151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War

151 Congressmen Derive Financial Profit From War Blood money stains the hands of more than 25% of members of the U.S. House and Senate By Ralph Forbes Who profits from the Iraq war? More than a quarter of senators and congressmen have invested at least $196 million of their own money in companies doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD) that profit from the death and destruction in Iraq. According to the latest reports, 151 members of Congress invested close to a quarter-billion in companies that received defense contracts of at least $5 million in 2006. These companies got more than $275.6 billion from the government in 2006, or $755 million per day, according to FedSpending.org, a website of the watchdog group OMBWatch. Congressmen gave themselves a loophole so they only have to report their assets in broad ranges. Thus, they can be off as much as 160 percent. (Try giving the IRS an estimate like that.) In 2004, the first full year after the present Iraq war began, Republican and Democratic lawmakers—both hawks and doves—invested between $74.9 million and $161.3 million in companies under contract with the DoD. In 2006 Democrats had at least $3.7 million invested in the defense sector alone, compared to the Republicans’ “only” $577,500. As the war raged on, so did the billions of profits—and personal investments by Congress members in war contractors, which increased 5 percent from 2004 to 2006. Investments in these contractors yielded Congress members between $15.8 million and $62 million in personal income from 2004 through 2006, through dividends, capital gains, royalties and interest. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), who are two of Congress’s wealthiest members, were among the lawmakers who garnered the most income from war contractors between 2004 and 2006: Sensenbrenner got at least $3.2 million and Kerry reaped at least $2.6 million. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees which oversee the Iraq war had between $32 million and $44 million invested in companies with DoD contracts. War hawk Sen. Joe Lieberman (IConn.), chairman of the defense-related Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, had at least $51,000 invested in these companies in 2006. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who voted for Bush’s war, had stock in defense companies, such as Honeywell, Boeing and Raytheon, but sold the stock in May 2007. Of the 151 members whose investments are tied to the “defense” (war) industry, as far as we know, not one of them offered to donate their bloodstained profits to the national treasury to offset the terrible debt they have imposed. Has one of them even offered to donate one cent of their war profits to lessen the debt that increases more than $1 million a minute? When our boys and girls are wounded the government bills them to return their reenlistment bonus. They have to return any pay they received while they were hospitalized. They have to pay for their helmets and uniforms that are destroyed in the hell of war. But they keep on fighting for these politicians’ right to keep their war profits. • Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) $3,001,006 to $5,015,001 • Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $250,001 to $500,000 • Rep. Kenny Ewell Marchant (R-Tex.) $162,074 to $162,074 • Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) $115,002 to $300,000 • Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) $115,002 to $300,000 • Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) $100,870 to $100,870 • Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) $65,646 to $65,646 • Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) $50,008 to $227,000 • Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) $50,001 to $100,000 • Rep. Stephen Ira Cohen (D-Tenn.) $45,003 to $150,000 Contact freelance writer Ralph Forbes at justrite@ipa.net. (Issue # 18, May 5, 2008)

MAYOR DALEY IS PISSED-http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/

http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/

MAYOR DALEY IS PISSED

The mayor we love to call "Dick" will hold an "emergency summit" today to stop all those bad people from being bad.

That's right, Mayor Daley believes in magic. He thinks that getting a bunch of fellow magicians in the same room will magically slow down, or even stop, the violence that has been a part of Chicago's background for like, well forever. But don't worry. Dick's emergency summit today will undoubtedly be more effective and longer lasting than the last one he held in 1992.

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Mayor Richard M. Daley on Friday plans to convene a group of officials from schools, religious organizations, and social service agencies to talk about how to combat a wave of violence in the city that has been dominating the headlines throughout the past week. MORE at CBS2 Chicago...

ALSO SEE: WE NEED MORE GUNS, NOT FEWER

Couldnt have said it better..........................

crimefilenews

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Daley Vows Enforcement Action To Curb Chicago’s Latest Gang Violence!

Daly told reporters he and his new Police Superintendent are going to take action to slow down the epidemic of shootings plaguing the Windy City’s Black neighborhoods..

