One More Mike Castle Conversation

Last night at a dinner in Sussex County the conversation was all about politics and social activism. "Somehow" the discussion turned to the stimulus bill and our esteemed Representative, Mike Castle. The man across the table reminded us all, Mike Castle no longer works for the people.


Personal Collection

The conversation reminded me of a posting by Jason330 at Delaware Liberal linking to a free, online sign generator. The chance was too good to pass up.

Peace.

Mike Castle, Republican First

Personal Collection

Congressman Mike Castley voted two times with the Republican Party and against the best interests of the people of Delaware. We had all best remember that fact when election time rolls around in 2010. Castle stood with the Bush administration time and time again while claiming to be a bipartisan moderate. Nothing could be farther from the truth than his rhetoric.

If we the people fail to hold our pols accountable for their actions we deserve what we get. After all one does reap what one sows.

Peace.

The Coffin Debate Rages On

activefree, Flickr, Creative Commons

During the Bush administration Dover Air Force Base was made off limits to the press at the time coffins carrying our fallen troops were being returned from Iraq or other places. The reason given was family privacy. Many critics saw the move as a way to shield the public from the reality of war. Today the administration is taking another look.

Pentagon officials reconsidering the ban on news coverage of coffins arriving at Dover Air Force Base from Iraq and Afghanistan are studying the media policies of other countries. They are also soliciting the views of families who have lost loved ones.

In the most recent national poll on the issue, conducted in 2003 by The New York Times and CBS News, 62 percent of respondents said the public should be allowed to see photographs of the military honor guard receiving
coffins at Dover, in Delaware, while 27 percent opposed the idea.

Both Canada an Britain allow limited press coverage in respect for both the public right to information and family privacy. What course the U.S. will take remains to be seen.

Peace.

Happy Birthday, John McEnroe

The bad boy of tennis turns 50 today. John McEnroe

was a winner and a whiner, a super talent nicknamed Superbrat. A lefthander with all the strokes, he never felt a need to stroke anybody.

hugovk, Flickr, Creative Commons

Welcome to the "No Longer a Kid Club," John.

Peace.

Foreclosure Moratorium for Some

Three large national banks, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley

placed a moratorium on foreclosing on some home loans to give the government time to launch a $50 billion mortgage relief program.

As announced the Obama administration is working on a plan to spend $50 billion

oreclosure prevention and establish national standards for modifying home loans. The program would include possible government subsidies for homeowners who qualify.

Time will tell how this is to function or what effect will be had. Even with relief many people without jobs or without good jobs will still be in trouble.

And given his track record I wonder how Congressman Castle will react to this program? Mr. Cut Taxes voted against the stimulus bill both times in the House. He seems not to care much about the people of Delaware when considerations of party loyalty are at stake.

Peace.

Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin

arkitekt2, Flickr, Creative Commons

Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. His book, Origin of the Species, was published 50 years later. Darwin continues to influence science and political discussions to this day. The man for all his faults was a superstar of observation and scientific investigation.

Peace.

The Stimulus Bill is Agreed Upon

If or not the bill will do the job remains to be seen, but at least a stimulus package is agreed upon at last.

Congressional negotiators announced Wednesday afternoon that they had reached agreement on a $789 billion economic stimulus bill, clearing the way for final action and President Obama’s signature.

To gain "centrist" support

the final deal slashed $35 billion from a proposed state fiscal stabilization fund, eliminated $16 billion in aid for school construction and sharply curtailed health care subsidies for the unemployed.

But tax cuts, the least effective form of economic stimulus were left largely intact.

Even before the last touches were put to the bill, the emerging deal infuriated some Democrats who said that President Obama and Congressional leaders had been too quick to give up on Democratic priorities. Some critics also suggested that the final figure was too small to be effective because of the grave condition of the American economy.

To get the vote of Arlen Specter of PA funds for medical research ($6.5 billion) were left in the final package.

