Grampy is still the king. His eyes light up when he sees me. We have some time to kill before we can check into the campground so we head for the boardwalk. I watch him savor the beauty of sand dunes and beach grass ten feet below us. We arrive at the peak of the last dune and look out at the Atlantic Ocean. I say “Do you like the beach?” He melts my heart by looking at me with those wide innocent eyes and says it, beach, for the first time in his life.

We check in and get settled just in time for the rain. For my extended family four trucks towing RVs has become the last bastion of fun in an insane world. We also contemplate the mutually understood yet more ominous other purpose, circling this modern day wagon train at the “secure/remote/safe” area should things really go south.

May 11

McClatchy - Amid accusations that Air Force Major Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann had not provided adequate resources to defense attorneys, a military judge ordered Hartmann barred from any involvement in the case against Osama bin Laden's driver. The decision is a rebuke of the Pentagon's push for speeding up trials at Guantanamo, with just seven months left in the Bush administration.

Murray Evans | Picher, Oklahoma | May 11

AP - Many have fled this depressed, pollution-scarred mining town. Those who have chosen to stay or have not yet relocated face a new heartache.

A tornado ripped through a 20-block swath of Picher late Saturday afternoon, killing at least seven people. The same storm system then moved into southwest Missouri where tornadoes took the lives of at least 12 others, authorities said.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown said Picher's victims included an infant. He said at least three people were confirmed missing.

Mish on Hillary: (do read it all, and my comments at the end.)

Hillary is not demented. Her continuing an impossible race is all about trashing Obama as much as possible so that she does not have to run against a Democratic incumbent in 2012. At some point she will moderate her attack a bit, so as not to make it completely obvious. But she will stay in this race as long as she can, with any excuses that she can muster.

Coming up is a primary in West Virginia. She is likely to win that by a big margin. If she does, she will get to trash Obama for 2 more weeks, with no more hope of winning than she has now: zero.

AVENTURA, Fla | May 9

WTVJ-TV - Two South Florida cities have voted in favor of splitting Florida into two separate states, but Gov. Charlie Crist seems skeptical. Earlier this week, Margate and North Lauderdale voted in favor of the measure, which would turn Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties into a 51st state.

Proponents of the move said South Florida has different needs than the rest of the state. The mayors of North Lauderdale and Margate also said South Florida should receive more tax money because of the amount taxpayers here contribute.

Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens

Video at Think Progress

New York | May 8

Reuters - A U.S. judge ordered the Central Intelligence Agency on Thursday to submit to the court a 2002 memo said to specify harsh interrogation methods used on suspected terrorists held abroad.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the memo was written by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel and sent to the CIA in August 2002. The ACLU described the memo as "one of the most important torture documents still being withheld by the Bush administration."

In a copy of the order posted on the ACLU's Web site, Judge Alvin Hellerstein told the government to produce the memo so he can determine whether it should be made public as part of a lawsuit the ACLU and other organizations filed in June 2004 requesting records concerning the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody abroad.

Hellerstein has scheduled a review of the document for Monday.

"This memo authorized the CIA to use specific torture techniques -- including waterboarding," Jameel Jaffer, ACLU's national security project director, said in a statement.

A Primer on Plan Mexico
By LAURA CARLSEN
Counterpunch
May 8, 2008

On Oct. 22, 2007 President Bush announced the $1.4 billion dollar "Merida Initiative," security aid package to Mexico and Central America. The initiative has fatal flaws in its strategy; instead of leading to a stable binational relationship and peaceful border communities, its military approach will escalate drug-related violence and human rights abuses.

Mexico and the United States face a joint challenge in decreasing transnational organized crime and they must cooperate to strengthen the rule of law and stop illegal drug and arms trafficking over the border. This misguided policy will result in an inability to achieve its own goals and will waste taxpayers' money. It will also seriously undermine the U.S.-Mexico relationship and Mexican stability.

The link, below, is to a Senate hearing on KBR's abuse of tax dollars. The man testifying, Frank Cassady, is a long-time friend of my sister-in-law; I've received many email regarding all of this but was asked not to disclose until after the hearings. Now that he's testified, I can share the information.

It's over an hour, but 10 minutes of listening will give you an idea of what's been going on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9iX5XJpeEI

Why forging a sustainable energy future is dependent on foreign oil

Mother Jones | Paul Roberts | May/June Issue

On February 1, 2006, Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington, arrived at the White House in a state of agitation. The night before, in his State of the Union address, President Bush had declared the United States to be "addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world." He had announced plans to "break this addiction" by developing alternatives—including a multibillion-dollar subsidized ramp-up of biofuels—and had boldly stated that by 2025, America could cut imports from Gulf states by three-quarters and "make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past." "I was taken aback," Prince Faisal later told cnn, "and I raised this point with government officials."

