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WillyT
WillyT's Journal
WillyT's Journal
October 6, 2013
By ADAM LIPTAK - NYT
Published: October 3, 2013
<snip>
WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama insists that he would be powerless to save the economy from catastrophe should Congress fail to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, some law professors say he does have options. They may be politically unattractive, unpalatable to the financial markets and subject to legal challenges, these experts say, but these choices are better than failing to live up to the nation’s financial commitments.
The view that Mr. Obama could continue borrowing without Congressional authorization is based on three arguments. One is grounded in an aggressive understanding of presidential power, the second in an interpretation of an obscure provision of the 14th Amendment and the third on a choice among three irreconcilable constitutional obligations.
A senior administration official was dismissive of all three options, calling them “unicorn theories,” reflecting the White House’s position that only Congress can solve a problem of its own creation.
“The Constitution gives Congress — not the president — the authority to borrow money, and only Congress can increase the debt ceiling,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said on Thursday, adding that Congress must “authorize the Treasury to pay the bills that Congress racked up.”
But Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago, said that the meaning if not the words of the Constitution left Mr. Obama with room to act. “The president has inherent emergency powers,” he said. “It has long been understood that the president should act to protect the country.”
That is the broadest option for Mr. Obama. The second is...
<snip>
More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/us/politics/experts-see-potential-ways-out-for-obama-in-debt-ceiling-maze.html?_r=0
Experts See Potential Ways Out For Obama In Debt Ceiling Maze - NYT
Experts See Potential Ways Out for Obama in Debt Ceiling MazeBy ADAM LIPTAK - NYT
Published: October 3, 2013
<snip>
WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama insists that he would be powerless to save the economy from catastrophe should Congress fail to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, some law professors say he does have options. They may be politically unattractive, unpalatable to the financial markets and subject to legal challenges, these experts say, but these choices are better than failing to live up to the nation’s financial commitments.
The view that Mr. Obama could continue borrowing without Congressional authorization is based on three arguments. One is grounded in an aggressive understanding of presidential power, the second in an interpretation of an obscure provision of the 14th Amendment and the third on a choice among three irreconcilable constitutional obligations.
A senior administration official was dismissive of all three options, calling them “unicorn theories,” reflecting the White House’s position that only Congress can solve a problem of its own creation.
“The Constitution gives Congress — not the president — the authority to borrow money, and only Congress can increase the debt ceiling,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said on Thursday, adding that Congress must “authorize the Treasury to pay the bills that Congress racked up.”
But Eric Posner, a law professor at the University of Chicago, said that the meaning if not the words of the Constitution left Mr. Obama with room to act. “The president has inherent emergency powers,” he said. “It has long been understood that the president should act to protect the country.”
That is the broadest option for Mr. Obama. The second is...
<snip>
More: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/us/politics/experts-see-potential-ways-out-for-obama-in-debt-ceiling-maze.html?_r=0
October 6, 2013
HuffPo
Posted: 10/05/2013 11:28 pm EDT | Updated: 10/06/2013 9:54 am EDT
<snip>
The anti-Hillary Clinton buttons that were reportedly spotted at a California Republican Party convention are quite simply offensive and disgusting.
San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci tweeted the following image Saturday:
Carla Marinucci @cmarinucci
Popular buttons at @CAGOP convention already take on @hillaryclinton #2016 in a big way... Ouch!!
6:48 PM - 5 Oct 2013
When questioned about the validity of the photo, Marinucci provided more details, tweeting that they were spotted outside of a VIP reception area, and later appeared to have been removed.
The three-day convention focused attention on recruiting new Republican voters, specifically women, the Associated Press reported. If these buttons were really at the convention, they probably did not help that effort.
<snip>
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/hillary-clinton-buttons_n_4051545.html
About That GOP "Outreach" To Women...