We will need some time to see if or not this approach will be successful. It is my personal opinion the bill is too little money too focused on items which will not benefit the economy fast enough. We need an infusion of funds to be spent immediately, not two years from now. And the amount is too small to be effective given the size of our national economy.

Peace.

Welcome Back, John

John Brady spent several years as a member of Delaware's Republican Party. Now he has returned to the Democratic Party fold once again. In announcing his return Brady stated his position for the future.

Brady said he won't abandon his commitment to issues including transparency in government, fiscal conservatism and civil rights, regardless of race, creed, color or sexual orientation.

Those are stands we all should support.

Glad to see you on our side again, John.

Peace.

The Republican Whine Goes On and On

With a Senate procedural vote tonight to be followed by an expected floor vote tomorrow the Republicans are foaming at the mouth in steadfast objection to the Obama stimulus package. The same people who led the largest government expansion in American history are complaining about too much government in the package. The same people who led eight long years of the greatest government expenditure and the greatest increases in the deficit in American history are now claiming to be cost conscious.

The real reason behind the puffery is the Republican fear the Obama administration may succeed. If the Democrats manage to turn the nation around and restore the economy the Republicans stand to lose what little stature remains for their party. The failures of the last eight years will long hang around the Republican necks as people hold them accountable for their mistakes. Now if Delaware will just awaken to the same accountability and move Mike Castle out of the House we will be making even more progress.

Peace.

Americans Are Still Dying in Iraq

At a time when violence overall is at the lowest point since the invasion, Americans continue to die on a regular basis. Today four more American soldiers died in an apparent suicide bombing in Mosul.

An Iraqi official in Nineveh Province said a person driving a KIA pickup truck loaded with explosives rammed into a U.S. armored vehicle at approximately 11 a.m. in the Jadid district in western Mosul.

How much longer must this continue? How many more Americans must die before withdrawal is completed? Time is wasting. While politicians talk and do nothing our troops are dying. This must come to an end and soon. We have no more children to spare.

Peace.

The Republicans Aim to Stand Together

At the Kent County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday Republican leaders predict a return from the 40-seat deficit in Congress. Optimism does spring eternal. And our Republican Congressman, Mike Castle, is figured to play a prominent role in that rejuvenation.

That task begins with a special election for a New York state House seat – an effort in which Delaware’s Mike Castle will play a key role

Castle is quoted as saying

We as Republicans need to stick together in this state if we’re going to win elections

He showed his colors in the recent House vote against the stimulus plan which had a unanimous Republican opposition. Now we can guess he will stand with the failed Republican policies of the last eight years the same as he did all those years.

When ever will Delaware Democrats learn the lesson and put up a candidate worthy of the office? We here in Delaware cannot afford any more Republican representation. We need Democrats who begin to act like Democrats and represent the people, not the wealthy contributors.

Peace.

Trouble in the Stimulus Bill

For the last eight long years we have watched the effects of trickle down economics fail in our nation as the rich were enriched by tax cuts and everyone else suffered. Now we face an economy on the very brink of disaster with a Democratic administration and Congress. One would think this combination would bring a new and better approach to restarting the nation.

Instead we get a stimulus bill in the Senate pared down far enough to be ineffective to begin with and then pared even farther and focused more on tax cuts than before. All today is in the name of satisfying the center and right of American politics instead of focusing on what is best for the nation as a whole.

What the Senate cut:

Billion dollar cuts

$40 billion State Fiscal Stabilization

$16 billion School Construction

$7.5 billion of State Incentive Grants

$5.8 billion Health Prevention Activity

$4.5 billion GSA

$3.5 billion Higher Ed Construction (Eliminated)

$3.5 billion Federal Bldgs Greening

$2.25 Neighborhood Stabilization (Eliminate)