Two years on, anyone who's been to a gas station or a grocery store knows the prince had very little to worry about. Despite supposedly bold initiatives such as last year's Energy Independence and Security Act, America is no freer from foreign oil: Since 2006, imports have remained steady at about 13 million barrels every day, while the price for each of those barrels has jumped by $30. And though federal efforts to encourage biofuel production have significantly boosted output, our heavily subsidized ethanol refiners now use so much corn (closing in on a third of the total crop) that prices for all grains have soared, sparking inflation here at home and food riots abroad.

May 8

BBC - Russia has ordered the expulsion of two military attaches from the American embassy in Moscow, US officials say.

The US state department said it would comply with the order although it objected to it.

Two Russians have been expelled from Washington in recent months, one in November and the second on 22 April.

For more than a month I have called a moratorium on the Democratic race only blogging on the hype of the contests as presented by the media. After the two primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, it is apparent that Hillary Clinton can not win the nomination. Even if she were to win the remaining contests she would still not be able to catch Obama. So what is the point of continuing? Hillary Clinton has waged a strong campaign and is deserving of praise for being able to recover when most had pronounced her campaign dead. The time has now come for Hillary to set aside her personal belief that the nomination was inevitably hers and to do what is best for the Party. What is best for the Party is for Hillary to gracefully suspend her campaign and allow the Party to coalesce behind the presumptive nominee Barack Obama.

Carol J. Williams | Miami | May 7

Los Angeles Times - A dinner with 500 fellow Cuban exiles honors the militant and former CIA operative, now 80 and still wanted in Venezuela on terrorism charges.

The dapper octogenarian in a crisp blue suit, his face smoothed by plastic surgery, swanned from table to table in the candlelit banquet hall, bestowing kisses and collecting accolades.

An aging movie star being feted by fans? A veteran politico taking his bows?

No, the man being honored by 500 fellow Cuban Americans at a sold-out gala was Luis Posada Carriles, the former CIA operative wanted in Venezuela on terrorism charges and under a deportation order for illegally entering the United States three years ago.

Posada, 80, has mostly kept a low profile since his release from a Texas prison a year ago and a federal judge's dismissal of the only U.S. charges against him -- making false statements to immigration officials.

Suffice to say Obama is now the presumptive nominee. It would take something unforseen and dramatic to change the balance of power now. Impossible? Hardly. Not likely? Yes. So, time to start thinking about who you'd like Obama to have replace Dick Cheney with. Select your option now!

For VP:

1) Hillary Clinton
2) Evan Bayh
3) Russ Feingold
4) Bill Richardson
5) Wesley Clark

Many of you will no doubt remember and recognize my loathing of SUVs. I've blogged about it many, many times, most especially by laughing (and crying) at Detroit and it's errant stupidity when it comes to SUVs. Things haven't changed:

General Motors Corp still expects the U.S. economy to recover in the second half of 2008, pulling industry-wide auto sales higher, an executive said on Tuesday.
GM sales analyst Mike DiGiovanni, speaking to reporters and analysts on a conference call, said he saw "early signs" that the U.S. market was steadying.

One thing you can always bet on: stupidity at the Big Three, er Two and A Half now, or something. They haven't changed in Detroit--and one of them will probably have to die before they do. But things are changing elsewhere, as in, the consumers are tired of getting fleeced at the pump (admit it, paying $80 twice a week to fill up an SUV is fucking stupid) and are trading down:

Menicocci, a resident of the upscale Miami suburb of Palmetto Bay, recently placed his 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe with leather seats and 39,000 miles for sale on Craigslist for $16,000 -- roughly $2,000 less than what his research determined was the Kelley Blue Book value. He bought a 2003 Kia Spectra for $5,000 because he was tired of paying so much for gas with his heavy Tahoe. "I was wasting $30 a day compared to $10 a day," he said. "Everybody is like, `What is that? Is that the maid's car?"' said Menicocci, who sells marble and granite for a living. "But I don't care. At this point, I'm way past looks and appearances."

I can't help but reiterate when people says things like, "I'm way past looks and appearances," there is a sea change underway. And not a day too soon. Although, there will always be people with lots of money and little sense who will buy Hummers.

I drive a 20 year old Acura. It runs, gets decent milage and I could care less how it looks. It gets me where I need to go and that is all that ever mattered. But I do look forward to the day when the highways aren't full of huge behemoths and it's safe to putz around on a moped. Then I can really minimize my carbon footprint.

Maybe at some point I might have to eat my words, but I doubt it. Someone needs to tell Hillary it's over. She's doing more harm than good at this point. She cannot win without tearing the party apart. It's time to think of the country and the party, before herself. Bow out. Gracefully and then have a future. Don't bow out and go down hard, or win the nomination and lose in the general and wreck the party in the process? Just bow out.

Update: Obama camp says Oregon, May 20, is the day they wrap it all up. Regardless of my opinion, the numbers indicate that they are correct. It's inevitable at this point.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


click to enlarge

Los Angeles | May 7

Irvine Robbins, who as co-founder of Baskin-Robbins brought Rocky Road, Pralines ’n Cream and other exotic ice cream concoctions to every corner of America, has died at age 90.

