Friday, December 12, 2008
Sunday, December 9, 2007
To Understand The Mormon History
IT is probably not to his advantage that Mitt Romney’s clean-scrubbed, youthful presence so readily reminds voters of those earnest Mormon missionaries knocking on their doors.
If it were almost any other church, a missionary past would most likely be an asset for a presidential candidate. To have spent two years in mission work after high school is a sign of early and admirable idealism, commitment and strength of character.
But to many American Christians, those friendly Mormon missionaries embody exactly what they fear and resent about Mormonism. And Mr. Romney, after nearly a year of graciously sidestepping invitations to a theological duel, may have engaged it despite himself last week by giving a speech on faith the likes of which hasn’t been heard since John F. Kennedy took on voters’ fears of Catholicism in 1960. While Mr. Romney uttered the word “Mormon” only once, he jump started the discussion about what makes Mormonism problematic for some Americans.
From the start of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in upstate New York 180 years ago, missionaries have been spreading the message that Christianity lost its way and Mormonism restores the Christian church to its rightful path. The first prophet of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, essentially threw down the gauntlet to the other churches. He was killed at the hands of a mob.
But the prophet begat apostles, and their converts begat converts — energetic, courageous types who ventured as far as Hawaii, England, Brazil and Tonga to evangelize. Today, the church counts more than 12 million members, of whom about 5.5 million are Americans. Internationally, about 70 percent of Mormons are converts.
But to many American Christians, those friendly Mormon missionaries embody exactly what they fear and resent about Mormonism. And Mr. Romney, after nearly a year of graciously sidestepping invitations to a theological duel, may have engaged it despite himself last week by giving a speech on faith the likes of which hasn’t been heard since John F. Kennedy took on voters’ fears of Catholicism in 1960. While Mr. Romney uttered the word “Mormon” only once, he jump started the discussion about what makes Mormonism problematic for some Americans.
From the start of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in upstate New York 180 years ago, missionaries have been spreading the message that Christianity lost its way and Mormonism restores the Christian church to its rightful path. The first prophet of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, essentially threw down the gauntlet to the other churches. He was killed at the hands of a mob.
But the prophet begat apostles, and their converts begat converts — energetic, courageous types who ventured as far as Hawaii, England, Brazil and Tonga to evangelize. Today, the church counts more than 12 million members, of whom about 5.5 million are Americans. Internationally, about 70 percent of Mormons are converts.
“His candidacy alone has been a long infomercial for the Mormon cult,” said Bill Keller, an evangelist in Florida who runs an Internet prayer network. “As president he’s going to carry the influence of that office, not just here but worldwide, and there’s no denying it’s going to lead people to check out that religion, which according to biblical Christianity, will lead them ultimately to hell.”
The church has walked a fine line for years between emphasizing what it has in common with traditional Christianity and not shying away from its distinctions. (The church’s own explanations of its beliefs, of course, differ from those of its detractors.) Realizing that having a Mormon run for president would raise questions, the headquarters in Salt Lake City posted explanations of church history and doctrine on its Web site. The church does not endorse candidates.
The rhetoric of those like Mr. Keller is extreme, and his use of the term “cult” naturally offends Mormons and others. But he is voicing feelings shared by Christians in other denominations who fret that a Mormon presidency could attract converts to a faith they perceive as a heretical rival.
The rhetoric of those like Mr. Keller is extreme, and his use of the term “cult” naturally offends Mormons and others. But he is voicing feelings shared by Christians in other denominations who fret that a Mormon presidency could attract converts to a faith they perceive as a heretical rival.
In the 1840’s we immediately responded in kind and accused Mormonism of being Satanic and inspired by the devil,” Dr. Mouw said. “So you have basically 170, 180 years of harsh, angry, denunciatory rhetoric between the camps that has set the whole tone.”
Today there is no armed mob, but there remains a complex brew of fear, ignorance and hostility about Mormonism. The ignorance itself should not be underestimated: it is surprising how many Mormons say they have been mistaken for Amish. Polygamy remains an issue, even though the church disavowed it 117 years ago. Racism is also an issue, since it was not until 1978 that the church opened its priesthood to blacks. But don’t forget that it was only in the 1990s that many Southern churches asked forgiveness for their segregationist stance — and received it.
Today there is no armed mob, but there remains a complex brew of fear, ignorance and hostility about Mormonism. The ignorance itself should not be underestimated: it is surprising how many Mormons say they have been mistaken for Amish. Polygamy remains an issue, even though the church disavowed it 117 years ago. Racism is also an issue, since it was not until 1978 that the church opened its priesthood to blacks. But don’t forget that it was only in the 1990s that many Southern churches asked forgiveness for their segregationist stance — and received it.
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: December 9, 2007
Published: December 9, 2007
Faulty sensor grounds Atlantis again
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- NASA scrubbed space shuttle Atlantis' planned Sunday launch after a cut-off sensor designed to gauge the fuel level of the external liquid hydrogen tank failed another test, a space agency spokesman said.
Thursday's launch was postponed after two of the sensors failed pre-flight testing. NASA spokesman George Diller confirmed Sunday's test results.
Launch teams will drain the fuel from the external tank so NASA can perform a troubleshooting procedure in hopes of learning more about the "ECO" sensors, Diller said.
A new launch date was not immediately announced, but Wayne Hale, NASA's shuttle program manager, said last week that if the sensors failed Sunday, it would be unlikely Atlantis could take off during the launch window, which closes Thursday.
Launch teams will drain the fuel from the external tank so NASA can perform a troubleshooting procedure in hopes of learning more about the "ECO" sensors, Diller said.
A new launch date was not immediately announced, but Wayne Hale, NASA's shuttle program manager, said last week that if the sensors failed Sunday, it would be unlikely Atlantis could take off during the launch window, which closes Thursday.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Today's Person "Norman Borlaug"
THE MAN THAT FEED THE WORLD
From the day he was born in 1914, Norman Borlaug has been an enigma. How could a child of the Iowa prairie, who attended a one-teacher, one-room school; who flunked the university entrance exam; and whose highest ambition was to be a high school science teacher and athletic coach, ultimately achieve the distinction as one of the one hundred most influential persons of the twentieth century? And receive the Nobel Peace Prize for averting hunger and famine? And eventually be hailed as the man who saved hundreds of millions of lives from starvation—more than any other person in history
Wis. drivers line up for gas at 33 cents
Fri Dec 7, 11:28 PM ET
MINOCQUA, Wis. - Dozens of drivers made a mad rush for cheap gas after a station employee accidentally changed the price to 33 cents a gallon
An employee closing Trig's Minocqua Shell for the night mistakenly entered the price of a gallon of gasoline as 32.9 cents instead of $3.299 on Monday night.
He left about 10 p.m., but drivers could still use their credit cards to buy gas.
Word of the bargain spread fast in the rural northern Wisconsin community, with 42 people buying 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes. One person had pumped 27 gallons and two purchased 18 gallons.
Local police saw the horde at the station and called store manager Andrea Reuland, who went to the station and pushed the emergency stop.
"There were cars two deep at each of my pumps," said Reuland, who knew many of the drivers and told them they were being dishonest — the main store sign had the correct price.
"I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people," she said. "They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake and I think that's terrible."
The employee, who has been there for about six months, had changed the gas prices 25 times in the past six months.
"It was an honest mistake," Reuland said. "I could have done it."
Area residents were still talking about it Friday morning.
"Was it you guys?" a woman in the station asked Reuland. "Why do I always miss the good stuff?"
He left about 10 p.m., but drivers could still use their credit cards to buy gas.
Word of the bargain spread fast in the rural northern Wisconsin community, with 42 people buying 586 gallons of gas in an hour and 45 minutes. One person had pumped 27 gallons and two purchased 18 gallons.
Local police saw the horde at the station and called store manager Andrea Reuland, who went to the station and pushed the emergency stop.
"There were cars two deep at each of my pumps," said Reuland, who knew many of the drivers and told them they were being dishonest — the main store sign had the correct price.
"I was very upset that there's that many dishonest people," she said. "They knew there was a problem, and they took advantage of an employee's mistake and I think that's terrible."
The employee, who has been there for about six months, had changed the gas prices 25 times in the past six months.
"It was an honest mistake," Reuland said. "I could have done it."
Area residents were still talking about it Friday morning.
"Was it you guys?" a woman in the station asked Reuland. "Why do I always miss the good stuff?"
Military Lost Track of Equipment In Iraq Worth Millions, Audit Says
The White House has put their best man on it-------->By Dana HedgpethWashington Post Staff Writer Saturday, December 8, 2007; Page D02
Pentagon auditors said they could not account for millions of dollars worth of rocket-propelled grenades, armored vehicles, ammunition and other supplies and equipment that were to be used to train and equip Iraqi security forces, because of inadequate paperwork and a lack of oversight personnel.
A report released Thursday by the Defense Department's inspector general looked at $5.2 billion in the Iraq Security Forces Fund, which is part of the $44.5 billion U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq.
The inspector general's audit also looked at a random sample of equipment purchases, worth $1.1 billion. Of $643.1 million worth of contracts for armored vehicles, weapons, ammunition, communications equipment, garbage trucks and other supplies, the inspector general was able to follow a paper trail for only 12.9 percent -- or $82.9 million -- of it. For another set of purchases, worth $438.2 million, there was an audit trail for only 1 percent.
The command unit also could not account for:
The command unit also could not account for:
Democrats Want Probe of Tape Destruction
By PAMELA HESSThe Associated Press Saturday, December 8, 2007; 4:22 AM
WASHINGTON -- Angry congressional Democrats demanded Friday that the Justice Department investigate why the CIA destroyed videotapes of the interrogation of two terrorism suspects.
The Senate's No. 2 Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, called on Attorney General Michael Mukasey to find out "whether CIA officials who destroyed these videotapes and withheld information about their existence from official proceedings violated the law."
White House Press Secretary Dana Perino listens to a reporters question about the CIA videotaping of its interrogations of two top terror suspects in 2002, Friday, Dec. 7, 2007, during her daily briefing at the White House in Washington.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., accused the CIA of a cover-up. "We haven't seen anything like this since the 18 1/2-minute gap in the tapes of President Richard Nixon," he said in a Senate floor speech.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Bonds pleads not guilty to 5 federal charges
updated 10:14 a.m. PT, Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty Friday to charges he lied to federal investigators about using performance-enhancing drugs.
The home run king’s arraignment in U.S. District Court marked his first public appearance since a Nov. 15 indictment charging him with four counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice.
If he’s convicted of all five charges Bonds could spend more than two years in prison.
