forgotten, U.N. officials announced Thursday.

Experts from the U.N. Monitoring and Verification Commission -- which is set to shut down its operations in the coming months-- found a small sample of phosgene, a choking agent, as they prepared to archive more than 16 years of documents on Iraq's weapons program. They said the gas, which was left by the agency's predecessor, the U.N. Special Commission, is under seal and poses no threat to the public.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083000978.html

Monday, September 10, 2007

Keystone Opportunity Zones unfair agrees state legislator Tim Mahoney

Update: Letter to PA Rep. Timothy Mahoney (October 8, 2007)

http://dirtline.tripod.com/wakeup/id22.html

We can't allow the issue of the unfairness and unconstitutionality of Keystone Opportunity Zones to die after state Rep. Mahoney publicly agreed KOZs are unfair...

State Representative (Pennsylvania) Timothy Mahoney (D-51st), agreed with another caller and myself during an appearance on WMBS 590 Let's Talk with Bob Foltz (Tuesday, August 28, 2007) that the state's Keystone Opportunity Zones are:

unfair
not uniform according to the PA Constitution
unconstitutional

During the follow-up call, rep. Mahoney was then told that wasn't enough to just agree, that was good news, but now what would the Representative do in Harrisburg about the unfair KOZs.

Rep. Mahoney responded after pressing that he would take some action - it wasn't clear exactly what action though he was asked if he'd submit a bill eliminating them - but his action rested on his getting the job done on his two top priorities.

He noted those as being:

Pennsylvania open records
local real-estate property tax elimination

My rejoinder to that was the second effort might take years to accomplish and the legislator should act now. He should make KOZ unfairness an equal top priority to the other two of his priorities since many local property owners were losing their property to tax sales now and would continue to do so meanwhile other property owners don't have the threat of that action residing or locating in a tax-free KOZ.

Rep. Mahoney then offered to meet and subsequently I agreed to such a potential meeting to try my best to convince the state legislator to take action now and make KOZ unfairness for home and business property owners his third top priority.

I have pointed out on these pages previously how the three local taxing bodies (school district boards, county board of commissioners, and municipal boards) adopted KOZs via resolutions back in 1998 and in later resolutions which expanded them.

In many cases, KOZ status is for a 10-year duration, however in other instances, the tax-exemptions which apply to more than local real estate property taxes, run for 12 to 15 years and are now out to the year 2029.

If KOZs are unfair and unconstitutional now, they should be eliminated now.

The state legislator takes an oath to the PA Constitution to uphold the Constitution. Seeing something unfair and not uniform and doing nothing about it is not doing one's duty to that oath.

Rep. Mahoney should hear from any and all who agree with him with the principle that KOZs are unfair.

I especially invite any candidates for public offices that include school boards and municipal boards and county commissioner boards to make their positions known on this issue to Rep. Mahoney.

Should Rep. Mahoney publicly hear from any of the candidates and more citizens who support those candidates he might be motivated to act now.

State Representative Timothy Mahoney website and contact info

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?districtnumber=51

http://www.pahouse.com/Mahoney/

My website concerning Keystone Opportunity Zones non-uniformity

http://dirtline.tripod.com/wakeup/

Update: Letter to Rep. Timothy Mahoney

http://dirtline.tripod.com/wakeup/id22.html

Related

Tax free homes question for county commissioner candidates

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/04/tax-free-homes-question-for-county.html

Unequal taxation are KOZs

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/04/unequal-taxation-are-kozs.html

Commissioner Candidate Joe Hardy Steps Out

This news really isn't so shocking - but coming before the election in November, it is puzzling. One would have thought Joe Hardy would have waited until after he was actually re-elected to bow out, and then have a replacement named...

Hardy won't seek Fayette commissioner seat

Hardy ends re-election bid

The Herald-Standard article notes:

It is unclear who may be named to replace Hardy on the November ballot. Only Hardy and county Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink sought the Republican nomination in the primary election.

The Tribune-Review notes:

Given Hardy's late exit from the race, Nobers could not say if Hardy's name will appear on the ballot in November. The deadline for nominated candidates to withdraw was Aug. 13, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation.

