Talk about bigoted narrow minded view point. This is a governor who wants to be President. I do not think so. I believe a President should be open minded and be able to see both sides of the question, not look at it from a discrimination view point.
If you’re straight and you husband or wife dies, you have the power to decide what to do with your loved one’s body and how to carry out their wishes. However, if you are a gay man or woman in Minnesota — a state that doesn’t recognize marriage equality — you won’t have that option, thanks to Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R). Explaining his veto of the bill, Pawlenty simply said there “is no actual need” to give same-sex couples equal end-of-life rights. From his official statement on Saturday:
The bill addresses the categories of individuals who under the law shall be given priority for purposes of determining the disposition of the remains of a deceased person. Currently a person can, by executing a will, designate who shall be empowered to control final disposition of his or her remains. The bill therefore addresses a nonexistent problem. Marriage — defined as between a man and a woman — should remain elevated in our society a special level, as it traditionally has been. I oppose efforts to treat domestic relationships as the equivalent of traditional marriage. Accordingly, I am opposed to this bill.
Ann Kaner-Roth, executive director of LGBT advocacy group Project 515, responded “We are very disappointed in Governor Pawlenty’s refusal to ensure an equal opportunity for committed same-sex couples to take care of their families in the darkest and most personal of times. Most Minnesotans expect government to treat residents equally. Unfortunately, Governor Pawlenty’s veto runs counter to Minnesota values and affirms the discrimination that currently exists in at least 515 state laws.
“The Governor’s facts are wrong. Same-sex couples can’t sue for wrongful death, and current law does not provide the same level of protection for a same-sex partner trying to carry out their deceased partner’s final wishes. His comment that the proposed legislation is unnecessary shows he is out of step with the experiences of real Minnesotans. Many families have faced exactly the kind of discrimination this legislation sought to prevent even though they had put in place all of the legal and other preparations available to them under current law. Without statutory change, families will continue to face discrimination. Additionally, a person in a heterosexual marriage is not required to have a living will in order for his or her spouse to carry out end-of-life wishes, so it’s unclear why one should be necessary for same-sex partners. The bill would also have given “surviving partners the right to sue those responsible should their partner be killed.”
As a new Center for American Progress report on the needs of LGBT elders finds, Minnesota is considered a “legal stranger” state, where “same-sex partners (or members of families of choice) in these states effectively have no chance to be designated as surrogate medical decision makers for their incapacitated partners/loved ones.” LGBT elders therefore generally need an advanced health care directive (AHD), which includes a living will and a health care power of attorney:
In practice, to protect themselves, LGBT elders must remember to carry their AHDs with them at all times — if an individual is rushed to the hospital without these documents, a loved one can still legally be denied access (see sidebar on page 40). Finally, problems may arise when an elder travels out of state, as one state may not always recognize the health care directive of another state.
Additionally, obtaining an AHD can be difficult, since many elders are unaware or do not have the means to secure one, and “medical providers and long-term care facilities often ignore or challenge the AHDs of LGBT people.” (HT: Joe Sudbay at AMERICAblog)
The combined global land and ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for both April and for the period from January-April, according to NOAA. Additionally, last month’s average ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for any April, and the global land surface temperature was the third warmest on record.
The monthly analysis from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, which is based on records going back to 1880, is part of the suite of climate services that NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions.
The combined April global land and ocean average surface temperature was the warmest on record at 58.1°F (14.5°C), which is 1.37°F (0.76°C) above the 20th century average of 56.7°F (13.7°C).
The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature was the warmest on record for January-April at 56.0°F (13.3°C), which is 1.24°F (0.69°C) above the 20th century average.
Separately, the global ocean surface temperature was 1.03°F (0.57°C) above the 20th century average of 60.9°F (16.0°C) and the warmest on record for April. The warmth was most pronounced in the equatorial portions of the major oceans, especially the Atlantic.
The global land surface temperature was 2.32°F (1.29°C) above the 20th century average of 46.5 °F (8.1°C) — the third warmest on record for April. Warmer-than-normal conditions dominated the globe, with the most prominent warmth in Canada, Alaska, the eastern United States, Australia, South Asia, northern Africa and northern Russia. Cooler-than-normal places included Mongolia, Argentina, far eastern Russia, the western contiguous United States and most of China.
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weakened in April, as sea-surface temperature anomalies decreased across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The weakening contributed significantly to the warmth observed in the tropical belt and the warmth of the overall ocean temperature for April. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, El Niño is expected to continue through June.
Arctic sea ice was below normal for the 11th consecutive April, covering an average of 5.7 million square miles (14.7 million square kilometers). This is 2.1 percent below the 1979-2000 average extent and the 15th smallest April extent since records began in 1979. It was, however, the largest April Arctic sea ice extent since 2001.
Antarctic sea ice extent in April was near average, just 0.3 percent below the 1979-2000 average.
Based on NOAA satellite observations, snow cover extent was the fourth-lowest on record (since 1967), and below the 1967-2010 average for the Northern Hemisphere for the seventh consecutive April. Warmer-than-normal conditions over North America, Europe and parts of Russia contributed to the small snow footprint.
The North American snow cover extent for the month was the smallest on record for April. It also was the largest negative anomaly, meaning difference below the long-term average, on record for any month.
