● Secretary Napolitano Launches Public Engagement Website... ● News Alert: Pa. Representative John Murtha dies... ● Some Democrats seek to change Constitution to pass Bills and Rule US... ● General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back... ● Obama tries to boost beleaguered Democratic National Committee... ● California's outsize problems won't be easy for Schwarzenegger to solve... ● U.S. outpost in Afghanistan was left vulnerable to attack, inquiry finds... ● Obama suggests extending debate as way to pass health reform... ● U.S. says American citizen kidnapped in Iraq... ● E-mails detail Todd Palin's role in Alaska decision-making...
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When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; When the government fears the people, there is liberty.  ~ Thomas Jefferson

 

Secretary Napolitano Launches Public Engagement Website

February 8th, 2010 · Homeland Security

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the launch of a new online public engagement tool designed to solicit input from the public on ways to enhance transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation at the Department—part of President Obama’s Open Government Directive.

The new online tool—available from Feb.6-March 19 at www.dhs.gov/open allows members of the public and interested stakeholders to submit ideas and suggestions on ways DHS can enhance transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation—while saving taxpayer money.

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News Alert: Pa. Representative John Murtha dies

February 8th, 2010 · House, News Alert

News Alert: Pa. Representative John Murtha dies

02:47 PM EST Monday, February 8, 2010
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Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a Vietnam veteran who staunchly supported military spending, has died at age 77.

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Some Democrats seek to change Constitution to pass Bills and Rule US

February 8th, 2010 · Corruption, Democrats, Terrorism from Within, Treason

Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary

By Paul Kane Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 8, 2010

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) chuckled as he recently reflected on his effort, five years ago, to change nearly century-old filibuster rules.

“God, that was a dumb idea,” McConnell said.

Back in 2005, McConnell had “majority” in his leadership title, and Republicans — confident about their majority status — pushed unsuccessfully to obliterate filibusters of judicial nominees. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world’s greatest deliberative body.

But these nascent efforts to curb the use of filibuster face resistance from Senate elders with long memories, who know that political winds can take today’s large majority and create tomorrow’s minority. Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) has not scheduled any debate on the issue.

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General-aviation security proposal is being scaled back

February 8th, 2010 · Accountability, Corruption, Deception, Democrats, Federal Spending, Greed, Homeland Security, National Security, Non-Transparency, Obama's Scheme, Selling Out the US, Tax Dollars, Terrorism from Within, Treason

By Spencer S. Hsu Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 7, 2010

Citing industry objections, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing to scale back a controversial plan to expand aviation security rules for the first time to thousands of private planes.

TSA officials said this week they expect to issue a revised plan this fall that will significantly reduce from 15,000 the number of U.S.-registered general-aviation aircraft subjected to tougher rules. Also, instead of mandating that all passengers aboard private planes be checked against terrorist watch lists, name checks in many cases could be left to the discretion of pilots, they said.

The shifts would mark significant rollbacks of security changes that supporters called overdue and essential to preventing terrorists from using small planes to smuggle dangerous weapons or carry out suicide attacks. Opponents, however, called the measures unwarranted, poorly thought out and overly burdensome on aircraft owners and manufacturers.

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Obama tries to boost beleaguered Democratic National Committee

February 8th, 2010 · Accountability, Congress, Deception, Democrats, Ethics, Federal Spending, Greed, Housing Industry, Insurance Industry, Money Lost, Obama's Scheme, Selling Out the US, Tax Dollars

By Michael A. Fletcher Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 7, 2010

President Obama gave a pep talk to Democrats on Saturday, assuring them that despite recent setbacks he would continue pushing his ambitious domestic agenda, including his plan to overhaul the nation’s health-care system.

Speaking at the winter meeting of the Democratic National Committee at the Capital Hilton in snowbound Washington, Obama drew loud applause with his pledge to see his plans through.

“Let me be clear,” he said. “I am not going to walk away from health insurance reform. I’m not going to walk away from the American people. I’m not going to walk away on this challenge. I’m not going to walk away on any challenge.”