Update:

According to news reports Hardy can petition the local county court to have his name removed from the ballot and likewise, the local Rep. Party can petition to extend deadlines for placing a name on the ballot.

This might be fair had Hardy become incapacitated, or an emergency situation arisen.

That didn't happen, so why should one Party basically get to name another candidate, who possibly won't have all the "negatives" the other candidate possessed?

How is this fair to Independents, who must meet all election requirements and deadlines to "play."

Update

Sampson will be Hardy replacement on ballot

By Michael Cope
Daily Courier Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
A former courthouse aide to millionaire Fayette County Commissioner Joseph Hardy will replace the 84-year-old as a GOP nominee in November.
Charmaine Sampson was appointed Tuesday by the Fayette County Republican Committee to run for commissioner alongside GOP incumbent Angela Zimmerlink.

Veteran incumbent Vincent Vicites and newcomer Vince Zapotosky are on the Democratic ticket. An independent candidate, Marilyn Cellurale, is vying for one of the three seats.

Sampson was chosen by secret ballot from a field of four nominees, including Fred Junko, Jim Griffin and Ron Romeo...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_528233.html


Hardy makes it official on plans to bow out of election
By Liz Zemba
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, September 13, 2007

Fayette County Commissioner Joe Hardy has given official notice of his intent not to seek re-election.

The first-term Republican announced on Sunday he would withdraw from the race for a second term. On Wednesday, he filed a petition with the county prothonotary's office indicating he will ask a judge to remove his name from the ballot.

Hardy, the founder of 84 Lumber Co., needs a judge's approval because the deadline to withdraw his nomination was Aug. 13.

Hardy's attorney, Cheri Bugajski Bomar, will formally present the petition 9 a.m. Monday during motions court. In the petition, she indicated Hardy is withdrawing "for personal and community reasons."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/fayette/s_527222.html


Update
GOP will have two names on November ballot
By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
09/11/2007

excerpt

Hardy must petition the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas to officially withdraw his name from consideration, and the Republican Party must also file a petition with the court to extend the deadline for nomination certificates and then submit another name, according to Mark Rowan, solicitor for the Fayette County Republican Party.

"There will still be two Republican candidates on the ballot," Rowan said. However, he said the second name will not be determined until likely sometime next week. The second Republican candidate will be determined by a vote of the members of the Fayette County Republican Committee.

Rowan said he is anticipating that Hardy will be permitted to withdraw by the court, although the issue is not common. "This doesn't come up very often and there is not a lot of guidance," Rowan said.

Leslie Amoros of the Pennsylvania Department of State said because it is a county office, and not a statewide position, how the issue will be handled is really in the hands of the county and not the state. "It's really the call of the county," Amoros said.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18803392&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6


Update 9/11/2007

DEMOCRATS SEE NO EFFECT
Fayette GOP seeks Hardy stand-in
By Liz Zemba
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Lumber magnate Joe Hardy's withdrawal from the race for Fayette County commissioner has left Republicans scrambling to find a replacement candidate, but Democrats say it will have no effect on their campaign leading up to the Nov. 6 election...

excerpt

The deadline for Hardy to withdraw his name from the ballot has passed, but a judge can grant a request to extend the deadline, said Laurie Lint, director of the Fayette County Election Bureau. The GOP committee must petition the courts to extend the deadline to add a replacement candidate.

Richard Grimaldi, GOP chairman, said the party is in the process of drawing up its petition. The challenge, he said, is to find a candidate to replace one of Hardy's stature.

"We have to find a verifiable candidate, one we feel can win this election," Grimaldi said. "We have to get our troops together and get moving."

Grimaldi had no information yesterday on potential candidates, but he said the party would take into consideration any suggestions from Hardy. Nobers said Hardy might throw out some names, but only if the party seeks him out...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/fayette/s_526773.html


Previous Postings

Neither article mentions another entry into the race for county commissioner. This isn't an endorsement, merely pointing out that another candidate, an Independent, Marilyn Cellurale was apparently slighted in the news coverage and may not have been asked by the newspaper reporters how the Hardy action might effect her campaign...