What’s Daley’s plan? As usual Daley will have the cops out searching far and wide for more middle-aged, White, gun collectors who own handguns banned in Chicago for decades. Of course these collectors only crime is to collect firearms.

The usual result of Daley’s war on gangs is that the gangs win absolute dominance and control over the entire city since Daley does his best to make sure only criminals have guns.

Daley will never live long enough to learn the simple truth, that his gun control efforts only make the problem much worse.

Blaming Mexican Violence On America’s Second Amendment

www.crimefilenews.com

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Blaming Mexican Violence On America’s Second Amendment

The same country that shamelessly exports their violence, drugs and poverty to America is now loudly whining. Mexico’s corrupt and vile government is blaming our freedom and liberty for their violent drug war problems.

They demand we do more to curtail smuggling of firearms to Mexico while they do nothing at all to curtail the smuggling of illegal immigrants, drugs and fugitives into our country.

It seems that a fence dividing our nations with 100% security cooperation between both our countries is the ultimate solution to everyone’s problem. Mexico’s criminals wouldn’t be able to smuggle anything in or out of the United States or back into Mexico.

Our own Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has chimed in with their own self-serving ideas for Mexico’s problems with gun violence. The BATFE solution is a blank check from our taxpayers to uncontrollably increase their powers, assets and manpower like every government agency that ever existed. The BATFE has wasted far too many tax dollars on their unconstitutional mission anyway.

The usual knee-jerk solution offered for every problem is to trash American’s rights to defend themselves, families and country.

America’s freedom is not the cause of Mexico’s violence problems. Mexico corrupt politicians have made sure only criminals have weapons long ago. The result of Mexico’s gun control is that their criminals easily dominate the entire country.

Another real and incredibly simple solution is for both countries to just get out of the drug enforcement business. Of course that would forever cut off the corruption Gravy Train for both of our nations. Peace and prosperity would return as the drug dealers, Lords and Czars all have to suddenly look for a career change.

All the laws in the world have not made a dent into drug abuse. Perhaps we can redirect some of the wasted enforcement money to the medical treatment of those addicted souls that really want it.

Ex-alderman, ex-con, ex-Dem, Jones seeks political comeback

From http://www.chicagogop.com/

by Lorene Yue - ChicagoBusiness

Former Alderman Virgil Jones' latest attempt to reclaim public office after serving time in prison lasted about two weeks.

Mr. Jones, a former police officer who served as alderman for the city's 15th Ward from 1991 until he was convicted of extortion and tax charges in 1999, had attempted to fill the vacancy on the ballot for state representative in the 32nd District.

He had even switched parties, from Democrat to Republican.

State law does not prohibit convicted felons from seeking office - unlike municipal law, which prevented Mr. Jones from reclaiming his aldermanic seat, a move he attempted last year. He was rebuffed by the city Board of Elections, and when he took his case to the Illinois Supreme Court, the judges sided with the board.

Mr. Jones said Thursday he will withdraw his nomination to run on the 32nd District Republican ballot after conferring with the leaders of the Cook County and city Republican parties. His nomination application was filed 10 days ago with the Illinois State Board of Elections.

"It's what is best for the party," Mr. Jones said. "There will be another time (to run for office)."

Though he was a member of the Democratic Party for years, Mr. Jones said his switch to the Republican Party represents his true political ideology.

"When I was a younger man, I was a member of the Young Republicans," he said. "In the city of Chicago, you can only get elected (if you're a Democrat)."

His previous attempt to reclaim public office came earlier this year, when he tried to secure a spot as the Republican committeeman for the 15th Ward.

Mr. Jones' application, supported by two Republican committeemen, touched off a spate of infighting within the Cook County and Chicago GOP when his intentions were publicized.

"He was not a consensus pick of the Republican Party," said Lee Roupas, chairman of the Cook County GOP. "It was an unfortunate situation."

Mr. Jones' application was supported by longtime friends William Delay, who was recently elected Republican committeeman for the 18th Ward, and Jacoby Crutcher Jr., a newly elected Republican committeeman for the 20th Ward. Mr. Jones' criminal record should not be a factor, Mr. Delay said.

"I feel that everybody should have another chance," said Mr. Delay. "He's entitled to another chance, just like everybody else."