Anti-Hillary Clinton Buttons Reportedly At California GOP Convention Are Just DisgustingHuffPo
Posted: 10/05/2013 11:28 pm EDT | Updated: 10/06/2013 9:54 am EDT
<snip>
The anti-Hillary Clinton buttons that were reportedly spotted at a California Republican Party convention are quite simply offensive and disgusting.
San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci tweeted the following image Saturday:
Carla Marinucci @cmarinucci
Popular buttons at @CAGOP convention already take on @hillaryclinton #2016 in a big way... Ouch!!
6:48 PM - 5 Oct 2013
When questioned about the validity of the photo, Marinucci provided more details, tweeting that they were spotted outside of a VIP reception area, and later appeared to have been removed.
The three-day convention focused attention on recruiting new Republican voters, specifically women, the Associated Press reported. If these buttons were really at the convention, they probably did not help that effort.
<snip>
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/hillary-clinton-buttons_n_4051545.html
October 6, 2013
The Huffington Post | By LindseyDavis
Posted: 10/05/2013 12:45 pm EDT | Updated: 10/05/2013 12:51 pm EDT
More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/i-am-obamacare-_n_4046470.html
... --- ...
You Might Hate Obamacare, But It's Saved These People's LivesThe Huffington Post | By LindseyDavis
Posted: 10/05/2013 12:45 pm EDT | Updated: 10/05/2013 12:51 pm EDT
More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/i-am-obamacare-_n_4046470.html
October 6, 2013
Overheard At The Bar Today... Re: Shutdown...
"I never bought the BS Republican "Death Panel" shit.
But upon further review...
If we WERE to have a death panel..."
I took it as frustration directed at Republicans.
He confirmed.
October 6, 2013
Elise Foley & Roque Planas - HuffPo
Posted: 10/05/2013 4:14 pm EDT | Updated: 10/05/2013 4:26 pm EDT
Thousands of immigration advocates gather for a National Day of Dignity and Respect march on Oct. 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif. Thousands of people in more than 150 events nationwide demonstrated in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. (John Moore/Getty Images) | Getty
<snip>
WASHINGTON -- California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill on Saturday limiting the state's cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a rebuke of a major Obama administration enforcement policy that has led to record deportations from the state.
As the Congress stalls on immigration reform, action continues in the states, and advocates and politicians in California hope they can serve as an example of how to do it right.
“While Washington waffles on immigration, California’s forging ahead,” Brown said in a press release after signing the legislation into law. "I’m not waiting.”
The new California law, known as the Trust Act, limits the state's cooperation with Secure Communities, a federal program that allows the Department of Homeland Security to access fingerprints taken by local police, to screen detained individuals for immigration status and to request that law enforcement agencies hold them if they're found to be undocumented.
Democratic Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the top sponsor of the Trust Act, said before Brown's signature that he hopes state actions like California's will put more pressure on Congress, rather than drawing attention to the legislative fights there.
"It makes it all the more important that California be on the lead on this...
<snip>
More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/trust-act-signed_n_4050168.html
(Anti-Deportation) 'Trust Act Signed In California To Limit Deportation Program' - HuffPo
Trust Act Signed In California To Limit Deportation ProgramElise Foley & Roque Planas - HuffPo
Posted: 10/05/2013 4:14 pm EDT | Updated: 10/05/2013 4:26 pm EDT
Thousands of immigration advocates gather for a National Day of Dignity and Respect march on Oct. 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, Calif. Thousands of people in more than 150 events nationwide demonstrated in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. (John Moore/Getty Images) | Getty
<snip>
WASHINGTON -- California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill on Saturday limiting the state's cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a rebuke of a major Obama administration enforcement policy that has led to record deportations from the state.
As the Congress stalls on immigration reform, action continues in the states, and advocates and politicians in California hope they can serve as an example of how to do it right.
“While Washington waffles on immigration, California’s forging ahead,” Brown said in a press release after signing the legislation into law. "I’m not waiting.”
