WVblog for Democracy

Cell phone help

2006-01-30T02:58:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

currently I use Sprint as my provider but my contract is up. I am thinking about my options and have looked at various sites, but I am not sure what I want. I am hoping I can get some visitors here to give me advice. Thanks

Fitzgerald

2005-10-29T08:33:00.000-05:00

emotional I had the same reaction to Fitzgerald press conference as Hilzoy. That is my gut told me to trust him, and I certainly hope our guts are right, but parsing his language closely I have some second thoughts.

In a way I agree with the Republicans here Fitzgerald should have brought charges of espionage.

Excerpted from the transcript at:http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/28/politics/28text-fitz.html?pagewanted=all

QUESTION: The indictment describes Lewis Libby giving classified information concerning the identify of a CIA agent to some individuals who were not eligible to receive that information. Can you explain why that does not, in and of itself, constitute a crime?

FITZGERALD: That's a good question. And I think, knowing that he gave the information to someone who was outside the government, not entitled to receive it, and knowing that the information was classified, is not enough.

FITZGERALD: You need to know at the time that he transmitted the information, he appreciated that it was classified information, that he knew it or acted, in certain statutes, with recklessness.

(The problem with this is that Fitzgerald's own inditment shows that Scooter was well aware the information he was leaking was classified.)

(break)
But at the end of the day, I think I want to say one more thing, which is: When you do a criminal case, if you find a violation, it doesn't really, in the end, matter what statute you use if you vindicate the interest.

(Republican talking points demonstrate that just isn't so. A lot of people rolled over and went back to sleep, because they were not alerted by a sexy charge like espionage. That contributes to the damage done our national security, by encouraging Republicans to continue to demonstrate that they value the lives of intelligence sources abroad at less than nothing.)

If Mr. Libby is proven to have done what we've alleged -- convicting him of obstruction of justice, perjury and false statements -- very serious felonies -- will vindicate the interest of the public in making sure he's held accountable.

(As I pointed out above that aint necissisarily so. Also a pardon is likely to wipe out any benefit attending putting Scooter in jail might have.)

It's not as if you say, Well, this person was convicted but under the wrong statute.

(Reference to the Espionage act)

So there are people who should argue that you should never use that statute because it would become like the Official Secrets Act.

I don't buy that theory, but I do know you should be very careful in applying that law because there are a lot of interests that could be implicated in making sure that you picked the right case to charge that statute.

Me: I noticed that I didn't understand that phrase at the time he said it but looking at it in print I agree with Bilmon; its gibberish.

I also believe Bilmon when he says that based on the case Fitzgerald already has there is a better case for conviction under the Espionage act than some cases other prosecutors have already won. I hope Fitzgerald plans to bring such charges, but I am afraid he is going to take a dive.

Brad deLong: Once again points out the obvious

2005-04-13T15:10:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace
Brad dealing keeps pounding on the table as only an economist can do. He points out again and again that while there is reason to believe that economic growth may be lower in the future than it has been in the past, there is none to believe that stock market returns can offer historical profits in such a low growth environment.
Macro Lunch: "Asset Returns and Economic Growth
Yep. However:

1 If there is a trend toward lower economic growth, it has not so far as I am aware been reflected in our actual economic statistics.

2 The Bush administration has been working without cease to permanently increase returns to capital while depressing those to labor. They have enjoyed considerable success in achievinghose aims.

3 There are strong theoretical reasons to believe that the Bush administration by accomplishing (2) above, increase the chances of (1) becoming true.

Meeting with Mollohan's Office

2005-04-11T09:47:00.000-05:00

If you are free on April 14th at NOON. I encourage all of you to come to Congressman Mollohan's Morgantown office to meet with his staff. This is a great chance to make sure that he shares our concerns with the way the administration is handling social security. Also this is an excellent opportunity for our group to introduce ourselves and hopefully gain a powerful ally.

A reminder to myself

2005-04-07T14:59:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

I tend to forget this in all the econ doom and gloom.

CM- True enough, still as developing markets grow they will find they need more and more currency reserves. When the dollar depreciates everyone else in the world will find that they need a bigger (in absolute dollars) currency reserve to do the same job. I'm not claiming the situation is stable, but until another currency is ready to become the reserve currency, the US will be able to effectively tax the rest of the world. Since China and India are growing rapidly those "tax" revenues should be growing rapidly as well. So we get away with it, until we don't. Quiting this junk will be worse than giving up heroin, so maybe its a good thing Bush seems intent on ruining our "full faith and credit."
Frank | Homepage | 04.07.05 - 12:09 pm | #

Monthly Meeting

2005-04-07T13:23:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone that attneded our meeting. I think it was very productive and that we hashed out a good bit of business. Also thank you to the members of Harrison County DFA for attending. It was really nice to hear how things are progressing in your neck of the woods.