According to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria and Tasmania had their warmest 12-month period since national records began.
According to the Beijing Climate Center, China experienced its coolest April since 1961. Liaoning, Jilin and Shandong had their coolest April on record. Hebei, Anhui and Jiangsu had their second coolest April since records began in 1951.
China had its wettest April since 1974 and Tibet had its wettest April since records began in 1951. Meanwhile, Germany had its second-driest April on record since 1901, behind 2007, according to the German Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst).
Scientists, researchers, and leaders in government and industry use NOAA’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world's climate. This climate service has a wide range of practical uses, from helping farmers know what and when to plant, to guiding resource managers with critical decisions about water, energy and other vital assets.
Jewish Democratic group asks syndicate to nix Pat Buchanan's column
By Jordan Fabian - 05/17/10 04:17 PM ET
A group of Jewish Democrats wants a large newspaper syndicate to stop publishing conservative commentator Pat Buchanan's columns.
Buchanan found himself in hot water last week after he penned a piece saying that if Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is confirmed, the number of Jews on the Court will be highly disproportionate to the U.S. population.
The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) wrote a letter to Creators Syndicate asking it to take down the column and stop publishing him.
"We ask that you pull down Buchanan's latest column from your website and that you stop publishing his over-the-top, conspiratorial screeds," it reads.
In the column, titled, "Are liberals anti-WASP?", Buchanan wrote: "If Kagan is confirmed, Jews, who represent less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, will have 33 percent of the Supreme Court seats."
Several Jewish groups have long quarreled with Buchanan, accusing him of making anti-Semitic statements and being opposed to the state of Israel.
Buchanan has denied his remarks have been anti-Semitic and says he supports Israel.
Here's the letter in full:
To Creators Syndicate:
Pat Buchanan has a history of Jewish obsession and anti-Israel rhetoric. Last week, you allowed him yet again to continue his fixation with Jews, this time criticizing President Obama's pick for the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan, simply because she's Jewish.
The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) and its supporters strongly condemn Buchanan's column - "Are liberals anti-WASP?"
Religion should never be a prerequisite for picking a Supreme Court nominee. Publishing Buchanan's fringe column gives him and his ideas validity. It's time to take a stand against this sort of intolerance in our country's political discourse.
We ask that you pull down Buchanan's latest column from your website and that you stop publishing his over-the-top, conspiratorial screeds.
During these challenging times, it is more important than ever that we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Help us end the practice of promoting ethnic and religious divisiveness by removing this ugly column today.
Vietnam allegations threaten frontrunning Blumenthal in CT-Senate
Updated, 10:43 pm
The New York Times' story detailing Connecticut Attorney General Dick Blumenthal's (D) misstatements about his service in Vietnam -- he received five deferments and never served in the country, according to the paper -- has the potential to fundamentally reshape the Nutmeg State Senate race.
Writes Raymond Hernandez:
"What is striking about Mr. Blumenthal's record is the contrast between the many steps he took that allowed him to avoid Vietnam, and the misleading way he often speaks about that period of his life now, especially when he is speaking at veterans' ceremonies or other patriotic events."
Oomph.
Blumenthal campaign manager Mindy Myers released a statement late Monday night describing the Times story as "an outrageous distortion" although she did not deny the fact that the candidate had misled people about the nature of his service. Myers noted that Blumenthal will appear at a press conference tomorrow with Connecticut veterans.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications director Eric Schultz put the blame for the story on Republicans and, in particular, former World Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon who is running for the GOP nod.
"Its no surprise Republicans would want to smear Dick Blumenthal, considering all of the debauchery at [WWE] under Linda McMahon's watch," said Schultz.
Ed Patru, spokesman for McMahon, responded that "it's become increasingly clear to us over the past weeks and months as we've researched Mr. Blumenthal that there are some very troubling discrepancies between what he's been saying and the truth."
Simmons, who served in Vietnam, released a statement saying he was "deeply troubled" by the allegations against Blumenthal, adding: "Too many have sacrificed too much to have their valor stolen in this way."
Blumenthal, who has served as the state's top cop since 1988, has held a commanding lead in the open seat Senate race since he entered it. National Democrats spent months ensuring that the popular politician was ready to run if and when embattled Sen. Chris Dodd (D) decided not to seek re-election.
When Blumenthal entered the race, his poll numbers were stratospheric -- he held massive leads over McMahon and former Rep. Rob Simmons -- and Democrats insisted that they had saved a seat and, in so doing, squashed any talk of Republicans picking up the majority this fall.
Even amidst that celebration, however, there were some Democrats who warned that Blumenthal had not been tested in a serious campaign in more than two decades and that once punched -- as he inevitably would be in a high-profile race like this one -- he would collapse.
The Times story would seem to affirm the fears from those Democrats that Blumenthal was not the candidate he was cracked up to be.
"He's popular, but for no particular reason," said one senior Democratic strategist. "No one really knows him, and this fills in the blanks in a pretty devastating way." The strategist added that Connecticut remains strongly Democratic, which works in Blumenthal's favor but acknowledged: "It's a race now."
McMahon is regarded by most national Republicans as their preferred candidate due to her consider personal wealth and outsider profile. Simmons, however, does have an electoral base in his old eastern Connecticut district. The two will face off in an Aug. 10 primary that also includes investor Peter Schiff.