$2 billion broadband

$2 billion HIT Grants

$1.25 billion project based rental

$1 billion Head Start/Early Start

$1.2 billion in Retrofiting Project 8 Housing

$1 billion Energy Loan Guarantees

Million dollar cuts

$100 million FSA modernization

$50 million CSERES Research

$65 million Watershed Rehab

$30 million SD Salaries

$100 Distance Learning

$98 million School Nutrition

$50 million aquaculture

$100 million NIST

$100 million NOAA

$100 million Law Enforcement Wireless

$50 million Detention Trustee

$25 million Marshalls Construction

$100 million FBI Construction

$300 million Federal Prisons

$300 million BYRNE Formula

$140 million BYRNE Competitive

$10 million State and Local Law Enforcement

$50 million NASA

$50 million Aeronautics

$50 million Exploration

$50 million Cross Agency Support

$200 million NSF

$100 million Science

$300 million Fed Hybrid Vehicles

$50 million from DHS

$200 million TSA

$122 million for Coast Guard Cutters, modifies use

$25 million Fish and Wildlife

$55 million Historic Preservation

$20 million working capital fund

$200 million Superfund

$165 million Forest Svc Capital Improvement

$90 million State & Private Wildlife Fire Management

$75 million Smithsonian

$600 million Title I (NCLB)

Most cuts were to education, the environment, and people oriented programs with direct benefits. The parts left out would have meant an immediate infusion of government monies into the economy. This is the approach proven long ago to work. Government is the only body able to spend today. We must support government at all levels.

A real stimulus package would include support for state and local governments ready to continue programs already in place. Tax cuts have been shown more than once to be no way to move the economy forward. Instead of cuts we need restoration of the Bush tax cuts to bring more money into the government coffers and therefore to allow a more reasonable spending package to be a real stimulus.

We elected President Obama and a Democratic Congress to see real change. And now it seems we get more of the same old same old. The time for real protest has come. We, the people, need to be heard loud and clear. Our Senators and Representative need to know we are watching and that we care. Let them know we need Democrats who act like Democrats, not Democrats acting like moderate Republicans.

Contact our elected officials:
Senator Ted Kauffman
E-mail
Phone: (302) 573-6345 or (302) 424-8090

Senator Tom Carper
E-mail
Phone: (302) 573-6291
Fax: (302) 573-6434

Representative Mike Castle
E-mail
Phone: 302.428.1902
Fax: 302.428.1950

Local office numbers and fax machines are often best as the DC lines may be tied up these days. E-mail works, too. Be sure to personalize your message. Tell your own story. Don't let these guys think for one single second we, the voting public, are asleep at the wheel.

Peace.

New Contract for KBR in the Face of Criminal Investigation

Despite being under investigation in the electrocution deaths of at least two U.S. soldiers in Iraq, KBR (Kellog-Root-Brown) was awarded a new $35million contract for electrical construction in Iraq. A few months ago word from the Pentagon was critical of KBR.

Many within DOD (the Department of Defense) have lost or are losing all remaining confidence in KBR's ability to successfully and repeatedly perform the required electrical support services mission in Iraq.

The company claims work would be too costly if requirements include adhering to American standard electrical codes.

KBR announced last week it won a new $35.4 million contract from the Army Corps of Engineers to design and build a convoy support center at Camp Adder in southern Iraq. It will include a power plant, electrical distribution center, water purification and distribution systems, wastewater and information systems and road paving.

The Corps of Engineers said KBR has earned $615 million on 30 similar contracts as the newest it awarded to the company and noted that KBR has not been banned or suspended from winning U.S. government contracts.

This in spite of the fact a company may be denied government contracts for actions that "reflect a lack of business integrity." But in the mind of Pentagon contracting agents negligent homicide is not enough cause to deny more money.

Peace.

The Children of Guantanamo

We have heard and read in our media many times over how the detainees at Guantanamo are the "worst of the worst." How can that be when the records attest to the detention of 22 juveniles.

And contrary to the U.N.'s Rights of the Child protocol, all but three have been housed with the general population, despite their being obliged to promote "the physical and psychosocial rehabilitation and social reintegration of children who are victims of armed conflict."

Mohammed el-Gharani, a Chadian national and Saudi resident, was just 14 years old when he was seized by Pakistani forces in October 2001, in a raid on a mosque in Karachi, Pakistan, 700 miles from the battlefields of Afghanistan.

