German political parties battle for majority coalition in election for Chancellor

German Chancellor Schroeder campaigned on an anti-American platform while his opponent campaigned on a pro-American platform. Angela Merkel is the conservative challenger. Merkel says she wants to mend the tattered relations between Germany and the United States. Germany's economy is in shambles as they have to deal with sluggish economic growth and double digit unemployment. Germany opposed the United States going into Iraq.

Afghanistan holds elections for parliament

Lack of unified command could lead to more confusion

It justs seems to me that somebody needs to take charge in New Orleans. The elected officials and the agencies need to come up with a plan that everybody can agree and then execute it. It seems that the elected officials have their own agendas and it will lead to more confusion. They need to communicate with each other.

Gulf Coast states to sue insurance companies

The states attorneys generals plan to sue major insurance companies because the state says that the insurance companies are trying to get out of paying legitimate claims as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Insurance companies are saying that the damage of homes caused by flooding should not be covered under existing policies. The states however say that the flooding was caused by storm surge due to Hurricane Katrina not by flooding alone.

Federal judge blocks new MO anti-abortion law

A federal judge in MO has blocked an anti-abortion law that was considered too vague. The judge said that the civil liability language would have had a threatening and chilling effect on all abortion counselers in MO and surrounding states. The language did not specify what actions would be targeted. Governor Blunt plans to challenge the temporary restraining order. The new law would allow parents to sue those who intentionally cause, aid, or assist their minor daughters for an abortion without the parents consent. The new law is aimed at curbing abortions in IL which currently does not have a parent consent law.

WI jury finds Vang guilty in deer hunter shooting

A Wisconsin jury found Vang guilty on all counts. Vang testified in his own defense saying that one of the hunters used expletives and used racial slurs and Vang felt threatened for his life. There was dispute over who shot first.

CA Governor to run for re-election

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to announce today at a town hall meeting that he will be running for re-election for Governor of California. This despite poll numbers in 30's since he was elected.

Board of Pharmacy refuses to rule

The MN Board of Pharmacy refused to rule whether to allow pharmacists to refuse to fill a prescription based on moral objections. Now this is up to the state legislature where it is expected to be quite a political battle. Part of the reason this is so controversial is because they have to consider the morning-after-pill (RU-486) which pro-life advocates believe is abortion on demand.

Federal government to reimburse states for preparation of evacuees

The federal government has announced that FEMA will be reimbursing states after they were asked to prepare to take evacuees and then subsequently decided not to. MN is on the list of states that will be reimbursed by the government for preparing Camp Ripley for the evacuees.

Iran may share nuclear weapons technology with other Islamic nations

In defiance of the US and Europe, Iran continues to ratchet up the stakes by announcing that will share nuclear weapons technology to other Islamic nations. The IAEA has been negotiating with Iran to stop working on its nuclear project. The US and Europe have threatened to bring this issue to the UN Security Council.

MA Legislature rejects amendment banning gay marriage

After the MA Supreme Judicial Court ruled that banning gay marriage was in violation of the state constitution, Gay marriage opponents failed to pass an amendment through the legislature.

I believe that the US Supreme Court will have to eventually rule on this issue. Usually you can allow states to do what they want to do in some cases. However this is a unique situation because you have states pitted against each other then the federal government gets involved. Although that too is a problem because the federal government usually does not get involved with family law. Needless to say there are a number of constitutional rights that have to be considered. Another part that sometimes gets overlooked is the right of the state verses the right of individuals.

9/11 Commission refutes claims made by Pentagon

The 9/11 Commission refuted suggestions that the commission inadequately investigated the military intelligence unit Operation: Able Danger. The Pentagon says that they had tracked 5 of the suspects a year prior to 9/11. The commission however says that there is no substantial evidence that is true.

AP: Federal judge rules reciting Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional

Bush to address nation Thursday on Katrina

Federal Appeals court rules against open campaigns on college campuses

A federal appeals court has ruled that public colleges and universities have the right to restrict freedom of speech within reason. The ACLU of Maryland had filed suit against the University of Maryland's campaign policy permiting outsiders to speak and distribute fliers on campus if they are sponsored by affiliated groups. The judge stated that a public university is not a public forum for speech the same way that a city park or sidewalk is.

NWA filing for bankruptcy could end mechanics strike

If Northwest airlines files for bankruptcy tomorrow it could make the mechanics strike a moot point. Northwest has said it is in the process of hiring permanent mechanics but refused to say when that process would be complete. Mechanics say they will continue to strike through a bankruptcy.

Bush takes responsibility for federal response for Katrina

Pres. Bush today admitted today that the federal response was inadequate for Katrina. He said that he would be leading an investigation on why the response was so slow and how to improve the response time at the federal level. He said the investigation would come later because the recovery effort is still ongoing.

