Life in OUR America, Volume 6, The Livyjr Files Options

[Livyjr]

And then ....

There is the weather .....

Which up here ....

Is actually warmish ....

And so ....

"Travelers still stranded in Denver"

By CHASE SQUIRES, Associated Press
Last updated: 6:55 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2006

DENVER -- A makeshift shelter of cardboard boxes sprang up near a United Airlines ticket counter as hundreds of holiday travelers found ways to cope after being stranded at the Denver airport by a blizzard.

Denver International Airport -- the nation's fifth-busiest -- was expected to begin limited operations at noon Friday, almost two days after a blizzard forced it to close runways.

More than 2,000 flights have been canceled, according to airline officials, creating a ripple effect that disrupted air travel around the country as the holiday crush began to build.

Two of the airport's six runways were set to open first, followed by a third runway Friday night.

For those stranded in Denver and flying standby because they were unable to rebook a flight, finding a spot on crowded planes filled with holiday travelers could prove impossible this weekend.

Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said the airline has 65,000 bumped passengers to move systemwide and the airline is already 90 percent booked for the holidays.

"Do the math," he said.

United Airlines spokesman Jeff Kovick said it could be days before some people are able to get a flight out.

"We're asking for their patience as we work to get people where they need to be as soon as we safely can," he said.

Near the cardboard shelter, cobbled together from boxes that workers used to carry blankets to hand out to stranded passengers, Jackson, Wyo., teacher Joanna Snyder and others searched in vain for information.

"It's all rumor," she said.

An estimated 4,700 travelers spent Wednesday night at the airport.

By Thursday evening, however, many had found hotel rooms.

Among the 1,500 to 2,000 travelers remaining at the airport and hunkering down for their second night was Michele Bermudez.

Bermudez had to change planes in Denver on Wednesday while on her way from Tennessee to California and ended up at the terminal after spending eight hours in an airplane on the runway.

"I finally had to buy a T-shirt and some sweat pants," she said, showing off a souvenir shirt with the brightly-colored emblem reading "Denver."

It was the biggest snowstorm to hit Colorado since a March blizzard in 2003 that shut down the region and killed six.

The storm brought life to a standstill for 3.8 million people along the Front Range -- a 170-mile urban corridor along the eastern edge of the Rockies that includes Denver.

Police and National Guard soldiers rescued hundreds of people stuck in cars.

Other Guard patrols took people to critical medical appointments.

Some mountain areas got more than 3 feet of snow, and up to 25 inches fell in the Denver metropolitan area.

Despite the slick roads and deep drifts, there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries.

In Wyoming, however, a woman died while walking for help after her car became stuck in the snow, officials said.

In Kansas, a woman was hit by a tractor-trailer on an icy road.

Denver's normally bustling downtown began showing signs of life as the sun came out Thursday afternoon.

Mail delivery across the region was suspended, however, and many malls were closed on what should have been one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Aviation analyst Michael Boyd criticized the airport's handling of the snowstorm.

"With six runways, not even one can be open within a few hours?"

"There's something wrong at DIA," he said.

"Minneapolis doesn't have that problem, Salt Lake doesn't have that problem."

Airport spokesman Steve Snyder said plows were running during the storm, but the snow came fast and winds whipped drifts up to 5 feet high under the wings of grounded planes.

Plow managers expected to have two runways cleared by noon Friday.

Other areas that needed to be cleared included deicing areas, taxi areas and stretches of tarmac.

Ticket crews, Transportation Security Agency workers and other logistics still had to arranged before the airport could open.

"You can't just turn an airport on with a switch," Snyder said.

------

Associated Press writer Colleen Slevin contributed to this report.

[Livyjr]

"Mr. Abbruzzese's and Sen. Bruno's rights have been trampled on here," Jones said.

"That could have adverse consequences for those responsible when this investigation runs its course."

Boy ......

That sure does sound like a THREAT to me ......

That this hot-shot REPUBLICAN political lawyer F. Stewart Jones is making here .....

And coming from F. Stewart Jones .....

A REAL POWER-HOUSE REPUBLICAN LAWYER .....

IT WOULD BE A THREAT .....

Maybe the CORPORATE DOCTOR up there at Northeast Health, Inc. in F. Stewart Jones' city of Troy, New York ......

Is going to have to make out another couple of FRAUDULENT PSYCHIATRIC ARREST ORDERS here ......

And some direct admissions forms .....

To the SECURE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY .....

Of the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York .....

For "those responsible for this investigation" .....

And so ...

Yes, indeed .....

This powerful REPUBLICAN lawyer F. Stewart Jones ......

Can openly, blatantly and publicly make this threat .....

To these federal prosecuutors .....

Who are nosing around the finances of POWERFUL REPUBLICAN NEW YORK STATE SENATOR JOSEPH "BIG JOE" BRUNO ....

Because F. Stewart Jones ......

Lovingly known up here in the CORRUPT EMPIRE of New York by his street name "EFF" .....

"EFF" HOLDS A TRUMP CARD ......

That being a December 2005 decision by the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City ......

That makes it plain as day .....

That the SELLING OF PROTECTION .....

By elected public officials in New York State .....

IS ACCEPTABLE .....

TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .....

And what makes this a real TRUMP CARD for F. Stewart Jones in this case ......

Where "BIG JOE" Bruno is allegedly under investigation by the FBI .....

IS THAT THIS "ARRANGEMENT" WAS ACCEPTABLE ......

TO THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK .....

At the time the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City made its ruling on this issue ......

Upholding the right of elected public officials in the State of New York to confer upon certain individuals the status of "PROTECTED PERSON" .....

And so .....

It is our expectation ......

That right now .....

As we are speaking in here .....

F. Stewart Jones .....

The REPUBLICAN lawyer who holds the TRUMP CARD for Joe Bruno ......

Is working his contacts diligently ......

Using this TRUMP CARD from a federal district court judge appointed to that position by none other than REPUBLICAN George W. Bush ....

To get a federal judge .....

To squash this investigation of REPUBLICAN New York State Senator Joseph "BIG JOE" Bruno .....

On the grounds .....

That "BIG JOE" Bruno .....

Is only engaging in conduct ......

That has already been approved .....

By the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

Well, it's good to have you back around, Mr. A.B. .....

If only to say hello .....

And sadly, no one up here really has much faith or trust in either the FBI .....

Or the United States Attorney .....

When it comes to investigating corruption in governnment in the State of New York ......

Or Joe Bruno .....

For we have been here .....

At least one time before .....

With a federal Hobbs Act investigation .....

That was being conducted into white-collar crime up here in 1988 and early-1989 .....

An investigation .....

That got turned off .....

Just like a light-bulb .....

And the vaunted FBI sent back to Albany, New York .....

Ki-yiying ......

Like a whipped dog .....

With its tail between its legs .....

When Joe Bruno's name came up .....

In connection with unlawful land sales in Rensselaer County in the State of New York .....

And the intentional crushing of a witness against "BIG JOE" .....

In Rensselaer County ....

Which is Joe Bruno's personal fiefdom .....

Where he is the "IRON DUKE" .....

And so ....

Yes, indeed .....

This powerful REPUBLICAN lawyer F. Stewart Jones ......

Can openly, blatantly and publicly make this threat .....

To these federal prosecuutors .....

Who are nosing around the finances of POWERFUL REPUBLICAN NEW YORK STATE SENATOR JOSEPH "BIG JOE" BRUNO ....

Because F. Stewart Jones ......

Lovingly known up here in the CORRUPT EMPIRE of New York by his street name "EFF" .....

"EFF" HOLDS A TRUMP CARD ......

That being a December 2005 decision by the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City ......

That makes it plain as day .....

That the SELLING OF PROTECTION .....

By elected public officials in New York State .....

IS ACCEPTABLE .....

TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .....

And what makes this a real TRUMP CARD for F. Stewart Jones in this case ......

Where "BIG JOE" Bruno is allegedly under investigation by the FBI .....

IS THAT THIS "ARRANGEMENT" WAS ACCEPTABLE ......

TO THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK .....

At the time the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City made its ruling on this issue ......

Upholding the right of elected public officials in the State of New York to confer upon certain individuals the status of "PROTECTED PERSON" .....

And so .....

It is our expectation ......

That right now .....

As we are speaking in here .....

F. Stewart Jones .....

The REPUBLICAN lawyer who holds the TRUMP CARD for Joe Bruno ......

Is working his contacts diligently ......

Using this TRUMP CARD from a federal district court judge appointed to that position by none other than REPUBLICAN George W. Bush ....

To get a federal judge .....

To squash this investigation of REPUBLICAN New York State Senator Joseph "BIG JOE" Bruno .....

On the grounds .....

That "BIG JOE" Bruno .....

Is only engaging in conduct ......

That has already been approved .....

By the federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City ....

And so ....

"Bruno defends his dealings - 'We've followed the letter of the law,' says Senate GOP majority leader"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, December 23, 2006

ALBANY -- Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno Friday defended himself amid reports he collected consulting fees from a suspected lobbyist who led a company that got state grants from Bruno.

"Everything that we have done has been disclosed properly," Bruno told a reporter who asked him to discuss a Times Union report that Bruno's consulting company received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jared Abbruzzese, a businessman and friend of the senator's.

The FBI is investigating the relationship between Abbruzzese and Bruno, R-Brunswick.

The Loudonville businessman is also suspected of violating lobbying laws by providing his aircraft to the senator while promoting horse racing legislation in 2005.

"I'm a businessman and what I do as a businessman we've followed the letter of the law," Bruno said when pressed about his relationship with Abbruzzese.

Bruno's remarks came the day the Times Union quoted Abbruzzese's lawyer, E. Stewart Jones Jr., saying his client paid Capital Consulting Group, Bruno's private business, for unspecified services.

A source pegged the payouts to Bruno in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Jones said there was no "quid pro quo" involved in the relationship between Bruno and Abbruzzese.

Bruno has refused to disclose his consulting customers or details of his business dealings, through which he collects income outside his $121,000-per-year legislative salary.

Besides consulting, Bruno also raises and sells thoroughbred horses and promotes a Connecticut investment management firm.

The disclosure of Abbruzzese's payments to Bruno became the latest in a series of stunning developments involving the FBI investigation of Bruno.

The story began Tuesday when Bruno announced the probe of his business dealings.

He has stressed they have been legal and proper.

Evident Technologies Inc., a Troy high-tech company that Abbruzzese directed -- and which his partner, Wayne Barr Jr. continues to direct -- received $500,000 in grants from Bruno's discretionary account.

