chris murphy gets it right (again)

how we can treat our service members and veterans the way we do AND sleep at night is beyond me. (the we ONLY refers to king george and his court in this instance. seems like MOST of us honor our troops. others of us send them off to die and be maimed in an UNJUST IMMORAL AND ILLEGAL WAR - then f**k them over IF they happen to return)

Conn. proposes updated G.I. Bill
By WTNH Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis, on May 16, 2008
Southington (WTNH) _ Connecticut today is calling on President Bush to sign a new version of the G.I. Bill, but he’s threatening to veto the measure.
A big crowd turned out at the Aquaturf in Southington today for the annual Armed Services Day Luncheon. Connecticut’s two freshman members of congress used the day to call on President Bush to sign what’s being called the new G.I. Bill.
“The cost of the war must include the cost of taking care of our troops when they come back to the U.S. and that has to include educational benefits,” said 5th District Rep. Chris Murphy.Last night, Republicans joined with Democrats in the house to pass an updated version of the original G.I. Bill which was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II.
“This is a great program, I have troops that I supervise in the Air Force that would benefit greatly for this,” MSgt. Mark Czmyr of U.S.A.F. Reserve said............

let's give our veterans everything they deserve.

from my pop's yard

taken 3:00 pm thursday may 15th

i have posted about this (the msm coverage of the war)

many times on ravings of a semi-sane madwoman. i just posted this story on 4,500 lies (accepted by msm and consequently by the american public) yesterday.

here's a little somethin' somethin' i got in my email box yesterday. there is some information specific to connecticut at the end

from justin cole at media matters

As you may have already read, on April 20, The New York Times published an article by investigative reporter David Barstow that detailed the hidden connection between numerous media military analysts and the Pentagon and defense industries. Media Matters followed up with a review of how many times the military analysts named in the Times exposé appeared or were quoted on ABC, ABC News Now, CBS, CBS Radio Network, NBC, CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR. The results: They appeared or were quoted as experts more than 4,500 times. Today, we started an action campaign urging people to sign a petition: “Viewers have the right to know if the expert analysis they're receiving is little more than Pentagon talking points; the war in Iraq, our national security, and our foreign policy are far too important.” Below is some information related to Connecticut you might find useful if you decide to blog on this story. Any help you can give to spread the word and join us in calling on the networks to be held accountable and report on this story would be much appreciated. If you have any questions at all, please let me know. Thank you, - Justin Justin J. Cole Deputy Director, Online Communications Media Matters for America jcole@mediamatters.org http://www.mediamatters.org/ Media Matters for America is a not-for-profit, progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.

Local Congressional Action: Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), New Haven Wrote letter to Networks that hosted military analysts questioned network policy changes into booking military analysts. (04/20/08) - http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2008/April/Major_News_Networks_4_24_08.html Wrote letter to Inspector General Kicklighter asking for DoD investigation. (05/02/08) -http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2008/May/Defense_IG_5_2_08.html Wrote a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin with Rep. Rosa DeLauro questioning if the program violates sponsorship identification in the Communications Act of 1934 and the rules of the FCC. (05/06/08) - http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2008/May/DeLauro_Dingell_5_6_08.html CT members of Congress who signed DeLauro’s letter to Department of Defense Inspector General Claude M. Kicklighter requesting investigation:o Rep. John Larson (CT-01)o Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02)o Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-05) Useful Links:· NYT Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html· MMFA Item: http://mediamatters.org/items/200805130001 · MMFA Petition: http://mediamatters.org/action_center/military_analysts/

Information on the war:234 wounded soldiers from Connecticut, 29 deaths from Connecticut. (http://icasualties.org/)Connecticut’s share of the cost of the Iraq War in FY2007 is $3.4 billion. (http://www.nationalpriorities.org/)Hartford, CT passed anti-war resolution. (http://www.the40yearplan.com/)New Britain, CT passed anti-war resolution. (http://www.citiesforprogress.org/)New Haven, CT passed anti-war resolution. (http://www.citiesforprogress.org/) Press Coverage:Representative DeLauro on Connecticut Public Radio’s Where we Live (5/13/2008)Representative DeLauro on Air America’s The Lionel Show (Tentative 5/ 22/2008)

o b a m a

(shout out to at largely)

today at 3:00 at the (civic center) xl center

(what a stupid name by the way, the xl center) - a protest against animals in the circus will be going on. specifically ringling brothers circus. their show is packing up, it's their last day in hartford. i personally have NOT been to a circus with animals since i was a teenager. (and that was LONG ago)

the following is an email i received:

Animal Advocates HOLD SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY PROTEST of Ringling Circus
Appeal asks families to boycott circus

HARTFORD— Activists from around Connecticut will converge in Hartford Sunday afternoon to protest the Ringling Brothers cruelty to animals and urge families to boycott the closing night of the circus.

