Five tons of unexploded Israeli bombs stored in the Gaza Strip under Hamas police guard have been stolen, U.N. officials said Tuesday.

. . .

Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner told The Associated Press that the explosives were probably taken by Hamas. He said Israel had been informed by the U.N. about the missing ordnance.

(UN: 5 tons of bombs stolen under Hamas guard, Yahoo News, 02/17/09)

Simple answer: stop dropping them on the Palestinians. If Hamas has retrieved these weapons and put the bombs to their own use … well … that’s the epitome of “fair play”.

Yeah … we’re still a torture nation, and in other ways it seems cheney/bush policies are still full steam ahead too.

Former Bush Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove has a new president urging Congress not to force him to testify next week.

President Barack Obama.

In a court brief quietly filed Monday, Michael Hertz, Obama’s acting assistant attorney general, said it was necessary to delay an effort to force Rove to be deposed in a congressional investigation into the firing of nine US Attorneys and the alleged political prosecution of a former Alabama governor.

. . .

“The president is very sympathetic to those who want to find out what happened,” [Obama White House Counsel] Craig told The Washington Post. “But he is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or weaken the institution of the presidency. So, for that reason, he is urging both sides of this to settle.”

(Obama, not Bush, now seeking delay of Rove deposition, Raw Story, 02/17/09)

Not that long ago, back in the days when change appeared to mean “something different, new and better”

In 2007, while in the Senate, Obama rebuked Bush’s White House as “the most secretive in modern history,” which aimed “to hide its abuse of our justice system.”

Responding to a Bush claim of executive privilege, he said, “By continuing to act as the most secretive White House in modern history, the Bush Administration has once again placed itself above the law in order to hide its abuse of our justice system from the American people. On the first day of an Obama Administration, we will launch the most sweeping ethics reform in history to shed sunlight on the decisions made by government and put the interests of the American people at the center of every decision that’s made.”

(ibid)

Okay, let’s keep score: Wall Street is still getting huge bailouts at the expense of Main Street. The failed Republican mantra of “cut taxes, cut taxes” has been carried over into the stimulus bill. The war in Afghanistan is being expanded, and the the occupation of Iraq is continuing unabated. Torture and extra-ordinary renditions are going to continue.

This is not good … and I don’t care that we’ve finally got a President who doesn’t have to be photographed with a book in an attempt to convince a skeptical nation the prez can read.

Yeah, good people, they’re out there … not looking for the limelight or public adulation or noteriety … just out there, quietly doing their good things.

Here’s a motorcycle story …

Many years ago I strapped a duffle bag on the back of and hopped on my Honda 650 4 cylinder bike heading off to the northwest of the US. No place in particular; Washington or Oregon or maybe even northern California.

I left North Carolina with just under $300 to my name.

While driving northwards in Iowa, I started having problems with my front wheel … and on a two wheeled machine having one wheel go bad … well that’s bad. I pulled into this little mechanics garage/gas station and asked the two gentlemen there if anything could be done.

These two spent the next couple of hours straightening, tightening and otherwise fixing the front end of my motorcycle, and then billed me fifty cents (no typo) for one bolt.

They didn’t know me. They could have charged me whatever was their desire. They could have found out I had about $250 to my name and told me to bug off.

But instead these two took care of a total stranger in grand fashion. (Side note: the bike made it to Missoula, Montana where a kaput clutch spelled the end of my trip and motorcycle.)

This is just one of quite a few experiences in my life that inform me 98% of the people on this planet, in this nation and in every state and local community across our country are good folks who want to do the right thing.

Which brings me to this story:

After selling a majority stake in Miami-based City National Bancshares last November, all he did was take $60 million of the proceeds — $60 million out of his own pocket — and hand it to his tellers, bookkeepers, clerks, everyone on the payroll. All 399 workers on the staff received bonuses, and he even tracked down 72 former employees so they could share in the windfall.

For longtime employees, the bonus — based on years of service — amounted to tens of thousands of dollars, and in some cases, more than $100,000.

(Miami banker gives $60 million of his own to employees, Miami Herald, 02/14/09)

One of my basic “business” tenets has always been to reward those who help me earn money. Walmart is an egregious example of what I don’t want to be like: a few top of the company owners and managers making mega bucks while chintzing on the compensation paid to the very folks who made the upper crust so rich.

Obviously I have like minded life traveler in Mr. Abess …

Asked later what motivated him, Abess said he had long dreamed of a way to reward employees. He had been thinking of creating an employee stock option plan before he decided to sell the bank.