The grants, which Evident received in 2003 and 2004, were member items, part of the $200 million annual pork account the Legislature and governor secretly split up.

Bruno's grants to Evident were extremely unusual because almost all member items go to nonprofit organizations.

Abbruzzese is being investigated by the state lobbying commission for letting Bruno use his airplane for political and fund-raising events.

Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican from the Hudson Valley and Catskills, said Bruno should have stepped down even before the probe became public.

"I had reservations before this broke," said Bonacic.

"I've got a new comptroller; I've got a new governor-elect."

"I think it would be better for the state of New York to have a new (Senate) majority leader and a new (Assembly) speaker."

"It's become more obvious on our side ... God forbid this man gets indicted, but what I'm reading and seeing it's not sitting right with me."

He said Bruno's predicament hurts the GOP conference.

With a slim 34-28 advantage over the Democrats, the conference doesn't need a distraction or a cloud over its leader, the senator said.

"It's about maintaining the majority," Bonacic said.

"I hope that Joe Bruno is exonerated, that they find no wrongdoing."

"He's a very likable guy."

"But I've watched the patterns when there are investigations."

"It gets dragged out."

Bruno framed the situation differently, calling the investigation "more a media event."

He said he is in good standing with the public and his GOP members.

"I have been elected by the public and my colleagues to govern," he said.

"I would appreciate the press -- if they would just give me an opportunity objectively and fairly to govern."

Three major union leaders in the state issued statements Friday supporting Bruno -- Dennis Rivera, leader of the influential SEIU Local 1999, which represents hospital and health care workers; Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employee's Association; and Denis president of the AFL-CIO.

"Sen. Bruno's lengthy and distinguished career speaks volumes to his character," said Hughes.

"There should be no rush to judgment regarding his ability to lead."

A federal grand jury in Albany subpoenaed a host of records from Bruno; from James Featherstonhaugh as the custodian of Bruno's former land development business, First Grafton Corp.; from Evident Technologies; and from the state lobbying commission.

It also subpoenaed Abbruzzese and his wife Sherrie, and Abbruzzese's numerous businesses.

A spokesman for Empire Racing Associates, a group of horse racing interests that includes Abbruzzese, has not been subpoenaed.

Empire is a bidder seeking the state racing franchise.

Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

"Feds follow cash trail - Authorities examine whether payments to Bruno's consulting firm were bid to gain influence"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, December 22, 2006

ALBANY -- A federal grand jury investigation of Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno is focusing on hundreds of thousands of dollars funneled by a wealthy businessman into the senator's private consulting company to allegedly influence the powerful Republican lawmaker, the Times Union has learned.

FBI agents have used federal grand jury subpoenas to sift through the business records of Bruno and his associate, Jared E. Abbruzzese, a Loudonville resident and the senator's close friend.

E. Stewart Jones, an attorney for Abbruzzese and his wife, Sherrie, confirmed Thursday that Abbruzzese paid money to Bruno's consulting company.

Bruno has refused to reveal his consulting clients or his consulting income.

The investigation is being headed by the FBI's white-collar crime unit in Albany under the direction of two federal prosecutors, Andrew Baxter and William Pericak.

J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com. Staff writer James M. Odato contributed to this report.

end quotes

"Mr. Abbruzzese's and Sen. Bruno's rights have been trampled on here," Jones said.

"That could have adverse consequences for those responsible when this investigation runs its course."

Boy ......

That sure does sound like a THREAT to me ......

That this hot-shot REPUBLICAN political lawyer F. Stewart Jones is making here .....

And coming from F. Stewart Jones .....

A REAL POWER-HOUSE REPUBLICAN LAWYER .....

IT WOULD BE A THREAT .....

Maybe the CORPORATE DOCTOR up there at Northeast Health, Inc. in F. Stewart Jones' city of Troy, New York ......

Is going to have to make out another couple of FRAUDULENT PSYCHIATRIC ARREST ORDERS here ......

And some direct admissions forms .....

To the SECURE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY .....

Of the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York .....

For "those responsible for this investigation" .....

And so ...

Bruno framed the situation differently, calling the investigation "more a media event."

Well ....

IF it was the intent of POWER-HOUSE REPUBLICAN LAWYER AND MOUTH-PIECE F. STEWART JONES to rally the troops up here .........

He sure has succeeded .....

If the talk around the various coffee shops up here is any indication .....

"THAT OLD 'EFF', WHY HE SURE IS GOING TO GIVE THEM FEDERAL BOYS WHAT-FOR, ALRIGHT, FOR MESSING AROUND WITH BIG JOE BRUNO, AND ALL HIS MONEY, YESSIRMARIEBOB ..."

"WHY THAT OLD 'EFF', HE'S GOING TO KICK THEM FEDERAL BOY'S BUTTS RIGHT UP AROUND THEIR SHOULDERS, AND THAT'S A FACT, JACK!"

And that pretty well sums up the feelings of what is known up here as "THE IRON DUKE'S LEGION" .....

The army of political "soldiers" that the "IRON DUKE" relies on to maintain HIS "LAW" on the populace up here .....

A "LAW" that is not really written down in any books anywhere .....

Since it need not be ....

As it comes out of the heads of people like F. Stewart Jones AS NEEDED ......

"HERE'S WHAT THE LAW SAYS, BUT HERE IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, INSTEAD ..."

And people know that people like "OLD EFF" .....

That being this HOT-SHOT REPUBLICAN LAWYER F. STEWART JONES ......

Know where to put a dollar .....

So that it goes to its best use ....

Maintaining "THE LAW" of the "IRON DUKE" .....

And towards that end ....

And this is hearsay, of course .....

Because I have never been admitted that close into the shrouded murkiness of the "LAW OFFICES" of F. Stewart Jones, myself .....

But they say up here ......

That when F. Stewart Jones sneezes .....

And reaches into his pocket for a handerchief .....

That when he pulls it out to blow his nose into it .....

That he is likely to spill out a couple of federal judges onto the floor at the same time .....

Especially the ones that George W. Bush has been polluting, er, wait a minute, placing on the federal bench up here ....

And so ....

But as I say .....

I have never myself been admitted into the shrouded murkiness of F. Stewart Jones' "LAW OFFICES" myself to actually see that happen for myself ...

And so ...

For the moment .....

Since he is running his mouth big-time here .....

Making his threats against these federal prosecutors .....

Who are snooping around in "BIG JOE THE IRON DUKE" Bruno's financial and BID-NESS arrangements ....

We'll just have to take these OLD BOYS and WAGS up here who say that they have witnessed these federal judges come spilling out of F. Stewart Jones' pocket at their word .....

BECAUSE WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And as we continue to OUT-SOURCE the processing of OUR financial transactions over to places like India .....

As part of PRESIDENT OF ALL OF AMERICA AND THE WORLD AS WELL FOR LIFE George W. Bush's plan to break the backs of the American people .....

To make us more tractable .....

And willing to work as wage slaves for George W. Bush's CORPORATE SPONSORS ....

We have ....

POTENTIAL MANNA FROM HEAVEN ....

For their SCAM ARTISTS ....

Over there ....

And so ...

"County check used in scam - Albany comptroller says failed India fraud shows need for security enhancements"

By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, December 23, 2006

ALBANY -- A resident of India tried to cash a counterfeit Albany County government check for $153,000 at a bank in his homeland, but the scheme was intercepted this week by Bank of America, County Comptroller Michael Conners said Friday.

Before authorizing payment, Bank of America detected the fraud because the bogus check had the same number as a legitimate check issued by the county in September for $125, Conners said.

The comptroller said that check was issued Sept. 27 out of the county's general fund to an elections inspector who lives in Latham, and she cashed it at a local HSBC branch.

On Dec. 18, a county check for $153,000.89, bearing Conners' signature, was deposited in an account at Canara Bank, an Indian bank, by M. Raja Paranthaman, who listed the state of Tamil Nadu as his address.

"It's a counterfeit check, and it's exactly like an Albany County check," Deputy Comptroller Billy Curran said, adding that both checks were numbered 167845.

"That was the reason why the bank picked up on it."

A close inspection of the bogus check reveals an error made by the counterfeiter.

The numeric amount is $153,000.89, but the typewritten words say: "One hundred and fifty three thousand dollars and 50 cents."

Curran speculated that Paranthaman "deposited it in an account, hoping that if it cleared, he could withdraw the money straight away."

"Scams like this are going on all the time."

Curran told Bank of America on Friday to return the check.

Also Friday, Conners turned over information about the scam to the FBI, along with copies of the legitimate check and the phony one.

Besides Conners' signature, the checks have the Albany County seal and the words "Bank of America Government Banking."

Somehow, the Indian con artist got hold of a county check, Curran said.

"He probably has someone over here" helping him.

Conners, whose office authorizes county payments, suspects the swindler took the canceled check issued to the elections inspector, whited out her name and the $125 amount "and made his own check form on a computer, using all the bank routing numbers."

Conners said he is confident no county employee is involved in the fraud.

"The bank always worries about" the potential of a dishonest employee, Conners said.

"If there's something bad going on, they don't want it to be their employee."

"They'd rather see it be a county employee or some other nefarious person doing this."

That's why the comptroller's office wants to institute a "payee positive pay" system under which the bank matches the check number with the date and the amount and the recipient's name.

"If one of those doesn't match," Curran said, "then the bank informs us."

"If someone goes to a teller's window to cash a check and something doesn't agree, then they won't cash that check," Curran said.

"It's a protection against fraud."

The enhanced security measure is awaiting approval from the county executive's office.

DeMare can be reached at 454-5431 or by e-mail at cdemare@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

And up here .....

In the CORRUPT REPUBLICAN EMPIRE of New York .....

PUBLIC SERVICE sure is rewarding .....

If you are a "soldier" .....

In the REPUBLICAN ARMY .....

Of the REPUBLICAN "IRON DUKE" of Rensselaer County ....

The MOST HONORABLE OF ANYBODY "BIG JOE" Bruno .....

And so ....

"Raises for Bruno's staffers"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, December 18, 2006

Some of Bruno's staffers, meanwhile, are faring much better these days, thanks to raises Bruno quietly provided this month.

Making more than Bruno's $121,000 or even the governor's $179,000 salary, according to state Comptroller records, are:

Steven Boggess, secretary of the Senate: $190,000, up 7.7 percent since his last raise in August.

Edward Lurie, legislative affairs director, $180,000, up 7.8 percent from his last raise a year ago.