It remains to be seen how badly these revelations will damage Blumenthal's front-running candidacy. He faces only nominal primary opposition at the moment although the state's filing deadline isn't for another week. That week is going to be the toughest of Blumenthal's career.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday said the U.S. continues to have "serious concerns" about Iran's nuclear ambitions despite the fact it agreed to store some nuclear materials abroad.
At the White House daily briefing, Gibbs said the administration remains skeptical of a deal and will continue to push for sanctions.
Turkey, Brazil and Iran made a deal Monday that would require Iran to store some of its uranium supply in other countries in exchange for approval of its nuclear program, which Western countries say is designed to make weapons.
"Given Iran’s repeated failure to live up to its own commitments, and the need to address fundamental issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, the United States and international community continue to have serious concerns," Gibbs said in a statement released before he spoke at the briefing.
Gibbs noted that the new deal does not go as far as the one Iran agreed to but eventually balked on last October.
"The words and the deeds of the Iranian leadership rarely coincide," Gibbs said. He also made it clear that the administration does not view the new development as any reason to delay a Security Council sanctions regime.
"Not to get cute on when Spring starts, but I think we are making steady progress on a sanctions resolution," Gibbs said.
The deal is seen as a last effort to avoid further sanctions being imposed on Iran, which says it wants to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
Gibbs said it would be a "positive step for Iran to transfer low-enriched uranium off of its soil," but countered that their insistence on enriching some uranium is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Members of Congress have pressured the Obama administration to toughen up sanctions on Iran. Western nations have said it is unacceptable for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
"The United States will continue to work with our international partners, and through the United Nations Security Council, to make it clear to the Iranian government that it must demonstrate through deeds – and not simply words – its willingness to live up to international obligations or face consequences, including sanctions," Gibbs said. "Iran must take the steps necessary to assure the international community that its nuclear program is intended exclusively for peaceful purposes." This story was posted at 1:43 p.m. and updated at 3:45 p.m.
Speakers include:
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry
BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles
MMS Regional Director of the
Gulf of Mexico Region Lars Herbst
Live from Robert, Louisiana
Feed begins at 1500 EST
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, and MMS Regional Director of Field Operations Mike Saucier and Charlie Henry from NOAA brief the media on the contin... Taken: 05.17.10 Posted: 05.17.10 (00:11:45, 62.46 MB) File: 1005/DOD_100070902.wmv
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, and MMS Regional Director of Field Operations Mike Saucier and Charlie Henry from NOAA brief the media on the contin...
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles, and MMS Regional Director of Field Operations Mike Saucier and Charlie Henry from NOAA brief the media on the contin...
The "greed" of BP executives led directly to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) charged Monday.
Reid linked the oil spill to the mistakes of Wall Street during a floor speech on financial reform.
"Wall Street isn’t the only place where a reckless pursuit of profits has proved destructive," he said. "In the weeks since the Deepwater Horizon explosion, as much as 20 million gallons of oil have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico."
He continued: "Their greed led to 11 horrific and unnecessary deaths. It has harmed an enormous tourism industry, threatened business at countless fisheries and disrupted life for many along the Gulf Coast. As the pollution grows worse, those consequences will only compound."
Reid urged his fellow senators to raise the cap on liability payments for oil spills, which currently stands at $75 million. The proposal has bipartisan support, but was stalled last week when Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) objected.
The Senate head also took a shot at the Bush administration.
“Interior Secretary Salazar and the President deserve credit for their continued efforts to clean up the previous administration’s efforts to put oil company profits before people," he said.
Very interesting interactive map Check it out I am impressed You can also check out voting history in right upper corner
Obama picks third nominee to head TSA
By Jordan Fabian - 05/17/10 03:32 PM ET
President Barack Obama on Monday selected FBI Deputy Director John Pistole to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
If approved by the Senate, Pistole will head the agency responsible for securing the nation's air travel.
TSA has been without a permanent director since Obama took office.
Former FBI agent Erroll Southers withdrew his nomination in January after he gave conflicting statements about using police background checks for private purposes.
Obama's second nominee, retired Army Gen. Robert Harding withdrew his nomination in March after some questioned his work as a defense contractor.
“The talent and knowledge John has acquired in more than two decades of service with the FBI will make him a valuable asset to our administration's efforts to strengthen the security and screening measures at our airports," Obama said in a statement. "I am grateful that he has agreed to take on this important role, and I look forward to working with him in the weeks and months ahead."
Pistole recently played a key role in the arrest of Faisal Shahzad, who is suspected of trying to explode a bomb in New York City's Times Square.
Shahzad was taken off an airplane bound for Dubai at New York's Kennedy Airport two days after the bomb attempt was foiled.
Candidate’s Words on Vietnam Service Differ From History
At a ceremony honoring veterans and senior citizens who sent presents to soldiers overseas, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut rose and spoke of an earlier time in his life.
“We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam,” Mr. Blumenthal said to the group gathered in Norwalk in March 2008. “And you exemplify it. Whatever we think about the war, whatever we call it — Afghanistan or Iraq — we owe our military men and women unconditional support.”