Stocks Waver After Latest Jobs Report- AP
Wall Street paused from its big rally Friday, with the major indexes alternating between small gains and minor losses after the government's November jobs report came in weaker than expected and also showed a pickup in inflation
Woman beaten on MTA bus in Baltimore
Dec 6, 2007 3:00 AM (1 day ago) by Luke Broadwater, The Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As Sarah Kreager, 26, tried to sit down on a Baltimore City bus Tuesday, police say, a middle-schooler told her she couldn’t. When she attempted to take another seat, a middle-schooler wouldn’t let her. Finally, according to police, Kreager just sat down.
She was “immediately attacked” by nine students — three females and six males — from Robert Poole Middle School. They punched and kicked her at 2:59 p.m. at the intersection of 33rd Street and Chestnut Avenue, according to Maryland Transit Administration police.
Kreager was dragged off the bus and her boyfriend, Troy Ennis, attempted to get her back on, police said.
She sustained “serious injuries” and had to be transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to a police report.
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Students blame beating victim
Mayor condemns ‘deplorable’ violence
Kreager suffered two broken bones in her left eye socket, police said.
“She had eye muscles that were damaged,” a police report states. “She had deep lacerations on the top of her head and another above her neck.”
Two seats and the bus’ rear glass were destroyed during the attack, police said.
The bus driver on the No. 27 line quickly called police, who responded and arrested the nine juveniles, said Jawauna Greene, an MTA police spokeswoman.
All nine suspects, ages 14 and 15, were arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
Their bus tickets — provided by the school — have been revoked, Greene said.
“Riding the bus is a privilege,” she said. “Public safety is our primary concern.”
Greene said the investigation into the incident was ongoing and she didn’t know whether the attack had anything to do with the victim’s race.
The suspects in the incident are black. The victim is white, according to the police report.
Baltimore resident David Briggs, who lives near the crime scene, said the incident underscores Baltimore’s pervasive crime.
“Now, I can't even ride the bus,” he said.
Examiner Staff Writer Stephen Janis contributed to the article
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As Sarah Kreager, 26, tried to sit down on a Baltimore City bus Tuesday, police say, a middle-schooler told her she couldn’t. When she attempted to take another seat, a middle-schooler wouldn’t let her. Finally, according to police, Kreager just sat down.
She was “immediately attacked” by nine students — three females and six males — from Robert Poole Middle School. They punched and kicked her at 2:59 p.m. at the intersection of 33rd Street and Chestnut Avenue, according to Maryland Transit Administration police.
Kreager was dragged off the bus and her boyfriend, Troy Ennis, attempted to get her back on, police said.
She sustained “serious injuries” and had to be transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, according to a police report.
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Examiner.com Related Articles:
Students blame beating victim
Mayor condemns ‘deplorable’ violence
Kreager suffered two broken bones in her left eye socket, police said.
“She had eye muscles that were damaged,” a police report states. “She had deep lacerations on the top of her head and another above her neck.”
Two seats and the bus’ rear glass were destroyed during the attack, police said.
The bus driver on the No. 27 line quickly called police, who responded and arrested the nine juveniles, said Jawauna Greene, an MTA police spokeswoman.
All nine suspects, ages 14 and 15, were arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
Their bus tickets — provided by the school — have been revoked, Greene said.
“Riding the bus is a privilege,” she said. “Public safety is our primary concern.”
Greene said the investigation into the incident was ongoing and she didn’t know whether the attack had anything to do with the victim’s race.
The suspects in the incident are black. The victim is white, according to the police report.
Baltimore resident David Briggs, who lives near the crime scene, said the incident underscores Baltimore’s pervasive crime.
“Now, I can't even ride the bus,” he said.
Examiner Staff Writer Stephen Janis contributed to the article
Broad Energy Bill Passed by House
Car Mileage, Renewable Power Addressed
By Jonathan Weisman and Steven MufsonWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, December 7, 2007; Page A01
The House yesterday brushed aside a new White House veto threat and handily approved a comprehensive energy bill that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
The 235 to 181 vote sends the measure to the Senate today. There, Republicans hope to strip it of tax increases on the oil industry and the renewable-source requirement before a final version goes to President Bush. The White House objects to the bill on multiple fronts, including the prospect of tax boosts on oil companies, saying Bush would veto it.
By Jonathan Weisman and Steven MufsonWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, December 7, 2007; Page A01
The House yesterday brushed aside a new White House veto threat and handily approved a comprehensive energy bill that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
The 235 to 181 vote sends the measure to the Senate today. There, Republicans hope to strip it of tax increases on the oil industry and the renewable-source requirement before a final version goes to President Bush. The White House objects to the bill on multiple fronts, including the prospect of tax boosts on oil companies, saying Bush would veto it.
A Mountain of Competing Plans Make Open Enrollment Dizzying
By Stephen BarrThursday, December 6, 2007; Page D04
The health insurance program for federal employees and retirees is all about choice and competition, and there seems to be plenty in this open enrollment season.
For 2008, the program offers 283 health plans -- national plans and local health maintenance organizations -- with most employees and retirees eligible to join from a dozen to 20 plans, depending on where they live and their occupation. Most plans are open to all, but some specialize in providing medical coverage to specific groups, such as intelligence and law enforcement employees.
While it is easy to spot the choices available in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, it is harder to see the competition among the plans. That's partly because the Office of Personnel Management, which administers the FEHBP, discourages plans from drawing comparisons with competitors or marketing against one another.
Those Who Avoided Risk Call Plan A Raw Deal
By Renae MerleWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, December 7, 2007; D01
In 2005, when even the bartender on U Street talked about all his condo investments, Matthew Brown and his fiancee walked away from the local housing boom. Instead, the District couple decided to take the unfashionable approach: save for a hefty down payment and keep credit card debt down.
The "long in the tooth" car got older. The vacations became less frequent. "My fiancee and I have been renting, biding our time, doing all the things people tell you to do: save, don't carry balances on your credit cards."
So yesterday's news that major lenders had agreed to freeze rates on some subprime adjustable-rate mortgages stirred deep resentment.
"It seems almost like you are rewarded for being less responsible," said the management consultant, 33. "There are a lot of downsides for people who didn't buy into a lot of the frenzy."
The agreement has sparked bitterness and anger among those who either sat out the housing boom or endured friends' snickers when they stuck with a traditional mortgage and a smaller house. To some who watched prices rise out of their reach or who moved to cheaper cities, the agreement looks like a penalty for those who didn't gamble.
"What about those of us who played by the rules? Can we get six months of free gasoline? Isn't there something for the rest of us?" asked Tim MacKinnon. After watching a friend use his home as an "ATM" for years, MacKinnon left Washington for New Jersey, where the $25,000 he had socked away went further.
The resentment is apparent on blogs that chronicle the mortgage crisis. It has some Republican lawmakers worried about a backlash.
At the blog HousingPanic ( http://housingpanic.com/), the agreement is equated to the attempt in 2005 to save Terri Schiavo, a woman who was in a vegetative state. "Washington politicians thought intervening in the Terri Schiavo affair would be good politics, too. Housing Gambler Bailout is the new Terri Schiavo," the site proclaims.
Then there is the name-calling and hostility: It is a plan to help the "greedy" who "squeal like stuck pigs" when the market turns bad, said one post on HousingPanic. Another declared: "If I only had been stupid or greedy instead then Uncle Sam would have my back."
"Let the punishment fit the crime. That is where the passion comes from," said Debi Averett, who launched the blog Housing Doom ( http://housingdoom.com/) after getting priced out of the Phoenix market.
The deal reached by government officials, mortgage lenders and Wall Street firms aims mostly at subprime borrowers who can currently afford their payments but won't be able to once they adjust during the next three years. It attempts to forestall a wave of foreclosures that some worry could help push the country into a recession.
And that's a worthy goal, backers say. "We should look out not just for ourselves but for our neighbors. Be thy brother's keeper, that is what we should be about," said Bruce Marks, chief executive of the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, a nonprofit group that wants the deal expanded. Resentment is misplaced, he said. "It is also in our self-interest" to help troubled homeowners, he said.
The debate hits an American obsession -- the importance of homeownership -- and could be tricky for presidential candidates in states most threatened by foreclosures, including Florida, Michigan and Ohio.
"The epicenter of this problem [is] places with key electoral votes," said Christopher Mayer, director of the Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School. "I think both sides have to figure out what to do. I don't think they are going to find it such an easy" thing.
Politicians need to appeal not only to people at risk of losing their homes but also to those such as Ben Sullivan, who sees the agreement as a undeserved bailout. After the 2001 technology stock bust, many people lost significant value in their retirement plans, Sullivan said. "No one was offering to pay for their 401(k) losses. Why should they do it for their housing losses?" said the 28-year-old commercial banker.
Sullivan lived in the District for years and watched as his friends flipped condominiums and investment properties. "I think we shouldn't be bailing out the homeowners that got greedy buying homes they couldn't afford," said Sullivan, who moved to Atlanta nine months ago.
The aggravation has been building for a while and stretches beyond the agreement announced yesterday. For instance, under one congressional proposal, there would also be a break for "short sales" -- that is, when owners sell a home for less than is owed on the mortgage and the lender forgives the difference. Now, the amount that's forgiven is regarded as income, and the seller owes tax on it. The proposed legislation would forgive that tax.
Without the threat of the tax, sellers might not be as reluctant to consider a short sale, said Northern Virginia real estate broker Frank Borges LLosa. He predicted the number of such sales could double.
Maybe Congress should allow a 50 to 75 percent break instead, he said. "I am not saying not to help out these people," LLosa said. "It's very sad. I have spoken to people who have lost their homes. I just don't know if a bailout is the right thing for the marketplace as a whole."
In 2005, when even the bartender on U Street talked about all his condo investments, Matthew Brown and his fiancee walked away from the local housing boom. Instead, the District couple decided to take the unfashionable approach: save for a hefty down payment and keep credit card debt down.
The "long in the tooth" car got older. The vacations became less frequent. "My fiancee and I have been renting, biding our time, doing all the things people tell you to do: save, don't carry balances on your credit cards."
So yesterday's news that major lenders had agreed to freeze rates on some subprime adjustable-rate mortgages stirred deep resentment.
"It seems almost like you are rewarded for being less responsible," said the management consultant, 33. "There are a lot of downsides for people who didn't buy into a lot of the frenzy."
The agreement has sparked bitterness and anger among those who either sat out the housing boom or endured friends' snickers when they stuck with a traditional mortgage and a smaller house. To some who watched prices rise out of their reach or who moved to cheaper cities, the agreement looks like a penalty for those who didn't gamble.
"What about those of us who played by the rules? Can we get six months of free gasoline? Isn't there something for the rest of us?" asked Tim MacKinnon. After watching a friend use his home as an "ATM" for years, MacKinnon left Washington for New Jersey, where the $25,000 he had socked away went further.
