The Republicans in the Senate have thrown down the gauntlet: 44 Republican senators have signed a letter saying they won’t confirm anyone — anyone at all — to be the director of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unless the new agency is made toothless. It is this kind of way-over-the-top overreaching that has hurt Republican governors like Walker and Kasich so badly because of their attempt to wipe out public-sector unions, and has made the Ryan budget the most unpopular bill in front of Congress in years. When you are so clearly willing to do everything the Wall Street bankers could ever ask, you paint a very big target on your back. Democrats should seize this opportunity and strike while the iron is hot, just as they did in standing up to Walker, Kasich, and Ryan. Being willing to stand tall and fight back against those unpopular right-wing policies, and the moneymen behind them like the Koch brothers, has already paid off enormously for Democrats. Just think how picking a fight with the most unpopular entity in America (now that Osama bin Laden is dead) –the big banks on Wall Street — could help them politically. The President should immediately announce he is appointing Elizabeth Warren as director of the CFPB, and when the next recess comes, immediately put her in as a recess appointment. There is no longer any reason not to, because the Republicans gave us our opening: if they are going to oppose anyone no matter how weak in that job, there is no reason to offer a compromise candidate. Obama should just give it to the person who would be the best director, which Elizabeth would clearly be. Having a big blow-up with Republicans, with us fighting for consumers and homeowners and them fighting for the banks, would be a great political fight to have. I suspect at the end of the day, that will be the conclusion the Obama team comes to as well, although they are taking their own sweet time on this CFPB decision. And their options of who to appoint got narrowed a lot by that Senate GOP too. The White House already has had several feelers rejected by candidates who didn’t want to be seen as taking the job Warren should have, which is a big factor in making Elizabeth’s appointment more and more likely. The bottom line is that this letter probably just sealed the deal for her getting the job, so we can once again thank overreaching Republicans for helping get something good done. Unfortunately, though, this rather obvious notion of picking fights with incredibly unpopular Wall Street bankers isn’t a universally held Democratic strategy. Take a look at the dynamics on a couple of other fronts. The first example is how the swipe-fee issue still has some Democrats being dumb in their politics. I got involved in this issue during last year’s financial-reform battle, forming a rather unusual (okay, extremely unusual) alliance with retailers and merchants. Dick Durbin offered an amendment that would require the Federal Reserve to provide some regulation of debit card swipe fees so that the big banks who thoroughly dominate this market (Visa and MasterCard, which are subsidiaries of the big banks, represent more than 80 percent of the debit card market) couldn’t just charge whatever outrageous swipe fees they wanted to every small businessperson and non-profit group that let customers use debit cards. The politics of this issue seemed easy to me: the Big Banks vs. Main Street Businesses and Consumers. And it was easy the first time around: when Durbin offered his amendment 63 Senators voted for it, including some Republicans. But the big banks have a ton of money, lobbyists, and muscle — and they keep chipping away at this. They have convinced a lot of Democrats to go over to their side. An organization I chair, American Family Voices , recently came out with and ad that got some notice because it targeted some Democrats, including DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. But if Democrats took the side of small businesses and consumers, and left helping Wall Street bankers to Republicans, the politics of this issue would be a lot cleaner. The second issue is the foreclosure fraud issue. The big banks have run roughshod over hard-pressed homeowners, abusing the foreclosure process to the point where they have had a series of court decisions go against them. The 50 attorneys general and multiple federal agencies have been negotiating with the big banks on this issue, but the Obama administration has been way too weak in helping underwater homeowners press for mortgage write-downs. The administration refused to issue a moratorium on foreclosures in spite of all the problems with the banks that were handling them, Treasury’s HAMP program has been a disaster, and the administration’s acting head of the critically important OCC regulatory agency has been completely in bed with Wall Street bankers on housing and many other issues. The Obama administration should be taking on the big banks on foreclosures, not coddling them. I am a Democrat because our party has historically been on the side of middle-class workers, homeowners, consumers, and small businesses against wealthy special interests like Wall Street bankers. Politically and policywise, we should be clearly, cleanly, and strongly on the side of the former, and not confuse voters by straddling both sides of the issue. I will always be a Democrat because we are the only party that would ever appoint someone like Elizabeth Warren to office, or pass legislation like the CFPB and swipe-fee regulation, but when we waver on these kinds of things, we lose our way politically as well. It is time for Democrats to take a clear side for the middle class, and let the Republicans choke on having to be on Wall Street’s side.