There was one problem: Mr. Blumenthal, a Democrat now running for the United States Senate, never served in Vietnam. He obtained at least five military deferments from 1965 to 1970 and took repeated steps that enabled him to avoid going to war, according to records.
The deferments allowed Mr. Blumenthal to complete his studies at Harvard; pursue a graduate fellowship in England; serve as a special assistant to The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham; and ultimately take a job in the Nixon White House.
In 1970, with his last deferment in jeopardy, he landed a coveted spot in the Marine Reserve, which virtually guaranteed that he would not be sent to Vietnam. He joined a unit in Washington that conducted drills and other exercises and focused on local projects, like fixing a campground and organizing a Toys for Tots drive.
Many politicians have faced questions over their decisions during the Vietnam War, and Mr. Blumenthal, who is seeking the seat being vacated by Senator Christopher J. Dodd, is not alone in staying out of the war.
But what is striking about Mr. Blumenthal’s record is the contrast between the many steps he took that allowed him to avoid Vietnam, and the misleading way he often speaks about that period of his life now, especially when he is speaking at veterans’ ceremonies or other patriotic events.
Sometimes his remarks have been plainly untrue, as in his speech to the group in Norwalk. At other times, he has used more ambiguous language, but the impression left on audiences can be similar.
In an interview on Monday, the attorney general said that he had misspoken about his service during the Norwalk event and might have misspoken on other occasions. “My intention has always been to be completely clear and accurate and straightforward, out of respect to the veterans who served in Vietnam,” he said.
But an examination of his remarks at the ceremonies shows that he does not volunteer that his service never took him overseas. And he describes the hostile reaction directed at veterans coming back from Vietnam, intimating that he was among them.
In 2003, he addressed a rally in Bridgeport, where about 100 military families gathered to express support for American troops overseas. “When we returned, we saw nothing like this,” Mr. Blumenthal said. “Let us do better by this generation of men and women.”
At a 2008 ceremony in front of the Veterans War Memorial Building in Shelton, he praised the audience for paying tribute to troops fighting abroad, noting that America had not always done so.
“I served during the Vietnam era,” he said. “I remember the taunts, the insults, sometimes even physical abuse.”
Mr. Blumenthal, 64, is known as a brilliant lawyer who likes to argue cases in court and uses language with power and precision. He is also savvy about the news media and attentive to how he is portrayed in the press.
But the way he speaks about his military service has led to confusion and frequent mischaracterizations of his biography in his home state newspapers. In at least eight newspaper articles published in Connecticut from 2003 to 2009, he is described as having served in Vietnam.
The New Haven Register on July 20, 2006, described him as “a veteran of the Vietnam War,” and on April 6, 2007, said that the attorney general had “served in the Marines in Vietnam.” On May 26, 2009, The Connecticut Post, a Bridgeport newspaper that is the state’s third-largest daily, described Mr. Blumenthal as “a Vietnam veteran.” The Shelton Weekly reported on May 23, 2008, that Mr. Blumenthal “was met with applause when he spoke about his experience as a Marine sergeant in Vietnam.”
And the idea that he served in Vietnam has become such an accepted part of his public biography that when a national outlet, Slate magazine, produced a profile of Mr. Blumenthal in 2006, it said he had “enlisted in the Marines rather than duck the Vietnam draft.”
It does not appear that Mr. Blumenthal ever sought to correct those mistakes.
In the interview, he said he was not certain whether he had seen the stories or whether any steps had been taken to point out the inaccuracies.
“I don’t know if we tried to do so or not,” he said. He added that he “can’t possibly know what is reported in all” the articles that are written about him, given the large number of appearances he makes at military-style events.
He said he had tried to stick to a consistent way of describing his military experience: that he served as a member of the United State Marine Corps Reserve during the Vietnam era.
Asked about the Bridgeport rally, when he told the crowd, “When we returned, we saw nothing like this,” Mr. Blumenthal said he did not recall the event.
An aide pointed out that in a different appearance this year, Mr. Blumenthal was forthright about not having gone to war. In a Senate debate in March, he responded to a question about Iran and the use of military force by saying, “Although I did not serve in Vietnam, I have seen firsthand the effects of military action, and no one wants it to be the first resort, nor do we want to mortgage the country’s future with a deficit that is ballooning out of control.”
On a less serious matter, another flattering but untrue description of Mr. Blumenthal’s history has appeared in profiles about him. In two largely favorable profiles, the Slate article and a magazine article in The Hartford Courant in 2004 with which he cooperated, Mr. Blumenthal is described prominently as having served as captain of the swim team at Harvard. Records at the college show that he was never on the team.
Mr. Blumenthal said he did not provide the information to reporters, was unsure how it got into circulation and was “astonished” when he saw it in print.
Mr. Blumenthal has made veterans’ issues a centerpiece of his public life and his Senate campaign, but even those who have worked closely with him have gotten the misimpression that he served in Vietnam.
In an interview, Jean Risley, the chairwoman of the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial Inc., recalled listening to an emotional Mr. Blumenthal offering remarks at the dedication of the memorial. She remembered him describing the indignities that he and other veterans faced when they returned from Vietnam.
“It was a sad moment,” she recalled. “He said, ‘When we came back, we were spat on; we couldn’t wear our uniforms.’ It looked like he was sad to me when he said it.”
