http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/category_rss/effectivegovernment Vietnam was my war, my senior trip.  58,000 dead, 304,000 wounded, most by small arms fire, up close, personal and such an adrenalin rush that many Vietnam veterans are hooked to this day.  Our fuses are short and our mood swings are legend, it takes a lot of VA prescription drugs to manage the madness.  No one tells a story like Bill Moyers, it is in his Baptist minister DNA, in the days of Jesus they called him teacher/master/rabbi, enjoy this lesson in history.  BTW, LBJ was not as dumb as he looked or sounded.  The real villains in this story are the Petraeus/Tommy Franks/McChrystal's of yesteryear. MC Watch and Listen http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhj http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhj/commentary#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:25:22 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhj Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZhj/ I noticed some of the right wing pundits are shouting that a civil trial is "too good" for Khalid Sheik Mohammed. I am mindful that five of the first ten amendments relate to civil rights pertaining to the accused. We deny those rights to anyone at our own peril. The fifth amendment mentions "except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; " After the "Patriot Act" I am not sure what we are left with. Timothy McVeigh was convicted by a civil trial. I affirm that a civil trial is our best chance of stating OUR case against terrorism and OUR belief in the rule of law. However, we have violated international law on so many levels for such a long time that our supposed belief in the Constitution and the rule of law is but a joke to the international community. Conservative estimates show that up to 88,585 Iraqi civilians have been killed since 2003, compared to 2,976 victims and the 19 hijackers died in the attacks. 2,700,000 Japans civilians and military killed for the deaths of 2,040 American civilian and military deaths at Pearl Harbor. Nothing like a "sneak" attack to bring the devil out in us, kill them all, let God sort them out.. Regardless of who killed whom, we were responsible for Iraq security as soon as we set foot in Baghdad and yes they had nothing to do with 9/11, nor did they possess anything that would create a "mushroom cloud." unless you count napalm. Something Powell said seems to fallen on deaf ears, "We break it we own it" MC [Article deleted] http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhM http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhM/commentary#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:23:15 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhM Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZhM/ This letter is in regards to a grave injustice done by Adams County Colorado prosecutors, Adams County Sheriffs officers, a lab department manager of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, who falsely presented drug test results that were negative as positive, to convict a 53 year old toddler teacher, pizza delivery driver of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs with a breathalyzer reading of 0.00. Diane Branthoover, the victim of this false arrest, trial and conviction has never been arrested prior to this incident. This is all documented testimony sworn under oath Mrs. Branthoover was a victim of snow covered roads, hypertension blood pressure of 202/108, and a county sheriff angry and determined to make an arrest, regardless of the cost. This is fully documented by drug test results that per federal laboratory mandates were to be reported as negative, perjured testimony under oath of arresting officer and State witness, more. Diane was also the victim of legal counsel that she hired that failed to present any defense what-so-ever during trial. The test results of Diane were never presented in court, just lab tech manager Cynthia Silva-BurBach testifying that she failed. When Diane received the actual lab results, researched the lab requirements to urine testing, she found that per federal law, they were to be reported as negative. The same test results could be presented to Department of Transportation for a commercial driver’s license. The same lab tech testified that the negative test results caused “uncontrollable eye and leg tremors” in Diane, as well as other unbelievable allegations. During the same trial, Adams County Sheriff Jason Gallegos testified that Diane crashed into concrete median and stop sign Highway 224 and York. There is not a stop sign or concrete median at that corner, it’s a traffic signaled intersection, as well as other perjured testimony as to Diane’s conduct. The same officer changed his testimony from an earlier hearing on the same incident. Her paid attorney Joe Lusk based his only defense on a label on the urine sample after Diane had given him everything he needed to get the case dismissed. He left her after trial crying uncontrollably, wondering what had happened. The same test results could be found by taking Advil, Nuprin, Motrin, Excedrin IB etc. Diane lost her job and reputation as a toddler teacher and delivery driver, lost the respect of her peers, her license, her vehicle, more. They charged her at the same time with careless driving or which she was also convicted causing 16 points on her driving record, and was refused a “red license” because she refused to admit alcohol use. Her husband lost his business because of this, and they have assumed a debt of over $11,000 – not including the home mortgage debt of over $220k. This is on appeal now before Adams County District court filed “pro se”, again all of this is documented and before the court awaiting decision. In the State’s response, they do not dispute the allegations describe here, except to say that the witnesses are beyond reproach. Because this is filed pro se, without attorney, she believes it will be brushed under the rug. Diane can provide all transcripts, drugs tests, pictures, etc., by contacting her or her husband at dyanfb@gmail.com or timthemechanic@gmail.com ; or by phone at 720 275-6985 or 720 338-7848. Sincerely, Tim and Diane Branthoover http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/timothybranthoover/CZhC http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/timothybranthoover/CZhC/commentary#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:52:38 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/timothybranthoover/CZhC User from Denver, CO User from Denver, CO 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZhC/ I will say it again, we are so bad at national defense that we had our pants down around our ankles for 52 minutes from the first strike on the WTC to the third strike on the Pentagon.  