John McArdle, director of communications, $180,000, up 7.8 percent from his last raise a year ago.

Kenneth Riddett, chief counsel, $180,000, up 7.8 percent from his last raise a year ago, according to state Comptroller's Office records.

Those salaries suggest incoming Senate Finance Secretary Jeff Lovell will receive at least $180,000 when he leaves his post, which pays $175,100, as the policy advisor to Gov. George Pataki in a few days.

Bruno spokesman Mark Hansen said there has been no "final resolution" of the salaries listed.

Contributors: Capitol bureau reporters Elizabeth Benjamin, and James M. Odato. Got a tip? Call 454-5424 or e-mail jjochnowitz@timesunion.com.

end quotes

Well .....

You know how it is ....

The cost of gas has gone up .....

It costs these boys more to have to drive to "work" in Albany every now and then ....

And there are APPEARANCES to maintain, of course ....

What are the COMMON PEOPLE going to think ....

About having ROYALTY around .....

If we don't treat them all ROYALLY .....

And so ....

After all ....

What kind of a BENIGHTED people .....

Have their ROYALTY .....

Out there living like COMMONERS ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

And while we are on the subject .....

Of being able to buy up legislators by the dozen up here in the CORRUPT REPUBLICAN EMPIRE of New York .....

Here comes another "purchaser" now .....

"Union to flex political power - Public Employees Federation intends to become a bigger player in legislative circles"

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Monday, December 18, 2006

COLONIE -- Dwarfed by more influential special interests in Albany, the Public Employees Federation's power in the Capitol could get a boost in stature with Kenneth Brynien at the helm.

Elected in July to his first term as PEF president, Brynien has at least three years to achieve that goal.

With 56,000 members, PEF is big, but not particularly large for New York state, where giant organizations such as the Civil Service Employees Association, from which PEF broke away, and the New York State United Teachers hold sway and sometimes have competing interests.

But Brynien, chairman of PEF's Political Action Committee for the past nine years, sees the PAC as a way to emphasize PEF's messages and drive change for civil servants.

The union backed a host of successful political candidates this year, Brynien says, and may have made a difference in a few outcomes.

He thinks PEF is on the verge of winning some of its battles to restrict privatization of government work, improve working conditions for nurses and increase internal promotions over political hiring.

"I want us to be more involved in working with the Legislature in developing legislation," said Brynien, 49, in an interview in his corner office at the union's Latham headquarters.

"Our folks are the clinical, technical employees in the state agencies ... we can help craft the legislation to make it better."

A psychologist in the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities in Syracuse, Brynien has been vice president of PEF since 1997.

He was part of the team of three-term president Roger Benson, who decided to retire at age 61 last summer.

For the past nine years, Brynien has commuted from central New York to Albany to also lead the union's political action committee.

During his tenure, the PAC budget has doubled to $1.2 million.

The union's political spending, phone bank campaign and leafletting helped several candidates who had some tough challenges, including Democrats Kirsten Gillibrand and John Hall, both of whom knocked off incumbent Republicans in Congress.

PEF also helped back state Sen. David Valesky's re-election bid.

The first-term Democrat fended off a heavily funded competitor in Jeff Brown in Syracuse.

As for Republicans, the union helped Sen. Vincent Leibell weather a strong challenge for his seat representing Dutchess, Putnam and part of Westchester counties.

It also put money and other resources behind Yonkers Sen. Nick Spano, whose re-election bid failed.

Brynien said the 2006 elections show what PEF will do in the future -- put money and volunteers behind people who help advance PEF's positions.

And PEF, he said, will work against candidates who are at odds with the union's priorities.

Spano, for instance, sponsored a bill that passed in both chambers in 2006 that called for cost/benefit studies when state agencies propose hiring consultants and outside contractors.

Gov. George Pataki vetoed the measure; Gov.-elect Eliot Spitzer hasn't specified his position.

In meetings with Spitzer in coming weeks, Brynien said, he'll urge Spitzer to support the legislation.

He'll also push Spitzer, attorney general-elect Andrew Cuomo and Comptroller Alan Hevesi not to make political appointments and instead promote from within.

And he will insist on better work conditions for nurses, the largest single group of professionals, within PEF.

But the legislative work may have to wait.

Brynien and Spitzer will be squaring off in the coming months on a new PEF contract.

Most public employee union contracts, including PEF's, expire April 1.

"That will probably be the main focus for the next several months," said Michael Delpiano, who lost the president's election to Brynien by 750 votes.

Without a huge mandate, Delpiano said, Brynien is under pressure to immediately deliver a good pact.

Alan Lubin, executive vice president of NYSUT, said Brynien has a good base of experience.

He came up through PEF's ranks, spent time in state agencies and led many political campaigns.

Brynien, a father of two grown sons and grandfather to four youngsters who call him "Papi," has a different style than the man he replaced, co-workers say.

He's more personable and more laid back than Benson, a health department scientist, they say.

Brynien says he's spent his career as a psychologist helping people work through problems and speak for themselves.

He grew up on Long Island in Massapequa Park, went to college at the University of Buffalo in the early 1970s and has lived upstate ever since.

His home is still North Syracuse and he rents an apartment during the week in Watervliet.

He's sensitive to the need to revitalize the economy of regions north of New York City, he said, because he's seen so many big employers close shop upstate.

James M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.

end quotes

Alan Lubin, executive vice president of NYSUT, said Brynien has a good base of experience.

He came up through PEF's ranks, spent time in state agencies and led many political campaigns.

Hhhhmmmmm ....

SPENT TIME IN STATE AGENCIES .....

And, of course, while "SPENDING TIME" in those state agencies .....

He led many political campaigns .....

WHILE DRAWING A STATE EMPLOYEE'S PAYCHECK .....

Which paycheck carries with it .....

AN INFERENCE .....

That the employee putting that paycheck into his or her pocket .....

ACTUALLY PERFORMED SOME KIND OF LEGITIMATE SERVICE ......

To the people of the State of New York ....

OTHER THAN SIMPLY SPENDING TIME THERE ....

WHILE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POLTICAL CAMPAIGNS ....

And so ....

[Livyjr]

Alan Lubin, executive vice president of NYSUT, said Brynien has a good base of experience.

He came up through PEF's ranks, spent time in state agencies and led many political campaigns.

Hhhhmmmmm ....

SPENT TIME IN STATE AGENCIES .....

And, of course, while "SPENDING TIME" in those state agencies .....

He led many political campaigns .....

WHILE DRAWING A STATE EMPLOYEE'S PAYCHECK .....

Which paycheck carries with it .....

AN INFERENCE .....

That the employee putting that paycheck into his or her pocket .....

ACTUALLY PERFORMED SOME KIND OF LEGITIMATE SERVICE ......

To the people of the State of New York ....

OTHER THAN SIMPLY SPENDING TIME THERE ....

WHILE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POLTICAL CAMPAIGNS ....

And so ....

And along those same lines .....

"Day of disgrace for Hevesi - Comptroller steps down after pleading guilty to defrauding government"

By RICK KARLIN, Capitol bureau, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, December 23, 2006

ALBANY -- Alan Hevesi pleaded guilty Friday to a felony charge of defrauding the government and resigned his post as state comptroller, bringing an end to a three-decade career in public office and closing the book on a scandal that has embroiled the state Capitol since September.

"I apologize to the court."

"Before this issue became a public matter, I did not plan to reimburse the state," a subdued Hevesi told Albany County Judge Stephen Herrick as he agreed to step down immediately and pay a $5,000 fine for using a state employee as a driver and personal servant for his wife.

Hevesi agreed to the plea bargain to avoid indictment and a possible prison sentence for his crime.

Minutes before his plea to the Class E felony, the lowest possible, he was booked, photographed and fingerprinted in the district attorney's office.

He was also required to provide a DNA swab and a $50 database fee.

Following the about half-hour court proceeding, Hevesi left the courthouse and made another brief apology.

"I want to apologize to the people of New York,' he told reporters before being whisked off in a burgundy van.

"It is a sad day today," said District Attorney David Soares, calling it, "a tragic end to what was once a distinguished career."

Soares added that he will likely be prosecuting more public corruption cases through his Public Integrity Unit.

"Since obtaining this conviction, we've received a number of tips," Soares said, although he didn't say who may be under investigation.

Hevesi's admission of guilt was the first time he had publicly said he hadn't planned to reimburse the state for the personal duties performed by his state employee, Nicholas Acquafredda, who worked for Hevesi's wife, Carol, for about three years between 2003 and July this year.

In addition to driving her, Acquafredda performed a number of tasks for Carol Hevesi, according to a deposition released by Soares, including "picking up dishes from the residence of Mrs. Hevesi's sister, driving Mrs. Hevesi to shop at Bloomingdale's while Mr. Acquafredda stayed in the vehicle, picking up items at BJ's Wholesale Club, picking up, and dropping off items from dry cleaning."

He also moved furniture, took out trash and watered plants.

These services, according to the court document, took place at the Hevesi residences in Queens and Somers, Westchester County.

Hevesi is scheduled to return to court Feb. 9, following a probation report.

He asked Herrick if he could regain his right to vote, which is up to the judge's discretion, said Soares' spokeswoman, Rachel McEneny.

Felons in New York are generally denied the right to vote until they have completed their sentences.

The affair began in September when Hevesi's Republican opponent, former Saratoga County Treasurer Chris Callaghan, tipped off reporters that he had heard Hevesi was using a driver for personal reasons.

The tip turned out to be true.

Hevesi apologized and eventually paid back more than $200,000 after an investigation by Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office.

The state Ethics Commission in a scathing report said Hevesi hadn't planned to reimburse the state.

It also got a complaint that Hevesi's chief of staff, Jack Chartier, had used a state car to drive former TV star Peggy Lipton, who starred in "The Mod Squad."

Soares declined comment on the Chartier case.

Gov. George Pataki appointed a special investigator, who concluded the Senate would have cause to initiate a removal procedure, akin to an impeachment.

Had that happened by the end of the year, Pataki, a Republican, would have been able to name Hevesi's replacement.

But by resigning, Hevesi, a Democrat, allows the Legislature, dominated numerically by Democrats, to name his successor.

A number of names -- ranging from Democratic Assemblymen Richard Brodsky and Tom DiNapoli to Hevesi's 2002 primary opponent, financier William Mulrow -- have emerged as possible permanent replacements.

For now, Hevesi's first deputy, Thomas Sanzillo, is in charge and will oversee the day-to-day operations of the comptroller's office, which includes processing state payrolls and overseeing the state's $140 billion retirement fund.