Ms. Risley later telephoned the reporter to say she had checked into Mr. Blumenthal’s military background and learned that he had not, in fact, served in Vietnam.
The Vietnam chapter in Mr. Blumenthal’s biography has received little attention despite his nearly three decades in Connecticut politics.
But now, after repeatedly shunning opportunities for higher office, Mr. Blumenthal is the man Democrats nationally are depending on to retain the seat they controlled for 30 years under Mr. Dodd, and he is likely to face more intense scrutiny.
After obtaining Mr. Blumenthal’s Selective Service records through a Freedom of Information Act request, The New York Times asked David Curry, a professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an expert on the Vietnam draft, to examine them.
Mr. Curry said the records showed that Mr. Blumenthal had received at least five deferments. Mr. Blumenthal did not dispute that but said he did not know how many deferments he had received.
Mr. Blumenthal grew up in New York City, the son of a successful businessman who ran an import-export company.
As a young man, he attended Riverdale Country School in the Bronx and showed great promise, along with an ability to ingratiate himself with powerful people.
In 1963, he entered Harvard College, where he met Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who served on the faculty there and guided Mr. Blumenthal’s senior thesis on the failure of government poverty programs.
He received two student deferments during his undergraduate years there, the records show.
After graduating from Harvard in 1967, military records show, Mr. Blumenthal obtained another educational deferment and headed to Britain, where he filed stories for The Washington Post and attended Trinity College, Cambridge, on a graduate fellowship.
But in early 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson, under pressure over criticism that wealthier young men were avoiding the draft through graduate school, abolished nearly all graduate deferments and sharply increased the number of troops sent to Southeast Asia.
That summer, Mr. Blumenthal’s draft classification changed from 2-S, an educational deferment, to 2-A, an occupational deferment — a rare exemption from military service for men who contended that it was in the “national health, safety and interest” for them to remain in their civilian jobs. At the time, he was working as a special assistant to Ms. Graham, whose son Donald he had befriended at Harvard. About six months later, following the election of President Richard M. Nixon, Mr. Blumenthal went to work in the White House as a senior staff assistant to Mr. Moynihan, who was then Nixon’s urban affairs adviser.
But at the end of that year, he became eligible for induction after he drew a low number in a draft lottery held on Dec. 1, 1969. His number was 152, and people with numbers as high as 195 were being drafted in his group, according to the Selective Service.
Two months after the lottery, in February 1970, Mr. Blumenthal obtained a second occupational deferment, according to the records. The status of people with occupational deferments, however, was growing increasingly shaky, with the war raging and the Nixon administration increasingly uncomfortable with them.
In April 1970, Mr. Blumenthal secured a spot in the Marine Corps Reserve, which was regarded as a safe harbor for those who did not want to go to war.
“The Reserves were not being activated for Vietnam and were seen as a shelter for young privileged men,” Mr. Curry said.
Mr. Blumenthal landed in the Fourth Civil Affairs Group in Washington, whose members included the well-connected in Washington.
At the time, the unit was not associated with the kind of hardship of traditional fighting units, according to Marine reports from the period and interviews with about a half-dozen men who served in the unit during the Vietnam years.
In the 1970s, for example, the unit’s members were dispatched to undertake projects like refurbishing tent decks and showers at a campground for underprivileged Washington children, as well as collecting and distributing toys and games as part of regular Toys for Tots drives.
Robert Cole, a retired lieutenant colonel who did active duty overseas in the 1950s and later joined the unit as a reservist, recalled the young men who joined the unit in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
“These kids we were getting in — a lot of them were worried about the draft,” he said.
After entering Yale Law School in the fall of 1970, Mr. Blumenthal transferred to a Marine Reserve unit in New Haven, Company C of the Sixth Motor Transport Battalion, Fourth Marine Division, which conducted occasional military drills, as well as participating in Christmas toy drives for children and recycling programs in neighboring communities, according to the unit’s command reports from the time.
In 1974, Mr. Blumenthal took a position as a law clerk for Justice Harry C. Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court and transferred back to a Washington unit, where he completed his service.
The Senate race in Connecticut is likely to be a closely watched contest. Democrats were relieved when Mr. Dodd stepped aside this year and believed that Mr. Blumenthal, with his long record and high name recognition, assured them of the seat. He is considered the front-runner in the campaign for the Democratic primary, in August.
But Republicans have a spirited race of their own. The field includes Linda McMahon, who along with her husband, Vince, founded the World Wrestling Federation, and Rob Simmons, a Vietnam combat veteran.
AN ASSISTANT IN THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE In 1969, Richard Blumenthal was hired by Daniel Patrick Moynihan, presidential urban affairs adviser.
The President explains how Wall Street Reform will not only end bailouts and bring accountability for big banks, but empower consumers, shareholders and community banks.
First Lady Michelle Obama announces an agreement between food and beverage manufacturers and the Partnership for a Healthier America to Fight Childhood Obesity that aims to reduce the amount of calories in manufactured food and encourage lower calorie options and smaller portion sizes. May 17, 2010.
President Obama signs the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act in the Oval Office. The act helps reinforce the Nations commitment to press freedom around the world by directing the State Department to compile a report listing countries where such freedoms are violated. May 17, 2010.