At a speed of 17,000 MPH an ICBM can travel the distance of 4,800 miles from Russia to the USA in about 17 minutes (Barely enough time to kiss your ass goodbye).  At 1500 MPH an F-16 can travel the distance fromWashington DC (204 miles) to New York City in 8 minutes, the time air traffic controllers suspected Flight 11 was hijacked and notification of NORAD, 20 minutes later.  Flight 11 hit the WTC 6 minutes later.  17 minutes later Flight 175 hits the second tower of the WTC.  35 minutes later Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon proving that it takes a general over an hour and 15 minutes to get his pants back on.  So why are we spending $1,688 every year on defense for every man, woman and child (all 305 million of us)?  So we can fight them over there?  So we can exploit the resources of third world countries?  Is an M-1 Abrams tank a defensive weapon?  A B-1 bomber?  An Apache attack helicopter?  An A-10 Wart Hog?  A Stealth fighter?  MCNY TimesNovember 15, 2009Op-Ed ColumnistThe Missing Link From Killeen to Kabul By FRANK RICH THE dead at Fort Hood had not even been laid to rest when their massacre became yet another political battle cry for the self-proclaimed patriots of the American right. Their verdict was unambiguous: Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an American-born psychiatrist of Palestinian parentage who sent e-mail to a radical imam, was a terrorist. And he did not act alone. His co-conspirators included our military brass, the Defense Department, the F.B.I., the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and, of course, the liberal media and the Obama administration. All these institutions had failed to heed the warning signs raised by Hasan’s behavior and activities because they are blinded by political correctness toward Muslims, too eager to portray criminals as sympathetic victims of social injustice, and too cowardly to call out evil when it strikes 42 innocents in cold blood . http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhB http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhB/commentary#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:41:32 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZhB Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZhB/ Keith Olbermann went on a tear tonight! Recently, Sen. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs) said this to his followers on Twitter: "Don't for a second, think Obama wants what is best for U.S. He is flying the U.S. Plane right into the ground at full speed. Let's Roll." As reported in today's Denver Post, Ed Kowalski, a director for the New York-based 9/11 Families for a Secure America, said Schultheis was "clearly" referring to United Flight 93, the plane that hijackers flew into the ground on 9/11. (Denver Post 11/12/09). "Let's roll" reportedly were the last words from one of the passengers just before they attempted to storm the cockpit. Schultheis claims in the Post article that he wasn't referring to Flight 93 and comparing President Obama to Al Qeada terrorists. But that's baloney, and we all know it. Tell Dave Schultheis what you think. http://www.ProgressNowColorado.org/Schultheis http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelditto/CZRy http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelditto/CZRy/commentary#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:29:44 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelditto/CZRy Michael Ditto http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/f660dc8ce688a8bfdc_5fmmv2i99.jpg Michael Ditto 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRy/ At the ProgressNow Bat Cave yesterday (also known as my co-worker Jen's teeny windowless office), we got to talking about Scott "McLobbyist" McInnis and the coup recently scored on his behalf in the Republican gubernatorial primary. It's really odd that Josh Penry left the race so suddenly , isn't it? And most media reported that a big reason Penry left the race was an "independent committee" set up to fight off any challengers to McInnis. This immediately got us thinking about our call last May for an investigation of McInnis after he left a voice mail message, leaked on the internet subsequently, describing in detail 'his 527'--inviting questions about illegal coordination between McInnis and 'his' so-called "independent committees." What happened this week to Penry could be seen as a confirmation of our worst fears. What we at ProgressNow would really like to do is talk to McInnis about this, get his response to these potentially serious allegations on the record. Unfortunately, McInnis doesn't grant very many interviews. And some of the interviews he has granted haven't gone so well . But then we remembered, we've got McInnis on the record addressing these very questions: the voice mail! If Scott McInnis were to come clean about his questionable campaign activities as we've called for over and over again, here's how we imagine the interview going. Not a real conversation, obviously! It would be nice to have this kind of candor in the non-parody world, wouldn't it? http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR9 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR9/commentary#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:23:21 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR9 Alan Franklin http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/1b6fb917dd91e10cc0_ge5omv53a.jpg Alan Franklin 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZR9/ A bit of war music for Veteran's Day, the dead cry, 'Remember me'  the mothers cry, 'I can't forget'  the nation cries, 'I know not war or sacrifice and we will forget'  MC Music from "Mansions of the Lord " The song was sung by the  West Point Glee Club  at the end of the movie "We Were Soldiers" "The Mansions of the Lord"  To fallen soldiers let us sing  where no rockets fly nor bullets wing  Our broken brothers let us bring  to the mansions of the Lord  No more bleeding no more fight  No prayers pleading through the night  just divine embrace, eternal light  in the mansions of the Lord  Where no mothers cry and no children weep  We will stand and guard tho the angels sleep  All through the ages safely keep the mansions of the Lord  Words by Randall Wallace http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRP http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRP/commentary#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:34:25 