The resentment is apparent on blogs that chronicle the mortgage crisis. It has some Republican lawmakers worried about a backlash.
At the blog HousingPanic ( http://housingpanic.com/), the agreement is equated to the attempt in 2005 to save Terri Schiavo, a woman who was in a vegetative state. "Washington politicians thought intervening in the Terri Schiavo affair would be good politics, too. Housing Gambler Bailout is the new Terri Schiavo," the site proclaims.
Then there is the name-calling and hostility: It is a plan to help the "greedy" who "squeal like stuck pigs" when the market turns bad, said one post on HousingPanic. Another declared: "If I only had been stupid or greedy instead then Uncle Sam would have my back."
"Let the punishment fit the crime. That is where the passion comes from," said Debi Averett, who launched the blog Housing Doom ( http://housingdoom.com/) after getting priced out of the Phoenix market.
The deal reached by government officials, mortgage lenders and Wall Street firms aims mostly at subprime borrowers who can currently afford their payments but won't be able to once they adjust during the next three years. It attempts to forestall a wave of foreclosures that some worry could help push the country into a recession.
And that's a worthy goal, backers say. "We should look out not just for ourselves but for our neighbors. Be thy brother's keeper, that is what we should be about," said Bruce Marks, chief executive of the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, a nonprofit group that wants the deal expanded. Resentment is misplaced, he said. "It is also in our self-interest" to help troubled homeowners, he said.
The debate hits an American obsession -- the importance of homeownership -- and could be tricky for presidential candidates in states most threatened by foreclosures, including Florida, Michigan and Ohio.
"The epicenter of this problem [is] places with key electoral votes," said Christopher Mayer, director of the Milstein Center for Real Estate at Columbia Business School. "I think both sides have to figure out what to do. I don't think they are going to find it such an easy" thing.
Politicians need to appeal not only to people at risk of losing their homes but also to those such as Ben Sullivan, who sees the agreement as a undeserved bailout. After the 2001 technology stock bust, many people lost significant value in their retirement plans, Sullivan said. "No one was offering to pay for their 401(k) losses. Why should they do it for their housing losses?" said the 28-year-old commercial banker.
Sullivan lived in the District for years and watched as his friends flipped condominiums and investment properties. "I think we shouldn't be bailing out the homeowners that got greedy buying homes they couldn't afford," said Sullivan, who moved to Atlanta nine months ago.
The aggravation has been building for a while and stretches beyond the agreement announced yesterday. For instance, under one congressional proposal, there would also be a break for "short sales" -- that is, when owners sell a home for less than is owed on the mortgage and the lender forgives the difference. Now, the amount that's forgiven is regarded as income, and the seller owes tax on it. The proposed legislation would forgive that tax.
Without the threat of the tax, sellers might not be as reluctant to consider a short sale, said Northern Virginia real estate broker Frank Borges LLosa. He predicted the number of such sales could double.
Maybe Congress should allow a 50 to 75 percent break instead, he said. "I am not saying not to help out these people," LLosa said. "It's very sad. I have spoken to people who have lost their homes. I just don't know if a bailout is the right thing for the marketplace as a whole."
CIA Destroyed Videos Showing Interrogations
By Dan Eggen and Joby WarrickWashington Post Staff Writers Friday, December 7, 2007; Page A01
The CIA made videotapes in 2002 of its officers administering harsh interrogation techniques to two al-Qaeda suspects but destroyed the tapes three years later, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said yesterday.
Captured on tape were interrogations of Abu Zubaydah, a close associate of Osama bin Laden, and a second high-level al-Qaeda member who was not identified, according to two intelligence officials. Zubaydah has been identified by U.S. officials familiar with the interrogations as one of three al-Qaeda suspects who were subjected to "waterboarding," a technique that simulates drowning, while in CIA custody.
The tapes were made to document any confessions the two men might make and to serve as an internal check on how the interrogations were conducted, senior intelligence officials said.
All the tapes were destroyed in November 2005 on the order of Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., then the CIA's director of clandestine operations, officials said. The destruction came after the Justice Department had told a federal judge in the case of al-Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui that the CIA did not possess videotapes of a specific set of interrogations sought by his attorneys. A CIA spokesman said yesterday that the request would not have covered the destroyed tapes.
The tapes also were not provided to the Sept. 11 commission, the independent panel that investigated the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which demanded a wide array of material and relied heavily on classified interrogation transcripts in piecing together its narrative of events.
The startling disclosures came on the same day that House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement on legislation that would prohibit the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics by the CIA and bring intelligence agencies in line with rules followed by the U.S. military.
The measure, which needs approval from the full House and Senate, would effectively set a government-wide standard for legal interrogations by explicitly outlawing the use of simulated drowning, forced nudity, hooding, military dogs and other harsh tactics against prisoners by any U.S. intelligence agency.
The CIA made videotapes in 2002 of its officers administering harsh interrogation techniques to two al-Qaeda suspects but destroyed the tapes three years later, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said yesterday.
Captured on tape were interrogations of Abu Zubaydah, a close associate of Osama bin Laden, and a second high-level al-Qaeda member who was not identified, according to two intelligence officials. Zubaydah has been identified by U.S. officials familiar with the interrogations as one of three al-Qaeda suspects who were subjected to "waterboarding," a technique that simulates drowning, while in CIA custody.
The tapes were made to document any confessions the two men might make and to serve as an internal check on how the interrogations were conducted, senior intelligence officials said.
All the tapes were destroyed in November 2005 on the order of Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., then the CIA's director of clandestine operations, officials said. The destruction came after the Justice Department had told a federal judge in the case of al-Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui that the CIA did not possess videotapes of a specific set of interrogations sought by his attorneys. A CIA spokesman said yesterday that the request would not have covered the destroyed tapes.
The tapes also were not provided to the Sept. 11 commission, the independent panel that investigated the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which demanded a wide array of material and relied heavily on classified interrogation transcripts in piecing together its narrative of events.
The startling disclosures came on the same day that House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement on legislation that would prohibit the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics by the CIA and bring intelligence agencies in line with rules followed by the U.S. military.
The measure, which needs approval from the full House and Senate, would effectively set a government-wide standard for legal interrogations by explicitly outlawing the use of simulated drowning, forced nudity, hooding, military dogs and other harsh tactics against prisoners by any U.S. intelligence agency.
Born in India, Transforming Rural Md.
St. Mary's County was once a place where no doctor wanted to settle. In the 1970s, the county hospital used decades-old equipment, struggled to make payroll and had no full-time specialists -- not even an obstetrician, although more than 600 babies were born there each year.
Then came Vinod K. and Ila Shah, Bombay-educated and D.C.-trained husband-and-wife doctors who were eager to open a practice in the rural area. They had heard about St. Mary's from Vinod's younger brother and were enticed by the potential impact that even a small practice could have there
Then came Vinod K. and Ila Shah, Bombay-educated and D.C.-trained husband-and-wife doctors who were eager to open a practice in the rural area. They had heard about St. Mary's from Vinod's younger brother and were enticed by the potential impact that even a small practice could have there
It was just like miracle workers walked in," said Richard Martin, 92, who was then head of the hospital. "I told them, 'You are the answer to my prayers.' "
The couple was soon joined by Vinod's younger brother, Umed K. Shah, a gastroenterologist. Next came two family friends. A few years later, another brother arrived, cardiologist Anil K. Shah, with his wife, Beena Shah, a neurologist.
In time, Vinod and Ila Shah recruited more friends and family, including the rest of Vinod's eight siblings, each of whom is a doctor or is married to one. They built the largest private specialty practice in Southern Maryland, Shah Associates, which has treated about 90,000 of St. Mary's 110,000 residents.
The couple was soon joined by Vinod's younger brother, Umed K. Shah, a gastroenterologist. Next came two family friends. A few years later, another brother arrived, cardiologist Anil K. Shah, with his wife, Beena Shah, a neurologist.
In time, Vinod and Ila Shah recruited more friends and family, including the rest of Vinod's eight siblings, each of whom is a doctor or is married to one. They built the largest private specialty practice in Southern Maryland, Shah Associates, which has treated about 90,000 of St. Mary's 110,000 residents.
Person of the Day is MERV GRIFFIN
Merv Griffin, the entertainer turned impresario who parlayed his "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune" television game shows into a multimillion-dollar empire, has died at age 82.Thursday, December 6, 2007
Navy chaplain sentenced to 2 years in prison
Roman Catholic priest, who is HIV positive, pleaded guilty to forcible sodomy
By Josh Mitchell Sun reporter
3:10 PM EST, December 6, 2007
By Josh Mitchell Sun reporter
3:10 PM EST, December 6, 2007
QUANTICO, Va. - A Catholic Navy chaplain who admitted forcing himself on a gay Naval Academy midshipman sent to him for counseling and having sex with an Air Force officer without disclosing he was HIV-positive was sentenced today to serve two years in a military prison.Lt. Cmdr. John Thomas Lee, 42, of Burke, Va., accepted a plea deal with Marine Corps prosecutors that suspended 10 years of a 12-year sentence, dismissed him from the Navy and required him to forfeit all future pay and benefits.The chaplain said during his court-martial at Quantico Marine Corps base that he had sex with an Air Force officer last year without revealing he had HIV. He had known he was carrying the virus, which causes AIDS, since at least 2005, but said he used a condom.
One of two victims to testify, a Navy ensign who graduated from the academy in 2006, told the packed courtroom that he was seeing the chaplain as a counselor when one evening Lee invited him to his Annapolis apartment, and the chaplain served the 20-year-old student beers and a glass of scotch. While sitting on the balcony, the ensign said, Lee exposed himself, then began to perform a sex act on the ensign. He told Lee he felt uncomfortable, and Lee stopped, the ensign said. The Sun typically does not identify victims of sex crimes.Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Lee, who was assigned to the Naval Academy from September 2003 to October 2006 and later to Quantico. He was ordained as a priest in 1993 and began serving as a military chaplain in 1996.He had been charged with aggravated assault, indecent assault, fraternization, forcible and consensual sodomy, and conduct unbecoming an officer. Without the plea agreement, Lee could have been sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of the forcible sodomy charge alone.
One of two victims to testify, a Navy ensign who graduated from the academy in 2006, told the packed courtroom that he was seeing the chaplain as a counselor when one evening Lee invited him to his Annapolis apartment, and the chaplain served the 20-year-old student beers and a glass of scotch. While sitting on the balcony, the ensign said, Lee exposed himself, then began to perform a sex act on the ensign. He told Lee he felt uncomfortable, and Lee stopped, the ensign said. The Sun typically does not identify victims of sex crimes.Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence for Lee, who was assigned to the Naval Academy from September 2003 to October 2006 and later to Quantico. He was ordained as a priest in 1993 and began serving as a military chaplain in 1996.He had been charged with aggravated assault, indecent assault, fraternization, forcible and consensual sodomy, and conduct unbecoming an officer. Without the plea agreement, Lee could have been sentenced to life in prison if found guilty of the forcible sodomy charge alone.
