American Politics 101

[manga2read]

Sarah Palin's going to need to update that baseball cap from her last trip so that McCain's name is visible once again. Silver pen anyone?

[CielOnTap]

The private email account use by former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin for government business(in 2008) was fine by existing laws according to the judge ruling on the matter. Changing the law is not the court's business, but that of the state legislature.

Judge sides with state, Palin in e-mail suit
PUBLIC RECORDS: Private accounts are ok for official business, he rules friday.

By BECKY BOHRER
The Associated Press

Published: January 23rd, 2010 03:58 PM
Last Modified: January 23rd, 2010 03:59 PM

JUNEAU -- An Alaska judge has sided with former Gov. Sarah Palin in a lawsuit over e-mail, finding that state law doesn't forbid the use of private e-mail accounts to conduct state business.

Friday's ruling by Superior Court Judge Patrick McKay stems from a lawsuit filed by Palin critic Andree McLeod. McLeod argued that Palin and the governor's office had a responsibility to save as public records e-mails related to state business, regardless of the accounts the messages were sent through.

The issue arose from a 2008 records request by McLeod that showed Palin and members of her staff had been using private e-mail accounts. The traffic uncovered, though, was heavily redacted for what were deemed reasons of privacy. McLeod argued through her attorney that use of private accounts obstructed the people's right to inspect public records.
http://www.adn.com/palin/story/1106051.html

[CielOnTap]

[manga2read]

The cartoon is a poke at the Nobel Peace Prize win, isn't it? Or the first anniversary blues of the new administration? Maybe that former Democrat Senate seat loss in Massachusetts hurt the party greatly.

[CielOnTap]

Even events sometimes get downsized or reduced in a difficult economy. Chicago is making changes for its July fireworks plans.

Chicago cancels July 3 fireworks show
January 27, 2010 1:18 PM
The Chicago Mayor's Office of Special Events has decided to cancel the traditional July 3 fireworks celebration in Grant Park, instead opting to organize three smaller fireworks on July 4 at Navy Pier and on the north and south lakefront.

"But like in every level of government, the bad economy has challenged us to do more with less and to even more efficiently manage our limited resources," said MOSE director Megan McDonald in a statement. "We recognize that there are many who enjoy the Independence Day holiday in their own communities with friends and family, so we decided this year to bring the fireworks to them."http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/01/chicago-cancels-july-3-fireworks-show.html

[Smitty]

I never was enthused over fireworks which this town seems to put on so frequently each summer or prior years & looked at as a waste of money. That comes from the outlook of my parents that struggled through the big depression in the 30s. I guess it was not hard for me to not want to set of my own noise makers to rocket like things to also not something I just had to see FOR I look upon it as a waste of money by the town to the Province to the Federal Govt. My super conservative way of living.

[CielOnTap]

Watch the money given to this car manufacturer--good idea or not? All aspects of this loan have to be in synchronization in order for public officials to get photo opportunities. Here's hoping that the Department of Energy staff will deal with any government redtape that get in the way when big money is involved.

DOE Secretary Chu Throws $1.4B Loan To Nissan Leaf
By Tony Borroz January 28, 2010 | 3:55 pm | Categories: EVs and Hybrids
At today’s press conference at The Washington Auto Show, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu had something to say about electric vehicles, and how the U.S. government would approach aiding EV manufacturers. Although it was originally thought that announcement would concern the loans that Tesla, Fisker et al have received, the surprise announcement concerned Nissan’s Leaf all electric car.

The Leaf, which Nissan says should get 100 miles to a charge, cost around $25,000 to $30,000 and should be in showrooms soon, will be receiving $1.4 billion from the American government to upgrade the company’s manufacturing plant located in Smyrna, Tennessee.

At the D.C. Auto Show Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy had closed a $1.4 billion loan agreement with Nissan to support the modification of the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee, manufacturing plant to produce both the Nissan LEAF as well as the lithium-ion battery packs that will power them.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/01/doe-secretary-chu-throws-14b-loan-to-nissan-leaf/

[deja vu]

The recent awarding of a lucrative federal contract to a company owned by a financial contributor to the Obama presidential campaign -- without competitive bidding -- "violated" President Obama's many campaign pledges to crack down on the practice, a top State Department official told Fox News.

Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley, familiar to many Americans from his erudite delivery of the State Department's daily press briefings, made the admission in a telephone interview Saturday night.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01 ... latestnews

Crowley confirmed that the contract has been "terminated" because the circumstances under which it was awarded “violated the Competition in Contracting Act." Crowley said the contract was actually a renewal of a $44 million contract first awarded to Checchi and Company in October 2004 by the Bush administration -- after a competitive bidding process -- and will now be put out for competitive bids.

yada yada yada. Yes. this is the change Obama promised oh so long ago. He was hoping no one would notice the renewal. Bush followed the process and Obama rubberstamps the approval as a thank you for your money.

[guitarblues]

US Transportation Secretary had some explaining to do about comments relating to Toyota products. The car company has been quick to resolve the pedal problem once it went public. Having a government official on its case cannot be a good day for corporate media spokespeople.

Transportation Chief Tries to Keep Pressure on Toyota
By MICHELINE MAYNARD
Published: February 3, 2010
The Transportation Department scrambled on Wednesday to keep up the pressure on Toyota, with the agency’s head at one point telling owners of recalled vehicles to stop driving them.

But the department head, Ray LaHood, later tried to clarify what he called “obviously a misstatement,” saying that he meant only to urge Toyota owners concerned about their cars to take them in to dealerships.

In remarks before a House appropriations hearing, Mr. LaHood said his advice to owners of recalled Toyotas was to “stop driving it, take it to a Toyota dealer because they believe they have a fix for it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/business/global/04toyota.html?hp

[deja vu]

An Ohio high school teacher's giving students job applications for a Democratic organization that included suggested radical reading material has raising concerns of indoctrination in the classroom. The government teacher at Perry High School in Massillon, Ohio, handed out forms recruiting students to intern for Organizing for America, a grassroots organization with direct ties to the Democratic National Committee and the successor organization for Obama for America.

Included on the forms was a suggested reading list that included Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" and Organizing for America's mission to build on the "movement that elected President Obama by empowering students across the country to help us bring about our agenda of change." No Republican equivalent was offered to the students, according to Perry schools' Superintendent John Richard.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02 ... classroom/


The Indoctrination by Obama continues. I do think he knew about this and approved it. He is a danger to America, just too bad they are getting that message after he was elected and now stuck with him for 3 more years.