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Monday, October 3, 2005 |
Berkeley doctor launches effort to recall governor
Man says he'll deliver a proposed petition to Sacramento as early as next week; if approved, he'll have 160 days to gather at least 1.04 million signatures
By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER
Perhaps it was only a matter of time: a Berkeley physician announced Wednesday he'll soon start circulating a petition to recall Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"I felt that I've helped the poor take one step forward in my medical practice, but the governor makes them take four steps backward," Dr. Kenneth Matsumura said, claiming Schwarzenegger has ignored the state's struggling schools and inadequate health care while waging war on public workers such as police and firefighters.
"California is not a movie set [~] we don't want to have an insensitive, reckless character like he portrays in the movies gallivanting and frolicking in our state," said Matsumura, 60. "Governing California is not about fun. Poor people are not having any fun. We hope we can have a different kind of leader by June of next year."
Matsumura said he'll deliver a proposed petition to the secretary of state's office in Sacramento as early as next week; once it's approved, he'll have 160 days to collect at least about 1.04 million valid signatures of registered voters. He has created a Web site, http://www.savecalnow.com, to start signing up volunteers and taking donations.
The 2003 petition drive to recall Gov. Gray Davis soon after his election to a second term didn't take off in earnest until Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, contributed $1.7 million to pay signature gatherers.
But Matsumura said Schwarzenegger "is going to be surprised by a historical grass-roots turnout for this...I'm hoping we don't have to go to paid signature gatherers, but I'm not proud [~] if that's what we need to do, we'll do it."
The recall can be consolidated with June's primary elections, he said, saving the taxpayers the cost of another special election. That would be only five months before Schwarzenegger's current term ends, he acknowledged, but booting him from office early would let lawmakers take another stab in 2006 at some of the legislation Schwarzenegger vetoed this year.
The Secretary of State's office said Wednesday that no other recall petitions are pending. Schwarzenegger's office referred questions about Matsumura's effort to the California Recovery Team, the campaign for the governor's special-election reform initiatives.
2:52:29 PM 
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Bush Brothers At Odds?.  Lately, Jeb has been taking strong positions against his brother’s policies –
Federalizing Disaster Response
President: “Clearly, in the case of a terrorist attack, that would be the case, but is there a natural disaster — of a certain size — that would then enable the Defense Department to become the lead agency in coordinating and leading the response effort?…That’s going to be a very important consideration for Congress to think about.”
Jeb: “There is almost no support among the nation’s governors for President Bush’s suggestion that the Pentagon could take the lead in responding to catastrophic natural disasters…Half the state chief executives said they were opposed or had reservations, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president’s brother.”
Immigration
President:“We[base ']Äôre determined to stop the enemy before they can strike our people.” This strategy includes tightening restrictions on foreign student visas and decreasing the number of students allowed to study in the United States.
Jeb: If he had “two ‘fairy godmother’ wishes, one would be to create more scholarships for foreign students in order to generate ‘a strong cadre of leaders’ overseas with an intimate understanding of the United States, and to make the immigration service more efficient….[T]ightening of immigration rules was necessary after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks…but enough time has passed for ‘a systemic review of policies and procedures.’”
Oil Drilling:
President: In 2001, Bush supported passage of the Energy Bill, which not only promoted drilling in areas off the Gulf Coast, but weakened states’ rights to oppose drilling under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Jeb: Opposes oil drilling in Florida.
[Think Progress]
1:44:38 PM
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Published on Monday, October 3, 2005 by Agence France Presse
Convicted US Soldier Says 'Worse Things' Have Happened at Abu Ghraib
A US soldier convicted of humiliating and abusing Iraqi prisoners said in an interview she knew of "worse things" happening at Abu Ghraib and insisted military commanders were fully aware of what was going on in Iraq's infamous jail.
The comments, made by Private First Class Lynndie England in her first post-court marshal interview, contradicted assertions by top Pentagon officials that a small group of out-of-control soldiers were responsible for abuse at Abu Ghraib, and that however repulsive that mistreatment was, it did not amount to torture.
England, who became the face of the scandal because of a photograph of her holding a naked prisoner by a leash, was sentenced last Tuesday to three years in prison and dishonorably discharged from the Army after a military jury found her guilty of maltreating prisoners and committing an indecent act.
The trial capped a damaging scandal that erupted in 2004, following publication of pictures that showed Abu Ghraib inmates piled up naked on the floor in front of US soldiers, cowering in front of snarling military dogs, chained to beds in stress positions and forced to stand naked in front of female guards.
But England, appearing on NBC's "Dateline" program, said the pictures did not convey the full extent of the abuse that took place in the cell block.
