AN INVITATION FOR PHILLY AREA KOSSACKS

USW Local 10-1 is proud to present "An Evening With Charles Kernaghan."  Charles who?  Charles Kernaghan.  Better known simply as Charlie.  Or, if you prefer, The Man Who Made Kathie Lee Cry.  Charlie Kernaghan is internationally known (and internationally despised) as the Executive Director of the National Labor Committee.

Wednesday August 13, 2008 -- 6 PM
Chichester Avenue, Linwood, PA

This is an open invitation for all Kossacks.

more after the jump...

AN INVITATION FOR PHILLY AREA KOSSACKS

USW Local 10-1 is proud to present "An Evening With Charles Kernaghan."  Charles who?  Charles Kernaghan.  Better known simply as Charlie.  Or, if you prefer, The Man Who Made Kathie Lee Cry.  Charlie Kernaghan is internationally known (and internationally despised) as the Executive Director of the National Labor Committee.

Wednesday August 13, 2008 -- 6 PM
Chichester Avenue, Linwood, PA

This is an open invitation for all Kossacks.

more after the jump...

From the always reliable Juan Cole, comes more ominous signs for our troops in Iraq.

'I sell foodstuffs. Sometimes the Occupying Powers or their associates come to my establishment. May I sell them foodstuffs?'

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani replied:

'Selling foodstuffs to the Occupying Powers is not permitted.'

More after the jump...

Howie Kurtz has an interesting front-page article in today's WaPo detailing BillO's repeated attacks on NBC parent company, GE, and its CEO, Jeffrey Immelt.  According to Howie, and not exactly "breaking" news, it's all an orchestrated payback for KO's treatment of "Fox Noise" and the beloved Loofah-man.

more after the jump...

According to the UK's Daily Telegraph, senior advisors in the Clinton campaign are in "a state of panic" and claim that Senator Clinton will pressure party leaders for a deal if she manages to win Texas and Ohio on March 4.

Hillary Clinton's advisers 'in a state of panic'
By Tim Shipman in Washington and Philip Sherwell in Chicago
Last Updated: 11:53am GMT 10/02/2008

Hillary Clinton's most senior advisers are in a state of "panic" about her presidential prospects and are plotting to enlist Democrat leaders in Congress to thwart her rival Barack Obama's ambitions.

The Clinton camp is braced for Mr Obama to win a series of primary elections over the next three weeks, which they fear could hand the Illinois senator unstoppable momentum in the race for the White House.

I'm not too familiar with the British press or these writers, so I don't know how much stock to put in the article, but I found it interesting.

more after jump...

Getting your head kicked in in one of the candidate bashing diaries?  Ready for some respite?  Come on in and talk a little playoff football!

Yesterday's action saw the Green Bay Packers' Ryan Grant bounce back from two(!) fumbles in the first minute of the game to rush for over 200 yards (a Green Bay playoff record) and 3 TD's (another Green Bay playoff record), while ageless Brett Favre threw for another 3 TD's as the Packers routed the Seahawks, 42-20 in snowy Lambeau Field.

Last night, the undefeated Patriots continued their march to perfection by dismissing the Jaguars, 31-20, in New England.

Previews of today's games and playoff poll after the jump...

Crucifixes Made Under Horrific Sweatshop Conditions In China, Linked to St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Church in New York, And Nationally to the $4.63 Billion Association for Christian Retail.

At a press conference today in front of Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee, released a 73 page report documenting the brutal sweatshop conditions under which crucifixes are made for Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity Church and the Association for Christian Retail at the Junxingye factory in Southern China.

Author's Note: You may remember Charles Kernaghan as the man who exposed the fact that Kathy Lee Gifford's clothing line was created in sweatshop conditions.  I've met him several times and am always left in complete awe.

more after the jump...

Attention Kossacks!  Looking for work?  Need a full-time gig for a few years with great pay and benefits?  Can you speak Arabic?  Are you willing to set aside any of those pesky scruples or morals you may have picked up somewhere along the way?  Well, today's your lucky day!  Your government wants to pay you -- that's right, YOU! -- big bucks to assist those struggling multi-national oil companies to steal the wealth of the Iraqi people right out from under their feet... literally!

details after the jump...

The opposition of the Iraqi people to the Hydrocarbon Law, also known as the Iraqi Oil Law, has been ratcheted up another notch today.  The Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions joined with the Iraqi Anti-Oil Law Front for a press conference in Basra to deliver a message to the Bush administartion Iraqi parliament.  The message?  "Pass the Oil Law and we shut down the oil piepline!"  Anyone want to bet how long would it last before they're referred to as insurgents?

more after the jump...

