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POPSItaly Convicts 23 Americans In CIA Terrorist Kidnapping Case 
One of those convicted, former Milan consular official Sabrina De Sousa, accused Congress of turning a blind eye to the entire matter. "No one has investigated the fact that the U.S. government allegedly conducted a rendition of an individual who now walks free and the operation of which was so bungled," she said, speaking through her lawyer Mark Zaid. Despite the convictions capping the nearly three-year Italian trial, several Italian and American defendants – including the two alleged masterminds of the abduction – were acquitted due to either diplomatic immunity or because classified information was stricken by Italy's highest court. The case has been politically charged from the beginning, with attempts to mislead investigators looking into the cleric's disappearance and derail the judicial proceedings once the trial was under way. But the Italian-American relationship, conditioned on such issues as participation in the Afghan campaign, is unlikely to be hurt by the convic
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POPS‘War on Words’ Conference (International Press Institute) For complete program of events, go here, http://www.freemedia.at/events/war-on-words-programme/ Session 1 “September 11, Combating Terrorism, and the Erosion of Civil Liberties” Session 2 “Tortured Logic – How Has the Media Reported on Terrorism and Torture?” Session 3 “The Watchdog Role of the Media in the Fight against Terrorism" Session 4 “Shouting Fire in a Crowded Theatre: Incitement, Freedom of Expression and Religious Tolerance” Session 5 In the final session, participants discussed the draft “Vienna Declaration on Terrorism, Media and the Law” (final document will be available soon).
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POPSUS Press Freedom Improves At the bottom of the list were Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea "where media are so suppressed they are nonexistent," said Reporters Without Borders. Iran dropped to No. 172 from No. 166, with Reporters Without Borders saying the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had fostered a paranoia about journalists and bloggers. "Automatic prior censorship, state surveillance of journalists, mistreatment, journalists forced to flee the country, illegal arrests and imprisonment -- such is the state of press freedom this year in Iran," the group said. The ranking was compiled from hundreds of questionnaires completed by journalists and media experts around the world and reflecting press freedom violations that took place between Sept. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2009. The complete ranking can be seen at www.rsf.org/en-classement1003-2009.html Read more at source.
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POPSLouisiana Justice Of Peace Refuses To Wed Mixed Couples "It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."
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POPSInterracial couple denied marriage license in Louisiana More: If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said. "I try to treat everyone equally," he said. Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.… "It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry." The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice." "He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann said.
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POPSCrimespotting: the new way to make money on the Internet Tony Morgan, who set up the site, said: “This could turn out to be the best crime prevention weapon there’s ever been. I wanted to combine the serious business of stopping crime with the incentive of winning money. Users will be awarded one point for spotting a suspected crime and three if they see an actual crime. They can also lose points if the camera operator decides that the alert was not a crime.
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POPS50 States, 50 Constitutions, 50 Preambles about God
Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences .. Florida 1845, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution... Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution... Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance . establish this Constitution .. Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ... Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors
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POPSWorld's Smallest Political Quiz Take the test here: http://www.theadvocates.org/quizp/index.html This clip was my personal result, on which, if I am not mistaken, my dot has moved!? Different tests though.
