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APRIL 14-1, 02 Archives

Democrats: In forceful speech, Gore criticizes Bush administration April 14, 2002 By RICHARD L. BERKE, New York Times News Service ORLANDO — Declaring that "here in America, patriotism does not mean keeping quiet," former Vice President Al Gore re-emerged on Saturday at the scene of the 2000 electoral crisis, forcefully taking on President Bush on tax cuts, the environment and other issues. "I'm tired of this right-wing sidewind," Gore said to the 2,500 partisans here for the Florida Democratic Convention. "I've had it. America's economy is suffering unnecessarily. Important American values are being trampled. Special interests are calling the shots." On the environment, the economy and values, he said, "this administration is following the same pattern: selling out America's future in return for short-term political gains." He drew some of his biggest cheers when he scolded Bush for not sharing information with Congress and the public."America's policies should be decided in the open and not in secret back room meetings where average citizens get the door slammed in their face while polluters get the welcome mat," he said. "Let's have a little Florida sunshine." "I want you to vigorously pursue the nomination," said Fred Rader, 54, a delegate from Homestead, Fla. Gore smiled and replied: "Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it." naplesnews.com

April 13, Bush should tell the people exactly how much profit corporate America will make for each American life sacrificed. The people deserve to see the dollar figure, and know how much each one of us is worth to them.
White House Move on Toxic-Chemicals Pact Assailed April 13, 2002 By Eric Pianin - Washington Post The Bush administration yesterday formally sought congressional approval of an international treaty to phase out a dozen highly toxic chemicals, but environmentalists accused officials of backtracking on a commitment to create a way to gradually add to the list of banned pollutants. "It's shameful that the Bush administration is attempting to only partially implement this important treaty to protect human health and the environment," said Jeremiah D. Baumann of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James M. Jeffords (I-Vt.) said he was "deeply disappointed" by the administration's action. He then introduced legislation that he said would "fulfill our obligations under the treaty." washingtonpost.com

Patriotic Liberal Americans Fighting For Our Country Friday, April 13, 2002 By the edtor @ thepeoplesvoice — "Reclaiming America" Is  their rallying cry. The Democrats mean 'reclaim' in the truest sence of the word, to take back something stolen. Leaders of 'Campaign for America's Future', part of a growing movement to restore legitimate government in America, gathered in Washington Thursday to plan an election-year strategy. Though the forces arrayed against the Democratis seem insurmountable, and the media and rigged polls say that we love bush, the Democrats are counting on the the will of the people and the power of truth. Dick Gephardt, House Minority Leader D-Mo, warns us that right wing extremism is silencing our two party system of government. "There is no collaboration, no communication, no inclusiveness, no 'let's work together, let's solve the problems together.' It's 'we know the way, you don't know anything, get in the back of the bus and we'll drive the bus', I guess right over the cliff."  Dick Gephardt, considering a presidential bid in two years attended the event, put on by 'Campaign for America's Future'. They wisely advise Democrats not to be intimidated by Bush's wartime popularity ratings, which have drastically fallen from 95 to 75 percent. They recommend fearlessly attacking the GOP as the party of greedy corporate special interests. "We cannot allow the conflict abroad to give Enron conservatives a free pass at home," said Robert Borosage, co-director of the 'Campaign for America's Future'. dickgephardt2002

Democrat Implies Sept. 11 Administration Plot April 12, 2002 By Juliet Eilperin By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer  Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) is calling for an investigation into whether President Bush and other government officials had advance notice of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 but did nothing to prevent them. She added that "persons close to this administration are poised to make huge profits off America's new war." In a recent interview with a Berkeley, Calif., radio station, McKinney said: "We know there were numerous warnings of the events to come on September 11th. . . . What did this administration know and when did it know it, about the events of September 11th? Who else knew, and why did they not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered? . . . What do they have to hide?" washingtonpost.com