”Those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity — I always thought some day I’m going to surprise them,” he said. “I sure as heck don’t need [the money].”

(ibid)

The unfortunate thing is we’ve spent decades rewarding grotesque greed that is designed to enrich a very few folks at the expense of a very many. The fortunate thing is we’ve got stories like those above to show us the right thing to do.

(and no, I’m not sure which is which):

Is there really $30 million in the new stimulus package devoted to saving the salt marsh mouse in  Nancy Pelosi’s district?

That’s what some conservatives are now charging, and the claim seems to be gaining some traction with elected GOP officials and conservative media outlets, who are using it to argue that the bill is stuffed with Dem pork.

But there isn’t any such money in the bill. And Pelosi’s office is saying that the claim is a “total fabrication.”

. . .

But I just contacted the House GOP staffer who wrote the initial email laying out this talking point, and he conceded that the claim by conservative media that the mouse money is currently in the bill is a misstatement. “There is not specific language in the legislation for this project,” he said.

The staffer held to the claim that the mouse money would ultimately be spent, however, arguing that the bill’s passage would ensure that money would ultimately go to the unnamed agency. “If the bill passes, the project will be funded according to what the relevant agency told our staff,” he said. “The bottom line is, if this bill becomes law, taxpayers will spend 30 million on the mouse.”

But Pelosi’s staff disputes even this point, arguing that the only projects being referred to here are federal wetland restoration projects – and that this wasn’t even Pelosi’s project to begin with, despite claims about “Pelosi’s mouse.”

(Pelosi’s Office: Conservative Talking Point About $30 Million For Mice Is “Fabrication”, The Plum Line (blog))

Just four days after his appearance was announced, Ben Stein withdrew as the prospective commencement speaker at UVM’s graduation ceremony in May.

In his place, former Vt. Governor and chair of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, will address the graduates.

University Communications announced Dean’s appearance on Friday.

(Dean to replace Stein as speaker, UVM Cynic, 02/17/09)

( – promoted by odum)

In an oped discussing our very one-sided discussion/talk radio options (Another Right-Wing Conspiracy in Washington?, Washington Post, 02/08/09), Bill Press discusses the BS claim that non-Republican oriented talk (he call’s it progressive radio) doesn’t make money.

“Station owners complain they can’t get good ratings or make any money with progressive talk,” Press writes, rightfully following up with “but that’s nonsense. In Minnesota, independent owner Janet Robert has operated KTNF (950 AM) profitably for five years. In Madison, Wis., WXXM, 92.1 FM, just scored its highest ratings ever. And KPOJ in Portland, Ore., soared with progressive talk from No. 23 in market ratings to No. 1. Nationwide, progressive talkers Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller have proven that, given a level playing field, they can more than hold their own in ratings — and make money for their stations.”

I can tell you from personal experience that Bill Press is absolutely correct …

Year’s ago I hosted/engineered/produced/made coffee for a local morning talk show on WSNO in Barre. It was a show that focused on the central Vermont area with emphasis on Barre and Montpelier and to a lesser degree the smaller towns such as Barre Town, Berlin and Williamstown. (1450 on the AM spectrum is only a thousand watt output so coverage is definitely limited)

Because of this local focus, I decided to try and get out into the communities more. My first attempt was a Barre establishment (I’ll leave them out of this) that serverd morning fare. I talked to the business’ owner about setting up a live feed from the place and having a chance to talk to customers over the course of the show.

The owner liked the idea … very, very much.

I like the idea … very, very much.

I had listeners who enjoyed my show … very, very much (still hear from some a decade later who tell me this).

But the station’s management and sales staff (who I liked and still do) weren’t interested in the idea. They refused to pursue it despite several requests from me. After all, according to those I talked to, liberal talk like the show I was doing couldn’t make any money!

Funny, I was able to sell my own ad time on that show to various folks … one of whom is heard advertising on “True North” today.

So now WSNO sits in the middle of central Vermont with only high school sports for locally generated air time. The rest is piped in from the great flat lands of outside Vermont … and it’s all by a huge margin mostly right wing crank Republican oriented talk.

There is a conspiracy to keep non-Republican oriented talk radio off the air … some of it of the back room deal making kind, and some of it of the above ignorance based agreement in direction kind.

I’ve worked for/with Thom Hartmann: he and his wife grew his now nationally known radio show out of a home built studio and broadcast over a satellite feed ALL PAID FOR BY THEIR OWN MONEY! (Progressives really do make the best entrepreneurs … really.)

