Please use my new site

ccokz.webs

Because Google declared to me that not Google INC. is responsible for me but Google Ireland and that in future times I wont be judged by Californian law anymore but Irish and I dont like to have any legal issues with the republic of Ireland nor John McCain nor JF Kerry I decided to move my site to ccokz.webs.com.

U.S. military burns Bibles in Afghanistan

The U.S. military says personnel threw away and burned confiscated Bibles that were printed in two common Afghan languages amid concern they would be used to try to convert Afghans. The move came to light after an Arabic TV network aired video of a group prayer service that a reporter said suggested U.S. troops were being encouraged to spread Christianity. full story

Is Obama ruthless?

Now first up I'm a bit nerved by the idea that Obama is ruthless. What we have seen in the past 4 years is that the US got a president who was obviously busy in between the NRA, Daytona, the Texas Air National Guard, 180 days of holidays and being permanently drunken. I mean its no big clue that George W. Bush did not serve the idea too well that hes ruthless but a failure to the worst degree. I mean this mean did expose himself often in the worst possible fashion and thus its no wonder that the perception we got was strong. Now, finally, we obviously got someone who is making politics again and is not being distracted by superficial things that dont belong into politics. Speaking of distraction, what we have seen in the past three months is a Republican party that is jubilant about cheering the advantages of torture. I mean first up this is no moral high ground again and its another flat distraction from the problems that occur through the economical crisis. i think its easy to outmanouver such a lousy bunch of hypocrites and criminals and thus of course you appear intelligent. The next conclusion could be that you are ruthless. I mean first up the democrats did not dictate the current situation and its been Republican design to solve the problems occuring due to 911 in this way. Barack Obama got 60 senators at current and a majority in the house. its totally hypocritical to uphold the approach of the Republicans towards torture in the current form because it does not at the faintest represent the will of the people. I mean you are no ruthless person if you show some respect for others intentions and it is another blow of the Republicans to present their utter disrespect for dignity in the form they represent it at current. it is small minded and a defense of a policy that has 150.000 US soldiers grilling under Iraqi sun without increasing the GDP in any form. I mean sure it is ruthless to improve the things by the multiplicator you can improve them at at current. But that is not Obama's fault. That is a consequence of the sheer ineptitude we suffered from the past 8 years. The begotten, licked, fucked up, silly self-defense of the Repugs they show when it comes to torture is just another ill defense ogf a world view they never properly reasoned and are now sure to protect by the means they introduced to be safe from the so cruel world. The only thing 4 years of McCain would have delivered was that in fact you would have protected this fucked up world view through torture. The illicit "self-evidence" of this system was only in the sheer self-destructiveness. I mean you can call Obama ruthless for cracking deals with these guys. But the truth is that they didn't cause him to make too many failures till now. And stating hes ruthless after 4 months in office without having imposed one proper moral issue is just another hideous proof of the moral sellout the Repuhgsn have seen under Bush. They provide as much dignity as Libya.

I think we should get back to political correctness and blame those who introduce misbehaviour. The Repugs are fucking cheats and you get their misbehaviour dished after 4 months in office with many thanks and you are ruthless. Thats not very English. I think even cannibals could call it distasteful.
Ruthless?

Slate: 4 things we've learned about Obama

German Telekom: company sniffed for years for personal data - for example bank data

Telekom spies 4 Bankdata

The sniffing scandal of German Telekom reaches a new dimension. According to information of Handelsblatt, German Telekom didnt only spy for phone data of board members and journalists. The company security also gave orders for years to third entities to spy bank accounts of workers, their relatives and thirds.

iw/cn/lou/slo DÜSSELDORF.

According to Telekom-Files and investigation notes of the state attorney available to Handelsblatt: Concerned by the espionage are accounts of Deutsche Bank, Postbank, Hypo Vereinsbank as well as foreign banks.

Germany: West LB head says bye-bye

German yahoo



The head of the damaged German state bank West LB Heinz Hilgert is quitting. Reason for him stepping back is a "lack of support of the main owners " of the West LB for the consolidation of the bank Hilgert told in Duesseldorf in a personal note. For this background "he couldnt provide a responsible leadership of the institute anymore." Hes quitting his job immediately and is not taking any further wages or retirement pay.

Bankruptcy could be painful, complex

Bankruptcy could be painful, complex

If General Motors follows Chrysler into bankruptcy court, as many are now expecting, it is likely to be far more painful for both the carmaker and the U.S. economy than its smaller rival’s bankruptcy filing of a few weeks ago.

GM's vast scale and complex network of partners make the ramifications of a bankruptcy highly unpredictable, especially given the uncertainty about the global economic conditions that pushed the auto industry to the breaking point in the first place.

“The biggest difference is scale: GM is a much larger company,” said Stephanie Brinley, senior manager of product analysis for the consultancy AutoPacific.

Torture latest

Complaint seeks disbarment of Bush lawyers

WASHINGTON – Two outside groups want Bush administration lawyers linked to memos on harsh interrogation techniques of detainees to lose their licenses to practice law.

Complaints were to be filed Monday against former attorneys general John Ashcroft and Alberto Gonzales, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and John Yoo, Jay Bybee and Stephen Bradbury. The complaints were being filed in the District of Columbia and four states — New York, California, Texas and Pennsylvania.

Memos by the Bush Justice Department contended that waterboarding — a form of simulated drowning — as well as sleep deprivation and other extreme techniques were legal under U.S. and international law.

The groups VotersForPeace.US and Velvet Revolution say the lawyers misused their licenses.

Germany: IFO contradicts Merke - taxes have to mountl

ntv

Munich's Ifo institute for economical studies anticipates tax increases and cuts in the social welfare sector for the economical crisis. Tax cuts like christ dems and lib dems are promising are not realistic. German chancellor Merkel announced yesterday taxes should be cut to power the economy.