QUESTION FOR"THE BISHOP"
Bishop,
Q. Baltimore City is now being govern exclusively by elected black woman . Should not we start seeing a safer more metropolitan style city?
A. Do not count on that, the fish stinks from the head down.
Baltimore Woman injured in MTA bus beating
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Woman injured in bus beating
9 youths charged; police, parents offer conflicting accounts
By Gus G. Sentementes and Brent Jones Sun Reporters
December 6, 2007
The woman and her boyfriend boarded the No. 27 bus and tried to find a seat as it traveled through North Baltimore.
But a fight quickly broke out between the pair and a group of nine students heading home from their Hampden middle school, police saidBy the time Maryland Transit Administration police officers reached the bus along East 33rd in Waverly on Tuesday afternoon, the teens had punched and kicked the woman, dragging her out of the vehicle's rear door and leaving her with broken bones around her eye.
The nine students from Robert Poole Middle School, who are all 14 or 15, are charged as juveniles with aggravated assault and destruction of property. After juvenile hearings yesterday, all were released to their parents, directed to be kept under home detention and told to stay out of school until their next court hearing Jan. 4.
But yesterday, police and some of the youths' parents sharply disagreed on what sparked the after-school brawl -- which MTA officials characterized as a rare example of serious violence on the city's public bus system.
According to a police report, one of the boys kept jumping in front of the woman, Sarah Kreager, 26, and claiming that the open seats on the bus were reserved.
When Kreager finally found a seat, the teens began throwing punches at her and her boyfriend, according the report. The beating continued, police said, even as the eastbound bus lurched to a stop and the driver radioed for help about 3 p.m.
At one point in the Tuesday afternoon attack, police said the teens punched and kicked Kreager, broke down the rear door of the bus and dragged her into the street. The report says she suffered two broken bones in her left eye socket, two deep cuts on the top of her head and other cuts on her neck and back. Her face was bruised and her left eye was swollen shut.
Kreager was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Her companion, Troy Ennis, also was beaten, police said, but did not require hospital treatment.
But the mother of one of the suspects says the victim, for an unknown reason, provoked the attack by spitting in the face of one of the girls. Beverly Bell, whose son is an eighth-grader at Robert Poole, said the victim's boyfriend then pulled out a knife and threatened the girls, which prompted the boys to attack the man.
Interviewed after yesterday's court hearing, Bell said her son had never been in trouble before. Testimony in juvenile court revealed that five of the six boys arrested had no juvenile records.
"We don't know why that woman did what she did," said Bell, referring to the alleged spitting incident. "But I can't see these kids jumping on anyone for no reason."
Another parent said it was Kreager who did not want any students sitting next to her initially, prompting an argument.
Edie House, a spokeswoman for the city school system, said yesterday that the fight is "under review" by school police.
"We're getting conflicting reports about what actually occurred on the bus," she said. "We've not had a chance to speak to the students who were arrested. Once we do that and complete our investigation, we will determine what disciplinary action is going to be taken."
MTA officials also are investigating. "This agency is looking at this as a very tragic event," said Jawauna Greene, an agency spokeswoman.
State officials characterized the attack as an isolated and rare act of violence on city buses that was quickly brought under control by police. Crime statistics were not available from the MTA.
Greene said the agency is reaching out to schools, parents and students to let them know that riding city buses after school is a privilege that can be revoked. "If there is a silver lining in this, it's the fact that the bus driver's response was timely, and he knew the proper steps to alert authorities to prevent the loss of life," Greene said.
MTA officials said about 30,000 children in Baltimore and Baltimore County use the subsidized bus service.
It is a fine job Mayor Dixson is doing...........................................................................................
9 youths charged; police, parents offer conflicting accounts
By Gus G. Sentementes and Brent Jones Sun Reporters
December 6, 2007
The woman and her boyfriend boarded the No. 27 bus and tried to find a seat as it traveled through North Baltimore.
But a fight quickly broke out between the pair and a group of nine students heading home from their Hampden middle school, police saidBy the time Maryland Transit Administration police officers reached the bus along East 33rd in Waverly on Tuesday afternoon, the teens had punched and kicked the woman, dragging her out of the vehicle's rear door and leaving her with broken bones around her eye.
The nine students from Robert Poole Middle School, who are all 14 or 15, are charged as juveniles with aggravated assault and destruction of property. After juvenile hearings yesterday, all were released to their parents, directed to be kept under home detention and told to stay out of school until their next court hearing Jan. 4.
But yesterday, police and some of the youths' parents sharply disagreed on what sparked the after-school brawl -- which MTA officials characterized as a rare example of serious violence on the city's public bus system.
According to a police report, one of the boys kept jumping in front of the woman, Sarah Kreager, 26, and claiming that the open seats on the bus were reserved.
When Kreager finally found a seat, the teens began throwing punches at her and her boyfriend, according the report. The beating continued, police said, even as the eastbound bus lurched to a stop and the driver radioed for help about 3 p.m.
At one point in the Tuesday afternoon attack, police said the teens punched and kicked Kreager, broke down the rear door of the bus and dragged her into the street. The report says she suffered two broken bones in her left eye socket, two deep cuts on the top of her head and other cuts on her neck and back. Her face was bruised and her left eye was swollen shut.
Kreager was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Her companion, Troy Ennis, also was beaten, police said, but did not require hospital treatment.
But the mother of one of the suspects says the victim, for an unknown reason, provoked the attack by spitting in the face of one of the girls. Beverly Bell, whose son is an eighth-grader at Robert Poole, said the victim's boyfriend then pulled out a knife and threatened the girls, which prompted the boys to attack the man.
Interviewed after yesterday's court hearing, Bell said her son had never been in trouble before. Testimony in juvenile court revealed that five of the six boys arrested had no juvenile records.
"We don't know why that woman did what she did," said Bell, referring to the alleged spitting incident. "But I can't see these kids jumping on anyone for no reason."
Another parent said it was Kreager who did not want any students sitting next to her initially, prompting an argument.
Edie House, a spokeswoman for the city school system, said yesterday that the fight is "under review" by school police.
"We're getting conflicting reports about what actually occurred on the bus," she said. "We've not had a chance to speak to the students who were arrested. Once we do that and complete our investigation, we will determine what disciplinary action is going to be taken."
MTA officials also are investigating. "This agency is looking at this as a very tragic event," said Jawauna Greene, an agency spokeswoman.
State officials characterized the attack as an isolated and rare act of violence on city buses that was quickly brought under control by police. Crime statistics were not available from the MTA.
Greene said the agency is reaching out to schools, parents and students to let them know that riding city buses after school is a privilege that can be revoked. "If there is a silver lining in this, it's the fact that the bus driver's response was timely, and he knew the proper steps to alert authorities to prevent the loss of life," Greene said.
MTA officials said about 30,000 children in Baltimore and Baltimore County use the subsidized bus service.
It is a fine job Mayor Dixson is doing...........................................................................................
Home Foreclosures Hit Record High
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Home foreclosures shot up to an all-time high in the third quarter, fresh evidence of the problems afflicting distressed homeowners amid the housing meltdown.
The Mortgage Bankers Association in its quarterly snapshot of the mortgage market released Thursday said that the percentage of all mortgages nationwide that started the foreclosure process jumped to a record high of 0.78 percent during the July-to-September period. That surpassed the previous high of 0.65 percent set in the prior quarter
The Mortgage Bankers Association in its quarterly snapshot of the mortgage market released Thursday said that the percentage of all mortgages nationwide that started the foreclosure process jumped to a record high of 0.78 percent during the July-to-September period. That surpassed the previous high of 0.65 percent set in the prior quarter
More homeowners also fell behind on their monthly payments.
The delinquency rate for all mortgages climbed to 5.59 percent in the third quarter. That was up from 5.12 percent in the second quarter and was the highest since 1986, the association said. Payments are considered delinquent if they are 30 or more days past due.
Homeowners with spotty credit who have subprime adjustable-rate loans were especially hard hit. Foreclosures and late payments for these borrowers also reached all-time highs in the third quarter.
The percentage of subprime adjustable-rate mortgages that entered the foreclosure process soared to a record of 4.72 percent in the third quarter. That was up from 3.84 percent in the second quarter. Late payments jumped to a record high of 18.81 in the third quarter, up from 16.95 percent in the second quarter.
The association's survey covers more than 45 million home loans nationwide.
The new figures came as President Bush, accused by Democrats and other critics of not doing enough to help stem the mortgage crisis, was set to unveil a plan Thursday that would allow some homeowners with certain subprime home loans to freeze their interest rate for five years. The plan aims to prevent some distressed borrowers from losing their homes. It also is intended to ease the danger facing the economy from a wave of foreclosures -- something that would further aggravate problems in the housing market.
Homeowners with spotty credit histories or low incomes who took out higher-risk subprime adjustable-rate mortgages have suffered the most distress as the housing market went from boom to bust.
Initially low interest rates that reset to much higher rates have clobbered these borrowers. Analysts estimate that nearly 2 million adjustable-rate subprime mortgages will reset to higher rates this year and next.
Doug Duncan, the association's chief economist, said in an interview with The Associated Press that foreclosures and late payments are likely to stay high or get worse in the coming quarters.
The mortgage meltdown has hit financial companies with billions of dollars in losses from bad subprime mortgage investments. Some lenders have been forced out of businesses. The situation has elevated the odds of the country falling into a recession. It has roiled Wall Street and has offered lots of fodder for Democrats and Republicans to blame each other for the mess.
Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve next week is expected to slice a key interest rate for a third time this year to bolster the economy.
The delinquency rate for all mortgages climbed to 5.59 percent in the third quarter. That was up from 5.12 percent in the second quarter and was the highest since 1986, the association said. Payments are considered delinquent if they are 30 or more days past due.
Homeowners with spotty credit who have subprime adjustable-rate loans were especially hard hit. Foreclosures and late payments for these borrowers also reached all-time highs in the third quarter.
The percentage of subprime adjustable-rate mortgages that entered the foreclosure process soared to a record of 4.72 percent in the third quarter. That was up from 3.84 percent in the second quarter. Late payments jumped to a record high of 18.81 in the third quarter, up from 16.95 percent in the second quarter.
The association's survey covers more than 45 million home loans nationwide.