Mr. Jones spent three years in prison after being convicted of extortion in the 1990s' FBI investigation dubbed Operation Silver Shovel, which exposed political corruption. The probe ended with 18 convictions, six of them sitting or former aldermen.

Mr. Jones maintains his innocence. "I didn't take any money. That was a lie," he said.

He's also preparing to file an appeal to have his conviction overturned. "I want to serve the people. I know what the people need."

HDO info from Chicagoclout.com

HDO Connections

How come somebody has not mentioned the fact that the recently indicted John Resa is Al Sanchez's Cousin?
Al Sanchez's mother maiden name is Mary Resa...The now Mary (Resa)Sanchez works in Alderman John Pope's office as a secretary and has been there for at least 5 years. I thought city employees have to live in the City of Chicago because Mary Sanchez lives in Hammond, Indiana?

The article came out about a city inspector who got indicted and was found guilty ? His name is Miguel Diaz! Nobody mentioned he is HDO?

One more important issue! An article came out it the paper last week about a principal from a southside high school! George Washington H.S. (10th Ward)! The name of the new principal is Florence (Flo) Gonzalez and she is Al Sanchez's fiance. She has been Al Sanchez's girlfriend for about 7 years.

Al Sanchez's son Mathew(Matt)Sanchez got a full scholarship from State Representative Eddie Acevedo... (each Rep. is given four full scholarships a year) Al Sanchez had Matthew Sanchez lye on his application by saying he lived in Eddie Acevedo's district...I believed he used the address of the now indicted Aaron Delvalle who lives in Pilsen?

What ever happened to the article about "votes for city services?"

Sheriff Joe Run Out Of Arizona

From crimefilenews.com

Friday, April 18, 2008

Sheriff Joe Run Out Of Arizona Town Before Sundown--Not Quite.

Click On Picture To Enlarge.

Just a little Southeast of Phoenix Is the Town of Guadalupe. The town has a population of poor and ignorant Hispanic and Yaqui Native American Indians. Since America’s Drug War began there has always been an over abundant population of Illegal Aliens here along with a high crime rate.

Guadalupe has a local government with a history of corruption. They had their own police department run by criminals and the local magistrate could and would fix anything.

After a law enforcement crises in the 1980s they disbanded what was left of their police force and contracted for law enforcement services with the Maricopa County Sheriff.

Recently, Sheriff Joe Arpaio known for being America’s Toughest Sheriff has been attacked by town politicians, clergy and citizens for enforcing the law of the land. The town’s politicians want to select what laws will or won’t be enforced.

I have my own issues with the sheriff about the treatment of prisoners in his jails who have yet to be convicted of anything. That’s the people accused of crimes who are unable to post bail and be released during the one to three years it takes to get their day in court. Often the lies of supposed victims and witnesses are exposed at trials and the former suspects are set free. Sheriff Joe punishes everyone in his jails.

The other issue I have is Arpaio’s publicity stunts are often over the top. Examples are the pink underwear, prison stripes and chain gangs. Again being tough on innocents accused along with convicted criminals is wrong.

The latest rhubarb is over Immigration Law violations. Guadalupe’s politicians think Arizona is part of Mexico. Of course they demand welfare, education and medical benefits meant for American citizens and lawful aliens.

Guadalupe wants Sheriff Joe to turn his head and wink at the violations while taxpayers are soaked paying for medical care, schools, food and imprisonment of dangerous felons who sneaked across our borders.

Sheriff Joe has given the town 180 days to find alternative police services to their liking.

I’m firmly with Sheriff Joe on this one. Guadalupe deserves what they get.

The following is a press release from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office:

Recent actions and statements made by the Town of Guadalupe against the Sheriff's Office are unjust and ignore the professional law enforcement services provided by the Sheriff's Office for the past 30 years. These criticisms are not only a disservice to the deputies serving the Town but reflect poorly on the community as a whole. The current law enforcement contract provides 1.66 beats which includes patrol, responses to emergency calls, arrests of suspects, traffic enforcement and accident investigations, investigation of alleged crimes, property and evidence safekeeping, up to date reporting systems, dispatch and police communications services for a total charge to the Town of $1,186,000. At no additional cost, the Sheriff's Office provides canine, SWAT, posse and helicopter search and rescue. As with all law enforcement contracts, the Sheriff's Office only charges the Town for actual cost recovery. Neither the Sheriffs Office nor Maricopa County profit from the payment received for law enforcement services to the Town.