Continue reading …Time’s Mother’s Day List of Best Pop-Culture Mothers Has Gaia Instead of Mrs. Cleaver
May 7, 2011 No Comment
For Mother's Day, the Time magazine website decided to make a list of the ten worst and best mothers in popular culture. The worst list was pretty standard, but the best list was at times bizarre. For example, the number ten best is… the savage Queen Mother from the Aliens movies? Number eight is….Hester Prynne, the single-mom adulteress of The Scarlet Letter? There's no Mrs. Cleaver or Mrs. Huxtable, but a savage killer? Then there's the number three best mother: Gaia, or Mother Earth . Caryn Brooks wrote:
Continue reading …Like other states, Minnesota is fast-tracking a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, despite already having a gay marriage ban on the books . I suppose they fear the law being declared unconstitutional and think that adding an amendment to the constitution with the definition will somehow immunize them from that. The only good to come from this effort was the speech on the video above. Steve Simon , speaking in a measured, reasonable tone, made a wonderful argument for gay marriage by turning the argument against it right back around on the bill’s proponents by arguing that if their sexuality is a gift from God, as clergy argues, then how many times does God have to bestow the gift of gay on someone before the rest of us get a clue? Between his delivery and his argument, it was magnificent. Transcript follows. SIMON: We have to be careful about trying to enshrine our beliefs, however religiously valid we may believe them to be, in the Minnesota constitution. And what I’m hearing today and what I heard on Friday was largely a religious justification for a change in the Minnesota constitution. I don’t think that’s right, I don’t think that’s fair, I think it departs from our tradition. The other thing, which I know makes some people squirm but I think we have to discuss it, both during an election campaign but here at the legislature too, is how much of homosexuality is nature versus nurture. Is this something that you learn or acquire or is this something that you’re born with? Is this just another lifestyle choice like skateboarding or gardening, or is this something that’s innate with a human being. And I want to take a page from what I heard last Friday in the Senate testimony. There was a member of the clergy, I think — forgive me, I can’t remember his name — and he said, “You know what? Sexuality and sexual orientation are a gift from God.” And I think that’s true. And I think that scientific evidence shows that more and more every day. Sexuality and sexual orientation are innate, and something that people are born with. And I would ask everyone on this committee — not today, not tomorrow, not next week, not even this year — but at a moment when you can be alone with your own thoughts to ask yourself if that’s true, if it’s even possibly true, what does that mean to the moral force of your argument? Just ask yourself. Not now, in the glare of the capitol and caucuses and interest groups, but ask yourself if it’s true that sexual orientation is innate, God-given, then what does it mean to the moral force of your argument? And I guess to put it into the vernacular, that what I would ask is how many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around? [applause] CHAIR: Please keep applause to yourselves. SIMON: How many gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether the living of their lives the way they wish as long as they don’t harm others is a godly and holy and happy and glorious thing? I’ve answered that for myself. I don’t think everyone’s answered that for themselves, necessarily in this room. But I’m comfortable with a society and a tradition that bends towards justice, and fairness, and wholeness, and openness, and compassion. And I do think, as others who have come before me have said more eloquently that that’s where the arc of history is bending as well. And I truly believe that in a generation, or maybe not even a generation, but certainly many generations from now, if we pass this, if we put it on the ballot, if this becomes part of our constitution, history will judge us all very, very harshly. And I think that the people who vote for this today and in the future — although their children and grandchildren should be very proud of them for their service to the state of Minnesota — will on this issue, not be so proud. And there may even be some justifiable shame there as well , and I think that’s something that we all have to think about and justify in our own consciences. So I strongly urge a no vote.
