Autism cure?

Caught this brief report on Fox 'n Friends previously

Autism Cure? Pregnancy Hormone Offers New Hope
Thursday, December 07, 2006 By Dr. Manny Alvarez

Excerpt

This week, a new study presented at the meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, conducted by Dr. Eric Hollander and Jennifer Bartz of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, offered some new encouragement. In the study, adult patients with autism were given Pitocin, the pharmaceutical name for oxytocin, a naturally occuring hormone in the brain that women are often given during childbirth to speed and regulate contractions.

In its simplest explanation, autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can impair, to varying degrees of severity, a child's socialization--to communicate through language, to experience or express emotions, or to connect emotionally with other people or the world around him or her. Studies have linked oxytocin (not to be confused with the addictive painkiller oxycontin) in altering the pathways of social behavior in animals, and is believed to contribute to the intense feelings of bonding that new mothers feel toward their babies. The autistic adult subjects in the study who received Pitocin retained their ability to asses emotions, and showed a reduction of repetitive behaviors, which is one of the hallmarks of autistic spectrum disorders.

The clear implication of the study is that we are getting closer to understanding some of the chemical pathways of behavior, and getting closer to a possible cure for autism.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234958,00.html

Kenneth Stein: Carter book historically inaccurate

On Fox n Friends, Kenneth Stein http://www.ismi.emory.edu/stein.html stated former President Jimmy Carter's new book is "historically inaccurate..."

Pointing out inaccuracies and falsehoods in historical accounts, just the kind of material we want and should demand. Finally, somebody calling out whoa on historical truth... We'll have to sort out both sides for ourselves, however as another historian, Douglas Brinkley is quoted...

It is not the first time Carter and Stein have disagreed over Middle East policy, said Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Tulane University and the author of the 1988 Carter biography, "The Unfinished Presidency."

They've never been on the same page in the Middle East. They've been in an almost constant state of disagreement," Brinkley said. Stein "doesn't trust the Palestinians as much as Carter."

Brinkley said he has read Carter's new book but would not address Stein's accusations.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec06/0,4670,CarterCriticism,00.html

It's same old same old himhawing when Brinkley says he's read the book, but he would not address Stein's accusations.

Why not?

Hopefully, Kenneth Stein will receive a lot of support and create a foundation and organization that ferrets out inaccuracies in all historical works!

This morning, appearing on Fox 'n Friends to discuss former President Jimmy Carter's book, Kenneth Stein:

"historically inaccurate," says Stein. He's trying to rewrite history the way he wants it to be... he's a supporter of the Palestinians... the purpose of a book should be to try to bring people together... Carter said he chose the title of the book to be provocative...

Asked by Fox hosts to name a few of the inaccuracies, Stein gave page numbers including page 242...

How many inaccuracies...

I've seen inaccuracies, distortions, I'd like to know where he got his maps from... he ought to write an op-ed piece that says what he wrote is wrong...

end unofficial

Stein will appear on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace

http://www.foxnews.com/fns/index.html

http://www.cartercenter.org/news/experts/kenneth_stein.html

Jimmy Carter Fires Back at Longtime Aide Over Book
Friday, December 08, 2006 By Melissa Drosjack

Stein alleged an inaccuracy on page 131 in the book of a 1990 White House meeting where Carter cites that Washington was mostly preoccupied with the Iraq/Kuwait conflict. Stein said that was in 1980, not 1990.

"He makes it appear that the reasons people didn't pay attention to what he was saying was because of the invasion," Stein said. "How was that possible? I was there."...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235422,00.html

Longtime Aide Tells FOX News Why He Cut Ties to Carter
Friday, December 08, 2006 By Melissa Drosjack

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235303,00.html

Appearing on Fox Live, Dennis Ross was asked what he thinks about Jimmy Carter's book... was anything inaccurate... taken...

Ross: the maps are wholly a creation of mine and not attributed in Carter's book...

end unofficial

Jimmy Carter Fires Back at Longtime Aide Over Book
Friday, December 08, 2006

By Melissa Drosjack
WASHINGTON — Former President Jimmy Carter faced new criticism Friday over his controversial book on Palestinian lands when a former Middle East diplomat accused him of improperly publishing maps that did not belong to him.

The new charge came as Carter attempted to counter charges from a former top aide that the book manipulates facts to distort history.

Ambassador Dennis Ross, a former Mideast envoy and FOX News foreign affairs analyst, claims maps commissioned and published by him were improperly republished in Carter's book.

"I think there should be a correction and an attribution," Ross said. "These were maps that never existed, I created them."

After Ross saw the maps in Carter's book, he told his publisher he wanted a correction.

When asked if the former president ripped him off, Ross replied: “it sure looks that way.”

Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid," was released last week.

"A former Carter Center fellow has taken issue with it, and Alan Dershowitz called the book's title 'indecent.' Out in the real world, however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive," Carter wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed piece published in Friday's edition...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235422,00.html

Apartheid label will stick.
By Jim Wooten | Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 09:08 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The shocking news from the morning paper is a quote deep in the story announcing that an expert on the Middle East who was the first executive director of the Carter Center, Kenneth Stein, had resigned his position at the center. The quote is this:

“President Carter’s book on the Middle East, a title too inflamatory to even print, is not based on unvarnished analysis; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments. Aside from the one-sided nature of the book, meant to provoke, there are recollections cited from meetings where I was the third person in the room, and my notes of those meetings show little similarity to points claimed in the book.”

The book, “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” has angered supporters of Israel for being one-sided and for many of the other reasons Stein claims, including omissions and factual errors. Other experts on the region have reached conclusions similar to Stein’s. While Carter’s not the first to claim that “apartheid” is an approrpriate label —Desmond Tutu did too — his position and status will popularize the label.

The book does have such a provocative title and its content could materially affect public opinion about Israel and the Middle East. Because of that, the allegations Stein makes in resigning his position as a Carter Center fellow for Middle East Affairs bear fuller examination. Stein in particular should be heard more fully because he was the “third person in the room” and because he is a scholar who would be more reliable in recounting details than an active participant inclined to hear selectively...

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/shared-blogs/ajc/thinkingright/entries/2006/12/06/post_35.html

FOX Facts: Dr. Kenneth W. Stein's Letter
Thursday, December 07, 2006

The following is the text of a letter sent Dec. 7 by Dr. Kenneth W. Stein to FOXNews.com:

This note is to inform you that yesterday, I sent letters to President Carter, Emory University President Jim Wagner and Dr. John Hardman, Executive Director of the Carter Center resigning my position, effective immediately, as Middle East Fellow of the Carter Center of Emory University.

This ends my 23 year association with an institution that in some small way I helped develop and shape.

My joint academic position in Emory College in the History and Political Science Departments, and, as Director of the Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel remains unchanged.

Many still believe that I have an active association with the Center and, act as an adviser to President Carter, neither is the case. President Carter has intermittently continued to come to the Arab-Israeli Conflict class I teach in Emory College. He gives undergraduate students a fine first hand recollection of the Begin-Sadat negotiations of the late 1970s.

Since I left the Center physically 13 years ago, the Middle East program of the Center has waned as has my status as a Carter Center Fellow.

For the record, I had nothing to do with the research, preparation, writing, or review of President Carter's recent book. Any material which he used from the book we did together in 1984, "The Blood of Abraham," he used unilaterally.

President Carter's book on the Middle East, a title too inflammatory to even print, is not based on unvarnished analyses; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments.

Aside from the one-sided nature of the book, meant to provoke, there are recollections cited from meetings where I was the third person in the room, and my notes of those meetings show little similarity to points claimed in the book.

Being a former President does not give one a unique privilege to invent information or to unpack it with cuts, deftly slanted to provide a particular outlook. Having little access to Arabic and Hebrew sources, I believe, clearly handicapped his understanding and analyses of how history has unfolded over the last decade.

Falsehoods, if repeated often enough become meta-truths, and they then can become the erroneous baseline for shaping and reinforcing attitudes and for policy-making. The history and interpretation of the Arab-Israeli conflict is already drowning in half-truths, suppositions, and self-serving myths; more are not necessary. In due course, I shall detail these points and reflect on their origins...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235283,00.html

Letter reprinted from site e-mail

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/016123.php

Carter Book Criticized
Wednesday, December 06, 2006

ATLANTA — A longtime aide to Jimmy Carter has resigned from the Carter Center think tank, calling the former president's new book on Israel and the Arabs one-sided and filled with errors.

Kenneth Stein, the Carter Center's first executive director and founder of its Middle East program, sent a letter that bluntly criticized the book to Carter and others.

