Stephanie,
I sure am glad that the folks at FireDogLake.com digested this long (161 pp.) and dry government report (Independent Audtiors' Report on the Dept of Homeland Security's FY 2006 Financial Statement) Although I have nothing but time on my hands this weekend as the city of Tulsa is once again homebound - this time with ice rather than snow (which is worse for driving, IMHO), fortunately I haven't lost power yet, but the ice storm is not predicted to subside until Sunday evening. Anyway, I hope that you are staying warm in that frigid LA weather (50 degrees) compared to 25 degrees here in Tulsa.
Cheers - your radical militant librarian,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
"FEMA was unable to fully support the accuracy and completeness of certain unpaid obligations, and accounts payable, and the related effects on net position, if any, prior to the completion of DHS’s 2006 PAR. These unpaid obligations, as reported in the accompanying DHS balance sheet as of September 30, 2006, were $22.3 Billion or 46% of DHS consolidated unexpended appropriations at September 30, 2006."Independent Audtiors' Report on the Dept of Homeland Security's FY 2006 Financial Statement
"FEMA has lost and/or failed to account for a sum of money that is almost half of DHS’s entire budget and 130 times greater than the amount of money that the Department of Homeland Security is willing to spend to secure the homeland."
Looseheadprop, Blogger at FireDogLake.com
Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Hypocrisy Alert: Homeland Security Undocumented!
By: looseheadprop
The Department of Homeland Security underwent an audit. The audit was done by the well known firm of KPMG at the direction of Inspector General Richard Skinner.
The entire report can be found in a very large pdf here but, unless you are a glutton for hundreds of pages of accountant speak, I thought I might save you the eye glazing and sing you some of the real show stoppers from the libretto.
KPMG was unable to render an opinion on DHS’s books because of “financial reporting problems at four bureaus and at the department level.” The auditors found ten material problems, two other reportable conditions, violation of eight separate laws, and a partridge in a pear tree….Oops. Skip that last one. I still have Christmas carols on my mind.
Here’s my favorite. It’s a doozy folks. You may want to read it twice: FEMA was unable to fully support the accuracy and completeness of certain unpaid obligations, and accounts payable, and the related effects on net position, if any, prior to the completion of DHS’s 2006 PAR. These unpaid obligations, as reported in the accompanying DHS balance sheet as of September 30, 2006, were $22.3 Billion or 46% of DHS consolidated unexpended appropriations at September 30, 2006. [emphasis mine]
To give some idea of proportionality, in fiscal year 2005 the entire Grants and Training (formerly know as State and Local Government Preparedness, a/k/a grants to get working radios for NYC firemen and protection for bridges, tunnels, chemical plants and nuclear facilities) was only $171 million.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
A Conservative Questions Bush
Stephanie,
As glad as I am that this "practicing christian and political conservative" has started to see the light, it doesn't excuse in my mind the fact that this guy is one of millions of Americans responsible for awarding Bush the power that he has so contemptibly abused. This is a fine mess that they have gotten us into - how do they propose to extract us from the fallout from this abysmal administration? Any ideas above and beyond bashing the Democrats would be much appreciated. Vamos a ver (we'll see) if they have any true constructive suggestions to offer the country in an effort to atone for their horrible misjudgment.
Cheers,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
Bush, Iraq Lead a Conservative to Question
From an on-air essay that aired on NPR, January 11, 2007:
"As President Bush marched the country to war with Iraq, even some voices on the Right warned that this was a fool's errand. I dismissed them angrily. I thought them unpatriotic. But almost four years later, I see that I was the fool. In Iraq, this Republican President for whom I voted twice has shamed our country with weakness and incompetence, and the consequences of his failure will be far, far worse than anything Carter did. The fraud, the mendacity, the utter haplessness of our government's conduct of the Iraq war have been shattering to me."Rod Dreher, contributor to National Review and the Corner, a current columnist for The Dallas Morning News, a self-described "practicing Christian and political conservative."
