The Llano Ledger

Newsletter Text V159        ©2002, 2001, 2000, 1999  All Rights Reserved
July 15, 2002
 
 

Welcome To The New Llano Ledger Website.

A Heartfelt Thanks To All For Having Followed This Publication From Maxpages To Stormpages And Finally Now, To This New Commercial Site.  Kindly Be Patient As Llanoledger.Com Is Created And This Fledgling Webmaster Not-So-Humbly Climbs The Learning Curve. ... Hopefully, Quickly.



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Index:

Court Draws Line
American Citizen Denied Counsel
Videotaped Beating
"Privacy" Officer
In Bed With Corporate America
Bush Flip Flop
Israeli Calls For 'Jews-Only' Housing
Bush Surgeon General Nominee Skewered
A Robust Welcome
Creation Of A Virus
Texans For Public Justice
Texas Ad Hoc Coalition On Judicial Nominees
OUCH
Ongoing E-Mail Privacy Dialogue With Lycos
Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department
Fraudulent Deletion Of Ledger Websites
Klee's Kaleidoscope
An Honest Business
Unbridled Fear
 


Court Draws Line

Remarkably, a fascist U.S. Supreme Court drew the line as to where government goons can search without a warrant.  Readers will recall "Justices" recently ruled it "constitutional" for police thugs to search bus passengers without telling them they have the right NOT to cooperate.  When they enter a person's home without a warrant, however, they cannot lawfully search.  Stunningly, insightful.  "Justices", without hearing arguments, ruled officers, before breaching the "firm line at the entrance to the house", must demonstrate "exigent circumstances" prior to entering without a warrant.

Bush "Administration" Solicitor General Theodore Olson won all eight cases he argued before the Supreme Court this session.  Not surprising, is it?  After all, the Court conveniently appointed the "President" and is as fascist as Mr. Bush himself.  Of 54 cases, the government lost only 11.  Again, proof positive no separation between the Judiciary and Executive Branch exists.   Adolph and Benito would have been proud.  Sieg Heil.



American Citizen Denied Counsel

A Nazi three-"judge" panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled American citizen Yaser Esam Hamdi is NOT entitled to an attorney.  The fascists sitting on this "court" apparently have never read the Sixth Amendment, -- or could care less.  Glaring evidence the United States has become a fascist police state.  … The Founders must be spinning in their graves.


Videotaped Beating

See the taped beating of a 16-year-old kid at a convenience store in Inglewood, Calif.?  The video shows several officers arresting him.  After secured and cuffed, one of the government goons picked him up like a doll and deliberately shoved his head onto the trunk of the car.  Then took a swing.  … AFTER, the kid was in custody and handcuffed.  In defense, police thugs point to what may or may not have occurred before the victim's head was rammed into the car.

Assuming law enforcement thugs did not lie regarding aggressive behavior of the kid prior to the incident, these outrageous Nazi goons apparently think they have the right to be judge, jury, and executioner.  -- Instead of allowing a jury and judge to decide and impose punishment.  … Again, assuming the kid did in fact violently resist.  A big "if".  Especially in the current climate where "officers" do as they please with virtual impunity.

Any possible aggressive behavior on the part of the kid prior to arrest and cuffing certainly does NOT justify what was seen on tape.  The law enforcement thug should be aggressively prosecuted and incarcerated in the general population of a California prison.  Would certainly receive what was doled out to this kid, no?

Apparently, a normally fascist U.S. Attorney General is not a happy camper.  In response to the tape, John Ashcroft released the following statement July 10:

"The role of law enforcement officers in our society is to protect and serve the American people. The events caught on videotape in Inglewood, California, last weekend trouble me greatly, because they raise clear questions about whether that law enforcement mission was being served properly in Inglewood.

"Shortly after the Department of Justice's discovery of these events in Inglewood on Monday, July 8, the department asked the Civil Rights Unit of the FBI to open an investigation into this matter. The FBI is conducting that investigation, and career attorneys in the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California will review the results of the investigation.

"The Inglewood Police Department has suspended the officer involved in the incident and has launched a formal investigation. The local sheriff's department is investigating as well as the local district attorney's office. The Department of Justice will cooperate with these ongoing investigations.

"In addition, yesterday [Tuesday] personnel from the Department of Justice's Community Relations Service were deployed to Inglewood to provide conflict resolution and violence prevention services to the community there. Community Relations Service personnel already have been in contact with the Inglewood Police Department and community leaders in the area to work with them to relieve any racial tensions and assure the community that appropriate actions will be taken.

"Finally, I spoke with the mayor of Inglewood, Roosevelt Dorn, this morning and relayed to him our concerns and our interest in assisting the community as this matter is under review. During our discussion, I offered to have Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Ralph Boyd go to Inglewood to work with the mayor and the community. The mayor accepted this offer and Ralph is en route to Inglewood today. Ralph has a demonstrated track record in helping resolve situations involving allegations of police misconduct, perhaps most notably when Ralph worked extensively with the city of Cincinnati last year in reaching resolution to improve policing in Cincinnati following riots in 2001."


