The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. So I have bene doing this for three years. Having organized protests against the Republican Convention, I found I had a core of activists who needed some encouragement after Bush "won" re-"election". My carefully thought out suggestions as to where we could go from that defeat led to this more-or-less weekly newsletter. Since then I have tried mixing my own rants with national issues and some very local groups and events in an attempt to both help shape debate and to help people find their own ways of getting involved.

This week I discuss Bush's latest slashing of funds for first responders, give some suggestions for holiday shopping to match your values, the irrational Republican hatred for Muslims, and a special thank you for the Oregon Democratic Party. I also discuss the anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. I also do a roundup of local progressive events for places where I have had the most readers over the last couple of weeks. Don't forget to visit an advertiser or two and if you want more, please visit Culture Kitchen.

Just yesterday I delivered the bad news that a judge (a Bush appointee) denied the request of NASA scientists for protection against invasion of their personal privacy by the Federal Government. I mentioned that the case was under appeal. Those who have been following this story will know that this case directly affects my wife, who will also be required to waive her rights if she wants to work at a NASA facility even though none of the work she does is sensitive. This has been hanging over our heads for weeks now.

Well, in this case, the courts moved fast. The appeal has been successful and the Ninth Circuit Court has issued an injunction against the oppressive implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12.

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Having organized protests against the Republican Convention, I found I had a core of activists who were looking to me for support after Bush "won" re-"election". My carefully thought out suggestions as to where we could go from that defeat led to this more-or-less weekly newsletter.

This week I discuss a very personal conflict with Homeland Security, which involved first bad news, then, on appeal, excellent news. Sometimes our court system works! I also cover the response our troops have for Rush Limbaugh, responses to Bush's opposition to healthcare for American children, and I discuss the situation in Burma. I also am finally getting back to some more local stuff including local events in NYC, a brilliant plan for winning in Colorado, and some local Virginia and New Jersey stuff. If you go to any of these articles, please click on some advertisements because that helps me keep doing this!

The Progressive Democrat Newsletter grew out of the frustration of the 2004 election. Having organized protests against the Republican Convention, I found I had a core of activists who were looking to me for support after Bush "won" re-"election". My carefully thought out suggestions as to where we could go from that defeat led to this more-or-less weekly newsletter.

This week I discuss a very personal conflict with Homeland Security. Yes...my wife is at the center of a battle for our Civil Liberties and my diary about that on Culture Kitchen went platinum with WELL over 12,000 reads in one week. I also cover recent Republican attacks on our troops, Rudy Giuliani's campaigns disguting exploitation of 9/11, and I put out a personal appeal to you to help us here in NYC take one more Congressional seat: NY-13.

President Bush has decided to put his thirst for power over the safety of the American people. His latest action insures that we will have more "Mike Browns" as long as this administration holds power.

After reading the WaPo article on the YouTube Whistleblower, I hope this statement from the Project on Government Oversight gets the widest dissemination possible:

The formal systems that whistle-blowers are expected to use have failed. That's why you're seeing people be creative like this...This is a tremendous way for someone brave enough to do it to say something directly and not have to go through a filter.

In my humble opinion, "filter" is not a strong enough word: perhaps "impregnable barricade" would be more accurate.

You may think that Homeland Security is doing a poor job.  What with enormous amounts of waste in their contracting efforts, and rules that seem designed to contrate on the threat posed by shoes.  However, how can you feel bad after seeing this?

Yes, that's a policeman.  Yes, that's an armored personal carrier.

And the site that warrants this level of protection?  NYC harbor?  Downtown DC?  Nope.  Try Germantown, Tennessee.  You got a problem with that?

You may think that Homeland Security is doing a poor job.  What with enormous amounts of waste in their contracting efforts, and rules that seem designed to contrate on the threat posed by shoes.  However, how can you feel bad after seeing this?

Yes, that's a policeman.  Yes, that's an armored personal carrier.

And the site that warrants this level of protection?  NYC harbor?  Downtown DC?  Nope.  Try Germantown, Tennessee.  You got a problem with that?