Considering the county voter registration favors Democrats by 4 to 1 ratio, the former Democrat's campaign could be more viable to registered Dems. Voters can select two choices. Democrats who want to see a return to a Democrat majority but don't want to select a second among the two Primary picks, may have another choice in Cellurale.

Hardy's dropping his name from the ballot could swing Democrats who otherwise would have voted for him to Cellurale over whomever is named as Hardy's replacement...

Tribune Review article excerpt

Hardy won't seek Fayette commissioner seat
By Brian C. Rittmeyer
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, September 10, 2007

Fayette County Commissioner and 84 Lumber founder Joseph Hardy announced during a campaign rally Sunday that he is withdrawing from the commissioners race.
About 1,200 Hardy volunteers and supporters attended the rally, which doubled as a Steelers game day party, at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.

During halftime, Hardy's campaign manager and spokesman, Jeff Nobers, stood at the podium with Hardy and broke the news. Nobers said the crowd was saddened by the unexpected announcement, but supportive and understanding.

Hardy, 84, a Republican, is serving his first four-year term as commissioner. Nobers said Hardy went on with the rally as a way to thank his supporters.

Hardy had announced in March that he intended to run for re-election. He and fellow Republican Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink ran unopposed for two GOP nominations in the spring primary.
Their election in 2003 gave the GOP its first majority in the commissioners' office since January 1936, but the two rarely voted together on controversial issues or board appointments.

Given Hardy's late exit from the race, Nobers could not say if Hardy's name will appear on the ballot in November. The deadline for nominated candidates to withdraw was Aug. 13, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/fayette/s_526645.html



Herald Standard article excerpt

Hardy ends re-election bid
By Patty Yauger, Herald-Standard
09/10/2007

DUNBAR TWP. - In a surprising move Sunday, Fayette County Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy said he could better serve the area as a private citizen and will withdraw his name from the November general election ballot.


The announcement came at a campaign rally at the Fayette County Fairgrounds where several thousand of both Republicans and Democrats had gathered in support of Hardy's second run for the seat.

Hardy, 84, was flanked by his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, and other supporters on the dais as his campaign manager Jeff Nobers released the information to the crowd.

"As the campaign really started to get into high gear, he started to ask himself what is the best way for him to serve the county for the next four years, and the answer was as a private citizen," said Nobers, adding that the discussion about his withdrawal from the race was only begun within the past two days.

The founder of 84 Lumber Co. and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington has often been criticized by the media for his lack of attendance at meetings and accessibility, said Nobers, but rarely acknowledged for his successes.

"We all know politics is a business and there is a need for politics. But one thing for certain, (Hardy) is not a politician," he said. "He is a visionary who says these are the things we need to do and marshals the resources and people to get it done.

"He is not one that likes to go through layers of approvals, committees and all the things that typically take place in the political arena."

excerpt

It is unclear who may be named to replace Hardy on the November ballot. Only Hardy and county Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink sought the Republican nomination in the primary election.

Hardy and Zimmerlink were to square off against Democratic candidates Vincent Zapotosky and Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites, who was also seeking re-election...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18800032&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6


Related

5 to run for Fayette county commissioner seats
By Liz Zemba
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, August 3, 2007

A Fayette County businesswoman has entered the race for county commissioner as an Independent candidate.
Marilyn Cellurale, of Lemont Furnace, filed nominating papers with the county election bureau on Wednesday, the last day to file. She listed her party as "Cellurale County Commissioner."

Cellurale, owner of the family-run Cellurale Garden Center on Route 119 South in Dunbar Township, could not be reached yesterday for comment.

She becomes the fifth candidate seeking three seats on the board. The others who are running are incumbent Republicans Angela Zimmerlink and Joe Hardy, and Democrat Vince Vicites.

The only other challenger to the three incumbents is another Democratic candidate, Vincent Zapotosky.
Zapotosky said he does not intend to challenge Cellurale's candidacy.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_520486.html


August 02, 2007By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
$ Independent candidates add names to fall ballot
Marilyn Cellurale, a Lemont Furnace woman who has publicly accused Fayette County Commissioner Angela M. Zimmerlink of initiating code enforcement violations against her business, is running as an Independent county commissioner candidate
....

