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21 Mar 2011 20:26

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U.S.: Absent Indiana Dems one-up absent Wisconsin Dems

Those Wisconsin pansies? Old news. Try cutting out over the GOP’s ENTIRE agenda, like Indiana House Dems did, five weeks and counting. GOP state Rep. Jeffrey Espich looks pissed. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 13:47

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U.S.: Diablo Canyon nuclear plant called a “near-miss”

  • 18 months until staff found a safety flaw in a CA nuclear plant source
  • » So, here’s the deal: The Diablo Canyon nuclear reactor in California is situated in what’s widely known as a rather earthquake prone area (as we illustrated a few days ago — Diablo Canyon is the reactor closest to the edge of the Pacific Ocean). Which is why it comes as such an unwelcome surprise that their emergency valves, designed to automatically pump water into the reactor core if systems fail, were flawed and would have done no such thing in such a crisis. This deficiency went undetected for eighteen months before being discovered, a lapse in the plant’s emergency response capabilities that, we imagine, the people of the surrounding area are none too pleased with.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Mar 2011 22:51

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U.S.: New Mexico: Undocumented immigrants can still get licenses

  • 3 states let undocumented immigrants get licensed, including New Mexico
  • pushed New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, who made a hardcore push against illegal immigrants a cornerstone of her campaign, pushed to block undocumented immigrants from getting driver’s licenses.
  • blocked However, Martinez’s plan stalled in the state senate, where Democrats hold control. While concessions were made, members couldn’t agree, and the bill died on the vine without a vote. source
  • » Immigrants’ rights groups cheer: While Martinez, a Republican, is licking her wounds, advocates for undocumented immigrants have a right to cheer today. “This goes to show that you come in with a radical, extremist agenda, you’re going to get push-back because New Mexico is not a radical extremist state,” said Somos un Pueblo Unido head Marcela Diaz. By the way, amongst border states, New Mexico is the only one that allows immigrants to get licenses.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Mar 2011 13:24

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U.S.: CBO report: Obama’s deficit balloons, and tax cuts to blame

  • $9.5 trillion the size of the deficits that will be required under current policies through 2021, the CBO says
  • $2.7 trillion the increase over the previous expected budget numbers – a huge leap, to say the least source
  • » Why is this? The CBO’s report says that in regards to what’s behind all this, “Of the various initiatives that the President is proposing, tax provisions would have by far the largest budgetary impact.” In layman’s terms, tax cuts — especially those for the middle class — are the largest factor affecting deficits. While he’s pushing for tax increases on the wealthy and corporations, they won’t offset the effect of the tax cuts. You know what’s funny though? Even though the CBO’s report specifically says this, the Washington Times reported this story as if spending was the culprit.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Mar 2011 03:34

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U.S.: RIP Warren Christopher: Clinton Secretary of State dies at 85

Christopher, who served during Clinton’s first term, “died from complications of kidney and bladder cancer.” That’s his signature on the Oslo Accords. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Mar 2011 12:55

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U.S.: Wisconsin union-busting bill blocked for procedural reasons

  • It seems to me the public policy behind effective enforcement of the open meeting law is so strong that it does outweigh the interest, at least at this time, which may exist in favor of sustaining the validity of the (law).
  • Judge Maryann Sumi • Explaining why she just blocked the just-passed law limiting collective-bargaining agreements in Wisconsin. Why’s that, you ask? Well, as a Democrat noted when Republicans passed the law, they violated the open meetings law to make it happen. The idea behind the law itself wasn’t blocked, though — meaning the Republicans could theoretically pass the bill again. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Mar 2011 23:34

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U.S.: Elementary student brings a little coke to show and tell. Oops.

  • It is unusual to have elementary school students using cocaine. However, it’s not that unusual for young students to try substances.
  • National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse spokesperson Susan E. Foster • Discussing the wonderful incident in DC’s public school system today. See, some elementary student brought cocaine with him to class to share with his classmates. They tried it and got so sick that they had to be hospitalized. Meanwhile, DC’s unshakable reputation of having the worst school system in the country continues unabated. WHERE ARE YOU MICHELLE RHEE? *single tear* source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

15 Mar 2011 22:58

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U.S.: Back in the States, Americans raiding geiger counter stockpile

  • cause After last week’s earthquake, a series of nuclear troubles hit the Fukushima reactors and other nuclear reactors throughout Japan. Fukushima most seriously, as we’re sure you’ve read.
  • reaction In the United States, even though the odds are slim to none that the crisis will affect them, sales of geiger counters and potassium iodide have skyrocketed. Has there been a run on tinfoil hats? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Mar 2011 20:55

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U.S.: Wannabe Rockefeller dude charged in really-old murder case


This guy? Not a Rockefeller. Or a rocket scientist. Or even a Woody Allen impersonator. Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, is, however, a suspect in a 26-year-old murder case. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Mar 2011 21:30

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U.S.: DNC Chair Tim Kaine nears decision on Senate run

  • YES Tim Kaine will (probably) run for the Senate source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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