The Office has provided the community with proactive crime suppression enforcing all laws of the State of Arizona on a quarterly basis. These additional enforcement activities have been successful in reinforcing the safety of the community. Our recent activity resulted in 45 individuals arrested and booked. Of the 45 arrests, 18 individuals were warrant arrests (a total of 28 warrants were cleared); 6 individuals were arrested for drug violation; 9 individuals, after being interviewed, were determined to be illegal immigrants; 12 individuals were arrested for miscellaneous other charges. In addition, 22 misdemeanor citations and 120 traffic citations were issued.

The Sheriff's Office is not a sanctuary law enforcement agency. The Office does not pick and choose which laws it will or will not enforce. The Sheriff's Office is totally committed to enforcing all laws fairly and equitably. Statements made by you and the Phoenix mayor reflect a disturbing discrimination and selective enforcement agenda that certain laws passed by the legislature and voted upon by the citizens of Maricopa County should not be enforced. As the position of the Sheriff's Office is one of dedication to full law enforcement and the Town's position is one of selective and self serving law enforcement, the Sheriff's Office has decided to invoke the termination clause of its law enforcement agreement with the Town of Guadalupe.

This letter will serve as the 180 day written notice. This should give the Town sufficient time to study and research the law enforcement needs of the community and explore other law enforcement alternatives.

Sincerely,
Joseph M. Arpaio. Sheriff

Charlton Heston will be missed

Charlton Heston, 84; Oscar-winning actor played larger-than-life figures

The Oscar winner played Moses and Michelangelo, then later became a darling of conservatism.

Charlton Heston, the Oscar-winning actor who achieved stardom playing larger-than-life figures including Moses, Michelangelo and Andrew Jackson and went on to become an unapologetic gun advocate and darling of conservative causes, has died. He was 84.

Heston died Saturday at his Beverly Hills home, said family spokesman Bill Powers. In 2002, he had been diagnosed with symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer's disease.

With a booming baritone voice, the tall, ruggedly handsome actor delivered his signature role as the prophet Moses in Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 Biblical extravaganza "The Ten Commandments," raising a rod over his head as God miraculously parts the Red Sea.

Heston won the Academy Award for best actor in another religious blockbuster in 1959's "Ben-Hur," racing four white horses at top speed in one of the cinema's legendary action sequences: the 15-minute chariot race in which his character, a proud and noble Jew, competes against his childhood Roman friend.

Heston stunned the entertainment world in August 2002 when he made a poignant and moving videotaped address announcing his illness.

Late in life, Heston's stature as a political firebrand overshadowed his acting. He became demonized by gun-control advocates and liberal Hollywood when he became president of the National Rifle Assn. in 1998.

Heston answered his critics in a now-famous pose that mimicked Moses' parting of the Red Sea. But instead of a rod, Heston raised a flintlock over his head and challenged his detractors to pry the rifle "from my cold, dead hands."

Like the chariot race and the bearded prophet Moses, Heston will be best remembered for several indelible cinematic moments: playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with Orson Welles in the oil fields in "Touch of Evil," his rant at the end of "Planet of the Apes" when he sees the destruction of the Statue of Liberty, his discovery that "Soylent Green is people!" in the sci-fi hit "Soylent Green" and the dead Spanish hero on his steed in "El Cid."

The New Yorker's film critic Pauline Kael, in her review of 1968's "Planet of the Apes," wrote: "All this wouldn't be so forceful or so funny if it weren't for the use of Charlton Heston in the [leading] role. With his perfect, lean-hipped, powerful body, Heston is a god-like hero; built for strength, he is an archetype of what makes Americans win. He represents American power -- and he has the profile of an eagle."

For decades, the 6-foot-2 Heston was a towering figure in the world of movies, television and the stage.