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• Press F5 or auto refresh for the latest news • Email rob.smyth@guardian.co.uk • Click here for live, in-running league tables • Get the latest scores from around Europe 3.38pm “Plugging shamelessly,” begins Jonathan Wilson promisingly. “Dennis Bergkamp talks at great length about his first touch for the winner v Argentina in 1998 in Issue One of The Blizzard. You can order it here .” You can and you bloody well should, too. (The great Barry Davies also talks about his commentary for Bergkamp’s goal against Argentina in Issue Two, if Wilson decides its worthy of inclusion.) 3.37pm: Newcastle 1-0 Birmingham (Ameobi 36 pen) Carl Cort gives Newcastle the lead from the penalty spot. 3.36pm Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell has been sent off for handball on the line at Newcastle, who also have a penalty. In other news, Notts County have equalised at home to Brighton. With Walsall 2-0 down, Notts County look safe at the moment. 3.36pm “I was never Dunc’s biggest fan,” says Jon Gard. “HOWEVER, watching that United goal and celebration has just made my day. Although you’ve also upset me by reminding me the first album I ever got was Now That’s What I Call Music. The first one.” 3.35pm Southampton 2-0 Walsall, Rochester 2-1 Torquay. 3.34pm It’s all happening in Stevenage, and it’s not every day you read that sentence on the Guardian. Nicholas Ajose has equalised for Bury to make it 2-2, but Stevenage are still in the play-off places. 3.33pm Bristol Rovers needed to win by 15 goals at Colchester to have any chance of avoiding relegation to League Two. They are losing 2-0. 3.32pm Southampton lead Walsall 1-0. It doesn’t mean much at the top – Southampton were effectively promoted anyway – but it does at the bottom. If Walsall lose and Dagenham & Redbridge get an equaliser at Peterborough, Walsall will be down. 3.31pm: Everton 0-1 Manchester City (Toure 30) Yaya Toure puts Manchester City ahead at Goodison Park from David Silva’s pass. City are finishing the season strongly, and if they win today they will be only two points behind Arsenal. 3.30pm These are the latest EPL (sic) scores: Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan Bolton 0-0 Sunderland Everton 0-0 Man City Newcastle 0-0 Birmingham West Ham 0-1 Blackburn 3.29pm Ben Strevens has put Wycombe 2-1 ahead against Southend. If they win they will be promoted regardless of what Shrewsbury do at home to Oxford. It’s currently 0-0 there. 3.28pm “Re: Joy of Six first touches,” says Ryan Dunne. “Good God! That Baggio clip is amazing. Take it you’d have Bergkamp and Berbatov in there too?” A gentleman never tells. 3.27pm It’s Carlisle 0-1 Yeovil. This, my scrambled brain is pleased to report, is of no significance whatsoever. 3.23pm “I think I could tell you what’s going on,” lies Edie Richards, “but it would involve a third email, which makes me look sad, and a disingenuous link to my website, to a piece that’s actually about why clever players fail. In short, no-one would come out a winner from it. I’d like to apologise for sending this * *And for the further link I’ve put in the word ‘this’ ” 3.22pm Wycombe have equalised at home to Southend, so they leap back into the League Two promotion places. I think. What day is this? 3.21pm …Stevenage 2-1 Bury… 3.20pm “David Silva had the touch of the season from a crossfield diagonal ball from Kompany,” says Katie McKeown. “I dare you to find an example of better control this year!” So long as you don’t double-dare me. Actually, I really want to write the Joy of Six: first touches. This is number one . 3.18pm It’s now Stevenage 1-1 Bury, and I had no idea what implications that has for League Two or world peace. Ah, it doesn’t mean anything. Stevenage are still in the play-off places, as are Gillingham. Torquay are not. 3.17pm Anthony Grant has given Southend the lead at Wycombe, which is big news in League Two. And it’s also Aston Villa 1-1 Wigan , with Ashley Young scoring a free-kick. That might be his last goal for Villa. So now West Ham are only four points from safety. 3.16pm “The small town nearest me, Kirkintilloch, has multiple nightclubs!” says Ryan Dunne. “Although this might be because it’s called “The Canal Capital of Scotland” and wags invariably deface the second word’s C on the signs. There must be a lot of disappointed tourists (or not).” 