The new figures came as President Bush, accused by Democrats and other critics of not doing enough to help stem the mortgage crisis, was set to unveil a plan Thursday that would allow some homeowners with certain subprime home loans to freeze their interest rate for five years. The plan aims to prevent some distressed borrowers from losing their homes. It also is intended to ease the danger facing the economy from a wave of foreclosures -- something that would further aggravate problems in the housing market.
Homeowners with spotty credit histories or low incomes who took out higher-risk subprime adjustable-rate mortgages have suffered the most distress as the housing market went from boom to bust.
Initially low interest rates that reset to much higher rates have clobbered these borrowers. Analysts estimate that nearly 2 million adjustable-rate subprime mortgages will reset to higher rates this year and next.
Doug Duncan, the association's chief economist, said in an interview with The Associated Press that foreclosures and late payments are likely to stay high or get worse in the coming quarters.
The mortgage meltdown has hit financial companies with billions of dollars in losses from bad subprime mortgage investments. Some lenders have been forced out of businesses. The situation has elevated the odds of the country falling into a recession. It has roiled Wall Street and has offered lots of fodder for Democrats and Republicans to blame each other for the mess.
Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve next week is expected to slice a key interest rate for a third time this year to bolster the economy.
Romney takes leap of faith with religion speechStory Highlights
CNN) -- White House hopeful Mitt Romney will tell Americans Thursday morning as he seeks to become the nation's first Mormon president that he shares the same "moral convictions" as other people of faith.
The former Massachusetts governor is delivering the speech to address religion's role in government but also to address concerns voters might have about the Mormon religion.
In excerpts released Thursday morning, Romney talks about the shared convictions of all faiths. But he resists those who would have him explain his own faith.
"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution," according to the excerpt.
"No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president, he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."
The former Massachusetts governor is delivering the speech to address religion's role in government but also to address concerns voters might have about the Mormon religion.
In excerpts released Thursday morning, Romney talks about the shared convictions of all faiths. But he resists those who would have him explain his own faith.
"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution," according to the excerpt.
"No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president, he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."
OMAHA, Neb. — The teenager carried his rifle into the mall, passing shoppers and decorations.
A department store employee was pressing a suit for a customer. A woman was making a quick stop to buy Christmas presents before picking up her son from school. Christmas music played.
The gunman stopped on the third floor and cut through the sounds with gunfire. Shoppers and employees at the Westroads Mall scrambled for cover in dressing rooms, clothing racks, offices and storage areas.
Eight people were killed and five wounded before the shooter ended the horror by taking his own life.
Hawkins moved from his family's home about a year ago. He moved in with a friend's family, and Debora Maruca-Kovac and her husband welcomed him into their home and tried to help him.
"When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like a lost pound puppy that nobody wanted," Maruca-Kovac told The Associated Press.
"When he first came in the house, he was introverted, a troubled young man who was like a lost pound puppy that nobody wanted," Maruca-Kovac told The Associated Press.
Bush Wins Agreement To Freeze Mortgages
By David Cho and Neil IrwinWashington Post Staff Writers Thursday, December 6, 2007; Page A01
President Bush will announce this afternoon an agreement with major mortgage firms to freeze interest rates for five years for financially troubled homeowners -- a plan advocates say will help forestall a major foreclosure crisis but some conservatives say amounts to a bailout of people who made bad financial decisions.
The plan would apply to homeowners who got adjustable-rate subprime mortgages between Jan. 1, 2005, and July 31 of this year and are facing a sharp jump in their rates before July 31, 2010. It would also offer to put them on a fast track to refinance their mortgages through lenders or through state and local housing authorities, according to several people briefed on the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced.
You can bet this will cost the taxpayer plenty...............
Person of the Day " TIP O'NIEL"
In 1971, O'Neill was appointed Majority Whip in the House, the number three position for the Democratic Party in the House. In 1973, he was elected House Majority Leader, after Hale Boggs died in an plane crash in Alaska. As the majority leader, O'Neill was the most prominent Democrat in the House to call in 1973 for an investigation and possible impeachment of President Richard Nixon because of the Watergate scandal.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Man opens fire at Omaha mall, killing 8 as numbers rise
OMAHA, Neb. - A man opened fire with a rifle at a busy department store Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life, in an attack that made holiday shoppers run screaming through a mall and barricade themselves in dressing rooms. Five more people were wounded, two critically.
The gunman left a suicide note that was found at his home by his mother, said a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak. TV station KETV reported that the note said he wanted to "go out in style."
The official identified the gunman as Robert A. Hawkins, age 19 or 20.
Witnesses said the gunman fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store. He was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his victims were discovered on the second and third floors, police said.
"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," said Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter at the Westroads Mall, in a prosperous neighborhood on the city's west side. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
Sgt. Teresa Negron said the gunman killed eight people, then apparently killed himself. Authorities gave no motive for the attack and said they did not know whether he said anything during the rampage.
The official identified the gunman as Robert A. Hawkins, age 19 or 20.
Witnesses said the gunman fired down on shoppers from a third-floor balcony of the Von Maur store. He was found dead on the third floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his victims were discovered on the second and third floors, police said.
"My knees rocked. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran with everybody else," said Kevin Kleine, 29, who was shopping with her 4-year-old daughter at the Westroads Mall, in a prosperous neighborhood on the city's west side. She said she hid in a dressing room with four other shoppers and an employee.
Sgt. Teresa Negron said the gunman killed eight people, then apparently killed himself. Authorities gave no motive for the attack and said they did not know whether he said anything during the rampage.
Five shot at Omaha mall; gunman sought
(CNN) -- Police were searching for a person who fired shots Wednesday at the popular Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, wounding five people.
The shooting appeared to take place at the Von Maur store inside the shopping complex, which was locked down, the Nebraska State Patrol said.
Paramedics were at the scene. At least two people were seen being taken from the shopping complex on stretchers and placed in an ambulance.
Shoppers and employees walked out of the building with their hands up.
"I was standing around getting ready to go back to work and all of a sudden I heard this bang, bang, bang -- it sounded like someone shooting fireworks," a witness told CNN affiliate KETV. "I ran to get away from whatever was happening."
Another witness said people started running frantically from the Von Maur area saying there was a shooting.
A woman who works at the mall said she saw a woman shot, and added that the shots seemed to be coming from inside the Von Maur store, on an upper level. E-mail to a friend
Paramedics were at the scene. At least two people were seen being taken from the shopping complex on stretchers and placed in an ambulance.
Shoppers and employees walked out of the building with their hands up.
"I was standing around getting ready to go back to work and all of a sudden I heard this bang, bang, bang -- it sounded like someone shooting fireworks," a witness told CNN affiliate KETV. "I ran to get away from whatever was happening."
Another witness said people started running frantically from the Von Maur area saying there was a shooting.
A woman who works at the mall said she saw a woman shot, and added that the shots seemed to be coming from inside the Von Maur store, on an upper level. E-mail to a friend
Today's Financial Report
Market up !
Five-Year Mortgage Rate Freeze Looms- AP
The Bush administration has hammered out an agreement with industry to freeze interest rates for certain subprime mortgages for five years in an effort to combat a soaring tide of foreclosures, congressional aides said Wednesday.
Five-Year Mortgage Rate Freeze Looms- AP
The Bush administration has hammered out an agreement with industry to freeze interest rates for certain subprime mortgages for five years in an effort to combat a soaring tide of foreclosures, congressional aides said Wednesday.
Pentagon Says 200,000 Workers Could Receive Pink Slips for Christmas
By Stephen BarrWednesday, December 5, 2007; Page D04
Federal employees who work for the Army may get layoff notices before Christmas if Congress and the White House do not reach an accord on funding for the Iraq war, the Pentagon said yesterday.
The warning, posted near the top of the Defense Department's Web site, was the latest in a series from Pentagon officials in recent weeks.
About 100,000 federal employees and an additional 100,000 contract workers are at risk of being sent home without pay in February and March if the Army and Marine Corps run short of money and have to reduce operations at their bases, according to the Pentagon.
Under federal rules, the department must give 60 days' advance notice of layoffs to employees -- which, in this case, would make for a less-than-glad tiding for the holidays.
Longtime federal employees usually scoff at such warnings, viewing them as part of the political posturing that pops up from time to time. Still, such warnings cannot be entirely dismissed. The 1995-96 budget impasse led to a shutdown of the government and, at one point, sent 800,000 federal employees home for three weeks during the December-January holiday season.
Yesterday, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said "facts are the facts" and that military bases will have to cease operations, terminate contracts and send employees home without pay if a war-funding deal is not reached
Federal employees who work for the Army may get layoff notices before Christmas if Congress and the White House do not reach an accord on funding for the Iraq war, the Pentagon said yesterday.
The warning, posted near the top of the Defense Department's Web site, was the latest in a series from Pentagon officials in recent weeks.
About 100,000 federal employees and an additional 100,000 contract workers are at risk of being sent home without pay in February and March if the Army and Marine Corps run short of money and have to reduce operations at their bases, according to the Pentagon.
Under federal rules, the department must give 60 days' advance notice of layoffs to employees -- which, in this case, would make for a less-than-glad tiding for the holidays.
Longtime federal employees usually scoff at such warnings, viewing them as part of the political posturing that pops up from time to time. Still, such warnings cannot be entirely dismissed. The 1995-96 budget impasse led to a shutdown of the government and, at one point, sent 800,000 federal employees home for three weeks during the December-January holiday season.
Yesterday, Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman said "facts are the facts" and that military bases will have to cease operations, terminate contracts and send employees home without pay if a war-funding deal is not reached
The Love Song of Dennis J. Kucinich
No Wonder the Candidate Saw a UFO. He's Been Up There on Cloud Nine.
By Libby CopelandWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, December 5, 2007; Page C01
HART'S LOCATION, N.H. ne day last spring, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio Democrat and long-shot presidential candidate, and his young British wife, Elizabeth, were sitting in an Italian restaurant in Dupont Circle.
They were by the window. They were holding hands. Elizabeth Kucinich was looking lovely, as usual -- the red hair, the luminous skin, the green eyes, the fine cheekbones. Dennis was looking, as usual, like Dennis Kucinich.
By Libby CopelandWashington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, December 5, 2007; Page C01
HART'S LOCATION, N.H. ne day last spring, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio Democrat and long-shot presidential candidate, and his young British wife, Elizabeth, were sitting in an Italian restaurant in Dupont Circle.
They were by the window. They were holding hands. Elizabeth Kucinich was looking lovely, as usual -- the red hair, the luminous skin, the green eyes, the fine cheekbones. Dennis was looking, as usual, like Dennis Kucinich.
This guy passed by the window. He stopped. He stared at Elizabeth through the glass. Then he came into the restaurant and walked right up to their table.