Pataki, noting that it took 10 weeks to replace Comptroller Edward Regan when he resigned in 1993, said he may appoint an interim comptroller until a permanent replacement is named.

He said he will work with Spitzer, the governor-elect, in that effort.

Hevesi, 66, will still get the bulk of his pensions, including $104,123 from the state Employees Retirement System, of which he was, as comptroller, the sole trustee, and $62,344 from the Teachers Retirement System from a teaching stint at Queens College.

In addition to serving in the Assembly, Hevesi worked as New York City comptroller.

It was not immediately clear if felony conviction would void the city pension.

Hevesi did not contribute to his retirement while working as state comptroller and will not get a pension from that job, said spokesman Jeffrey Gordon.

In the days leading up to Friday's plea, observers had speculated Soares might allow Hevesi to bargain down to a misdemeanor, but Soares said the findings that Acquafredda's tasks went beyond simply driving Hevesi's wife warranted the heavier charges.

He also suggested that it would send a message to other public officials who misuse taxpayer resources.

"It was important to us that it was a felony plea," said Soares.

Hevesi until very recently said he would fight to retain his job, noting that he won re-election with 57 percent of the vote.

He had also maintained that he used the drivers out of security concerns for his wife, who is currently in a nursing home after years of declining health and two suicide attempts.

Hevesi's lawyer, Joel Cohen, said his client decided to plead after consulting with his family.

"The family had an important meeting several days ago," said Cohen.

Karlin can be reached at 454-5758 or by e-mail at rkarlin@timesunion.com. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

end quotes

Hevesi should have said that this state employee was really working on his political campaigns .....

While driving his wife around .....

And taking out the trash and stuff like that ....

And nobody up here would have blinked an eye at that ....

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE STATE WORKFORCE IS REALLY FOR .....

To serve as a political "army" .....

A mercenary army to be sure .....

Available for hire .....

As mercenary armies must always be .....

TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS .....

"Contract work", don't you know ....

HELP YOU TO GET INTO OFFICE ....

HELP YOU TO GET YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENT OUT ....

IF THE GEETUS AND MOOLAH ARE RIGHT ....

And so ...

[Livyjr]

"Mr. Abbruzzese's and Sen. Bruno's rights have been trampled on here," Jones said.

"That could have adverse consequences for those responsible when this investigation runs its course."

Bruno framed the situation differently, calling the investigation "more a media event."

Well ....

IF it was the intent of POWER-HOUSE REPUBLICAN LAWYER AND MOUTH-PIECE F. STEWART JONES to rally the troops up here .........

He sure has succeeded .....

If the talk around the various coffee shops up here is any indication .....

"THAT OLD 'EFF', WHY HE SURE IS GOING TO GIVE THEM FEDERAL BOYS WHAT-FOR, ALRIGHT, FOR MESSING AROUND WITH BIG JOE BRUNO, AND ALL HIS MONEY, YESSIRMARIEBOB ..."

"WHY THAT OLD 'EFF', HE'S GOING TO KICK THEM FEDERAL BOY'S BUTTS RIGHT UP AROUND THEIR SHOULDERS, AND THAT'S A FACT, JACK!"

And that pretty well sums up the feelings of what is known up here as "THE IRON DUKE'S LEGION" .....

The army of political "soldiers" that the "IRON DUKE" relies on to maintain HIS "LAW" on the populace up here .....

A "LAW" that is not really written down in any books anywhere .....

Since it need not be ....

As it comes out of the heads of people like F. Stewart Jones AS NEEDED ......

"HERE'S WHAT THE LAW SAYS, BUT HERE IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, INSTEAD ..."

And people know that people like "OLD EFF" .....

That being this HOT-SHOT REPUBLICAN LAWYER F. STEWART JONES ......

Know where to put a dollar .....

So that it goes to its best use ....

Maintaining "THE LAW" of the "IRON DUKE" .....

And towards that end ....

And this is hearsay, of course .....

Because I have never been admitted that close into the shrouded murkiness of the "LAW OFFICES" of F. Stewart Jones, myself .....

But they say up here ......

That when F. Stewart Jones sneezes .....

And reaches into his pocket for a handerchief .....

That when he pulls it out to blow his nose into it .....

That he is likely to spill out a couple of federal judges onto the floor at the same time .....

Especially the ones that George W. Bush has been polluting, er, wait a minute, placing on the federal bench up here ....

And so ....

But as I say .....

I have never myself been admitted into the shrouded murkiness of F. Stewart Jones' "LAW OFFICES" myself to actually see that happen for myself ...

And so ...

For the moment .....

Since he is running his mouth big-time here .....

Making his threats against these federal prosecutors .....

Who are snooping around in "BIG JOE THE IRON DUKE" Bruno's financial and BID-NESS arrangements ....

We'll just have to take these OLD BOYS and WAGS up here who say that they have witnessed these federal judges come spilling out of F. Stewart Jones' pocket at their word .....

BECAUSE WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO LIE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

And so ....

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2006
Contact: Press Office, 212-725-8825

NY TIMES: The Promise of Eliot Spitzer

EDITORIAL

The grand theme of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s campaign for New York governor this year has been that on “Day 1, everything changes.”

Nobody really believes New York State’s many political embarrassments will magically disappear on Jan. 1 — even if the supercharged Mr. Spitzer is swept into office with an overwhelming mandate.

But voters should be able to expect that the nationally known Sheriff of Wall Street will use his formidable talents to kick-start a major overhaul of New York’s shabby, inbred government.

http://www.nydems.org/news/archive/2006_10_001765.html

"Livyjr, in the light of the past experience that people up there where you are have had with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the United States Attorney, and this Senator Joseph Bruno, and a federal Hobbs Act investigation that was apparently suddenly terminated by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York when the name of this Senator Joseph Bruno came into it in connection with questionable practices in the Rensselaer county Department of Health which were having an adverse impact on the lives, health and property of the people of Rensselaer County in New York State ....."

"Could you tell us how people up there feel ..."

"When they see this Rensselaer County lawyer F. Stewart Jones openly and blatantly threatening these federal prosecutors with retaliation against themselves and their employment in the pages of the Albany, New York TIMES UNION newspaper ..."

"And when they see this Senator Bruno himself, in the pages of the same Albany, New York TIMES UNION newspaper ..."

"Calling this alleged federal investigation a MEDIA EVENT ..."

"DO PEOPLE UP THERE THINK THAT SOMEONE IS GAMING THE SYSTEM HERE?"

HHHhhhmmmm .....

GAMING THE SYSTEM .....

Joe Bruno calls a BIG press conference ...

BIG FBI INVESTIGATION, FOLKS .....

BUT IT'S NOTHING .....

And then ....

SHADES OF 1989 .....

The Office of the United States Attorney comes forward and says, "well, how about that, we took a really, really hard look, but there was nothing there ...."

That is what people are expecting, actually .....

Some with GLEE ....

Joe Bruno's PARTISANS ....

And they are many, actually ....

And the rest .....

Well ...

I would say with TREPIDATION .....

Because then ....

CORRUPTION WILL BE STRONGER THAN EVER .....

AND IT WILL BE RIGHT OUT IN PLAIN SIGHT .....

UNTOUCHABLE .....

And this brings us to what many see as F. Stewart Jones' TRUMP CARD ......

Which is the fact that in December of 2005 .....

Just a short year ago .....

The federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City .....

PUT ITS SEAL OF APPROVAL .....

ON THE GRANTING OF "PROTECTED PERSON" STATUS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ...

BY ELECTED OFFICIALS UP HERE IN RENSSELAER COUNTY ....

WHICH IS JOE BRUNO'S COUNTY .....

AND IF JOE BRUNO IS IN FACT DOLING OUT FAVORS AND PROTECTION HERE .....

IT IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS ALREADY APPROVED ...

CONDUCT THAT THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ITSELF HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH BACK IN AUGUST OF 2001 .....

THAT BEING THE INTIMIDATION AND REMOVAL OF WITNESSES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

BY THE "STATE" ITSELF ....

ON BEHALF OF ITS "PROTECTED PERSONS" .....

WHO GET THAT WAY .....

BY PROCURING PROTECTION .....

FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK STATE ...

And so ....

GIVEN ALL OF THAT PRIOR HISTORY ....

PEOPLE UP HERE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO FAITH OR TRUST WHATSOEVER .....

IN EITHER THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ....

OR THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK .....

And if people up here saw E. Stewart Jones returning from Washington, D.C. with an apologetic Alberto Gonzales in tow .....

To personally apologize to Joe Bruno .....

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A SOUL UP HERE WHO WOULD BE SURPRISED ...

And I actually think that many are expecting exactly that .....

STARTING WITH THE PARTISANS OF JOE BRUNO ....

Who are many ....

And very powerfull .....

And so .....

[Livyjr]

"Another exercise in futility"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Saturday, December 23, 2006

Why did President Bush hold a high-profile year-end news conference when he had nothing new to say about solving the biggest problem he faces?

It was because he fears the question asked of President Clinton during his own final years as a scandal-ridden, troubled lame-duck chief executive:

Are you still relevant?

Embarrassingly, Clinton replied (to much amusement and sarcasm) "the president is relevant here."

Turned out later he was correct, but at the time it was problematic.

Bush wanted to beat reporters to the punch.

An unpopular figure who has lost most of the power he arrogantly flaunted his first six years in office, the President met the press he disdains one last time to close out an unhappy year.

But the traditional gesture didn't do a thing for him.

Even his attempts at chummy old-boy humor fell flat.

Too fake.

He insisted that he still wanted to set the national agenda, even though neither the Iraqis nor a majority of American voters think he is doing a good job of that.

The agenda he wants to set here at home sounds remarkably like what the Democrats have been pushing for years and he has been ignoring.

And as for the agenda in Iraq, take your pick of the contradictory things he said.

He has become the king of mush, agile at the skill of political vamping but not at delivering the clear message of a decisive leader confronted with an international crisis of his own making.

The blunt-talking, super-confident President of old has crumbled into a tentative figure who can't decide whether to dig our military deeper into Iraq or get the dickens out before more lives are lost.

"I'm able to help focus people's attention on important issues," he said authoritatively.

Wow.

Well, he certainly did that by invading Iraq and inaccurately claiming that Iraq was connected to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, harbored weapons of mass destruction and would be thrilled to be led by us into a new democratic era in the Middle East.

It is only now, after too much negative evidence and military rebellion, that he is conceding that perhaps it was not a totally clever move.