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California’s outsize problems won’t be easy for Schwarzenegger to solve

February 8th, 2010 · Government, Politics, States

By Dan Balz – Sunday, February 7, 2010

SACRAMENTO People in the nation’s largest state are in a sour mood. They are unhappy with the economy, unhappy with what has happened to their state, unhappy with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and unhappy with the Democratic-controlled legislature.

The recession here began earlier and went deeper than it did nationally, according to estimates. In December, the unemployment rate stood at 12.4 percent, making California the fifth worst state in the nation. The Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report in November forecasting a turnaround this year but projecting that unemployment would still average more than 10 percent in 2012.

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U.S. outpost in Afghanistan was left vulnerable to attack, inquiry finds

February 6th, 2010 · Deception, Defense, Federal Spending, Foreign Policy, Government Control, National Security, Non-Transparency, Obama's Scheme, Selling Out the US, War on Terrorism

By Joshua Partlow Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, February 6, 2010

KABUL — Delays in closing a remote U.S. military outpost in eastern Afghanistan before eight American soldiers were killed last fall in an attack by 300 insurgents increased the base’s vulnerability, according to a summary of a military investigation released Friday.

The prolonged siege of Combat Outpost Keating, in the Kamdesh district of Nurestan province, was one of the deadliest insurgent attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan. It came to symbolize the danger entailed in posting small groups of soldiers in sparsely populated areas, a strategy commanders have moved away from under a new plan to protect more-populous areas.

The investigation into the attack, led by Army Maj. Gen. Guy C. Swan III, drew on interviews from about 140 people who were either at the outpost or had information about the attack. The inquiry found that the roughly 60 soldiers stationed there defended the base courageously, killing about 150 insurgents.

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Obama suggests extending debate as way to pass health reform

February 6th, 2010 · Deception, Democrats, Ethics, Federal Spending, Government Control, Greed, Healthcare Industry, Insurance Industry, Non-Transparency, Obama's Scheme, Selling Out the US, Tax Dollars, Taxes, Terrorism from Within, Treason

By Shailagh Murray Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 6, 2010

President Obama sketched out an alternative approach to passing health-care legislation that would enlist Republicans and potentially extend debate into the spring, a strategy seemingly in conflict with the fast-track talks among Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Speaking to members of the Democratic National Committee on Thursday night, Obama vowed to continue his year-long quest to overhaul the nation’s health-care system, to curb rising costs and extend coverage to millions of families and individuals who don’t have it.

But he suggested a different way forward than the partisan, closed-door dealmaking underway between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.).

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U.S. says American citizen kidnapped in Iraq

February 6th, 2010 · News Alert

News Alert: U.S. says American citizen kidnapped in Iraq
09:33 AM EST Saturday, February 6, 2010
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A Shiite militant group known as the League of the Righteous says it abducted an American citizen in Iraq last month. The Department of Defense has confirmed that contractor Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., has been missing since Jan. 23.

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E-mails detail Todd Palin’s role in Alaska decision-making

February 6th, 2010 · Accountability, States

Ceci Connolly Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 6, 2010

During the 2 1/2 years that his wife, Sarah, was governor of Alaska and then a vice presidential candidate, Todd Palin inserted himself into a host of state decisions, including judicial nominations and gas pipeline bids, according to e-mails released Friday.

Before Sarah Palin resigned her office in July, the “First Dude,” as Todd Palin became known, weighed in on appointments to state boards, labor disputes and the use of government aircraft, according to the documents, which were obtained by MSNBC.com under Alaska’s public records law.

He also forwarded confidential financial information about his longtime employer, the oil and gas company BP, to a state attorney, e-mails posted online by MSNBC show.

The trove of 3,000 private messages sent and received by Todd Palin further illuminate the personal quirks, machinations and frustrations of the Palins, from plans to install a tanning bed in the governor’s mansion to their gripes about the media. Linda Perez, administrative director of the Alaska governor’s office, confirmed the e-mails’ authenticity Friday to The Washington Post.

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