Bad Deeds for 7-8-2008

US Exports to Iran grew tenfold under Bush presidency – The value of U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush’s years in office even as he pressed for tougher international limits on trade and accused Iran of nuclear ambitions and helping terrorists. Records show that at least $148,000 of weapons and other unspecified military gear has been sent to Iran.

 

Cheney reportedly wanted cuts in climate testimony – Vice President Dick Cheney’s office pushed for major deletions in congressional testimony on the public health consequences of climate change, fearing the presentation by a leading health official might make it harder to avoid regulating greenhouse gases, a former EPA officials maintains.

When six pages were cut from testimony on climate change and public health by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last October, the White House insisted the changes were made because of reservations raised by White House advisers about the accuracy of the science.

But Jason K. Burnett, until last month the senior adviser on climate change to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson, says that Cheney’s office was deeply involved in getting nearly half of the CDC’s original draft testimony removed.

 

Company That Made Defective Body Armor is Awarded Contract to Make More – Point Blank Body Armor made shoddy vests that had to be recalled. Its top company officials were arrested. But, the Pentagon announced July 3rd that once again Point Blank Body Armor has been awarded an $86 million contract for Army “improved outer tactical vests.” This comes about a year after the Army awarded the first series of contracts to Point Blank and Specialty Defense Systems at the initial launch of its IOTV.

 

61-Year-Old Librarian Booted From McCain Public Town Hall Meeting – On orders from Senator John McCain’s security detail, Denver police escorted a 61-year-old woman away who was waiting in line to attend a so-called town hall meeting with McCain that was billed as open to the public. Carol Kreck, who works as a librarian in Denver, held a homemade sign reading “McCain = Bush.” On orders from McCain’s security detail, police cited her for trespassing and escorted her to the sidewalk. She was told if she returned she would be arrested.

 

US Health Care is Rated Worst Among 10 Developed Countries, But Costs Most – Americans are the least satisfied with their health care system, while the Dutch system is rated the best, according to new research.

Polls about health care in 10 developed countries by Harris Interactive revealed a range of opinions about what works and what doesn’t.

In the United States a third of Americans believe their system needs to be completely overhauled, while a further 50 percent feel that fundamental changes need to be made.

“Given that all countries other than the U.S. have universal health care systems in place, this may invite questions on why the U.S. remains the only wealthy, industrialized country without such a system,” Harris president George Terhanian told Reuters.

The U.S. model, widely criticized on its combination of private insurance and publicly-funded programs, spends more on health care than any other nation worldwide but ranks low on overall quality of care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

European Health Care

 

World Leaders Enjoy 18-Course Banquet as They Discuss How to Solve Global Food Crisis – Just two days ago, Gordon Brown was urging us all to stop wasting food and combat rising prices and a global shortage of provisions. But yesterday the Prime Minister and other world leaders sat down to an 18-course gastronomic extravaganza at a G8 summit in Japan, which is focusing on the food crisis. The dinner, and a six-course lunch, at the summit of leading industrialised nations on the island of Hokkaido, included delicacies such as caviar, milkfed lamb, sea urchin and tuna, with champagne and wines flown in from Europe and the U.S.

 

FISA Sham Bill is an Attack on the Rule of Law – Senator Feingold took to the Senate floor today and, with the help of Sen. Arlen Specter, challenged his colleagues to wrap their minds around what granting retroactive telecom immunity would mean for the rule of law:

“This is an amazingly inappropriate use of legislative interference, a push by this administration, and Senators should take a real hard look at whether they want to be associated with such an attack on the rule of law.”

Glenn Greenwald has more:

“Once passed by the Senate, the FISA bill will then immediately be sent by the Democratic Congress to an eagerly awaiting and immensely pleased President Bush, who will sign it into law, thereby putting a permanent and happy end to the scandal that began when — in December, 2005 — he was caught spying on the communications of American citizens in violation of the law. …”

 

Republican Candidate Who Talks About Alternative Fuels Rides in a Hummer – On Friday’s Fourth of July parade in Scottsville, VA, Democratic congressional nominee Tom Perriello threw candies at bystanders while riding in a trailer pulled by a bio-diesel fueled tractor. How did Republican incumbent Virgil Goode (he who is petrified of Muslims being elected to Congress and talks about alternative fuels) participate in the same parade? That’s right, he rode in a Hummer H3.

Regards,

Jim