"Privacy" Officer

In token response to privacy concerns raised by legislators, the Bush "Administration" indicated willingness to include a "privacy officer" to ensure privacy would not be eviscerated by the proposed Security Department.  The office would have no teeth and be less than meaningless, -- an illusion of privacy protection fascists in government could point to in defense of outrageously abusive, intrusive tactics.  Ominously, the "Administration" is unwilling to rule out a national identification card.  Should that ever be imposed, time for revolution.



In Bed With Corporate America

Proof positive the "President" is no more than a shill for Corporate America, Ole' George "The Tush" Bush announced in a speech on Wall Street July 9 his Corporate Fraud Task Force, created by Executive Order, will be a "financial crimes SWAT team."  The "Chief Executive" lied, -- or at least seriously misled the people.  The Task Force has no investigative or prosecutorial power. Has no new funding or staffing.  Interesting, no?

Apparently, hypocrisy emanating from Mr. Bush is boundless.  The "Chief Executive" presently calls for barring of loans to management personnel from corporations, -- while conveniently accepting the same when in business himself.  Ole' George received sweetheart loans from Harken Energy Corp. amounting to $180,375 in 1986 and 1987.  Interest set at 5%, -- compared to the 7.5% prime at the time.  Mr. Bush was also given eight years to repay the principal.

He used the funds to purchase 105,000 shares of Harken.  Harken conveniently bought back the shares in 1993, canceling the debt and giving Ole' George "The Tush" options on 42,503 additional shares.  Mr. Bush never exercised those options and left Harken later that year.  This, in addition to a deal George W. executed in 1990.  He sold 212,000 shares of Harken at that time to an unnamed buyer who conveniently sought him out, at a price of $848,000.

The jackass currently occupying the White House used these funds to repay a $500,000 loan used to finance purchase of a share of the Texas Rangers.  The "President's" financial interest in the Rangers secured his personal fortune and launched his political career.  Problem is, Ole' George never bothered to immediately report the sale of Harken stock as required by law.  Wound up waiting 34 weeks longer than stipulated by regulations.  Still can't or won't explain why.

As reported as well in an earlier edition of this publication, SEC had also supposedly "investigated" another Harken deal gone bad fiasco that occurred while Bush was on the Harken board of directors and audit committee in 1989.  Seems Harken executives improperly used corporate funds to purchase a Harken subsidiary and finagled the books to make cash flow look better than it actually was.  SEC forced an adjustment in the books, but took no action against George W., -- in this "investigation" or in another separate one in 1990 involving insider trading.  … Daddy Bush was President at the time.

In a press conference earlier this week, the "President" of the United States lamely, disingenuously, and falsely claimed: "In the corporate world, sometimes things aren't exactly black and white when it comes to accounting procedures."  … Other than personal enrichment and abuse of power, the only times things are NOT conveniently black and white to a Right Wing fascist.   Indeed, the mark of Nazism. Working definition of fascism for new readers? An abusive and dangerous oligarchy based on a pernicious blend of government, big business, and religion. ... A boot-heel cynically placed on the throat of the masses, justified in principle by perversion and bastardization of religion.

Amazing how Republicans can distort reality and conveniently turn things inside out and upside down.  Texas Republican Sen. Phil Gramm disingenuously and falsely blamed outrageous executive management greed on the Clinton Administration and its 1993 tax increase.  This glaringly Aryan arrogant buffoon argued the increase "gratuitously" restricted deductibility of executives' salaries to a measly $1million.  This, in his convoluted thinking, justified the "massive use of stock options and loans."

… Hey, Phil Baby?  Who in hell is WORTH a million bucks a year in salary, you jackass?  -- Never mind tens of millions more as some executives demand.  Who the hell EARNS that kind of money?  They LOOT it, you moron.  -- While consumers and employees on the bottom of the food chain ultimately pay for it and are routinely denied in return a livable wage by greedy Republican shills like you, sir.  … As you laugh your financially portly ass off all the way to the bank.


Bush Flip Flop

Once again the jackass occupying the White House reversed himself and again sanctioned Israeli occupation of the West Bank in a recent press conference: "I would hope that everybody got the message that we all have responsibilities to fight off terrorist attacks."  … More tacit approval of Israeli barbaric behavior and abuse of Palestinians.  The "President's" flip flop assures continuation of terror.  Too bad.


Israeli Calls For 'Jews-Only' Housing

Time to take another careful look at Israeli government.  The operant word being "government", -- not the people.  Sadly, big difference.  There and here.  -- Despite the fact our nation is a republic and Israel's, a parliamentary system.  Supposed to be democratic in principle, however.  … Although neither are pure democracies.  For good reason.  Pure democracies often result in abusive mob rule.  Elected officials usually serve as a buffer.  Have not done so in either country recently, however.