3.14pm: WEST HAM 0-1 BLACKBURN (Roberts 13) Oh my. Blackburn have taken the lead at Upton Park, thanks to Jason Roberts. As things stand, West Ham are six points from safety with two games to go . 3.13pm A few vital goals in various leagues: Rotherham 1-0 Torquay, Notts County 0-1 Brighton, Peterborough 1-0 Dagenham & Redbridge. This is going to be a long afternoon for my poor fingers. 3.11pm Poor old Merse. He probably looked at Newcastle v Birmingham and thought he’d be fine for names. Barton, Ferguson, Bowyer, Foster, Taylor, Simpson. Easy. Bring it on. And then Birmingham brought in Jean Beausejour. But seriously, Merse is great, one of the best pundits on TV. 3.10pm: ASTON VILLA 0-1 WIGAN (N’Zogbia 10) This is a surprise for most of us, if not the statisticians. Wigan have never lost at Villa Park, and they lead thanks to a neat finish from the excellent Charles N’Zogbia. 3.09pm A goal! A net-tickler! And it’s an important one as well: Stevenage lead Bury 1-0 . If it stays like that they will be in the League Two play-offs. 3.08pm There hasn’t been a single goal in the Premier League or the Football League yet. Eight minutes multiplied by 30-odd games equals a lot of minutes. What the hell’s going on? 3.07pm Do they still play slow songs at nightclubs? Who is the Celine Dion of 2011? It wouldn’t be the same anyway, what with mobile phones and all. Gone are the days of sheepishly asking the DJ for a pen and paper so you could get someone’s phone number, then waving it around like a moron in front of your mates outside the nightclub, then watching in horror as one of your friends decides to grab the paper and eat it. 3.06pm: SECURITY! Department “Better still, I’ve decided, as everyone I know (two and a half people) has gone out without inviting or even telling me, I’m with you all the way this afternoon,” says Ethan Dean-Richards. “I narrowly missed my foot with a knife a minute ago – who knows where this could take us?* *I suspect I do .” 3.04pm Want to know more about the last day’s inaction in the Championship? Then you know what you have to do . 3.04pm QPR have been fined £865,000 for that funny business everyone has been talking about. They probably won’t care less, as they have been promoted as are currently bathing in crisp £5 notes. 3.03pm On Sky Sports, Phil Thompson is growling about a missed chance for Blackburn at Upton Park, with Morten Gamst Pedersen’s shot deflected wide. 3.02pm “I am working today so have given up my season ticket to Everton and as such am missing the return of Duncan Ferguson to Goodison for the first time since he retired,” says Joe Daly. “I also missed his last ever game where he scored in the last minute. Despite his somewhat erratic behaviour on and off the pitch he was my hero from age nine until 20. So if you can report a few Everton goals and maybe a Lescott sending off I’d appreciate it. I’m hoping they just play this on the big screens when he comes on to the pitch.” Or this , or this , or, best of all, this – which, coincidentally, was an unpopular manoeuvre in certain small-town nightclubs in 1994-95. 3pm It’s all kicking off! 2.58pm “Is it the ultimate put down for the Championship that you’ve linked to the Premier League table, there, Rob, or just something Freudian?” asks Ethan Dean-Richards. “Tee and hee.” Yes, hilarity prevails all right. 2.54pm “Jesus,” says Niall Mullen. “I tuned in to get an update on today’s play and all I got was a belly full of 17-year-old shame to the soundtrack of Celine Dion’s ‘Think Twice’ . You weren’t, er, watching me in 1994-95 were you?” I was slow-dancing with you. You don’t even remember? I can’t believe it meant so little to you. Actually, 1994-95 wasn’t the worst time to have a nine-month nightclub-based aberration. There was some wonderfully naff music around back then. And you haven’t known true romance until you’ve slow danced to this . 