First Lady Laura Bush says federal response to Katrina not racially motivated

First Lady Laura Bush defended her husband about suggestions that the slow federal response was racially motivated.

Bush to address UN General Assembly

LA Attorney General investigates nursing homes and hospitals

The LA Attorney General is investigating some nursing homes and hospitals for negligence in the care of their patients in the aftermath of Katrina.

NWA and Delta airlines expected to file for bankruptcy

FEMA says Camp Ripley facility in MN not needed

After governor Pawlenty announced plans to make Camp Ripley available for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA has announced that those facilities are not needed. It says that many of the people want to stay within the Gulf Coast Region. The governor says that if FEMA requests it will be ready within 48 hours.

Senate Confirmation schedule of John Roberts

Hearings for John Roberts in the Senate Judiciary Committee are expected to go this week. The Committee is expected to vote sometime next week and then the full Senate is expected to take a floor vote on the nomination the week thereafter.

Death toll now expected to be only in the hundreds in New Orleans

Early estimates of thousands of deaths due to the levy break are not likely to come true. While they have been able to find bodies. Earlier death toll estimates were much higher than the current estimates.

Also the reported number of rapes and murders at the convention center and Superdome were exagerated.

Los Angeles experiencing major power disruption

AP: Michael Brown resigns as FEMA Director

Remembering 9/11

Today marks the 4th Anniversary of 9/11/01. The good news is that we have not had a major strike against us since then but the bad news is that the threat is still ongoing.

When will the media hold the Mayor and Governor for their handling of the disaster?

While the Bush administration has admitted the federal government responded too slowly it has ratcheted up the relief effort on their end. The press continues to pound the Bush adminstration while giving kid gloves to the Mayor and Governor. This is flat out sloppy and incompetent journalism. Journalists pride themselves on holding government officials for action or inaction that results in the failure of public policy. Then they wonder why some in the public dont trust them to be fair. It is the failed inaction of the Governor that continues to impede the recovery effort. Governors must be decisive in times of crisis and she has failed miserably. The Governor is the key culprit here because she was in a position to assist New Orleans as well as ask for assistance from the federal government. In times of disaster state and local officials have been told not to expect assistance for at least 72-96 hours because it takes time for the federal government to respond. State and local officials must rely on their first responders in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

To evacuate or not to evacuate that is the question

While the Majyor of New Orleans has mandatory evacuation order he is not rigorisouly enforcing it. Part of it stems from the fact that the Governor is not in agreement with him.

FEMA scraps debit card program through Red Cross

VA man indicted in Bush assassination plot

Federal proscuters indicted Ahmed Omar Abu Ali with attempting to assassinate the president. Other charges include conspiracy to assassinate the president, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy and conspiracy to destroy aircraft. He was originally alleged to have supported a terrorist organization. Prosecutors also accuse him of attempting to set up an Al-Qaeda cell inside the United States. His trial is scheduled to begin in October. They also allege Ali of discussing plans to assassinate members of Congress and to hijack aircraft and fly them into US targets.

Wendy's finger suspects pleads guilty

A Nevada couple has pleaded guilty to all charges in a San Jose court to planting a finger in their chili at a Wendy's restaurant and then claiming that they found it in their chili. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to filing a false claim and attempted grand theft in addition to other charges. DNA evidence determined that the finger came from the defendants co-worker. Wendy's lost an estimated $2.5million in sales due to bad publicity

Legislators collect $136,000 for special session so far

Legislators have collected a total of $136,000 for the special session thus far. Three of the four legislative leaders did not accept per diem which is $66 per day. House Speaker Sviggum was the only legislative leader to accept per diem. Half of the legislators so far have collected per diem and the bulk of that going to democrats. This does not include cost for staff who were held over after the regular session. Legislators receive a base salary of $2,595 per month. There are members of both parties who did not request per diem payments due to special session.

Northwest and mechanics resume talks

Northwest Airlines and its mechanics resumed talks today. Northwest is now asking for 203 million in concessions from mechanics up from 176 million. The airline says this was due to spiraling fuel costs beyond the airlines control. The airline also said that if they dont have an agreement by Sept. 13th that the replacement mechanics could become permanent.

FBI and US Attorneys Office investigating Dean Zimmerman

FBI agents were seen yesterday carrying out boxes and computers from the home of Dean Zimmerman. He is running for re-election for Minneapolis city council. The FBI was executing a search warrant at the home. Also the US Attorney's Office served a subpoena to City Hall in Minneapolis to get records of Zimmerman as well. The FBI and the US Attorney's Office is not saying what the nature of the investigation is about. Campaign workers believe that it is possibly a smear campaign. Zimmerman has not issued a statement on the advise of his attorney.