After all, our elected officials passed an outrageously unconstitutional "Patriot" Act and silently and gutlessly stood by as the jackass occupying the White House further eviscerated the Constitution with unconstitutional Executive Orders.  Similarly in Israel, elected officials have backed a brutal, barbaric Prime Minister who has blood on his hands from years of warfare and terrorism conducted by the Israeli government itself.  In alleged defense of the Israeli state.  … May have been true decades ago.  Certainly not, -- since 1967.  Not, by a long shot.

Sadly and outrageously, supporters of Israel equate strong criticism of Israeli officials and military goons with anti-Semitism.  That dog 'don't' hunt.  Certainly, the only defense shills of barbaric Israeli behavior seem to have.  Can't intellectually argue their position without resorting to the anti-Semitism "race card".  Many Israelis themselves question the barbarism and policies of their government.  -- And fully understand relentless criticism is directed only at behavior of officials and military personnel.  Not the citizenry itself.

Arabs have derisively accused Israeli officials of racism in their pursuit of a "Zionist" state.  With good reason.  Israel is a theocracy, and has wantonly blended religion and government.  Glaring recent case in point?  Prime Minister Sharon has supported pending legislation allowing Israeli Jews to bar Israeli Arabs from living in some of "their" communities.  By any unadulterated definition of racism, this is certainly an outrageous example.  Happily, support of this in Israel is not widespread.  Would be an aggressively stupid move if implemented.  Could even lead to Israel imploding from within.

Heroically, Israeli Cabinet Minister Dan Meridor courageously declared: "Israel is the state of the Jewish people, but because it is a Jewish state it must not practice against its non-Jewish citizens the kind of discrimination to which Jews were subjected in the Diaspora."  Equally heroically, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres assured citizens the Labor Party will "fight with all its power against the racist decision."  Mr. Peres and the Labor Party are prepared to quit the government if necessary, meaning the current government coalition would be dissolved leading to elections.

Chillingly, not all officials are as moderate as Meridor and Peres. Communications Minister Reuven Rivlin, a member of the radical Likud, strongly asserted:  "If Zionism is racism, then we are all in trouble.  We are trying to convince the whole world there is no gap between Judaism and democracy, but when there is a conflict, everyone has to remember there is only one Jewish state. We have to keep it secure (for its) future. ... This is the state for the Jewish people, not the state for all its citizens. That has to be obvious."

Readers, do you fully understand the significance of the last statement?  The danger?  It is exactly what happens in a theocracy.  Those not belonging to government sanctioned "religion" are deprived rights.  Precisely why imposition of a "Christian" theocracy in the United States would be so disastrous.  Exactly why the Founders created the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause requiring church-state separation.


Bush Surgeon General Nominee Skewered

Although Democrats will apparently put up no fight, critics have been merciless of their criticism of Bush surgeon general nominee Dr. Richard H. Carmona.  Ole' Dr. Dick certainly displays with gusto cowboy qualities and a colorful history that would appeal to the current occupant of the White House.  Mr. Carmona has virtually no experience in public health, however, and seems to have repeated problems getting along with hospital management.  The lack of experience is a problem.  Not getting along with management may be an asset.  … Especially after this writer's experience with Llano Memorial Healthcare System management over the last three and a half years this publication has been in existence.

Mr. Carmona, as a former law enforcement officer, killed a suspect.  Although this writer has strongly and continuously criticized law enforcement goons over the years, the killing of a suspect should not automatically disqualify him.  The killing may have been justified.  The operant word being "justified".  Should be carefully looked into by Democrats before the nomination is voted on.  Of equal concern is the doctor's apparent failure twice to pass examinations to be certified as a surgeon.

Seems Mr. Carmona may have also included erroneous data in an application for certification as an ER physician.  Senators should certainly aggressively look into Carmona's past.  Apparently, Democrats will offer no resistance to this nominee, considering other nominations far more important and worthy of fighting.  Too bad.  Every nomination, no matter the president, should be carefully scrutinized and fought if deemed unworthy on basis of merit.  Political expediency, however, takes precedence to principle.  … So what else is new?



A Robust Welcome

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson was not well-received at the 14th International AIDS Conference July 9.  Tough, isn't it?  Thompson was roundly and mercilessly heckled during his address.  While the United States has indeed severely neglected this healthcare crisis for years, -- long before the current "Administration" in fact, Thompson should have been allowed to speak.  Could have been pointedly questioned at the end, -- if indeed the conference was run like most.  Speech should never be muzzled.  Just aggressively and peacefully challenged when opportune.  If there was no opportunity afterwards offered critics, then heckling would have been more easily understood by this writer.  Critics seem to forget one can effectively attack a position or viewpoint only AFTER it has been completely expressed by the holder.



Creation Of A Virus

Although the very simplest and most rudimentary form of life, biochemists at University of New York at Stony Brook have successfully created a synthetic polio virus from scratch.  Extraordinarily frightening and ripe for misuse, no?  Surprised the Religious Right has remained silent regarding the issue.  … Maybe they're as stunned as the rest of us.  -- Man-made creation of life.  Who'd a' 'thunk' it would have come so soon?