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18654137&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=565757&rfi=8

August 24, 2007By:Amy Zalar
$ Politics in air at commissioners meeting

Political season got a boost into high gear Thursday when independent Fayette County commissioner candidate Marilyn Cellurale brought accusations of smear tactics against Commission Chair...


http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18745836&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=565757&rfi=8

Search results

http://pittsburgh-news-swicki.eurekster.com/marilyn+cellurale/

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/whispers/s_524203.html

Monday, September 03, 2007

Uninsured Health Insurance Numbers Include Illegal Aliens

Two guests on C-Span were not aware whether statistics were compiled on the number of illegal aliens who comprise the 44-million plus figure offered as the amount of uninsured in health insurance coverage.

Randel Johnson (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) Bill Samuel(AFL-CIO)

The stats are out there people...

Friday, July 20, 2007
Statistics Wrong on Americans Without Health Care Coverage

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2007/07/statistics-wrong-on-americans-without.html

C-Span

http://www.c-span.org/homepage.asp?Cat=Series&Code=WJE&ShowVidNum=9&Rot_Cat_CD=WJ&Rot_HT=206&Rot_WD=&ShowVidDays=100&ShowVidDesc=&ArchiveDays=30

Ad Money Falling, Falling for Print Media

Hopefully, the trend will continue as people wake up to the new media, online journaling, blogging, podcasts...

Advertising at Newspapers Falls 8.6 Percent
Saturday, September 1, 2007

Advertising revenues at newspapers fell 8.6 percent in the April-to-June period of this year, as an accelerating decline in print ads more than outweighed gains in online advertising, an industry group reported Friday.

Print-only advertising at newspapers slumped 10.2 percent to $10.5 billion in the second quarter of the year, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of declines, according to figures compiled by the Newspaper Association of America.

Online advertising at newspapers continued to grow, rising 19.3 percent to $795.7 million, although that was a slower rate than the 22.3 percent gain recorded in the first quarter and the 35 percent gain in the fourth quarter of last year.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Newspaper_ads_fall/2007/09/01/29202.html
Investigation of Allegations by Election Board Iffy

Fayette controller won't give up fight

By Mary Pickels
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, September 1, 2007


The Fayette County Election Board held a brief meeting Friday, at the request of Controller Mark Roberts, who continues to allege violations by his election opponent Sean P. Lally.
Lally topped Roberts, who has served two terms as county controller, to receive the Democratic party nomination in the May primary election.

Roberts has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of several of Lally's election petitions.

Lally spent $12,700 on attorneys to survive the election challenge at the county level and an appeal to state Commonwealth Court, according to his campaign finance report.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/fayette/s_525285.html

Sunday, September 02, 2007

NAFTA Superhighway: Mythical says Nation writer

Christopher Hayes, writer for The Nation magazine, said on C-Span, the NAFTA Superhighway is "mythical."

"it doesn't exist," Hayes said. It's a fear in terms of American sovereignty... not well grounded in reality...

C-Span

The Nation

excerpt

Grassroots movement exposes elite conspiracy and forces politicians to respond: It would be a heartening story but for one small detail.

There's no such thing as a proposed NAFTA Superhighway.

Though opposition to the nonexistent highway is the cause célèbre of many a paranoiac, the myth upon which it rests was not fabricated out of whole cloth. Rather, it has been sewn together from scraps of fact...

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070827/hayes


Say what, Christopher Hayes... the NAFTA Superhighway doesn't exist? Hmmm... not yet, Mr. Hayes, but it is coming... and with it the end of U.S. sovereignty since the NAFTA Superhighway is part of the larger concept to eliminate borders between three separate countries.

Read your history, sir.

Hayes also said there is no political push for a North American Union... say what again! That's exactly the push to first eliminate borders between the United States, Mexico and Canada, there is a political push to equalize trade, laws, etc.

Hayes also said the mainstream media hasn't covered this... but the mythological NAFTA Superhighway is all over the Internet...

Exactly... the mainstream media hasn't covered the situation so it is left to sites such as ours and real news gatherers like Newsmax and World Net Daily to expose the news the mainstream media won't...