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POPSBeware The Stalin in Progressive Hearts Consider: Nowhere does the Constitution grant Congress authority to require every American to buy a particular private service or product on pain of forfeiture of a significant portion of their wealth. Yet, every version of Obamacare currently being discussed in Congress requires just that. Forcing all of us to buy officially approved health insurance is essential to a functioning government-run system. As Obama told Congress, "many of insurance reforms we seek - especially requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions - cannot be achieved" without the individual mandate. Why? Because the politicians and bureaucrats who will manage the government-run health care program know that, without the force of government behind them, they won't be able to make the rest of us do what they tell us to do. But that is what government always does as it becomes more costly, intrusive and intolerant of dissent. As if to drive the point home,
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POPSThe Shameful Silence of Many Black Ministers
These are the black ministers that conservatives love. many are deeply mired in a single-minded pursuit showy, pricey new buildings,glittering furnishings, inflated salaries, expense accounts, globe-trotting trips, and endless pitches for collections. ... fancy cars, expensive homes, clothes, and jewelry has done more to fan the popular public image of black ministers as fast buck con artists. While some black ministers make a mighty effort to address deep seated social ills and use their influence to be spiritual mentors and social advocates, they are in the minority. black ministers that slump into complacency and inaction, and hopelessly enmeshed in greed and personal aggrandizement have rejected Dr. King's call to take the front line in the battle for social justice. They forget or ignore the entreaty in Luke to "put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalt those of low degree." They have spiritually and socially disarmed many African-Americans.[/quote
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POPSSheriff Joe Arpaio Is Subpoenaing Records From Acorn Arpaio: Acorn Using Federal Money in Immigration Fight-Phoenix Business Journal "I believe the organization used state and federal funds meant to help poor people to conduct a campaign against me and my officers. These records will show, I believe, that ACORN is in bed with the anti-immigration enforcement organizations, which continue to demonstrate in front of my office trying to thwart my officers from enforcing state and federal law." http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/09/14/daily70.html After obtaining a copy of the subpoena, noted, "The subpoena does not seek any of the information Arpaio listed in his press release, which focused on funding." According to Sandschafer, instead of requesting financial records, the subpoena requests "any and all correspondence" related to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department and racial profiling that occurred between ACORN and
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POPSObama Embraces Patriot Act; As Senator He Was Skeptical I would like to hear the speech that explains this "embrace" of the Patriot Act. which collects and stores records on thousands of Americans; what the data includes is unclear; how many Americans are part of the database is unclear; the safeguards in place to prevent abuse is also unclear.
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POPS9/11 saga continues Now, a very professional and credible documentary has been produced in Europe. It uncovers facts not previously released in the American mainstream media or mentioned in the “official” government investigation of 9/11. On this the anniversary of 9/11, we should honor those who died by taking a real, hard look at what happened. Ask yourself what YOU believe is the truth. I’m interested to know what you think. Here it is… Please forward this blog to everyone you know — as I’m sure you will agree that EVERY American needs to see this. Check out the video at source.
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POPSAMERICAS POVERTY IS RISING FAST No Labor Representation, Corporate Favors, Financial System Corruption, Military Budget out of Control, Civil Liberties under constant Attack, 30 years of unfavorable Labor Laws, ...........
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POPSFrench Government To Use Swine Flu Threat In Crack Down On Liberties "The news comes on the back of last week's revelations that the French government plans to impose a mass swine flu vaccination program on the entire population. According to a leaked internal document singed by the French Health Minister and the Minister of the Interior, the program would be focused around regional vaccination centers and would be carried out by H1N1 injection teams, completely bypassing medical establishments and GP’s. According to the document, schoolchildren will also be vaccinated by mobile injection squads who will travel from school to school, covering the entire country. Babies from 6 months old will also be given the shot. To date just fifteen people have died of swine flu related complications in France. "
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POPSWhite Voters, Easy Marks For Controversy Stokers
proposed healthcare overhaul, in which some conservatives accused him of socialism. Obama’s ratings seem likely to rise again if he wins passage of healthcare legislation this fall. One such episode came to a head Sunday when Van Jones, Obama’s green jobs czar, resigned after a week of criticism over past inflammatory statements and for signing onto conspiracy theories questioning whether the U.S. government played a role in the Sept. 11 attacks. In another episode, some conservatives have criticized a White House dinner invitation issued to the lead lawyer in the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuits that have forced the government to disclose Bush-era interrogation techniques. The lawyer was invited to an event for the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. And Obama’s plan to address the nation’s schoolchildren Tuesday has prompted an outcry among some conservative parents and GOP officials. Some of them have accused the White House of trying to infuse “socialism”
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POPSIN man denied ‘No Gods’ license plates though state offers ‘In God We Trust’ plates
As I understand it, the separation of church and state sprang from the concept that the state cannot impose its belief on the individual. The federal government has been doing exactly this since 1864 when the first coin was stamped with “In God We Trust”. In 1956 it became the national motto (http://candst.tripod.com/motto.htm), and it is supported by nearly 90% of Americans, which led the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the motto because, according to them, it has "lost through rote repetition any significant religious content”. Several years ago, the appearance of "In God We Trust" on our money was challenged in the federal courts. The challenge was rejected by the lower federal courts, and the Supreme Court of the United States declined to review the case. Since this message appears on U.S. currency, several states flags and seals, and license plates, many people falsely believe that the U.S. is, and was founded as, a Christian nation. I doubt you will convince them otherwise.
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