Texans For Public Justice

News Release

Texas Ad Hoc Coalition on Judicial Nominees *** P.O. Box 684602, Austin, TX 78768
For Immediately Release:
Tuesday, July 9, 2002  Contact: Sarah Wheat, 512-462-1661
Craig McDonald, 512-472-9770
Texas Groups Announce Opposition to Owen
Appointment to Federal Appeals Bench
Broad Coalition Says Owen is a “Conservative Activist” and “Out of the Mainstream”

Austin, TX: A broad coalition of civil rights, women’s rights, labor, reproductive rights, and consumer organizations today announced that they will actively oppose President Bush’s appointment of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

“In seven years on the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Owen has proven herself to be an ultra-conservative activist whose opinions not only stray well beyond the American mainstream, but even run far to the right of the conservative majority of her own court,” said Kae McLaughlin, Executive Director of Texas Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League (TARAL). “The Fifth Circuit is in need of moderate judges who will represent and protect mainstream Texans. Priscilla Owen is not a mainstream jurist. Owen is a result-oriented, conservative activist whose nomination should be rejected.”

Owen, who worked as an oil and gas attorney at the firm of Andrews & Kurth before her 1994 election to the Texas Supreme Court, was nominated by President Bush last year to fill a vacancy on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Owen’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to take place this summer, perhaps in the coming several weeks.

According to the groups, Justice Owen’s rulings often favor the interests of corporate Texas or government at the expense of ordinary Texans. Justice Owen’s opinions are outside the mainstream of Texas jurisprudence in the areas of discrimination and employee rights, reproductive rights, sexual harassment, public information rights, environmental protection and consumer and citizen rights.

“As a member of the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Owen has established a record of active opposition to reproductive and women’s rights,” said Danielle Tierney, Planned Parenthood spokesperson. “If approved for a lifetime appointment to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Owen’s judicial activism could roll back rights across the state and throughout the region.”

"Justice Owen has a history defying Texas legal tradition and overturning well-settled precedent," said James C. Harrington, Director of the Texas Civil Rights Project. "She continually sets herself up against the will of the people in her anti-jury opinions. In a Circuit that already has a penchant for reversing rulings favorable to plaintiffs in civil rights cases, especially those involving the Americans with Disabilities Act, the appointment of Justice Owen, with her own penchant for furthering her personal political agenda, will be a disastrous addition to this Court."

“Judge Owen has gone out of her way to seek to undermine the legal rights of working families in Texas,” said Joe Gunn, President, Texas AFL-CIO. “We will vigorously oppose her confirmation to a position that would expand her influence across the south and across the country.”

“Justice Owen is an activist judge who has taken every opportunity to help bend, twist and contort the law to reach her desired outcome,” said Dan Lambe, Executive Director of Texas Watch. “At a time when consumers, investors and workers need protections from the growing amount of deception and fraud in corporate America you could not pick a worse candidate for the Federal bench than Justice Owen.”

“The Fifth Circuit is especially hostile to the rights of individuals issuing some of the most extreme civil rights rulings in the country,” said Craig McDonald, director of Texans for Public Justice. “The Fifth Circuit is in desperate need of balance. Justice Owen does not offer the needed balance.”

Earlier this year, the Judiciary Committee rejected a Bush nominee, Charles Pickering, and approved another, Edith Brown Clement, to serve on the Fifth Circuit. During the Clinton Administration, the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee blocked hearings of three Fifth Circuit nominees, including two Texas Latinos, Jorge Rangel of Corpus Christi and Enrique Moreno of El Paso.

Members of the coalition announced they will travel to Washington, DC in the near future to present their case against Owen’s nomination to the members and staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee and to be present for Owen’s confirmation hearing.

The Texas organizations opposing Owen’s nomination include:

American Association of University Women of Texas
Gray Panthers of Texas
Greater Dallas Coalition for Reproductive Freedom
Planned Parenthood of South Texas
Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region
Planned Parenthood Association of Lubbock
Planned Parenthood of San Antonio & South Central Texas
National Council of Jewish Women, Texas
National Organization for Women, Texas Chapter
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Texas
Texas Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (TARAL)
Texas AFL-CIO
Texas Civil Rights Project
Texas Freedom Network
Texans for Public Justice
Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches
Texas Watch
Texas Women's Political Caucus
Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas

# # #
Texans for Public Justice is a non-partisan research and advocacy organization that works for
corporate and political accountability on behalf of Texas consumers.



Texas Ad Hoc Coalition On Judicial Nominees

Texas Ad Hoc Coalition on Judicial Nominees

P.O. Box 684602, Austin, Texas 78768
July 9, 2002
Honorable Patrick Leahy
Chairman, United States Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Leahy:

We, the undersigned Texas organizations, are writing to express grave concerns about the nomination of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We believe that Justice Owen’s record of conservative judicial activism on the Texas Supreme Court makes her an inappropriate candidate for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.

