About | Board of Directors | How to Post to Website

On the Waterboard

How does it feel to be “aggressively interrogated”? Christopher Hitchens found out for himself, submitting to a brutal waterboarding session in an effort to understand the human cost of America’s use of harsh tactics at Guantánamo and elsewhere. VF.com has the footage. Related: “Believe Me, It’s Torture,” from the August 2008 issue.

Electronic voting is essentially tied to the phone lines because all votes cast in individual precincts must pass through the phone lines on their way to be tabulated at the main tabulation center. This makes it possible to electronically reconfigure votes before they even arrive at a central tabulation point by embedding the appropriate software in the lines, thereby destroying the prospect of a fair election outcome.

This case resembles "black box" voting where once the votes are cast, it is impossible to see what happens to them. Those who have seen the danger of this have sought to create a paper trail that could provide a means of verifying an election outcome. But now we may be faced with a potentially more ominous strain of the black box problem—votes that disappear into the void of cyberspace only to reappear at the other end of a wire in an altered state.

SOURCE: buzzflash.com

SOURCE: wired.com

AT&T Whistleblower: Spy Bill Creates 'Infrastructure for a Police State', By Ryan Singel, June 27, 2008 | 1:14:59 PM

Mark Klein, the retired AT&T engineer who stepped forward with the technical documents at the heart of the anti-wiretapping case against AT&T, is furious at the Senate's vote on Wednesday night to hold a vote on a bill intended to put an end to that lawsuit and more than 30 others.

---

Wednesday's vote by Congress effectively gives retroactive immunity to the telecom companies and  endorses an all-powerful president. It’s a Congressional coup against the Constitution.

The Democratic leadership is touting the deal as a "compromise," but in fact they have endorsed the infamous Nuremberg defense: "Just following orders." The judge can only check their paperwork. This cynical deal is a Democratic exercise in deceit and cowardice.

Make a difference this summer as a paid canvasser for the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated Campaign and help with one of the nation's most competitive Senate races!

Now hiring individuals to begin immediately to canvass weekday evenings and weekends. Canvassers will be going door-to-door in targeted areas, talking to voters about the issues and identifying support. No fundraising is involved.

Use your summer to do something that matters while gaining valuable job and leadership skills that will last a lifetime, all while helping elect great Democrats from New Hampshire.

Positions ranging from part-time (20 hrs/wk) to full-time (40 hrs/wk).
Now hiring for positions in the Salem/Derry/Nashua and Manchester areas.

Contact Summerjobs@nhdp.org for an application or with questions.

For Immediate Release

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today signed an agreement with the federal government extending benefits to New Hampshire citizens who have exhausted their unemployment compensation benefits.

"The current downturn in the national economy is impacting New Hampshire families and businesses. I believe strongly we should do what we can to assist families through these difficult economic times and extending unemployment benefits is one way we can do exactly that," Gov. Lynch said. "This extension will give more of our hard-working men and women the opportunity to find a new job without having to worry about how they are going to provide for their families."

The extended benefits program is entirely federally funded.

Any individual exhausting the regular 26-week unemployment benefits in New Hampshire since May 1, 2007, may be eligible to receive an additional 13 weeks of benefits. According to federal requirements, an individual can claim the extended benefits only if they have exhausted the 26 weeks of state benefits, and they are not eligible for any other state or federal benefits program.

Parts of military interrogation manual copied from China; Obama under fire from within for FISA vote; whistle-blower lawsuits languish at Justice Department; US company training Mexican police on torture techniques; Swedes protesting new Internet snooping law; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org

t r u t h o u t | 07.02

China Inspired Interrogations at Guantanamo
http://www.truthout.org/article/china-inspired-interrogations-guantanamo
Scott Shane, of The New York Times: "The military trainers who came to Guantanamo Bay in December 2002 based an entire interrogation class on a chart showing the effects of 'coercive management techniques' for possible use on prisoners, including 'sleep deprivation,' 'prolonged constraint,' and 'exposure.' What the trainers did not say, and may not have known, was that their chart had been copied verbatim from a 1957 Air Force study of Chinese Communist techniques used during the Korean War to obtain confessions, many of them false, from American prisoners."

Obama Voters Protest His Switch on Telecom Immunity

SOURCE: Salon.com

The notion of the government contracting with religious ministries to provide social services is not, on its face, scandalous or unconstitutional. Groups like Catholic Charities and Lutheran Social Services have partnered with public officials for decades, almost always without incident. There have always been safeguards in place to protect church-state separation, the integrity of the ministry, and the rights of those who receive the benefits.

The safeguards were just common sense, and helped make these partnerships legal. Independent religious agencies, not churches themselves, handled the public funds. Tax dollars supported only secular programs, and no religious discrimination with public funds was permitted.