WHEN: Sunday, May 11, 3 p.m.WHERE: The XL Center (formerly Hartford Civic Center) at Church St. Entrance, Hartford

Protestors will distribute special Mother's Day cards that read "What would you do if your child was taken away from you and you could never see her again?" referring to Ringling's practice of ripping baby elephants away from their mothers so that they can train them to perform.

Elephants naturally form strong family bonds. In the wild, female elephants stay with their families for life and males do not leave the herd until they are in their teens. The entire herd helps to love and nurture the babies.

Ringling is currently being sued in federal court by animal welfare groups for violating the Endangered Species Act with its routine mistreatment of elephants. The plaintiffs include former Ringling employee Tom Rider, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Fund for Animals, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Animal Protection Institute.

This year, Ringling is bringing its Blue Unit to Hartford for the Mother's Day weekend. All of the circus's elephants were torn from their mothers as babies, whether they were wild-born in Asia or from circus breeding facilities in this country. Four of Ringling's baby elephants have died since 1998, and Ringling has been fined by the federal government for injuring babies in the process of separating them from their mothers .

Ringling's elephants crisscross the country on the circus's trains 11 months of the year, logging more than 25,000 miles. They travel in cramped cars without climate control, eating and sleeping in their own excrement;, when not performing, they are chained or in tiny pens. Circus trainers use bullhooks and electric shock to train them, and they perform out of fear that they will be subjected to more pain. The combination of boredom, confinement and extreme stress causes many of the Ringling elephants to develop disease and show signs of neurotic behavior, such as swaying and head-bobbing.

"The natural needs of wild animals cannot be met in traveling shows," said protest organizer Deb Robinson of West Hartford. "Circus elephants lead miserable lives of constant travel and abuse. It is important for people to understand that animals don't belong in circuses and that the price of their ticket funds this cruelty."

da liebs

is checking SOMEONE ELSE'S BEARINGS? kettle kettle kettle!!!


Lieberman: ‘I Personally Checked John McCain’s Bearings’
By: SilentPatriot
In an interview on CNN Thursday, Senator Obama said John McCain was “losing his bearings” after he repeatedly suggested that Hamas had endorsed his candidacy, even though their positions on the issue are nearly identical. Now, loyal Democrat (except on the small issue of “the war”) Joe Lieberman is coming to McCain’s defense after the presumptive GOP nominee accused Barack Obama of playing the “age card.”..........

i don't think we should wait

for THREE violations before pulling someone's hunting license. ONE STRIKE and YOU'RE OUT is my belief. i'm glad the punishment and fines are higher for illegal hunting, but of course i think they should be more severe.

House boosts illegal hunting penalties
HARTFORD, Conn.—State fines for illegal bear and moose hunting may soon be higher.
more stories like this
The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that raises the fine from $200 and possible imprisonment up to 60 days to at least $500 and up to 90 days in prison or both. It the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner to suspend a violator's hunting license for at least one year.
Repeat offenders face tougher fines of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in prison. After a third conviction, a hunter's license would be revoked.
Rep. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, said he proposed the legislation because some hunters have been willing to risk a $200 fine...........

taking the EASY way out

no, they should WAIT to deport him. they should make him do time THEN deport him. once again i ask you WHAT SORT OF 'HUMAN' CAN DRILL HOLES IN A (LIVING) DOG'S HEAD?
Deportation likely for dog death case
BRISTOL, Conn.—A man who allegedly drilled several holes in a dog's head plans to accept deportation rather than stand trial on animal cruelty charges.
more stories like this
Severino Cruz says he attacked the pit bull at his home in Plainville with a drill in January after the dog bit his 8-year-old son. The dog had to be euthanized because of its injuries.
The 32-year-old Cruz has pleaded not guilty to charges of cruelty to animals, as well as maliciously maiming or killing an animal............

it's not even

that da liebs got a cheap piece o' shite server for his website (that caused the crash). it's not even that he accused ned lamont (or his peeps) for the crash. it's not even the lack of msm coverage of the fbi findings on that (NO ONE DID IT. as i said, it was a cheap piece o' shite provider and the stupid thing crashed on it's own).