GOP lawmaker says Obama dragging feet on terror funds
By Jordan Fabian - 05/17/10 12:10 PM ET
Rep. Pete King accused the Obama administration on Monday of dragging its feet on anti-terrorism funds for New York City.
King (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, has sparred with the administration since it announced last week it is making reductions to port and mass transit security grants slated for the Big Apple. He accused people from outside New York of being insensitive to the city's needs.
"The horror of 9/11 fortunately does not live with people in other parts of the country," he said in an interview on WABC radio. "We are number one on the terrorist target list."
The debate over terror funding has pitted several members of New York's congressional delegation against the Obama administration.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) have vocally criticized the decision to cut the port security grant by 25 percent and the mass transit security grant by 27 percent. The administration has said they are part of across-the-board cuts at DHS.
Napolitano penned a letter on Friday to 16 members of the Empire State's congressional delegation, including King, that defended the decision.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said that, overall, New York has received more anti-terror funding than it did during the Bush administration and that over $275 million slated for port and transit security in New York since 2006 has not been drawn down and none has been spent from last year.
But King said that was the fault of DHS.
"In her letter to me very late Friday afternoon, Secretary Napolitano seemed to be accusing New York of sitting on piles of cash from past homeland security grant awards instead of spending the money to protect the city from terrorist attack," he said in a statement. "Her accusation is ludicrous. As the [Government Accountability Office] report shows, Secretary Napolitano and her department bear the responsibility for the fact that transit agencies in New York and elsewhere are unable to spend much of their mass transit security grant money. She is blaming New York for a problem that lies at her own feet."
King says that the GAO report from 2009 shows that DHS "bureaucracy" and "red tape" has prevented over $700 million in anti-terror funding nationwide from being spent over the last two years.
DHS said that it is required by Congress to conduct "mandatory historic and environmental reviews" on the grants before they begin implementation, but said that it would work to speed up the reviews.
"DHS looks forward to working closely with Congress and our state and local partners to ensure we are doing everything we can to expedite these reviews," spokesman Clark Stevens said. "DHS is thoroughly committed to supporting New York City's first responders and overall preparedness against acts of terrorism and other disasters." This post was updated at 2:30 p.m.
Napolitano brushes back New York lawmakers on anti-terror funding
By Jordan Fabian - 05/14/10 04:17 PM ET
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday rebuked criticism from New York lawmakers over the administration's decision to reduce some anti-terror grants for the Big Apple.
Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle had criticized the Obama administration on Thursday for reducing port security grants 25 percent and mass transit security grants 27 percent. But the White House countered that overall funding for New York City anti-terror efforts has dramatically increased since the Bush administration.
On Friday, Napolitano put that message in writing for 16 New York lawmakers, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) and Gov. David Paterson (D).
"Let me assure you that DHS is thoroughly committed to supporting New York City's first responders and overall preparedness against acts of terrorism and other disasters," Napolitano said in a letter obtained by The Hill. "We recognize the unique security challenges that New York City faces, which is why overall port and transit security grant funding in New York City has increased by 24 percent under this Administration."
Napolitano's letter shows the White House is continuing its defense of its anti-terrorism efforts. Several members of the administration, including the president, have come between the crosshairs of lawmakers since the failed Times Square bombing attempt two weeks ago.
Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said Friday that Eric Holder "doesn't deserve to be attorney general" because he would not definitely say that the suspect in the Times Square attempt, Faisal Shahzad, was motivated by radical Islam.
King was also critical of the grant reductions, and in a statement late Friday called Napolitano's message "a desperate letter based on a phony argument."
"If Janet Napolitano and the Obama Administration really believe that New York has been sitting on $275 million for four years, why were they just yesterday bragging about all of the extra stimulus money they gave to New York last year for homeland security?" King said. "The fact is that almost all of the money that has not been spent is being held up by the DHS bureaucracy."
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that "cutting Big Apple homeland security funding to the core is mind-boggingly bad judgment."
President Barack Obama was in New York Thursday, and the congressman said on MSNBC that "the president is going to get an earful about this no matter where he goes in New York City today."
King and Weiner, both New York City area congressmen, received copies of the letter.
"This letter is a cheap political attempt by the Obama administration to cover up and hide the fact that it has shortchanged New York," King said.
With regard to the funding, Napolitano said that $100 million of the $300 million in port security grants in the federal stimulus act went to New York City. She also said that, since 2006, over $275 million slated for port and transit security in New York has not been drawn down and none has been spent from last year.
The White House made cuts to the Homeland Security budget across the board this year and some of those cuts have affected New York. Still, Napolitano said, the administration is committed to keeping New York safe.
"Given the sense of urgency we all feel, we are focused on working closely with Congress and our state and local partners to ensure these funds are put to work quickly to address important security needs in New York City and throughout the State," she said. This post was updated at 8:50 p.m.
Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle should sign civil unions bill
I praised Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) last week for not pandering to "birthers" and signing a law that squashed their numerous requests for President Obama's birth certificate. But now it looks like I found an issue that the term-limited Lingle is in danger of using to pander to her base, thus keeping her political options open for a future run for office: same-sex marriage. During a 2002 debate when she was a candidate for governor, Lingle said, "On the issue of domestic partnerships, I have stated that if the Legislature (should) pass legislation granting certain rights I would not veto that legislation."