2.51pm The Championship season has finished. This is the final table , and the play-off semi-finals will be Swansea v Forest and Cardiff v Reading. You don’t need to have been on Eggheads to work out who North London police will be supporting. Bolton v Sunderland team news Bolton Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Elmander, Muamba, Taylor, Kevin Davies, Sturridge. Subs: Bogdan, Petrov, Gardner, Klasnic, Moreno, Cohen, Wheater. Sunderland Mignolet, Elmohamady, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson, Colback, Mensah, Malbranque, Zenden, Sessegnon. Subs: Carson, Muntari, Riveros, Knott, Noble, Adams, Lynch. Referee Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) Aston Villa v Wigan team news Aston Villa Friedel, Walker, Collins, Dunne, Luke Young, Downing, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ashley Young, Bent, Heskey. Subs: Marshall, Pires, Albrighton, Bradley, Delfouneso, Delph, Cuellar. Wigan Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Boyce, Gary Caldwell, Figueroa, Cleverley, McCarthy, Watson, N’Zogbia, Moses, Rodallega. Subs: Kirkland, Gohouri, Thomas, Di Santo, Gomez, McArthur, Sammon. Referee Mike Jones (Cheshire) West Ham v Blackburn team news West Ham Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Spector, Hitzlsperger, Boa Morte, Sears, Cole, Ba. Subs: Boffin, Tomkins, Collison, Kovac, Hines, Piquionne, Keane. Blackburn Robinson, Emerton, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Nzonzi, Jermaine Jones, Diouf, Pedersen, Hoilett, Roberts. Subs: Bunn, Formica, Andrews, Santa Cruz, Rochina, Mwaruwari, Hanley. Referee Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 2.26pm A storming goal from David McGoldrick has made it Palace 0-3 Forest . Newcastle v Birmingham team news Newcastle Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands, Ameobi. Subs: Harper, Ryan Taylor, Ranger, Ferguson, Donaldson, Tavernier, Kuqi. Birmingham Foster, Carr, Jiranek, Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Fahey, Bowyer, Beausejour, Jerome. Subs: Doyle, Phillips, Bentley, Derbyshire, Parnaby, Hleb, Davies. Referee Chris Foy (Merseyside) 2.24pm “As I’m sure many other people will be telling you, today is also the day of the Highland League decider, with the noble Buckie Thistle playing at home to retain their title against their fiercest rivals, Deveronvale,” says Mike Cormack. “I’ll keep you posted…” I love Scottish football . Everton v Man City team news Everton Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Arteta, Heitinga, Neville, Osman, Rodwell, Anichebe. Subs: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Cahill, Gueye, Coleman, Vellios. Man City Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Vieira, Milner, Toure, Silva, Dzeko. Subs: Given, Wright-Phillips, Adam Johnson, Jo, Boyata, Balotelli, McGivern. Referee Phil Dowd (Staffordshire) 2.16pm Leeds’ last 0.00000000000001 per cent of hope has disappeared: Marcus Tudgay has just headed Nottingham Forest into a 2-0 lead at Crystal Palace. Somewhere upstairs, Brian Clough has a big dumb grin on his face. Forest are going into the play-offs where, as things stand, they will face Swansea. 2.15pm Admirable stuff from Leeds, if ultimately futile: they now lead 2-1 at QPR thanks to Ross McCormack’s deflected shot. 2.13pm A token video of Arsene Wenger way back when, when he didn’t look like Jeff Stelling circa 1999. 2.05pm Nothing to see in the Championship. It’s still QPR 1-1 Leeds and Palace 0-1 Forest. These are the other scores . Token mention of Jimmy Glass, what with this being the last day of the season and anything being possible department Jeff Stelling looks a bit like Arsene Wenger in that video. When did Soccer Saturday start? Around 1997? It was certainly an improvement on Sports Saturday . 1.53pm In Scotland, Rangers are predictably mauling Hearts: it’s 3-0, with Hearts down to 10 men. Ten men? Pah! 1.51pm “McGugan,” says Philippa Booth, doing her best drunken-Jack-Black-in-High-Fidelity impression. “Crivens, have just seen that free kick. Have switched to Palace v Forest.” 