He has moved from the absolutist attitude of going all-out for victory in Iraq to something far squishier, "not winning but not losing."

There is all sorts of talk that he favors a U.S. troop "surge" in Iraq, but its duration, mission, cost and effectiveness are a murky mess.

It's chief advantage seems to be that the troops could be reduced before the 2008 elections.

If, of course, they had accomplished anything.

The President was not his former self.

Faced with an opposition Congress at last and growing anger about the Iraq war, he insisted he had no regrets and declined reporters' efforts to pry open his soul to find out what might be going on there.

He had insisted in an earlier interview that despite his crumbling presidency he was sleeping well -- unlike the admissions of previous presidents who have admitted to troubled nights over dubious decisions, particularly in time of war.

Instead he fell back on familiar rhetoric promising "my administration can ... fashion a new way forward that can succeed in Iraq."

He offered no clue to that new way, suggesting it is a public relations ploy similar to Richard Nixon's secret plan to end the Vietnam War, which he touted in the 1968 campaign.

That worked in the campaign but didn't work to resolve the war.

Bush was indecisive in his news conference, reflecting the fact that he faces no easy choices in Iraq.

If it also reflects that he has finally moved from the fuzzy world of the Pentagon neocons and Vice President Cheney, during which he made his major mistakes, into the contentious world of bipartisan realpolitic, that would be hopeful.

But he seemed to reject out of hand the recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton commission in favor of military advice; now he is edging away from the advice of his military top brass.

What is he thinking?

Is the commander-in-chief thinking seriously at all?

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Bush's confusing remarks suggest he has not come to grips with the urgency for a change in policy in Iraq.

"The President seems lost within his own rhetoric," Reid said.

"He is ... leaving our troops stuck policing a civil war."

Marianne Means can be reached at means@hearstdc.com.

[Livyjr]

Despite LBJ's efforts to minimize his recent decisions to intensify and widen the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, public and congressional opposition to his policy had increased in March (1965).

Discontent over the president's policy was growing principally on college campuses and among liberal intellectuals.

A STATE DEPARTMENT WHITE PAPER, DESIGNED TO PROVE NORTH VIETNAMESE COMPLICITY IN THE INSURGENCY IN THE SOUTH, WAS WEAK IN ITS ARGUMENT AND SHORT ON EVIDENCE, THE BULK OF WHICH REMAINED CLASSIFIED.

A week prior to (U.S. Ambassador Maxwell) Taylor's arrival in Washington, the students and faculty at the University of Michigan held the first Vietnam War "teach-in" to voice opposition to the president's policy.

IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING OPPOSITION, LBJ REDOUBLED HIS EFFORT TO PREVENT LEAKS AND TO CONCEAL DEEPENING AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR.

THE PRESIDENT DENIED THAT HIS POLICY HAD CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE HIS ELECTION IN NOVEMBER (1964).

On April 1, an hour before he met with his advisors on Vietnam, he held an impromptu press conference in the White House theater.

Johnson emphasized progress in getting GREAT SOCIETY legislation through Congress.

WHEN ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HIS VIETNAM POLICY, HE HIGHLIGHTED CONTINUITY WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, CLAIMING THAT HE WAS SIMPLY HONORING THE COMMITMENT TO THE SOUTHEAST ASIA TREATY ORGANIZATION (SEATO) THAT EISENHOWER AND CONGRESS HAD MADE.

JOHNSON CITED THE GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION AS EVIDENCE OF CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR HIS POLICY AND STATED THAT HE KNEW OF "NO DIVISION IN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT" OVER VIETNAM.

To dispel reports that he was discussing major military decisions during Taylor's visit, he denied knowledge of any "far-reaching strategy that is being suggested or promulgated."

HE SAID THAT THOSE WHO PUBLICLY OPPOSED HIS VIETNAM POLICY AND JOURNALISTS WHO SPECULATED ABOUT IT DISREGARDED "OUR SOLDIERS WHO ARE DYING" IN VIETNAM.

From pp.254,55 Dereliction of Duty - Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, AND THE LIES THAT LED TO VIET NAM by H.R. McMaster .....

[Livyjr]

HE SAID THAT THOSE WHO PUBLICLY OPPOSED HIS VIETNAM POLICY AND JOURNALISTS WHO SPECULATED ABOUT IT DISREGARDED "OUR SOLDIERS WHO ARE DYING" IN VIETNAM.

From pp.254,55 Dereliction of Duty - Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, AND THE LIES THAT LED TO VIET NAM by H.R. McMaster .....

"Plan for more troops is much too late"

By TRUDY RUBIN
First published: Saturday, December 23, 2006

White House officials are aggressively promoting the idea of sending more U.S. troops to Iraq over the unanimous objections of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to news reports.

This is the right idea at the wrong time -- put forward for unclear reasons.

The White House has yet to answer the pointed questions of Colin Powell last weekend on CBS's "Face the Nation":

"What mission is it these troops are supposed to accomplish?"

"Is it something that is really accomplishable?"

"Do we have enough troops to accomplish it?"

Or is this one last White House effort to look tough, whether or not it helps Iraq?

Iraq's current chaos traces directly to Donald Rumsfeld's deluded decision to send too few troops to Iraq to stabilize the country.

Rumsfeld just departed with highest honors, as Dick Cheney proclaimed him "the finest secretary of defense" the nation has known.

How ironic that the Bush team wants a troop surge at this very moment.

The number of U.S. troops is indeed an issue.

The White House plan to turn security over to Iraqis is failing.

Iraq's government is weak, and its security forces are divided by sect and penetrated by sectarian militias.

These security forces are often part of the problem, taking part in ethnic cleansing.

In theory, more U.S. troops could improve the situation, by helping to stabilize the Sunni areas of Baghdad and Anbar province.

These areas remain the core of the security problem.

They are often controlled by former senior Baathists and Sunni religious extremists, who have sought to provoke civil war by killing Shiite civilians.

After three years of restraint, Shiite militias now seek revenge against Sunnis, deepening the civil strife.

Those Sunni moderates who don't want to be ruled by extremists are too frightened to stand against them.

Sunni tribal leaders and politicians who participate in the government are being assassinated, and now face the additional threat of Shiite militias.

Serious scholars who support a surge, like Fred Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute, argue that an increase in U.S. troops could bring security to Sunni and mixed areas of Baghdad, by clearing out the insurgents.

U.S. troops could then stay on in partnership with Iraqis.

This "clear, hold and build" strategy could, again in theory, permit the return of normal life and services to Sunni areas.

If insurgents were reined in, Sunni moderates would feel less fearful about joining the new system.

And, crucially, if the number of Sunni attacks on Shiites dropped, the Shiite-led government could rein in Shiite militias, slowing down the civil strife.

"Clear, hold and build" worked in two of the few success stories in predominantly Sunni areas, the cities of Mosul and Tal Afar.

The U.S. ground commanders in those cases understood -- even though the Pentagon did not -- that their first priority was to provide security and services for the local population.

Just this week, the Army and Marine Corps released a new counterinsurgency manual, the first in 20 years, that distills the principles for such operations.

Would that the manual had been available years earlier.

But -- here's the key -- when U.S. troops were cut by two-thirds in Mosul after one year, insurgents returned and the city dissolved into chaos.

Tal Afar deteriorated for similar reasons.

"Clear, hold and build" is a long-term strategy, requiring a large number of troops to stay for years.

Their numbers must be sufficient to blanket troubled areas and prevent insurgents from escaping to the next village.

Yet news reports say the White House is considering sending 15,000 to 30,000 more troops to Baghdad for six to eight months.

That's not enough time to "hold and build," nor for the Iraqi government to get its act in order.

So it's unclear what would be the troops' purpose, or what they could achieve.

Any boost in numbers would depend on retaining units now in Iraq for a longer time and accelerating the arrival of others.

Powell said this weekend that such a surge "cannot be sustained."

Even if Congress were to expand the size of the Marines and Army, that increase would not come in time to enable an extended surge.

The Joint Chiefs oppose sending more troops because they feel the military has been broken by Rumsfeld.

One Army officer sent me this e-mail, which reflects a much wider feeling in the military:

"The idea of adding 20,000 is criminal."

"It's not enough to do any good, but it's more than enough to bring an already staggering Army to its knees."

If the White House wants to increase troop levels, it must answer Powell's questions:

What indeed is their mission?

What can be accomplished by a brief surge at this late date?

And how does the president plan to man and fund the mission?

This would require President Bush to explain why insufficient troops were sent to begin with, and why he failed to supply the military with the resources it needed to do the job right.

Without such frankness, a skeptical country won't support him, nor would a surge make sense.

Trudy Rubin writes for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Her e-mail address is trubin@phillynews.com.

[Livyjr]

Despite LBJ's efforts to minimize his recent decisions to intensify and widen the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, public and congressional opposition to his policy had increased in March (1965).

Discontent over the president's policy was growing principally on college campuses and among liberal intellectuals.

A STATE DEPARTMENT WHITE PAPER, DESIGNED TO PROVE NORTH VIETNAMESE COMPLICITY IN THE INSURGENCY IN THE SOUTH, WAS WEAK IN ITS ARGUMENT AND SHORT ON EVIDENCE, THE BULK OF WHICH REMAINED CLASSIFIED.

A week prior to (U.S. Ambassador Maxwell) Taylor's arrival in Washington, the students and faculty at the University of Michigan held the first Vietnam War "teach-in" to voice opposition to the president's policy.

IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING OPPOSITION, LBJ REDOUBLED HIS EFFORT TO PREVENT LEAKS AND TO CONCEAL DEEPENING AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR.

THE PRESIDENT DENIED THAT HIS POLICY HAD CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE HIS ELECTION IN NOVEMBER (1964).

On April 1, an hour before he met with his advisors on Vietnam, he held an impromptu press conference in the White House theater.

Johnson emphasized progress in getting GREAT SOCIETY legislation through Congress.

WHEN ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HIS VIETNAM POLICY, HE HIGHLIGHTED CONTINUITY WITH PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS, CLAIMING THAT HE WAS SIMPLY HONORING THE COMMITMENT TO THE SOUTHEAST ASIA TREATY ORGANIZATION (SEATO) THAT EISENHOWER AND CONGRESS HAD MADE.

JOHNSON CITED THE GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION AS EVIDENCE OF CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR HIS POLICY AND STATED THAT HE KNEW OF "NO DIVISION IN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT" OVER VIETNAM.