As glad as I am that this "practicing christian and political conservative" has started to see the light, it doesn't excuse in my mind the fact that this guy is one of millions of Americans responsible for awarding Bush the power that he has so contemptibly abused. This is a fine mess that they have gotten us into - how do they propose to extract us from the fallout from this abysmal administration? Any ideas above and beyond bashing the Democrats would be much appreciated. Vamos a ver (we'll see) if they have any true constructive suggestions to offer the country in an effort to atone for their horrible misjudgment.
Cheers,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
Bush, Iraq Lead a Conservative to Question
From an on-air essay that aired on NPR, January 11, 2007:
"As President Bush marched the country to war with Iraq, even some voices on the Right warned that this was a fool's errand. I dismissed them angrily. I thought them unpatriotic. But almost four years later, I see that I was the fool. In Iraq, this Republican President for whom I voted twice has shamed our country with weakness and incompetence, and the consequences of his failure will be far, far worse than anything Carter did. The fraud, the mendacity, the utter haplessness of our government's conduct of the Iraq war have been shattering to me."Rod Dreher, contributor to National Review and the Corner, a current columnist for The Dallas Morning News, a self-described "practicing Christian and political conservative."
Friday, January 12, 2007
Guess these Quotes!
"Republicans in Congress who do not want to be quoted tell me that the State Department under Condoleezza Rice is a mess. This comes at a time when the U.S. global position is precarious. While attention is focused on Iraq, American diplomacy is being tested worldwide -- in Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Korea and Sudan. The judgment by thoughtful Republicans is that Rice has failed to manage that endeavor."
Robert D. Novak, from: Washington Post, The Mess at State, Thursday, January 11, 2007
"All I want to say is, right now American soldiers are dying in a Sunni-Shiite civil war, a sectarian civil war -- that’s a fact, based on my personal observations. Soldiers’ hands are tied to defend themselves. Every time a soldier fires his weapon, he has to sign paperwork making sure it was justified. I want to stress that soldiers want to go on the offensive, but everything we’re doing here is on the defense. And it’s a belief of the soldiers I’ve talked to that any troop increase over here, it’s just going to be more sitting ducks, more targets."
Sargeant Ronn Cantu, author of One Soldier's Musings: The Death of a Pro-War Conservative -or- The Day I got Away with Murder
"The increasing prices in the economy that’s collapsing stink and the Iraqi government policy stinks, even the American policy, that so-called surge in Iraq, stinks, too, because, as you know and Iraqis know and the others, that the occupation is a form of war. So any escalation in this type of war, the resistance is going to escalate, too."
Sami Rasouli, Iraqi American currently living in Najaf.
"Secretary Rice, to be very blunt, I cannot in good conscience support the president's approach."
Senator Joe Biden, (D - Dela.)
"After six years of this, I think we all know that he who frames the debate and chooses the vocabulary wins from the beginning. Let's be sure to not accept the White House framing, no matter how wimped out the MSM is."
Nicole Belle, a blogger at CrooksandLiars.com (as Quoted in the LATimes, Jan. 10, 2007)
Robert D. Novak, from: Washington Post, The Mess at State, Thursday, January 11, 2007
"All I want to say is, right now American soldiers are dying in a Sunni-Shiite civil war, a sectarian civil war -- that’s a fact, based on my personal observations. Soldiers’ hands are tied to defend themselves. Every time a soldier fires his weapon, he has to sign paperwork making sure it was justified. I want to stress that soldiers want to go on the offensive, but everything we’re doing here is on the defense. And it’s a belief of the soldiers I’ve talked to that any troop increase over here, it’s just going to be more sitting ducks, more targets."
Sargeant Ronn Cantu, author of One Soldier's Musings: The Death of a Pro-War Conservative -or- The Day I got Away with Murder
"The increasing prices in the economy that’s collapsing stink and the Iraqi government policy stinks, even the American policy, that so-called surge in Iraq, stinks, too, because, as you know and Iraqis know and the others, that the occupation is a form of war. So any escalation in this type of war, the resistance is going to escalate, too."