Stein wrote that the book, "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid," was replete with factual errors, material copied from other sources and "simply invented segments," according to an excerpt of the letter published by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Deanna Congileo, Carter's spokeswoman, said the former president stands by the book.

Stein, who is also director of the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel at Emory University, did not immediately return a call Wednesday.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec06/0,4670,CarterCriticism,00.html

Historian Severs Ties with Carter Center Over Distorted Book
December 6, 2006

Historian Kenneth Stein has resigned from the Carter Center over the former president’s new book which, he charges, is "replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments...

http://camera.org/

http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=8&x_nameinnews=187&x_article=1245

Emory Report January 22, 2002 Arafat should step aside, not away

Kenneth Stein is the William E. Schatten Professor of Middle Eastern History and Political Science and director of the Middle East Research Program and Institute for the Study of Modern Israel.

Excerpt

...A contiguous, independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital is possible, doable and necessary. If you take these steps of gathering the illegal weapons, incarcerating the perpetrators of violence and shutting down the hateful incitement in mosques and in the media, you will force reluctant Israelis to give up their myths and their dreams of having all the land for Israel west of the Jordan River.

Look at the change in Israel and the United States. A quarter century ago, when President Carter mentioned the need for a “Palestinian homeland” in a town-hall meeting, his remark was met with instant hostility, incredulity and anger from virtually every quarter supporting Israel. When George W. Bush called for a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Oct. 2, 2001, his remarks barely received a whimper from Israelis or American supporters of Israel.

Americans have been educated to the reality that a Palestinian state is necessary and required as long as it eliminates all hostile intentions toward Israel and Jordan.

As Israeli historian Yosef Gorny wrote, “Practical considerations do not necessarily contradict principles, and compromises do not always negate aspirations. On the contrary, compromise usually enables their realization.”

Maybe Sharon is the only Israeli prime minister who can make peace with the Palestinians; de Gaulle did it with the Algerians, and Nixon opened the door to China. You do not need to step away; just step aside...

http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/erarchive/2002/January%20/erJan.22/1_22_02firstperson.html

Name: Kenneth Stein, Ph.D.
Title: William E. Schatten Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History and Israeli Studies Emory University
Position: Pro Two-State Solution to the question "What are the solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?"
Reasoning: "The Palestinian quest for self-determination just like the State of Israel cannot be physically destroyed; Israel can not absorb 3 million Palestinians and still be a majority Jewish state. Separating the two communities, the partition of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean and the creation of two independent states remains as it has been for over sixty years the only viable options for a political solution."

"American Mediation of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict:
A positive Assessment of the April 2002 Powell Mission"
Rivista Italiana Di Geopolitica May 2002, pp. 173-182

http://www.israelipalestinianprocon.org/Biosind/kennethstein.html

Rewards for Justice 25 million for info about 911 hijackers BBC News should go for it!

Catch a terrorist - Collect maybe 25 million bucks! Oh sure we believe we regular people who just happen upon a terrorist in our little circle of friends won't then become the subject of an investigation.

Interrogator dripping glacier-cold water over your blindfolded eyes:

You love/hate the United States of America.

You lo/hate the United States of America.

You hate the United States of America.

Fox n' Friends this morning (Thursday, December 7, 2006) interviewed an official who spoke about the rewards for justice program...

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Mission

The spokesman mentioned the website for the agency's program. We visited and found.

Continuing Mission:

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. Two of these were used to to attack the New York World Trade Center Twin Towers and one was used to attack the Pentagon.

The fourth airliner crashed into a field near Shanksville, PA. The death toll on the four airliners was 266 people. The death toll at the Pentagon is approximately 189 military and civilian personnel and the death toll in New York is approximately 3,000 people.

The first flight, American Airlines Flight 11, smashed into the north tower of the Twin Towers at 8:45a.m.

The second flight, United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the south tower at 9:05a.m.

The Pentagon was hit by American Airlines Flight 77 at 9:39a.m.

American Airlines Flight 93 crashed before it reached its intended target.

The reward for information about the September 11th attacks is up to $25 million...

http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Sept11

The site links to FBI photographs of the FBI named hijackers of four commercial airliners on September 11, 2001

But the site doesn't note several of the named persons have reportedly been claimed to be alive and continue to be claimed to be alive?

So, let's suppose somebody produces one of the named/photographed 9/11 hijackers as being alive and well. Will they get the 25 million bucks?

The FBI doesn't refute and settle reported claims, made within two articles published by the BBC News and entitled:

Saturday, 22 September, 2001, 20:41 GMT 21:41 UK :

Hijack 'suspect' alive in Morocco By David Bamford

Sunday, 23 September, 2001, 12:30 GMT 13:30 UK:

Hijack 'suspects' alive and well

Wouldn't it be interesting if these persons who were reported as being alive (now some five years later) were videotaped alive - displayed on streaming video and youtube - and then this matter could be settled once and for all. (maybe even somebody would get the $25 million.)

Should the same face of a 9/11 hijacker appear on video as alive and well, this would be the jolt felt round the world, wouldn't it?

Hey, but the video would have to be verified as a real and authentic video, not a fake, and not containing somebody dressed up and made-up to look like a 9/11 hijacker as named, identified and photographed for FBI files.

Maybe some blood analysis DNA forensics could also be utilized to compare the 'alive' and 'well' person to the reported as deceased 9/11 hijacker. Maybe there are twins of the deceased 9/11 hijackers out there. You never know, maybe there are clones.

The Rewards for Justice program was a featured segment on Fox 'n Friends just this morning, (Thursday, December 7, 2006) and the names and faces of persons posted to the official Rewards for Justice site are not just purported to be the 9/11 hijackers, but portrayed as the only ones responsible for 9/11.

Yet, there is still room for doubt.

Truly, there is still room for doubt that

the FBI named and pictured the actual persons responsible for 9/11

the FBI named-and-pictured persons the FBI claims are responsible for 9/11 are dead

the FBI named-and-pictured persons the FBI claims are responsible for 9/11 are alive

Why does this puzzlement arise now?

We've found an October 27, 2006 blogged BBC News editorial entitled:

9/11 conspiracy theory by Steve Herrmann http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/10/911_conspiracy_theory_1.html

The Herrmann editorial refers to the original BBC News article Hijack 'suspects' alive and well September 23, 2001 .

The editorial says the September 23, 2001 story has been "cited ever since by some as evidence that the 9/11 attacks were part of a US government conspiracy..."

well of course the article has been cited as evidence the 9/11 attacks were part of a US government conspiracy. If 9/11 hijack suspects are alive and well, the FBI's list that includes the alive suspect is bogus.

What did the BBC News expect? Maybe, they knew precisely what to expect.

The editorial further notes BBC News made an alteration in a caption referring to one of the hijack suspects.

The rest of the article was left intact in the archive. (Better copy it people, before it disappears.)

The editorial includes a statement that the BBC News "later reported on the list of hijackers, thereby superseding the earlier report..."

The link leads to this piece:

Date: Friday, 5 October, 2001, 15:10 GMT 16:10 UK
The investigation and the evidence

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1581063.stm

And that story links to the FBI generated list...

Friday, 28 September, 2001, 03:08 GMT 04:08 UK The hijack suspects

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation has released the photos of the suspected hijackers of the four planes seized on 11 September

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1567815.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1581063.stm

Note however that the Steve Herrmann editorial does not retract the headline of the September 23, 2001 article: Hijack 'suspects' alive and well.

Nothing in the editorial emphatically retracts the material presented in the original article, in fact.

The editorial makes the commentary: "The confusion over names and identities we reported back in 2001 may have arisen because these were common Arabic and Islamic names."

Huh. So what if there was confusion over names - there were actual FBI photographs - in fact, apparently, BBC News used the FBI photographs of named hijack 'suspects' and of in particular - Waleed Al Shehri.

And having seen the photographs - the persons so named - as noted in both the September 22, 2001 and the September 23, 2001 articles - said - that's me - and I am alive, right?

Or not right? Herrmann in the editorial notes the Waleed Al Shehri caption under the FBI photograph was changed to "a man called Waleed Al Shehri"

So what does using "a man called" accomplish if the rest of the archived story remains intact as it was originally published, without a clarification that the so-named hijack suspect/s mentioned in the article are not alive?

The Herrmann editorial accomplishes only more confusion. Maybe that's the intention.

Note the wording of the commentary again:

"The confusion over names and identities we reported back in 2001 may have arisen because these were common Arabic and Islamic names."

Herrmann's editorial attempts to portray the entire hijack 'suspects' alive and well article itself as one that at the time is reporting on the confusion over names/identities - FBI confusion - but that simply doesn't hold up for this reason.