"For the crisis, relief isn't necessary but instead tax increases"IFO head Sinn told paper welt. "To pay the tax debts we need to raise taxes and cut expenses in the social sector."Anyway, Germans will have to tighten their belts.

Though the recession is on,Sinn doesn't fear social unrest. Germany is the isle of the lucky ones -thanx to the social welfare. Social welfare is a stabilizing factor. 42% of the adult Germans live by transfer income. On the one hand its disturbing. On the other, this group is protected from the consequences of the crisis.

Just yesterday the German chancellor stressed that the sales tax wont be increased furthermore. On radio television luxemburg (RTL) Merkel said that currently tax increases arent the right sign. Instead, taxes should be lowered in the upcoming time.

Christ Social head Seehofer inched a bit closer to the position of Merkel by making tax cuts dependent on the economical situation. The Lib Dems still position themselves with a general tax reform. Leading Social Dem politician see no space for tax cuts.

Tax cuts without a date

Merkel said for the start of the Christ Dem Europe-election-campaign (7.june is election date) that only investment into the future and tax cuts prepare the exit from one of the worst crisis of the past 60 years. "Tax cuts, future-investment and solid budgets fit together for us" Merkel said. Merkel and Seehofer were united on the idea (according to Spiegel) not to announce a certain date for tax cuts in their election program. Seehofer told Handelsblatt:" Growth has to occur so tax cuts are possible. In this point he totally agrees with Merkel."


Tax cuts will only be reasoned with the need for growth in the election program - after the peak of the crisis has passed - according to Spiegel. In Deutlandfunk Seehofer told that if there is growth again, tax cuts and debt reduction have to have first priority. The conservative party program should be approved at the end of june (on a summit) which is valid for the federal election in sep.


Tax Cuts without proper financing


Lib dems intend to relief Germany of 35bio euros. He accused Steinbrueck of cashing into the citizens. "A single one has cashed in and thats Peer Steinbrueck and ahead of him Hans Eichel." Party head Westerwellemade tax cuts a condition for a possible coalition after the election.

Only hot air

Steinbrück called the lib dem plans for tax cuts "grotesque." When the lib dems criticize public debt of the public budgets and at the same time the lib dems admit to two digit billion tax dropouts (u gotta ask yourself whether theyre crazy).

Pakistan Is Rapidly Adding Nuclear Arms, U.S. Says

By THOM SHANKER and DAVID E. SANGER

There are new concerns on Capitol Hill about whether billions of dollars in proposed military aid might be diverted to Pakistan’s nuclear program.

Supreme Court

Republicans in Senate Lower Expectations of a Court Fight

By NEIL A. LEWIS 42 minutes ago

Several Republican senators acknowledged it is unlikely that they could derail President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee absent some startling revelation.

Left Obama criticism becomes louder

You Gotta Protect The One’s You Serve

Germany:: "ample-color-coalition" becomes more likely (social dems (red) lib dems (yellow) ecos (green))

n-tv



Social Dems faction head in parliament Struck sees good chances for the construction of an ample coalition after the election for German parliament.


"The Social dems got more in common with the Lib Dems than with the Christ Dems in important sectzors of politics like interior (domestic) policy, judicial matters or foreign and securitypolicy" Struck told BILD.


Struck admitted that there are diffrent views on economical and financial matters. "But for a majority to govern every partner has to make compromises. This was also valid for Social Dems and Lib Dems."

Citi sells $2B in debt

Citi sells $2B in debt

Indian prime minister looks set for second term

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared set for a second term as his Congress party and its allies scored a decisive lead over their opponents on Saturday in a vote count after the country's monthlong general elections.


Congress supporters in Banglaore Saturday celebrate the party's lead in election results.

1 of 2 The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance surged ahead in more than 255 of the 543 federal parliamentary boroughs, outpacing the main opposition composed of a grouping led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).

BJP leader Arun Jaitley conceded defeat, stating that the ruling party will win the election.

"We respect this mandate and accept it," Jaitley said.

India's communists, who last year parted ways with the federal government for its civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, also suffered a massive blow in their stronghold state of West Bengal as they trailed their rivals in more than half of its boroughs.

Singh drove down to the home of Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born head of the Congress party, after trends gave out a clear mandate in favor of the ruling coalition.

Standing beside Gandhi, who once again endorsed the choice of Singh for her party's top job, he thanked voters for their support.

He vowed to maintain a stable government that he said would remain committed to secular values. Singh also remarked that he would like Rahul Gandhi, son of his party chief, to become a member of his new Cabinet.

Siegelman: State prosecution seeks to extend party membership sentence

Bush is an aggressive Iran supporter

Claim: Bush rejected Sunni deal to quell Iraq war in 2004

Makes a direct involvement of Bush patriots into 911 even more probable

Cheney under attack for bla about Al-Quaida-Iraq link

I mean the 93 attacks on the WTC were mainly performed by Saudis. I don't believe these oil-scheichs, namely Bush and Cheney. If they had only picked up the same link it wouldnt have taken them long to get to Tora Bora and Oussama Bin Laden. In fact, when they got there, Bush waffled something about the context. I think the only reason why Bush didnt incarcerate Oussama Bin Laden is because he intended to torture for the next 5 years. What? You say the argument is incorrect? So what would have happened if another termate bomb exploded under his ass? I mean this man took 180 days holidays per year and couldn't put one sentence right. So which guarantees did Bush have? nil. What more? The weapons industry. Perhaps we torture some connection and perhaps we got a nice shoot out in Iraq. Well, the fukk happened. You know what I call this? Bad luck. Or the IQ of 1. And Obama's context statement namely that torture pics damage the image is as elusive. He would be a hero if he did publish'em. I think the intentions never existed in this form and it's just another embarassing moment when people get measured by their sunday speeches.

