FBI Investigating Coleman, Paper Reports: “The Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports that a probe has been launched into Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman's ties to businessman Nasser Kazeminy:
Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.
Agents with the FBI have talked to or made efforts to talk to people in Texas familiar with the allegations, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Houston is where the first of two lawsuits was filed alleging Nasser Kazeminy, a Bloomington financier, tried to steer $100,000 to Coleman via his wife's Minneapolis employer. The second suit, filed in Delaware, alleges Kazeminy initially tried to get money directly to the senator.”
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Reid: Blagojevich Must Go, Must Not Make Appointment
Reid: Blagojevich Must Go, Must Not Make Appointment Blagojevich gets more in more in hot water, with reported 50 democrats including President-Elect Obama calling for the Gov. to step down.
World Bank Chief Economist: World Faces "Worst Recession Since The Great Depression"
World Bank Chief Economist: World Faces "Worst Recession Since The Great Depression": “Global oil demand will collapse next year and commodities will not return to the highs they reached this summer in the foreseeable future, two authoritative reports said on Tuesday as they forecast a long and painful worldwide recession.
The stark conclusions came as the World Bank's chief economist predicted that the world faced "the worst recession since the Great Depression".
The US energy department said global oil demand will fall this year and next, marking the first two consecutive years' decline in 30 years.
"The increasing likelihood of a prolonged global economic downturn continues to dominate market perceptions, putting downward pressure on oil prices," it said, forecasting that demand would drop 50,000 barrels a day this year and a hefty 450,000 b/d in 2009. US oil demand will drop next year to the lowest level in 11 years.”
The stark conclusions came as the World Bank's chief economist predicted that the world faced "the worst recession since the Great Depression".
The US energy department said global oil demand will fall this year and next, marking the first two consecutive years' decline in 30 years.
"The increasing likelihood of a prolonged global economic downturn continues to dominate market perceptions, putting downward pressure on oil prices," it said, forecasting that demand would drop 50,000 barrels a day this year and a hefty 450,000 b/d in 2009. US oil demand will drop next year to the lowest level in 11 years.”
Illinois' top lawmakers to strip Blago of senate pick power | Crain's Chicago Business News
Chicago Business News, Analysis & Articles | Illinois' top lawmakers to strip Blago of senate pick power | Crain's: “(Crain’s) — The state’s top two legislative leaders Tuesday said they will move fast to seize control of the process of selecting a replacement for Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate, taking that power away from Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
In separate statements, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones said they will call a special legislative session next week to repeal the state law that now gives the governor the power to fill Mr. Obama’s seat. Both said they will press instead for a special election to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Obama’s term.
“I am prepared to convene the House next Monday to change state law to provide for a special election for the U.S. Senate replacement,” Mr. Madigan said. “I would urge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to take note of this action.”
Mr. Durbin earlier on Tuesday had called for such action in the wake of Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest on federal corruption charges.”
In separate statements, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones said they will call a special legislative session next week to repeal the state law that now gives the governor the power to fill Mr. Obama’s seat. Both said they will press instead for a special election to fill the remaining two years of Mr. Obama’s term.
“I am prepared to convene the House next Monday to change state law to provide for a special election for the U.S. Senate replacement,” Mr. Madigan said. “I would urge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin to take note of this action.”
Mr. Durbin earlier on Tuesday had called for such action in the wake of Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest on federal corruption charges.”
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Chicago Police Beat Blacks On Election Night - The Untold Story
While people around the country were peacefully celebrating now President-Elect Barack Obama's victory, there were groups of African Americans that were not able to do so without attack, and all of this happened right in the backyard of President-Elect Obama: Chicago.
Here's one video explaining the events that led to a class-action lawsuit:
In this video below, it's claimed that five White police officers on Chicago's West Side broke into her home and brandished a gun then cursed at her. According to reports, the officers were off-duty and yet went over in unmarked cars to terrorize these Chicagoans. This is the second of three lawsuits filed and not for the same neighborhood, but for another incident in Chicago:
Something must be done about this and ASAP. President-Elect Obama's selection has sparked a rise in U.S. Hate Crimes , and it's particularly unacceptable for police officers to be involved. The Chicago Police should fire these men without pay.
Here's one video explaining the events that led to a class-action lawsuit:
In this video below, it's claimed that five White police officers on Chicago's West Side broke into her home and brandished a gun then cursed at her. According to reports, the officers were off-duty and yet went over in unmarked cars to terrorize these Chicagoans. This is the second of three lawsuits filed and not for the same neighborhood, but for another incident in Chicago:
Something must be done about this and ASAP. President-Elect Obama's selection has sparked a rise in U.S. Hate Crimes , and it's particularly unacceptable for police officers to be involved. The Chicago Police should fire these men without pay.
NFL Reports Plan Of Layoffs At All NFL Business Units
This massive economic collapse has taken many companies and people into lower positions of wealth and caused many to lose their jobs at historic rates. Well, after years of incredible growth, it was thought that the sports industry was immune to these developments surrounding the credit crunch.