By using the technique of a single quotation mark ('), the headline places emphasis on 'suspects' and the headline reads:

Hijack 'suspects' alive and well

With the emphasis on the word 'suspects,' the reader is led to think this way:

those persons named as suspects are ha ha not suspects

precisely because the rest of the headline reads:

alive and well.

If there were confusion over whether the suspects were alive and well, the emphasis in the headline would have read like this:

Hijack suspects 'alive and well'

If there were an intention to portray some question about the suspects being dead, on the other hand, the headline would read like this:

Hijack 'suspects' alive and well

If the headline wanted to capture and announce FBI confusion and doubt about the suspects names/identities/photographs the headline would have read like this:

Hijack suspects?

Consider also, why choose a headline such as Hijack 'suspects' alive and well
when other headlines would have clarified the piece was about confusion and doubt - specifically, FBI doubt.

For instance: Hijack Identities Under Scrutiny or Hijack Identities Under Doubt or FBI admits doubt or simply Doubt

Anything would have been better than the headline Hijack 'suspects' alive and well as that headline visually leads the reader to conclude the Hijack suspects as so named by the FBI are alive and well.

Five years later, the question remains: are the so-named and photographed suspects 'alive and well?'.

With the change of the caption under the FBI photograph, BBC News is hinting - five years later by the way - the FBI may not have gotten the name of the person in the photograph correct.

To further add to confusion, Herrmann notes in the editorial that the FBI stands by its released photographs of the 9/11 hijackers and identities of those depicted.

The earlier BBC News story link follows with excerpts. Note: With the Herrmann editorial, let me express again, the BBC News has NOT RETRACTED anything in the body of its own referenced September 23, 2001 story Hijack 'suspects' alive and well.

Read the editorial closely.

Pay particular attention to the lead sentence.

BBC News Hijack 'suspects' alive and well

Sunday, 23 September, 2001, 12:30 GMT 13:30 UK
Hijack 'suspects' alive and wellAnother of the men named by the FBI as a hijacker in the suicide attacks on Washington and New York has turned up alive and well.

The identities of four of the 19 suspects accused of having carried out the attacks are now in doubt.

Saudi Arabian pilot Waleed Al Shehri was one of five men that the FBI said had deliberately crashed American Airlines flight 11 into the World Trade Centre on 11 September.
His photograph was released, and has since appeared in newspapers and on television around the world.

Now he is protesting his innocence from Casablanca, Morocco.

He told journalists there that he had nothing to do with the attacks on New York and Washington, and had been in Morocco when they happened. He has contacted both the Saudi and American authorities, according to Saudi press reports.

He acknowledges that he attended flight training school at Daytona Beach in the United States, and is indeed the same Waleed Al Shehri to whom the FBI has been referring.

But, he says, he left the United States in September last year, became a pilot with Saudi Arabian airlines and is currently on a further training course in Morocco.

Mistaken identity

Abdulaziz Al Omari, another of the Flight 11 hijack suspects, has also been quoted in Arab news reports.

He says he is an engineer with Saudi Telecoms, and that he lost his passport while studying in Denver.

Another man with exactly the same name surfaced on the pages of the English-language Arab News.

The second Abdulaziz Al Omari is a pilot for Saudi Arabian Airlines, the report says.

Meanwhile, Asharq Al Awsat newspaper, a London-based Arabic daily, says it has interviewed Saeed Alghamdi.

He was listed by the FBI as a hijacker in the United flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.

And there are suggestions that another suspect, Khalid Al Midhar, may also be alive.

FBI Director Robert Mueller acknowledged on Thursday that the identity of several of the suicide hijackers is in doubt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1559151.stm

Blog posts full article

http://us-amnesia.blogspot.com/2006/07/hijack-suspects-alive-and-well.html

Posts full article

http://www.911readingroom.org/bib/whole_document.php?article_id=141

http://newsmine.org/archive/9-11/suspects/hijackers-alive/hijackers-alive-bbc.txt

The BBC News report also includes the listing of 9/11 hijack suspects

Hijacking suspects
Flight 175: Marwan Al-Shehhi, Fayez Ahmed, Mohald Alshehri, Hamza Alghamdi and Ahmed Alghamdi

Flight 11: Waleed M Alshehri, Wail Alshehri, Mohamed Atta, Abdulaziz Alomari and Satam Al Suqami

Flight 77: Khalid Al-Midhar, Majed Moqed, Nawaq Alhamzi, Salem Alhamzi and Hani Hanjour

Flight 93: Ahmed Alhaznawi, Ahmed Alnami, Ziad Jarrahi and Saeed Alghamdi

Excerpts:

Saudi Arabian pilot Waleed Al Shehri was one of five men that the FBI said had deliberately crashed American Airlines flight 11 into the World Trade Centre on 11 September.

His photograph was released, and has since appeared in newspapers and on television around the world.

Now he is protesting his innocence from Casablanca, Morocco.

Abdulaziz Al Omari, another of the Flight 11 hijack suspects, has also been quoted in Arab news reports.


The second Abdulaziz Al Omari is a pilot for Saudi Arabian Airlines, the report says.

Meanwhile, Asharq Al Awsat newspaper, a London-based Arabic daily, says it has interviewed Saeed Alghamdi.

The Rewards for Justice site references the 9/11 hijackers

including:

Waleed Al Shehri

flight 11 http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Flight11

Abdulaziz Alomari

Flight 11 http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Flight11

Saeed Alghamdi

Flight 93 http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Flight93

Khalid Al Midhar

Flight 77
http://www.rewardsforjustice.net/english/index.cfm?page=Flight77

If the BBC News according to its September 23, 2001 report (which it has not retracted as being wholly inaccurate) has information of the whereabouts of any of the depicted, it is injustice to all who died on September 11, 2001 to suppress such information five years, ten years, later.

Likewise, if BBC News - by changing the caption underneath an FBI photograph of what the FBI says is a 9/11 hijacker - doesn't believe the FBI got the names/identities/photographs of all of the hijackers correct, the BBC News should make a statement to that effect.

BBC Editorial 5 years later 9/11 Conspiracy theory by Steve Herrmann

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/10/911_conspiracy_theory_1.html

Don't miss this article:

Excerpt:
Saturday, 22 September, 2001, 20:41 GMT 21:41 UK
Hijack 'suspect' alive in Morocco

By David Bamford
in Rabat
A Saudi-Arabian aircraft pilot who was named as one of five suspects on board one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Centre, has turned up alive and well in Morocco.

The man, Waleed Al-Shehri, has told Saudi journalists in Casablanca that he had nothing to do with the attacks on New York and Washington, and had been in Morocco at the time...

continued...

One of those five names was Waleed Al-Shehri, a Saudi pilot who had trained in the United States.

His photograph was released by the FBI, and has been shown in newspapers and on television around the world.

That same Mr Al-Shehri has turned up in Morocco, proving clearly that he was not a member of the suicide attack.

He told Saudi journalists in Casablanca that he has contacted both the Saudi and American authorities to advise them that he had nothing to do with the attack.

He acknowledges that he attended flight training school at Dayton Beach in the United States, and is indeed the same Waleed Al-Shehri to whom the FBI has been referring.

Confusion

But, he says, he left the United States in September last year, and became a pilot with Saudi Arabian Airlines, and is currently on a further training course in Morocco.

He says he was in Marrekesh when the attack took place.

Mr Al-Shehri's case is not the first in which there has been apparent confusion as to the identities of the hijackers who commandeered the four planes on 11 September.

Mr Al-Shehri said he has now been interviewed by the American authorities, who apologised for the misunderstanding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1558669.stm

Read the foregoing again. the BBC News does not put this in quotations, rather the statement attributed to Mr Al-Shehri is paraphrased:

Mr Al-Shehri said he has now been interviewed by the American authorities, who apologised for the misunderstanding.

Don't miss these related items

Too Much Conspiracy Peter Barron December 1, 2006
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/12/too_much_conspiracy.html

Terror Questions - Do You Have Answers August 10, 2006

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2006/08/terror_questions_do_you_have_answers.html

Daniel Pearl

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/danielpearl.html

Resources and links can be found at This is Not a Conspiracy Theory

This is Not a Conspiracy Theory is the result of my research to find out details about the morning of September 11, 2001 and precisely the length of time George W. Bush remained seated in a classroom after learning from Andrew Card that a second plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and that America was under attack.

Some websites promoted the notion that President Bush remained in the classroom reading a story about a pet goat with the children for 25 minutes. That is inaccurate.