(CNN) -- Finding a "smoking gun" linking Iraq and al Qaeda became the main purpose of the abusive interrogation program the Bush administration authorized in 2002, a former State Department official told CNN on Thursday.

See also:

The Mystery of al-Libi

One of the Bush desaparecidos has been reportedly found dead of a suicide in a Libyan prison.

Awfully convenient that it was the one detainee that caused so much angst for the Bush administration that they effectively "disappeared" him even as they decided to bring the "worst of the worst terrorists," including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, to Guantanamo so they could be given trials that would prove their guilt.

But Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, so important to their early case for war against Iraq, had simply fallen off the face of the earth (except an occasional question) after the Bush administration had to admit his "evidence" was fabricated. Yeah, fabricated just like John McCain's confessions to the Vietcong were fabricated.

Hugh Van is dead.He was a famous photographer of the Vietnam war.

Napalm


Agent Orange
He was a famous photographer of the Vietnam war. One of his most famous images was the evacuation of the CIA building in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

Torture

The reason for Dick Cheney's sudden urge to talk to anybody and everybody! "Why the Caged Bird Sang by William Rivers Pitt ... from July of 2004: After Donald Rumsfeld testified on the Hill about Abu Ghraib in May, there was talk of more photos and video in the Pentagon's custody more horrific than anything made public so far. 'If these are released to the public, obviously it's going to make matters worse,' Rumsfeld said. Since then, The Washington Post has disclosed some new details and images of abuse at the prison. But if Seymour Hersh is right, it all gets much worse. Hersh gave a speech last week to the ACLU making the charge that children were sodomized in front of women in the prison, and the Pentagon has tape of it. ... The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. And the worst above all of that is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking ..." If ever there was reason to say, May God forgive us, it's now!

Man, Calis really cool among Bush Texans ,18,501 Texas National Guard troops in full combat gear

or 18,501 Texas National Guard troops in full combat gear, the Lakers weren't the great-going-on-awesome team

German Lib Dems

+++ Westerwelle als FDP-Vorsitzender wiedergewählt +++

The lib dem summit confirmed Westerwelle with 95,8 Prozent of votes in office - his best result till now.

Sanford (r-sc) intends to eliminate social security

Sanford wants to eliminate Social Security

by Jed Lewison

Fri May 15, 2009 at 07:32:03 AM PDT

Chris Matthews challenges South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to say how he’d cut federal spending, and after two minutes of stammering without an answer, Sanford finally says that he would “reform” Social Security, which he says means eliminating the current system and replacing it with individual savings accounts.

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/15/731526/-Sanford-wants-to-eliminate-Social-Security

Fucked up commentary on Hannity

buzzflash

fucked up comment on hannity: Hannity may not utter that he wants Obama to release terror pics. See, In this case, were the good guys and if Mr. Obama intends to displace himself, its upto Mr. Hannity to utter that Mr.Obama is not welcome in the Republican party. dot

Bob Graham agrees with Nancy Pelosi that the CIA lied to them

Obama reinstantates military commissions - Obama smacks left on supreme court

Obama to restart terror suspect commissions

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Things really have changed with the Obama presidency -- starting with the process for nominating a Supreme Court justice.

When Republican President George W. Bush had the chance to put judges on the Supreme Court, Democrats freely offered opinions and even suggested lists of names of potential nominees they could live with. The media thought this was great, and urged Bush to heed the suggestions in the spirit of bipartisanship.

Now that Obama is president and controls the nominating process, things are different. This week, the White House put special interest groups on notice that this is the president's choice alone and they needn't bother putting forth their preferred candidates. The jab was clearly aimed at the left, where feminist groups are calling for the nomination of a woman, Latino groups want a Latino and the Congressional Black Caucus had the chutzpah to push one of its own members: Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia.

Obama picks New Yorker to head CDC

Obama picks New Yorker to head CDC

By GARDINER HARRIS and ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS 8:58 AM ET

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden has cut a high and sometimes contentious profile as New York City’s top health official.

• Times Topics: Thomas R. Frieden | C.D.C.

GM kiks 1000 dealers

cnn

According to cbs 5 there'll be a special election in California on may19 - Schwarzenegger wants to sell St.Quentin

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Thursday that thousands of state employees must be laid off and billions of dollars must be slashed from the budget to deal with a deficit that tops $15 billion and could widen again within days.

"I understand that these cuts are very painful and they affect real lives," Schwarzenegger said during a news conference. "This is the harsh reality and the reality that we face. Sacramento is not Washington — we cannot print our own money. We can only spend what we have."

The state approved billions in budget cuts and revenue increases earlier this year but they were not enough to keep up with a sharp drop in tax revenue as the recession batters the state's economy.

California still faces a deficit of $15.4 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1. That will grow to $21.3 billion if voters reject budget-related measures during a special election next week.

The Republican governor released budget proposals that account for both deficit numbers and call for across-the-board cuts that will strike at the core of state services.

Starting Friday, the administration will send layoff notices to 5,000 state government employees, a move that is designed to cut the general work force by 5 percent but would take months to complete. Funding for health and human services and the higher education system also would be cut.

If voters reject the ballot measures next week, as polls indicate they are inclined to do, education will be cut by a total of $5.4 billion and the school year will be shortened by 7.5 days. Schwarzenegger said the cuts will lead to teacher layoffs and larger class sizes.

Polls: NJ

Polling and Political Wrap-Up, 5/14/09

The text is a bit misleading: New numbers are a sign of life for Corzine, because he firstly bumped up, then extremely bumped down and now hes on the upswing again.

Geithner 2 Bilderberg

http://www.prisonplanet.com/geithner-to-take-orders-from-global-elite-at-bilderberg.html

Pelosi says CIA misled her on waterboarding

Pelosi says CIA misled her on waterboarding

'I imagine that my hands and body are bleeding'

A walk through Afghanistan's only psychiatric hospital is a walk through misery. Inside the run-down building are the shattered lives of a nation where peace is something remembered only by the old, where the constant roar of conflict is stealing people's sanity. full story

Stocks open higher as investors digest another rise in jobless claims along with Wal-Mart's tepid results. More soon.