Tom Friedman: Apologist for the Bush Administration

2005-04-04T07:49:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

Last night I was reading a couple of posts by Jeanie de Arc on Tom Friedman href="http://bodyandsoul.typepad.com/blog/2005/04/john_paul_and_t.html">here href="http://bodyandsoul.typepad.com/blog/2005/04/tom_friedman_ha.html">and here

I thought she was too harsh on him having an econ degree myself.
"You need only read Tom Friedman's paean not to creating economic relationships that meet human needs, but to creating men and women who fit neatly into the economic machine, to see a perfect, and repulsive, example of what John Paul was talking about." Is just part of her critique.

Then I was going threw some old Globblog (General Glut)archive here about 60% down the page
I like his thinking though I often don't entirely agree.

"but is anyone naive enough to believe that no jobless recovery would have occurred on Al Gore’s watch?" Globblog asks.

And it occured to me that the whole point of Friedman's column "It's a Flat World, After All"... Flat World here
...is that its not Bush's fault that we are in a jobless recovery. Its because Americans are lazy and stupid. Which is of course BS of the rankest ordure. Americans work more hours than anyone in the industrial world. Americans have amoung the highest productivity and proportion of advanced degrees as well. Further and more importantly; The conditions he is describing in terms of access to productivity mediating software and connection to the internet Were already available to those in India and China well connected enough to have a good education

America isnt failing to maintain its technological/creative edge because of its workers. Bush is letting go of our strengths because he neither understands nor values them.

I agree with Elaine Supkis here Its not a coincidence that this administration is very good for Texas Oil Men. Nor that its bad for American IT workers. Thanks guys I now have a much lower opinion of Tom Friedman, not that it was high before, and a better understanding of why we are so screwed.

How to turn your red state blue

2005-03-31T15:13:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

Some really good ideas for proslytizing here:
link

Assault on WV Wilderness Demands Response!

2005-03-23T16:13:00.000-05:00

Well, they're trying to pass legislation to open up parts of the Monongahela National Forest to development. It is urgent that everyone contact their delegates immediately to oppose HCR-49. Time is of the essence!

More info, along with Delegate contact info at:

http://www.wvfordemocracy.org

Let's step up for our national forest and let these *&$%'s know we are not Alaska. Please spread to other blogs too, por favor!

Chris

Strangling the Debt Peonage Society in its Cradle

2005-03-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

More Collective Action: Bankruptcy Bill
Politology has started a coalition of bloggers opposed to the hateful bankruptcy bill. The coalition crosses party lines, as it should -- this isn't a liberal or conservative bill, it's a disgrace. I am signing on. It's obviously likely to pass the House and then to become law, but hope springs eternal, and I am a hopeful person. If nothing else, we can show our representatives that we are paying attention, and that selling out their constituents' interests is not cost-free.

(Plagarized Wholesale from Obsidian Wings)
If anyone else wants to sign up, the link is here.
Make yourself heard link Obsidian Wings

Machin's Latest Intrusions Into Personal Liberty

2005-03-09T14:17:00.000-05:00

Whether it's abortion or cold medicine, our new governor is showing that he has little respect for the idea that adult West Virginians should be able to make their own choices about their health care.

Tort reform needs public feedback

2005-03-09T10:55:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone,

Please remember to call your delegates and remind them not to support any tort reform that curbs individual's rights as consumers and patients. Contact info on the website:

http://www.wvfordemocracy.org

Have a good Wednesday! Nice to have a blog!

Chris

Senator Byrd

2005-03-08T16:18:00.000-05:00

WVblog for Democracy

I am really disapointed in our Senator Byrd. He joined the republicans on the cloture vote for the new bankrupcy bill. We should let him know not to vote for the bill..

Thune jokes:

2005-03-06T23:56:00.000-05:00

FrankSpace

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"SO, according to the hunky Sen Thune, one can hire a $1200 an hour whore and call him a "research consultant". Ya' gotta hand it to the right wingers, they have a way with words, and the twisting of the truth."

And write it off as a campaign expense.
Lynne | Email | Homepage | 03.06.05 - 10:43 pm | #

Hi everyone

2005-03-06T08:26:00.000-05:00

I started a blogger blog about a month ago its here http://frankspace.blogspot.com/

later

Getting Everyone signed up

2005-03-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

I believe that I have sent an invitation to all of the WV for Democracy committee members. If you did not recieve an invitation please contact me. My e-mail adress can be found in the summary of this months meeting that Chris sent out.

You don't have to sign up to view the blog or to add comments. However you must accept the invitation in order to create new posts. I hope everybody finds this site usefull. And I hope this will allow us to keep in better contact with each other between meetings. Let me know what you guys think.

Welcome to WVblog for Democracy

2005-02-20T23:43:00.000-05:00

Welcome everyone to WVblog for Democracy. My hope is that this will become a hub for all members of WV for Democracy to communicate with each other. I also hope that this site wil serve as a forum for members and nonmembers alike to come together and discuss the political and social issues of our community.