History that is inaccurate is not truth.

Most people simply don't have the time to sort through hundreds of news articles to try to determine the truth of reports. Several of these reports have stated President Bush took immediate action upon learning that America was "under attack."

History that is inaccurate is not history. History that is inaccurate is a lie.

http://dirtline.tripod.com/talkacrosstown/index.html

The following is food for thought. Note the different spellings of Alshehri and Alshihri wikipedia uses in the same sentence to identify the father of the brothers.

(Rewards for Justice uses: Flight 11 Waleed Al Shehri a photograph is posted to the site.

wiki pedia

Waleed and Wail were both mistakenly reported to have been found alive and well, by the BBC later in 2001. They were initially reported in error by a Saudi newspaper editor as the sons of Ahmed Alshehri, a senior Saudi diplomat stationed in Bombay, India. On September 16, 2001, the diplomat Ahmed Alshehri denied that he was the father of the two hijackers. Wail claims he did attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida - but was the victim of mistaken identity, since he used that training to secure his current position with a Moroccan airline company. Saudi Arabia has confirmed his story, and suggested he was the victim of identity theft.

Muhammad Ali Al-Shihri, the hijacker al-Shehri brothers' true father, was identified prior to September 17, 2001, and told Arab News that he hadn't heard from his sons in ten months prior to September 2001.[11] An ABC News story in March 2002 repeated this, and during a report entitled "A Saudi Apology" for Dateline NBC on Aug 25 2002, NBC's reporter John Hockenberry traveled to 'Asir, where he interviewed the third brother, Salah, who agreed that his two brothers were dead and claimed they had been "brainwashed".

Furthermore another article explains that the pilot who lives in Casablanca was named Walid al-Shri (not Waleed M. al-Shehri) and that much of the BBC information regarding "alive" hijackers was incorrect according to the same sources used by BBC. [12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waleed_al-Shehri#Aftermath

Also see

Claims that some of the hijackers are still alive
Initial news reports shortly after 9/11 indicated that some of the hijackers were alive, fueling speculation that others were responsible.

The BBC News reported on September 23, 2001, that some of the people named by the FBI as hijackers, killed on the crashes, were actually alive and well. [91]

One of the hijackers was Waleed al-Shehri, and according to the BBC report he was found in Casablanca, Morocco.

However, the al-Shehri's father says he hadn't heard from his sons in ten months prior to September 2001.[92] An ABC News story in March 2002 repeated this, and during a report entitled "A Saudi Apology" for Dateline NBC on Aug 25, 2002, NBC's reporter John Hockenberry traveled to 'Asir, where he interviewed the third brother Salah who agreed that his two brothers were dead and said they had been "brainwashed".

Furthermore, another article explains that the pilot who lives in Casablanca was named Walid al-Shri (not Waleed M. al-Shehri) and that much of the BBC information regarding "alive" hijackers was incorrect according to the same sources used by BBC.[93]
...

The BBC and The Guardian have since reported that there was evidence al-Mihdhar was still alive and that some of the other hijackers identities were in doubt. This was commented on by FBI director Robert Mueller.[101] Der Spiegel later investigated the claims of "living" hijackers by the BBC and discovered them to be cases of mistaken identities.[25] In 2002, Saudi Arabia admitted that the names of the hijackers were in fact correct.[26] None of the hijackers have turned up alive since the September 11, 2001 attacks.(source?)...

http://www.answers.com/topic/9-11-conspiracy-theories

Rendell seeks bidders to own or lease Turnpike
Wednesday, December 06, 2006

By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- If you've ever wanted to buy or lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike, now's your chance, Gov. Ed Rendell said today.

He set Dec. 22 as a deadline for companies that want to give the state bids for buying or long-term leasing some or all of the 500-mile highway across Pennsylvania, including the Northeast Extension to Scranton.

He conceded that is an "aggressive'' timetable but said it's necessary.

Mr. Rendell said that based on preliminary conversations he's had, the sale/lease could bring the state anywhere from $3 billion to $30 billion. Whatever the price is, the money would be invested and the annual interest used to repair roads, bridges and mass transit systems.

If, for example, the turnpike was sold for $10 billion, the governor said the state should be able to get an annual revenue stream of $800 million or $900 million, which is about half of what a transportation study panel recently said was needed to make proper maintenance of roads and bridges and supply operating funds for the Allegheny County Port Authority, SEPTA in the Philadelphia area and other mass transit systems.

Mr. Rendell said he will make a recommendation to the General Assembly in late January on how to raise the estimated total of $1.7 billion a year in additional revenue that the study panel said is needed.

Even if the turnpike is sold or leased, it's likely that other additional revenue -- from tax increases -- will still be needed. Mr. Rendell wouldn't specify which ones, but the study report suggested a 12.5 cent a gallon increase in the gasoline tax, or higher sales taxes, personal income taxes or realty transfer taxes as a way to generate the money needed for roads, bridges and mass transit.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06340/743961-100.stm

Trans fats banned by Nanny York City

OK. Nanny York City bans trans fats... are we part of the European Union, yet? New World Order?

While I don't choose to use products that contain trans fatty acids, rather than government dictating what a private establishment can and cannot serve, the decision should be left up to the establishment and customers.

My preference is to be educated on the issues of the dangers of trans fatty acids as identified, read as much additional material as I can gather, and make up my own mind about what I want to eat, or not eat.

the question arises: Will New York City require people who have a cold or the flu to wear protective gear so they don't sneeze all over the healthy on the street, in the subways, on the buses, or in the restaurants?

Colds and flus can be life-threatening, too.

Ban Trans Fats
http://www.bantransfats.com/abouttransfat.html

LDL Cholesterol Bad Cholesterol or Bad Science?
Anthony Colpo

http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/colpo.pdf

Diet, Fitness & Exercise: NYC Bans Trans Fats
By Katherine Hobson Posted 12/5/06

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/061205/5health.transfat.htm


Let's go see what Reason Magazine has on this issue.

Trans Fat Free at Last Jacob Sullum | November 1, 2006

Just in time to stop New York and Chicago from banning trans fats in restaurant food (if politicians ever paid attention to the scientific evidence), the American Council on Science and Health has issued a characteristically measured report that puts the dangers of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in perspective. Among its major points...

http://www.reasonmag.com/blog/show/116344.html

Trans Fatty Acids and Heart Disease
By Kathleen Meister, M.A.
Edited by Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D. Posted: Monday, October 30, 2006

http://www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.1415/pub_detail.asp

Related

The Calcium Factor

search results

Web Exclusive | Leon Jaroff Coral Calcium: A Barefoot Scam

Robert Barefoot's theories about the powers of coral calcium don't hold up
Posted Friday, Mar. 14, 2003
It may be one of the more successful scams of our age. Through books, lectures, audiotapes and infomercials, Robert R. Barefoot has spread his theory that a product he calls coral calcium provides "the scientific secret of health and youth," as well as preventing cancer and a host of other diseases.

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,433084,00.html

Be Wary of Coral Calcium and Robert Barefoot by Stephen Barrett, M.D.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral.html

We'll have to learn more about this specific situation since the state's residency requirements are as abysmal as its onerous ballot access laws.

Democratic lawmaker believes GOP may challenge his House seat
By Alison Hawkes, For the Herald-Standard
12/07/2006

HARRISBURG - Bucks County's representative-elect Chris King said he believes a Republican may try to block him from taking office in early January in a move to throw party control of the House or the Speaker's post up in the air.

King, a Democrat, said he's hearing whispers that a Republican could use a procedural move to stop him from being seated on Jan. 2 during swearing-in ceremonies.

The basis for the move is an old complaint that King doesn't meet the residency requirements for public office.

Democrats are in power by a one-seat majority, making King's status a crucial one in votes for a new Speaker that day or party control of the chamber. Republicans are also still attempting to win a Chester County seat through a recount.

"This is desperate measures for desperate times. It's nonsense," King said. "I own a condo in Harrisburg but Bucks County has always been my home."

House Republican leaders are not saying it's them behind the effort to block King.

"I don't know who's heading it but I know it's an issue," said Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Republican Leader Sam Smith. "I don't know if it's coming from leadership quarters."

In a similar vein, Allegheny County Rep. Jake Wheatley, a two-term Democrat, said he has heard his seating also may be challenged for the first time on the grounds of felony charge he pleaded guilty to when he was 17 for stealing a jacket in Michigan.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17559244&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468520&rfi=6

Global Warming and the media hearing

December 6, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, said today’s hearing about the media and climate change revealed that “Scare tactics should not drive public policy.” The hearing’s purpose was to examine the media’s presentation of climate science and featured scientists and media experts.