Census: Minorities are 34% of U.S.

Census: Minorities are 34% of U.S.

9:22am: Latinos, African Americans, Asians and other minorities account for about a third of the U.S. population. Hispanics are the fastest-growing group. More

Check where your state ranks

Minorities lose housing gains

Germany: Nationalize Opel?

Wird Opel vorläufig verstaatlicht?

Great idea. Exactly my opinion. It will be sold under value now and its an influx into competition thus. I think the best idea is to wait two years and then sell it.

For Democrats, Unease Grows Over National Security Policy

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Congressional Democrats are voicing discomfort about the commitment in Afghanistan and the uncertainty over the Guantánamo detainees.

Germany:After Merkel had to throw out tax cuts after intending to introduce'm, potential coalition partner Lib Dems is slightly nerved

Spoongo (of the conservatives) discussion
Doors rattle at the lib dems

The Left Rises Up Against Obama

wapo

Lamesay Locust latest

Good, ah what wonders me even more despite the coursechange of Obama is that the Repugs are so heavily advertising their will to torture and maim and deform. I know they regard themselves as a political mutulation with no back but spineless reckless brainwashers who will reach 20% of the popular vote by only using needles and pins like Lindsay'd say and this without any problems but shouldnt their be anything in the past?

hullaballoo

Madoff Investors Pulled $12B Before Arrest

The US defence department had been preparing to release the images

I heard the press briefing today. The speaker said that the decision of the 2nd circuit court left not much space but to release the last set of photos (I mean the speaker said today several times that you can view some pics on the DoD web site). This background seems to have changed now. For reasons I dont know. What occured to me was that the speaker was heavily involved in using jurisdictional terms. Not that I was very nerved by it but I wondered why at all there was such a sudden interest in judicial matters. Sure, Obama ios a lawyer and Bush couldnt put it right even if he was talking about football. But I think the point is elsewhere. I think for the first time since the inauguration it has become clear today that Obama does not provide the change he promised. He couldnt change too much concerning foreign policy, the crisis is still on and internally (domestically) the Repugs are rotten to the core. I think the perception of problems has changed for the Obama administration. They will be the US govt, whether they like it or now. And they will be also stricken in the Bush swamp. It's sad the energy to change only lasted this short. I think political business complicated immensely today. You have to split again from the left and become more left if you want real change.

Obama: Detainee photos would endanger troops

President Obama said that he told government lawyers to object to a court-ordered release of additional Defense Department photos showing alleged abuse of detainees because the release could affect the safety of U.S. troops and "inflame anti-American opinion." Obama's decision was a reversal of what the White House had previously said, and it drew swift criticism from the ACLU. full story

Obama reverses on the release of detainee-abuse photos

Blackburn: Halt prisoner abuse photos

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and the American Legion are trying to stop the May 28 release of photographs showing American personnel abusing detainees in Afghan and Iraqi prisons.

bbc

The pictures were due to be released by 28 May, according to the court order.

The order was issued by an appeals court in September 2008, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

'Disappointed'

The US defence department had been preparing to release the images, reportedly taken in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the dispute could now end up before the US Supreme Court.

Slowly but surely, Obama is owning the cover-up of his predecessors' war crimes. But covering up war crimes, refusing to prosecute them, promoting those associated with them, and suppressing evidence of them are themselves violations of Geneva and the UN Convention. So Cheney begins to successfully co-opt his successor.
The Atlantic Monthly's Andrew Sullivan, an Obama supporter during the election, is disappointed by the actions of the president he backed.

cbsnews:Its clearly been a reversal of a postion formed only 2 weeks ago:President Barack Obama is calling waterboarding torture and an act that violates the nation's ideals and values, and he says that's why he decided to ban the practice.

Answering questions at a prime-time news conference, Obama said Wednesday the American people will eventually recognize that banning torture enhances the U.S. position worldwide. Obama said the prohibition takes away a recruitment tool for al-Qaida and puts the U.S. in a stronger position with allies.

Obama also said that the argument that torture can yield information doesn't ask if that information might be obtained in other ways.

EU judges Intel to pay 1.06bio$ in fines for monopoly versus AMD

yahoo

I think 500 million would be alright. But 1 bio? I mean they sell computer chips and not drugs. They are not dealing with secrets. You can buy them in every supermarket. Its a plain game and not the mafia.

Merkel prohibits tax cuts till 2012

Merkel prohibits tax cuts till 2012
After the German conservatives were pretty eager in the past days to proclaim new tax cuts, new estimates numbered the dropouts in tax income for Germany at 50bio€ (350 bio € till 2013 for lower wages for the crisis - click link). The estimates were published yesterday. So, the only thing Merkel can do is to hit the brakes. But its an embarassing move after she proclaimed tax cuts 3 days ago.


c article from 11-may-9:Merkel accused of populism for triggering new tax cuts

She even commanded her party to shut up concerning tax cuts

Camp Liberty's Stress Center seems to have certain downsides

aol
SHERMAN, Texas (May 12) – The Army sergeant accused of killing five fellow soldiers in Iraq was typically not a violent person, but counselors "broke" him before the gunfire erupted in a military stress center, his father said Tuesday. Wilburn Russell, 73, told reporters that his son, Sgt. John M. Russell, was treated poorly at the stress center and had e-mailed his wife calling two recent days the worst in his life.
"I hate what that boy did," said the elder Russell, speaking in front of the two-story suburban home his son is buying with his wife. "He thought it was justified. That's never a solution."

