Monday, February 26, 2007

Headlines - Libby Trial Juror Dismissed, Mistrial Averted



Libby Trial- Juror Dismissed

Aldon Hynes is covering the Scooter Libby trial in D.C. this week. You can read the blow by blow at his Orient Lodge.
People are already talking about mistrial. How many jurors were tainted? Is it enough to make a fair verdict unlikely?

Another comment, I don’t know why they didn’t sequester these guys.

Current court room chatter is that someone heard a joke on late night TV and repeated it to the other jurors.

Meanwhile, a reporter asks me about my blog and wishes for the freedom that we bloggers have.


Update/Daily Kos: Potential Mistrial In Libby Trial Averted



Iraq

Kevin Hayden - Why Al Sadr? - The NY Times provided a multi-author overview of Moqtada Al-Sadr today that describes his efforts at the current juncture in this long war that I consider a must-read. [..] While friendly to Iran, he’s known to be a nationalist that doesn’t want Iraq’s government to be Iran’s puppet. Nor does he want it to be America’s puppet. [..] considering that Al-Sadr had no past of anti-American animosity and the circumstances he’s had to contend with since, defending a population where unemployment rates have ranged from 33% to 60%, I have to admit he’s impressed me greatly. He’s navigated amid sharks, he’s had SCIRI, the Sunnis, Al Qaeda, the US military and Bush aiming at him. And he’s survived. As one of the two most popular figures in the country. [..] I still think, if he’s negotiated with without betrayal, he may hold some keys that can unlock progress towards a functional country...



John Edwards, 2008 Candidates



Quote of the Day:
Whoever blogged for Edwards was signing up for a lot of bad hair days, and it wasn't going to be me.

Lindsay Beyerstein of Majikthise, from a Salon.com article titled Why I Refused to Blog for John Edwards


At Daily Kos, David Mizner is saying that John Edwards is doing something important. "It’s so important that it’s eluded the attention of the political press. While pundits handicap the horserace and assess hairstyles, Edwards is quietly yet thoroughly rejecting the economic philosophy that’s dominated the Democratic Party for the last fifteen years."

My comment:



We cannot forget that this is a time when the percentage of poor Americans who are living in severe poverty has reached a 32-year high, with millions of working Americans falling closer to the poverty line. This is a time when the gulf between the nation's "haves" and "have-nots" continues to widen. The plight of the severely poor in this country is a truth that cannot be discounted, especially given the most recent economic expansion.

Ask yourself what's wrong with the picture. Sound economic theory would lead you to believe that governments should run a surplus in good times and a deficit in bad times. Game-playing with politics has warped sound economic theory. An overwhelming deficit has been run up in recent years, disproportionate to the "comeback" rate of economic expansion. Overall, in the past 15 years of continuous economic growth in this country, we've had too few years of government surpluses to show for it. It's time for new thinking and some moral leadership on the issue of how we should deal with the economy. Rubin and the entire Clinton administration worked hard to balance the budget and should be commended for what they did in their time. We can't depend on the shaky economic structures that once brought us stock market bubbles and Enrons to solve the problem of millions of Americans who've sunk into deep poverty. If that is what we are leaning upon because we have a fetish about balancing our budget, we're missing an opportunity for finding a lasting solution that keeps us on solid ground while we raise others up - n a way that raises all of us up.

American health care spending is nearly twice what other developed countries spend as a percentage of GDP. Edwards is laying it on the line for us. We can keep playing political games that provide a temporary and pretty frame for budget-balancing "success" or we can make meaningful change in the way we approach justice, equality, and opportunity when we consider our approach to the budgets. This is a new day.



Books

In The Shadows: Unknown Craftsmen of Bengal - For her new book, In The Shadows: Unknown Craftsmen of Bengal, Payal Mohanka chose six villages which made products like wigs, lights, polo-balls, boats, shuttlecocks and jeans. Each of the villages featured in the book were involved in making one of the products. The craftsmen, she says, have been passing on their skills to the next generation, trying to keep alive a family tradition despite their abject poverty. It is these products that give these villages an identity. [..]“Most people associate poverty with lack of skill, yet the villagers are so skillful. There is such a contrast between what they make and resemble," said Nobel Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus, who recently helped to launch the book. [link]


Former Child Soldier Haunted by Past - Sierra Leone emerged from the 11-year war in 2002. Beah visited the country last year, and was dispirited to see how little had changed. There's still a great deal to rebuild and tremendous poverty. Beah says the political corruption worries him most, because it's often a prelude to more conflict.


Other

AP: Scholars Criticize New Jesus Documentary -
Archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided claims in a new documentary produced by James Cameron that contradict major Christian tenets, but the Oscar-winning director said the evidence was based on sound statistics.[..] "The Lost Tomb of Christ," which the Discovery Channel will run on March 4, argues that 10 ancient ossuaries -- small caskets used to store bones -- discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family, according to a press release issued by the Discovery Channel.[..] One of the caskets even bears the title, ''Judah, son of Jesus,'' hinting that Jesus may have had a son. And the very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven.

to be cont'd

10 comments:

Larry said...

If our government took the money wasted in Iraq and put it toward the poor, every homeless and poor person could have a livable home, and it could create jobs for those in need, and the nations infrastructure could all be rebuilt.

Anonymous said...

Iddybud, I thought you were pro veteran. You sucking up to the likes of a fraud like Acebass, a known neocon who runs Joe Clarke in the Edwards08 blog site is a disgrace. Acebass is as much of a veteran as a parakeet. Google Acebass Vietnam Veteran Iddybud, or are you to politically correct?

Vietnam combat vets were disgaced on that site and banned for no reason, you seen one get baited by this Acebass and remarked on it.