“As the Democrats rush to pass costly carbon cap legislation in the next Congress, today’s hearing showed that the so-called ‘scientific consensus’ does not exist. Leading scientists from the U.S. and Australia denounced much of the media for becoming advocates for alarmism rather than objectivity,” Senator James Inhofe said.

“I was particularly interested in testimony by Dr. Daniel Schrag of Harvard University, who believes that manmade emissions are driving global warming. Dr. Schrag said the Kyoto Protocol is not the right approach to take and agreed it would have almost no impact on the climate even if all the nations fully complied,” Inhofe added. Currently 13 of the 15 EU nations are failing to meet the requirements of Kyoto.

During his opening remarks, Senator Inhofe stated, “Rather than focus on the hard science of global warming, the media has instead become advocates for hyping scientifically unfounded climate alarmism.” Senator Inhofe cited criticism from believers in manmade global warming who have slammed the media for presenting “a quasi-religious register of doom, death [and] judgment” and compared the media’s coverage to the “unreality of Hollywood films.”

Scientists testifying at the hearing described how much of the media has over-hyped the coverage of global warming and used scare tactics to garner public attention. Paleoclimate researcher Bob Carter of Australia’s James Cook University, who has had over 100 papers published refereed scientific journals, noted that “there is huge uncertainly in every aspect of climate change.”

“If you look at the ice core records, you will discover that yes, changes in carbon dioxide are accompanied by changes in temperature, but you will also discover that the change in temperature precedes the change in carbon dioxide by several hundred years to a thousand or so years. Reflect on that. And reflect on when you last heard somebody say that they thought lung cancer caused smoking. Because that is what you are arguing if you argue on the glacial time scale that changes in carbon dioxide cause temperature changes. It is the other way around,” Carter testified.

For full text of remarks for all witnesses go to:

http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id=266407

http://epw.senate.gov/pressitem.cfm?party=rep&id=266540

Hearing of Senate Environment and Public Works committee on Global Warming and the media to be held 9:30 a.m. December 6, 2006

The hearing couldn't be more timely - I'm starting Michael Crichton's State of Fear. Just getting through the footnotes and of course, reading internet buzz.

Media climate Inside Politics By Greg Pierce December 5, 2006

Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican and chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, will hold a full committee hearing tomorrow on "Climate Change and the Media." The hearing will look at how the media has presented scientific evidence regarding predictions of human-caused catastrophic global warming, the senator's office said.
"Senator Inhofe believes that poorly conceived policy decisions will result from the media's nonstop hyping of 'extreme scenarios' and dire climate predictions," said committee Communications Director Marc Morano. "This hearing will serve to advance the interests of sound science and encourage rational policy decisions."
Among those who are scheduled to testify at the hearing are

geologist David Deming of the University of Oklahoma;
paleoclimate researcher Bob Carter of Australia's James Cook University;
Dan Gainor of the Business & Media Institute;
Naomi Oreskes of the University of California at San Diego and
professor Daniel Schrag of Harvard University.

The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. in 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building. It can be watched live on the Internet at

http://epw.senate.gov/epwmultimedia/epwmultimedia.htm

http://www.capitolhearings.org/

For more information on this issue use the search feature on this site located at the top left corner

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/search?q=global+warming

don't forget Dan Rather on O'Reilly Factor Fox News Memo-gate?

sometime soon... Dan Rather was invited to be a guest on Bill O'Reilly's The Factor to explain his statement that Fox News Network people receive talking points from the White House.

Archives fox news

http://www.foxnews.com/archive/

My suspicion is this is going to have something to do with the internet noise about a reported (Huffington Post find) Fox News Network executive's (John Moody) internal memo to anchors.

The memo was reportedly revealed by the Huffington Post and includes an image of the reputed internal memo.

EXCLUSIVE UPDATE December 5, 2006 9:14 a.m.

A visit to the site shows not only are comments closed, but the image of the internal Fox News memo does not display! Well maybe it's a conspiracy to prevent us from finding the truth but we have another link up our sleeve.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html

Will John Moody be Forced Out of Fox Like Dan Rather from CBS? (5 comments )

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/will-john-moody-be-forced_b_34162.html

Fox News VP Moody is Back Jim Gilliam

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-gilliam/fox-news-vp-john-moody-is_b_34140.html

Fox News Internal Memo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html

The HP portrays the Moody memo as "leaked."

newshounds picks up the story of the leaked fox news memo

The site includes a You Tube video of Martha MacCallum's report (listen carefully as the referenced video is an interview with Erick Stakelbeck). During the interview with Erick Stakelbeck, MacCullum clearly poses:

MacCullum (from the You Tube video):

there are some reports of cheering in the streets on behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they're very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of donald Rumsfeld
what does that signal for us and how does a country like Iran look at that situation in terms of what opportunity that presents for them?

The Guardian picks up the "story" of the memo and MacCallum's reference to "some reports of cheering..."

TV news is up for grabs
Murdoch obviously has his eye on taking over ITN - but is that really a reason to be worried? Peter Preston Monday November 20, 2006

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1952148,00.html

reposts the News Hounds piece

http://reclaimthemedia.org/media_literacy_bias/fox_news_anchors_faithfully_follow_propaganda_script

News Hounds analyzes and elaborates... read both reports...

'Live Desk' Follows Script of Fox News Memo
Reported by Judy - November 15, 2006 - comments
How closely did Fox News reporters follow the script laid out for them last Thursday (November 9, 2006) in that leaked memo obtained by Huffington Post? The evidence from Martha MacCallum's "Live Desk" for that day indicates she is one of the most loyal foot soldiers Fox News has. Updated with video
The memo, by Fox's vice president for news, instructs staff members to be on the lookout for any information from insurgents in Iraq, who, the memo says "must be thrilled" at Democratic victories in last week's midterm elections.

The memo's wording may explain where Martha MacCallum got the idea for her report later that day that insurgents were "cheering in the streets" over the Democratic victories.
During the "Live Desk" show that aired the same day as the memo, MacCallum claimed without
providing any details or sources that there were "some reports of cheering in the streets on the behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they’re very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld."

Then she asked guest Erick Stakelbeck, a terrorism analyst for CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), "What does the Democratic leadership mean for the war on terror?"

Stakelbeck referred to Palestinians who advised Americans to vote Democratic, but he did not refer to any Iraqi insurgents celebrating a Democratic victory.

Was MacCallum's "source" for the happiness of insurgents in fact nothing more than the morning memo from her boss? We'll never know, but the coincidence is certainly suggestive...

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/15/live_desk_follows_script_of_fox_news_memo.php

MacCallum: Terrorists Dancing in Streets After Dems Win
Reported by Judy - November 9, 2006 - 75 comments
Guess Fox News doesn't realize that the campaign is over. Martha MacCallum on Thursday (Nov. 9, 2006) kept up the news channel's attacks on Democrats, claiming terrorists are dancing in the streets over Democratic congressional victories and wrongly accusing Democrats of being against all wiretapping for national security purposes.

On the "Live Desk," MacCallum also presented guests who claimed, without any Democratic rebuttal, that Democrats have no legislative agenda. And in a sign of disrespect, MacCallum also avoided referring to House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi with any title, calling her only "Nancy Pelosi," rather than even current House Minority Leader. In a word, MacCallum and the "Live Desk" was less gracious than George Bush was to the leaders of the majority party.

Throughout her show, MacCallum aired three clips from a documentary called "Obsession: The Threat of Radical Islam," but failed to provide any information as to who produced it, forgetting even to mention that it aired on Fox News. The clips were designed to scare viewers, including one of people shouting "Bomb, Bomb, USA."

And MacCallum asked several times: "What does a Democratic victory mean for the war on terror?” Without providing any details or any sources, MacCallum claimed that Al Qaeda is planning new attacks on the United States and that there are "some reports of cheering in the streets on the behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they’re very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld."

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/09/maccallum_terrorists_dancing_in_streets_after_dems_win.php

News hounds posts two different MacCallum descriptions: "cheering in the streets" and "dancing in the streets."

News hounds posits the source for MacCallum's report may have been the morning reported (Huffington Post) Fox News internal memo from Moody.

So, Net the Truth Online is on the trail - where'd MacCallum obtain the reference "some reports?"

MacCallum (from the You Tube video):

there are some reports of cheering in the streets on behalf of the supporters of the insurgency in Iraq, that they're very pleased with the way things are going here and also with the resignation of donald Rumsfeld
what does that signal for us and how does a country like Iran look at that situation in terms of what opportunity that presents for them?