From pp.254,55 Dereliction of Duty - Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, AND THE LIES THAT LED TO VIET NAM by H.R. McMaster .....

"Bush undeterred by public, generals or Iraq"

By CARL P. LEUBSDORF

First published: Sunday, December 24, 2006

You've got to say this for President Bush:

He will risk further decline in his popularity to pursue the course he thinks is right in Iraq.

He may even be willing to do so in the face of opposition by some of his military commanders.

And he seems unconcerned over how this will ultimately affect his place in history, even as some historians are already rendering sharply critical judgments.

The President made clear again Wednesday that he won't be deterred by growing public disenchantment with the war, the anti-Republican tide in the elections or by setbacks in Iraq itself.

"We're not succeeding nearly as fast as I wanted," Bush conceded at his end-of-the-year news conference.

But he reiterated "we're going to succeed" in the struggle with terrorism that he deemed "the calling of our generation."

To do so, he said, "is going to require a sustained commitment from the American people and our military," a commitment that has come under question by both.

Polls show that public confidence continues to drop, and some top military men inside and outside government have expressed doubt that the war can be won militarily.

But when Bush was asked if he was willing to persist in Iraq even if meant going against the will of the American people, he replied, "I am willing to follow a path that leads to victory."

And he sidestepped a question about whether he will, if necessary, overrule military commanders who are skeptical about sending more troops, calling them "bright, capable, smart people whose opinion matters to me a lot."

He refused to say whether, as has been widely reported, his current effort to devise "a new way forward that can succeed in Iraq" will lead to an increase in U.S. forces.

But Bush made clear that beginning to withdraw U.S. troops, as the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended, is about the furthest thing from his mind.

"I want the enemy to understand that this is a tough task but they can't run us out of the Middle East," he said.

"They think it's just a matter of time before America grows weary and leaves, abandons the people of Iraq, for example, and that's not going to happen."

In a sense, the end of the election campaign and the replacement of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld with Robert Gates have given Bush some breathing space to revise course in Iraq.

Though pressures for withdrawal -- from the polls, the Iraq Study Group and the new Democratic majorities in Congress -- have isolated Bush politically, it's unlikely his critics can keep him from implementing policies that include an increase in troops.

Many lawmakers in both parties favor increasing the size of the Army and the Marine Corps.

And even during the Vietnam War, members of Congress were slow to restrict the use of funds to fight it.

Besides, it's nearly two years until the next election.

And though optimism about Iraq is minimal these days, it's always possible that changes in U.S. policy could produce a more positive result than analysts expect.

If that happens, Bush and his Republican Party could reap the political benefit, especially Sen. John McCain, who has urged sending more troops.

Critics would be put on the defensive.

On the other hand, if the proposal Bush plans to formally unveil next month fails to improve a situation he now admits has not gone well, he could put fellow Republicans in a 2008 bind.

As long as most Republicans support the war, potential GOP presidential candidates will be reluctant to stray from that stance.

But they could face severe problems in a general election because so many Democrats and independents want to end it.

Even then, Bush's persistence may delay a definite end to the struggle and withdrawal of most U.S. troops until his successor's presidency.

Bush was asked if his legacy would extend beyond Iraq.

He declined to speculate, noting he's been reading books about George Washington and adding:

"My attitude is, if they're still analyzing No. 1, 43 ought not to worry about it and just do what he thinks is right."

And he observed that "most short-term historians," some of whom have already called him a failure, usually have political views and aren't "exactly objective."'

Still, the success or failure of the war in Iraq is likely to be central in judgments of the George W. Bush presidency.

P. Leubsdorf writes for The Dallas Morning News. His e-mail address is cleubsdorf@dallasnews.com.

[Livyjr]

"GOP losses could spark partisan warfare"

By TOM RAUM, Associated Press
Last updated: 4:16 p.m., Sunday, October 22, 2006

Many Democrats see the upcoming elections as a mirror image of 1994, with the parties reversed.

Then, Republicans rallied behind firebrand Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia, announced a "Contract with America," and stormed to victory, seizing both House and Senate from Democrats.

It was a huge blow to Clinton, made worse by the lavish and almost-presidential reception Gingrich received around Washington as he was inaugurated as House speaker.

"Gingrich reduces God into a tool of politics"

By LINDA P. CAMPBELL
First published: Sunday, December 24, 2006

As this holy season of consummate consumerism gives way to the hopefulness of a new year, beware of Newts bearing pious pronouncements.

At the risk of giving attention where it isn't due, I have to warn that the former U.S. House speaker, who was pushed out the Capitol doors not a moment too soon, is trying to worm his way back into the public consciousness with yet another dubious "Contract With America."

The third plank in the platform promoted by potential presidential wannabe Newt Gingrich reads:

"Recenter on the Creator from Whom all our liberties come."

"We will insist on a judiciary that understands the centrality of God in American history and reasserts the legitimacy of recognizing the Creator in public life."

Call me cynical and paranoid, but I read into that Ten Commandments displays in every public courtroom.

The Lord's Prayer recited in unison in every public school classroom.

Inquisitions into judicial nominees' personal creeds to guarantee hostility toward abortion and gay marriage.

More pointless fights over the essentiality of uttering "under God" to the very survival of the Republic.

And none of that will bring us any closer to liberty and justice for all.

Reducing God to a blatant political tool -- which would be the effect of Gingrich's proposal -- substitutes form for substance.

And it distorts reality about religious freedom in this country.

When did it become illegitimate to recognize the Creator in public life?

President Bush has no fear of praising God and calling for his blessings on the United States.

Neither did Bush's father or Bill Clinton (even if he didn't always act as though the omnipresent one was watching).

What isn't tolerable is, say, a government executive favoring employees who attend the daily Bible study sessions in the office or a military official espousing personal beliefs as though they were policy.

Sure, there are those who would strip "In God we trust" from our money.

I don't support that, but would it have much practical effect on anyone besides counterfeiters?

Making God's name even more ubiquitous in the public lexicon than it already is would generate additional references with all the religious significance of "God save the United States and this honorable court."

Slate.com writer Dahlia Lithwick has described such instances of "ceremonial deism" as invoking the "God of the Hallmark cards."

Symbolically significant to someone, somewhere, maybe, but spiritually bereft.

And what of this notion about "the centrality of God in American history"?

The Founding Fathers recognized the influence of religion on society -- and were justly opposed to government's embracing it.

An examination of his "centrality" in some of our darkest days might leave one wondering.

Was the Lord first and foremost in the minds of the generals and grunts who fought the Civil War?

Probably he was weeping over the blood we shed, our petty brutality and the deep, divisive hatreds born of a fight that managed to keep the Union intact.

Was the herding of the Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears a fulfillment of God's will?

Did the Creator's mercy motivate the hearts of the Birmingham firefighters who hosed civil rights marchers in 1963 Alabama?

Where is the moral accountability, the sense of humbling guilt, among the administration officials who instigated the inferno that has squandered lives, damaged bodies and minds, fractured families and wreaked havoc that greatly overshadows whatever good our troops and enormously expensive rebuilding efforts have accomplished for Iraq and its people?

Actually, I do believe that powerful spiritual forces are at work in this country -- and they derive from our reverence for religious liberty, not from dictates of Congress, the White House or the courts.

They're evident in the work of lawyers who donate their services to desperate people so that they can pull their lives together.

In the efforts of teachers who put in time, money and whatever else it takes to push and pull struggling students to success.

In the labors of volunteers who build homes to give families a decent place to live.

In the inspiration of ordinary people living responsible lives.

In the gestures large and small of those who implement God's message without needing their government to trumpet it.

What we need from our leaders aren't platitudes and the pretense of promoting "values."

What we need are honesty, integrity and policies that are fair and sensible, and that make it possible for even the least among us to live with dignity.

Because that's the right thing to do.

P. Campbell writes for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Her e-mail address is lcampbellstar-telegram.com

[Livyjr]

"Moderates court GOP right wing"

By JONATHAN CHAIT
First published: Sunday, December 24, 2006

Looking over the field of potential Republican presidential candidates, one odd thing jumps out at me:

Many of them have expressed deep hostility to the religious right's point of view in the past, and several are now insisting that they didn't mean a word of it.

One way to look at this is to conclude that they all said or did things they didn't mean, or that they have come around to the social conservative position.

Oddly enough, this is the interpretation many social conservatives seem inclined to accept.

Or there's the other, more logical interpretation:

The Republican Party's governing class is deeply hostile to social conservatism, and its leaders manage to fool the base over and over again.

This delicate situation was thrown into stark relief recently when Bay Windows, a Boston newspaper covering gay and lesbian issues, published an interview it had conducted with Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in 1994.

Romney, who had characterized the religious right as "extremists," said he essentially had the same position on gay rights as Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and cast himself as an heir to his moderate father, George Romney, the Michigan governor who walked out of the 1964 Republican convention to protest Barry Goldwater.

Those positions seem believable.

Mitt Romney had run as a supporter of abortion rights and legislation protecting gays from on-the-job discrimination.

But he has since reversed both positions, and an adviser insisted that Romney had been "faking it" as a pro-choicer, explaining that he had to do it because social conservatism is unacceptable to the voters of Massachusetts.

But wait a second.

Social liberalism is unacceptable to GOP primary voters, right?

So maybe Romney is faking it now, and all that stuff he said about gay rights and the influence of his moderate father was genuine, no?

This would be bad enough for social conservatives if Romney were the moderate in the race.

But, in fact, he's the current favorite among social conservatives.

Indeed, social conservatives don't even want to hear about Romney's scandalously tolerant past.

Brian Camenker, a right-wing activist who has been sounding the alarm bells about Romney, has gotten a frosty reception from his fellow religious conservatives.

"'Why are you attacking Romney?"' they keep asking him, according to my colleague Ryan Lizza.

"He's better than (Rudolph W.) Giuliani and (John) McCain."'

The GOP primary is a sorry state of affairs for the religious right.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., once described religious-right leaders as "forces of evil" and has mused that he would not support the repeal of Roe vs. Wade.

More recently, McCain, like Romney, has backed off his moderate statements (not surprising, given the furor they provoked).

But McCain is even less credible in his newfound conservatism; only a total naif could believe him now.

A general rule of political life is that when a candidate says something unpopular off the cuff and then takes it back in prepared remarks, you can be sure that the original statement is what the candidate really thinks.

Meanwhile, the other leading contender, Giuliani, is pro-choice, pro-gun-control and pro-gay-rights.

When he left his second wife, Giuliani moved in temporarily with a gay couple.