The new California law, known as the Trust Act, limits the state's cooperation with Secure Communities, a federal program that allows the Department of Homeland Security to access fingerprints taken by local police, to screen detained individuals for immigration status and to request that law enforcement agencies hold them if they're found to be undocumented.
Democratic Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, the top sponsor of the Trust Act, said before Brown's signature that he hopes state actions like California's will put more pressure on Congress, rather than drawing attention to the legislative fights there.
"It makes it all the more important that California be on the lead on this...
<snip>
More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/05/trust-act-signed_n_4050168.html
October 6, 2013
By Andrea Peterson _ WaPo
Published: September 30 at 12:07 pm
<snip>
Just one major telecommunications company refused to participate in a legally dubious NSA surveillance program in 2001. A few years later, its CEO was indicted by federal prosecutors. He was convicted, served four and a half years of his sentence and was released this month.
Prosecutors claim Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio was guilty of insider trading, and that his prosecution had nothing to do with his refusal to allow spying on his customers without the permission of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. But to this day, Nacchio insists that his prosecution was retaliation for refusing to break the law on the NSA's behalf.
After his release from custody Sept. 20, Nacchio told the Wall Street Journal that he feels "vindicated" by the content of the leaks that show that the agency was collecting American's phone records.
Nacchio was convicted of selling of Qwest stock in early 2001, not long before the company hit financial troubles. However, he claimed in court documents that he was optimistic about the firm's ability to win classified government contracts — something they'd succeeded at in the past. And according to his timeline, in February 2001 — some six months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — he was approached by the NSA and asked to spy on customers during a meeting he thought was about a different contract. He reportedly refused because his lawyers believed such an action would be illegal and the NSA wouldn't go through the FISA Court. And then, he says, unrelated government contracts started to disappear.
His narrative matches with the warrantless surveillance program reported by USA Today in 2006 which noted Qwest as the lone holdout from the program, hounded by the agency with hints that their refusal "might affect its ability to get future classified work with the government." But Nacchio was prevented from bringing up any of this defense during his jury trial — the evidence needed to support it was deemed classified and the judge in his case refused his requests to use it. And he still believes his prosecution was retaliatory for refusing the NSA requests for bulk access to customers' phone records. Some other observers share that opinion, and it seems consistent with evidence that has been made public, including some of the redacted court filings unsealed after his conviction.
The NSA declined to comment on Nacchio...
<snip>
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/09/30/a-ceo-who-resisted-nsa-spying-is-out-of-prison-and-he-feels-vindicated-by-snowden-leaks/
It's Not Like The NSA And U.S. Government Would Go After Innocent Americans... Right ???
A CEO who resisted NSA spying is out of prison. And he feels ‘vindicated’ by Snowden leaks.By Andrea Peterson _ WaPo
Published: September 30 at 12:07 pm
<snip>
Just one major telecommunications company refused to participate in a legally dubious NSA surveillance program in 2001. A few years later, its CEO was indicted by federal prosecutors. He was convicted, served four and a half years of his sentence and was released this month.
Prosecutors claim Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio was guilty of insider trading, and that his prosecution had nothing to do with his refusal to allow spying on his customers without the permission of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. But to this day, Nacchio insists that his prosecution was retaliation for refusing to break the law on the NSA's behalf.
After his release from custody Sept. 20, Nacchio told the Wall Street Journal that he feels "vindicated" by the content of the leaks that show that the agency was collecting American's phone records.
Nacchio was convicted of selling of Qwest stock in early 2001, not long before the company hit financial troubles. However, he claimed in court documents that he was optimistic about the firm's ability to win classified government contracts — something they'd succeeded at in the past. And according to his timeline, in February 2001 — some six months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — he was approached by the NSA and asked to spy on customers during a meeting he thought was about a different contract. He reportedly refused because his lawyers believed such an action would be illegal and the NSA wouldn't go through the FISA Court. And then, he says, unrelated government contracts started to disappear.