John Edwards is going to lose a lot of veteran votes because of Edwards08 blog site http://blog.johnedwards.com, thank Acebass and his puppet Joe Clarke.

It is already the laughing stock of the internet. We do not take disgrace lightly.

Janice Jett said...

I got to agree with Jim Brown, Acebass is going to bring John Edwards down like a crashing plane if you people of the Edwards site do not wake up. He is no veteran and this is why this sub human Acebass had me banned. Do you see anything wrong with these questions.
http://blog.johnedwards.com/story/2007/3/7/20754/40241

Pay a visit to http://politicalforumdiscrepancies.blogspot.com/ to learn more about the Acebass that you Edwards people glorify.

Jude Nagurney Camwell said...

I am not at all clear as to what your meaning of "sucking up" to this individual means. I don't need or desire to suck up to anyone... especially someone I do not even know. Jim, Janice, I don't know you any better than I know this Acebass. I have no involvement with banning anyone from the Edwards site. I am not paid by the campaign. I write at the blog as many others do.

This is my personal blog. I am not even aware of what happened as I have been away for a number of weeks. The only 'one' I glorify is the Creator of Heaven. I find it very unfair of you to publicly ambush me here at my blog for something you assume I'm thinking.

Anonymous said...

Iddybud, this was not an ambush meant for you but a wake up call to the Edwards08 blog site.

I see this URL on the side of this very well done blog Iddybud http://www.voiceofaveteran.blogspot.com/ (Voice for Veteran) and a very well done blog if I may say. This Acebass who now runs the Edwards08 blog site is no Vietnam veteran Iddybud. I do not say this in anger, I say this so John Edwards has a fair chance in 2008.

I am a registered Democrat, Vietnam combat veteran, and was banned from the Edwards08 blog site, not by you but by a person that represents John Edwards in that site, Acebass. For breaking no rule, but because I was a threat to Acebass.

All I ask Iddybud is do the right thing, run a google search on this person and see who is representing John Edwards and then do what your heart tells you to do.

I had no intention of ambush or any other type of attack on you Iddybud. I render an appology for using your blog as a podium but thought John Edwards in 2008 was important enough to warn you about this Acebass.

Last time I will use your blog for any purpose other then what it is intended for.

BTW, excellent blog here Iddybud, God bless you, your family, friends and the United States of America.

Jim Brown

Again I broke no rule,

Acebass said...

Iddybud
First I apologize for these idiots being here and posting to your blog. They stalk me wherever they can and they know you post at the Edwards blog. They are not what they seem and if you'd like to contact me about them my e-mail address is moore_r_2000@yahoo.com your best bet is to just delete them and go on.
Again sorry...

Jude Nagurney Camwell said...

Because I do not work for the campaign, I will not be e-mailing anyone about what has been said above. I have taken into my heart and mind what has been said. I am of the opinion that Mr Brown, while on the blog, was passionate and that he had many interesting points to make. I don't peronally believe in getting people banned or troll-rating them. I prefer a mature atmosphere and mutual respect. My aim is not to become personally involved in your personal problem, Acebass - for whatever happened. I don't really know you, nor do I have time to become personally involved. Please don't stick me in the middle of something I cannot do anything about.

big_sky_brad said...

Hey Jude -

Check out my blog!
Click on my name to get to my blog.

Ol' Ace has mental problems, that's for sure.

LoL

Look at the comments he left at my blog. I had to delete almost all of them because all he was doing was calling me bad names, like mother******.
Yeah, and other nasty stuff, too.

Anonymous said...

Thats definately the Acebass we all have learned not to believe and love to dislike.
I also was banned from the Edward08 blog site for asking this Acebass questions about a diary that vanished in thin air off of the Edwards08 blog spot. Acebass was resigning from the Edwards08 blog site, looking for somebody or many shoulders to cry on. I called Acebass on this issue and was banned. I did not attack anyone or use profanity but was ousted like a fox in a hen house. This practice really makes John Edwards look very bad IMO, thanks to the likes of Acebass. I really think this is Acebass's plan, and that is to bring down John Edwards.
Seems Acebass was upset about being banned off another forum along with his Ron Paul supporting friend Sandra Dearie of the former CGCS pay to post forum which supposidly came from the old John Kerry forum. From Kerry to Paul Sandra, you are a piece of work, if I may say so.
They were both labled Trolls as well from what I seen. This is one Bush smashing forum and a very hard forum to get banned from but they both managed the task.
I have a blog about political forums etc. I get a lot of information and Acebass and Sandra Dearie seems to be the main topic with their childish antics.
big_sky_brad, I have read your blog and that kind of garbage is nothing new from Acebass.
You should see the comments he leaves for me in Political Forum Discrepancies and in my e mail box as well.
Nothing this Acebass does would surprise me one bit.
BTW, very well done blog here.
frisco

ghostgovt said...

Hello Jude,

I appreciate all of your efforts for fighting corruption in this current Regime/Empire.

First, and since I have dealt with this person, Acebass, before, I wish to add that he appears to have a serious split personality that he uses on message boards and blogs in order to 'collect' friends for his own personal agendas. I can only say to you and all others, please beware of Acebass.

Concerning our Judiciary Branch, I feel that we must now concentrate on getting that fixed before anything else, because nothing else matters if the laws of our land are broken by those in power. I encourage you and others to write Sen Leahy and Rep Conyers about pursuing Condi Rice, Karl Rove, Sara Taylor and Harriet Miers for their obstruction of justice. Those who have rejected their subpoenas should be punished by law including jail. Please help stress this to the committee and pelase make this your priority!

Thank you for any participation with this.