In seven years on the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Owen has proven herself to be an conservative whose opinions not only stray well beyond the American mainstream but even run far to the right of the conservative majority of her own court. With the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court being near the ideological center in 1998, Justice Owen and Nathan Hecht have presented themselves as an isolated bloc of ultra-conservative dissenters. Justice Owen’s dissents, often sharply criticized by her fellow jurists, came nearly twice as often as the average of all the court’s remaining justices.

Justice Owen’s activism betrays a judicial philosophy at odds with President Bush’s stated goal of nominating judges who will interpret rather than write the law. Even White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales leveled sharp rebukes of Owen’s result-oriented activism when he served with her on Texas’ High Court.

Justice Owen’s rulings are all the more troubling given that they often favor the interests of corporate Texas or government at the expense of ordinary Texans. Justice Owen’s opinions are outside the mainstream of Texas jurisprudence in the areas of discrimination and employee rights, reproductive rights, sexual harassment, public information rights, environmental protection and consumer and citizen rights.

The U.S. Senate has the Constitutional responsibility to carefully review each judicial nominee. We believe that on careful examination, Justice Owen is an inappropriate nominee for this important lifetime position in the federal courts. We urge you to oppose Owen’s nomination and support the confirmation of a moderate nominee who will not roll back our rights.

Sincerely,

American Association of University Women of Texas
P.O. Box 141473
Austin, TX 78714

Gray Panthers of Texas
3710 Cedar Street
Austin, TX 78705

National Council of Jewish Women, Texas
6102 Queensloch
Houston, TX 77096

National Organization for Women, Texas
5911 Shoal Creek Blvd.
Austin, TX 78757

Planned Parenthood of San Antonio & South Central Texas
104 Babcock Road
San Antonio, TX 78201

Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region
707 Rio Grande Street
Austin, Texas 78701

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
P.O. Box 3934
Austin, TX 78764-3934

Texas Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (TARAL)
905 W. Oltorf St.
Austin, TX 78704

Texas AFL-CIO
1106 Lavaca
Austin, TX 78701

Texas Civil Rights Project
2212 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Austin, TX 78702

Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches
316 W. 12th Street, Suite 307
Austin, TX 78701

Texans for Public Justice
609 W. 18th Street, Suite E
Austin, TX 78701

Texas Watch
1300 Guadalupe, Suite 108
Austin, TX 78701

Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas (WHFPT)
P.O. Box 3868
Austin, TX 78764



OUCH

Date:  Tue, 09 Jul 2002 18:47:17 -0400
From:  ouch-admin@ouch.org [add to address book] [add to spam block list]
Subject:  OUCH! (#100--And We're Proud of It!)
To:  ouch@ouch.org
Reply To:  ouch-reply@ouch.org
 

  Text Size:  smalldefaultlargeextra large
 
 

------------------------------------------>$$$$$<-----------------------------------------
              OUCH! A Regular Bulletin on How Money in Politics Hurts You
 #100                                     Public Campaign                       July 9, 2002
------------------------------------------>$$$$$<-----------------------------------------
CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX: WE’RE 100!

· Size of fine Merrill Lynch, contributor of more than $2.3 million to federal candidates and parties since 1999, agreed to pay to settle charges of systematically misleading investors: $100 million

· Amount Merrill Lynch gave to the Bush-Cheney 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee: $100,000

· Number of $100,000 contributors to the Bush-Cheney 2001 Presidential Inaugural Committee: 225

· Number of Bush “Pioneers,” individuals who raised at least $100,000 for his 2000 campaign: 214

· Amount of money George W. Bush raised from individual donors in 1999 and 2000 as a candidate for president: $101 million

· Amount of money President Bush and Vice President Cheney have raised for the Republican Party and its candidates since January 1, 2002: $100 million

· Amount contributed by WorldCom in 1999 towards the establishment of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute at the University of Mississippi: $100 to the third ($1 million)
  [Just a few weeks before this donation, reports the Center for Responsive Politics, Lott appointed a representative of the company to serve on a panel weighing whether taxes should be charged on Internet purchases—a major issue for WorldCom at the time since the company carried much of the Internet’s traffic on its fiber optic backbone.]

· Average amount given by the Big Five accounting firms and their industry lobby, from 1989-2001, to the 46 Senators and Congressmen who wrote the SEC in 2000, successfully preventing it from cracking down on the industry: $93,000

· Odds of being audited by the Internal Revenue Service in 2001 if a taxpayer made over $100,000 a year: .69 out of 100

· Odds of same taxpayer being audited thirteen years ago: 11.41 out of 100

· Chances that a taxpayer making under $25,000 is more likely to be audited in 2001 than one making over $100,000: 1.2 to 1

· Chances that a business making under $25,000 in profits was more likely to be audited than a business making over $100,000: 2.3 to 1

· Percentage of large contributors to congressional campaigns who make over $100,000 a year: 81 out of 100

· Number of U.S. Senators that are worth $1 million or more: at least 40 out of 100

· Odds of a U.S. House incumbent winning election in 2000 if their opponent spent less than $100,000: 100%

· Number of candidates running with 100% full public financing in Maine and Arizona: 353

· Number of OUCHes published by Public Campaign since 1997: 100

And one bonus fact, even though it doesn’t involve the number 100:
· Pages where two of our Corruption Perception Indexes are reprinted in Kevin Phillips’ new best-seller, Wealth and Democracy: pp. 327-328.