"Doesn't even look at me!" Dennis is saying, grinning, as he retells this story between campaign stops. "He looks at her and he says, 'You are the most incredibly beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life!' I'm sitting right there, you know?"
"We're holding hands!" Elizabeth exclaims, in her elegant accent. She's lounging in front of the inn's fireplace, all six feet of her, looking like Botticelli's Venus, only with clothes on.
"He says, 'I've never done this before, but what are you doing for dinner?' " Dennis says.
"I just said, 'I'm sorry, I'm with my husband.' " Elizabeth says.
And the guy got all embarrassed and apologized and walked away.
"He was such a sweet soul," Elizabeth says tenderly. "I hate breaking hearts!"
Dennis Kucinich wears the look of a man who's just won the sweepstakes. He says a colleague from the House told him it didn't matter how he did in the presidential race because he'd already won.
He'd won Elizabeth.
I am amazed????
"I responded, 'Now you know why I think I can be president?' " Dennis says. "If I can marry this incredibly brilliant, beautiful woman, I mean, why wouldn't I think I can be president of the United States
Iran president: U.S. nuke report a 'victory'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today called a U.S. intelligence report that downgraded Iran as a nuclear threat "a declaration of victory" for the Iranian nuclear program. Ahmadinejad said earlier reports from the United States had been based on "shoddy intelligence." The Bush administration has for years warned that Iran is trying to make an atomic bomb
Suicide bomber targets NATO troops in Kabul
suicide car bomber struck near a NATO convoy early Tuesday in Kabul, injuring many Afghan civilians. The attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, followed the arrival late Monday of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on a surprise visit to Kabul to meet Afghan leaders and US military commanders. He was expected to meet President Hamid Karzai later Tuesday.
Mr. Gates's visit comes amid increased fighting by Taliban insurgents. This has been the most violent year on record since the US-led invasion in 2001. Political turmoil in neighboring Pakistan, where the Taliban draws militant support and seeks sanctuary, may be aiding the insurgency, say US officials. A senior US defense official warned that Al Qaeda may also be regrouping in Afghanistan, its former base
Mr. Gates's visit comes amid increased fighting by Taliban insurgents. This has been the most violent year on record since the US-led invasion in 2001. Political turmoil in neighboring Pakistan, where the Taliban draws militant support and seeks sanctuary, may be aiding the insurgency, say US officials. A senior US defense official warned that Al Qaeda may also be regrouping in Afghanistan, its former base
New CAFE standards wouldn't push SUVs off the road
For those who wonder if a new energy bill with tough mileage standards will mean that Americans have to squeeze their families into small cars the answer is: probably not.
While it won't be easy for automakers to achieve a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 – a mandate the US House is expected to approve this week – they will keep making bigger cars, possibly even sport-utility vehicles, with more efficient engines, experts say.
"You're going to see light-duty trucks with more advanced diesel and hybrid engines giving a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy without huge changes in the basic package," says David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. "These big vehicles aren't going away."
The reason is market-driven. While sales of SUVs have suffered in the past two years as gasoline prices have surged, light trucks overall (which includes SUVs) still outsold cars in North America last month. Large cars and light trucks are more profitable than small cars for automakers. That's why automakers fought so hard for provisions in the new energy bill that would allow them to keep those big vehicles rolling off the assembly line.
The new House legislation, similar to a measure in the Senate, would boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars for the first time since 1985. The current CAFE standard for cars is 27.5 miles per gallon; it's 22.2 m.p.g. for light trucks. The proposed 35 m.p.g. measure is the result of a compromise announced last Friday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell (D) of Michigan, who fought doggedly to soften the blow for automakers.
The deal he helped engineer continues allowing cars and light trucks to be categorized separately – rather than being merged together – for purposes of fleet fuel averaging. Had the two been merged, it might have forced automakers to do much more to produce downsized vehicles with less towing capacity, Mr. Cole and others say.
While it won't be easy for automakers to achieve a fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020 – a mandate the US House is expected to approve this week – they will keep making bigger cars, possibly even sport-utility vehicles, with more efficient engines, experts say.
"You're going to see light-duty trucks with more advanced diesel and hybrid engines giving a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy without huge changes in the basic package," says David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. "These big vehicles aren't going away."
The reason is market-driven. While sales of SUVs have suffered in the past two years as gasoline prices have surged, light trucks overall (which includes SUVs) still outsold cars in North America last month. Large cars and light trucks are more profitable than small cars for automakers. That's why automakers fought so hard for provisions in the new energy bill that would allow them to keep those big vehicles rolling off the assembly line.
The new House legislation, similar to a measure in the Senate, would boost Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards for cars for the first time since 1985. The current CAFE standard for cars is 27.5 miles per gallon; it's 22.2 m.p.g. for light trucks. The proposed 35 m.p.g. measure is the result of a compromise announced last Friday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell (D) of Michigan, who fought doggedly to soften the blow for automakers.
The deal he helped engineer continues allowing cars and light trucks to be categorized separately – rather than being merged together – for purposes of fleet fuel averaging. Had the two been merged, it might have forced automakers to do much more to produce downsized vehicles with less towing capacity, Mr. Cole and others say.
Dixon sworn in as mayor
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon was sworn into office yesterday in an inauguration that celebrated her past year's successes amid the challenges facing the city and her administration.Dixon - the first woman elected to lead City Hall, and the city's third black mayor - said she intends to use her four-year term to keep chipping away at Baltimore's decades-long battle with crime and to strengthen its most dilapidated neighborhoods.
By John Fritze Sun reporterNow who is going to get the blame?
Democratic Rivals Hammer Clinton Over Iran Vote in Radio Debate
One month before Iowa's leadoff caucuses — in a debate broadcast only on radio — the presidential candidates stood together in welcoming the report's assessment and criticizing President Bush's assertion that "nothing's changed" because of it. They divided on the three-month-old Senate vote to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization — a resolution that only Clinton supported among the Democratic candidates. She said her vote was meant to encourage diplomacy, but several of her foes were having none of that and John Edwards said it sounded like war.
Gates assessing security on surprise Iraq visit
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is using his unannounced trip to Iraq to assess whether the downturn in violence in parts of the country can be sustained, and whether Iran is working to quell the shipment of arms into Iraq, officials said. The Pentagon chief arrived today for his sixth visit to the country.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Today Person in History
Franklin Delano RooseveltHe raised the edifice of the American Century by restoring a nation's promise of plenty and by intervening to save a world enveloped in darknessBy DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
2007 NFL RANKING
For the second week in a row, the Patriots avoid an upset – against the Ravens this time – to remain in the top spot. The Cowboys, coming off of a big win against Green Bay, are now No. 2 on both sides of the rankings. Indianapolis, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Jacksonville – all in the top 6 last week – remain in the upper half-dozen, but have all shifted a spot.
Elsewhere around the league, Arizona and Minnesota made sizeable moves upwards after reaching .500 with wins over fellow playoff contenders Cleveland and Detroit, respectively.
Here are the complete rankings following Week 13 action.
TOP 12
1.
LW (1)
New England Patriots (12-0)
2.
LW (2)
Dallas Cowboys (11-1)
3.
LW (4)
Indianapolis Colts (10-2)
4.
LW (3)
Green Bay Packers (10-2)
5.
LW (6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
6.
LW (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
7.
LW (8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-4)
8.
LW (9)
Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
9.
LW (10)
San Diego Chargers (7-5)
10.
LW (11)
New York Giants (8-4)
11.
LW (12)
Tennessee Titans (7-5)
12.
LW (7)
Cleveland Browns (7-5)
Elsewhere around the league, Arizona and Minnesota made sizeable moves upwards after reaching .500 with wins over fellow playoff contenders Cleveland and Detroit, respectively.
Here are the complete rankings following Week 13 action.
TOP 12
1.
LW (1)
New England Patriots (12-0)
2.
LW (2)
Dallas Cowboys (11-1)
3.
LW (4)
Indianapolis Colts (10-2)
4.
LW (3)
Green Bay Packers (10-2)
5.
LW (6)
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
6.
LW (5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)
7.
LW (8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-4)
8.
LW (9)
Seattle Seahawks (8-4)
9.
LW (10)
San Diego Chargers (7-5)
10.
LW (11)
New York Giants (8-4)
11.
LW (12)
Tennessee Titans (7-5)
12.
LW (7)
Cleveland Browns (7-5)
Three suspects in NFL killing on suicide watch
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The three adult suspects accused in the fatal shooting of NFL player Sean Taylor have been placed on suicide watch, defense attorneys said Tuesday.
Venjah K. Hunte, 20, Jason Scott Mitchell, 19, and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 18, appeared in court Tuesday via videoconference wearing thick green vests, which the attorneys said were suicide safety smocks.
Circuit Judge W. John Thornton Jr. ordered them held without bail at the Miami-Dade Pre-Trial Detention Center.
The three are charged with felony first-degree murder, burglary with a firearm and home invasion robbery while armed.
A fourth suspect facing the same charges, Eric Rivera Jr., 17, is being held in Fort Myers. Attorney Wilber Smith said he thinks his client will be transferred to a Miami-Dade juvenile detention center some time Tuesday.
The four were arrested Friday, officials said. Watch as some of the suspects had profiles on MySpace »
Taylor, 24, died a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his Miami-area home. Miami-Dade police investigators believe the suspects thought the house was empty.
Circuit Judge W. John Thornton Jr. ordered them held without bail at the Miami-Dade Pre-Trial Detention Center.
The three are charged with felony first-degree murder, burglary with a firearm and home invasion robbery while armed.
A fourth suspect facing the same charges, Eric Rivera Jr., 17, is being held in Fort Myers. Attorney Wilber Smith said he thinks his client will be transferred to a Miami-Dade juvenile detention center some time Tuesday.
The four were arrested Friday, officials said. Watch as some of the suspects had profiles on MySpace »
Taylor, 24, died a day after he was shot during an apparent burglary at his Miami-area home. Miami-Dade police investigators believe the suspects thought the house was empty.
Market Down , another great day for your 401k
Stocks dipped Tuesday as investors awaiting next week's Federal Reserve meeting remained uneasy that fallout from the sinking housing market could bring more bank losses and pull the economy into recession
Oil Falls More Than $1 on Speculation OPEC May Raise Output
By Mark Shenk
Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell more than $1 a barrel in New York on speculation OPEC may increase production at its meeting tomorrow.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supplies more than 40 percent of the world's oil, will meet in Abu Dhabi to decide on output for early 2008. An increase would help prevent accusations the group is doing nothing to ease high prices, said an OPEC official, who declined to be identified.
``OPEC will probably increase output, either officially or unofficially,'' said Brad Samples, commodity analyst for Summit Energy Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky. ``OPEC has every incentive to sell in this market.''