"He was the screen hero of the 1950s and 1960s, a proven stayer in epics, and a pleasing combination of piercing blue eyes and tanned beefcake," David Thomson wrote in his book "The New Biographical Dictionary of Film."

Heston also was blessed by working with legendary directors such as DeMille in "The Greatest Show on Earth" and again in "The Ten Commandments," Welles in "Touch of Evil," Sam Peckinpah in "Major Dundee," William Wyler in "The Big Country" and "Ben-Hur," George Stevens in "The Greatest Story Ever Told," Franklin Schaffner in "The War Lord" and "Planet of the Apes" and Anthony Mann in "El Cid."

"Four or five of those men would be on anybody's all-time great list," Heston said in a 1983 interview. "And if I picked up one scrap, one piece of business, from each of them, then today I would be a hell of a director."

John Charles Carter was born Oct. 4, 1923, in Evanston, Ill. His father, Russell Whitford Carter, moved the family to St. Helen, Mich., where Heston lived an almost idyllic boyhood, hunting and fishing.

He entered Northwestern University's School of Speech in 1941 on a scholarship from the drama club. While there, he fell in love with a young speech student named Lydia Clarke. They were married March 14, 1944, after he had enlisted in the Army Air Forces. Their union was one of the most durable in Hollywood, lasting 64 years in a town known for its highly publicized divorces, romances and remarriages.

Theatrical name choice

After the war, he went on countless auditions as a stage actor in New York. His professional name was a combination of his mother's maiden name, Charlton, and the last name of his stepfather, Chester Heston.

He made his Broadway debut opposite legendary stage actress Katharine Cornell in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" as Proculeius, Caesar's aide-de-camp.

Heston found steady employment in the new medium of television. His big break occurred in 1949, when he appeared in the CBS live "Studio One" production of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar."

In 1949, he attracted the attention of veteran film producer Hal Wallis. Without an audition, Wallis signed Heston to an independent contract for five pictures with the option he could accept other roles.

election 08

Frank Coconate wins first round

Ex-Chicago employee, alderman's son among Shakman claimants

Both said they came up against city's patronage system and lost

By Dan Mihalopoulos and Todd Lighty |Tribune reporters

9:52 PM CDT, March 28, 2008

A former city worker who lost his job after loudly criticizing Mayor Richard Daley is among the big winners in the $12 million settlement that City Hall must pay victims of its corrupt personnel process.

Frank Coconate, a 27-year city employee, learned Friday that he will receive $75,000 from the settlement fund established after federal authorities uncovered a fraudulent system of hiring and promotions that favored Daley loyalists.

The settlement fund was part of an agreement between the city and lawyer Michael Shakman, who has fought a decades-long legal battle against political hiring. The $12 million pot was divvied up among more than 1,400 claimants by Noelle Brennan, the lawyer appointed to monitor city hiring by the judge in the Shakman case.

Brennan said Coconate presented compelling evidence that the Daley administration denied him promotions over the years because of his political stance.

"This was linked to his refusal to drop out of elections when he was a candidate and his refusal to support those candidates backed by the regular Democrats," she said.

Brennan said Coconate also showed that the city started disciplinary proceedings against him, which ultimately led to his being fired, because he was outspoken about politics and hiring.

Coconate, who ran unsuccessfully for state representative, said the mayor's political operatives on the Northwest Side offered him a promotion to house drain inspector in the city's Water Department if he agreed to drop out of a race against a Daley-backed candidate. Coconate said he declined the deal and subsequently lost out on promotion to less experienced co-workers with clout.

"The punishment was because I was going against Daley's wishes," Coconate said.

The Daley administration fired Coconate in 2005, alleging he falsified reports of his whereabouts on the job. He appealed his firing to the city's Human Resources Board, but a hearing officer recommended in August that he not be rehired.

Another claimant who will get $75,000 from the fund is Jay Stone, son of Ald. Bernard Stone (50th). The younger Stone lost a 2003 City Council election in the 32nd Ward to Ted Matlak, an incumbent backed by a campaign army of patronage workers.

dmihalopoulos@tribune.com

tlighty@tribune.com

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