You have to love South America Politics

Especially the politicians



Yidis Medina, she's introuble for taking bribes, and this is her revenge
on the people who are busted her.

Colombia’s Attorney General seeks the temporary suspension of Welfare Minister Diego Palacio and ambassador to Italy Sabas Pretelt De La Vega, Caracol Radio reports. The ambassador is under investigation for the alleged bribery of former congresswoman Yidis Medina.

"principled consensus" reached on North Korean Nukes

Spokesman for the Chinese Delegation to the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue reached says, "The six parties achieved some progress on the verification mechanism, reaching a principled consensus" .

Chinese delegation's spokesman Qin Gang told reporters. "The specific consensus will be announced very soon."

He said the top negotiators' meeting, which started Thursday afternoon, went smoothly with "sound atmosphere" and "high efficiency."

Sounds like a good time to party!

Mexican Hitemen on the Web

Police in Mexico City investigate adds for Internet Hitmen offering "job guaranteed in 10 days or less" and adds "I have worked in Spain, only serious offers, $6,000."

Mexican drug gangs aired radio spots in Guatemala earlier this year seeking elite ex-soldiers to work as smugglers, and an armed wing of the Gulf cartel hung banners in towns near the U.S. border also advertising for new recruits.

Clintons on there way out, don't count on it

The Clinton's are a "Force of Nature"

If you write them off you're a fool.

But what can they do now?

18 million voters wanted Hillary, 200 million + raised wow, don't kid yourself this power couple is still on fire.

Hillary can make or break this election.

If the option wasn't "warmonger" McCain I would love to see her do it.

Now there is talk Bill might move to the supreme court. haha, nice.

Maybe they should just form a 3rd party and crack this egg wide open.

Carla Bruni Tedeschi-Sarkozy sings the blues

I love French women, for the record, and I am searching with all my effort to come up with words that can best honor that love. This is a horrendous, she's to skinny and her husband is a prick.

Share the details. I can't bear it T

The T. Boone add running is just hawt. "In the coming weeks I'll reveal the details of the plan"

It's amazing to me that this country has never gotten anyone to actually get on TV and EXPLAIN the PLAN before.

So yeah time for some hardcore independents to stand up.

It's unfortunate you need to buy your way into office in this country, that's the bottom line, you have to be rich.

But there are so many rich strong independent minds in this country.

Party Politics is just such a failed mechanism.

It wouldn't suck to see a few more rich oil men stand up and give a little back, OPEC isn't the only group getting rich off us, don't forget the name on that gas pump.

may the Schwarz be with you

Political Radar: Schwarzenegger Blasts Bush on Global Warming

The "Body" isn't the only Predator alumni on the war path.

Long time Bush support, sure but Arnold is a Californian, and we just aren't that stupid. Yep we like the sunshine but it's hot enough here. Global warming is hot button shizzle in Cali baby.

"This administration did not believe in global warming," Schwarzenegger told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview that will air Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

"They just didn't believe in it or they didn't believe that they should do anything about it, since China is not doing anything about it and since India is not willing to do the same thing, so why should we do the same thing?" Schwarzenegger said.

"We don't wait for other countries to do the same thing. That's what makes America number one... And I think we have a good opportunity to do the same thing, also, with fighting global warming," he said.

Jesse The Body Ventura

Cambell Brown had a 1-on-1 interview with Ventura about, the ex-"Body", considering to run as an independent for Senate.

He's so hard core. Reminded me of the tobacco chewing ass kicker in Predator. To bad he died there.

This guy ran and won the Minnesota gubernatorial election of 1998 and served from January 4, 1999 to January 6, 2003 without seeking a second term.

He's been mostly surfing since then, but he's pissed. And best of all he scares the shit out of politicians.

I'm about 50/50 on his policies but 100% on his attitude. Frankly I am sick of hope, need a little action and some accountability.

Maybe a couple of strong independent senators is exactly what this country needs. Maybe a couple more than a couple.

Timely taint on King legacy

King children sue brother, father's estate - CNN.com

Wow, not like I have any clue if the brother of the other brother did anything wrong. But how's this for timing.

Love him or hate him Jackson was part of the movement King was it's king.