Newsmax? Drudge Report? World Net Daily?

For date of November 9, 2006.

Net the Truth Online cannot determine at this time whether the is a faked memo...

But it looks like it may be...

Motive: The Fox News memo is Rather-gate (memogate) payback.

Suspects with motive: Coming as an "expose" from the Huffington Post, the Fox News internal memo legitimacy is questionable. The Huffington Post has a clear anti-Bush bias and agenda. (image of the memo no longer appears on Huffington Post)

Dissection of image of memo:

As any internet user should be aware, misspellings and incorrect grammar are indications of fakery and often employed on so-called conspiracy type sites. Mix a bit of truth in with the faked items and people will begin to believe everything they read on the net.

Not only that, the story becomes entwined with more so-called "details" as it crisscrosses the internet, more often than not using snippets from just such sites as News Hounds analysis!

Indications the Fox News memo is faked include:

grainy header

grainy unreadable time for date 11/8/200(5)(6) (17:_:08)

non capitalization of surname, bush

misspelled isnt'

capitalization is incorrect: THis and HO in HOyer

the first line of the memo which is poor communication style reads:

A couple of thumpees -- to use a variation of Bush's term -- speak today.

If the memo writer is supportive of Bush the first line is an odd way of communicating that.

thumpees is not referenced - what are anchors supposed to do? Read Moody's mind? If Moody is altering Bush's term, what is Moody's meaning of his own substitution? Who are the thumpees? Someone in the business of conveying important information would not leave room for misinterpretation of words.

It would not be difficult at all to fake such a memo, as the fact of internal Fox News communications are well known.

Keep in mind the basis of the book, OUTFOXED.

And, when using ,wikipedia as a resource for news, reference, and columns, beware, anybody can put anything in (lies)(misinformation), and take anything out (truth)(evidence).

Internal memos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News_Channel_controversies_and_allegations_of_bias

Items of Interest

posts the image of the internal memo

http://minor-ripper.blogspot.com/2006/11/fox-news-internal-memo-from-day-after.html

Fox News spins GOP election defeat
CommentaryBy Al Owens
11/19/2006
There's an internal Fox News memo that's circulating around the Internet these days that's getting a lot of attention. It was sent to Fox personnel by a news executive two days after the Nov. 7 election.

According to that memo, the elections were "a major event" with all of those Republican losses and the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, but they didn't represent the "end of the world."

Let me translate that for you. Fox News' higher ups considered a Democratic victory on election night to be a loss for Fox News. Well, well, well. I would have never dreamed those fine folks at Fox, who claim (with a straight face I might add) they're so "fair and balanced," would be so near mass suicides if the Republicans lost that they'd have to dispatch an inter-office memo to prevent it.

That memo went on to urge the on-air staff, "to be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents, who must be thrilled at the prospect of a Dem-controlled congress." No wonder a few hours later, Martha MacCallum (a Fox News afternoon host) announced insurgents were "dancing in the streets" because of the Democratic victory.

She offered no information to support that claim. She just said it.

That's the kind of thing Republicans might have said. Yet, so far they haven't. Fox News is saying it for them, I guess.

Republicans are, however, preparing themselves for what they feel will become massive buckets-full of revenge hurled at them by angry Democrats - who'd been out of control of congress for 12 years. Maybe it's because Republicans know a thing or two about revenge.

There's an old set of NBC news stories that are also circulating around the Internet. They reveal Republicans who were eager to take over control of Congress before the 1994 elections, and show their willingness to hand out punishment after they took control of it...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17488020&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468562&rfi=6

World view

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2006/11/09/world_welcomes_shift_in_us_politics/?page=2

http://wizbangblog.com/2006/11/10/breaking-al-qaeda-emboldened-by-democrat-win.php

Democrats win senate

Democrats win control of Senate
NBC: Webb apparent victor in Va.; win solidifies Democratic power on Hill
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 12:12 a.m. PT Nov 9, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15620405/

White House Press Conference

Bush's comment (thumpin) What time did President Bush make the statement "it was a thumpin." ? 1 PM

Bush cracks 'em up at news conference
Despite his hard work, Bush described the results of the midterm elections as a "thumpin'" for the GOP.

http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/46552

Bush takes blame for election "thumping"
Nov 08 1:56 PM US/Eastern
"I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the election," Bush told reporters at a White House news conference.

"As the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility," Bush said.

"You look at it race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping."

"I told my party's leaders that it is now our duty to put elections behind us and work together with the Democrats and independents on the great issues facing this country."

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/08/061108185622.1vbexy9n.html

Press Conference By President Bush
Wednesday November 8, 4:28 pm ET


WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush:

The East Room
1:00 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I say, why all the glum faces?

continued...

Look, this was a close election. If you look at race by race, it was close. The cumulative effect, however, was not too close. It was a thumping. But nevertheless, the people expect us to work together. That's what they expect. And as I said in my opening comments, there comes responsibility with victory. And that's what Nancy Pelosi told me this morning. She said in the phone call she wants to work together. And so do I. And so that's how you deal with it.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061108/dcw055.html?.v=69


http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/11/20061108-2.html

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/11/09/rumsfeld/index_np.html

Iraqi insurgents cheering

Al Qaeda welcomes Democratic victory
TODAY'S COLUMNIST
By Walid Phares
November 22, 2006
The latest audio by al Qaeda's Iraq commander -- posted 48 hours after the midterm elections -- sends a clear signal to the readers of the jihadi strategic mind: Al Qaeda and its advisers around the world want to provoke an "American Madrid." Portraying the United States as a bleeding bull in disarray, the war room projects its wish to see America's will crippled. The video attempts to do the following...

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20061121-083639-1601r.htm

Iraqis Cheer Rumsfeld Departure

By SAMEER N. YACOUB
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 9, 2006; 6:33 AM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqis on Thursday cheered the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, blaming him for policy failures and scandals they say helped spawn the daily sectarian carnage wracking their nation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110900279.html

Iraqis cheer Rumsfeld departure, look for shift
Many blame outgoing defense chief for policy failures, abuse scandals
Updated: 7:03 a.m. PT Nov 9, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqis on Thursday cheered the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, blaming him for policy failures and scandals they say helped spawn the daily sectarian carnage wracking their nation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15634188/


Iraq War Critics Cheer Rumsfeld Resignation
Thursday, November 09, 2006
The departure of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld cheered critics around the world who saw him as a symbol of a failed war in Iraq, while supporters of the military mission pledged to work closely with his successor.

"The U.S. has to get out," declared Chandra Muzaffar, president of the International Movement for a Just World think-tank in Malaysia. "The occupation will have to end. There is no other way."

Rumsfeld resigned on Wednesday after Democrats won a narrow majority in the Senate and regained total control of Congress, dealing a powerful blow to the government of Republican President George W. Bush.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228318,00.html

Daniel say what?

November 11, 2006
Are Iraqi rebels cheering Dems big election wins?
Posted by David Postman at 01:48 PM

I awoke this morning to hear it suggested that the Democratic election landslide was good news for enemies of the United States. Apparently Iraqi insurgents are popping the bubbly.

This time though it wasn't President Bush or Vice President Cheney making the connection, but NPR's Daniel Schorr, the thoughtful, veteran political analyst. He's certainly no GOP partisan. Here's what he said on Weekend Edition Saturday as part of his answer to host Lynn Neary's question, "How is the rest of the world reacting to the news of this election?"

I suspect that the insurgents are probably sitting around drinking champagne, and saying, 'Hey look, we drove a cabinet secretary out of office, we got the president all upset' and so on. This must look very good in terms of the rebels in Iraq.
If Bush, Cheney, Rush or O'Reillly had said that I bet there would be outrage from Democrats.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/archives/2006/11/are_iraqi_rebels_cheering_dems_big_election_wins.html

"Are Iraqi rebels cheering Dems big election wins?"
A provocative question. David Postman discusses here, based on coverage he heard on NPR. In discussing the issue, Postman essentially validates a portion of pre-election criticism of Democrats by the Bush administration. That criticism in particular being that assorted terrorist elements (rightly or wrongly) would view a Democratic victory as a sign of their own progress in defeating the United States.