"I know worse things were happening over there," admitted the 22-year-old convict.
She said one night she heard blood-curdling screams coming from the block's shower room, where non-military interrogators had taken an Arab detainee.
"They had the shower on to muffle it, but it wasn't helping," she recalled. "They never screamed like that when we were humiliating. But this guy was like screaming bloody murder. I mean it still haunts me I can still hear it just like it happened yesterday."
The interrogators were not identified, but several investigations into the abuse have disclosed that Central Intelligence Agency operatives worked at Abu Ghraib alongside US military intelligence, trying to glean useful information.
Copyright © 2005AFP
1:42:51 PM
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Remember the story of the two San Francisco paramedics and the crowd of evacuees that followed them as they heeded the advice of the New Orleans police chief to cross the bridge over the Mississippi for safe haven, and the gun-shooting response of police from Gretna, the city on the other side, blocking the bridge and preventing them from crossing?
Here's the official response of the mayor of Gretna to that story:
A month ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the City of Gretna, leaving no building undamaged. It was a city without electricity, running water or sewerage. Debris and fallen trees blocked roads and downed electric lines created safety hazards everywhere. Roofing nails disabled many patrol cars and limited police response. No shelters or medical services were available. During the height of the storm, a dry dock, with a tugboat in its hold, broke its moorings and drifted menacingly upriver for two miles before it hit a diesel supply ship, spilling its 58,000 gallons into the Mississippi River with waves washing much of it into our city. Gretna was far from being a safe haven.
Of the normal 17,500 residents, it was estimated that four to five thousand remained during the storm. A diverse population of White, African-American, Hispanic and Asians, much like that of New Orleans, was left with the little provisions that they were warned to stock beforehand. Our efforts to have FEMA supply food, water and ice were not met for a full five days after the storm.
On Monday, with storm winds still blowing, looters within our city were arrested and, according to our disaster response plan, the Gretna Police Department sealed our city limits and prevented anyone from entering for obvious reasons of safety and security.
Tuesday was the first clear weather day that presented the nation with pictures of flooding, looting, arson and reports of rape in New Orleans. In Gretna, as officials evaluated the damages of Katrina, buses of RTA drivers and their families were dropped off without any notice into our city. Hours later, after Gretna provided portalets and a bottle of water for each person, the RTA provided their own buses and evacuated to Baton Rouge, but this was not a signal of what was to come.
Late in the day on Wednesday, a flow of people from New Orleans began to cross the Crescent City Connection on foot. They were told that food, water, safety and shelter could be found on the Westbank. Unbelievably, the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, was instructing people to cross the bridge; however he did not tell Gretna officials of his actions. With a crowd massing, Gretna police officers commandeered Westside Transit buses and began the arduous task of transporting busloads of people down the Westbank Expressway to the Huey P. Long Bridge and to safety at I-10 and Causeway, the FEMA approved evacuation point. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 evacuees were transported by the Gretna Police Department over a period of 12 to 14 hours without a death or injury reported. A fact overlooked by the national media.
Oakwood Mall was looted and burned on Wednesday. By mid-morning on Thursday, with overwhelming numbers at the foot of the Westbank Expressway, a joint decision was made by the City of Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and the Crescent City Connection Bridge Police that the Bridge had to be closed for the safety of all. Outside of the City of Gretna, there were reports of gun-wielding criminals who demanded cash, jewelry and car keys. With law enforcement present, order is expected, without it, terror reigns.
Although our investigation of the bridge incident is not complete, initial reports revealed that a warning shot was fired when the crowd became unruly and the safety of the officer was threatened. What the crowd and police officers said that night we may never know. What was clear, however, was that the decision to close the bridge was made because there was no safety for the evacuees on the Westbank. No buses, no food, no shelter, nothing.
In Katrina's aftermath, Gretna has been unfairly charged of racism. Our residents, as well as the New Orleans evacuees, were black, white and other ethnic backgrounds. All expected protection, safety, food and water. Gretna did not have the capacity to support its own residents much less the thousands who were told otherwise. What was the New Orleans plan? Is it racism to not have a plan? Is it racism to say that food, water and safe haven were "just over that bridge"?
It has been four weeks and we are still trying to recover. City services have been restored but we are feeding people through food distribution centers. At first, it took constant pleading to FEMA and the State of Louisiana to provide food, water and ice to Gretna's residents. During this past month, cities across the state and nation have responded with equipment, supplies and labor. Faith based organizations have contributed hundreds of volunteers and tons of supplies benefiting not only our people but also our neighboring jurisdictions. The dedication of city, police, fire and emergency workers was above and beyond measure. It's disappointing to hear that the national and local media is accusing a good community of racism when the charge is simply untrue.