Sami Rasouli, Iraqi American currently living in Najaf.
"Secretary Rice, to be very blunt, I cannot in good conscience support the president's approach."
Senator Joe Biden, (D - Dela.)
"After six years of this, I think we all know that he who frames the debate and chooses the vocabulary wins from the beginning. Let's be sure to not accept the White House framing, no matter how wimped out the MSM is."
Nicole Belle, a blogger at CrooksandLiars.com (as Quoted in the LATimes, Jan. 10, 2007)
Thursday, January 11, 2007
UN - freakin' - believable
Stephanie,
This is so freakin' unbelievable - turns out Maliki does NOT even want more US troops!!! So let me get this straight - we are sending over 22,000 more soldiers or extending the tours of those already there, against the wishes of nearly 70% of the American people, against the will of the military troops and officers, at a cost of over three billion dollars a week, and without Congressional approval, thereby extending a war that was entered into under false pretenses, blatant lies, and outright deceit, and the puppet Prime Minister al-Maliki that Bush (AKA Comadante KooKoo Bananas, as Steph has so cleverly dubbed Dubya) hand picked and set up to run the country under KooKoo's watchful eye doesn't even agree with his master's proclamation, that what we need are more American troops in Iraq !!! Un - freakin' - be - freakin' - lievable !!! Some of us have got to STOP this IDIOT !!! Somebody STOP him !!! IMPEACH him, just MAKE him GONE !!!
Best Regards - your radical militant librarian,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
NYTimes
January 11, 2007
SABRINA TAVERNISE and JOHN F. BURNS
BAGHDAD, Jan. 10 — As President Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more American troops, he is confronted by a paradox: an Iraqi government that does not really want them.
The Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has not publicly opposed the American troop increase, but aides to Mr. Maliki have been saying for weeks that the government is wary of the proposal. They fear that an increased American troop presence, particularly in Baghdad, will be accompanied by a more assertive American role that will conflict with the Shiite government’s haste to cut back on American authority and run the war the way it wants. American troops, Shiite leaders say, should stay out of Shiite neighborhoods and focus on fighting Sunni insurgents.
“The government believes there is no need for extra troops from the American side,” Haidar al-Abadi, a Parliament member and close associate of Mr. Maliki, said Wednesday. “The existing troops can do the job.”
This is so freakin' unbelievable - turns out Maliki does NOT even want more US troops!!! So let me get this straight - we are sending over 22,000 more soldiers or extending the tours of those already there, against the wishes of nearly 70% of the American people, against the will of the military troops and officers, at a cost of over three billion dollars a week, and without Congressional approval, thereby extending a war that was entered into under false pretenses, blatant lies, and outright deceit, and the puppet Prime Minister al-Maliki that Bush (AKA Comadante KooKoo Bananas, as Steph has so cleverly dubbed Dubya) hand picked and set up to run the country under KooKoo's watchful eye doesn't even agree with his master's proclamation, that what we need are more American troops in Iraq !!! Un - freakin' - be - freakin' - lievable !!! Some of us have got to STOP this IDIOT !!! Somebody STOP him !!! IMPEACH him, just MAKE him GONE !!!
Best Regards - your radical militant librarian,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
NYTimes
January 11, 2007
SABRINA TAVERNISE and JOHN F. BURNS
BAGHDAD, Jan. 10 — As President Bush challenges public opinion at home by committing more American troops, he is confronted by a paradox: an Iraqi government that does not really want them.
The Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki has not publicly opposed the American troop increase, but aides to Mr. Maliki have been saying for weeks that the government is wary of the proposal. They fear that an increased American troop presence, particularly in Baghdad, will be accompanied by a more assertive American role that will conflict with the Shiite government’s haste to cut back on American authority and run the war the way it wants. American troops, Shiite leaders say, should stay out of Shiite neighborhoods and focus on fighting Sunni insurgents.