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRP Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRP/ Statement on Scott "McLobbyist" McInnis Avoiding Primary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 9, 2009 CONTACT: Michael Huttner, Founder at 303-931-4547 DENVER-- In response to reports that Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry is suddenly leaving the Republican race for Governor, Michael Huttner, the founder of ProgressNow Colorado released the following statement: "If this is true, it's the old D.C. lobbyist guard stepping out of the shadows to clear the field for Scott 'McLobbyist' McInnis. McInnis' ties to lobbyists, oil and gas interests, and corrupt cronies like Tom DeLay can't help but make one wonder what's really going on when his primary opponents start dropping out of the race. This comes on the heels of awful press for McInnis, detailing his flip-flop away from his former stand in favor of women's health rights to the extreme right. So right after outraging the conservative base by avoiding a primary, he's alienating the vast majority of Coloradans who support a woman's right to choose. And it should come as no surprise that this story broke first in Washington D.C. instead of Colorado, since that's where 'McLobbyist's' best friends are. We call on McInnis to disclose which of his lobbyist friends helped push Penry out." ### http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR7 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR7/commentary#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:44:56 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZR7 Alan Franklin http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/1b6fb917dd91e10cc0_ge5omv53a.jpg Alan Franklin 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZR7/ As Colorado Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry hypocritically attacked the state government and Governor Bill Ritter during Colorado's ongoing budget crisis, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization demanded Wednesday that Penry come clean about immediate family members both recently hired and currently employed by Mesa State College. "It is ridiculous beyond belief that 'Pandering' Josh Penry misrepresents fiscal reality and vital state services for political gain, while his own family pockets state funds each payday," said ProgressNow Colorado Founder Michael Huttner. Penry's Misrepresentation  The  Denver Post  recently reported that despite Penry's attacks on Governor Ritter's so-called "hiring spree," most of the growth in state employment can be traced to simple population growth, increases mandated by the voter's passage of Referendum C in 2005, and legislation passed by the General Assembly--including legislation sponsored by Sen. Penry. (Denver Post,  "Analysis suggests increased Colorado state jobs may be overstated,"  10/11/2009) Penry's Hypocrisy  Last week, the  Grand Junction Sentinel  reported that state-funded Mesa State College "has a history of hiring former political workers and those connected to them," including Kristi Pollard, the recently-hired 'Interim Director of Development' at Mesa State and Sen. Josh Penry's sister. Jamie Penry, Sen. Penry's wife, is also a former Mesa State employee according to the  Sentinel . ( Grand Junction Sentinel , "Mesa State hires as campus grows, enrollment soars," 10/25/2009) "That Penry would make these lazy, irresponsible accusations, while his own family snaps up the very same high-paying state jobs Penry complains the loudest about, is just mind-boggling and laughable," said Huttner. "Penry at the very least owes the public a good explanation. I think he owes the public, and thousands of hard working Colorado civil servants he's insulted, an apology as well." "Finally," concluded Huttner, "we call on Penry to immediately disclose whether he personally has sought employment at Mesa State College while serving in the Colorado General Assembly, or at any time discussed the hiring of his family members with Mesa State officials."  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRm http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRm/commentary#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:55:15 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRm Alan Franklin http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/1b6fb917dd91e10cc0_ge5omv53a.jpg Alan Franklin 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRm/ Triumph of the Money Party Michael Collins Do you know what the "public option" does or who it covers?  If you've had trouble finding out, it's not your fault.  Reading corporate media coverage provides little or no clue.  It's hardly ever defined.  There's a very good reason for the lack of clarity and definition.  But first, a brief summary of the public debate that characterizes just about every public debate we have on critical issues. If you think that the current version of the public option will provide a choice for a government administered health program, you're right.  If you think that this option was designed for the general public, then you're wrong.  It will apply to only some of the uninsured, possibly as few as six million citizens.  It's a kind of public option. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/mcollins/CZRk http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/mcollins/CZRk/commentary#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:21:27 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/mcollins/CZRk Michael Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/0f4307568de17110c5_xdbmv2rzb.jpg Michael Collins 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRk/ "If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat every problem as a nail"Don't think we suck at nation building?"The record of past U.S. experience in democratic nation building is daunting. The low rate of success is a sobering reminder that these are among the most difficult foreign policy ventures for the United States. Of the sixteen such efforts during the past century, democracy was sustained in only four cases ten years after the departure of U.S. forces. Two of these followed the total defeat and surrender of Japan and Germany after World War II, and two were tiny Grenada and Panama." Source NY TimesOctober 29, 2009Op-Ed ColumnistMore Schools, Not Troops By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Dispatching more troops to Afghanistan would be a monumental bet and probably a bad one, most likely a waste of lives and resources that might simply empower the Taliban. In particular, one of the most compelling arguments against more troops rests on this stunning trade-off: For the cost of a single additional soldier stationed in Afghanistan for one year, we could build roughly 20 schools there. It’s hard to do the calculation precisely, but for the cost of 40,000 troops over a few years — well, we could just about turn every Afghan into a Ph.D. The hawks respond: It’s naïve to think that you can sprinkle a bit of education on a war-torn society. It’s impossible to build schools now because the Taliban will blow them up. In fact, it’s still quite possible to operate schools in Afghanistan — particularly when there’s a strong “buy-in” from the local community. Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea,” has now built 39 schools in Afghanistan and 92 in Pakistan — and not one has been burned down or closed. The aid organization CARE has 295 schools educating 50,000 girls in Afghanistan, and not a single one has been closed or burned by the Taliban. The Afghan Institute of Learning , another aid group, has 32 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with none closed by the Taliban (although local communities have temporarily suspended three for security reasons). In short, there is still vast scope for greater investment in education, health and agriculture in Afghanistan. These are extraordinarily cheap and have a better record at stabilizing societies than military solutions, which, in fact, have a pretty dismal record. In Afghanistan, for example, we have already increased our troop presence by 40,000 troops since the beginning of last year, yet the result has not been the promised stability but only more casualties and a strengthened insurgency. If the last surge of 40,000 troops didn’t help, why will the next one be so different? Matthew P. Hoh, an American military veteran who was the top civilian officer in Zabul Province, resigned over Afghan policy , as The Washington Post reported this week. Mr. Hoh argues that our military presence is feeding the insurgency, not quelling it. Already our troops have created a backlash with Kabul University students this week burning President Obama in effigy until police dispersed them with gunshots. The heavier our military footprint, the more resentment — and perhaps the more legitimacy for the Taliban. Schools are not a quick fix or silver bullet any more than troops are. But we have abundant evidence that they can, over time, transform countries, and in the area near Afghanistan there’s a nice natural experiment in the comparative power of educational versus military tools. Since 9/11, the United States has spent $15 billion in Pakistan , mostly on military support, and today Pakistan is more unstable than ever. In contrast, Bangladesh, which until 1971 was a part of Pakistan, has focused on education in a way that Pakistan never did. Bangladesh now has more girls in high school than boys. (In contrast, only 3 percent of Pakistani women in the tribal areas are literate.) Those educated Bangladeshi women joined the labor force, laying the foundation for a garment industry and working in civil society groups like BRAC and Grameen Bank . That led to a virtuous spiral of development, jobs, lower birth rates, education and stability. That’s one reason Al Qaeda is holed up in Pakistan, not in Bangladesh, and it’s a reminder that education can transform societies. When I travel in Pakistan, I see evidence that one group — Islamic extremists — believes in the transformative power of education. They pay for madrassas that provide free schooling and often free meals for students. They then offer scholarships for the best pupils to study abroad in Wahhabi madrassas before returning to become leaders of their communities. What I don’t see on my trips is similar numbers of American-backed schools. It breaks my heart that we don’t invest in schools as much as medieval, misogynist extremists. For roughly the same cost as stationing 40,000 troops in Afghanistan for one year, we could educate the great majority of the 75 million children worldwide who, according to Unicef, are not getting even a primary education. We won’t turn them into graduate students, but we can help them achieve literacy. Such a vast global education campaign would reduce poverty, cut birth rates, improve America’s image in the world, promote stability and chip away at extremism. Education isn’t a panacea, and no policy in Afghanistan is a sure bet. But all in all, the evidence suggests that education can help foster a virtuous cycle that promotes stability and moderation. So instead of sending 40,000 troops more to Afghanistan, how about opening 40,000 schools? NY Times http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRl http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRl/commentary#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:49:35 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZRl Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRl/ At a press conference this morning, ProgressNow Colorado described how Norton's first financial disclosures include corrupt DC lobbyists organized by her sister and brother-in-law, both of whom are DC lobbyists.  They revealed a confidential invitation spearheaded by Norton's relatives and the lobbyist money that followed. The group also joined over 400 of its members in calling on former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton to sign the "Family Transparency Pledge" rejecting trips, gifts, campaign donations and benefits from relatives who are lobbyists. "A puppet of corporate lobbyists in her family, Norton is the DC lobbyist's dream candidate," noted Michael Huttner, Founder of ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization.  "It's only been a month and already Norton has a record of surrounding herself with corrupt DC lobbyists." Since the morning Norton announced her campaign, over 400 Coloradans have joined the call for Norton to sign the pledge.  She continues to refuse to sign it. "We call on Jane Norton to stop placing DC special interests in Washington and sign the 'Family Transparency Pledge' today," stated Huttner.  "We believe that Norton needs to reject trips or economic benefits through her relatives who are lobbyists." Norton has failed to sign the "Family Transparency Pledge": I, Jane Norton, pledge to the People of Colorado, that I am committed to fighting the undue influence of special interests in Washington, DC. Accordingly, I pledge that I will reject any trips, gifts, campaign donations or economic benefits that are provided to me through my relatives who are lobbyists by the companies that hire them to influence public policy. Download a printable .PDF copy of the Pledge here: http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/-/Family%20Transparency%20Pledge.pdf Norton's relatives who are lobbyists include: Judy Black  (Norton's sister) is a DC lobbyist  whose clients include those from the for-profit health care and medical device companies, oil companies, chemical companies and the banking industry . ( Washington Post , June 10, 2004; U.S. Secretary of the Senate Lobbying Disclosure Database, 9/10/2009) Charlie Black  (Norton's brother in law) head of BKSH & Associates  is a DC lobbyist and made a lucrative career of representing foreign oil companies, tobacco companies, drug companies, auto companies and defense contractors. ( Washington Post , 12/31/2007;  Business Week , 7/19/2004) and even Zaire dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.( People's Weekly World , 3/1/2008)   Black is so deeply entwined with tobacco companies he is known in Washington as "Mr. Tobacco." The well-connected Black used BKSH & Associates to cash in on the homeland security consulting bonanza after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was a consultant to Ahmad Chalabi, the CIA-connected Iraqi whose lies about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction promoted Bush's preemptive war on Iraq.  BKSH also coached Eric Prince, CEO of Blackwater USA, before he testified on his mercenary company's massacre of scores of innocent Iraqis. ( PWW ) A sample of Lobbyists in Norton's Disclosures (amount date of donation): Alex Castellanos $2400 on 9/29,  a  CNN talking head recently exposed for being a media buyer for America's Health Insurance Plan's (AHIP) during the health care debate , he was an adviser to Bush/Cheney 2004, and known for being the "father of the modern attack ad,"  was the creator of the race-baiting Jesse Helms "Hands" ad  [ Politico , 10/15/09;  www.natmedia.com ; Greg Sargent,  The Plum Line , 10/15/08] Kristen Chadwick $500 on 9/22:   She lobbies   for the European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company (EADS).  Her work for EADS came under scrutiny recently after it was revealed that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had written letters to the Defense Department asking it to reconsider a contracting requirement seen as disadvantageous to EADS.  Shortly thereafter, the Defense Department made the requested change, and EADS eventually won the $35 billion contract to manufacture the next generation of in-flight refueling tanker planes.( New York Times , 3/12/2008) Rick Davis $2000 on 9/30,  John McCain's on-again-off-again 2008 campaign chief, was one of the Washington uber-lobbyists behind McCain's political operation from Davis Manafort, who lobbied for Verizon and foreign governments, including some unregistered liaison work between Sen. McCain and a Russian oligarch [ NY Times , 5/20/08;  Washington Post , 1/25/08]  Davis came under fire for his conflicts of interest as McCain's 2000 campaign manager, since his clients SBC Communications Inc. and Comsat Corp. had mergers pending before Chairman McCain's Senate Commerce Committee. [ Politico , 7/11/07] Frank Donatelli $1000 on 9/29 , a former deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee and recently elected chair of GOPAC, now a lobbyist and director of federal public affairs McGuireWoods Consulting, where his past clients have included Anthem and Verizon [ www.opensecrets.org ; www.mwcllc.com ].  McGuireWoods  was part of the legal defense team for indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay , and was fined $4,500 by the FEC in 2005 on an unrelated matter for failing to file a quarterly report for its PAC in 2004 [ Richmond Times Dispatch , 11/24/05, accessed via Nexis 10/26/09] Benjamin L. Ginsberg $500 on 9/29,  GOP election lawyer who led the Bush-Gore recount, and currently a lobbyist at mega-lobbying shop Patton-Boggs LLP [ www.opensecrets.org ;  www.pattonboggs.com ].   Ginsberg resigned from the 2004 Bush campaign after it was discovered that he had consulted with both the campaign and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth , but maintained, after the Kerry campaign filed an FEC complaint, that his dual roles were legal. [ Roll Call , 8/30/04] Susan B. Hirschmann $1000 on 9/30 , a former chief of staff to Tom DeLay, who went from Congress through the revolving door to become a lobbyist at Williams & Jensen, where her clients include AstraZenica, Pfizer, and Wyeth [ www.opensecrets.org ;  www.williamsandjensen.com ]   At DeLay's office, Hirschmann had worked with Jack Abramoff's office to arrange a famous trip to St. Andrews golf course in Scotland, with her husband travelling on Abramoff's credit card  [ Washington Post , 12/20/06].  Hirschmann was one of the top two congressional staff members to take privately financed travel between 2000-2005, totaling $85,000 over a 26-month period [ Washington Post , 6/9/06;  Center for Public Integrity , 6/8/06] Bob Livingston $500 on 9/10 , the one-time successor to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Appropriations Committee Chairman, who resigned from the US House during the Clinton impeachment after allegations of extramarital affairs surfaced.  Livingston became a lobbyist within a week of leaving Congress, founding the Livingston Group, which earned over $9 million in lobbying income in 2008 [ Times-Picayune , 8/13/09, accessed via Nexis 10/25/09; www.opensecrets.org ].   A report in 2007 claimed that a third of his firm's income came from foreign governments  [ NY Times , 10/17/07]  Livingston was once part of a team of investors that tried to open a restaurant with Jack Abramoff before scandal broke and the deal fell through. [ Roll Call , 11/17/05] Scott W. Reed $500 on 9/25,  Bob Dole's 1996 campaign manager and now a lobbyist and founder of Chesapeake Enterprises  [ www.opensecrets.org ], has lobbied and consulted with numerous clients, including the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, who hired Reed along with Charlie Black [Real Estate Finance Today, 7/17/00, accessed via Nexis 10/26/09].  Other clients included American Taxpayers Alliance, a group that ran attack ads to sway the 2002 Illinois Supreme Court elections in favor of a pro-US Chamber of Commerce justice candidate. [Forbes, 7/21/03]  Reed inherited the Saginaw Chippewa tribe of Michigan as a client from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff after Sen. McCain launched an investigation into Abramoff's activities.  [ The Hill , 5/8/07] Ed Rogers $500 on 9/25 , chairman of The BGR Group, which he founded with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, lists Citigroup, the Kurdistan Regional Government, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Raytheon among his clients.   