Germany: the new conservative candidate in Cologne for mayoral elections is gay and looks like Heinrich Himmler and is from Berlin

express

US to borrow 46 cents for every dollar spent

US to borrow 46 cents for every dollar spent

WASHINGTON – The government will have to borrow nearly 50 cents for every dollar it spends this year, exploding the record federal deficit past $1.8 trillion under new White House estimates. Budget office figures released Monday would add $89 billion to the 2009 red ink — increasing it to more than four times last year's all-time high as the government hands out billions more than expected for people who have lost jobs and takes in less tax revenue from people and companies making less money.

Obama démonte l'héritage fiscal de George Bush

Le président américain rétablit les taux d’imposition les plus élevés appliqués aux ménages fortunés.

Obama deconstructs the fiscal heritage of GWB - Obama reintroduces super rich tax

Disaster strikes during papal visit in Israel

n-tv.de

Tamini vows to fight Israeli oppression though he wasnt intended to speak.

WHITE HOUSE TO DROP 'HOLY GRAIL' OF TORTURE MEMOS ...Hits back at Cheney: US rejected his ideas in 2008 election

Abu Dhabis government puts "torture-prince" under house-arrest

Regierung stellt "Folter-Prinz" unter Hausarrest

Prince, who also owns a property in Bavaria, ran over an Afghan with his car. The Afghan survived heavily injured.

Scheichs leave billion-beggars waiting

at Goodlehill finishes UAE trip

Bundeswirtschaftsminister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg beendet heute seine dreitägige Reise in die Golfregion. Zum Abschluss will er Gespräche in Saudi-Arabien führen. Zuvor hatte Guttenberg die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate besucht.

Hefty criticism about Benedicts Israel speech

Hefty criticism about Benedicts Israel speech

For the first time a German pope spoke at Yad Vashem. Instead the pope didnt speak about the role of the church (concerning the holocaust) - and he didnt utter one word about his past in the Hitler youth. The coordinator of the memorial was disappointed. Von Christoph Schult, Jerusalem mehr... [ Video | Forum ]

Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Is Out

By ELISABETH BUMILLER 10 minutes ago

The Pentagon is replacing the top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, seen at right with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates last week.

U.S. Soldier Shoots 5 of His Comrades to Death in Iraq

U.S. Soldier Shoots 5 of His Comrades to Death in Iraq

By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS 48 minutes ago

A soldier who opened fire on his fellow troops at one of the biggest American bases in Baghdad was in custody, the U.S. military said.

GOP: not this united, Mr.Steele

Scores of House Republicans joined Democrats in recent days in pushing through measures meant to rein in credit card companies, increase federal resources to pursue financial fraud and crack down on predatory housing lenders — all legislation opposed by top House Republicans. On the credit card and financial fraud bills, only a minority of Republicans ended up opposing them.

Pope visits Israel

Schwierige Visite
Papst besucht Israel

Administration Plans to Strengthen Antitrust Rules

By STEPHEN LABATON

The Obama administration plans to reverse a Bush administration policy shift that precluded antitrust actions against big corporations.

Bush to affect GOP for 'generations'
Gallup data shows massive partisan divide among those raised under Bush.

GOP

• Cheney backs Limbaugh over Powell on GOP future AP – 53 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Dick Cheney made clear Sunday he'd rather follow firebrand broadcaster Rush Limbaugh than former Joint Chiefs chairman Colin Powell into political battle over the future of the Republican Party.

Even as Cheney embraced efforts to expand the party by ex-Govs. Jeb Bush of Florida and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and the House's No. 2 Republican, Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, the former vice president appeared to write his one-time colleague Powell out of the GOP.

Asked about recent verbal broadsides between Limbaugh and Powell, Cheney said, "If I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh. My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican."

c also:

GM bankruptcy almost inevitable

to sum it up: iraq war designers play hardliners while their safe way to lower the oil price is causing some tough errors

UK

Brown gets the points from me for not interfering Obamas takeover; I think he shouldnt step back before election day; summer 2010 is a good date and there should be no urgency to vote; if the economy improves under Obama, labour should harvest the fruits in the election
German NTV: Brown hits historic low mark; 52% wish him to step back; Labour gets only 23% in new poll; meanwhile bills came under criticism; Labour deputies billed the renovation of their houses towards the state; Ed Miliband didnt wish Brown to step back

Experts say GM bankruptcy almost inevitable

Saudi judge: It's OK to slap spendthrift wives

lousy efforts to sanction sexism. 2 reason it with saving money always makes it appear so... how may I put it....generous..
Arab News, a Saudi English-language daily newspaper based in Riyadh, reported that Judge Hamad Al-Razine said that "if a person gives SR 1,200 [$320] to his wife and she spends 900 riyals [$240] to purchase an abaya [the black cover that women in Saudi Arabia must wear] from a brand shop and if her husband slaps her on the face as a reaction to her action, she deserves that punishment."
Saudi judge: It's OK to slap spendthrift wives

Huckabee gives us a history lesson about 'The WHIGS;' Gingrich denounces torture inquiry asMcCarthysm

Huckabee: GOP could become 'irrelevant'


McCarthy was illegitimate because the Nazis just lost the war and not the Communists. So the world was bad off and living in wreckage because of Nazis. See, this time its exactly the same: I'm living in misery for Mr.Bush and the other Nazis. But hey, this time there won't be some McCarthy there. This time we'll just shoot your ugly face,Mr.Gingrich. Quite an explanation, eh?

Gingrich on Dems: Torture inquiry is McCarthyist

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich didn’t pull any punches Sunday morning.

Discussing national security issues on Fox News, Gingrich attacked current and past Democrats as soft on terrorism and said that calls for investigations into Bush administration interrogation practices amounts to a partisan attack reminiscent of the McCarthy era.

“What we’re seeing now in a very sad way is bitter, partisan attacks on the Bush people, as much as we’ve seen since the McCarthy era. The degree that they’re putting specific people at risk for prosecution is unprecedented in modern America,” Gingrich told Fox’s Chris Wallace.