“The government believes there is no need for extra troops from the American side,” Haidar al-Abadi, a Parliament member and close associate of Mr. Maliki, said Wednesday. “The existing troops can do the job.”
Hey Dubya - Guess these Quotes!
"I refuse to put more American lives on the line in Baghdad without being assured that the Iraqis themselves are willing to do what they need to do to end the violence of Iraqi against Iraqi."
Senator Norm Coleman (R - Minn)
"My consultations with both military and Iraqi political leaders confirms that an increase of troops in areas plagued by sectarian violence will not solve the problem of sectarian hatred."
Senator Norm Coleman (R - Minn)
"While we cannot make a precipitous withdrawal, we can transfer more security responsibility to the Iraqis and reduce the threat to American troops."
Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kan)
"The United States "cannot sustain a war effort without broad public support, and we cannot count on such support unless the situation in Iraq improves and American casualties decrease."
Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kan)
Senator Norm Coleman (R - Minn)
"My consultations with both military and Iraqi political leaders confirms that an increase of troops in areas plagued by sectarian violence will not solve the problem of sectarian hatred."
Senator Norm Coleman (R - Minn)
"While we cannot make a precipitous withdrawal, we can transfer more security responsibility to the Iraqis and reduce the threat to American troops."
Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kan)
"The United States "cannot sustain a war effort without broad public support, and we cannot count on such support unless the situation in Iraq improves and American casualties decrease."
Senator Sam Brownback (R - Kan)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tribute to Patti Smith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_Smith
What better time to say a huge THANK YOU to Patti Smith and congrats on being inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks, Patti – rock on…
Cheers,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
Ain't It Strange? (Patti Smith, NYTimes, March 12, 2007)
What better time to say a huge THANK YOU to Patti Smith and congrats on being inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Thanks, Patti – rock on…
Cheers,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
Ain't It Strange? (Patti Smith, NYTimes, March 12, 2007)
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
More Natives Join Washington Legislature
"We love Washington," said Kalyn Free, president of INDN's List, who flew in from Tulsa for the honoring ceremony, held at the longhouse at Evergreen State College. "Washington was one of the states we focused on the most. You are a swing state, and you have proven the Indian vote can make a huge difference. We want more Indian people here to vote and to run for office."
More Natives step into Legislature
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003515951_indian10m.html
By Lynda V. Mapes, Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA — Wrapped in Pendleton blankets and honored by neighboring tribes, four members of the state Legislature were recognized Monday night in a ceremony celebrating the largest number of Washington lawmakers ever claiming American Indian or Alaska Native heritage.
The increase parallels national growth, with 64 Native people serving in legislatures in 14 states, up from 50 people last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Oklahoma has by far the most, with 18 Native lawmakers. Alaska and Montana are next with nine each, then New Mexico with six, and Washington with four.
"It's the most ever," said Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
And that's no accident: It's a result of a renaissance of political activism in Indian Country. While Indians are only about 2 percent of the state's population, casino wealth has helped Washington tribes gain clout. Tribes helped oust former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000, provided important financial help in the recount in Gov. Christine Gregoire's razor-thin victory, and helped boost U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell to re-election. Groups such as NCAI and INDN's List, or Indigenous Democratic Network, have worked to get out the vote in Indian Country, encouraged candidates to run and educated all candidates about Indian issues.
Newly elected lawmakers Don Barlow, an enrolled member of the Ottawa Nation of Oklahoma and Democratic representative from Spokane, and Claudia Kauffman, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce tribe and Democrat from Kent just elected to the Senate, both attended INDN's List's first-ever campaign camp in Washington. They learned how to raise money, knock on doors and run professional campaigns.
The state's other two Indian lawmakers are Reps. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, and Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon. McCoy was first elected in 2002 and Morris in 1996.