So what happened? George W. Bush decided he wanted to re-write the rules. His White House identified those safeguards and renamed them "barriers." To protect the First Amendment and the interests of taxpayers, the president said, was to stand in the way of churches helping families in need. The safeguards, Bush insisted, had to be eliminated.

I was working at Americans United for Separation of Church and State when Bush was pushing this, and I worked specifically on this project. So, when I saw this AP feed this morning, I nearly fell out of my chair.

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

Associated Press, July 1, 2008 9:02 a.m.

CHICAGO -- Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans to expand President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and -- in a move sure to cause controversy -- support some ability to hire and fire based on faith.

Sen. Obama was unveiling his approach to getting religious charities more involved in government anti-poverty programs during a tour and remarks Tuesday in Zanesville, Ohio, at Eastside Community Ministry, which provides food, clothes, youth ministry and other services.

" The challenges we face today ... are simply too big for government to solve alone," Sen. Obama was to say, according to a prepared text of his remarks obtained by the Associated Press. "We need all hands on deck."

Abu Ghraib inmates sue contractors in federal court for torture; more US and NATO troops were killed last month in Afghanistan than Iraq; federal appeals court delivers another blow to military over detainees; McCain inconsistent on energy policy; wounded Iraqi soldiers cite neglect; and more ... Browse our continually updating front page at http://www.truthout.org

t r u t h o u t | 07.01

Abu Ghraib Inmates Sue Contractors, Claim Torture
http://www.truthout.org/article/abu-ghraib-inmates-sue-contractors-claim-torture
David Dishneau, of The Associated Press: "Three Iraqis and a Jordanian filed federal lawsuits Monday alleging they were tortured by US defense contractors while detained at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. The lawsuits allege that those arrested and taken to the prison were subjected to forced nudity, electrical shocks, mock executions and other inhumane treatment. They seek unspecified payments high enough to compensate the detainees for their injuries, and to deter contractors from such conduct in the future."

US, NATO Deaths in Afghanistan Pass Iraq Toll

Dear Friends,

PMA is proud to represent Vincent Bugliosi's The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder, which has been climbing bestseller lists across the nation, shown on the chart pasted in below on the second page.

In The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder Bugliosi presents a tight legal case against President Bush as being criminally responsible for the deaths of more than 4,000 American soldiers in Iraq. In a searing indictment of the President and his administration, he sets forth the legal architecture and incontrovertible evidence to put George W. Bush on trial for murder in an American courtroom for taking this nation to war under false pretences. In his groundbreaking book, Bugliosi also has outlined a legally credible pathway to holding our highest government officials accountable for their actions while in office. The book was published on May 27, 2008, by Vanguard Press, a member of the Perseus Book Group.

Now we need your help to promote this powerful and explosive book as we are about to reach "critical mass" in the media. The book will be written about in the Arts and Leisure section of the NY Time Monday, July 7th and we are awaiting story in the Seattle Times. Please order a copy and recommend it to all your friends. Feel free to mention it in your blogs and please write a review on Amazon.com (and pass this email onto your fiends. If you would like to view a PodCast of Vincent Bugliosi, paste www.NationalBTV.com into your browser and click on the photo of Vincent Bugliosi on the right (3rd photo down on the right). This is a very powerful 25 minute interview. Also note that Mr. Bugliosi can be found on CSPAN for the next few days. The CSPAN piece is a 2 1/2 hour lecture regarding the book.

We hope you find it as thought provoking and hard hitting as we do.

For Immediate Release

Switching to E-Prescribing Will Improve Quality,
Save Lives, Reduce Health Care Costs

CONCORD - New Hampshire state government is leading by example in meeting Gov. John Lynch's goal of ensuring that all health care providers have the capability to prescribe medications electronically.

Gov. Lynch announced today that beginning tomorrow, providers will be able to access New Hampshire Medicaid patients' eligibility, formulary information and drug histories electronically.

"Moving to electronic prescriptions is an important step forward in improving health care efficiency, controlling costs, reducing medical errors and increasing patient safety," Gov. Lynch said. "We are making real progress in ensuring all of our health care providers have the capability of prescribing medications electronically and I am pleased that our state government is leading by example."

E-prescribing allows prescribers and pharmacists to access information about prescription formularies, the medication history of patients whose providers write electronic prescriptions, warns of adverse drug effects such as allergies, and allows for electronic transactions between health care providers and pharmacies.

"Fascism should more appropriately be called corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." -Benito Mussolini

Iran-Contra's 'Lost Chapter'

By Robert Parry (A Special Report)

June 30, 2008

As historians ponder George W. Bush’s disastrous presidency, they may wonder how Republicans perfected a propaganda system that could fool tens of millions of Americans, intimidate Democrats, and transform the vaunted Washington press corps from watchdogs to lapdogs.

