China calls US’s balls and lies

 

China has called on the United States to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights issues

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei urged Washington to focus on improving its own human rights conditions, saying, “We advise the US side to reflect on its own human rights issues and not to position itself as a preacher of human rights,” the state-funded BBC reports.

China called the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the explicit examples of America’s violation of human rights.

“[The US should] stop using the issue of human rights reports to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs,” the Chinese politician added.

Hong says China welcomes talks about rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect. However, he added that Beijing resolutely opposes meddling in other countries’ affairs, and that it also opposes US interference in China’s internal affairs.

The development comes following the annual release of US State Department’s report on human rights, which criticized China for rights abuses.

The American report, considered by many observers as more of a political document against countries not in good terms with the US, accused Beijing of stepping up restrictions on lawyers and journalists.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also claimed on Friday that Beijing’s record on human rights was worsening.

“We remain deeply concerned about reports that since February, dozens of people including public-interest lawyers, writers, artists, intellectuals and activists have been arbitrarily detained and arrested,” Clinton said.

The Asian country has also been accused by the US of tightening controls on civil liberties and imposing more restraints over the press and internet access.

RZS/SZH/HJL/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174033.html

Obama will say no to budget extension woohoo!

I love it when politicians get into a pissing match. While we Americans sit and suffer, they decide how much money of ours they will steal and spend misappropriately.

Dems: $4 trillion dollars

Reps: No no $2 trillion dollars

Paul Ryan: All of you are insane, here is a budget from 2 years ago, when it was only in billions.

Both Parties: Are you insane?!

I am glad Obama will veto it. These budget extensions are Bullsh-t! Let’s come to an agreement and get it done. The democrats failed to do this which was thier job during election time. And republicans don’t want to do it after all the lies they made (I mean campaign promises) and look like the spenders they now are. I say let the US government shutdown. The country will probably be able to function properly without Big Brother, DAD, Big Sister, MOM, and Uncle Sam constantly making decisions for us and breathing down our necks.

Y’know when we were teenagers, we were all dying to get the hell out of the house. Now, it seems when it comes the government to take place of our parents and WORSE! We beg for it!

Obama threatens to veto GOP budget extension plan

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Andrew Taylor, Associated Press – 18 mins ago

WASHINGTON – House Republicans advanced a bill Thursday that would avoid a government shutdown for one more week, cut spending and fully fund the Pentagon, but the White House labeled the measure a distraction and said President Barack Obama would veto it.

Obama said in a statement he believes “we need to put politics aside and work out our differences” on a spending plan that covers the government through September, when the current budget year ends.

The president has signed two short-term extensions, but negotiations have proceeded fitfully.

The veto threat marked a sour turn in talks that Obama, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday night were showing promise.

With a partial shutdown looming for Friday at midnight, it was not clear whether it represented a breakdown in the negotiation or a final round of maneuvering before a deal was struck.

Obama called Reid, D-Nev., and Boehner, R-Ohio, back to the White House for more talks Thursday afternoon.

Before departing the Capitol, Boehner urged the House to pass legislation to cut $12 billion, fund the Pentagon through the end of the year and keep the government running for a week.

“There is absolutely no policy reason for the Senate to not follow the House in taking these responsible steps to support our troops and to keep our government open,” he said.

Boehner accused the White House of backsliding, adding that there hadn’t been as much progress as it appeared after the late-night meeting Wednesday.

“It’s really just more of the same. We’re going to have real spending cuts. I don’t know what some people don’t understand about this,” he said.

Reid said otherwise, although he, too, made it clear he wants to avoid a shutdown that the White House says would cause problems for combat troops overseas and delay Internal Revenue Service refunds for taxpayers at home.

“The issue is ideology, not numbers,” he said.

More here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110407/ap_on_re_us/us_spending_showdown

Jesse Ventura calls for a US revolution

How long do you give him before he disappears never to be heard from again?!

Treasury set to take your pension

 

Treasury may borrow federal retirement funds in debt emergency

By SEAN REILLY

The government could temporarily tap tens of billions of dollars from two federal employee retirement programs if Congress fails to raise the federal debt ceiling next month, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers.