1.50pm You’ll probably be wanting some permutations for the rest of the Football League, then. League One Brighton and Southampton are promoted (effectively if not mathematically in Southampton’s case) Huddersfield, Peterborough, MK Dons and Bournemouth are in the play offs Swindon, Plymouth and Bristol Rovers are down (effectively if not etc in Bristol Rovers’ case) That means one of Dagenham & Redbridge (47 pts), Walsall (48 pts) and Notts County (49) are going down. All three are playing sides in the top four League Two Chesterfield and Bury are promoted, while the final automatic place will go to either Wycombe (77 pts) and Shrewsbury (76) Wycombe or Shrewsbury and Accrington Stanley will be in the play offs. The final two places are between three sides on 68 points: Torquay (goal difference +23), Stevenage (+17) and Gillingham (+12) Stockport are down, and the other relegation place will be taken by either Barney (45 pts) or Lincoln (47). Barnet’s goal difference is superior, so if they win and Lincoln fail to win, Lincoln will go down Confused? Splendid. Now if you’d just like to lie down on the couch… 1.26pm Leeds are at least going down with a fight at QPR, where Max Gradel has made it 1-1. 1.11pm Talking of Lewis McGugan, this is surely the free-kick of the season. [Cliche] If Cristiano Ronaldo had scored it… [/cliche] 1.10pm We already know who has been automatically promoted (QPR, Norwich) and relegated (Sheffield United, Scunthorpe, Phil Brown FC) from the Championship. We also know that Cardiff, Swansea and Reading are in the play-offs. The remaining play-off place is between Nottingham Forest and Leeds, who are three points and six goals behind Forest. In other words, Leeds need snookers, a miracle, another miracle, and a six-goal swing. It’s not going to happen: they trail 1-0 at the champions QPR , thanks to a goal from Heidar Helguson, while Lewis McGugan has put Forest 1-0 up at 10-man Crystal Palace . So Leeds now need an eight-goal swing. They are facing an eighth consecutive season outside the top flight, which equals their worst run since the 1950s. You can get all the latest scores from the Championship, and the rest of Europe, by clicking here . Preamble Hello. You don’t need to have spent your teenage years in small-town nightclubs – waiting for the slow songs* and then, at 1.44am on a Sunday morning, roaming wild-eyed across sticky flooring as U Sure Do by Strike morphs awkwardly into Celine Dion’s Think Twice – to know what blind panic feels like. Just take a look at the bottom of the Premier League every April and May, when the search for points, any points, becomes all-consuming. Nothing else matters. Not performances, style of play, dignity, or even the fact you apparently want to slow dance to Celine Dion with someone picked entirely at random through rendered eyes across a dimly lit dancefloor. That is certainly the case for West Ham, Wigan, Blackburn and Birmingham today. The only relegation head-to-head (please don’t call it a six-pointer, or you’ll stir the pedant in me. And, as the poster for all Hulk films would say in an ideal world, you wouldn’t like me when I’m pedantic) is between West Ham (32 points) and Blackburn (38). It’s not quite a must-win for West Ham, as they have two winnable games still to come (Wigan away and Sunderland at home), but if they fail today they will be under all sorts of pressure. Time, then, for their manager’s most Churchillian oratory. Avram? Hello? Even his most Duncan Smithian oratory would be an improvement. Anyway, these are today’s fixtures in the Premier League: Aston Villa v Wigan Bolton v Sunderland Everton v Man City Newcastle v Birmingham Tottenham v Blackpool (5.30pm) West Ham v Blackburn We’ll also keep an eye on the last day of the season in the Football League. The Championship matches kicked off at 12.45pm, although there is basically nothing to play for save that most overrated of emotions, pride. * Do they still play slow songs in small-town nightclubs? Do nightclubs still exist in small towns? JJs in Sittingbourne was shut down. Life has never been the same since really. Premier League Rob Smyth guardian.co.uk
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Libyan rebels say city will be starved of fuel after light aircraft drop bombs on oil tanks Libyan government forces have bombed four large oil tanks in Misrata, destroying the city’s only source of fuel, according to rebels. Light aircraft normally used for spraying pesticides were deployed for the overnight attack in Qasr Ahmed, close to the port, rebel spokesman Ahmed Hassan said today. Bombs were dropped on four large storage tanks, destroying them and sparking a huge blaze that spread to four more, he said. “We cannot extinguish it because we do not have the right tools,” Hassan told Reuters. “Now the city will face a major problem. Those were the only source of fuel for the city. “These tanks could have kept the city for three months with enough fuel.” Nato was notified by the rebels about the planes before the attack but did not respond, said Hassan. Misrata, the last remaining city in the east held by the rebels, has been under siege by Gaddafi’s forces for more than two months. It has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting between loyalists and rebels. Government forces last month flew at least one helicopter reconnaissance mission over the city, according to the rebels. Arab and Middle East unrest Libya Middle East Muammar Gaddafi Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