War crimes court pits United States against the world April 12, 2002 By James Bone in New York By James Bone in New York The United States will be put on a collision course with the rest of the world today when at least seven countries gather for a ceremony at the United Nations that will trigger the creation of the world's first permanent international criminal court. In a significant rift with its European allies, the Bush Administration rejects the jurisdiction of the court and is actively considering withdrawing former President Clinton's signature from the Rome treaty. However, with Washington isolated in its opposition to the proposed new permanent war crimes tribunal in The Hague, other countries have been stampeding to show their support.  thetimes.co.uk

Bush stonewalling continues April 11, 2002 The Department of Energy releases more papers on the Bush energy task force, but environmentalists say it's hiding the most important documents. By Anthony York By Anthony York | WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy had barely released more than 1,000 additional pages of documents pertaining to Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force before the Natural Resources Defense Council again complained that the DOE was withholding information. "They continue to play games, and stonewall, and not turn over the information that the public is legally entitled to," said Sharon Buccino, an attorney with the NRDC, plaintiffs in the Freedom of Information Act suit against the department that has forced it to disclose thousands of documents describing its interactions with energy industry officials and lobbyists. salon.com

Democrats Vow to Filibuster Alaska Oil Drilling April 11, 2002 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut promised on Wednesday to filibuster any move to amend a pending energy bill to allow drilling in pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Republican lawmakers are citing Iraq's decision on Monday to cut off oil exports for 30 days to protest the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as another reason why the United States must be able to tap ANWR's reserves and become less dependent on foreign crude. Lieberman criticized Republicans for using the Middle East crisis to push their drilling agenda. nytimes.com

Va. GOP Executive Director Indicted April 10 — RICHMOND, Va. The executive director of Virginia's Republican Party was indicted Tuesday on charges of illegally intercepting telephone conference calls involving Gov. Mark Warner and other Democrats. Edmund A. Matricardi III, 33, was charged with two counts of illegal wire interception and two counts of attempting to use the contents. He was released without bail. He could get up to 12 years in prison.The telephone calls involved a discussion among Warner, top legislative Democrats, their aides and attorneys of a court fight over redistricting. abcnews.go.com

Democrats push for more money for Medicare providers April 10, 2002 ASSOCIATED PRESS, WASHINGTON – Democratic House Leader Dick Gephardt criticized the Bush administration Monday for saying any new money to care for Medicare patients must be offset by cuts elsewhere. "I don't think we need to be in a position where we're taking from one set of providers and trying to give to another," Rep. Gephardt, of Missouri, told the American Hospital Association. Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., agreed. "You cannot play them off against one another. That is not moral in America." signonsandiego.com

Israeli massacre in the city of Jenin 10 April 2002 By David Cohen in Israel The Palestine Red Crescent Society confirmed today that Israeli occupation forces have killed dozens of Palestinian civilians in Jenin’s refugee camp Tuesday April 9. Eyewitnesses inside the camp confirm that Israeli bulldozers have leveled the refugee camp’s front row homes while families were still inside. While the confirmed 30 victims were killed in one of the camp’s street, the total number of casualties is estimated to be at least 100. Many victims are buried under the rubble, while others have been torn to pieces by the exploding tank shells. Dozens of people have bled to death inside their homes and in front of their traumatised family members. wsws.org

With Washington’s tacit support, Sharon steps up West Bank assault 9 April 2002 By Patrick Martin With a wink and a nod from the US government, Israeli military forces are intensifying their pillaging of Palestinian cities on the West Bank, destroying utilities, buildings and other infrastructure, demolishing entire neighborhoods with tanks, artillery and air strikes, and killing hundreds. Virtually the entire urban population of the West Bank is under siege, deprived of access to food, running water, electrical power, prescription drugs and other necessities. There were reports Monday that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were preparing to launch similar attacks on cities and refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, which have not been targeted in the current offensive. wsws.org

President promotes volunteerism in police and emergency services "We won't fight your racist war!" April 9, 2002 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- President Bush, eager to refocus attention on his domestic agenda amid the Mideast crisis, lauded elected officials Monday for heeding his call to bolster police and emergency teams with volunteers. "It makes sense to come to the Volunteer State to talk about the need for our citizens to help each other," Bush said. Hecklers repeatedly interrupted Bush's speech at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium; he watched as authorities removed them, but didn't change his standard address on the war against terrorism. The demonstrators shouted: "We won't fight your racist war!" Bush had to yell at one point.  nytimes.com