Rogers was exposed engaging in a campaign to undermine Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, contradicting the official policy of the White House in Iraq  [ www.bgrdc.com ;  www.opensecrets.org ; CNN, 8/24/07] Norton has yet to disclose why she never registered as a lobbyist: Norton refuses to explain why she never personally registered as a lobbyist, even though she was the head of "Government Relations" for a health insurance lobbying organization. The press yesterday to the company confirmed Norton headed "the lobbying arm" of the company. ( Colorado Independent , 9/14/2009; Washington Times , 9/14/2009) Between 1994 and 1999, Norton was the Director of Government Relations for the Medical Group Management Association, the public policy and lobbying arm of a for-profit health trade lobbying organization.  (Denver Post, December 19, 1999)  Yet an extensive search of state and federal lobbyist disclosure records has not found any lobbying disclosure records by Norton. (U.S. Secretary of the Senate Lobbyists Disclosure Database and Colorado SOS Lobbyist Database) The entire time, it appears that Norton never registered as either a federal or state lobbyist. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRf http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRf/commentary#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:47:48 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/al/CZRf Alan Franklin http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/1b6fb917dd91e10cc0_ge5omv53a.jpg Alan Franklin 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZRf/ Lets see, McChrystal wants 40,000 troops and his boss, Petraeus, is keeping his mouth shut. What's up with that? MC "— Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s reported recommendation of 40,000 additional troops — is itself counterinsurgency light. In his definitive recent field manual on the subject, Gen. David Petraeus stipulates that real counterinsurgency requires 20 to 25 troops for each thousand residents. That comes out, conservatively, to 640,000 troops for Afghanistan (population, 32 million). Some 535,000 American troops couldn’t achieve a successful counterinsurgency in South Vietnam, which had half Afghanistan’s population and just over a quarter of its land area."   http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnJ http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnJ/commentary#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:27:51 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnJ Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnJ/ Could $292,000 pay for a college or trade school education, room and board?  Subsidize a young person until they could land a good job?  With the change left over, could it pay to make high school more hospitable to the poor? For public works projects? For more teachers? Research and development?  We ignore the needs of young people at a terrible cost. And yes, it does take a village.  What are the economic effects of 1.2 million high school dropouts per year?  At $7,300 per student, that amounts to $8.76 billion a year, year two adds another 1.2 million students and becomes $17.52 billion, ad infinitum. Can we solve the problem?  Can we afford not to? What can you buy with $8.76 billion?  How about 175,200 teachers at $50 K a pop, that's one teacher for every 7 dropouts.  MC "The report puts the collective cost to the nation over the working life of each high school dropout at $292,000. Mr. Sum said that figure took into account lost tax revenues, since dropouts earn less and therefore pay less in taxes than high school graduates. It also includes the costs of providing food stamps and other aid to dropouts and of incarcerating those who turn to crime." October 9, 2009 Study Finds High Rate of Imprisonment Among Dropouts By SAM DILLON On any given day, about one in every 10 young male high school dropouts is in jail or juvenile detention, compared with one in 35 young male high school graduates, according to a new study of the effects of dropping out of school in an America where demand for low-skill workers is plunging. The picture is even bleaker for African-Americans, with nearly one in four young black male dropouts incarcerated or otherwise institutionalized on an average day, the study said. That compares with about one in 14 young, male, white, Asian or Hispanic dropouts. Researchers at Northeastern University used census and other government data to carry out the study, which tracks the employment, workplace, parenting and criminal justice experiences of young high school dropouts. "We’re trying to show what it means to be a dropout in the 21st century United States," said Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern, who headed a team of researchers that prepared the report. "It’s one of the country’s costliest problems. The unemployment, the incarceration rates — it’s scary." A coalition of civil rights and public education advocacy groups and a network of alternative schools in Chicago commissioned the report as part of a push for new educational opportunities for the nation’s 6.2 million high school dropouts. "The dropout rate is driving the nation’s increasing prison population, and it’s a drag on America’s economic competitiveness," said Marc H. Morial, the former New Orleans mayor who is president of the National Urban League, one of the groups in the coalition that commissioned the report. "This report makes it clear that every American pays a cost when a young person leaves school without a diploma." The report puts the collective cost to the nation over the working life of each high school dropout at $292,000. Mr. Sum said that figure took into account lost tax revenues, since dropouts earn less and therefore pay less in taxes than high school graduates. It also includes the costs of providing food stamps and other aid to dropouts and of incarcerating those who turn to crime. Continued at the: NY Times http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnn http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnn/commentary#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:25:13 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnn Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnn/ From the Bob Herbert op/ed, "Igniting the Growth of Jobs" NY Times '40,000 teachers lost their jobs in the last year.  16 to 29 year olds, worst unemployment ever since national records have been kept.   