For more information (and for detailed sourcing on these statistics) go to www.publicampaign.org.
--------------------------------->$$$$$<------------------------------------
OUCH! is a regular e-mail bulletin on how private money in politics hurts average citizens, published by Public Campaign, a non-partisan, non-profit organization devoted to comprehensive campaign finance reform. Every day, we pay more as consumers and taxpayers for special interest subsidies and boondoggles because of our system of privately financed elections. It's time for a change.

Want to take action? Go to HowDareThey.org to send an instant message to your representatives in Congress. And help spread the word! Send copies of this message to your friends and join the growing movement for real campaign finance reform. If you would like to add yourself to the OUCH! listserv, send an e-mail reading ‘subscribe’ to ouch-request@ouch.org or go to http://www.ouch.org/mailman/listinfo/ouch.

Want more info about Public Campaign? Visit www.publicampaign.org or write to info@publicampaign.org. You can also help support our work by making a credit card contribution on our website. This bulletin may be reposted to newsgroups as long as it is printed in its entirety.



Ongoing E-Mail Privacy Dialogue With Lycos

Consider the following ongoing e-mail exchange with Lycos regarding newly requested user information.  Sadly and cowardly, Internet companies are falling all over themselves providing law enforcement customer data requested, -- often without a warrant.  Precisely why this writer believes Lycos may be demanding new information at behest of their masters in government:

Date:  Sat, 13 Jul 2002 20:42:06 -0500
From:  "Tim Chorney" <llanoledger@lycos.com> [add to address book] [add to spam block list]
Subject:  Re: Lycos Mail: Threats/Harassment        (KMM14455889V45504L0KM)
Organization:  Lycos Mail  (http://www.mail.lycos.com:80)
To:  "support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com" <support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com>
Reply To:  llanoledger@lycos.com

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Jill,

Thanks for the response and further clarification of the privacy
issue.  You have asserted no other agencies are forcing the change
in data required.  That's good. The "Threats/Harassment box was
checked in the original query as a default because none of the options
accurately described the nature of the complaint.  Regardless, it's
not a matter of "some kind of threat" to me personally.  It is the
threat to civil liberties and privacy enacted in the "Patriot" Act
and additional equally unconstitutional Executive Orders signed
by the "President" since 9/11 driving this email exchange.  Wanted
to clarify and make sure the request for additional information
was not a consequence of pressure applied by law enforcement.  ...
As has happened in other Internet companies.  You claim it hasn't,
and I am indeed gratified.  Surprised, though, you suggest to supply
false information if I so choose.  -- False information usually
results in cancellation of services by most companies.  Have
never operated underhandedly and don't intend to start now.  Regardless,
thanks for your patience and final resolution of the matter.

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://www.llanoledger.com
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
 

On Tue, 09 Jul 2002 13:18:06
 support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com wrote:
>Hello Tim,
>
>Thank you for contacting Lycos Mail, a Lycos Network Property.
>We are just updating our data base for all Lycos accounts so that they
>have the same info.  Some services have always required this kind of
>information and some have not.  This way everything is consistent across
>all of our services. We do not sell your data, nor are there any
>agencies forcing us to do this.  You are free to enter what ever
>information you want, it doesn't have to be real if you feel there is
>some kind of threat to you.  The only thing I would advise is that if
>you choose to enter false data that you remember it in case you need to
>retrieve your password.  We use this to identify the account and if you
>give the wrong info then you will not be able to get the password.
>
>If there is anything else that I can do for you, please let me know.
>
>Jill
>Lycos Mail Product Support Specialist
>http://mail.lycos.com
 

Date:  Tue, 25 Jun 2002 18:52:27 -0500
From:  "Tim Chorney" <llanoledger@lycos.com> [add to address book] [add to spam block list]
Subject:  Re: Lycos Mail: Threats/Harassment      (KMM14258398V25044L0KM)
Organization:  Lycos Mail  (http://www.mail.lycos.com:80)
To:  "support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com" <support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com>
Reply To:  llanoledger@lycos.com
 

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Jill,

You still have not responsively answered the original complaint.
 To date, you have given no reason for now requiring complete mailing
address information. -- Information that was not previously required.
 Prior to this time, a zip code was more than sufficiently specific
for demographic purposes.  Is Lycos now being pressured by law enforcement,
since passage of the Patriot Act, to keep more complete records?

The TRUSTe Privacy Program means nothing if Lycos is indeed succumbing
to pressure from law enforcement.  -- Many Internet companies, despite
strong privacy policies, are tripping all over themselves providing
police agencies requested information.  Much of it without a warrant.
 Some of it only on a promise a warrant will be forthcoming.  What
is current Lycos policy regarding this issue?  Having already read
your privacy policy, it does not specifically address this question.