It's amazing how everything gets dirty at the same time. I'm expecting some little guy to pop out from behind the curtain and admit he's the wiz.

Bernice King and Martin Luther King III allege that Dexter King took "substantial funds" out of Coretta Scott King's estate and "wrongfully appropriated" money from their father's estate.

The suit, filed Thursday in Fulton County Superior Court, serves as a very public fissure in an iconic family that has always professed unity, particularly as questions have swirled around some of their financial dealings.

In a written statement Friday, Dexter King called the suit "inappropriate and false."

"I'm disappointed that our personal family disagreement, as it relates to the family business, has evolved into being handled in a public legal forum," he said.

Bill Richardson isn't kissing ass, no really

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former Democratic presidential candidate and an Obama supporter, said Friday that the improvements to the bill allowed Obama to change his position.

This statement was is still kicking.

The DailyKos called Obama out on this one. Of course Obama is a sell out, but what's hot now is all the ass kissing.

You have the Rev. just completely sucking this up. Clearly he's taking one for the team, secretly he's probably still thinking about a nut trimming.

Now Mr. Richardson, disappointing many of his die hard supporters by sucking a little dirty too.

"What changed is that the bill got better and more acceptable to Sen. Obama -- The judicial oversight, the fact that the president can't unilaterally say he's going to eavesdrop on citizens," Richardson said. "There are a lot of safeguards in the bill that weren't there before.

But Bill come on, you can't mean that, what about our constitution. Post VP speaking tour money is big time, sorry guys.

"Now, again, the telecoms -- I personally think they shouldn't have immunity. But, you know, Sen. Obama had to make that decision," Richardson said. "We do have to protect ourselves against terrorists, but I understand there's some in the base that are concerned."

Wow, he's at least got some nuts left, even if they are up in his armpits atm.

Bush will Veto housing bill

"The Senate bill would provide for $4 billion in block grants to states to purchase already foreclosed homes, which just helps lenders who now own these properties, not people trying to stay in their homes," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said on Friday.

"If this provision is in legislation that comes to the president's desk, he will veto it," she said.

The White House also opposes a Senate provision that would ban risk-based pricing for Federal Housing Administration loan insurance.

Perino praised the Senate bill for strengthening oversight and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, providing "a strong regulator that will ensure that the housing GSEs hold sufficient capital and are focused on their statutory housing mission."

"The Senate GSE oversight provisions must not be weakened," she said.

OTS blames Sen Schumer for IndyMac Run

Regulator to run IndyMac while buyer sought | U.S. | Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mortgage lender IndyMac Bancorp Inc was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp on Friday, which will run the bank while it looks for a buyer.

IndyMac is the second-largest financial institution in U.S. history to close.

The FDIC said the estimated cost of the California-based bank's failure to its insurance fund is between $4 billion and $8 billion. The regulator said it would operate IndyMac to maximize the value of the company for future sale.

IndyMac's primary regulator, the Office of Thrift Supervision, blamed comments by New York Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer for causing a run on the deposits at the largest independent publicly traded U.S. mortgage lender.

San Vicente Clear

The intersection of San Vicente, Olympic and Fairfax is largely clear now.

New crews still linger in the area harassing locals but the large Police presence has now largely left the area.

The suspect vehicle has been towed away. Traffic has in general returned to normal.

Many people are reportedly slowing down to get a look at the scene, there is nothing to see here anymore.

It's still recommended to avoid the area if possible.

Why Pickens Plan is Dangerous

The Pickens plan presents a real and present danger to both law makers and the respective presidential hopefuls. This threat is making them all look like morons.

While Congress has completely failed to do anything in 30 years to address the reliance of the US on foreign oil and the candidates clearly have no plan other than to dance like monkeys in front of a camera Pickens plan consists of two very important things.

First it's a plan, I simply haven't heard any other plans, there are some ideas but no plans.

Second he's actually doing it.

Every talking head involved in this debate is looking pretty stupid, and T. Boone is looking like a man of action.

Independent presidential bid in the making? Compared to the other two baboons he's looking pretty good. My car can't run on hope.

Natural gas conversions for vehicles are cheap, Natural gas is abundant in the US.