what IT IS, is, da liebs was RE ELECTED. even after knowing he would have our sons and daughters and mothers and fathers and friends and other family members in iraq (and elsewhere) until kingdom come (and i mean that literally).

from media matters
(i can't seem to get the hyperlink to the article itself to work -all the time, it works sometimes and not other times????-, so you'll have to cut and paste this: http://mediamatters.org/items/200804290009)

Media that reported Lieberman's hacking charge against Lamont supporters have yet to report FBI found "no evidence of (an) attack"

Despite having reported the August 2006 allegation by Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman's re-election campaign that supporters of Ned Lamont, then his rival in the Democratic Senate primary, had "hacked" Lieberman's campaign website, numerous media outlets -- including ABC, CNN, and CBS -- have yet to report that an FBI investigation reportedly concluded before the November 2006 general election that there was "no evidence of (an) attack." To the contrary, according to an April 9 article in The Advocate of Stamford, Connecticut, an October 25, 2006, FBI email indicated that the FBI had found Lieberman's website "crashed because Lieberman officials continually exceeded a configured limit of 100 e-mails per hour the night before the primary." Thus, despite coverage of the Lieberman campaign's allegations against the Lamont campaign, ABC, CNN, and CBS have yet to report that the FBI not only exonerated the Lamont campaign, but that it was reported this month that the FBI concluded the website crash was the fault of the Lieberman campaign itself...............

read this

Woman With A Disabled Husband And Two Disabled Children Fights Foreclosure

Story By HILARY WALDMAN And Photos By Shana Sureck The Hartford Courant
Janet Catucci never planned to build a house big enough for three wheelchairs.She never imagined that the ramp in front, built when her son grew too big to carry up and down the front steps, would also become a gangway for her daughter — and then her husband.But in a life that seems to have thrown Janet and Tony Catucci Jr. quite a bit more than their fair share of bad luck, the house — at least until now — has been a haven, providing a measure of comfort for the family even as the odds of anything resembling a "normal" existence continued to stack up against them.The couple's first child, Tony Catucci III, was born in 1984, deaf, blind, epileptic and mentally retarded, his body crippled by cerebral palsy — the result of what doctors assured the Catuccis was a rare genetic misfire. But two years later, Ashley arrived with the same problem, and it became clear that Janet and Tony would carry an unthinkably heavy load. .......

ravings of a semi-sane madwoman: i've been using it for YEARS#links#links

ravings of a semi-sane madwoman: i've been using it for YEARS#links#links

you know what?

the way i look at it is; da liebs is the johnny damon of politics. he's turned his back on those who loved, nurtured and supported him to go over to the dark side.

it's no big deal. johnny was NEVER really a bosox and da liebs was NEVER really a democrat.
it's NOT shocking news. it's not news at all.
(even if he begged to come back - i wouldn't want 'em - EITHER of 'em)

Lieberman willing to star at Republican convention
By Manu Raju
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the Democratic Party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee, is leaving open the possibility of giving a keynote address on behalf of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) at the Republican National Convention in September.
Republicans close to the McCain campaign say Lieberman’s appearance at the convention, possibly before a national primetime audience, could help make the case that the presumptive GOP nominee has a record of crossing the aisle. That could appeal to much-needed independent voters. McCain has yet to ask Lieberman to speak, either in primetime or elsewhere, at the convention. But if McCain thinks it will help make his case for the White House, as some of his allies suspect, Lieberman would be willing to speak on his behalf.
“If Sen. McCain, who I support so strongly, asked me to do it, if he thinks it will help him, I will,” Lieberman said in a brief interview. .....

i think we should all know what procter & gamble

is doing - or in this case NOT doing. they're denying an employee, carl macleod, (who happens to be a disabled veteran) the benefits and coverage that are DUE HIM. he fully disclosed he was a disabled vet to his employer. they knew. f**k them
they make SO many products (from iams pet food to febrize to dawn to tampax it's hard to list them. here's a link to the products listed on their website.) we all know they can AFFORD to cover medical benefits for mr macleod.
p&g DO THE RIGHT THING