Michael Steele’s First 100 Days

VIDEO: Michael Steele’s First 100 Days

Tomorrow marks Michael Steele’s 100th day as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). While many members of the GOP were hoping for a dynamic spokesman that could communicate conservative values to the American public, what they ended up getting was a gaffe machine.

Since taking office, Steele has become most known for statements about how the GOP needs to “uptick” its image with “everyone, including one-armed midgets“; how he likes to “wear my hat backwards, you know, because that’s how we roll in the Northeast”; and how he has “slum love” for Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). ThinkProgress’s Victor Zapanta has put together a video of the highlights.

U.S. flu cases rise to 2,254

U.S. flu cases rise to 2,254

WHO reports big jump in swine flu cases

WHO reports big jump in swine flu cases

South Africa

cnn

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Jacob Zuma was inaugurated as president of South Africa in an exuberant ceremony Saturday filled with heads of state and former presidents.

Obama to revive military commissions

The election promises, the election promises. Obama opposed the military tribunals and he shouldnt be so quick about reintroducing them.

Obama to revive military commissions

The world wont see another fundamentalist nuclear power for now. Thats the positive side.

Hundreds of thousands flee Pakistan fighting

US soldier faces death over rape

(CNN) -- A former U.S. soldier could face the death penalty after being convicted of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family.

Steven Green of Midland, Texas, was found guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Paducah, Kentucky, said court spokeswoman Vanessa Armstrong. She said the penalty phase of the trial begins Monday.

Jurors deliberated for more than 10 hours before finding Green guilty of murder, rape, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to the court's Web site.

Green, 23, was accused of leading a group of soldiers that committed the crimes in 2006 in the Mahmoudiya area, south of Baghdad.

They killed the girl's father, mother and younger sister before raping and killing her and burning her body.

Last year, then-Pfc. Jesse Spielman received a 110-year sentence in the case for felony murder, conspiracy to commit rape, rape and housebreaking with the intent to commit rape.

Three other soldiers charged in the case received sentences ranging from 27 months to 100 years.

The slayings became public in 2006, angering the Iraqi public and prompting demands from some Iraqi officials that American soldiers accused of crimes against civilians face prosecution in Iraqi courts. U.S. military and civilian officials condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

All the defendants were with the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Spc. James Barker, one of the soldiers involved, told investigators that the soldiers were drinking whiskey, playing cards and hitting golf balls when Green brought up the idea of going to the house near the checkpoint where they were stationed to rape the girl. Barker described Green as persistent.

The soldiers then allegedly changed into dark clothing and covered their faces before going to the house, investigators said.

Mickey Carroll

Goodbye yellow brick road. Mickey Carroll, one of the last surviving 'Wizard' munchkins dies at 90.

Number down to 559000 plus, but the quota is of course still climbing thus

• CNNMoney: U.S. jobless hits 25-year high

RBS announces $1.29B first-quarter loss

Germany: Steinbrueck under fire

http://www.n-tv.de/1151051.html

For his remarks about tax havens criticism is raining down on German minister of finance Peer Steinbrueck. Politicians out of conservatives and lib dems accused him of an unbearable behaviour and demand an apology from the minister of finance.

The eco Trittin as well as the social dem party head Muentefering defended Steinbrueck.
Steinbrueck put the tax havens Luxemburg and Austria and Switzerland into context with
Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. This caused anger especially in Luxemburg. "There is no opportunity now for anyone in Switzerland or Austria or Luxemburg 2 feel insulted right now" eco candidate Trittin said on ntv.

Germany: Trittin of ecos excludes coalition with conservatives

The ecos debate their position towards coalitions with other parties
shortly ahead of the party summit which starts tonight. The top candidate for the ecos, Juergen Trittin, excluded a participation in a coalition with lib dems and conservatives ("Jamaica"). He said on N-TV aim of the ecos was to stop black-yellow and to terminate the Grand Coalition of conservatives and social dems.

Well, the German social dems put the evangelicals in a mess while loosing Hessia in hypocrisy and now they are loosing equality in hypocrisy.

Social dem party head (69 years of age)

Michelle (29) is Münteferings new luck

Müntefering is 40 years older than her! a short hile ago sparks flew. ›

Stress test results: U.S. banks must raise $75B

Ten of America's 19 largest banks will need to raise a total of $74.6 billion in capital, federal officials have announced, bringing an end to relentless speculation about how much more money the nation's leading banks would need to withstand the recession. developing story

I mean the headline isnt very good: "Many of the proposed cuts have already been rejected by Obama's allies in Congress, including some programs that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly sought to end." A) Obama can be confused with Bush b) Dems fought for them... Obama isnt left enuf and he takes the first best chance to proof that hes an asshole

Obama calls for $17 billion in budget cuts

AP – 12 mins ago

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday to eliminate or trim 121 federal programs for a savings of $17 billion in the coming budget year. Many of the proposed cuts have already been rejected by Obama's allies in Congress, including some programs that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly sought to end. Full Story»

Troubled Blackwater era ending in Iraq

Chelsea-Bartcelona

In a scandal game where some bald headed nazi as bloing the histle Chelsea got laid several times in the penalty zone and at least to timesBarcelona players ill-defended their goal ith their hand or arms.

Obama plans to visit Germany; he´ll visit Dresden in Saxony and Concentration Camp Buchenald

Dresden und Buchenwald? Obama plant Deutschlandbesuch

NBA great Bing says running Detroit won't be easy AP – 13 mins ago

AIG bonuses four times higher than reported

Sen. Specter says Coleman should be seated(16)

Hatch considers Sotomayor to be very emotional

philly


I mean the GOP had 8 years superb opportunities to pose. 911: And? ballihoo. We have to guarantee the security of the nation. We have to hunt down terrorist.
Next thing: Iraq war. And? ballihoo. We have to fight down Al-Quaida in Iraq and stop suicide bombers, both things which didn´t exist before in Iraq.
Next thing: 2005. Tax cuts. We free the free American individual of unjustified burdens because the years b4 have been so shockingly cruel. No word of the own guilt for it.
Finally: stimulus: we have to protect American multinational companies from shocks that rooted in an ever advancing anti-americanism, but mainly because the oil price was galopping. Own guilt? doesnt exist.