April 8, The Bush administration is angry towards the environment waging war against the earth as though they want to destroy the earth.
Greenpeace accuses U.S. of trying to undo 30 years of efforts to clean the environment April 8, 2002 - UNITED NATIONS (AP) - A leading environmental group accused the Bush administration Friday of trying to sabotage a global conference on the environment and poverty reduction, saying Washington wants to run the planet "like a business park.'' Although the U.N. Sustainable Environment summit in Johannesburg is five months off, Greenpeace said that Washington was trying to get nations drafting conference documents to delete any reference to the Kyoto global warming treaty, which the Bush administration abandoned last year. "The U.S. this week has launched a deliberate diplomatic campaign to destroy 30 years of efforts'' to protect the environment, said Remi Parmentier, political director of Greenpeace. thestar.com

Bush Statement on Mideast Reflects Tension in GOP April 7, 2002; By Dan Balz Washington Post - President Bush's statement on the Middle East last week reflected clear tensions between a foreign policy establishment urging him to intervene directly to stem the violence in the region and a rising cadre of pro-Israel conservatives warning him not to interfere with Israel's efforts to defend itself against terrorism. washingtonpost.com

China asks Bush why he called Taiwan a country April 7 BEIJING, China has asked the United States for an explanation on why U.S. President George W. Bush referred to Taiwan as a country during a speech last week in Washington, a Foreign Ministry official said on Saturday. msnbc.com

April 6, While the media drones on endlessly about the war on terrorism they say precious little about another war. Bush is quietly stripping away work place protections so that his corporate friends can make a killing literally from our flesh and blood. The democrats are shouting that the long term costs to Social Security and Workman's Compensation funds will far outweigh any short term corporate profits. The republicans aren't worried a bit. Not only will they profit greatly from our suffering, but they will also receive a huge tax giveaway while bankrupting our Social Security trust funds. Since there wont be any Social Security money left to give people disabled in the work place, the problem is solved, it's a win, win, situation for Bush and his rich friends. editor
Gephardt Makes a Statement on the Bush Administration's Voluntary Ergonomics Proposal WASHINGTON, April 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following statement was released today by the office of House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt on the Administration's Voluntary Ergonomics: "The Bush Administration took the final step today in abolishing a vital ergonomic standard to protect workers from repetitive stress disorders in the workplace. The voluntary ergonomics proposal announced today at the Department of Labor tells the American people once again that pleasing corporate special interests is more important to the Bush Administration and congressional Republicans than protecting American workers. Under the Bush Administration's proposal, companies will have no responsibility to address the very serious problem of repetitive stress injury that harms 1.8 million workers and costs our economy $50 billion each year. In March 2001, House Republicans passed legislation that repealed the balanced ergonomics rule negotiated by the Clinton Administration. That vote began a process of betrayal of the American worker that culminated in the non-proposal announced today. When the Democrats regain control of the House in 2003, one of our first priorities will be to pass legislation to reinstate this important worker protection." usnewswire.com

Bush "peace initiative" prepares ground for wider war against Arab masses 6 April 2002 By Barry Grey President George W. Bush’s so-called “peace initiative” in no way represents a shift in the basic policy of the United States in the Middle East. In his Rose Garden speech Thursday, announcing the dispatch of Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region next week, Bush went out of his way to place the onus for the bloodshed in Israel and the occupied territories on the Palestinians and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. Even as Israeli tanks, gunships and troops widened their assault on Palestinian cities, and Israeli forces continued their siege of Arafat’s Ramallah headquarters, Bush declared, “The situation in which he [Arafat] finds himself is largely of his own making.” The head of the nation that has armed and financed the Israeli apparatus of violence and repression against the Palestinians for more than four decades went on to accuse Arafat of having “betrayed the hopes of the people he is supposed to lead.” wsws.org

