bush & co. started them, nearly 7.5 years ago, ran them poorly for that entire time, failed to complete the missions, and after less than two weeks in office, pres. obama takes "ownership" of them.

Although all renditions have become controversial, these examples did not involve dragging criminals to a third country for torture or interrogation, nor did they violate US law or human rights. In these cases, the country in which the criminals were arrested waived their own extradition process and handed them over to US officials on the guarantee that they would be brought to the United States and afforded the same rights of the accused in the US justice system. The Supreme Court has even ruled that renditions occurring without the cooperation of the nation of arrest are legal if the accused is expeditiously brought into the US justice system.

Now the feds are looking at Richardson's time as head of the Democratic Governors' Association (DGA), into an expanding investigation into pay-for-play.

As political alliances go, the four-year marriage between Gov. Bill Richardson and the Democratic Governors Association was golden.

Richardson got prestige, coast-to-coast travel and national exposure that would help fuel his presidential bid, while the DGA basked in his growing notoriety and fundraising prowess.

"It's been very beneficial," Richardson acknowledged in late 2006, when his stint with the political group -- as federal liaison, vice-chair and unprecedented two years as chairman -- wrapped up a month before he launched his unsuccessful quest for the White House.

Now, that political shine could be tarnishing.

Recent news reports say authorities have asked for information involving the DGA as part of the federal "pay-to-play" investigation that derailed Richardson's nomination for U.S. commerce secretary.

That probe centers on a single financial firm involved in Richardson's $1.6 billion GRIP transportation program, CDR Financial Products, and its contributions to the DGA and two Richardson political committees -- Si Se Puede and Moving America Forward.

A Journal analysis shows three other firms that made millions on GRIP bond work -- J.P. Morgan Securities, UBS Bank and RBC Dain Rauscher -- also gave to the DGA, contributing a total of nearly $500,000 around the time the transportation financing plan was being developed and finalized.
Some of the donations were in cash, others were "in kind" services, such as catering. Swiss-headquartered UBS was by far the largest donor with about $421,000.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Major U.S. banks sought government permission to bring thousands of foreign workers into the country for high-paying jobs even as the system was melting down last year and Americans were getting laid off, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.

The dozen banks now receiving the biggest rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions that included senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.

As the economic collapse worsened last year -- with huge numbers of bank employees laid off -- the numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in the 2007 budget year to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.

The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree positions. Such visas are most often associated with high-tech workers.

It is unclear how many foreign workers the banks actually hired; the government does not release those details. The actual number is likely a fraction of the 21,800 foreign workers the banks sought to hire because the government only grants 85,000 such visas each year among all U.S. employers.

During the last three months of 2008, the largest banks that received taxpayer loans announced more than 100,000 layoffs. The number of foreign workers included among those laid off is unknown.

Foreigners are attractive hires because companies have found ways to pay them less than American workers.

Although entertainers can perform live, Minor insisted that Hudson and Faith Hill, who sang "America the Beautiful" before the national anthem, use the tracks the NFL requires them to submit a week before the game.

The GOP and radio wing nuts are going after Obama big time over the stimulus package and pretty much everything else. Truth seems to be missing in their arguments.

Right wing nuts are also pooh poohing climate change, which I believe will start claiming a significant number of lives within the next few years.

Wow. Nipplegate has nothing on this.

"Obama has begun discreet talks with Iran, Syria"

That is just wrong (none / 0) (#18)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 09:19:05 AM EST

Glass Steagal repeal had nothing to do with the crisis today.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said Monday that Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) told him he won't leave the Senate to become secretary of commerce unless a Republican fills the vacated seat.

And Lynch hinted for the first time publicly that he may be open to doing just that if Gregg joins the Obama administration.

"If President Obama does nominate Senator Gregg to serve as commerce secretary, I will name a replacement who will put the people of New Hampshire first and represent New Hampshire effectively in the U.S. Senate," Lynch said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.

Lynch's words, though vague, are being seen by New Hampshire political insiders as a signal he's willing to abide by Gregg's wishes and install a Republican caretaker in the seat.

Bonnie Newman, a former Gregg aide, academic and official in the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations, is the top contender to take Gregg's seat. A moderate Republican, Newman endorsed Lynch in his 2004 gubernatorial run.

CNN has story

Senate Democrats have dropped two controversial spending programs in the Senate economic stimulus bill: $75 million dollars for anti-smoking programs, and $400 million for STD and HIV prevention. -snip- Republicans, and even some Democrats, have been pointing to both of these items as prime examples of "excess spending" that doesn't belong in this stimulus bill.