Bad Deeds for 1-4-07

Bush pushes the envelope on spying on your mail – President Bush has quietly claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans’ mail without a judge’s warrant. The President asserted his new authority when he signed a postal reform bill into law on Dec. 20. Bush then issued a “signing statement” that declared his right to open people’s mail under emergency conditions. That claim is contrary to existing law and contradicted the bill he had just signed, say experts who have reviewed it.

General Motors blasts proposed increase in U.S. fuel economy – Bob Lutz, vice chairman and the head of global product development for General Motors, says that raising fuel economy standards would unfairly burden Detroit and alleges that Americans don’t care — they just want their big, powerful trucks and SUVs. Really Bob? Then why do the latest polls indicate that Americans are prioritizing fuel economy and safety more and more – something GM’s giant SUVs don’t provide? Why has Toyota just surpassed GM as the number one auto seller in the world?

Excessive’ 2006 e-voting failures

Lab that tests voting machines barred by US – The company was not following its quality-control procedures and could not document that it was conducting all the required tests. It is reported to be a Big Republican Donor. The CEO Dumped Shares of Stock Just Before Year’s End.

Winter Cancelled – Crocuses are pushing out of the ground in New Jersey. Ice fishing tournaments in Minnesota are being canceled for lack of ice. And golfers are hitting the links in Chicago in January. Much of the Midwest and the East Coast are experiencing remarkably warm winter, with temperatures running 10 and 20 degrees higher than normal in many places. New York City saw a November and December without snow for the first time since 1877. And New Jersey had its warmest December since records started being kept 111 years ago.

Regards,

Jim