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Lib Dem business secretary says coalition can continue, but warns of ‘major issue’ arising over NHS reforms Vince Cable has lashed out at the Conservatives for being “ruthless, calculating and thoroughly tribal”, after the Lib Dems’ massive defeats in Thursday’s elections and the AV referendum. However, the business secretary said the coalition can still continue in a “businesslike” fashion. “Some of us never had many illusions about the Conservatives, but they have emerged as ruthless, calculating and thoroughly tribal,” Cable said. “But that doesn’t mean to say we can’t work with them. I think they have always been that way, but you have to be businesslike and professional and you have to work with people who aren’t your natural bedfellows and that is being grownup in politics.” The referendum on changing how Britain elects its MPs was a major concession secured by the Lib Dems when they formed the coalition with the Tories last year. But in Thursday’s poll it was rejected by 13,013,123 votes to 6,152,607. During the campaign there was much animosity between the “yes” and “no” camps. Speaking on the BBC today, Cable conceded that the main purpose of the coalition was to sort out the “economic mess”, and not bring about electoral reform. But he made it clear that the Lib Dems would not accept future policies which go beyond last year’s agreement with their coalition partners, including proposals on NHS reform. “We have a coalition agreement, which is a very good agreement and which is balanced and which we have to deliver, and that is the text around which we should operate in future while not losing sight of the central purpose of the coalition, which is to sort out this economic mess,” he said. “The health service reforms went some way beyond what was in the coalition agreement and that is going to be a major issue as we go forward.” Alternative vote Electoral reform Vince Cable Liberal-Conservative coalition Liberal Democrats Conservatives Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Bin Laden May Have Been More Closely Involved With Other Terror Attacks Than Thought
May 7, 2011 No CommentThis counters the previous description of al-Qaida groups as being independent of centralized control: WASHINGTON – The wealth of information pulled from Osama bin Laden’s compound has reinforced the belief that he played a strong role in planning and directing attacks by al-Qaida and its affiliates in Yemen and Somalia, senior U.S. officials said Friday. And the data further demonstrates to the U.S. that top al-Qaida commanders and other key insurgents are scattered throughout Pakistan, not just in the rugged border areas, and are being supported and given sanctuary by Pakistanis, a senior defense official said. U.S. counterterrorism officials have debated how big a role bin Laden and core al-Qaida leaders were playing in the attacks launched by affiliated terror groups, particularly al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in Yemen, and al-Shabab in Somalia. Information gathered in the compound, officials said, strengthened beliefs that bin Laden was a lot more involved in directing al-Qaida personnel and operations than sometimes thought over the last decade. And it suggests bin Laden was “giving strategic direction” to al-Qaida affiliates in Somalia and Yemen, the defense official said. Bin Laden’s first priority, the official said, was his own security. But the data shows that he was far more active in providing guidance and telling affiliated groups in Yemen and Somalia what they should or should not be doing. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive material.