Robbins had been ill for some time and died Monday at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., said his daughter Marsha Veit.

While the company advertised that it offered 31 flavors, in fact it has created more than 1,000 flavors, according to its Web site.

I sure hope he left the recipe for THE only Rocky Road Ice Cream worth eating.

When Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president one year ago today, the US media were full of praise for him and expected a big improvement in transatlantic relations.

Sarkozy's pro-American rhetoric was very much appreciated, because it was a big contrast to Gerhard Schroeder's US critical election campaigns. With Schroeder replaced by Angela Merkel and Chirac now replaced by Sarkozy, many Americans were looking forward to a new era in transatlantic relations led by a younger generation of pro-American leaders in Europe.

I did not find this much convincing, but have been very critical of Sarkozy (and to a lesser extent of Merkel). In the last few months, however, President Sarkozy announced some policy changes that indicate more support for US interests, so perhaps I should reconsider my position on Sarko.

Gaelle Fisher has written a very balanced analysis on the question "Has Sarkozy truly improved the state of transatlantic relations and earned his reputation as the most pro-American president France has ever had?" She presents three arguments in favor and three against in a pro & con feature on Atlantic Community: Sarkozy l' Américain? Here is a snippet:

Sarkozy has agreed to increase France’s contribution to the war effort in Afghanistan by adding 1500 to 1700 to the existing French contingent of 1600, sending combat troops to the East, and providing military arsenal. Yet the main new element of French military cooperation with the United States is Sarkozy’s commitment to reintegrating France into NATO’s military wing.

On Sarko’s first anniversary in power, the French are very critical of his domestic policies (and his style), but I wonder what Americans think of his foreign policy. Has he met your expectations? Has he repaired the damage in transatlantic relations as expected by many in the US media?

Peter Spiegel & Greg Miller | Washington | May 7

LA Times - Amid criticism of a lack of oversight on spending, the U.S. has denied or deferred about $81 million in requests from Pakistan, the Government Accountability Office says.

The Pentagon has rejected or deferred millions of dollars in military aid requests from Pakistan amid criticism that the Islamabad government has squandered U.S. funding and allowed Al Qaeda to rebuild a haven in its western tribal regions.

In February, the Defense Department turned down or delayed more than $81 million requested by Pakistan, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

The rejection represents a small portion of the nearly $1 billion a year Pakistan has received through a program called Coalition Support Funds, launched after the Sept. 11 attacks.

But it marks a sudden change in U.S. policy toward Pakistan, which for years has spent American military aid without having to show results in the fight against Al Qaeda and other militant groups. Even some officials in the Pentagon have acknowledged shortcomings in U.S. funding strategy.

Richard Marosi | San diego | May 7

LA Times - U.S. border authorities no longer apprehend illegal immigrants only as they enter the country. Now they're catching them on the way out.

At random times near the Tijuana-San Diego border, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have been setting up checkpoints, boarding buses destined for Mexico and pulling off people who don't have proper documentation.

The operation appears to be an expansion of a broader federal crackdown targeting illegal immigrants in jails, airports and workplaces across the country.

Vincent Bond, an agency spokesman, said departing immigrants are fair targets.

"If our officers come upon people who are here illegally . . . regardless of whether they're leaving the country, we detain them, make a record of the fact they were here illegally and return them to Mexico," Bond said.

Sara Jean Green | Seattle, WA | May 6, 2008

Seattle Times - Following up on this post, it appears that the men taking pictures on a Ferry from Seattle were tourists not terrorists:

Two ferry riders sought by FBI last summer were just tourists
By Sara Jean Green

Last summer, the FBI launched an international search for two men after crew members and riders on a Washington State Ferry reported their unusual behavior — namely that they were taking pictures below deck, in areas that don't hold much interest for most tourists.

A ferry captain snapped their photo, which was passed along to the FBI.

Don't know what this is about but it certainly bears watching:

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the Office of Special Counsel here, seizing computers and documents belonging to the agency chief Scott Bloch and staff.

This guy may very well be a bad actor. Or he may not. He is, after all, investigating Karl Rove.

John R Wilke | Washington | May 6

WSJ - Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the Office of Special Counsel here, seizing computers and documents belonging to the agency chief Scott Bloch and staff.

More than a dozen FBI agents served grand jury subpoenas shortly after 10 a.m., shutting down the agency's computer network and searching its offices, as well as Mr. Bloch's home. Employees said the searches appeared focused on alleged obstruction of justice by Mr. Bloch during the course of an 2006 inquiry into his conduct in office.

The independent agency, created by Congress in the wake of the Watergate scandal, is charged with protecting federal employees and deciding whether their complaints merit full-scale investigation -- a first line of defense against fraud and mismanagement in government. It also enforces a ban on U.S. employees engaging in partisan political activity.

The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Mr. Bloch had used "Geeks on Call," an outside computer-service firm, to erase his computer and those of two former staff members in December 2006. more..

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


click to enlarge