One in four black men in Illinois between the ages of 20 and 24 has a job.' One of the regents of the University of Colorado, Michael Carrigan, told me that Colorado had a return on investment of 40 to 1 for each dollar invested in higher ed. The only figures I could find for Colorado was a 15.07 percent return.  New Jersey leads the nation with 42.32 percent, followed by Massachusetts 39.16, New York 37.82, California 36.53 percent.  All in all a substantial return on investment.  The lowest in the nation, predictably, was Mississippi at 6.49 percent.  Most surprisingly, Indiana is second from the bottom at 7.22 percent Higher Ed Return on Investment for States Most significantly, Herbert says this: ""The past," as William Faulkner told us, "is not dead. It’s not even past ." The lessons of the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s are right in front of us, ready to be studied, analyzed, updated and applied to the present-day needs of the country." I hate to say this, but we are a country of nepotism, in our unions, our military, in corporations, in government.  Because of this "inbreeding" and counterproductive behavior, we must import the brightest minds/strongest work ethics from around the world to carry our water and be used as if indentured servants.  It is all a vast pyramid scheme where the unqualified extinguish the flames of the most gifted and reap the rewards off the backs of the timid.  Their only qualification?  Being members of the lucky sperm club.  Here's something the "conservative revision" Bible will surely leave out, "As you have done to the least of these......."  The least very much includes the youthful poor, who have no say in the conditions they find themselves in and obviously don't have the attention of those that have the most.  While we argue about war, healthcare, social justice, gay rights, Obama's Nobel Prize, etc., no one considers our most precious asset nor what should be our greatest legacy to them, "Liberty and Justice for all .."  This is what is great about the idea of America, eloquently pronounced in the Preamble of the Constitution, not just to ourselves but to our Posterity,  the word was capitalized unlike the word "ourselves": http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnG http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnG/commentary#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:30:58 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnG Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnG/ Early on Kristoff suggests that Congress eliminate insurance for 15% of their members and let that 15% take their children to an emergency room for care. NOT going to happen, however he will incur apoplectic reaction from the jingoists for "demeaning" the holiness of 9/11. Forever waving the bloody flag of 9/11, never stopping to consider those responsible for allowing it to happen, the unconscionable attack of Iraq, our unlawful and horrific violations of human decency, the civilian casualties ("We don't do body counts"). The most cowardly concept that "fighting them over there.........." by recruiting our economically disadvantaged citizens and green card immigrants was somehow noble and justified defilement of the Constitution, death and disfigurement to innocents. A most arrogant display to the rest of the world of what we are actually capable of. For a country that spends $600 Billion on "defense" allowing a 58 minute attack on three different targets was absurdly incompetent. The absurdity of what we spend is a whole other can of worms. "............We accept that life is unfair, that some people will live in cramped apartments and others in sprawling mansions. But our existing insurance system is not simply inequitable but also lethal: a very recent, peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Public Health finds that nearly 45,000 uninsured people die annually as a consequence of not having insurance. That’s one needless death every 12 minutes. When nearly 3,000 people were killed on 9/11, we began wars and were willing to devote more than $1 trillion in additional expenses. Yet about the same number of Americans die from our failed insurance system every three weeks. The obstacle isn’t so much money as priorities. America made it a priority to provide tax breaks, largely to the wealthy, in the Bush years, at a 10-year cost including interest of $2.4 trillion. Allocating less than half that much to assure equal access to health care isn’t deemed an equal priority............." Complete Op/Ed at The NY Times http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnM http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnM/commentary#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:50:51 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnM Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnM/ "Don't look back, they may be gaining on you." :-)) denver and the west Romanoff's Senate campaign raises more than $200,000 By The Denver Post The campaign for U.S. Senate candidate-come-lately Andrew Romanoff said Tuesday that it had raised more than $200,000 in the 21 days he was eligible to collect donations in the third quarter. Romanoff needed a big start to show he's viable, though he will have to keep up the pace to compete with the fundraising juggernaut of Sen. Michael Bennet, who has taken in $2.5 million and counting since his appointment in January, analysts say. Romanoff fundraisers collected cash from more than 1,500 individuals, said spokeswoman Joelle Martinez, using that figure to bolster Romanoff's image as the race's grassroots candidate. Continued at the Denver Post http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnx http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnx/commentary#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:24:38 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnx Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnx/ I have been researching the two most costly battles in Afghanistan, the most recent at Kadesh and the previous one at Wanat .  Both American outposts were located at the base of the mountains rather than on top.  This link will take you to a detailed topographical Google map: Topo Map  of Wanat, AfghanistanAnother image showing the elevations surrounding the base here   Not sure who was responsible for the locations of these two bases,  but you can bet your ass a general would never admit responsibility and they will probably charge the battalion commander who would have little control over the general location of base, but should at the least control the strategic location.  As was the case in Vietnam, there are many incompetent officers, generals on down.  Some come from desk jobs at the Pentagon with the purpose of getting their ticket punched with a combat command.  