Continue reading …Attack on Tafawa Balewa linked to earlier violence following the re-election of Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan At least 16 people have been killed in northern Nigeria in what appears to be more sectarian violence following April’s presidential election. The attack on the town of Tafawa Balewa, in Bauchi state, was in revenge for earlier killings in the area, according to residents. Houses were also reportedly set alight. “Sixteen people have been confirmed killed by unidentified attackers,” said Bauchi police commissioner John Aba Kasanga. The attack comes after at least 500 people were killed last month in protests following the re-election of incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan. A Christian from the south, Goodluck defeated Muhammadu Buhari, a former army ruler who is popular in the Muslim north. Bauchi neighbours Plateau state in Nigeria’s “middle belt”, where the Muslim north meets the predominantly Christian south, leading to tension over the control of fertile farmlands and economic and political power. There have been frequent clashes between Christian and Muslim groups in villages around Jos, the capital of Plateau. Earlier this year hundreds of people died in attacks there. But the worst violence has taken place in the southern part of Kaduna state, which also borders Plateau. It shares the ethnic and religious diversity of the remaining middle belt. Jonathan, who has widespread support in the south but also gained millions of northern votes, has promised an “all-inclusive” government to heal the rifts. Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) party says it has evidence that electoral commission computers were rigged and that the vote count was manipulated in Jonathan’s favour. It has vowed to contest the outcome in court. The party has asked a tribunal to compel the electoral commission to preserve all the ballot boxes and data capture machines used in the polls for forensic examination. It wants access to the new biometric voter register so that it can cross-check thumbprints on ballot papers. Nigeria Protest Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Rep. Louis Gohmert: Since Social Security’s Inception, There’s Never Been one Dime of Real Money in the Trust Fund
May 7, 2011 No Comment
Click here to view this media Looks like Rep. “Terror-babies” Louis Gohmert isn’t done fearmongering, this time to an eighty some year old caller on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. When the caller asked him where her Social Security tax money had gone after what she’s heard about potential cuts to the program, Gohmert lied and said “there’s never been a dime of real money in the Social Security trust fund.” Well if that’s true Mr. Gohmert, I’d like to know who else you think should be allowed to default on their debts besides the United States Treasury Department? The caller is right. All of us as taxpayers paid into that fund. And after saying it’s shameless that the trust fund somehow hasn’t been protected, Gohmert goes on to reassure the caller that he’s not going to screw her over with any changes to the system, just her children and grand children. He’s actually got the gall to pretend here that Republicans care about keeping our social safety nets in place when their party has hated those programs and done their best to dismantle them since they first started. If Rep. Gohmert actually believes that there “hasn’t been a dime of real money” in that trust fund, then he’s got some explaining to do to his constituents about why they’re still allowing that money to come out of their paychecks every week. Sorry Louie, but I would like the money you and your ilk borrowed against it paid back, as I would imagine everyone else who paid into the fund would as well. That surplus that’s been borrowed against is only not “real money” unless you think it’s acceptable for borrowers to default on their creditors without being thrown in prison. That’s the type of justice that of course is always inflicted on the poor and the powerless. If those in power decide they want to raid that fund, well, the rest of us are just supposed to get over it and pretend we never paid that money to the government in the first place. They needed it for their wars and to give tax breaks to the rich. A country’s got to have its priorities, don’t you know. In the Louie Gohmerts of the world’s vision, that includes telling seniors and widows and orphans that we took your money and don’t expect to get it back. They’d rather any of us drop dead than upset their wealthy campaign donors.
Continue reading …Passenger plane crashes into sea near West Papua after flying into bad weather At least 15 people are believed to be dead after a plane crashed into the sea off Indonesia’s West Papua province. The passenger plane was travelling from the coastal city of Sorong to the small port town of Kaimana when it came down on Saturday afternoon. It is believed that poor weather was to blame. According to Indonesian media, airport officials said the MA60 plane, operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines, crashed 500 metres short of the runway. There were reportedly 27 people on board. Fifteen bodies have been recovered so far. “We’re still checking on the passengers’ situation,” said Bambang Ervan, a transport ministry spokesman. “We also don’t know what caused the accident, but the weather was pretty bad at the time.” Many of Indonesia’s small domestic carriers have poor safety records. In the past few years there have been a number of commercial airline crashes in the country. Kaimana has among the worst infrastructure in the archipelago of over 17,000 islands. The European commission had barred all Indonesian airlines from its airspace. It lifted a ban in 2009 on Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia after it improved safety standards. Indonesia Plane crashes Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk
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