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Washington, DC (UPSI) - After the arrest of Homeland Security Press Secretary Brian Doyle yesterday, an anonymous police spokesperson today stated that he was talking freely and openly with police, which led to yet another arrest late last night of what may be an unwitting accomplice. Police sources refused to either confirm or deny the arrest, but rumors were rampant that the un-named individual may have been very high in the Bush Administration. A grainy photo of the man was leaked to reporters with no name attached. Doyle awaits possible extradition to Florida, and the fate of his accomplice is uncertain.

Here's the latest from my Target the Corrupt Republican blog:

The so-called "moral" Republican party has been beset by so many corruption charges that it is hard to take their claims of morality seriously anymore. With Jack Abramoff and Randy Cunningham in jail and with Tom DeLay facing impending corruption charges, the Republicans are looking might immoral these days. But there is another aspect to the "Immoral Republican Party"--sex.

Look what lengths George Bush went to in order to take up residence in the White House.  First time around, it took the Supreme Court, brother Jeb Bush, plus the slanted media moguls.  

Also it took a busload of radical Republicans darting down to Miami, Florida, where they pounded on the doors in Miami, where a voter recount was being conducted, to crown King George.  His current conduct would prompt one to believe that Bush isn't a mere president, but a King who can do no wrong!

Acquiring office this way has not brought George Bush any luck.  There is an old saying, "It isn't what you have that counts, but how you acquired what you have!"  This timeworn cliché doesn't bode well for Bush.

The second time around, this unpopular President benefited from strange events to allow himself another four years of White House residence.  The Exit Polls before the 2004 election showed that Kerry held a 3 percent margin.  For Bush to win by that same margin would mean that the Exit Polls were off by 6 percent, which has never happened in the entire history of presidential election day exit polling.

loosely knit group of Arab royalty control of our ports.
Shouldn't We Bring Democracy To the UAE Before We Let Them Manage Our Ports?

President Bush and some of his supporters are saying that opposition to this sale is racist and anti-Arab. I decided to learn more about the United Arab Emirates. Most of the following was obtained from the websites of the U. S. State Department and the CIA World Fact Book.

The United Arab Emirates is a loosely knit group of seven rulers. They do not have political parties or any form of Democratic government. Each ruler holds power on the basis of their dynastic position in their tribes. Yes--dynasty, tribes. Doesn't sound very American does it? Unless you are Bush.

There are not clear borders between the U. A. E. and its' neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia and Oman. That sounds pretty unstable.

Here is what the CIA site says: "Location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north."
  An erratic perimeter in a volatile region. They can't keep their own borders safe. Yet we are handing them the keys to ours.

From Law.com's newsletter:

Buchanan Lawyer Leaves for Key Homeland Security Position
Gina Passarella
The Legal Intelligencer
01-04-2006

The recently added co-chairman of Buchanan Ingersoll's national security practice group will spend just one more week with the firm before his new role in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security begins.

Jack Thomas Tomarchio will resign from the Pittsburgh-based firm on Monday to take the newly created position of deputy director of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security.

[edit]

Tomarchio said he had been offered several different government positions during the past year and a half, but turned them down because they did not fit with his background and experience.

[edit]

Legal recruiter Frank D'Amore of Attorney Career Catalysts said . . .  it would be a boon for (Tomarchio's) career in the long run and for Buchanan Ingersoll if he chooses to return to the firm.

BushCo's 2nd term:  Reach out and beg someone?  

Nearly invisible, definitely below the radar until this morning, the process of simply managing data is beyond the Feds capability:

Aging computers hobble Homeland Security

Aging, incompatible systems and outdated processes have contributed to a backlog of approximately 1 million people waiting for a decision from the department's Citizenship and Immigration Services bureau. Computer problems at its Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau caused a snafu in which student visa holders were jailed overnight or barred from entering the United States.

Source:  CNET.news, 15 Dec.

If you need to interact with Homeland Security, bring a #2 pencil and paper.