An Ill Veteran, A Denied Claim, A Heartless Employer
Susan Campbell
Carl MacLeod enlisted in the Army, and for 20 years he traveled the world. He also accumulated a few injuries.When he was honorably discharged as a first sergeant in early 2001, he got a job as a maintenance manager at Clairol in Stamford. He told the company he was a disabled vet, and enrolled in their employee benefits plan. That same year, he and wife Kristy moved with his three and her two children from previous marriages to a house in West Haven.Later that year, Procter & Gamble bought Clairol, and MacLeod met with two company representatives to discuss benefits. He talked about his injuries, and he was reassured that nothing would change. He enrolled in the new benefits plan, and started paying premiums.And then he got sick. Years as an Army machinist exposed him to a sea of chemicals, and in February 2004, MacLeod was diagnosed with chronic solvent encephalopathy, or CSE, a degenerative neurological disease, something like a cross between MS and Lou Gehring's disease for which there is no cure. In October 2004, the VA upped his disability from 70 to 100 percent.MacLeod filed for disability benefits at work, but within four days — over a weekend, yet — P&G said no. They said his diagnosis was a result of military service, and they were not responsible. This despite their earlier reassurances, and the language of their own package plan.In November '06, a judge said the company should review its denial. P&G asked for more documentation, and then denied him again last August. MacLeod filed suit last month..............

more on justin goodman, peta, animal experiments

at unconn. this time from
nbc30
PETA Calls For Investigation Into UConn Cat Experiment
Activists: Animal Died After Holes Were Drilled Into Head

STORRS, Conn. -- Animal activities claim an experiment at the University of Connecticut resulted in the death of a cat.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a seven-page complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, asking it to investigate possible violations of the Animal Welfare Act at UConn.
Justin Goodman, an animal lover, PETA employee and UConn grad student, said a whistleblower came to him in January and told him a cat bled to death following an experiment on campus.
"They were drilling a hole into her skull so that they could place electrodes directly onto her brain," he said. "And while they were drilling a hole, she had a brain hemorrhage and started bleeding out and died."
He said news of the possible experiment gone bad was alarming.
"When you hear something terrible like a cat bleeding to death after having a hole drilled into her skull, obviously anyone would be taken aback," Goodman said............

and

wtnh, channel 8
PETA wants investigation at UConn
By News Channel 8's Bob Wilson
(WTNH) _ The University of Connecticut is responding to PETA's call for a federal investigation into research conducted on cats.
Justin Goodman investigates labs for PETA. He says an anonymous whistle blower came forward saying a cat was killed prematurely during medical research on hearing at UConn.
"These people are supposed to know what they are doing, and here they are drilling a hole into a cats head and she bleeds out, and has a brain hemorrhage before they can even conduct their experiment," Goodman said.
It is an experiment which is legal and funded by the government. UConn released a statement that says, "The PETA account, provided to the media, has several serious inaccuracies: the truth is that the cat in question was never paralyzed and did not bleed to death and the head veterinarian was present."...............

big baby

turns out it was YOUR own fault all along da liebs
again, BIG BABY

FBI: Lieberman campaign to blame for crash to its Web site

By ConnPolitics.tv Editor, on Apr 9, 2008

Stamford (AP)– Federal investigators have concluded that U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s 2006 re-election campaign caused the crash of its Web site the day before the Democratic primary with Ned Lamont.
The FBI says it has found no evidence supporting the Lieberman campaign’s allegations that Lamont supporters were to blame for the Web site crash.
Lieberman had implied that joe2006.com was hacked by Lamont supporters.......

and THIS interesting tidbit:
Okay, Lamont Didn’t Crash the Servers. But What Did Lieberman Do with His $387,000 Slush Fund?
By: emptywheel

In thoroughly unsurprising news today, the Ned Lamont campaign was cleared of any wrong-doing in the crash of Lieberman's server leading up to primary day in 2006. The Stamford Advocate reports that the FBI determined--way back on October 25, 2006--that Lieberman's campaign bears all responsibility for the server crash.
Case closed, right?
No. Not on the outstanding legal issues arising from the campaign, anyway.
As you might recall, the Lamont campaign filed an FEC complaint, coincidentally just two days before the whole server crash case was closed in October 2006, noting that Joe Lieberman had a campaign finance entry for "petty cash" expenditures that were way beyond the legal limits: $387,000 of "petty cash."
The Friends of Joe Lieberman committee, and Joseph I. Lieberman, individually have violated the clear and unambiguous terms of 11 C.F.R. §102.11 in at least the following three ways.
First, according to the FEC October Quarterly report filed on October 13, 2006, the Lieberman campaign has petty cash disbursements amounting to $387,561.00, which is roughly 8 percent of its total disbursements, or one out of every twelve dollars spent. On several occasions, petty cash disbursements greater than $100 were reported, as supposed payment for “volunteers.” As summary of these disbursements from the Friends of Joe Lieberman report are attached hereto. These disbursements reflect patent violations of 11 C.F.R. §102.11..........