The most capable officers in the military don't have the political skill necessary to make it past full bird Colonel and have too much pride to wear knee pads.  Considering that the two attacks were about a year apart and had many of the same problems, I would tend to hold General McChrystal responsible for not properly advising those in his command about the dangers of locating a base in a valley.  Then again, there is his commander, good old CENTCOM Commander, David Petraeus . In the case of both Kadesh and Wanat, civilians had been killed by accident and inflamed the locals.  In my humble opinion,  we can not succeed in Afghanistan because of a failure in military leadership , a very deadly prognosis for the boots on the ground. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZng http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZng/commentary#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:27:08 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZng Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZng/ If one were consider the US financial industry as a threat to the welfare of the nation and an entity without constraint or regulation, being in effect outside the law of the US with many foreign investors in collusion might legally be considered "foreign" and a quasi government, fully capable of seriously injuring the host nation. One might also assume that given the conservative/capitalistic propensity that the 14th Ammendment gives corporations citizenship status, a conclusion might be drawn that the US government (of, by and for the people) has been overthrown and seriously injured without a shot being fired. As far as attracting "good people" and your belief that members of Congress work long hours, them making more money in the private sector, reasonable compensation, I find all to be extremely laughable. Assuming that most members of congress are lawyers and also taking into consideration their incompetence as law makers, I would be hard pressed to hire one of them: In May 2006, the median annual earnings of all wage-and-salaried lawyers were $102,470. The middle half of the occupation earned between $69,910 and $145,600. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of lawyers in May 2006 were: Management of companies and enterprises $128,610 Federal Government 119,240 Legal services 108,100 Local government 78,810 State government 75,840 "Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as: "...[a]...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the [parent nation]." "Outside legal spheres, the word "traitor" may also be used to describe a person who betrays (or is accused of betraying) their own political party, nation, family, friends, ethnic group, team, religion, social class, or other group to which they may belong. Often, such accusations are controversial and disputed, as the person may not identify with the group of which they are a member, or may otherwise disagree with the group leaders making the charge." http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnC http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnC/commentary#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:51:01 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnC Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnC/ My advice to Pelosi and Reid, present and promote solutions to our problems, divest their corporate collusion, ignore Republican obstruction, even if it means changing the rules of the filibuster and severely punish, by any means necessary, Democrats that don't play well with other members of their party. This is a battle between the people and the political parties/corporatocracy. The only way this battle can be won by the people? Continued exposure of elected officials and their complicity in the defilement of democracy, which is treasonous by definition, regardless of party affiliation. Many party officials disapprove of self examination or critical observations regarding ethics, leadership or devotion to the principles of democracy (free and equal representation of people). Primaries are heretical and grassroots activism is discouraged. Within limits, never ask for permission because authority is invariably hard wired to say no and that just compounds frustration and discourages activism. Public financing of federal and state elections is a step in the right direction, but even if it were instituted, we would still have a problem with lobbyists writing laws. Lawmakers encourage this practice, either because they are understaffed or lazy. We already know they only read the summary and not the fine print. Bills violate the most important rule of all, Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) and they are purposely kept indecipherable for a reason, to conceal cronyism and pork. You think members of Congress work hard for the money? "By the time the gavel comes down on the 109th Congress on Friday, members will have "worked" a total of 103 days. That's seven days fewer than the infamous "Do-Nothing Congress" of 1948." (Last figures I can find) Rank and file congressional pay is three and half times the median income of the United States. Three times the median income of an electronics engineer, four times the median income of K-12 teachers, almost eight times the median income of a preschool teacher and last but not least, $56,000 more than median income of a GP Doctor. That would leave the 109th Congress 262 days to travel, campaign, extort money, etc., instead of writing laws, answering emails, letters and faxes and generally doing the work of the people. U.S. Congressional salaries and benefits have been the source of taxpayer unhappiness and myths over the years. Here are some facts for your consideration. Rank-and-File Members: The current salary (2009) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year Congress: Leadership Members' Salary (2009) Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members. Senate Leadership Majority Party Leader - $193,400 Minority Party Leader - $193,400 House Leadership Speaker of the House - $223,500 Majority Leader - $193,400 Minority Leader - $193,400 Add to all of this, up to 80% of their pay when they retire. $139,200 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnB http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnB/commentary#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:57:11 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/michaelcollins/CZnB Mike Collins http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/profile_picture/bcdcfd97be4d93f8d2_izvrmv8p8.jpg Mike Collins 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CZnB/