Crude oil for January delivery fell $1.29, or 1.4 percent, to $88.02 a barrel at 12:50 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures reached $99.29 on Nov. 21, the highest since trading began in 1983. Prices are up 41 percent from a year ago``I think we could be headed down, back into the $70s,'' said Phil Flynn, a senior trader at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago. ``Because of the slowing economy here in the U.S., demand growth will not be as strong as it has been in past years.''
OPEC members including Iran, Venezuela, Qatar and Libya, have said today that sufficient global oil supplies preclude the need for a production increase.
``All options are open,'' Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters in Abu Dhabi today. Three days ago, he told reporters in Doha, Qatar, that crude inventories are ``very comfortable.''
U.S. crude-oil stockpiles fell 1 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 30, according to the median of responses by 13 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Energy Department is scheduled to release
Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil fell more than $1 a barrel in New York on speculation OPEC may increase production at its meeting tomorrow.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which supplies more than 40 percent of the world's oil, will meet in Abu Dhabi to decide on output for early 2008. An increase would help prevent accusations the group is doing nothing to ease high prices, said an OPEC official, who declined to be identified.
``OPEC will probably increase output, either officially or unofficially,'' said Brad Samples, commodity analyst for Summit Energy Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky. ``OPEC has every incentive to sell in this market.''
Crude oil for January delivery fell $1.29, or 1.4 percent, to $88.02 a barrel at 12:50 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures reached $99.29 on Nov. 21, the highest since trading began in 1983. Prices are up 41 percent from a year ago``I think we could be headed down, back into the $70s,'' said Phil Flynn, a senior trader at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago. ``Because of the slowing economy here in the U.S., demand growth will not be as strong as it has been in past years.''
OPEC members including Iran, Venezuela, Qatar and Libya, have said today that sufficient global oil supplies preclude the need for a production increase.
``All options are open,'' Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told reporters in Abu Dhabi today. Three days ago, he told reporters in Doha, Qatar, that crude inventories are ``very comfortable.''
U.S. crude-oil stockpiles fell 1 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 30, according to the median of responses by 13 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Energy Department is scheduled to release
'STEAKHOUSE" EDDIE NORRIS
Biggest self promoter ever to slide into Baltimore city hall. Eddie floated up with the typical "Slick" New York City" attitude and Serpico agenda. Norris now wears the badge of X-Felon ,X- Police commissioner,and now a talk radio Svengali has never showed a bit of remorse for the crimes he pleaded guilty to. How can anyone take serious a man that jumps ship for a easier job and leave the Mayor hanging ,the Mayor that put himself on the line to bring this prima donna to Maryland. And that goes for his little dog Maynard too.
RAVENS PLAYERS COMPLAINING ABOUT BIAS BY OFFICIALS
BALTIMORE -- Baltimore cornerback Samari Rolle was steamed about Monday night's loss to New England, but his anger wasn't directed at the Patriots. It was aimed squarely at the officials.
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Make that one official: Head linesman Phil McKinnely -- or, as Rolle identified him, "Number 110."
"The ref called me a boy," he said. "I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending in my complaint. I have a wife and three kids. So don't call me a boy on the field ... in the game. Because we said you never played football before?"
The way Rolle explained it he and McKinnely exchanged words after Baltimore linebacker Bart Scott was charged with a penalty on Jabar Gaffney's game-winning touchdown catch.
Scott was assessed two personal fouls after the play, the second for picking up a flag and throwing it into the end-zone seats.
"He called me a boy several times," Rolle said. "After Bart got the first one (penalty) I said, 'Man, you never played football before, and you're going to call the game like this?' And he was like, 'Shut up, boy, and play, boy.' He just kept saying it. He'll be hearing from my lawyer."
If Rolle's agent believes there was provocation, he can contact the league office, and it will launch an investigation. McKinnely was not available for comment.
Rolle's charge is reminiscent of one launched last summer by San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley, though he complained that first-base umpire Mike Winters used a profanity when talking to him.
Bradley had to be restrained from retaliating and a tore knee ligament, ending his season, when he was wrestled to the ground. Winters was later suspended for the rest of the year.
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Make that one official: Head linesman Phil McKinnely -- or, as Rolle identified him, "Number 110."
"The ref called me a boy," he said. "I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending in my complaint. I have a wife and three kids. So don't call me a boy on the field ... in the game. Because we said you never played football before?"
The way Rolle explained it he and McKinnely exchanged words after Baltimore linebacker Bart Scott was charged with a penalty on Jabar Gaffney's game-winning touchdown catch.
Scott was assessed two personal fouls after the play, the second for picking up a flag and throwing it into the end-zone seats.
"He called me a boy several times," Rolle said. "After Bart got the first one (penalty) I said, 'Man, you never played football before, and you're going to call the game like this?' And he was like, 'Shut up, boy, and play, boy.' He just kept saying it. He'll be hearing from my lawyer."
If Rolle's agent believes there was provocation, he can contact the league office, and it will launch an investigation. McKinnely was not available for comment.
Rolle's charge is reminiscent of one launched last summer by San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley, though he complained that first-base umpire Mike Winters used a profanity when talking to him.
Bradley had to be restrained from retaliating and a tore knee ligament, ending his season, when he was wrestled to the ground. Winters was later suspended for the rest of the year.
Was the fix in for New England to break Miami's record?
Bush, Congressional Democrats Locked in Battle Over Iraq Funding
WASHINGTON — President Bush and congressional Democrats are locked in a struggle over Iraq spending, with neither side budging and each calculating that their argument will be the one to resonate with voters.
For both sides, this rhetorical tug-of-war has become a question of leadership on national security issues and who is more committed to the troops.
"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy, especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," Bush said in a Rose Garden speech on Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wasted no time in responding.
"We could have already given our troops what they need in Iraq and funded our critical needs at home if not for the stubborn refusal of President Bush and his Republican enablers to work with us," he told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference.
The tussle could be on display this week, if the Senate revisits a $50 billion bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but call for most troops to come home by Dec. 15, 2008
For both sides, this rhetorical tug-of-war has become a question of leadership on national security issues and who is more committed to the troops.
"It's unconscionable to deny funds to our troops in harm's way because some in Congress want to force a self-defeating policy, especially when we're seeing the benefits of success," Bush said in a Rose Garden speech on Monday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wasted no time in responding.
"We could have already given our troops what they need in Iraq and funded our critical needs at home if not for the stubborn refusal of President Bush and his Republican enablers to work with us," he told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference.
The tussle could be on display this week, if the Senate revisits a $50 billion bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but call for most troops to come home by Dec. 15, 2008
George Bush is spending like a drunken sailor, too bad it's our money.
PERSON OF THE DAY the DALAI LAMA
If the Dalai Lama is GOD-ON-EARTH.
Shouldn't he have better eye sight?
Monday, December 3, 2007
'Jena 6' teen agrees to plea deal
JENA, Louisiana (CNN) -- Mychal Bell, the 17-year-old black teenager whose arrest and detention led to the "Jena 6" protests, has agreed to a plea deal that could lead to his release by June, his lawyer said Monday.Bell was originally charged as an adult with attempted murder in an assault on a white fellow student, Justin Barker, at Jena High School in 2006.
He was convicted of second-degree battery, but the verdict was tossed out in September when an appeals court ruled that Bell, who was 16 at the time of the attack, should not have been tried as an adult. He still faced charges in the juvenile system.
Under the deal announced Monday, the LaSalle Parish District Attorney's Office agreed to drop charges of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.
Bell agreed to plead guilty to second-degree battery.
He had to agree that he "hit Justin Barker, knocking him unconscious," a Bell attorney said.
Bell would be sentenced to 18 months of custody in an unsupervised setting, such as a group home or a halfway house.
In addition, Bell would be required to pay $935 to Barker's family and court costs, his lawyer said
He was convicted of second-degree battery, but the verdict was tossed out in September when an appeals court ruled that Bell, who was 16 at the time of the attack, should not have been tried as an adult. He still faced charges in the juvenile system.
Under the deal announced Monday, the LaSalle Parish District Attorney's Office agreed to drop charges of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.
Bell agreed to plead guilty to second-degree battery.
He had to agree that he "hit Justin Barker, knocking him unconscious," a Bell attorney said.
Bell would be sentenced to 18 months of custody in an unsupervised setting, such as a group home or a halfway house.
In addition, Bell would be required to pay $935 to Barker's family and court costs, his lawyer said
Winter Storms Hit East And West Coasts
12/3/2007 3:12:04 PM Winter has arrived on both coasts of the United States, with a dangerous cocktail of sleet, rain, and snow making its presence felt from sea to shining sea. Meanwhile, the Midwest is recovering from a severe storm that sent drivers sliding on slick roads and left at least 11 dead.On the east coast, lake-effect snow and high winds gusting to 40 mph pounded western, central, and upstate New York Monday morning and afternoon. Farther north, in Maine and northern New England, snowfall estimates ranged up to 20 inches, although in central New York the total was held between three and six inches.The combination of rain and sleet led to ice storm warnings for Massachusetts and Connecticut. Meanwhile, heavy snow and wind led to winter storm warnings in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and northern and western New York. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports in New York City are reporting delays of two or more hours on flight departures and arrivals due to high winds. Additionally, Albany International Airport said two flights were canceled early Monday morning.
Firehouse incident with noose was a hoax
A firefighter who reported finding a knotted rope and a threatening note with a drawing of a noose in an East Baltimore station house last month had placed the items there himself, city officials said yesterday.
The man was suspended last week for performance-related issues and will likely face additional punishment, fire officials said. Sterling Clifford, a spokesman for the Police Department and for Mayor Sheila Dixon, said the man admitted to the hoax and will not face criminal charges.
Officials identified the firefighter who they say acknowledged writing the note as Donald Maynard, a firefighter-paramedic apprentice who is black. Maynard could not be reached for comment.
The rope incident sparked outrage two weeks ago and prompted a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations. It was the latest in a series of incidents that have cast the Fire Department in a poor light over the past year, including the death of a recruit in a training exercise and accusations of racism.
The news of the hoax came a day after a report released by the city's inspector general found that the top performers on two recent Fire Department promotions exams likely cheated amid lapses in testing security.
A black firefighters group had called accusations of cheating racially motivated after union officials questioned the test scores. But the investigation found that five African-American firefighters had studied by using a 2001 exam, which is against test protocol.
On Nov. 21, a handwritten note and a rope were discovered about 1:30 a.m. by two Fire Department employees - one black and one white. It read, "We cant [sic] hang the cheaters but we can hang the failures. NO EMT-I, NO JOB." A small stick figure with a noose and the word "Stop" were drawn below the message.