Kindly understand our exchange of messages is being published in
The Llano Ledger.  It is highly indicative to readers of an unwillingness
of your corporation to honestly and candidly respond to a bona fide
request for specific information regarding company privacy policy.

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://www.llanoledger.com
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
 
 

On Tue, 25 Jun 2002 10:15:07
 support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com wrote:
>Hello Tim,
>
>Thank you for contacting Lycos Mail, a Lycos Network Property.

>http://info.lycos.com/privacy/privacy.asp
>
>Lycos is a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program. TRUSTe is an
>independent, non-profit organization with a mission to build trust and
>confidence in the Internet by promoting the principles of disclosure and
>informed consent. Because Lycos wants to demonstrate its commitment to
>your privacy, we have agreed to disclose our information practices and
>have our privacy practices reviewed and audited for compliance by
>TRUSTe.
>Any personally identifiable information you share with Lycos when
>registering for Products and Services at any of our Network sites is
>maintained and accessible only by Lycos unless specifically stated
>otherwise. Lycos requests information from its users so that users can
>enjoy customized experiences across the Lycos Network, including
>personalization services, interactive communications, online games and
>much more. Most of these Products and Services are available to you at
>no cost, and Lycos displays advertisements so we can continue to provide
>great content and services free of charge. We can also better prepare
>future content based on your interests.
>
>If there is anything else that I can do for you, please let me know.
>
>Jill
>Lycos Mail Product Support Specialist
>http://mail.lycos.com
>
>-------------------
>
>2,000,000,000 Web Pages -- you only need 1...
>
>Save time using My Lycos http://my.lycos.com
>
>-------------------
>
>Original Message Follows:
>-------------------------
>
>Jill,
>
>Lycos has had no need for a specific mailing address up until this time.
>None.  No legitimate purpose for changing that policy was articulated at
>the time it was recently demanded as a condition for continued use of
>the account.  Nor was any reason given in any of the correspondence to
>date.
>
>Software is designed for specific reasons.  Information is asked for
>equally specific reasons.  To say that it is now required by your
>software does not answer the original complaint.  It simply says the
>complete address is now required because it is now required.  A circular
>argument.
>
>My concern with the change in policy is the continued aggressiveness of
>law enforcement after 9/11 and enactment of an egregiously
>unconstitutional "Patriot" Act.  There has been widespread reporting
>that Internet companies such as Lycos, Yahoo, etc. are rolling over to
>all requests made by law enforcement for information on users.  Even
>requests made without warrants. Since you have provided no reasonable
>explanation as to why full mail addresses are now required, red flags
>have gone up.
>
>Tim Chorney, Publisher
>The Llano Ledger
>http://www.llanoledger.com
>P.O. Box 997
>Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
>
>
>
>On Fri, 21 Jun 2002 11:30:57
> support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com wrote:
>>Hello Tim,
>>
>>Thank you for contacting Lycos Mail, a Lycos Network Property.
>>
>>We do not share your info. Please check out the privacy policy
at:
>>http://info.lycos.com/privacy/privacy.asp#collect
>>
>>Any personally identifiable information you share with Lycos when
>>registering for Products and Services at any of our Network sites is
>>maintained and accessible only by Lycos unless specifically stated
>>otherwise. Lycos requests information from its users so that users can
>>enjoy customized experiences across the Lycos Network, including
>>personalization services, interactive communications, online games and
>>much more. Most of these Products and Services are available to you at
>>no cost, and Lycos displays advertisements so we can continue to
>>provide
>>great content and services free of charge. We can also better prepare
>>future content based on your interests.
>>
>>If there is anything else that I can do for you, please let me know.
>>
>>Jill
>>Lycos Mail Product Support Specialist
>>http://mail.lycos.com
>>
>>
>>-------------------
>>
>>2,000,000,000 Web Pages -- you only need 1...
>>
>>Save time using My Lycos http://my.lycos.com
>>
>>-------------------
>>
>>Original Message Follows:
>>-------------------------
>>
>>Your answer was not responsive to the complaint.
>>
>>Tim Chorney, Publisher
>>The Llano Ledger
>>http://www.llanoledger.com
>>P.O. Box 997
>>Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>On Thu, 20 Jun 2002 16:24:08
>> support_lycos_mail@lycos-inc.com wrote:
>>>Hello,
>>>
>>>Thank you for contacting Terra Lycos.
>>>
>>>Due to changes within our customer service database, we now require
>you
>>
>>>to fill in all fields on the registration page. You may be prompted to
>
>>>change or edit your personal information upon log in, despite having
>>>entered that information previously.
>>>
>>>Please note that your account remains fully in tact and that no other
>>>changes to it have been made.
>>>
>>>Sincerely,
>>>
>>>Veronnica
>>>Product Support Team
>>>Lycos, Inc.
>>>
>>>
>>>Original Message Follows:
>>>-------------------------
>>>
>>>Name: llanoledger
>>>Address: llanoledger@lycos.com
>>>Subject: Lycos Mail
>>>Type of Abuse: Threats/Harassment
>>>Service: Report Abuse
>>>Previous_Page =
>>>Browser & Platform =
>>>IP information =
>>>Date/Time: 6/19/2002 19:31
>>>Comments:
>>>
>>>It is outrageous users are now required to supply
>>>specific mailing address information in addition
>>>to a zip code. What will you do with this
>>>information?  Supply it to advertisers?  Ensure
>>>more junkmail?  More pointedly, will it be shared
>>>with government goons seeking access to user
>>>information without a warrant?
>>>
>>>Tim Chorney



Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 825
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609

Dear Fire Department Supporter,

Generous support of your Fire Department assures that we are there when you need us with the right equipment and training.  We all think of our Fire Department when we think of fire, but your Department is also equipped to provide emergency support in other areas ranging from responding to hazardous material spills to removal of the injured in auto accidents.  A recent training exercise used the 'jaws of life' to provide entry to a severely damaged vehicle.

Your Fire Department is currently staffed by 14 volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  These members have jobs, family lives, social and civic responsibilities, and yet they manage to quickly respond to calls for aid regardless of time, day or night.  Your Firefighters need safe and effective equipment and training to continue to meet the expanding needs of our community.  Community population has increased by more than 54% between 1990 and 2000, and by another 16% between 2000 and 2002.

Through your support, and grant funding from LCRA, we have replaced our 1967 Pumper Truck with a much more capable 1987 Pierce Pumper.  We have also modified two surplus military vehicles to maintain and expand our brush truck inventory.  While we have upgraded our main Tanker in the last few years, our smaller 1969 Tanker is not reliable and requires replacement.

Our current planning includes replacing the old tanker, upgrading and expanding our breathing apparatus (for use in structure firefighting), and the addition of defibrillator capability.  Once again, we are requesting your assistance in meeting the needs of your Fire Department.  As always, we appreciate your contributions!

JUST THINK!  What if you had a fire and no one came?  We also have need of a few good people who are willing to help out their community.  We meet the first & third Thursdays of each month at 7:00 PM at the Fire Barn on Hwy 261.

FIRE DEPARTMENT BUILDING BURGLARIZED

Sometime between 10 PM Tuesday night, 5/21/02 and Thursday, 2 PM, 5/23/02 the fire station was broken into and over $4000 of equipment was taken.  If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Buchanan Fire Department, 793-9085 or contact the Sheriff's office in Llano.

CALL 911 IN AN EMERGENCY

MAKE TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO:

BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 825
BUCHANAN DAM, TEXAS 78609

$5.00___$10.00___$25.00___OTHER $____

NAME:_______________________________

ADDRESS:____________________________

CITY:________________________________

STATE____________  ZIP:______________

*NOTE:  IF GIFT IS MADE AS A MEMORIAL, PLEASE INCLUDE DETAILS FOR APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BUCHANAN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT



Fraudulent Deletion Of Ledger Websites

A letter To Burnet County Sheriff Joe Pollock has been posted recently.  Access it by clicking here.

As promised, the letter of complaint sent to Burnet County Judge Martin McLean, regarding fraudulent Ledger Maxpages and Stormpages site deletions originating from the Burnet County Library System and resulting in the ejection of this writer from library computers, has finally been posted.  Readers are reminded this is not the end of the matter.  Just the beginning.  For ongoing coverage of the criminal attacks as well as the letter to the Judge sent in response, click here.



Klee's Kaleidoscope

Be sure to click on Klee's Kaleidoscope for Harvey Klee's latest edition.  This publication is a forum for a diversity of viewpoints. All are encouraged to submit material.



An Honest Business

A rare commodity, honest businesses need a plug.  Although this publication receives no financial remuneration or funding of any kind from Mike's Transmission, this writer has personally known the owner of this new business quite some time and has enormous respect for his integrity.  Mike has had years of experience working on transmissions, -- foreign and domestic, standard and automatic.  This guy has heart and takes enormous pride in his work.  Give him a call at 915-423-1694.  The business is in the process of being launched.  If you like the quality of service, let me know.  Better yet, ask him to send a donation to the Ledger.



Unbridled Fear

As strongly asserted in the last 63 editions, gut-wrenching fear generated by the Narcotics Enforcement Team is quite impressive. After all, these Nazi stormtroopers not only outrageously intimidate defendants and their gutless attorneys, but even innocent third parties who have suffered at their corrupt and abusive hands.

Recently, a source came forward with allegations regarding the death of a loved one under exceptionally curious circumstances. Sadly, the survivor got cold feet.

Most pointedly and quite publicly, how in hell do you expect these abuses to end if you don't have the guts to stand up and expose them to the light of day?

Every time a source cowardly runs the other way, the corrupt and abusive sons of bitches win. Every g-ddamned time. Worse yet, another nail is driven into the coffin of liberty.

If you don't have the courage to stand up and do the right thing, why should this writer continue to place himself in physical and legal jeopardy trying to expose the outrageous corruption and abuse?

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
 

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Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609