For Immediate Release

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch has signed a new law aimed at reforming the state Retirement System, helping to ensure its long-term viability and providing cost savings to local taxpayers.

The new law (HB 1645) is an outgrowth of a process that began with the passage of legislation last year and the creation of the Commission to Study the Long Term Viability of the Retirement System. The recommendations of that commission formed the basis for this year's legislation.

"This is a significant new law that will strengthen the long-term viability of the Retirement System. It's also an important example of the progress we can make, addressing long-neglected challenges, when we work together," Gov. Lynch said.

"Our firefighters, police officers, teachers, municipal and state employees serve our citizens with distinction and dedication, which is why it is so important that we take action now to ensure they receive the retirement they've earned," Gov. Lynch said. "This comprehensive law addresses the issues facing the retirement system in a manner that protects local communities and workers."

I'm writing on behalf of the Borgen Project- a seattle based non profit organization working to bring political attention to severe poverty. You can learn more about our organization through theborgenproject.org.

As you will see we have created the Global Poverty Act which has passed in the House and now we're trying to pass in the Senate. The way you can help is severly important and takes only thirty seconds to help pass this act.

We need roughly a dozen people (however the more the merrier) in New Hampshire to call Senator Sununu's office at (603) 647- 7500 and simply tell the staffer on the phone: “I’m a Borgen Project supporter and I would like the Senator to cosponsor the Global Poverty Act.” People can also email his office here:

sununu.senate.gov.

If you and your members can make the call or shoot an email it would greatly help the cause. You can see here (sample call log on right) how political offices tally each call and why it’s so important. Thank you so much for your consideration and let me know if I can answer any questions.
Thank you,

Candice Hays
The Borgen Project
theborgenproject.org

SOURCE:

THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2008, Truthout Original

Congress Still Corrupt and Useless, by: Marc Ash, t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Arlington Cemetery in the fog. (Photo: Craig Steinberg)

    For those who thought Tom Delay's departure would really change anything in Congress, this past week was a strong cup of coffee. On Capitol Hill, politics and greed still trump the good of the nation, still trump the Constitution, still trump all.

    While nothing that happened in Washington this past week was new or should have surprised anyone, we were nonetheless served clear notice, anew, that this is a democracy under siege.

SOURCE: marcambinder.theatlantic.com

GOP Prepares To Scale Back Aggressive Anti-Voter Fraud Campaigns

25 Jun 2008 02:30 pm

John McCain's election strategists plan to tone down the Republicans' traditionally aggressive and public campaign against potential voter fraud, several Republicans familiar with the situation say.

The strategists and consultants all would speak only on the condition that their names and affiliations not be used because they were not permitted to divulge the information, they did not want to disclose internal deliberations, and because the issue is still being discussed within the party.

Sources with direct knowledge of the coordinated Republican effort this year say that high-ranking Republicans, including some within McCain's campaign, are convinced that GOP efforts in 2004 were damaging.

"Spreading 10,000 lawyers around the country and announcing a challenge to 40,000 new registrants in Ohio was counterproductive," a Republican familiar with the situation said. The Republican said that many within the party believed that then-Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell's efforts to tighten provisional ballot rules ahead of the 2004 may have increased Democratic turnout because it convinced Democrats that Republicans were trying to disenfranchise voters.

OBAMA, MCCAIN, CLINTON DID NOT VOTE

Here are the 15 who tried to block the bill:

Biden (D-DE)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Wyden (D-OR)

The other two who didn't vote were Byrd and Kennedy, both of whom are still out for medical reasons.

Yeas were 32 Democrats and 48 Republicans.

SOURCE: Reuters.com

Spy, phone protection bill clears Senate hurdle
By Thomas Ferraro2 hours, 42 minutes ago

A White House-backed spy bill to protect telecommunication companies from billions of dollars in possible privacy lawsuits passed a Senate test vote on Wednesday and headed toward final congressional approval.

On a vote of 80-15, mostly Republican supporters of the bipartisan measure, which would also implement the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. spy laws in decades, easily mustered the 60 needed to clear a Democratic procedural roadblock.

HR6304 - FISA AMENDMENTS ACT

On June 20, 2008 - 293 Representatives voted in favor to invalidate the 4th Amendment

But before they voted, this is what our leaders in Washington had to say about HR6304

AMENDMENT IV:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither." BENJAMIN FRANKLIN --

If you are motivated to take action, please consider educating your neighbor about these intrusive spy-bills. Please see our new feature documentary detailing such anti-American bills and providing real grassroots solutions for restoring our Bill of Rights: http://www.TakeBackWashington.com