The note appeared to refer to the cheating investigation and a push by top fire officials to compel emergency medical technicians to become certified as paramedics. Maynard was among those whose jobs were at risk.
In a written statement yesterday, Fire Chief William J. Goodwin Jr. said Maynard had admitted to "conducting a scheme meant to create the perception that members within our department were acting in a discriminatory and unprofessional manner."
"If the department upon investigation found Mr. Maynard's alleged claims to be factual, I would have acted swiftly and severely," said Goodwin, who said last month he would step down at the end of the year. "I will do the same thing regarding Mr. Maynard's unfortunate act of misconduct."
Kevin Cartwright, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said that Maynard's punishment had not been determined but that he could be fired.
Clifford, the spokesman for Dixon, said she was "pleased to find out that, in fact, there wasn't a threat of that nature made at the firehouse." He said the mayor is disappointed in the firefighter.
"It's a terrible thing to be worried that firefighters are treating each other that way, and it's good to know they're not," he said.
Yesterday, the leaders of the two city fire unions denounced Dixon, whose initial reaction to the reported incident was to deplore what she called "an act of hatred and intimidation."
Stephan G. Fugate, head of the city fire officers union, said Dixon's reaction contributed to racial tensions. He said members of the community became hostile toward firefighters after the mayor "came out and, in effect, said racism is running rampant."
Union leaders also criticized the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Vulcan Blazers, a group that represents black firefighters, saying they, too, provoked racial tension by rushing to judgment.
"To put it mildly, this time we're not going to let it go," said Fugate. "The reaction from the NAACP, the mayor and the Vulcan Blazers was sickening, and we're going to demand an apology."
But Marvin L. "Doc" Cheatham, president of the NAACP's Baltimore chapter, said the fact that such an incident could occur shows that pervasive racial problems persist in the department.
"It really saddens us to hear that evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department," Cheatham said when asked to respond to the unions.
Henry Burris, president of the Vulcan Blazers, when informed that the incident was a hoax, said, "I'm extremely upset, as well as hurt. I believed the person who told me [that the incident was legitimate] was telling the truth."
Fugate said Maynard had been with the department for about six years. The union leader said that that is well beyond the time for an apprentice to have advanced to a more skilled classification.
The man was suspended last week for performance-related issues and will likely face additional punishment, fire officials said. Sterling Clifford, a spokesman for the Police Department and for Mayor Sheila Dixon, said the man admitted to the hoax and will not face criminal charges.
Officials identified the firefighter who they say acknowledged writing the note as Donald Maynard, a firefighter-paramedic apprentice who is black. Maynard could not be reached for comment.
The rope incident sparked outrage two weeks ago and prompted a federal investigation into possible civil rights violations. It was the latest in a series of incidents that have cast the Fire Department in a poor light over the past year, including the death of a recruit in a training exercise and accusations of racism.
The news of the hoax came a day after a report released by the city's inspector general found that the top performers on two recent Fire Department promotions exams likely cheated amid lapses in testing security.
A black firefighters group had called accusations of cheating racially motivated after union officials questioned the test scores. But the investigation found that five African-American firefighters had studied by using a 2001 exam, which is against test protocol.
On Nov. 21, a handwritten note and a rope were discovered about 1:30 a.m. by two Fire Department employees - one black and one white. It read, "We cant [sic] hang the cheaters but we can hang the failures. NO EMT-I, NO JOB." A small stick figure with a noose and the word "Stop" were drawn below the message.
The note appeared to refer to the cheating investigation and a push by top fire officials to compel emergency medical technicians to become certified as paramedics. Maynard was among those whose jobs were at risk.
In a written statement yesterday, Fire Chief William J. Goodwin Jr. said Maynard had admitted to "conducting a scheme meant to create the perception that members within our department were acting in a discriminatory and unprofessional manner."
"If the department upon investigation found Mr. Maynard's alleged claims to be factual, I would have acted swiftly and severely," said Goodwin, who said last month he would step down at the end of the year. "I will do the same thing regarding Mr. Maynard's unfortunate act of misconduct."
Kevin Cartwright, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said that Maynard's punishment had not been determined but that he could be fired.
Clifford, the spokesman for Dixon, said she was "pleased to find out that, in fact, there wasn't a threat of that nature made at the firehouse." He said the mayor is disappointed in the firefighter.
"It's a terrible thing to be worried that firefighters are treating each other that way, and it's good to know they're not," he said.
Yesterday, the leaders of the two city fire unions denounced Dixon, whose initial reaction to the reported incident was to deplore what she called "an act of hatred and intimidation."
Stephan G. Fugate, head of the city fire officers union, said Dixon's reaction contributed to racial tensions. He said members of the community became hostile toward firefighters after the mayor "came out and, in effect, said racism is running rampant."
Union leaders also criticized the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Vulcan Blazers, a group that represents black firefighters, saying they, too, provoked racial tension by rushing to judgment.
"To put it mildly, this time we're not going to let it go," said Fugate. "The reaction from the NAACP, the mayor and the Vulcan Blazers was sickening, and we're going to demand an apology."
But Marvin L. "Doc" Cheatham, president of the NAACP's Baltimore chapter, said the fact that such an incident could occur shows that pervasive racial problems persist in the department.
"It really saddens us to hear that evidently things have reached a stage that even an African-American does an injustice to himself and his own people as a result of a negative culture in that department," Cheatham said when asked to respond to the unions.
Henry Burris, president of the Vulcan Blazers, when informed that the incident was a hoax, said, "I'm extremely upset, as well as hurt. I believed the person who told me [that the incident was legitimate] was telling the truth."
Fugate said Maynard had been with the department for about six years. The union leader said that that is well beyond the time for an apprentice to have advanced to a more skilled classification.
Stocks Fall on Economic, Mortgage Unease-
Wall Street turned lower Monday, led by financial services stocks, on concerns that the U.S. economy's expansion will erode amid troubles in the mortgage industry.
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
The Ravens have lost five straight and have no chance of salvaging their season. But they could salvage some pride by upsetting the Patriots on Monday night, writes Len Pasquarelli
How must will this cost you?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Monday he is confident there will soon be an agreement to help thousands of homeowners avoid mortgage defaults by temporarily freezing their interest rates.
Paulson told a national housing conference that this effort involved a "pragmatic response" to current realities as the economy goes through the worst housing slump in more than two decades. The number of homeowners struggling to meet higher payments because their initial introductory rates are resetting is currently soaring.
Paulson and other top Treasury officials have been holding talks with major players in the mortgage industry over the past several weeks to hammer out an agreement that would freeze the lower introductory rates to keep them from resetting to higher levels for a period of years.
"We are working aggressively and quickly, utilizing available tools and creating new ones, to help financially responsible but struggling homeowners," Paulson said in a speech to a national housing conference sponsored by the Office of Thrift Supervision.
One of the outstanding issues is how long the freeze will last. Some government regulators are pushing for five to seven years but investors, who will see lower payments on the loans, are arguing for a shorter period of one to two years.
An estimated 2 million subprime mortgages, loans offered to borrowers with spotty credit histories, are scheduled to reset to much higher levels by the end of 2008. Those resets will push the payment on a typical mortgage up by $350 per month, taking it from $1,200 currently to $1,550.
Paulson said he believed the disagreements can be resolved without delay. Some expect the administration to unveil the completed deal later this week, but Paulson was not as specific in his remarks, saying only, "I am confident they will finalize these standards soon."
Paulson said he believed the mortgage industry would move to implement the new program quickly and would also adopt benchmarks to measure progress going forward.
"As a result, what was a fragmented, cumbersome process can be a coordinated effort which more quickly helps able homeowners," Paulson said.
Paulson told a national housing conference that this effort involved a "pragmatic response" to current realities as the economy goes through the worst housing slump in more than two decades. The number of homeowners struggling to meet higher payments because their initial introductory rates are resetting is currently soaring.
Paulson and other top Treasury officials have been holding talks with major players in the mortgage industry over the past several weeks to hammer out an agreement that would freeze the lower introductory rates to keep them from resetting to higher levels for a period of years.
"We are working aggressively and quickly, utilizing available tools and creating new ones, to help financially responsible but struggling homeowners," Paulson said in a speech to a national housing conference sponsored by the Office of Thrift Supervision.
One of the outstanding issues is how long the freeze will last. Some government regulators are pushing for five to seven years but investors, who will see lower payments on the loans, are arguing for a shorter period of one to two years.
An estimated 2 million subprime mortgages, loans offered to borrowers with spotty credit histories, are scheduled to reset to much higher levels by the end of 2008. Those resets will push the payment on a typical mortgage up by $350 per month, taking it from $1,200 currently to $1,550.
Paulson said he believed the disagreements can be resolved without delay. Some expect the administration to unveil the completed deal later this week, but Paulson was not as specific in his remarks, saying only, "I am confident they will finalize these standards soon."
Paulson said he believed the mortgage industry would move to implement the new program quickly and would also adopt benchmarks to measure progress going forward.
"As a result, what was a fragmented, cumbersome process can be a coordinated effort which more quickly helps able homeowners," Paulson said.
Idaho's Craig denies new gay allegations
BOISE, Idaho, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, has denied published weekend allegations he had homosexual encounters with four men dating back to the 1980s.Soon after The Idaho Statesman in Boise published an article in which the men made the allegations Sunday, Craig's office issued a statement criticizing the newspaper, CNN reported."Like its previous coverage, these latest allegations are completely false and have no basis in reality," the statement said. "In fact, the paper itself states that these baseless accusations contain no definitive evidence, yet they still decided to print them anyway."The 62-year-old was arrested in June in a sex sting at a men's washroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and two months later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.
Venezuelans Deny Chávez Additional Authority
By Juan ForeroWashington Post Foreign Service Monday, December 3, 2007; Page A01
CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 3 -- Venezuelan voters delivered a stinging defeat to President Hugo Chávez on Sunday, blocking proposed constitutional changes that would have given him political supremacy and accelerated the transformation of this oil-rich country into a socialist state.
Hours after the final ballots were cast, the National Electoral Council announced at 1:15 a.m. local time Monday that voters, by a margin of 51 to 49 percent, had rejected 69 reforms to the 1999 constitution. The modifications would have permitted the president to stand for reelection indefinitely, appoint governors to provinces he would create and control Venezuela's sizable foreign reserves
MOHANDAS GANDHI PERSON OF THE DAY
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) was also known as Mohandas Karamchand, the Mahatma, and the Great Soul. His legacy as an Indian nationalist, religious leader and moral revolutionary resonates in social and political reform movements to this day. In 1930, TIME wrote, "It was exactly twelve months ago that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's Indian National Congress promulgated the Declaration of Indian Independence. It was in March that he marched to the sea to defy Britain's salt tax as some New Englanders once defied a British tea tax.
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