The plan also consists of truly renewable energy, take a look at Pickens Plan

San Vicente Olypic Fairfax Update 2

While traffic is moving after the morning shooting of a robbery suspect at the San Vicente, Olympic, Fairfax intersection it's heavily backed up.

Helicopters have returned to the area after a brief respite in there bid to annoy local residents.

The area is essential two lane traffic now.

This intersection is going to be a mess and the back up is effecting the area for several blocks in every direction

Avoid this area if you can.

Investigators are on scene and route access is spotty.

Ex-Power Ranger attempts to cut off his penis

Skylar Deleon, 29 attempted to cut off his penis while awaiting trial in an Orange County.

Charged with with multiple murders and facing the death penalty. Deleon somehow got a razor and "tried to saw off his penis" in his cell on March 13. according to Damon Micalizzi of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"He was unsuccessful," Micalizzi said. "As I understand it, there was a lot of blood."

Deleon appeared on the "Power Rangers" but later suffered a motorcycle accident that left him with permanent injuries.

talks to calm tensions in South America

While most of the coverage regarding south America has focused on hostage rescue and FARC Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe have been involved in months of angry exchanges that threatened billions of dollars in trade and unleashed a diplomatic crisis in South America.

Chavez, and Uribe, seen as Washington’s most important ally in the region, will set aside their feud for talks in Venezuela on Friday because, analysts say, each benefits politically from normalized relations.

The countries are key commercial partners, with more than $6 billion in trade last year and Uribe says he expects to sign accords to link the Andean neighbours with two new railways.

For both presidents, "the interest right now is to lower the level of confrontation and strengthen relations in common areas, especially the economy," said Sadio Garavini, a former Venezuelan diplomat.

Russians talk tough on Missile shield

On Tuesday in a policy statement Russian Foreign Ministry stated "If the real deployment of an American strategic missile defense shield begins close to our borders, then we will be forced to react not with diplomatic methods, but with military-technical methods."

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe was quoted Japanese press as saying We want to design a system between the United States, Russia and Europe, with everyone participating as equal partners," he continued "We will continue to have a dialogue with the Russians on this matter as Presidents Bush and Medvedev reaffirmed this week in their meeting in Japan".

But clearly the Russians don't buy it, responding that any inference this defense shield is required to protect the EU from nations like Iran is a joke.

UN sanctions for Zimbabwe Vetoed by Russia and China

Russia and China have vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe.

The US-authored resolution would have imposed an assets freeze and a travel ban on Robert Mugabe, the president, and 13 of his closest allies, as well as an arms embargo on the country.

Russia and China, two of the five permanent members of the UN security council, joined South Africa, Libya and Vietnam in opposing the measures on Friday.

Indonesia abstained from voting.

If the resolution had been passed it would also have called for a UN special envoy for Zimbabwe to be appointed.

warcrimes joke

The book, “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals,” by Jane Mayer suggests a secret International Red Cross document “warned that the abuse constituted war crimes, placing the highest officials in the U.S. government in jeopardy of being prosecuted.”

Though many people may feel the Bush administration is guilty of war crimes in Iraq and in the larger war on terror, there can't be much doubt that even should charges be brought the US will refuse to recognize them and claim immunity for it's officials and senior military staff.

It most certainly would never allow charges to be brought against a sitting President.

No one would even bother trying, it would simply result in any international court trying to hear the case being dismantled.

Big money in June for Obama

According to an Obama "top aide" the campaign raised well over $30 million in june.

McCain came in at $22 million.

February still stands as Obama's best month with $55 million.

That's a lot of cookies.

The Illinois senator is the first presidential candidate to opt out of the system in the general election since it was created after the Watergate scandal in the mid-1970s.

At the end of May. The Democratic National Committee, however, had just $4 million in the bank.

Strip searchers are not cool for kids

In a split decision a US appeals court ruled an Arizona school violated the Constitutional rights of a 13 year old girl.

The girl was suspected to have violated a policy against precription or ever-the-counter drugs on school grounds without permission.

School officials ordered the school nurse to strip the girl to her underwear and "shake" her underwear to see if Savana Redding, then 13 was hiding any pills.

The 2003 search, prompted by a tip from another girl, did not find ibuprofen, which is found in common medications like Advil and Motrin to treat pain like cramps and headaches.