I’ve seen the honest side of this debate.

And Bill Press is right on.

Well no … those who care about progressive politics, changes in directions and the future of our communities, states and nation lost.

Because most of us voted for Obama.

Here’s a helpful hint to what I’m talking about:

To help allay Republican concerns about the cost, the Senate proposal even scales back President Obama’s signature middle-class tax cut. The Senate plan also creates new tax incentives to encourage Americans to buy homes and cars within the next year.

Republican opponents continued to rail against the stimulus plan on the Senate floor on Saturday, though it appeared they would not have the votes to stop it.

. . .

In his weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday, the president praised the Senate deal and urged quick passage of a final bill.

(may require free registration … Congress Is Divided Over Competing Stimulus Bills, NY Times, 02/07/09)

On the other hand, Wall Street and all those who’ve made a killing off the Democratic supported Republican agenda, you know – the one that’s driven our nation and states broke, will be well protected from any financial loss.

And Obama calls this a good deal.

I was trying to wait six months before coming to a conclusion about an Obama administration, and I’m going to keep trying … but at this stage of the game; judging from what I’ve seen and heard so far; I’m glad I didn’t vote for Obama … we don’t need more radical Democratic supported Republican idiotology running our nation.

After thought: and where’s all the feet to the fire holding? Heard a lot about that, but I’ve seen absolutely zilch. Good thing the “feet to the fire” people kept their ammo dry so they couldn’t use it after the election.

President Barack Obama’s choice to head the CIA said on Thursday he would support “limited” prosecution of any agents who deliberately violated the law in interrogating terrorism suspects.

. . .

Panetta said he considered “waterboarding” to be torture, but did not support prosecuting agents who relied on high-level legal guidance allowing such techniques.

. . .

Panetta said he would if necessary ask Obama to allow harsher interrogations than those covered by the Army Field Manual, which the president last month set as the government standard. The manual bans techniques such as waterboarding.

“I would not hesitate,” to seek broader interrogation authority, Panetta said, adding “I think that this president would do nothing that would violate the laws that are in place.”

(Obama CIA pick may back “limited” abuse prosecution, Reuters, 02/05/09)

I love it when those pulling the strings talk about torture and legality in the same sentence, and yes they are serious.

Nope … no change from Obama here!

I just finished listening to the founder (Jack Harding??) of Vermont Tiger on the Mark Johnson Show … seems one can compare Vermont to California until one tries to compare Vermont to California.

What am I talking about? I heard the fella giving glowing reviews of California’s Silicon Valley including wonderful descriptions of how public/private partnerships had made housing more affordable. Well, after I called in and quickly related a relative’s issues with housing in California, and a California resident called in with a similar negative statement regard the affordability of California .. well, all of a sudden we’re supposed to be comparing to New York or New Hampshire or Massachusetts or sumthin of the like (talk about apples, oranges, granite and fleeting reference comparisons).

On top of that Harding had to totally miss-characterize my comments to make some point he wanted to.

I made a reference to Vermonters protecting the physical environment and some economic issues … yet Harding had to argue with my bringing up some notion of “beauty”.

According to the World Food Programme, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and Palestinian officials, between 35% and 60% of the agriculture industry [in Gaza] has been wrecked by the three-week Israeli attack, which followed two years of economic siege.

Christine van Nieuwenhuyse, the World Food Programme’s country director, said: “We are hearing that 60% of the land in the north – where the farming was most intensive – may not be exploitable again. It looks to me like a disaster. It is not just farmland, but poultry as well.

. . .

As well as the physical damage done by Israeli bulldozers, bombing and shelling, land has been contaminated by munitions, including white phosphorous, burst sewerage pipes, animal carcasses and even asbestos used in roofing. In many places, the damage is extreme. In Jabal al-Rayas, once a thriving farming community, every building has been knocked down, and even the cattle killed and left to lie rotting in the fields.

In al-Atatra, Ahmad Hassan, 65, the overseer of an orchard that once had hundreds of lemon and orange trees, surveyed an area flattened by bulldozers. “This was the well,” he said, showing a pile of bulldozed concrete. “We can clear the ground in two weeks. Then what? The well is gone. The pump has been destroyed. And where will the trees come from to replant the land?”

(Gaza desperately short of food after Israel destroys farmland, Guardian (Brit), 02/01/09)

Good thing the Isrealis are our terrorists … otherwise we might have to do something humane for the Palestinians for a change. Uh … Obama? You paying attention?