Not so.
I received this email from the NFL's director of communications Greg Aiello:
Not so.
I received this email from the NFL's director of communications Greg Aiello:
As part of an overall cost-cutting plan in response to the slumping economy, the NFL today confirmed plans to reduce its staff by approximately 150 employees during the next 60 days.
There are 1,100 employees in three NFL locations around the country: league headquarters in New York; NFL Films production facilities in Mt Laurel, New Jersey; and NFL Network and NFL.com production facilities in Los Angeles.
A voluntary separation program will be offered to personnel this week as a first step in the staff reduction.
"These are difficult and painful steps," Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday in a memo to his staff, "but they are necessary in the current economic environment. I would like to be able to report that we are immune to the troubles around us, but we are not. Properly managed, I am confident the NFL will emerge stronger, more efficient and poised to pursue long-term growth opportunities."
Rod Blagojevich - No allegations against Obama in Illinois: official | Politics | Reuters
No allegations against Obama in Illinois: official | Politics | Reuters: “CHICAGO (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama was in no way implicated in the federal corruption charges against the governor of his home state of Illinois, a fellow Democrat, the U.S. prosecutor in the case said on Tuesday.
"I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.”
"I should make clear the complaint makes no allegations about the president-elect whatsoever," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.”
Jay Leno's Leaving The "Tonight's Show WIth Jay Leno" For 10 PM NBC Slot In 2009
It seems NBC's moving more toward primetime formats that take advantage of the public's hunger for humor, and particularly political humor of the kind introduced by "Saturday Night Live", "The Colbert Report", and "The Daily Show."
The name of the new show has not been decided upon as of this writing.
Illinois Governor Blagojevich arrested on federal charges - Chicago Breaking News
Blagojevich arrested on federal charges - Chicago Breaking News: “Updated at 9:17 a.m.: Blagojevich also was alleged to be using a favors list, made up largely of individuals and firms that have state contracts or received taxpayer benefits, from which to conduct a $2.5 million fundraising drive before year's end.
Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.
The complaint repeatedly makes reference to conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.
The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.
Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to the FBI. They were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where they remained at 9 a.m.
Updated at 9 a.m.: Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.
Updated at 8:57 a.m.: On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.
Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."
Updated at 8:48 a.m.: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.”
--- This has nothing to do with President-Elect Obama as by law, the Governor and not Obama selects the next Senator.
Even Blagojevich's recently announced $1.8 billion plan for new interchanges and "green lanes" on the Illinois Tollway was subject to corruption, prosecutors alleged.
The complaint repeatedly makes reference to conversations secretly recorded by federal authorities.
The criminal complaint alleges Blagojevich expected an unnamed highway concrete contractor to raise a half-million dollars for his campaign fund in exchange for state money for the tollway project. "If they don't perform, (expletive) 'em," Blagojevich said, according to the complaint.
Updated at 9:08 a.m.: Blagojevich and Harris were arrested simultaneously at their homes at about 6:15 a.m., according to the FBI. They were transported to FBI headquarters in Chicago, where they remained at 9 a.m.
Updated at 9 a.m.: Blagojevich is slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan today at a time that has not yet been scheduled, according to Randall Samborn of the U.S. attorney's office.
Updated at 8:57 a.m.: On the issue of the U.S. Senate selection, federal prosecutors alleged Blagojevich sought appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the new Obama administration, or a lucrative job with a union in exchange for appointing a union-preferred candidate. An Obama spokesman had no immediate comment.
Blagojevich and Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blagojevich and Harris, along with others, obtained and sought to gain financial benefits for the governor, members of his family and his campaign fund in exchange for appointments to state boards and commissions, state jobs and state contracts.
"The breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering," U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in a statement. "They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator; involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism."
Updated at 8:48 a.m.: Gov. Rod Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges.”
--- This has nothing to do with President-Elect Obama as by law, the Governor and not Obama selects the next Senator.
Mark Cuban - Public Works, The Inauguration and the next BailOut Scandal « blog maverick
Public Works, The Inauguration and the next BailOut Scandal « blog maverickMark Cuban endorses Obama's plan to spend money on public works projects: “In the big picture this is not a major suggestion. Think of it as something that can be done with no downside and long term benefit.
I personally don’t think a stimulus package of checks or rebates to the consumer will work. I believe consumers are so beaten up and fearful of the future that they will put it in the bank. Of course 20 years ago that would have been a good thing, These days banks don’t appear to be lending those deposits. So there is no primary or secondary stimulus impact.”
I personally don’t think a stimulus package of checks or rebates to the consumer will work. I believe consumers are so beaten up and fearful of the future that they will put it in the bank. Of course 20 years ago that would have been a good thing, These days banks don’t appear to be lending those deposits. So there is no primary or secondary stimulus impact.”
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