More Natives step into Legislature
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003515951_indian10m.html
By Lynda V. Mapes, Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA — Wrapped in Pendleton blankets and honored by neighboring tribes, four members of the state Legislature were recognized Monday night in a ceremony celebrating the largest number of Washington lawmakers ever claiming American Indian or Alaska Native heritage.
The increase parallels national growth, with 64 Native people serving in legislatures in 14 states, up from 50 people last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Oklahoma has by far the most, with 18 Native lawmakers. Alaska and Montana are next with nine each, then New Mexico with six, and Washington with four.
"It's the most ever," said Jacqueline Johnson, executive director of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).
And that's no accident: It's a result of a renaissance of political activism in Indian Country. While Indians are only about 2 percent of the state's population, casino wealth has helped Washington tribes gain clout. Tribes helped oust former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000, provided important financial help in the recount in Gov. Christine Gregoire's razor-thin victory, and helped boost U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell to re-election. Groups such as NCAI and INDN's List, or Indigenous Democratic Network, have worked to get out the vote in Indian Country, encouraged candidates to run and educated all candidates about Indian issues.
Newly elected lawmakers Don Barlow, an enrolled member of the Ottawa Nation of Oklahoma and Democratic representative from Spokane, and Claudia Kauffman, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce tribe and Democrat from Kent just elected to the Senate, both attended INDN's List's first-ever campaign camp in Washington. They learned how to raise money, knock on doors and run professional campaigns.
The state's other two Indian lawmakers are Reps. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, and Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon. McCoy was first elected in 2002 and Morris in 1996.
An Exhausted Gay American
From: An Exhausted Gay American
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/06/002620.php
Written by Richard Rothstein
Published January 06, 2007
"Some mornings I feel exhaustion for no reason other than the fact that I'm a gay American. I wonder if my fellow citizens who spend their days campaigning and crusading to limit my civil rights — the civil rights that they themselves take for granted — ever consider the inhumanity and irrationality of what they do? And I wonder if the millions of Americans who stand by apathetically and allow this travesty to play out with each passing day ever consider the emotional anguish they are deliberately or carelessly causing to millions of children, teenagers and adults?"
Richard Rothstein
"If we set the precedent that religious belief trumps constitutional law, where do the zealots go next? They base their homophobic crusade on the belief that the Bible is the literal word of God. Why does this nation assume that they will be satisfied with cherry picking? You may not care if I'm exhausted by living my life at the forbearance of heterosexuals, but you might consider that it's worth caring that if the religious fundamentalists and neo-conservatives prevail in denying full civil rights to American citizens of any minority, the future for all is likely bleak."
Richard Rothstein
(http://rjr10036.typepad.com/manhattandetails/)
Blogger on BlogCritics.org
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/06/002620.php
Written by Richard Rothstein
Published January 06, 2007
"Some mornings I feel exhaustion for no reason other than the fact that I'm a gay American. I wonder if my fellow citizens who spend their days campaigning and crusading to limit my civil rights — the civil rights that they themselves take for granted — ever consider the inhumanity and irrationality of what they do? And I wonder if the millions of Americans who stand by apathetically and allow this travesty to play out with each passing day ever consider the emotional anguish they are deliberately or carelessly causing to millions of children, teenagers and adults?"
Richard Rothstein
"If we set the precedent that religious belief trumps constitutional law, where do the zealots go next? They base their homophobic crusade on the belief that the Bible is the literal word of God. Why does this nation assume that they will be satisfied with cherry picking? You may not care if I'm exhausted by living my life at the forbearance of heterosexuals, but you might consider that it's worth caring that if the religious fundamentalists and neo-conservatives prevail in denying full civil rights to American citizens of any minority, the future for all is likely bleak."
Richard Rothstein
(http://rjr10036.typepad.com/manhattandetails/)
Blogger on BlogCritics.org
Monday, January 8, 2007
Western Shoshone Defense Project
"Our land has never been ceded or deeded to the U.S., so it not possible for
them to just take it and determine that our title to the land has been extinguished"
Mary and Carrie Dann
Carrie Dann, Rancher, Grandmother, Shoshone Indian"We are who we are because our nation survived here. It is written on our earth."