Like many other detainees el-Gharani has a story of horror including mistreatment tantamount to torture during his detention time in Guantanamo.

But last month, just days before President Barack Obama's inauguration, a federal judge, Richard Leon, ruled that the government had not proven that el-Gharani was an enemy combatant and said he must be released and sent home "forthwith." Judge Leon said the government had relied mainly on information from two other detainees at Guantánamo Bay whose reliability and credibility was questionable.

His release may not come soon as he is in limbo so far as a place to live. His native country of Chad may not allow him to return. Until the Obama administration can find a home he remains in detention.

Omar Khadr was detained in Afghanistan at age 15 and remains in detention to this day, six years later. Khadr is charged with throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. soldier.

Unintentionally released U.S. military documents revealed that original reports said that Kadr was not the person who threw the grenade, and additional testimony by government witnesses has proven "unreliable."

Like so many detainees the evidence is weak or non-existent.

That any juvenile was ever held under the conditions of Guantanamo is terrible enough. That so many have lived for years in detention is beyond words to condemn. Children deserve better. The children of the world are our future. What future do we have left if we treat them the way these children were treated?

Peace.

Poems from Guantanamo

The 72-page book edited by Mark Falkoff is now available for all to read. The collection is writings produced by the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. These words were written on paper, scratched on styrofoam cups, and etched into napkins. The detainees managed in whatever way was possible for them. The writing was one way to keep some semblance of sanity.



Mark Falkoff is a Guantanamo defense attorney who received poetry from a detainee. In conversations with other attorneys he found they, too, were getting words in various ways. One of the writing detainees, Sami al-Haj, said in a newspaper interview after his release

It is not vengeance that drives me. It is telling the stories of oppressed people everywhere so there is never another Guantanamo.

Excerpts of one of his poems may be found here along with the following others.

Is It True?

Is it true that the grass grows again after rain?

Is it true that the flowers will rise up in the spring?

Is it true that birds will migrate home again?

Is it true that the salmon swim back up their stream?

It is true. This is true. These are all miracles.

But is it true that one day we'll leave Guantánamo Bay?

Is it true that one day we'll go back to our homes?

I sail in my dreams, I am dreaming of home.

To be with my children, each one part of me;

To be with my wife and the ones that I love;

To be with my parents, my world's tenderest hearts,

I dream to be home, to be free from this cage.

But do you hear me, oh Judge, do you hear me at all?

We are innocent, here, we've committed no crime.

Set me free, set us free, if anywhere still

Justice and compassion remain in this world!

Osama Abu Kabir

Kabir, a Jordanian water truck driver was released in 2007 having been charged with no crime.

Death Poem

(A suicide note from Guantanamo)

Take my blood.

Take my death shroud and

The remnants of my body.

Take photographs of my corpse at the grave, lonely.

Send them to the world,

To the judges and

To the people of conscience,

Send them to the principled men and the fair-minded.

And let them bear the guilty burden, before the world,

Of this innocent soul.

Let them bear the burden, before their children and before history,

Of this wasted, sinless soul,

Of this soul which has suffered at the hands of the "protectors of peace."

Jumah al-Dossari

During his six years of detention at Guantanamo Bay al-Dossari attempted suicide several times. Some of his experiences are detailed in the book, Inside the Wire, by Erik Saar, former military intelligence soldier.

al-Dossari recently told his attorney

Whenever I start to feel bitter about the cruelty at Guantanamo, I imagine the faces of the soldiers who were kind to me. Like them, I want the world to be a better place.

What more need be said?

Peace.

Time to Wake Up, People

The stimulus bill is in trouble from the look of the news. The Senate seems poised to drive the cost down to a point where the injection of capital may be ineffective at best. The economy is falling at a precipitous rate. There will be no new money coming into the system from the private sector. Government spending is the only way to attempt to avoid a complete collapse.