Well, the legislature did just that late last month. And, so far, Lingle hasn't taken action. In fact, the governor seems a bit all over the place. At the state Republican Party's convention this past weekend, Lingle expressed concern about HB 444, which "extends the same rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union." Lingle said, "I did have a chance to read the bill and it does appear to me, on reading it, that it really is same-sex marriage, but by a different name." But she also said, "I want to wait and hear people out. I'll also say that I've gone back and forth as people have written in to me -- people I respect a lot."
Lingle has meetings set up with advocates on both sides of this issue. She doesn't have a whole lot of time, though. She has until July 6 to veto the bill, but must inform the legislature of her decision to do so by June 22. If the civil unions bill is not on the list, it will become law with or without her signature. Gay marriage burst onto the American political radar and put the Aloha State at the forefront of a national debate in 1993, when the Hawaiian Supreme Court ruled that there was no compelling state interest in denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Since then, either by court order or by proactive legislation, same-sex marriage is now legal in five states and the District of Columbia. Another five states have approved domestic partnerships or civil unions.
Making HB 444 the law in Hawaii wouldn't make Lingle a radical. It would put her in a growing mainstream. It would put her on the right side of history. And it would confirm her as a leader -- which is how any aspirant for future elective office should want to be viewed.
By Jonathan Capehart | May 17, 2010; 8:45 AM ET
Credit Score Amendment Gives Consumers Knowledge They Need for Free
This week, as the Senate considered financial reform, it passed an amendment I offered to allow consumers free access to their credit score.
This week, as the Senate considered financial reform, it passed a bipartisan amendment I offered which will allow consumers free access to their credit score if their score negatively affects them in a financial transaction or a hiring decision. A credit score is a crucial factor in financial well being, and consumers deserve to know where they stand. This amendment contributes to our country's overall financial reform and economic recovery because consumers who know their credit score can make smarter choices about their finances.
A credit score is a vital sign of a consumer's financial health. It determines whether or not a person can obtain a loan, get a good interest rate on a credit card, make important purchases, or even get a job. A credit score is a grade that determines how a person is judged by potential creditors and employers. My amendment will allow those who are negatively affected by their credit score to see it for free. That way they can take the right steps to improve their overall financial situation.
This is a bipartisan amendment, cosponsored by Republicans, Democrats, and an Independent. It's also supported by our country's largest pro-consumer groups. That's because it's a timely and commonsense solution to an important issue for many Americans. I'm proud that there are so many who support this important reform.
UPDATE: Coast Guard, Minerals Management Service to continue their joint investigation into Deepwater Horizon Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit incident
DATE: May 14, 2010 21:57:33 CST
***DATE CHANGE: May 26 - 29***
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Coast Guard and Minerals Management Service are scheduled to continue their co-chaired investigation May 26-29 to identify the factors leading to the explosion, loss of life, sinking, and subsequent oil spill of the Deepwater Horizon Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit. Originally scheduled to resume May 25, the joint investigation board has changed the start date to May 26. "The joint investigation will not hold any public hearings on Tuesday, May 25, as previously scheduled, out of respect for the planned memorial for the 11 Deepwater Horizon workers that are missing," said Coast Guard Capt. Hung Nguyen, co-chair of the joint investigation.
"Both USCG and MMS panel members have a commitment to determine the causes of this incident as well as what can be done to ensure that this does not happen again," said David Dykes, of the Minerals Management Service and co-chair of the joint investigation. "We owe this to the memory and honor of the 11 missing rig workers." U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad W. Allen, Minerals Management Service Director S. Elizabeth Birnbaum, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed an order convening the joint investigation. This joint investigation is classified as a Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation as defined with Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 4.09 and a panel investigation as defined within Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 250.101. Mr. David Dykes, MMS, and Captain Hung Nguyen, USCG, are the co-chairs of the joint investigation. The USCG and MMS share jurisdiction for the investigation of casualties occurring on the Outer Continental Shelf. The agencies have a Memoranda of Agreement establishing the roles and responsibilities related to each agency’s areas of expertise. Upon completion of the joint investigation, the team will issue a single report to the MMS Director and the Commandant of the Coast Guard containing the evidence brought forward, facts established and its conclusions and recommendations. The report will be submitted simultaneously to both agencies. The Commandant of the Coast Guard and the MMS Director will jointly sign and release the final report. The public hearing for the joint investigation is scheduled to continue May 26-29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) at the Radisson New Orleans Airport, 2150 Veterans Blvd., Kenner, LA - Bayou Meeting Room. A list of witnesses and additional information can be found on the Deepwater Investigation Web site here.
Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms
Modeled Scenarios: Moderate Waves
Waves and wind-driven surge are relatively high (but not extreme) under these conditions. Wave runup and surge are dominant contributors to inundation and overwash.
Environmental Conditions
Wave height = 1.2 m
Wave period = 6.6 s
Surge = 0.3 m
Tide = 0.36 - 0.43 m (NAVD)
Wind Speed = 10 m/s
Wind direction = S
Click on an island or scroll down the page to view predicted inundation and o
Chandeleur Islands, LA. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Cat Island, MS. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Ship Island, MS. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Horn Island, MS. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Petit Bois Island, MS. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Dauphin Island, AL. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
Breton Island, LA. Areas likely to be inundated or overwashed. [larger version]
The Google Earth file (1 MB KMZ) containing the images presented above may be be downloaded and viewed in virtual globe software such as Google Earth.
