Montgomery County, MD Green Party Blog

According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted between October 21 and 23, the approval rating of Republicans in Congress has dropped in the last two years from 48/49 negative to 38/58 negative, a 20 point negative spread. At the same time approval the rating for Democrats in Congress has dropped from 47/50 negative to 41/53 negative, a 12 point negative spread.

You could say that this is good news for the Democrats since the Republicans are now viewed more negatively than they are, but it is at best a backhanded compliment.

The public is looking for an alternative. The Green Party could be that alternative, but it will have to work hard and put internal differences behind it if that is to happen

Ten years after ethnic hatred tore Bosnia apart, healing is in short supply in the playground outside a modest school first built in the golden years of socialist Yugoslavia.

“We don’t socialize with them. We only beat them up,” laughed a 13-year-old Bosnian Croat, loudly approved by other boys.

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Got this from Scott Loughrey’s blog…

The legislation, known as the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) obliges telephone companies to make it possible for law enforcement agencies to intercept any phone conversations carried out over its networks, as well as making call records available. The act also stipulates that it must not be possible for a person to detect that his or her conversation is being monitored by the respective government agency.

An order issued by the Federal Communications Commission in August and first published in the Federal Register of October 13 extends the requirement of the 1994 legislation to cover broadband Internet access services, including wireless and voice-over-IP (VoIP) Internet telephony services.

Universities required to comply

The far-ranging implications of this are highlighted in an appeal being prepared by lawyers for the American Council on Education. The largest association of universities and colleges is preparing to appeal the order before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. According to the New York Times, the universities do not question the government’s right to implement wiretaps but are appealing on the grounds of cost—in excess of $7 billion, according to estimates by some professionals. But the cost is itself indicative of the extent of the threat to privacy and democratic rights contained in the order.

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County Inspector General Alleges Lack of Cooperation With Clarksburg Probe

Inspector General Thomas J. Dagley said the agency, which makes recommendations on land-use policy to the county Planning Board, is withholding information and dragging its feet on requests to interview staff members.

In a letter to County Attorney Charles W. Thompson Jr. dated Monday, Dagley said he is looking into at least two other matters involving the agency, although he would not say what they are.

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Maverick N.Va. Judge Tosses Out DWI Cases That Presume Guilt

A Fairfax County judge who believes Virginia’s drunken driving laws are unconstitutional has begun dismissing cases, including five DWI cases in a week, and has threatened to throw a veteran prosecutor in jail for arguing with him.

Judge Ian M. O’Flaherty made it known in July that he felt Virginia’s DWI law unfairly deprived defendants of the presumption of innocence if breath tests showed that they had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, levels at which people are presumed to be intoxicated.

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Here are a couple of interesting entries…
* In this entry the Blogger comments on the communications acumen of a local right wing group.
* Here the Blogger discusses the inefficiencies of environmental non-profits and their foundation supporters.

A couple of days ago at a Progressive Maryland Event a supporter of Martin O’Malley claimed that O’Malley is an opponent of the I.C.C.; that he’s not in the developers’ pockets. Does anyone have any information on this?

Republicans began targeting key programs for budget cuts yesterday, from student loans and health care to food stamps and foster care. But the tough measures immediately drew staunch opposition from anti-poverty groups, businesses and moderate Republicans.
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The rash of spending that followed Hurricane Katrina two months ago has emboldened conservatives to push for cuts far beyond what Congress could agree to in a budget blueprint in the spring.
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But the same hurricane has also pricked the conscience of Democrats and some Republican moderates who are reluctant to trim anti-poverty programs in light of the misfortune that Katrina spotlighted.

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Only Montgomery Project Leader May Know the Truth, but She’s Not Talking

What’s beyond dispute is that [Wynn] Witthans is the missing star witness today as the Montgomery County Planning Board opens the final phase of its probe of Clarksburg Town Center. At issue are allegations that the developer, San Diego-based Newland Communities, and four local builders violated a series of binding agreements on building heights and setbacks, the style and configuration of homes, and retail and recreation plans.

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MoCo GP Meeting

Saturday, November 5th at noon

1 hour — Social hour (pot luck)

5 minutes — Introductions, selection of Recording Secretary (we don’t have a permanent one) and time keeper

30 minutes — Speech and Q&A (Roger Berliner, candidate for councilmanic dist. #1 — http://www.friendsofrogerberliner.com)

10 minutes — Treasurer’s Report (Joseph Horgan)

10 minutes — TP/SS local report (Mary Rooker)

10 minutes — State CC report (Nathan Bahn)

10 minutes — past outreach activities (Becky Schaaf) BTW, plz note we do not have a perm. outreach coordinator

5 minutes — Membership report (Bahram Zandi)