So empathy is ballihoo. But this wasn´t ballihoo? This poor poser GWB with his 1000 and 1000 of mailpronounced sentences. So this great wanna be dictator didnt serve the show too well, eh? But now: stop stop stop. We got 1000 and 1000 of sour, unemployed people now and hey, 2 titties could show great empathy. but hey, Orrin Hatch has to say FULL STOP now. I mean he spent the ballihoo credits the last 8 years on George bullshit and dems get a fuck. Just, eh?

Robots - war machines for the 21st century?

msn

A German article on the book "wired for war." Serving the Cyberdyne Unisys Linksys complex for the fragmented IBM Silicon Image Tyan side.hehe

Italy: Berlusconi´s wife seeks divorce for 18-year old

>express


Rome - Veronia Lario (52) is fed up. According to media reports the wife of prime Silvio Berlusconi (72) seeks divorce.
The public interest of Berlusconi for a young woman only recently caused a twist in Berlusconi´s house. Berlusconi caused the final split in his marriage by visiting a birthday party of an 18-year old.

Obama plans corporate tax crackdown

money-cnn

Administration's proposals aim to reduce tax breaks for U.S.-based multinationals that it says gives them an unfair advantage over domestic rivals.

Turkey: Overkill at marriage party

I must admit I am negatively surprised again by the dignity issue in Turkey. I mean it doesnt of course concern civil rights in the abstract sense if u kill a marriage gathering but the border is so close I hardly believe there will be some kind of real freedom in Turkey anytime soon. 41 deaths reported.

express

nytimes

ISTANBUL 4 (Reuters) — Forty-one people were killed on Monday when unidentified gunmen attacked a wedding party in southeastern Turkey, the acting governor of Mardin province said.

The acting governor, Ahmet Ferhat Ozen, said in a telephone interview that the assailants, who were wearing masks, stormed into a hall where wedding guests were assembled and opened fire with automatic rifles and hand grenades.

German casting show: Annemaries dad intends to sue RTL

express

There was a phone voting on. Annemaries number was several times announced wrongfully

David Hasselhoff Hospitalized With Alcohol Poisoning

USMagazine, May 4, 2009

Related: David Hasselhoff

David Hasselhoff was rushed to an L.A. hospital after suffering alcohol poisoning Saturday, RadarOnline.com reports.

The former Baywatch star was reportedly taken to Cedars-Sinai medical center after his daughter Hayley, 16, found him unconscious on the floor of his home in Encino, California. (Conflicting reports say that RadarOnline's report of Hasselhoff's condition was greatly exaggerated and that the star is currently doing fine.)

Supreme court overthrows pro-CBS decision

I still dont know. Ive seen the transmission back then. Its been a pretty fuzz free afternoon in Los Angeles and I still got the fuk of an idea why we got to see Janet´s tit.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a federal appeals court to re-examine its ruling in favor of CBS Corp. in a legal fight over entertainer Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction.

The high court on Monday directed the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to consider reinstating the $550,000 fine that the Federal Communications Commission imposed on CBS over Jackson’s breast-baring performance at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Fiat offer for Opel includes billions in German state aid

http://www.n-tv.de/1148554.html

Furthermore the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern will be shut. I think its a pretty average offer. It influences competition thru the state help and its not clear whether the other plants will be kept up for more than two years. Guttenberg also underlined that he ants to see some long-term engagement. Fiats concept is not shock proof and its not clear what happens if another crisis occurs.

Nepalese president in dispute over army head
Nepal's Maoist government Monday took the president to task for ordering the country's army chief of staff to stay in office after they had fired him, calling the decision "unconstitutional." Late Sunday night, President Ram Baran Yadav ordered Gen. Rookmangud Katawal, who was sacked by the government Sunday morning, to continue in office. full story

McCain advisor: GOP is dead

Permalink

What baffled me most recently was that the GOP enforced such tight rules on the guys who simply continued to walk on Bushs stimulus paths. Specter surely held a difficult state and it as obvious that he needed some publicity on fighting unemployment. Mikkael O´Steeles vigorous enforcement of his own position was acid in the face of the populists. Also the speedy positioning of Ridge as another thorn in the fresh wounds of a lost election. I dont think Specter will turn back to the GOP anytime soon.

Don't get comfortable with GOP demise by MillieNeon

What I´m really thinking is that they got in fact an issue problem right now. I mean u can come up to me and tell me that the GOP likes to do town hall meetings. But I think they don´t know what they are talking about. They foddered this 911 I think and they foddered the Iraq war simply to disguide public opion and simply control the topic the public is talking about. OK, Ok, u do town hall meetings. But I think they need a hole now. It´s simply not anymore about a contract for America. People wont take such a shit anymore. I think they will look for THE TOPIC.

I think what O´Steele does is in fact to stick and hit the own party like a village cop simply to contract the opinions expressed. It´s unlike 911 when everybody could express his personal disgust and come up with great ideas to tighten national security. Now it´s neat. Unlike others are thinking I think they really wanted to keep Specter. But they couldn´t. The hard truth is that Specter won´t be a senator for PA anymore if he stays Repug. And I think they told him so behind closed doors. And Specter said so today that he won´t be a very loyal democrat. But I think it´ll be a Repug shit show the next 2 years. And I think Specter is grinning his ass off. Like I do.

See Contenders for Souter's Seat

Berlusconi 'pained' amid divorce reports

Berlusconi’s Wife Seeks a Divorce

By RACHEL DONADIO 7:54 AM ET

After openly criticizing her husband for cavorting with other women, the wife of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy said she wanted a divorce.