In an move that should surprise exactly... well... nobody, the United Steelworkers announced their endorsement of John Edwards for President today.

more after the jump...

Robert Murray, owner of the Crandall Canyon mine, announced yesterday that he would lay off nearly 300 workers at another Utah mine "until (he) can make it safe."

Finally!  Mr. Murray has seen the light!  This tragic circumstance has convinced him that the safety of the workers who make him his millions is actually important!  Eh, not so much.  Amazingly, he blamed Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. for the lay-off.  Oh, and just to make sure he covered all the bases, he also blames a newspaper and Senator Ted Kennedy!

In the meeting to announce the layoffs, Simms said, Murray lambasted Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. for the criticism he has lobbed at Murray and his mining operation. He also criticized The Salt Lake Tribune for its coverage. Murray also railed against Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has asked for federal documents related to the Crandall Canyon mine.

more after the jump...

There have several diaries and/or front page posts here on "the" Daily Kos referencing the legalization of thievery that is known as the Hydrocarbon Law, which is also referred to as the "Iraqi Oil Law."  Observing and participating in these discussions, as well as discussions with countless others off "the tubes," one can only conclude that there is a distressing lack of knowledge and information on this important issue.  That's not terribly surprising, considering that the corporate media has completely abrogated it's responsibility on this (and so many other) issues.

If the Iraqi Parliament were to pass a Hydrocarbon Law that benefits the big oil companies to the detriment of the Iraqi people, there is little ZERO chance of long-term peace and stability there.

In this diary, I will attempt to provide some insight and reference material to help folks have a better understanding of what, exactly, the Hydrocarbon Law is, and why, exactly, we should oppose this thievery.  If anyone has further helpful information, please post links in the comments so this diary can be as comprehensive a guide as possible.

Much, much more after the jump...

John Edwards' campaign headquarters in Chapel Hill was the target of terrorists again Thursday.  

Authorities disarmed a suspicious package addressed to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday after the discovery of the package forced the evacuation of numerous businesses Thursday.

The incident marked the third time in recent months that authorities have responded to mail addressed to Edwards' office.

A FedEx envelope from out of state arrived in the mail at about 10 a.m. Thursday, and intermittent beeping could be heard from inside, police said.

Capt. Bob Overton of the Chapel Hill Police Department said he didn't know the contents of the package, but he said authorities deemed it suspicious.

More after the jump...

After reading dday's excellent recommended diary about the LA Times Fred Thompson article, I decided to meander over to the conservative blog community Republican corporate enterprise RedState to check their reaction.  Sure enough, they've just posted a front page defense of Fred! on the site.  It's typical RedState fare, and not worth spending too much time on.  Scroll down the page just a bit, however, and things get interesting.

Take the jump...

As you are no doubt aware, the Bush (mis)administration has linked success in Iraq to the Hydrocarbon Law, aka the "Oil Law."  The Iraqi people have consistently opposed this blantant robbery and another shoe dropped yesterday.  The highest Sunni religious authority, the Council of the Ulema, issued a fatwa yesterday on the dead duck Oil Law.  The Iraqi oil workers have opposed this law attempt to rob the the Iraqi people blind from the beginning.

More after the jump....

The R's are giving up on Ol' Able Danger!

WASHINGTON - Signaling retreat, House Republicans are scaling back television advertising in three highly contested races, officials said Tuesday, including Rep. Curt Weldon (news, bio, voting record)'s bid for an 11th term in Pennsylvania and open seats in Colorado and Ohio.

Bye-bye, Curt!

There's more after the jump...

Sorry for the late notice... I've had a hell of a morning!
Curt Weldon(Unhinged-PA07) will be at the Ridley Township Municipal building today from 2PM - 5PM for the FAA hearings.  The hearing will be at 100 E. MacDade Blvd in Ridley Township.  Come make your voice heard!  

On Wednesday, March 15th, I met for several hours with Admiral Joe Sestak.  Admiral Sestak is running for Congress in the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania.  Joe will be attending the Philly for Change Meet-Up with me on April 5th.  Also, I am hosting a beef-n-beer fundraiser at my Union Hall for the Admiral on Saturday, April 15th.  Anyone from the area who is interested in meeting Joe on the 15th can contact me anytime.

Below the fold is my endorsement letter...