Feds reject Army snub of Texas plant

GAO decision buoys Sealy plant’s effort to keep truck contract Read the full story

When mainstream media began reporting on the shooting at Fort Hood, numerous reports surfaced stating multiple shooters were involved. Why haven’t we heard more information about these other shooters? Instead, allegations regarding Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan’s involvement have garnered the most attention from the mainstream media.

This video shows CNN interviewing Sgt. Maj. Jamie Poston. During this interview, Sgt. Maj. Jamie Poston confirms multiple times that more than one shooter was involved: Read the full story

You can read H.R. 2943 by clicking here. (PDF file)

H.R. 2943: Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009

To eliminate most Federal penalties for possession of marijuana for personal use, and for other purposes. Read the full story

Broader Measure of U.S. Unemployment Stands at 17.5%

For all the pain caused by the Great Recession, the job market still was not in as bad shape as it had been during the depths of the early 1980s recession — until now. Read the full story

SCENARIOS-US Senate now in healthcare spotlight

WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) – After a narrow win in the U.S. House of Representatives, President Barack Obama’s fight for a sweeping healthcare overhaul moves to the U.S. Senate where it faces a difficult path to approval. Read the full story

Read the full story

WRAPUP 1-U.S. Senate healthcare bill includes public option

The White House Readies a Stealth Stimulus

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White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett was adamant on Sunday, when asked if President Obama was considering a so-called second stimulus to deal with the rising unemployment rate. “I think it’s too soon. It’s premature to say, ‘Is a second stimulus needed?’ ” she told David Gregory, the host of NBC’s Meet the Press.

But a moment later she said the White House was already looking at tax credits and other measures to further stimulate the economy. “There are a range of suggestions that are being considered right now by his economic team, and we’ll see what we come forward with,” she added. Read the full story

Healthcare overhaul bill clears Senate Finance Committee

Sen. Olympia Snowe is the sole Republican to side with Democrats as the bill passes, 14 to 9. Her support for the bill requiring health insurance for all Americans is seen as victory for Obama. Read the full story

The Washington Post:

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

– At long last, the Senate Finance Committee will vote on Chairman Max Baucus’s health-care bill. If the bill can’t gather at least one Republican vote — that means you, Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), above — expect Baucus’s name to be taken in vain by angry liberals who watched the protracted process the Montana Democrat oversaw in the name of bipartisanship result in a bill that left them less than pleased. Read the full story

Olbermann Offers “Special Comment” On Joe Wilson: ‘You’ve Embarrassed The Nation‘

On “Countdown” tonight host Keith Olbermann offered a “Special Comment” about Republican Congressman Joe Wilson yelling out “you lie” during President Obama’s speech last night to a joint session of Congress. Olbermann concludes that the only thing more offensive and embarrassing than the lack of civility Wilson displayed in “shouting at the President like he was a referee at a ball game and you were a drunk in the stands,” is that Wilson was glaringly wrong in a comment that has “embarrassed the nation.”

Olbermann digs deeper to uncover Wilson’s sometimes tumultuous relationship with the truth.

This is good news for Ron Paul and his Campaign for Liberty. There have been threats by the Fed and others that auditing the Fed would have devastating consequences for the American, and world, economy. What exactly are they hiding?

Check out the videos from Ron Paul and others for some more information on this topic. Read the full story

Should those who break marijuana laws in Georgia be caned or executed depending on the offense? A Georgia  lawmaker’s e-mail response suggests these should be the correct punishments.

via NORML’s blog (click here for the original article)

Georgia Lawmaker Calls For Caning, Executing Marijuana Offenders

[Editor's note: This post is excerpted from this week's forthcoming NORML weekly media advisory. To have NORML's media advisories delivered straight to your in-box, sign up for NORML's free e-zine here.]

State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) favors “caning” minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent.

In a July 29, 2009 e-mail (which was voluntarily forwarded to the NORML office), Rep. Benton wrote: “Thanks for the email. We will have to agree to disagree on this and whether or not money is wasted (by mandating the state to prosecute minor marijuana offenders). I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers. [emphasis NORML’s] That would solve the problem as well. That is what they do in Singapore and they don’t have a drug problem.”

Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal.

Rep. Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed with his political viewpoints to local law enforcement.

He wrote: “You and your cronies want it (marijuana) legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested. I have forwarded your email to the Lowndes County sheriffs [sic] office so that they can be on the lookout for you. [emphasis NORML’s] Consider this my last correspondence on the the [sic] subject to you or anyone else who shares your similar “conservative views’.”

Benton was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005.

The tensions and passions flaring on both sides of the health care reform battle are starting to overshadow the substance of the debate itself.

It’s a tinderbox that threatens the health of the reform package being pushed by Democrats. Read the full story

Two parties can’t agree on what to do about the economy

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – America’s two political parties don’t agree on much, but there’s one thing they do concur on: Even one job lost is one job too many.

After the Labor Department reported on Friday that the economy lost 247,000 jobs in July, the fewest in nearly a year, partisans rushed to deplore the state of the economy. See full story on the jobs report. They praised their own efforts, and condemned those of the other side.

“The worst may be behind us,” President Barack Obama said. The economy is moving in the right direction, with job losses only half as bad as when he took office. “We are turning this economy around,” Obama said.

“We are not in recovery yet, but we are starting to create the stability necessary to get us there and we will not be satisfied until we see robust monthly job growth,” said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. “These figures are a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do on behalf of America’s workers.”

Twelve million Americans have benefited from the increase in unemployment benefits that was included in the stimulus bill, Solis said. Chronic unemployment has surged to record levels in this recession, with more than a third of 14.5 million employed Americans having been without work for more than six months.

Rand Paul Enters Senate Race

From Kentucky Public Radio’s Lisa Autry

Bowling Green eye doctor Rand Paul says he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Jim Bunning. Paul officially declared his candidacy Wednesday, ending months of speculation. Read the full story

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports:

A Republican senator is calling for the White House to suspend a new project that asks members of the public to flag “fishy” claims about President Obama’s health care plans, arguing that it raises privacy concerns and will serve to chill free speech.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is sending a letter to the White House today asking the president to “cease this program immediately” — or to explain how Americans’ privacy will be protected if e-mails are forwarded to the White House as requested. Read the full story

Sotomayor picks up another GOP vote

WASHINGTON — Judge Sonia Sotomayor picked up another Republican vote Wednesday, but supporters from both parties said the underwhelming GOP support for the nation’s first Latina Supreme Court nominee could produce a political backlash.

“This is not a helpful moment for Republicans among Hispanics,” said Florida’s Sen. Mel Martinez, one of seven Republicans who have committed to vote for Sotomayor. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., became the latest name on the list when he announced his support for her in a Senate floor speech.