I have to give Giuliani credit:

Unlike Romney and McCain, he has declined to discover a new set of deeply held social convictions.

But, of course, there's plenty of time until Iowa 2008.

Jonathan Chait writes for the New Republic and the Los Angeles Times, where this article first appeared.

[Livyjr]

And this brings us to what many see as F. Stewart Jones' TRUMP CARD ......

Which is the fact that in December of 2005 .....

Just a short year ago .....

The federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City .....

PUT ITS SEAL OF APPROVAL .....

ON THE GRANTING OF "PROTECTED PERSON" STATUS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ...

BY ELECTED OFFICIALS UP HERE IN RENSSELAER COUNTY ....

WHICH IS JOE BRUNO'S COUNTY .....

AND IF JOE BRUNO IS IN FACT DOLING OUT FAVORS AND PROTECTION HERE .....

IT IS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS ALREADY APPROVED ...

CONDUCT THAT THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ITSELF HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH BACK IN AUGUST OF 2001 .....

THAT BEING THE INTIMIDATION AND REMOVAL OF WITNESSES IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

BY THE "STATE" ITSELF ....

ON BEHALF OF ITS "PROTECTED PERSONS" .....

WHO GET THAT WAY .....

BY PROCURING PROTECTION .....

FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK STATE ...

And so ....

GIVEN ALL OF THAT PRIOR HISTORY ....

PEOPLE UP HERE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO FAITH OR TRUST WHATSOEVER .....

IN EITHER THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ....

OR THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK .....

And if people up here saw E. Stewart Jones returning from Washington, D.C. with an apologetic Alberto Gonzales in tow .....

To personally apologize to Joe Bruno .....

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A SOUL UP HERE WHO WOULD BE SURPRISED ...

And I actually think that many are expecting exactly that .....

STARTING WITH THE PARTISANS OF JOE BRUNO ....

Who are many ....

And very powerfull .....

And so .....

"Investigation of Bruno widens - Grand jury subpoenas records of flight services company whose planes transported Senate leader"

By BRENDAN J. LYONS Senior writer, Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Sunday, December 24, 2006

ALBANY -- A federal grand jury has subpoenaed the records of a private flight services company in connection with a widening investigation of Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and a Loudonville businessman whose jets have been used to fly the Republican leader on numerous occasions.

A source with knowledge of the federal investigation said FBI agents are examining travel logs to determine how many times, and for what purposes, Bruno flew aboard private jets that were either owned or leased by Jared E. Abbruzzese, the senator's business associate and close friend.

Mahlon Richards, president of Hudson-based Richmor Aviation, which has a fleet of private aircraft and also provides fuel, hangar space and other services at several small airports, did not return a telephone call seeking comment about the subpoena received by the company.

The state Lobbying Commission, which subpoenaed similar flight records for its investigation into Abbruzzese, has records of about five trips Bruno took aboard Abbruzzese's private aircraft.

But a source said Richmor's records, which do not necessarily contain detailed information on passengers who travel on private jets managed or piloted by the company, may show that Bruno had flown more times than are reflected in the Lobbying Commission's records.

Additionally, some Senate staffers also are being subpoenaed by the grand jury, including members of Bruno's staff, according to sources familiar with the probe.

The FBI's investigation of Bruno's business dealings comes as the senator is seeking to retain his powerful leadership post.

The Times Union reported Friday that the FBI is focusing on hundreds of thousands of dollars Abbruzzese paid to Bruno's private consulting firm.

Federal authorities are examining whether the fees allegedly were an attempt to influence Bruno in his legislative capacities.

E. Stewart Jones, an attorney for Abbruzzese and his wife, Sherrie, confirmed Thursday that Abbruzzese paid money to Bruno's consulting firm.

Bruno has declined to disclose his clients or earnings in the private venture, or what type of consulting work he does.

Jones said Bruno and Abbruzzese are close friends and active entrepreneurs who are being smeared by an exploratory investigation that has yielded no allegations of criminal conduct.

"Most people don't understand how business consulting works and naturally, because of Senator Bruno's position, they draw conclusions that are not consistent with the truth and are fundamentally unfair," Jones said.

"Full cooperation has been a hallmark of our response to this investigation."

Jones called Bruno "the most valuable political figure in this region in the last 50 years" and said information leaked to news organizations about the investigation has damaged Bruno's ability to retain that status.

Abbruzzese and Bruno, along with their families, are very close, Jones said.

He said federal prosecutors have an obligation to break their silence and release information that could clear up some of the mischaracterizations surrounding Bruno's dealings with Abbruzzese.

"Once again, the time frame illustrates the legitimacy of the relationship and the pure innocence of the relationship," Jones said.

"That's information that the government should release if they're the source of all this damning information."

"They should start being fair and start releasing something balanced."

The financial and business records of Abbruzzese and his wife, as well as their various companies and corporations, have been turned over to the FBI.

Federal authorities are said to be examining whether mail fraud or money laundering statutes were violated in connection with the business relationship, according to a source familiar with the case.

Bruno, 77, acknowledged last Tuesday that his "outside business interests" were the subject of an FBI investigation.

The senator said he was complying with subpoenas and "cooperating fully," and confident he has done nothing wrong.

Abbruzzese, 52, is a wealthy horse racing enthusiast involved in numerous business ventures, including a start-up nanotech company that received $500,000 in discretionary grants, called member items, at Bruno's direction.

The company, Evident Technologies, was served last week with a federal grand jury subpoena seeking copies of its records, according to the company's attorney, Daniel J. French, a former U.S. attorney in New York's Northern District.

A source close to the investigation said federal agents also are focusing on Abbruzzese's role as an investor and past director of Empire Racing Associates, which bid on the state's racing franchise that Bruno and other lawmakers plan to award within the next year.

Bruno formed his private firm, Capital Business Consultants, out of his Brunswick home after he sold his telecommunications company in 1990.

Bruno has refused to name any of his various business partners or clients, saying financial disclosure laws that apply to state lawmakers do not require him to make that information public.

He also said discussing the business would violate his clients' right to privacy.

J. Lyons can be reached at 454-5547 or by e-mail at blyons@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

"Benefit of doubt for Bruno, but need for disclosure is certain"

Albany, New York Times Union

First published: Friday, December 22, 2006

Alan Hevesi may be chased out of office today to avoid what is arguably a marginal criminal indictment over "Chauffeurgate."

Even two years ago, such dire consequences for admittedly reprehensible behavior would never have happened.

Even more stunning is the news that Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno is the subject of a federal grand jury investigation into possible conflicts between his political activities and private business dealings.

One Democrat, one Republican.

No one can say that what's going on as the temple crumbles is some sort of partisan hounding.

As hard as it is for veteran pols to accept it, there really is a new day dawning in Albany's political culture -- and that's even before the reform governor takes office.

Except, of course, we don't really know what's going on in Joe Bruno's case.

Maybe he doesn't either, but then that's the way federal investigations work.

Torturously and slowly.

Bruno was trying to be affable and light about it at the late afternoon news conference he called Tuesday to go public about the investigation, but observers say he showed the strain, and that it is only going to get worse.

Bruno has known about FBI inquiries for several months, but having the news out there and snickered about, potentially affecting his daily public business as the second most powerful Republican in the state, and in two weeks, the most powerful, adds new dimension to his problems.

Apparently the FBI has considered Joe Bruno a source of interest since the middle of 2004, which means recent questions raised over member items he steered can't be the source of the investigation, although it is all grist for the federal mill now.

A natural assumption is to imagine the worst for Joe Bruno since the FBI, the Justice Department and a federal grand jury are involved.

But the lesson taught us by former Cohoes Mayor Bobby Signoracci a decade ago is well worth dusting off.

For 33 months Bobby was investigated by the feds over the disappearance of bags of money collected at county Democratic functions during the time he was county chairman.

For the longest time it looked bleak for Bobby.

Three of his business associates did face legal repercussions, but in the end, Signoracci was exonerated, and in writing.

So being investigated is not necessarily the end of the world.

But the other half of the Signoracci lesson is also worth recalling.

Namely, the hell he and his family experienced was excruciating.

His health was severely impacted.

He was an outcast, depressed, alienated from friends, family, business associates.

The stress was awful, the worst thing he lived through in his entire life, he said at the end of it.

For now, fairness dictates that we suspend judgment when it comes to Joe Bruno's alleged or implied conflicts of interest.

But part of a statement he read acknowledging the FBI investigation is fair game, and raises all sorts of flags.

"As a part-time legislator, I and my colleagues are permitted to have outside law practices or business interests."

"My interests outside the Legislature have all been cleared and approved by the Legislative Ethics Committee."

What Bruno doesn't say is that the Legislature wrote those nondisclosure rules for itself.

They no longer fit the new age that's dawning.

Bruno refuses to tell us who his private clients are, and so does Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is a lawyer.

Yet these two control hundreds of millions of dollars in member items on their own.

That just doesn't cut it anymore.

Legislative reform starts right there: full disclosure.

Fred LeBrun can be reached at 454-5453 or by e-mail at flebrun@timesunion.com.

[Livyjr]

It's Christmas Eve ...

A time for PEACE ON EARTH .....

And GOODWILL TOWARDS MAN AND WOMAN .....

And that has absolutely nothing to do with religion, at all .....

Since I don't have one .....

Rather .....

It is just a sentiment of mine ....

And so .....

The best of this season to all alike .....

And Livyjr will be back .....

Tomarrow ....

Or the next day ....

And so ....

This post has been edited by Livyjr: Dec 24 2006, 04:53 PM

[Livyjr]

"News needs to replace balance with truth"

By MARTIN KAPLAN
First published: Monday, December 25, 2006

Everyone says we need a national debate on Iraq.

Left, right, politicos, pundits, editorial writers, academics.

If ever there was a universally held position, it's the belief that holding a national debate on Iraq is just the thing for what ails us in the Middle East.

Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., who coined the term "freedom fries," has called for it.

So has Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., repeatedly.

Conservative columnist William Rusher believes "the stage is set for a national debate."

Liberal evangelical Jim Wallis thinks that what we really need is a "new national debate on Iraq."

The only one not joining the parade seems to be President Bush, but that may just be because his Iraq "listening tour" has caused a scheduling conflict.

It's not just Iraq.

From health care to education, immigration to entitlements, there's hardly an issue on the national radar screen that hasn't been nominated for a cleansing and clarifying national debate.

But what would a national debate on anything really look like?

How would it be any different from what we're already doing now?