Safety and security, a city infrastructure and eventually a business community are all elements needed in rebuilding our metropolitan area. In Gretna, we have that ability because of the action that was taken after the storm.
Perhaps it was a lack of communication or cooperation, or just a lack of common sense management that Mayor Ray Nagin and other officials of New Orleans demonstrated when they sent New Orleans evacuees to a neighboring city without notice, without knowing our capabilities and without a plan. In the future, in the event of a disaster, New Orleans city leaders have a duty, a responsibility, and a moral obligation to communicate completely and consistently with their neighboring cities and parishes, and we, as neighbors must do the same. It is not just a matter of protocol but of essential public safety.
Ronnie C. Harris
Mayor, City of Gretna
1:26:47 PM
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Right-Wing Peanut Gallery Hits Miers Hard. The Washington Post recently reported that Bush might go with a Supreme Court nominee that would soothe his conservative political base:
The president’s core supporters are urging bold action to sway the court to the right. Some think Bush might pick a hard-liner to keep his base happy and prevent a further drop in the polls.
It looks like Bush did just the opposite. Here what some conservatives are saying about the Miers nomination:
Michelle Malkin: “What Julie Myers is to the Department of Homeland Security, Harriet Miers is to the Supreme Court. It’s not just that Miers has zero judicial experience. It’s that she’s so transparently a crony/’diversity’ pick while so many other vastly more qualified and impressive candidates went to waste. If this is President Bush’s bright idea to buck up his sagging popularity–among conservatives as well as the nation at large–one wonders whom he would have picked in rosier times. Shudder.”
National Review[base ']Äôs David Frum: [base ']ÄúThe Miers nomination, though, is an unforced error. [base ']Ķ [N]obody would describe her as one of the outstanding lawyers in the United States.[base ']Äù
American Spectator Blog: [base ']Äú There is now talk of among some conservatives about a filibuster of the Miers nomination. [base ']ĶAccording to several White House sources, few inside the building took the possibility of a Miers nomination seriously. Now that it’s a reality, they are stunned. [base ']ÄòWe passed up Gonzales for this?[base ']Äô was one conservative staffer’s reaction.[base ']Äù
Instapundit: [base ']ÄúPerhaps they’ll change my mind, but so far I’m underwhelmed.[base ']Äù
Public Advocate: “The President’s nomination of Miers is a betrayal of the conservative, pro-family voters whose support put Bush in the White House in both the 2000 and 2004 elections and who were promised Supreme Court appointments in the mold of Thomas and Scalia.”
RedState.org: [base ']ÄúColor me less than thrilled . . . I just can’t think that Harriet Miers was the best person for the job.[base ']Äù
National Review’s Corner: [base ']ÄúIt’s an inspiring testament to the diversity of the president’s cronies. Wearing heels is not an impediment to being a presidential crony in this administration! I can only assume that the president felt that his support was slipping in this important bloc, and he had to do something to shore it up.[base ']Äù
Powerline Blog: [base ']ÄúA Disappointment: Harriet Miers, that is. I’m sure that she is a capable lawyer and a loyal aide to President Bush. But the bottom line is that he had a number of great candidates to choose from, and instead of picking one of them–Luttig, McConnell, Brown, or a number of others–he nominated someone whose only obvious qualification is her relationship with him.[base ']Äù
Southern Appeal: “I am done with President Bush: Harriet Miers? Are you freakin’ kidding me?! Can someone–anyone–make the case for Justice Miers on the merits? Seriously, this is the best the president could do?”
Right Wing News: “Disaster, Thy Name Is Harriet Miers: George Bush’s decision to appoint Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court is bitterly disappointing. Miers is a Bush crony with no real conservative credentials, who leapfrogged legions of more deserving judges just because she was Bush’s pal.”
[Think Progress]
1:17:26 PM
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Harriet Miers: The Ultimate Loyalist.  Harriet Miers, Bush’s next pick for the Supreme Court, is currently White House Counsel and once served as Bush’s personal lawyer. She has never been a judge. But what she lacks in experience she makes up for in devotion. Here is what the National Review’s David Frum had to say about Miers last week:
In the White House that hero worshipped the president, Miers was distinguished by the intensity of her zeal: She once told me that the president was the most brilliant man she had ever met.
Frum concluded, “This is no time for the president to indulge his loyalty to his friends.” Looks like he was wrong.
[Think Progress]
7:20:10 AM
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© Copyright 2005 Patricia Thurston.
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