The government expects to hit a $14.3 trillion debt ceiling on May 16 or before, Geithner said in a Monday letter.

Geither implored Congress to extend the debt ceiling by that deadline and said that if Congress does not, Treasury will be forced to borrow money from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, and the Thrift Savings Plan’s Government Securities Investment Fund, or G Fund, both of which are invested in U.S. Treasury securities. Those two moves could free up $142 billion through early July

Read more here:

http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20110405/BENEFITS02/104050306/1001

New Hampshire tells the Federal Government to shove it

N.H. House Asserts State’s Right to Nullify Federal Laws

Written by Jack Kenny   

If the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., wants to shake up the political establishment, lawmakers there might look for inspiration to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives in Concord, New Hampshire. The rebels in New Hampshire did not fire the “shot heard ’round the world” — not yet anyway — despite Michelle Bachmann’s Midwestern confusion on that subject. But they have fired a few salvos that may be worth Washington’s attention.

The New Hampshire House recently passed resolutions calling for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations and from the North American Free Trade Agreement, more commonly known by its acronym, NAFTA. And on Wednesday the New Hampshire House approved a resolution asserting the right of the state to nullify within its borders any act of the federal government it finds unconstitutional. If John C. Calhoun had lived to see this day, he would be rejoicing. He would be 229 years old, but he would be rejoicing.

The nullification resolution, passed by a vote of 242-109, holds that the state is not obliged to follow any federal law that exceeds the constitutional authority of Congress to enact, and declares such laws “altogether void and of no force” in New Hampshire. Opponents of the measure derided it as a foolish effort to re-fight the Civil War. Christopher Serlin (D-Portsmouth) noted that 40,000 New Hampshire men served and 4,500 of them died fighting on the side of the Union. “I don’t think it is appropriate for this Legislature to mock the memory of those who died,” he said.

But the sponsor of the resolution, Rep. Daniel Itse (R-Fremont), offered a spirited defense of the state’s right to stand in defiance of what he described as federal usurpation. “It is our power and duty to stand between the people of New Hampshire and the government of the United States,” he declared. The purpose of the measure, he continued, is to tell “the world in general and Washington, D.C. in particular” that when it comes to “usurpation of rights” and of the power of the people, the answer in New Hampshire is, “Not here, not now, not ever.”

The House Concurrent Resolution, which requires passage by the Senate as well, calls for the House clerk to notify President Barack Obama, all members of Congress, and all state legislators of the bill upon passage. State Democratic Party chairman Raymond Buckley called the resolution a waste of taxpayers’ money and evidence of extremism on the part of House Republicans. 

“This new, out-of-control and extremist Republican majority voted to waste taxpayer money sending letters all across the country,” Buckley told the New Hampshire Union Leader. The party chairman claimed the money could be better spent to “keep teachers in the classrooms, police officers on the streets, create jobs or reduce taxes.” 

Read More:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/6935-nh-house-claims-states-right-to-nullify-federal-laws

Farmers fight Monsanto

Yeah for the little guy! I get tired of mega capitalists screwing us. You used to be able to run to the Government about abuses from corporations. Now, when you have companies like Monsanto who are your Dept of Agriculture, who do you turn to?

Farmers and Seed Producers Launch Preemptive Strike against Monsanto

The Cornucopia Institute
March 30th, 2011

Lawsuit Filed To Protect Themselves from Unfair Patent Enforcement on Genetically Modified Seed

Action Would Prohibit Biotechnology Giant from Suing Organic Farmers and Seed Growers If Innocently Contaminated by Roundup Ready Genes

NEW York: On behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit today against Monsanto Company challenging the chemical giant’s patents on genetically modified seed. The organic plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should their crops ever become contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed.

Monsanto has sued farmers in the United States and Canada, in the past, when there are patented genetic material has inadvertently contaminated their crops.