I suspect many readers have heard previous news coverage the last few days on this topic, not without some annoyance. In the end, however, terrorists are likely to be left wanting by actual changes to policy that might be agreed upon by the Bush administration, Congressional Republicans, and prudent members of the incoming Democratic majority. Harry Reid for example has already made statements rejecting specific timetables for a withdrawal, a move sure not to please the near permanently anti-war left.

http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007482.html

NPR Archives

http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/rundown_archive_hub.php?date=9-Nov-06

Analysis: Week in Review: Elections, Rumsfeld
Nov-11-2006, Weekend Edition - Saturday
...Dan. DANIEL SCHORR: Yes, Lynn. NEARY: Quite a week. The end of 12 years of Republican control of Congress. Obviously, this election turned a great deal on the issue of Iraq, voter...

http://www.npr.org/search.php?text=daniel+schorr&sort=DREDATE%3Anumberdecreasing&aggId=0&prgId=0&topicId=0&how_long_ago=30

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6471897

Push for PA Constitutional Convention loses Rush Diamond, former major advocate!

Letter to editor

This may not be time for convention
Editor:
Lebanon Daily News


I feel it necessary to respond to Richard Mase’s letter regarding a constitutional convention, as it included some misinformation and a tone of fear that is somewhat unwarranted.
Mase contends that delegates to a convention would be “hand-picked by the Legislature.” On the contrary, three delegates would be freely elected by voters in each of the 50 state Senate districts. The only danger of legislative contamination would be in allowing the political parties to recommend delegate candidates. On the other hand, the voters of Lebanon County proved in May that they are not beholden to the local machine.

The only influence the Legislature would have on a convention is setting parameters regarding which parts of the Constitution are eligible for change. They could authorize a general convention, where the entire document is eligible, or they could call a limited convention — as happened in 1967 — where only certain parts are eligible.

Then again, there is no provision within the Constitution that dictates that the Legislature must be the body that initiates a convention. The people themselves could rise up, organize a convention and force it upon their government. Under Article I, Section 2, that is our right.
Mase admits he is “afraid” that the freedoms of individuals would be diminished by a convention. While that is a concern of mine as well, there is also the possibility that a convention would expand such freedoms by enumerating additional rights within Article I, our state’s equivalent of the U.S. Bill of Rights. Further, there’s the possibility that a convention could make a recommendation of “no changes.”

Regardless of the methodology of changing the Constitution, the people always have the final say on such changes and are free to reject them.

All that being said, the evidence of the last 17 months shows that a constitutional convention is not necessarily in order at this time. What is in order is to send people to Harrisburg who understand and adhere to the plain wording of the Constitution we already have...

More from Russ Diamond (if you can stand any more...)

http://www.ldnews.com/letters/ci_4740056

via http://truthinourhouse.blogspot.com/index.html

PA state house goes Democrat (yet to be seen if Republicans challenges to absentees and provisionals pans out their way)

http://www.redstatenetwork.com/blogs/young_conservative/2006/dec/01/pennsylvania_state_house_goes_democrat

PA state representative elect the $200,000 man (he'll watch our tax dollars)

Mahoney's campaign topped $200,000
By Amy Zalar, Herald-Standard
12/08/2006
In the final month leading up to the general election, Democrat Timothy S. Mahoney spent nearly $24,000 in his quest to become the next state representative for the 51st Legislative District, while he spent more than $200,000 throughout the entire campaign.


According to the 30-day post-election campaign finance report filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Mahoney spent $23,754.84 from late October to late November. While the report filed by Mahoney's campaign committee, "The Friends of Tim Mahoney," brought forward a balance of $17,807, Mahoney as an individual brought forward a negative balance of $34,017 and the report showed the same ending balance.

Mahoney easily defeated Republican candidate John "Sonny" Mikita in the Nov. 7 general election, receiving 9,476 votes compared to 5,858 votes for Mikita. Mahoney will replace longtime legislator Larry Roberts (D-South Union), who did not seek re-election to an eighth term.

Mikita's 30-day post-election campaign finance report was not available on Thursday, and he will be subject to a fine. Throughout the campaign, Mikita spent comparatively less, spending only $3,500 in the 30-day pre-election cycle, for example, when Mahoney spent about $35,700.

To win the seat that had been held by Roberts for 14 years, Mahoney had to first prevail in the Democratic primary, when he ran against Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites and Uniontown businessman Gary Gearing. In the primary, Mahoney received 3,629 votes, Vicites received 2,585 votes and Gearing received 1,549 votes, according to official election results from the Fayette County Election Bureau.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17565287&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

House Democrats nominate DeWeese as speaker
By Alison Hawkes, For the Herald-Standard
12/06/2006

HARRISBURG - House Democrats nominated their party leader, H. William DeWeese of Waynesburg, to become Speaker of the House next year.

DeWeese, a 30-year lawmaker whose district includes Greene County and parts of Fayette and Washington counties, still must be approved to the post by the 203-member chamber on swearing-in day Jan. 2.

His approval also is conditioned on Democrats' control of the House, a situation still unresolved as Republicans move forward with a recount of votes in a Chester County race.

Republicans believe they still have a shot at the majority and have re-nominated Speaker John Perzel for the position, creating at this time an unusual situation of two potential candidates for Speaker.

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17552496&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=468520&rfi=6

Newly elected Pennsylvania representative issues request in exchange for vote for DeWeese kingship (does that sound jaded? disgusted? scornful?)

state Representative Timothy Mahoney issued a challenge to House Leader, H. William DeWeese to co-sponsor legislation for an open records bill, reportedly modeled on Kentucky and Canadian laws...

but notice pre-election, Mahoney vowed he would not vote for DeWeese for a leadership position. (Mahoney didn't specify what leadership position might be ahm, exempted.) Now, Mahoney's announcing after the election, he'll vote for DeWeese for Speaker of the House if Democrats hold the majority after the vote counting and checking is completed.

Is he going back on his own man-of-integrity word by voting for DeWeese for Speaker of the House?

Not according to Alison Hawkes' Herald-Standard report. Mahoney didn't vote for DeWeese in an early vote for leadership. So that lets him off the hook to vote for DeWeese for Speaker come the swearing-in ceremonies in January.

For his supportive pro-rah-rah DeWeese vote, Mahoney is requesting something of DeWeese in return.

Unfortunately, the public will never know how little or how much Mahoney's vote for DeWeese will effect reform of the open records law as it applies to the state legislators. Mahoney has yet to reveal the full scope of the draft of his legislation - he has reportedly said it will be modeled off Kentucky and Canadian law, which he said "goes just far enough" to make the public satisfied.

Aren't those interesting words: goes just far enough to make the public satisfied.

so basically, any little bone that goes just far enough to make the public satisfied is good enough for Mahoney to retract his promise to not vote for Bill DeWeese in a leadership position.

Isn't this business as usual?

Mahoney also said he's going to hold DeWeese to his word. What word? That DeWeese will take a look at reform measures, including the records law? That doesn't mean that DeWeese will sign on to a complete reversal of the exemption of the state lawmakers from an open records law that's been in place for decades.

Mahoney indicating he will vote for DeWeese for Speaker of the House of Representatives of PA is not puzzling, not realy - because Mahoney knows DeWeese has the votes without Mahoney to become Speaker.

You gotta join the club to belong in the club. Mahoney's voting for DeWeese is belonging to the club. It's belonging to the club, because, again, DeWeese has enough votes without Mahoney to become Speaker.

However, it will be interesting to watch how Mahoney will play the hand he created for himself - and how the local media especially will play the supportive role.

There is always hope, after enough of DeWeese's nauseating power, Mahoney may come to realize an apology to the public is in order. Then, if he really wants to weild a swing vote, he'll switch to Independent.

Newly elected lawmaker plans open records bill

By ALISON HAWKES
Bucks County Courier Times

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Legislature’s spending habits would become public under a bill that newly elected Fayette County Rep. Tim Mahoney said he is introducing within the first week of the new term.

Mahoney, a businessman who was elected on a government reform platform, said he has lawyers preparing a draft that will be modeled after Kentucky and Canadian law, which he said “goes just far enough” to make the public satisfied.

He said he’s asking House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese to be the bill’s cosponsor.

“The second day of session, I’m going to introduce an open records bill,” said Mahoney, also a Democrat.

“I’m going to reform this [Legislature] come hell or high water. It’s as simple as that.”


http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-12012006-749809.html

http://voicepa.blogspot.com/2006/12/newly-elected-lawmaker-plans-open.html

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dshswp8_36dbk2ms

http://truthinourhouse.blogspot.com/index.html

Mahoney prepares reform measure
By Alison Hawkes, For the Herald-Standard
12/01/2006
HARRISBURG - The state Legislature's spending habits would become public under a bill that newly elected Fayette County Rep. Tim Mahoney said he is introducing within the first week of the new term.


Mahoney, a Uniontown businessman who was elected on a government reform platform, said he has lawyers preparing a draft that will be modeled off Kentucky and Canadian law, which he said "goes just far enough" to make the public satisfied.