from the hartford advocate

a story on animal abuse featuring justin goodman
Me-Ouch!
PETA member Justin Goodman says UConn has been drilling holes in the heads of cats
By Adam Bulger
PETA member and former University of Connecticut graduate student Justin Goodman is alarmed at what he says the school is doing with cats. Goodman, who made headlines (in publications that included this paper) in 2006 for exposing the treatment of Cornelius, a rhesus monkey used in experiments at UConn's Health Center, learned in January of UConn classes and experiments that he believes includes abusive and archaic practices.
An insider at UConn told Goodman about a study in the psychology department at the university's main campus in Storrs.
"This cat, who was being prepared for an experiment, she would have a hole drilled in her head [and] would be put in a sound-proof box for two to four days," Goodman said. "They would put electrodes in her brain and collect electrophysiological recordings from single neurons in her brain."............

connecticut for animals

from the cool justice report

Famous Douche Bag Case Noted In National Muzzle Awards

.....................ANNOUNCING THE 2008 JEFFERSON MUZZLES:Who were the Best Censors of Last Year?...........

.............Lewis Mills High School Principal Karissa Niehoff and Connecticut Region 10 Superintendent of Schools Paula Schwartz for not allowing a student to run for class office because she posted comments critical of school officials on an Internet blog.............

those wild and wacky

connecticut criminals are at it again!

Suspect Uses Umbrella In Windsor Locks Robbery

tell me

how a MERE 13 years is an 'appropriate' sentence for slavery and forcing minors into prostitution?

re effing diculous
Sex trafficker sentenced to 13 years in prison
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Federal prosecutors say a man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for his involvement in a sex trafficking operation that victimized children and young women.
more stories like this
Brian Forbes of East Hartford was sentenced in Hartford federal court. The 43-year-old pleaded guilty last year to several charges including sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Acting U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy says the prison term is appropriate for someone who victimized minors and enslaved women..............

i work for a large corporation

it is drilled into us, we CAN NEVER throw out ANY information that is sensitive. NONE. EVER. we MUST dispose of it in shredder bins. that has been the case for MANY years. recently, they even went a step further. we have a 'clear desk' policy. when we are away from our desks for more than an hour OR when we leave, we MUST lock our computer screens (in my department we all have laptops and docking stations. those docking stations are locked all of the time the laptops are in them) and we MUST have all sensitive information off of our desks. we even have a laminated piece of paper which states we're gone for the day and if you are going to leave something on the desk, seek out the person's supervisor and give that document to them, do NOT leave it on an open desk. mind you, we have a LOCKED building. it's impossible to get into unless you have a key card. during normal business hours, the front doors are unlocked, but there are security guards at the front desk. you can't get past them without setting off an alarm. (the guards are there 24/7 by the way). we even have some revolving doors at other entrances where you need the key card to gain entrance. those doors are so sensitive, they will back you out if they think there are TWO of you in one compartment (it has a scanner in it. i once tried to get back in after a smoke and i was reading. i had the papers out in front of me. the door, WHICH EFFING TALKS, told me i was a bad bad bad grrrl and it backed me out).
seems to me, people's bank is the one at fault here
Taking bank trash, Fairfield man claims security lapse
BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—A Fairfield man who claims security lapses after taking bank documents from trash bins is headed to court on civil charges that he violated a restraining order won by the bank.
more stories like this
For four months, James Hastings searched through trash bins outside People's United Bank branches in Fairfield County. He pulled out bags of paperwork with private information, including customers' Social Security numbers and account information.
The bank last month won a restraining order against Hastings, 56, requiring him to not discuss the matter or distribute paperwork. He has since been interviewed by the Connecticut Post.
People's Bank said Hastings is trying to extort money and claims he asked to be hired as a "fraud consultant." Bank officials also are demanding that the information be returned.
Brent DiGiorgio, a spokesman for People's Bank, said its primary concern is protecting the customers' information that Hastings has taken. The bank promises to provide a year of free credit monitoring to customers whose information was taken and has contacted affected customers, he said.
People's trains employees abut safeguarding customer information and the bank is reviewing its policies, DiGiorgio said.........