FEMA Director to return to Washington

FEMA Director Michael Brown has been under fire in recent days for not acting fast enough to the disaster. Recently his resume has come under scrutiny for which his resume indicates he had disaster related experience. The Director is expected to be relieved of his duties overseeing disaster efforts but stay on as FEMA Director. Admiral Thad Allen of the US Coast Guard is expected to takeover of the direct operations.

One Florida Home Association says no to evacuees

While most people are lending support to a nationwide effort to assist evacuees to resettle one home owners association has a different view. The home owners association is not allowing its homeowners to house evacuees devastated by the hurricane on the Gulf Coast.

Oil companies are engaging in price gouging

I know some of you are going to disagree with me on this but I do believe that the oil companies are engaging in price gouging. Consider the fact that gas was around $1.80 a year ago. Now its been around $3.00 and in some cases higher in certain parts of the country. The price also went up between 50-80% percent in one week. Now if thats not price gouging I dont know what it is. This is an important policy debate because the price of fuel drives up the cost of almost everything we buy. Transportation is a critical part of our economy because they deliver the goods.

9/11 Loans Misappropriated

A government loan program designed to assist small businesses recover from 9/11 in some cases were misappropriated. There was fund set up by the government of $5B. This was primarily administered by the Small Business Administration through banks. Some businesses got loans even though they were not directly impact by 9/11. Business owners say they were unaware that was what it was for when they received the loan.

Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal by White House regarding base closures

The Supreme Court today refused an emergency appeal for legal immunity for the Bush administration regarding base closures. Several states have filed lawsuits against the base closing commission saying that the recommendations would have an adverse effect on their local communities. Some state courts have already thrown out cases on appeal filed by state governments.

Hurricane Ophelia just 70 miles from Florida

Hurricane Ophelia is stirring off the east coast of Florida. Computer models have conflicting projections. Hurricane watches have been posted along the SE United States.

Former NSC Advisor Berger fined by federal judge

Former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger was fined by a federal judge $50,000 for taking classified documents from the National Archives. He had reviewed documents because he was going to testify to the 9/11 commission about what the Clinton administration knew about 9/11. Berger avoids prison time but must surrender access to classified documents for three years. In addition he gets two years probation and 100 hours of community service.

FBI issues Internet Fraud Alert

Several states have shutdown websites claiming to be helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I would suggest only going to organizations that are already well established to their websites if you want to contribute ie Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, etc. Its unfortunate that we live in an age where people are willing to scam people at the expense of other victims.

Louisiana Governor's failure to act leading to chaos and confusion

At a time when the state of Louisiana needs strong leadership, the governor of Louisiana's failure to act decisively and coordinate with local officials is leading to unneccesary hardship for their citizens. This is not a time for partisanship but leaders must lead in a time of crisis. The elected officials must work together for the good of the public and stop squabbling because this causes chaos and confusion in the public. The citizens of New Orleans have suffered enough and lost everything. They need to have the confidence that their elected officials who are charged with making decisions in times of crisis are doing just that.

Gov. Schwarzenegger vetos gay marriage bill

Word identification now required for comments

I have implemented word identification due to spam bloggging.

Governor overrules Mayor regarding evacuation order

The Governor of Louisiana overruled the authority of the Mayor of New Orleans when he authorized the forcible removable of residents saying it is not safe to stay. The Governor promptly overruled him stating that she wanted to determine the level of toxicity in the water before forcibly removing residents. No vital services are available at this time.

FEMA to offer debit card through Red Cross

In an effort to provide immediate individual assistance for hurricane victims, FEMA has announced that it will be providing a debit card with a balance minimum of $2,000 through the Red Cross. People can register online at www.fema.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA(3362)

CA State Assembly approves gay marriage bill

The California State Assembly approved a gay marriage bill passed by their State Senate. It is unknown at this time if Gov. Schwarzenegger will sign the bill in to law. It would be the first of its kind in the nation if he did.

Final report on Oil-for-food program expected to blast Secretary General

A report on the UN's Oil-for-food program is expected to be released tomorrow will blast Secretary General Kofi Anan for failing to provide adequate oversight.

Media needs to hold Mayor and Louisiana Gov. accountable not just Bush

Pres. Bush has been hammered by the media and democrats for several days for the slow federal response to a major disaster. However the Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana need to be held to account as well. They have known for quite some time that a doomsday scenario like Katrina was possible and something that the city and state should have been prepared for until the federal government could arrive with additional resources. To suggest that it was all the Bush administration's fault is completely ridiculous.

Some citizens still refuse to leave New Orleans despite mandatory evacuation order