A copy of the lawsuit can be found at:
(http://www.pubpat.org/assets/files/seed/OSGATA-v-Monsanto-Complaint.pdf)

The case, Organic Seed Growers & Trade Association, et al. v. Monsanto, was filed in federal district court in Manhattan and assigned to Judge Naomi Buchwald. Plaintiffs in the suit represent a broad array of family farmers, small businesses and organizations from within the organic agriculture community who are increasingly threatened by genetically modified seed contamination despite using their best efforts to avoid it. The plaintiff organizations have over 270,000 members, including thousands of certified organic family farmers.

“This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto’s transgenic seed or pollen should land on their property,” said Dan Ravicher, PUBPAT’s Executive Director. “It seems quite perverse that an organic farmer contaminated by transgenic seed could be accused of patent infringement, but Monsanto has made such accusations before and is notorious for having sued hundreds of farmers for patent infringement, so we had to act to protect the interests of our clients.”

Once released into the environment, genetically modified seed can contaminate and destroy organic seed for the same crop. For example, soon after Monsanto introduced genetically modified seed for canola, organic canola became virtually impossible to grow as a result of contamination.

Organic corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa also face the same fate, as Monsanto has released genetically modified seed for each of those crops as well.

Monsanto is currently developing genetically modified seed for many other crops, thus putting the future of all food, and indeed all agriculture, at stake.

“Monsanto’s threats and abuse of family farmers stops here. Monsanto’s genetic contamination of organic seed and organic crops ends now,” stated Jim Gerritsen, a family farmer in Maine who raises organic seed and is President of lead plaintiff Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. “Americans have the right to choice in the marketplace – to decide what kind of food they will feed their families.”

“Family-scale farmers desperately need the judiciary branch of our government to balance the power Monsanto is able to wield in the marketplace and in the courts,” said Mark A. Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute, one of the plaintiffs. “Monsanto, and the biotechnology industry, have made great investments in our executive and legislative branches through campaign contributions and powerful lobbyists in Washington.”

In the case, PUBPAT is asking Judge Buchwald to declare that if organic farmers are ever contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed, they need not fear also being accused of patent infringement. One reason justifying this result is that Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed are invalid because they don’t meet the “usefulness” requirement of patent law, according to PUBPAT’s Ravicher, the plaintiffs’ lead attorney in the case.

“Evidence cited by PUBPAT in its opening filing today proves that genetically modified seed has negative economic and health effects, while the promised benefits of genetically modified seed – increased production and decreased herbicide use – are false,” added Ravicher who is also a Lecturer of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York.

Ravicher continued, “Some say transgenic seed can coexist with organic seed, but history tells us that’s not possible, and it’s actually in Monsanto’s financial interest to eliminate organic seed so that they can have a total monopoly over our food supply,” said Ravicher. “Monsanto is the same chemical company that previously brought us Agent Orange, DDT, PCB’s and other toxins, which they said were safe, but we know are not. Now Monsanto says transgenic seed is safe, but evidence clearly shows it is not.”

More here:

http://www.infowars.com/farmers-and-seed-producers-launch-preemptive-strike-against-monsanto/

Want to know how the US will default on it’s debt? Bill Gross says.

 

“Skunked”: Bill Gross On How “The U.S. Will Likely Default On Its Debt”

Submitted by Tyler Durden

In a letter focusing on what has been well known to Zero Hedge readers for about two years now, Bill Gross’ latest investment outlook does the usual attack of Beltway stupidity (as if Congress is in any way competent of making math-related decisions – they do what Wall Street – that’s you Bill! – tell them to do, and you know it), emphasizing the impossible math of total US entitlement liabilities (on a net present value basis), which Gross estimates at $75 trillion. That Gross conclusion is predetermined from the onset is not surprising: “Unless entitlements are substantially reformed, I am confident that this country will default on its debt; not in conventional ways, but by picking the pocket of savers via a combination of less observable, yet historically verifiable policies – inflation, currency devaluation and low to negative real interest rates.” Then again, that America is bankrupt is not really news to anyone. Neither is it news, that Gross, as we first reported, no longer has any US bonds to dispose of. What will be news is the inflection point at which Gross starts purchasing Treasuries once again. And after all with $220 billion in AUM in the Total Return Fund, what else will he do: hold on to cash? Buy Netflix? Then the only question will be how Gross spins the inevitable capitulation of the re-hypocrisy trade, validating that he, in a narrow sense, and PIMCO in a broad one, is perhaps the biggest cog in the very system that Bill spends so many hours writing letters about and complaining against. But yes, even that won’t be all that surprising to us. After all, in this bizarro world absolutely everything is now priced in.