His narrative matches with the warrantless surveillance program reported by USA Today in 2006 which noted Qwest as the lone holdout from the program, hounded by the agency with hints that their refusal "might affect its ability to get future classified work with the government." But Nacchio was prevented from bringing up any of this defense during his jury trial — the evidence needed to support it was deemed classified and the judge in his case refused his requests to use it. And he still believes his prosecution was retaliatory for refusing the NSA requests for bulk access to customers' phone records. Some other observers share that opinion, and it seems consistent with evidence that has been made public, including some of the redacted court filings unsealed after his conviction.
The NSA declined to comment on Nacchio...
<snip>
More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/09/30/a-ceo-who-resisted-nsa-spying-is-out-of-prison-and-he-feels-vindicated-by-snowden-leaks/
October 6, 2013
So... If You Could Hold The Entire Government Hostage... What Would Your Demands Be ???
Me...
Public Option in 2 years... Single Payer in 6...
Real Teeth in Dodd-Frank with a reinstatement of Glass-Stegall...
Smack down the NSA to reasonable spying...
Tie the top-marginal tax rates to some formula that counts higher employment and wages, to lower taxes...
De-Privatize anything the Government should be doing on its own, and cap at 10%, anything it contracts out for.
Raise the SocSec contribution to... a billion dollars...
Off the top of my head...
October 6, 2013
WABC - NewYork
Updated at 07:22 PM today
<snip>
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned that among the bikers on the Henry Hudson last weekend, were five off-duty NYPD officers. Sources say at least two detectives witnessed the attack on Alexian Lien and did not directly intervene. And investigators are still working to determine what role, if any, was played by the other three officers.
What is clear, sources say, is that the men did not begin to come forward until late Wednesday, four full-days after the incident. And detectives are also investigating reports that several others in the group may have been off-duty New York City correction officers.
An undercover detective has informed Internal Affairs that he was present at the time of the confrontation. The undercover narcotics detective, himself a motorcycle rider, was off duty. Official sources say he did not get involved because he did not want to blow his cover. Internal Affairs is now investigating. The undercover detective is being advised by an attorney.
Also Friday night, 38-year-old Reginald Chance of Brooklyn turned himself in to police and is in custody. Detectives believe he used his silver helmet to smash the driver's side window of the victim's SUV. However, his role in the actual assault of the driver is unclear.
On Saturday, police released photos of another suspect they want to speak to about his possible involvement in the incident. Earlier Friday, the biker who allegedly opened the SUV's door at one point during the chase was taken into custody...
<snip>
More: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9274018
Oops... '5 Off-Duty (NYPD) Officers Among Bikers In SUV Incident
5 off-duty officers among bikers in SUV incidentWABC - NewYork
Updated at 07:22 PM today
<snip>
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Eyewitness News has learned that among the bikers on the Henry Hudson last weekend, were five off-duty NYPD officers. Sources say at least two detectives witnessed the attack on Alexian Lien and did not directly intervene. And investigators are still working to determine what role, if any, was played by the other three officers.
What is clear, sources say, is that the men did not begin to come forward until late Wednesday, four full-days after the incident. And detectives are also investigating reports that several others in the group may have been off-duty New York City correction officers.
An undercover detective has informed Internal Affairs that he was present at the time of the confrontation. The undercover narcotics detective, himself a motorcycle rider, was off duty. Official sources say he did not get involved because he did not want to blow his cover. Internal Affairs is now investigating. The undercover detective is being advised by an attorney.
Also Friday night, 38-year-old Reginald Chance of Brooklyn turned himself in to police and is in custody. Detectives believe he used his silver helmet to smash the driver's side window of the victim's SUV. However, his role in the actual assault of the driver is unclear.
On Saturday, police released photos of another suspect they want to speak to about his possible involvement in the incident. Earlier Friday, the biker who allegedly opened the SUV's door at one point during the chase was taken into custody...
<snip>
More: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=9274018
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