Bernice Lalo, Western Shoshone
Bernice Lalo, Western Shoshone
“The earth is our mother and we can’t give up our mother. No way in hell”
Carrie Dann
Carrie Dann
Mission
To affirm Newe (Western Shoshone) jurisdiction over Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone homelands) by protecting, preserving, and restoring Newe rights and lands for present and future generations based on cultural and spiritual traditions.
The Western Shoshone Defense Project (WSDP) was established in 1992 by the Western Shoshone National Council to provide support to Mary and Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmothers, faced with the confiscation of their livestock which they graze on Western Shoshone homelands.
More resources on Carrie Dann and the Shoshone land fight:
Defiance in the land of the free
A Native American woman is at war with the US. For 30 years she’s been fighting to keep her ancestral land — and now the United Nations is on her side.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-2142374.html
Mary & Carrie Dann v. United States
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/cases/75-02a.html
This post is dedicated to Geo, who often inspires me...
Sunday, January 7, 2007
President Pelosi?
"The American people and the Congress support those troops. We will not abandon them. But if the president wants to add to this mission, he is going to have to justify it and this is new for him because up until now the Republican Congress has given him a blank check with no oversight, no standards, no conditions,"
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi on Face the Nation, Jan. 7, 2007
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi on Face the Nation, Jan. 7, 2007
Hey there Stephanie,
I was just watching Speaker Pelosi's gracious, strong, and articulate performance on "Face the Nation," and it got me thinking, perhaps the Dems have been focusing on the WRONG woman to run as the first female President of the United States. Why not Nancy Pelosi for President in 2008??? Just a thought, though I think it is worth considering.
Cheers - your radical militant librarian,
Faye in Tulsa, OK
To check out Nancy Pelosi's appearance on Face the Nation, see:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/07/ftn/main2335193.shtml
Molly on the Folly that is Iraq
We let them do it
Molly Ivins - Creators Syndicate
01.04.07 -
The president of the United States does not have the sense God gave a duck -- so it's up to us. You and me, Bubba.
I don't know why Bush is just standing there like a frozen rabbit, but it's time we found out. The fact is WE have to do something about it. This country is being torn apart by an evil and unnecessary war, and it has to be stopped NOW.
This war is being prosecuted in our names, with our money, with our blood, against our will. Polls consistently show that less than 30 percent of the people want to maintain current troop levels. It is obscene and wrong for the president to go against the people in this fashion. And it's doubly wrong for him to send 20,0000 more soldiers into this hellhole, as he reportedly will announce next week.
What happened to the nation that never tortured? The nation that wasn't supposed to start wars of choice? The nation that respected human rights and life? A nation that from the beginning was against tyranny? Where have we gone? How did we let these people take us there? How did we let them fool us?
(c) 2006 Creators Syndicate
Read the entire column here:
URL: http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=21830
Molly Ivins - Creators Syndicate
01.04.07 -
The president of the United States does not have the sense God gave a duck -- so it's up to us. You and me, Bubba.
I don't know why Bush is just standing there like a frozen rabbit, but it's time we found out. The fact is WE have to do something about it. This country is being torn apart by an evil and unnecessary war, and it has to be stopped NOW.
This war is being prosecuted in our names, with our money, with our blood, against our will. Polls consistently show that less than 30 percent of the people want to maintain current troop levels. It is obscene and wrong for the president to go against the people in this fashion. And it's doubly wrong for him to send 20,0000 more soldiers into this hellhole, as he reportedly will announce next week.
What happened to the nation that never tortured? The nation that wasn't supposed to start wars of choice? The nation that respected human rights and life? A nation that from the beginning was against tyranny? Where have we gone? How did we let these people take us there? How did we let them fool us?
(c) 2006 Creators Syndicate
Read the entire column here:
URL: http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=21830
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