The newspaper pages are filled with doom and gloom along with the right wing talking points about "pork barrel" spending in the stimulus bill. This must not be tolerated. The total amount in the bill as passed by the House which might be stretched to be "pork" is only about 5% of the total. We must not allow the classic Republican maneuvers to stop the one chance we have to right our economic ship.

We on the left had best wake up and smell the coffee. We need to let our voices be heard in the newspapers and other media and on the streets. We must not be the silent majority and let the vocal minority win this battle. We have too much to lose.

Peace.

More Bad News in the Housing Market

With a decline of 11.6% in 2008 in the median value of homes homeowners lost trillions of value. Today as many as one in six homeowners with a mortgage owes more than the home is worth. This negative equity tends to increase the number of foreclosures and may lead to lowered housing prices in a downward spiral.

Obama's stimulus package needs to include enough support for homeowners to interrupt this slide.

Some Democrats want to use $50 billion to stem housing foreclosures while dropping other spending critics say would do little to create jobs. Republicans seek temporary federal underwriting of low-interest fixed-rate mortgages.

Both sides have their own arguments as to which is best.

In any event let us all hope some measure of package is passed and signed soon. The sooner funds reach the pockets of spenders the better for any economic recovery.

Peace.

More Twisting of Justice in the U.S.

In a 2007 shooting Blackwater guards left 17 Iraqis dead at a Baghdad intersection. Prosecutors are having trouble bringing the people involved to any semblance of justice. As State Department employees the guards are apparently considered to be outside the reach of the U.S. Justice Department.

Defense contractors can be prosecuted in U.S. courts for crimes committed overseas, but because of a legal loophole, contractors for other agencies can only face charges if their work assignments supported the Defense Department.

Opinions of the guards' legal oversight vary. Pentagon spokesman, Gordon England, in 2007 said

I am informed that the Blackwater USA private security contractors working under a Department of State contract were not engaged in employment in support of the DOD mission

In his opinion that put the guards outside the realm of the Justice Department. On the other hand

Blackwater founder and chief executive Erik Prince said in an interview with The Associated Press that he believed his security guards were covered (by the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and could be prosecuted in criminal courts.

What twist will this case take next? Will justice ever be done?

Peace.

Repeating the Mistakes of the Past One More Time

According to news reports today, the waste, fraud, and corruption of Iraq is continuing in Afghanistan. Tens of billions of dollars were lost in Iraq.

The U.S. has devoted more than $30 billion to rebuilding Afghanistan. Yet despite the hard lessons learned in Iraq, where the U.S. has spent nearly $51 billion on reconstruction, the effort in Afghanistan is headed down the same path, the watchdogs told a new panel investigating wartime contracts.

Better cooperation among federal agencies, more flexible contracting rules, constant oversight and experienced acquisition teams are among the changes urged by the officials in order to make sure money isn't wasted and contractors don't cheat.

A bipartisan committee assigned to study the situation in Iraq has a very critical report.

There are 154 open criminal investigations into allegations of bribery, conflicts of interest, defective products, bid rigging and theft in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, said Gimble, the Pentagon's principal deputy inspector general.

In the study

fraud (was found) to be less of a problem than persistent inefficiencies and hefty contractor fees that "all contributed to a significant waste of taxpayer dollars.

Until and unless all involved at every level of government and private contracts this may not be corrected. When ever will we as a nation begin to learn from our past mistakes?

Peace.

Will We Never Learn?

In years past the U.S. government provided arms and support to a variety of insurgent groups including Osama bin Laden's organization. Now we are in the same business once again. According to Afghanistan's Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar,

A U.S.-funded program to train and arm community members in Afghanistan's most dangerous regions as a way to defend against the Taliban has begun.

While U.S. and other officials are being careful not to call these armed groups "militias" the purpose remains the same.

When ever will we as a nation learn our lesson? Weapons are used to kill people. The more arms and armament in an area the more violence is likely to be seen. We need programs to improve social and economic status for one and all. More weapons and their use increases the problem without offering a real solution.

Peace.