From PIMCO

Skunked

• Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security now account for 44% of total federal spending and are steadily rising.
• Previous Congresses (and Administrations) have relied on the assumption that we can grow our way out of this onerous debt burden.
• Unless entitlements are substantially reformed, the U.S. will likely default on its debt; not in conventional ways, but via inflation, currency devaluation and low to negative real interest rates.

That adorable skunk, Pepé Le Pew, is one of my wife Sue’s favorite cartoon characters. There’s something affable, even romantic about him as he seeks to woo his female companions with a French accent and promises of a skunk bungalow and bedrooms full of little Pepés in future years. It’s easy to love a skunk – but only on the silver screen, and if in real life – at a considerable distance. I think of Congress that way. Every two or six years, they dress up in full makeup, pretending to be the change, vowing to correct what hasn’t been corrected, promising discipline as opposed to profligate overspending and undertaxation, and striving to balance the budget when all others have failed. Oooh Pepé – Mon Chéri! But don’t believe them – hold your nose instead! Oh, I kid the Congress. Perhaps they don’t have black and white stripes with bushy tails. Perhaps there’s just a stink bomb that the Congressional sergeant-at-arms sets off every time they convene and the gavel falls to signify the beginning of the “people’s business.” Perhaps. But, in all cases, citizens of America – hold your noses. You ain’t smelled nothin’ yet.

I speak, of course, to the budget deficit and Washington’s inability to recognize the intractable: 75% of the budget is non-discretionary and entitlement based. Without attacking entitlements – Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security – we are smelling $1 trillion deficits as far as the nose can sniff. Once dominated by defense spending, these three categories now account for 44% of total Federal spending and are steadily rising. As Chart 1 points out, after defense and interest payments on the national debt are excluded, remaining discretionary expenses for education, infrastructure, agriculture and housing constitute at most 25% of the 2011 fiscal year federal spending budget of $4 trillion. You could eliminate it all and still wind up with a deficit of nearly $700 billion! So come on you stinkers; enough of the Pepé Le Pew romance and promises. Entitlement spending is where the money is and you need to reform it.

Rest of story:

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/skunked-bill-gross-how-us-will-likely-default-its-debt

Reality will set in April as Fed may not perform Quantitative Easing 3

 

Traders Worry That April 27 Could Derail the Bull Market

By: John Melloy
Executive Producer, Fast Money

//

// <![CDATA[This change in the Fed’s communication with the markets alone is enough to give investors the jitters, but the nervousness is compounded by the anticipation of a signal by the Fed chief as to whether the quantitative easing that has fueled this bull market will continue past its stated end date in June.

“I think Bernanke wants to continue to ‘QE3,’ but the rest of the Fed does not, and if he has to admit that on the air, it could be the turn,” said Steve Cortes, founder of research firm Veracruz LLC.

Stocks flirted with a new bull market high on Thursday as the first quarter came to a close. Two weeks ago U.S. stocks looked like they were headed for a correction as turmoil in the Middle East, the earthquake in Japan and weak consumer and employment data in the U.S. combined to bring the bears out in force.

Rest of story:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42362299

]]>

Secret Nuclear Bombs hidden in US in 160 areas

I knew it was only a matter of time. The boogey is being brought back up. Look for them to ask the American public soon to give up some type of freedom in name of national safety here soon!

Threats Claim Nuclear Bombs Hidden All Over U.S.

CHICAGO (CBS 2) – The threats came in the mail and to date, there have been 25 letters that warn of nuclear bombs destroying America.