Bush administration once again openly defies the constitution and laws of the United States April 5, 2002 by the editor @ thepeoplesvoice - Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd of West Virginia rejected Ridge's offer to meet informally to explain the Bush administration's $38 billion homeland security funding request for next year. "Acceptance of your proposal not to testify in a formal committee hearing ... would be a major departure from the Senate's traditions and long-standing practices regarding the expenditure of public monies," Byrd said in a letter to Ridge. "I am unaware of any instance in which a public briefing has been used as a substitute for responding to a Senate Appropriations Committee request for testimony concerning funding needs," Byrd wrote. The White House says Ridge is a presidential adviser, not a Cabinet officer approved by the Senate, and cannot be forced to testify to Congress. Almost two years after the presidential debacle half of the cabinet posts in Bush's administration remain unfilled. The Bush administration believes they can use this trick to hide their dirty dealings from Senate oversight and ultimately the American people. It is the constitutional duty of Congress to oversee federal expenditures put forward by the Executive branch of government. By blocking Congress from carrying out their mandated duties the Bush administration once again openly defies the constitution and laws of the United States.

Bush Fiddled While Mideast Burned April 4, 2002 - There is enough blame to go around for the events that have turned the Camp David promise of peace into the killing fields of the Mideast without dragging in President Bush. To ignore the arrogant failure of this administration, however, is to deny the obvious: From its first day in power, it showed no interest in securing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, quickly squandering years of difficult progress made under President Clinton. latimes.com

As legal case against American Taliban POW unravels Judge shows pro-government bias at hearing for John Walker Lindh  April 3, 2002 By John Andrews During a four-hour pretrial hearing, government prosecutors conceded they had no evidence that John Walker Lindh received terrorist training from Al Qaeda or fought against American troops. Nevertheless, they announced they were going forward with charges carrying a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Lindh, a 21-year-old native of northern California, was captured last autumn with a Taliban fighting unit in Afghanistan. He is being prosecuted by the US government for conspiring to commit murder and aiding terrorist organizations. The April 1 hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, located nine miles from the Pentagon, concerned defense requests that the prosecution be required to specify its criminal allegations against Lindh and that it turn over more evidence to his legal team. For the most part, Judge T.S. Ellis III denied the defense motions. He only granted Lindh’s lawyers additional access to some narrow categories of information and held out the possibility that they could gain access to witnesses in the future. wsws.org

People who smoke marijuana are helping the terrorists? April 2, 2002 by the editor @ thepeoplesvoice.org - April 2, 2002 by the editor @ thepeoplesvoice.org - Bush says that people who smoke marijuana are helping the terrorists. Most Americans buy marijuana grown in the United States or imported from Mexico. No foreign nationals have ever been arrested for cultivating marijuana in the United States. There is not even a remote possibility that terrorists in the Middle East are supplying homegrown marijuana. A connection between Mexican marijuana and terrorism is equally difficult to prove. Mexico's rebbels are far to the south and recieving their fragmented aid from the the revolutionary groups of South America. If Bush wants to start an American version of the 'great purge', he should persecute everybody equally. The U.S. continues to buy most of it's oil from Saudi Arabia and some oil from Iraq, a supporter of terrorism which has been linked with the September 11, World Trade Center attacks. When the American people spend money at the gas pumps they are contributing directly to Iraq and terrorism. thepeoplesvoice.org

Pentagon rules for military tribunals violate constitutional rights 2 April 2002 By Don Knowland After a four-month delay, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld issued an order March 21 specifying the procedures for the military tribunals that will try alleged terrorists captured in Afghanistan. The rules are clearly designed to guarantee convictions that are unreviewable by any judicial authority in or outside the United States. wsws.org

Bush under fire for quiet reaction to Mideast crisis April 1, 2002 By Robin Wright | Times Staff Writer President Bush is under growing pressure to do something -- almost anything -- to defuse the intense hostilities between Israel and the Palestinians, which flared anew Sunday with two more suicide bombings and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's solemn pronouncement that his country is in "a war over our home." Unlike the many world leaders who weighed in on the crisis, Bush was silent Sunday. His only public appearance was at Easter services at a Baptist church near his Texas ranch, and aides said he made no calls to Mideast leaders. orlandosentinel.com