The man keeps digging himself in deeper.

He says there is no "evidence" the Texas road - massive scale - is going to continue across the United States...

Host asks him specifically, is there any evidence in other single states of movement on connecting the road...

Hayes, there are rumblings, he says, but nothing being built...

Is the man daffy? So because dirt isn't being moved right this instant, there's no evidence???

Don't miss the rebuttal by Gerome Corsi at World Net Daily

excerpt

The Nation cover story denies Superhighway
Nevertheless acknowledges massive Texas project to accommodate NAFTA, WTO

Posted: August 15, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

In a cover story for the current Nation magazine, Christopher Hayes is the latest to join a growing list of those who deny a NAFTA Superhighway exists.

"There is no such thing as a proposed NAFTA Superhighway," Hayes declares.

The remainder of the article, however, shows how the Trans Texas Corridor under construction parallel to Interstate 35 is specifically designed to accommodate the steadily growing volume of NAFTA and World Trade Organization traffic pouring into Texas from China and the Far East through Mexican ports on the Pacific such as Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas.

Like Hayes, the the Dallas-based trade group North America's SuperCorridor Coalition, Inc., or NASCO, adamantly denies the superhighway.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57165


http://www.worldnetdaily.com/search.asp

Related

NAFTA Superhighway deniers ignore evidence
Posted: August 16, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

An extensive search of the available literature and archived websites establishes that either a fundamental incompetence or a basic political dishonesty drives those deniers who want to squash any public discussion of "NAFTA Superhighways."

Directly stated, NAFTA Superhighway deniers either negligently overlook a large body of specific references by transportation economists, transportation trade associations and numerous government reports, or they intentionally disregard these references to make a political point.

In 1998, transportation economist John P. McCray published an important paper entitled, "North American Free Trade Agreement Truck Highway Corridors: U.S.-Mexican Truck Rivers of Trade" in the Transportation Research Record.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57175


NAFTA superhighway extends north
Plan under way in Texas will extend to Oklahoma, Colorado
Posted: June 21, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2007 WorldNetDaily.com

A NAFTA superhighway plan under way in Texas will be extended to Oklahoma and Colorado, stretching the four-lane, train-truck-car-pipeline corridor from the Mexican border at Laredo, Texas, to Denver, reports WND columnist Jerome Corsi, whose new investigative book, "The Late Great USA: The Coming Merger with Mexico and Canada," has just been released.

As WND has reported, the Federal Highway Administration is promoting public-private partnership projects to expand superhighway projects, consistent with extending the Trans-Texas Corridor network north.

The plan is for the states of Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado to apply the TTC toll road concept first developed by the Texas DOT to largely rural areas along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.

To advance this plan, the Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor Coalition – sponsored by the consulates of Mexico and Canada along with the Texas and Colorado transportation departments – is co-sponsoring a "Great Plains 2007" international conference Sept. 19-21 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56287


NAU deniers: Ignorant, or deceitful?
Posted: August 25, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern

There is a difference between stupid and ignorant. The talking heads at Fox News are not stupid. But the three guests on Brit Hume's Tuesday night telecast who snickered at the "conspiracy nuts" who are concerned about the emergence of a North American Union are either ignorant, or deceitful. Here's the question: Is the NAU fact, or fiction?

Ridicule is a time-proven way to discredit opponents and redirect attention away from the issue at hand. Consider how President Bush avoided answering a direct question during a press conference in Canada Tuesday. When asked, "Can you say today that this is not a prelude to a North American Union?" Bush didn't say yes or no; he hemmed and hawed and told reporters: "I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and by what some are trying to say takes place."

Were the meetings not held in secret and were the press allowed to observe and report, the president would certainly not be amused. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Judicial Watch secured documents from a previous meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partners, and learned that in secret, the participants discussed "... evolution by stealth," referring to the advancement of the SPP. But the president insisted that references to a North American Union were nothing but "political scare tactics."

The president is not ignorant about what the SPP is doing; he and the other heads of state, the prime minister of Canada and Mexico's president, are the current contractors charged with building the NAU. The chief architect is one Robert Pastor and the Council on Foreign Relations Task Force.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57306