Previous court decisions ruled the school did not violate the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures because officials have a legitimate interest in protecting students from prescription drugs.

The 6-5 ruling by a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday overturned an earlier decision, setting out its reasoning in an extensive 75-page ruling with many details on the complications of eighth grade life.

"Directing a 13-year-old girl to remove her clothes, partially revealing her breasts and pelvic area, for allegedly possessing ibuprofen, an infraction that poses an imminent danger to no one, and which could be handled by keeping her in the principal's office until a parent arrived or simply sending her home, was excessively intrusive," Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw wrote for the majority.

"The self-serving statement of a cornered teenager facing significant punishment does not meet the heavy burden necessary to justify a search accurately described by the 7th Circuit as 'demeaning, dehumanizing, undignified, humiliating, terrifying, unpleasant embarrassing.'"

Petraeus Centcom chief

The Senate has voted 96-1 to confirm Lieutenant-General Raymond Odierno as Petraeus’s replacement in Iraq. Petraeus is leaving to fill his new roll as Centcom Cheif.

Petraeus, who engineered a recent troop "surge" strategy in Iraq, will be promoted to run the US Central Command after a 95-2 vote in the 100-member chamber on Thursday.

Petraeus will now take charge of US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as direct strategy on Iran and a surge in al-Qaeda-linked activity in Pakistan.

He replaces Admiral William Fallon, who resigned in March after saying that media reports describing him as at odds with the White House over how to deal with Iran had become "a distraction".

Iraqis get $6m in UK torture case

A British court has ruled that an Iraqi Families are to recieve $6 million in compensation from the defense ministry in connection with a case of torture and murder of an Iraqi man in the custody of British Army Soldiers in Iraq.

The settlement involves the family of Baha Mousa and nine other Iraqis who were tortured by British forces after being detained in the southern city of Basra in 2003.

A post-mortem found that Mousa, 26, a hotel receptionist, suffered 93 different injuries, including a broken nose and fractured ribs, in the final hours of his life.

Mousa died of asphyxia, caused by a stress position that soldiers forced him to maintain, the post-mortem said.

More Iranian War Games

Iran has displayed its military power for a third consecutive day, carrying out more missile tests and holding exercises in the Gulf.

State-controlled television reported on Thursday that shore-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles had been fired by the naval section of the Revolutionary Guards.

It also said the war games had included the firing of a torpedo, unveiled in 2006, that Tehran describes as a super-fast weapon capable of hitting enemy submarines.

"The expanded use of ballistic missiles are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions," Tony Fratto, white House spokesman, said. but failed to mention which resolutions he was referring to.

UN probe into Bhutto assassination

The United Nations has confirmed a tentative agreement on the creation of an international commission to investigate last December's assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan.

The announcement follows a meeting on Thursday between Ban Ki-Moon, the UN secretary-general, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the foreign minister of Pakistan.

Russia says Irans missle suck no need for Missile Defense

Taking the position that since clearly the Iranian missiles totally suck there is no need for a missile defense system in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying "The tests in Iran have only confirmed that Iran at the moment has rockets with a range of up to 1,243 miles. That confirms what we have said before".

"That is that the current idea of deploying a U.S. ... missile shield in Europe, with its parameters, is not needed to monitor and react to these particular rockets with this range."

"We continue to be convinced of the invented nature of discussions about the Iranian rocket threat as a motive for the deployment of the missile shield in Europe," Lavrov said.

Lavrov then suggested that negotiations were perhaps a better way to proceed than threats. A crazy idea that just might work.

"Overall we are in favor of any problems which are linked to Iran being resolved through negotiations, political and diplomatic methods, by bringing Iran into a mutually respectful and concrete dialogue," Lavrov said.

"Not through threats that are voiced periodically that 'force will be used so that, once and for all, all the problems are resolved'. That will not work."

July 19 European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator to talk about a package of incentives to persuade Iran to comply with international demands over its nuclear program.

"We take the view that these proposals are comprehensive enough, deep enough, contain enough positive stimuli that it will be possible, as a result of these talks, to create the conditions for subsequent negotiations," Lavrov said.