People who got them called the FBI and CBS 2′s Kristyn Hartman learned, the Bureau’s Chicago office is leading the investigation.

FBI Special Agent Andre Zavala said, “Yes, they alarmed a lot of people.”

Attorney Tracy Rizzo was alarmed. A number of days ago, an envelope, with a Chicago postmark and a hand-written address to her private investigations firm, came in the mail.

The letter inside said, “The Al-Qaeda organization has planted 160 nuclear bombs throughout the U.S. in schools, stadiums, churches, stores, financial institutions and government buildings.” It also said, “This is a suicide mission for us.”

The writer, who claims to be Osama Bin Laden, tells the reader the nukes are remotely controlled. “It was clear the writer wanted to scare me,” said Rizzo, “Yes, it frightened me.” Rizzo was one of eight people in the Chicago area to contact the FBI.

Agencies in Oregon, California, Texas and Florida also got the letter with the Chicago postmark.

“There are items in the letter that lead us to believe it is a hoax,” said Zavala. “There are several demands documented that aren’t fully coherent.”

He said much of what’s in the message doesn’t add up, but in a post 9-11 world, the FBI can’t let it go – even if it does appear to be a hoax.

“The FBI investigates every element. We can’t take that chance,” said Zavala.

So, why the threats?

The writer alluded to how families in Afghanistan have to live. The FBI said it will find that writer, and when it does, he could face 5 to 10 years in prison for each letter mailed. Anyone who’s received a similar letter should call the FBI.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/03/29/threats-claim-nuclear-bombs-hidden-all-over-u-s/

We are not in a recession, we are booming hence why we can afford this extra 1/2 billion so far!

Yeah we are full of money, just ask Uncle Bernanke. We need it, he prints it or digitizes it. We’ve committed to war for what a week now, and we are already up to 1/2 billion dollars in tax payer money killing people in other nations in a 3rd war. Which should be called World War 3. It’s two continents and more than 10 countries involved. But we won’t until 30 years down road when this is all blown over. It’s imperialism is what it is. Resource grab for oil, water, and dividends on country repair and rebuild, plus add in the financing of the rebels war and once they win and take over only after months and months of running up an unpayable debt. Then, then…they will be apart of the club and begin to pass war reperations for supporting them in their time of need, even though they didn’t want us there.

Pentagon: Libya mission has cost US $550M so far

 

// <![CDATA[By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Pauline Jelinek, Associated Press ]]>

WASHINGTON – The military intervention in Libya has cost the Pentagon an extra $550 million so far, mostly for bombs and missiles, officials said Tuesday.

The figure is not a full picture of the price tag for the operation in that it does not include such money as pay for U.S. sailors, airmen and other forces, who would have been deployed somewhere in the world anyway, officials said. But it is the first official figure released on the cost of setting up the no-fly zone in the North African nation and protecting civilians from strongman Moammar Gadhafi as he resists a movement to oust him.

Of the $550 million in added spending through Monday, about 60 percent was “for munitions, the remaining costs are for higher operating tempo” of U.S. forces and of getting them there, Cmdr. Kathleen Kesler, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said Tuesday.

As of Monday, the 10th day of the intervention, the U.S. had launched 192 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles from naval positions in the Mediterranean Sea — at a cost of about $1 million to $1.5 million each. The U.S. also had flown 983 sorties, 370 of those bombing missions against Gadhafi military sites and forces and the rest for surveillance, refueling and so on.

The spending only addresses the U.S. part of the costs in Libya, where an international coalition has been operating and NATO is now taking over command.

“Future costs are highly uncertain,” Kesler said. But officials estimate that they’ll see added costs of about $40 million over the next three weeks as U.S. forces are reduced and NATO assumes more responsibility for the operation started March 19, she said.

After that, officials expect to spend about $40 million a month, “if U.S. forces stay at the levels currently planned and the operation continues,” Kesler said.

With the U.S. already stretching to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan amid difficult financial times, the operation has drawn mixed opinions among lawmakers, including one who estimated last week that Libya could be a $1 billion campaign

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110329/ap_on_re_us/us_us_libya_cost