Ridge may run for Specter's Senate seat

Jack Kemp has died

WASHINGTON (May 2) -- Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative" died Saturday.

His spokeswoman Bona Park and longtime friend and former campaign adviser Edwin J. Feulner confirmed that Kemp died after a lengthy illness.

• Mixed reviews for W.H.'s FEC pick Politico - Fri May 1, 9:00 PM ET

Blunt: “Just because we’re in a situation now where we vote no doesn’t mean we are the ‘party of no.’”

I mean the GOP has a negro complex (c preceeding thread) and if the form of nihilism the party is currently showing surpasses the probably shitty outward appearance of a sewer rat for example by denouncing Bush-style stimulus programs with NO'S and kicking Arlen Specter out of the party, it's probably high NOon. Now, take me giver for example: I like to say yes from time to time and I like to drink coffee and waffle a lot. Now the GOP has the problem at current that its trying to suggest something like principles. They tortured and shot a lot and now they nerve black innocent B.Obama with their non-existing integrity.

thinkprogress.org

After Georgia Repugs intend to seperate to undermine US state integrity in terrorist ways, Rep Steve King (Repug-Iowa) focusses his unguided stream of insults on minorities.

Yesterday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) took to the House floor for an hour-long speech consisting of tired denunciations of Obama shaking hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and more hysterical complaints about how new hate crime legislation protects gays. During his tirade, King decided to direct part of his vitriol at the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, calling both organizations “separatist groups.”
thinkprogress

Hey, the old-911-unity (Police call for Repug standoff) is back: because the trick to succumb to numb and dumm (GWB&Cheney) didnt work, NWO flat-fahrters are now planning to ->SECEDE<-!!!! Flat Fahrting Friendly Fire on Fox Faux.FFFFFF uck

Raw Roundup: Obama ignores Fox at presser; GOP'er would sacrifice son to secede

Almost half of Georgia Republicans back secession

Gingrich insult rankles RNC members

Gingrich's miff-stymy syndroms (the cool dem approach he gets every 2 years - Kucinich is rocking Alice Cooper in comparison) continue to dictate the (despite of Gingrich remarks) free ways of the GOP.Forced to answer the Gingrich threat, the GOP answers in retaliation.

Gingrich insult rankles RNC members

Posted: 03:27 PM ET

From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

Gingrich said Thursday that RNC members think they are 'precious.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Several members of the Republican National Committee are miffed at Newt Gingrich for claiming that they’re a small bunch of egomaniacs who need to be coddled by the party chairman.

“Newt needs to take a breath,” New Jersey committeeman David Norcross told CNN.

Gingrich made the assertion on C-SPAN Thursday when asked about a new resolution put forth by some veteran members — including Norcross and RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen of Arizona — that would limit chairman Michael Steele’s ability to control how the committee spends its money.

That resolution has sparked a fresh round of infighting between Steele loyalists on the committee and entrenched members who backed other candidates for the chairmanship and remain skeptical of his leadership.

Bolton: We may have to accept 'Pakistani military takeover'

The next insider overperforming: hey we fueled a bit of fundamentalist fire by - hey - let me call it - ah - invading Iraq - and haha - now... YOu stupid democrats have to accept a military regime in Pakistan

Bolton: We may have to accept 'Pakistani military takeover'

Perennial Neoconservative gadfly John Bolton, who has often been accused of making exaggerated claims about Middle Eastern threats, is now suggesting that a military coup in Pakistan may be the only viable response to the growing power of the Taliban.

GOP Rep.: China has 'canceled US credit card'

Really helpful remark: Hey we sucked thru the last 8 years and now YOU get a fuck from China. Mindful GOP at its best. Must have been a must to install Vietnam veteran J.MCCain and his extension, non Russia Alaska Palin

GOP Rep.: China has 'canceled US credit card'

China, wary of the troubled US economy, has already "canceled America's credit card" by cutting down purchases of debt, a US congressman said Thursday.

China has the world's largest foreign reserves, believed to be mostly in dollars, along with around 800 billion dollars in US Treasury bonds, more than any other country.

But Treasury Department data shows that investors in China have sharply curtailed their purchases of bonds in January and February.

Representative Mark Kirk, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and co-chair of a group of lawmakers promoting relations with Beijing, said China had "very legitimate" concerns about its investments.

"It would appear, quietly and with deference and politeness, that China has canceled America's credit card," Kirk told the Committee of 100, a Chinese-American group.

"I'm not sure too many people on Capitol Hill realize that this is now happening," he said.

The Republican lawmaker said that China was justified in concerns about returns from finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were bailed out by the US government due to the financial crisis.

Kirk said he was the first member of Congress to tour the Bureau of Public Debt, which trades bonds, and was alarmed at how much debt was being bought by the US Federal Reserve due to absence of foreign investors.

"There will come a time where the lack of Chinese participation may have a significant impact," Kirk said.

"We should track that, because up until last month they were the number one provider of currency to the United States and now they're gone."

With China's economy also hit by the global economic crisis, Premier Wen Jiabao has openly voiced concern about the status of his country's investments in the United States.

China has also floated replacing the dollar as the key international currency with a basket of units bringing in the euro, sterling and yen.

More than 400 schools closed, 161 US flu cases

yahoo

More than 400 schools closed, 161 US flu cases

AP – 1 hr 21 mins ago

Supreme court justice Souter to retire

aol

Souter to Retire From Supreme Court

By JENNIFER LOVEN

AP

WASHINGTON (April 30) — Justice David Souter has told the White House that he will retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the court's term in June, a source said Thursday night.

The source spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for Souter.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kHNWxa5nOrc/SfqkmcPLQjI/AAAAAAAAEzc/fUzFgBoemc0/s320/Souter.jpg