UN AU forces begin mission in Darfur

A joint United Nations-African Union force has taken over peacekeeping operations in Sudan's western Darfur province after months of international pressure on Khartoum to allow it to deploy.

During the transfer ceremony at the mission's headquarters on Monday, African troops swapped their green berets for the blue of UN-mandated missions.
Rodolphe Adada, the head of the United Nations Mission in Darfur (Unamid), used the ceremony in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, to appeal to the Sudanese government and countries contributing troops to do more.
"We are determined to deploy the most robust force possible so that it can carry out effectively the difficult mandate the Security Council has entrusted to it," Adada said as the UN flag was hoisted.

"This means contributing countries deploy their personnel as quickly as possible."

Troop shortages

The mission, the UN's largest, will eventually consist of 20,000 troops as well as 6,000 police officers and civilian personnel, but only around 9,000 troops and police are currently in place.

Additional soldiers from Egypt, Pakistan and Ethiopia as well as police from Nepal are to deploy in the next two months.

The force also needs a country to supply 24 helicopters to patrol an area the size of France.

Adada said that the mission's bid to bring lasting peace and stability to Darfur depended on "the active co-operation of the government of Sudan".

The Sudanese president has thrown up obstructions to the full deployment, including blocking Swedish and Thai troops from deploying.

State Department comments on Sudan ICC

The US state department has confirmed that prosecutors from the International Criminal Court (ICC) will seek an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, for genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

"I understand that there is some notice that the prosecutor intends to go before a panel of judges to present information and request for a warrant," Sean McCormack, a state department spokesman, told reporters on Friday.

Confirmation 47 civilians dead in US air strike

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A U.S. coalition force air strike on Sunday killed 47 civilians, including 39 women and children, in the eastern province of Nangarhar, an Afghan official said on Friday.

Afghani opinion is clear international forces do not take enough care when launching air strikes, and undermining support for their continued presence in the country.

Residents and officials had earlier told reporters that 23 people were killed, when aircraft bombed a convoy bringing a bride to her new husband's village in Nangarhar.

"I reject the coalition statement saying that all those killed were militants," Burhanullah Shinwari, deputy speaker of the upper house, who is heading an investigation into Sunday's incident told Reuters on Friday. "There aren't any Taliban or Al Qaeda even several kilometers near to where the air strike took place. Fourty-seven people were killed; 39 of them were women and children," he said shortly after attending prayer ceremonies for the victims in the provincial capital Jalalabad.

Russia tells US to stay out of Georgia

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on a visit to U.S. ally Georgia on Thursday, called for a more intensive international effort to resolve the conflict. But the idea was quickly rebuffed by Russia.

"We don't see any reason for anyone's mediation in settling relations," Interfax quoted the diplomatic source as saying. "We have direct dialogue with Georgia and contacts are continuing."

Russian and Georgian Military forces are locked in a tense stand off.

A surge in violence over the last few weeks in the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia said it sent its warplanes into Georgian airspace earlier this week to ward off a Georgian attack on South Ossetia.

Georgia's parliament on Friday unanimously appealed for world governments "to condemn Russia's aggressive actions...and to support Georgia's peaceful initiative for conflict resolution".

"Various advisers from very far away should first of all respect those people who live in the region," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in televised remarks urging Georgian officials "to calm the situation down ... so people can thrive and not live in conflict and be subject to all kinds of threats."

Both separatist regions broke away from Tbilisi's rule in wars in the 1990s and now run their own affairs with backing from Moscow.

San Vicente Olympic and Fairfax Update

After this mornings shooting the roads are clear and traffic is flowing again. The helicopters have all moved on to harass other people.

Earlier this morning Police used several unmarked vehicles to stop a red truck carrying at least two men suspected of a string of robberies. San Vicente, Olympic and Fairfax will be shut down for several hours.

Reports are coming in that the suspects had been under investigation for multiple robberies, this morning they robbed the Lawry's restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Investigation into the shooting continues and is expected to take up to 6 hours. Reports are already coming in from local witnesses that the suspect was shot in the back or "from behind".

At least 4 unmarked silver SUV's were involved in this stop. According to a police spokesperson, this was part of a continuing investigation involving multiple armed robberies.

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