Imagine the elements of a national debate on Iraq, and then ask whether what's going on today fits the bill.

Analysts offering opposing views on television shows?

Check.

Dueling op-ed pieces?

Check. Senators and representatives making floor speeches?

Check.

Presidential candidates staking out positions, and critics taking them on?

Check.

Magazines and journals offering thoughtful, conflicting takes?

Check.

A take-no-prisoners brawl in the blogosphere?

Check.

Public opinion polls?

You can't go to the restroom without tripping over a new one.

Thousands of people in the streets?

Well, it's not like the Vietnam War era -- without a draft, it won't ever be -- but plenty of cities have seen plenty of passionate marchers.

So why, despite all appearances of actually having a national debate right now, do people keep insisting that we mount one?

Perhaps it's because the mainstream media are too timid to declare the difference between right and wrong.

Imagine if journalism consisted of more than a collage of conflicting talking points.

Imagine the difference it would make if more brand-name reporters broke from the bizarre straitjacket of "balance," which equates fairness with putting all disputants on equal epistemological footing, no matter how deceitful or moronic they may be.

There's a market for news that weighs counterclaims and assesses truth value.

It just hasn't kept up with demand.

No wonder Jon Stewart has such a loyal audience:

He has a point of view, and it's rooted in the reality-based -- not the ideology-based -- world.

Anyone who's watched a presidential debate knows how useless they are for deciding our country's direction.

The coming presidential primary season, which will stretch for more than a year, will be the scene of multicandidate cattle calls in which entrants will moo canned messages, spring scripted attacks, ignore interlocutors' questions and declare inevitable victories.

The debates are also useless for finding common ground.

There are no points to be scored with nuance.

We're a nation of 300 million, which means there's one political party for every 150 million points of view.

Politicians behave the way they do for a reason:

Wedge issues work.

Bipartisan consensus is a mug's game.

The base is what counts.

Swing votes win elections.

Food fights win ratings.

Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has been calling for a series of Lincoln-Douglas debates across the nation.

I'd like that.

I'd also like a pony, an end to racism, a cure for cancer and a date with Scarlett Johansson.

The actual Lincoln-Douglas debates drew huge crowds and galvanized public attention; Newt's would make C-SPAN, and maybe Fox, but most people would get them in 12-second snippets.

Besides, it's tough to imagine Newt and his opponent (John McCain?) actually coming up with anything that they haven't broadcast in the news-and-gasbag venues to which they already enjoy full access.

Maybe we don't need a national debate.

Maybe what we really need are leaders with more character, followers with more discrimination, deciders who hear as well as listen and media that know the difference between the public interest and what the public is interested in.

National debates nicely fulfill the circus part of the bread-and-circuses formula of modern public life.

Like psychoanalysis, national debates are basically interminable.

And in our postmodern era, they do a nice job substituting for the hard work of actually figuring out what's true and what's good.

Martin Kaplan is associate dean of the University of Southern California Annenberg School, where he directs the Norman Lear Center. He wrote this article for the Los Angeles Times.

[Livyjr]

"Man speaks out after Sept. 11 acquittal"

By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer

Sun Dec 24, 12:30 PM ET

LA MESA, Calif. - Ten days after jets destroyed the World Trade Center and struck the Pentagon, Osama Awadallah was detained by FBI agents.

He had never even gotten a parking ticket, but he was from Jordan — and he had met two of the hijackers.

The 21-year-old community college student, one of hundreds of Muslim men picked up in the frenzied dragnet following the attacks, was whisked to New York to testify as a material witness before a grand jury.

That set off a five-year legal ordeal that ended last month with Awadallah's acquittal on perjury charges.

He was never accused of involvement in terrorism but was charged with lying about how well he knew one of the hijackers.

In spite of his experience, he is moving ahead with long-held plans to apply for U.S. citizenship.

He graduated with honors last spring from San Diego State University, is looking for a computer technician job and is studying for graduate school entrance exams.

"I want to move on from this, find my lucky girl and just be like every other American," he said recently at a restaurant in this San Diego suburb.

An observant Muslim, he politely declined to shake hands with a female reporter.

He began with brusque questions about why he was being interviewed, but quickly relaxed in conversation.

"I watch what I say, who I'm talking to these days," he said.

"The real effect is in trusting people."

Awadallah grew up in Jordan while his father and three older brothers came to San Diego to start a courier business.

In 1999, he joined his father — by then a naturalized U.S. citizen — as a legal resident.

He found a mosque, got a job at a gas station and took English classes before enrolling at Grossmont College in the fall of 2000.

At the gas station, Awadallah briefly worked with a Saudi named Nawaf al-Hazmi.

A friend of al-Hazmi's, another Saudi named Khalid al-Mihdhar, sometimes stopped by the station.

On Sept. 11, 2001, he turned on the TV just as a hijacked American Airlines airliner slammed into the Pentagon with al-Hazmi and al-Mihdhar on board.

"It was unbelievable, like a movie or something," Awadallah said.

"I couldn't believe that was happening."

On Sept. 21, the FBI picked him up for questioning because agents found his phone number on a piece of paper in a car registered to al-Hazmi.

Awadallah says the agents promised he would be back in time for noon prayers.

He didn't get home until that December.

Instead, Awadallah says, he was flown to New York, placed in solitary confinement with no access to his family or his lawyer, repeatedly strip-searched and subjected to bruising physical force by guards.

"Suddenly all these fingers were pointing at me, people were telling me I was responsible for 4,000 deaths," Awadallah said.

"That I cannot forget."

"It's impossible for anyone to imagine how that feels."

Taken before the grand jury in shackles, Awadallah said he had met al-Hazmi in San Diego but denied knowing al-Mihdhar until prosecutors confronted him with an assignment notebook for his English class in which he had written both men's names.

Prosecutors charged him with two counts of perjury, alleging he had withheld potentially critical information about the hijackers.

Defense attorneys said he had simply been confused, that he was tired, disoriented and struggling to understand legal terms in English.

In December 2001 he was released on $500,000 bail and returned to San Diego, wearing an electronic ankle bracelet.

His friends at school and at his mosque avoided him.

"They thought if they walked with me they'd get in trouble, and there were other people who even thought I was working for the government," he said.

His case finally went to trial last April, ending in a mistrial after a lone juror held out against conviction.

In November, a second jury found him not guilty.

Awadallah has sued the government, alleging he was wrongly detained and mistreated by guards.

Elizabeth Wolstein, an assistant U.S. attorney in the case, declined to comment.

"I'm happy for myself because of the verdict, but I think I should fight for my rights," Awadallah said.

"My whole life has been affected."

end quotes

"I watch what I say, who I'm talking to these days," he said.

"The real effect is in trusting people."

And from my own experiences up here in the CORRUPT REPUBLICAN EMPIRE of New York .....

I would say that many, many people up here feel the same ....

THEY WATCH WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO, AT ALL .....

TO THE POINT OF NOT TALKING, TO ANYONE, PERIOD ....

BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUST .......

And these people that I am referring to are AMERICANS .....

People who were born here .....

Up here .....

ON 8-22-01 ......

BEFORE 9-11 went down ......

One of OUR American citizens up here was forcibly taken into custody at the Stratton Veteran's Administration Hospital in the city of Albany, New York ....

And was placed is secure psychiatric confinement at that facility .....

LOCKED IN A CAGE AS A DANGEROUS WILD ANIMAL WOULD BE .....

BASED ON A FRAUDULENT "PSYCHIATRIC ARREST ORDER" THAT WAS ISSUED BY A CORPORATE DOCTOR IN THE CITY OF TROY, NEW YORK .....

WHO HAD NEVER SEEN THIS INDIVIDUAL .....

HAD NEVER MET THIS INDIVIDUAL .....

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY .....

HAD NEVER EXAMINED THIS INDIVIDUAL AS A MEDICAL DOCTOR .....

And thus .....

HAD VIOLATED THE LAW IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK ....

AS IT IS WRITTEN .....

BUT ......

DESPITE ANY OF THAT "PROCEDURAL BULL ****" .....

WAS PROTECTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE RENSSELAER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY .....

THAT BEING "BIG JOE" BRUNO'S SON, KENNY "BOY" BRUNO .....

THE OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ELIOT "BIG EL DA MAN" SPITZER ....

THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ...

WHICH IS A PART OF GEORGE W. BUSH'S REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED DEPARTMENT OF MOCKING JUSTICE .....

AND ONE OF GEORGE W. BUSH'S MINIONS SITTING AS A FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK .....

LEGEND OR MYTH OR WHATEVER TELLS US THAT JESUS WAS BORN THIS DAY INTO SIMILAR TIMES OF OPPRESSION .....

IN THE LIVES OF COMMON, ORDINARY PEOPLE .....

BY A TYRANNICAL "WORLD LEADER" IN A DECADENT CITY IN A FAR-OFF DISTANT LAND .....

AND HISTORY TELLS US .....

THAT SOME THIRTY-TWO OR SO YEARS LATER .....

JESUS GOT NAILED TO A TREE ....

AND WAS HUNG THERE TO DIE .....

BY THE OPPRESSORS FROM THAT FAR-OFF DACADENT CITY .....

FOR FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME PUFFED-UP BUFFOON IN ROME AS HIS LORD AND MASTER DOWN HERE ON EARTH ....

JUST AS PEOPLE IN IRAQ ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO BOW DOWN TO GEORGE W. BUSH AS THEIR GOD HERE ON EARTH .....

AND JUST AS THIS DISABLED VETERAN WAS LOCKED IN A CAGE AT THE STRATTON VA HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF ALBANY, NEW YORK .....

FOR FAILING TO ACKNOWLEDGE A REPUBLICAN AS HIS "GOD" HERE IN THE CORRUPT REPUBLICAN EMPIRE OF NEW YORK ....

AND SO .....

NOT MUCH HAS REALLY CHANGED IN ALL THAT TIME THAT WE CAN SEE UP HERE ...

EXCEPT THAT NOW ....

UP HERE, ANYWAY .....

TRUTH-SPEAKERS AREN'T ACTUALLY NAILED TO TREES, ANYMORE .....

THEY ARE CONFINED AS WILD, DANGEROUS ANIMALS, INSTEAD .....

IN CORPORATE MENTAL INSTITUTIONS .....

And so ......

If you are going to deliver us, God ......

From oppression ......

Now would be as good a time as any ......

ESPECIALLY UP HERE IN THE CORRUPT REPUBLICAN EMPIRE OF NEW YORK ....

And so .....