PHOTO RELEASE: Gas from the damaged Deepwater Horizon wellhead is burned by the drillship Discoverer Enterprise
Key contact numbers
Report oiled shoreline or request volunteer information: (866) 448-5816
Submit alternative response technology, services or products: (281) 366-5511
Submit your vessel for the Vessel of Opportunity Program: (281) 366-5511
Submit a claim for damages: (800) 440-0858
Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401
Deepwater Horizon Incident
Joint Information Center
Phone: (985) 902-5231
(985) 902-5240
GULF of MEXICO - Gas from the damaged Deepwater Horizon wellhead is burned by the drillship Discoverer Enterprise May 16, 2010, in a process known as flaring. Gas and oil from the wellhead are being brought to the surface via a tube that was placed inside the damaged pipe. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.
GULF of MEXICO - Gas from the damaged Deepwater Horizon wellhead is burned by the drillship Discoverer Enterprise May 16, 2010, in a process known as flaring. Gas and oil from the wellhead are being brought to the surface via a tube that was placed inside the damaged pipe. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.
GULF of MEXICO - Gas from the damaged Deepwater Horizon wellhead is burned by the drillship Discoverer Enterprise May 16, 2010, in a process known as flaring. Gas and oil from the wellhead are being brought to the surface via a tube that was placed inside the damaged pipe. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Kelley.
Unprecedented Participation Leads To Extension of YouCut Voting Period
This should be interesting, will the House listen to their constituents
I am not talking about just the Democrats or the Republicans, but the whole congress. It seems that people are fed up with business as usual. Maybe it is about time that the people we elect to do our business, finally start to listen to the people.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) today issued the following statement to announce that YouCut voting will be extended 24 hours due to unprecedented interest.
“The grass roots energy surrounding YouCut continues to rise, and the enthusiasm has, frankly, shattered expectations. People from all across the country have seized the opportunity to have their voices heard in Washington, where leaders have ignored them for far too long. With over a quarter-million votes and counting, the desire of the American people to rein in the culture of spending in Washington has risen to a fever pitch that is impossible to ignore. All members will have the opportunity this week to show that they hear the people, and allow for a serious debate on cutting spending. “
“Due to the overwhelming amount of support and interest in YouCut, we have decided to keep the voting open for another 24 hours so that more Americans can make their voices heard. Later in the week, Republicans will force Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats to consider a reduction in spending that hundreds of thousands of Americans have demanded. Either Speaker Pelosi’s caucus will listen and allow their constituents to be heard in their own body of government, or they won't. We are hopeful that many of them will.”
“As exciting as the overall number of 260,000 votes is, what’s even more assuring is where these votes are coming from. So far, less than 1 percent of the votes cast have come from inside the beltway, and that shows just how palpable the desire to be heard is outside of Washington. Votes are pouring in from places like Lubbock, Texas; Winchester, Virginia and Topeka, Kansas thanks to efforts of Randy Neugebauer, Bob Goodlatte, Lynn Jenkins and the entire House Republican Economic Recovery Working Group who have spread the word back home. More than anything, however, YouCut has spread from friend to friend and neighbor to neighbor, as people share this unique opportunity to get directly involved in their government.”
Throughout the ongoing response efforts thousands of people across the globe have offered their ideas for stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf, containing or recovering it, or cleaning it up.
BP has established a process to receive and review submitted suggestions, on how to stop the flow of oil or contain the spill emanating from the Mississippi Canyon 252 well. Proposals are reviewed for their technical feasibility and proof of application.
More than 4,800 ideas have been proposed to date. Given this quantity of technical proposals suggested by industry professionals and the public, it may take some time to technically review each one. All proposals submitted through the process defined below will be reviewed. Failure to follow the process below will likely delay proposed solutions from being reviewed. If you want to offer suggestions by phone: Please call 281.366.5511. After each call, the caller will be sent a simple form to provide details. When the caller completes and submits this form, the proposal is sent to BP technical personnel for review. If you want to offer suggestions online: A suggestion submission form is available at: http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/clients/2931/319487.pdf. Follow instructions on the form. For most timely review, please use this process to submit your suggestion. What happens with your proposal?
All proposals are reviewed for technical feasibility and application. Given the volume of proposals, this may take some time. A reply will be sent via email or fax to each caller informing them of the technical review outcome.
Feasible solutions will be forwarded for additional consideration. Callers whose ideas are considered feasible will be advised by email that we will contact them if and when their support is needed.
Unified Command thanks each submitter for their interest and willingness to share their ideas.
If you’re straight and you husband or wife dies, you have the power to decide what to do with your loved one’s body and how to carry out their wishes. However, if you are a gay man or woman in Minnesota — a state that doesn’t recognize marriage equality — you won’t have that option, thanks to Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R). Explaining his veto of the bill, Pawlenty simply said there “is no actual need” to give same-sex couples equal end-of-life rights. From his official statement on Saturday: 