He said he's asking House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg) to be the bill's co-sponsor.

"The second day of session I'm going to introduce an open records bill," said Mahoney.

"I'm going to reform this (Legislature) come hell or high water. It's as simple as that."

The measure would be crucial to giving the public and the press legal rights to see how the Legislature spends taxpayer money and conducts internal business. Pennsylvania requires schools, municipalities, and executive-branch departments in state government to make records public. But the Legislature, in passing that act in 1957, exempted itself. Subsequent revisions of the law never changed that aspect.

Mahoney also said he wants records to be presumed open, unless exempted for certain circumstances. Existing law puts the burden on the public to prove that records are open.

Changing the burden of proof on open records to the public's favor has been a call of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, whose Brighter Pennsylvania campaign for open records, launched before the election, has 137 lawmakers and candidates signed on.

Mahoney also said he would be asking DeWeese to be a co-sponsor in support of the bill. To get re-elected as leader last month, DeWeese said he would be open to a variety of reforms, including making records more available to public scrutiny.

"He's made a lot of commitments and I think he'll live up to them. If he doesn't, he has to answer to a lot of people," Mahoney said.

But DeWeese's spokesman Tom Andrews gave no early indication on where he stands on Mahoney's proposal or the issue at large.

"I'm sure he'll (DeWeese) be happy to take a look at it when it's proposed," Andrews said.

Mahoney said he plans on voting for DeWeese as Speaker should the Democrats retain their one-vote majority in the House. Mahoney's vote could be crucial. He voted against DeWeese in leadership elections in early November in keeping with a campaign promise he would not support DeWeese in leadership...


More...

http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17534303&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6

The question raised by Westmoreland County's voting machine programming of the wrong date glitch should be: How can anyone trust the election results? Nationwide, voting watchdogs/activists warned of just such "problems" on election day with the potential for tampering when machines are removed or software "adjustments" become necessary.

The point isn't that people were delayed in access to voting in Westmoreland County because the software had to be re-programmed. The point is that on election day, voting machines in Westmoreland County had the absolute potential for tampering.

So again, how can voters in Westmoreland County trust the November 7, 2006 election was legitimate.

The Westmoreland County situation should be investigated. As noted in a previous piece on Net the Truth Online, Westmoreland County had some really odd unofficial election results.

CASEY, BOB JR (DEM) 69,657 53.6%
SWANN, LYNN ( (REP) 69,778 53.8%

We are to believe that almost the same amount of voters voted for Republican Lynn Swann for Governor of Pennsylvania as voted for Democrat Bob Casey, Jr. for U.S. Senator - and the percentage margins are almost identical.

Then we are to believe that by an almost identical margin voters did not vote for Republican Rick Santorum for U.S. Senator and did not vote for Democrat Ed Rendell for PA Governor!

SANTORUM, RICK (REP) 60,390 46.4%
RENDELL, ED ( (DEM) 60,018 46.2%

In a county in which every single electronic voting machine shut down because of an incorrect date programming error, voters voted for a Republican Governor(Swann) and a Democrat for U.S. Senate (Casey) by nearly the same amount of voters?

http://netthetruthonline.blogspot.com/2006/11/investigation-less-election.html

Yet, there is no mistrust of these results.

In Allegheny County, as bad situations occurred. Print-outs of the beginning of the day's zero vote tally were not able to be made. The regulations stipulate that those machines which didn't produce the zero vote tally should be removed. So if machines were removed because of this failure, how can we be assured the replacements were not tampered with?

We can't. Yet, there is no mistrust of Allegheny County's election results.


Vote watchdogs warn of system failure
David M. Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 4, 2006


Western Pennsylvania entered the age of electronic voting with only random glitches, elections officials say, but critics warn the systems in use could cause major problems in future elections.

When the Allegheny County Election Board meets today to certify results from the Nov. 7 election, members of VotePA -- a statewide volunteer group advocating secure and accessible voting -- plan to express concerns about potential failings of the systems in Allegheny and surrounding counties. The board meets at 10:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse, Downtown.

The biggest concern centers on Pennsylvania's reluctance to allow the electronic machines to generate paper trails to ensure accuracy in reporting vote totals. Efforts are gaining steam in the state Legislature and in Congress to require such audits, advocates say.

"It's kind of like a time bomb ticking away. One of these days, we're going to have a serious problem, like they are having in Sarasota," said Mary Beth Kusnic, a Westmoreland County poll worker and a member of VotePA.

In Sarasota County, Fla., where the outcome of a congressional race hangs in the balance, officials are auditing vote results to determine why about 18,000 ballots cast recorded no choice in the hotly contested 13th Congressional District race -- an "undervote" rate more than six times greater than in the district's other four counties.

The Sarasota County voters used iVotronic touch-screen machines -- like those in Allegheny, Westmoreland and several adjacent counties.


"This time we were lucky," Kusnic said. "As far as we know, there weren't any votes lost. But if it happens that a machine malfunctions, without a voter-verified paper ballot, there is no way to know the results of an election."


Many election jurisdictions nationwide began using electronic equipment this year to comply with the Help America Vote Act, a federal law passed in 2002. All 67 Pennsylvania counties have switched from outmoded voting equipment to touch-screen or optical scan systems.

Election officials in Western Pennsylvania reported scattered problems with the equipment.

The worst occurred in Westmoreland County, where a programming error that affected nearly all voting machines left people standing in long lines at some polls and using paper ballots in one Jeannette precinct.

"This was a hidden problem that was impossible to recognize until election morning," said Paula T. Pedicone, Westmoreland County's director of elections.

A software glitch that caused more than 800 touch-screen machines to act as though it was not Election Day created confusion and prompted some computers to shut down early. Pedicone said it "was an easy fix" once election officials realized the problem.

"We learned, and it won't happen again," she said.

Kusnic, judge of electionsin Penn Township, Westmoreland County, said the malfunction had a serious impact.

"In Jeannette, they couldn't vote for over an hour. That's not a glitch. That's a failure," she said. ..

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_482556.html

also see:

Pa. lacks paper backup to voting electronically
Monday, November 27, 2006

By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



WASHINGTON -- Pennsylvania is one of a shrinking number of states that doesn't require its electronic voting machines to have some type of visible paper backup, a feature that has frustrated scores of voting rights activists and computer experts.

That could change when Democrats take control of Congress next year.

U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., said this month that he expects the new majority to quickly enact his bill mandating the use of "voter-verified" paper trails in every election system in the country, compelling many local governments, including several Western Pennsylvania counties, to purchase costly upgrades for their equipment.

It would be the first major change to the federal Help America Vote Act, or HAVA, a law that grew out of Florida's 2000 presidential fiasco and authorized billions of dollars in aid for high-tech voting machinery.

Nationwide, one-third of all voters used new machines for the first time this year. The results pleased many election officials, but some activists point to significant mishaps as proof that electronic voting is far from perfect.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06331/741527-178.stm

Human error Sarasota County election possibility

Voting-machine findings won't end battle

Jim Stratton | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted December 2, 2006

A new round of tests on Sarasota's embattled touch-screen voting machines failed to produce any major findings Friday.

State officials reported just two discrepancies, and they expect those problems will be traced to human error.

"We're pretty confident we'll find out on Tuesday it was some sort of voter-input mistake,'' said Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for the Florida Division of Elections.

Employees from the Florida Division of Elections spent the day conducting a mock election on five of Sarasota County's touch-screen voting machines. Working from a script, they recreated ballots cast by voters on Election Day.

At the end of the test, officials found the results reported by the machines varied from test scripts by two votes. Similar tests produced the same sort of results earlier this week.

After reviewing videotapes of the initial tests, officials found the discrepancies were caused by testers touching the wrong names on the screens.

The state is auditing the Sarasota election because of the large number of ballots that contained no choice in the 13th Congressional District race between Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Christine Jennings. About 18,000 had so-called "undervotes'' in what was a bitterly fought, highly publicized race.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-vote0206dec02,0,7461987.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-state

Plan one world government actually mentioned in debate

Senatatorial candidates debate
Candidate Montana Libertarian Stan Jones

compelled to say what he is about to say... no longer a theory... a fact leading us into a one-world communist government... building on NAFTA... North American Union of "Canada, Mexico, United States"... security and prosperity program... no treaty has been signed so Congress not involved...new currency... new constitution... rights will not be inalienable, but granted by government who can take rights away... one sign... nafta super highway from Mexico across U.S... national id card with radio frequency chip in it... already law in America, to be implemented by May (2008)... this is terrorism of the worst kind brought upon you by your government...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ne1_Hf0Yqo