The latest book to hit my nightstand is Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World, by Tom Zoellner.
It's a timely book given the way that Iran is busy trying to develop the enrichment technologies necessary to provide weapons grade uranium, nuclear proliferation remains an issue, and nuclear power remains the black sheep of power sources in the US because of opposition on NIMBY grounds and what to do with radioactive waste.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Scozzafava Drops Out Of NY-23 Congressional Race
I didn't see this coming, but Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign with just days before the special election to fill the seat vacated by McHugh. This opens the way for Doug Hoffman to take on Democrat Bill Owens in a straight up fight in a district that has traditionally gone Republican.
Both Scozzafava and Hoffman are seriously flawed candidates. Hoffman isn't even a resident of the district he's hoping to represent, which I find abhorrent and should disqualify him outright. Scozzafava was an insider who has significant ties to ACORN and the WFP, and while the WFP backs Democrat Bill Owens in this race, Scozzafava's husband has worked quite a bit for both organizations.
Owens will likely go down to defeat because voters will coalesce behind Hoffman, not Owens. Looking back at the past several election cycles in NY-23, and Democrats have not won the seat.
Now, what will this mean outside the district? That's the million dollar question. Democrats will try and say that this shows that the GOP is fracturing and in the firm grip of conservatives and the far right. They'd be right to a degree, but that would be more than offset by a win by Chris Christie in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. No, what this shows is the continuing failure of the state GOP in New York to proffer candidates that are acceptable to the voters in their districts, and it took a rogue campaign by Hoffman to expose still more problems with the insider attitudes of the state GOP. Ed Cox, the head of the state GOP has to clean house and begin to understand that they have to work from the ground up to provide candidates that can win elections throughout the state from the local level on up to statewide races.
Cox needs to work the ground game and understand that tax and spend is destroying the state GOP because fiscal conservatives have no place to go and trying to spend less against Democrats is a losing cause because voters would rather vote for those who are going to spend more than those who are going to spend just a bit less.
The decision to suspend her campaign is a boost for Hoffman, who already had the support of 50 percent of GOP voters, according to a newly-released Siena poll, and is now well-positioned to win over the 25 percent of Republicans who had been sticking with Scozzafava.Hoffman is well to the right of the district and has garnered quite a bit of support from outside the state, he's also started to pick up support from mainstream Republicans in the state, including former Governor George Pataki. Pataki must have seen the writing on the wall yesterday when he came out backing Hoffman over Scozzafava.
Scozzafava has “probably made her last campaign appearance between now and Election Day,” spokesman Matt Burns told POLITICO. “She’s releasing her support to the two other candidates."
"I had a discussion with her last night, and we made the decision after I spoke with her. We talked about it, what this came down to was spending. It came down to the ability to defend herself from the get-go. And that’s the reality. She was unable to define herself where the people didn’t know her."
Both Scozzafava and Hoffman are seriously flawed candidates. Hoffman isn't even a resident of the district he's hoping to represent, which I find abhorrent and should disqualify him outright. Scozzafava was an insider who has significant ties to ACORN and the WFP, and while the WFP backs Democrat Bill Owens in this race, Scozzafava's husband has worked quite a bit for both organizations.
Owens will likely go down to defeat because voters will coalesce behind Hoffman, not Owens. Looking back at the past several election cycles in NY-23, and Democrats have not won the seat.
Now, what will this mean outside the district? That's the million dollar question. Democrats will try and say that this shows that the GOP is fracturing and in the firm grip of conservatives and the far right. They'd be right to a degree, but that would be more than offset by a win by Chris Christie in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. No, what this shows is the continuing failure of the state GOP in New York to proffer candidates that are acceptable to the voters in their districts, and it took a rogue campaign by Hoffman to expose still more problems with the insider attitudes of the state GOP. Ed Cox, the head of the state GOP has to clean house and begin to understand that they have to work from the ground up to provide candidates that can win elections throughout the state from the local level on up to statewide races.
Cox needs to work the ground game and understand that tax and spend is destroying the state GOP because fiscal conservatives have no place to go and trying to spend less against Democrats is a losing cause because voters would rather vote for those who are going to spend more than those who are going to spend just a bit less.
State Department Rescuing Yemeni Jews From Anti-Semitism
There aren't that many Jews left in Yemen. They were largely driven out of the country following Israel's independence in 1948. Those that remained were a tiny percentage of the population.
Rising anti-Semitism has forced the US State Department to intervene and help resettle those that remain in the United States and Israel.
Now, the last remnants of the once flourishing population is coming to the US and Israel because the Islamists in Yemen simply refuse to accept the Jewish presence.
Rising anti-Semitism has forced the US State Department to intervene and help resettle those that remain in the United States and Israel.
According to the report, nearly 350 Yeminite Jews lived in the country before the operation. Those who have already moved to the US are likely to be joined by 100 more, while the remaining number will most likely move to Israel.Jewish ties to Yemen stretch back more than 2,000 years, and have a rich cultural heritage. Nearly the entire Jewish community in Yemen emigrated in 1948-1950 during Operation Magic Carpet because of pogroms and rioting that killed dozens of Jews in the wake of Israel's independence. Many settled in Israel, with some coming to the United States.
"If we had not done anything, we feared there would be bloodshed," Gregg Rickman, former State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, told the paper.
In August, Israeli sources confirmed that the overwhelming majority of the final remnant of Yemen's ancient Jewish community was looking to leave the country.
"About 120 of the Yemeni Jews want to move to Israel, 100 want to move to the US," a source told the Jerusalem Post. "And between 20 and 30 want to stay."
Now, the last remnants of the once flourishing population is coming to the US and Israel because the Islamists in Yemen simply refuse to accept the Jewish presence.
How the Lord of the Rings Should Have Ended
But that's not how you end up with a three volume masterpiece or a trilogy that made billions of dollars.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Montana Jury Finds Bat Maker Liable In Child's Death
I had reported on a similarly sad story previously, but a jury in Montana found against the maker of Louisville Slugger, Hillerich and Bradsby, which was ordered to pay $850,000 to the family a child that was struck by a ball hit using a Louisville Slugger aluminum bat.
Moreover, I expect the costs from any changes made as a result of this suit to be passed on to the end users - whether it is the phasing out of aluminum bats in favor of wooden bats (of which there are concerns over maple bats and the fact that they shatter when they split), and/or the higher replacement costs for wooden bats compared against aluminum bats that reduce operating costs for Little Leagues, plus higher insurance costs for playing.
The verdict sets a dangerous precedent for the bat maker and other baseball bat manufacturers who produce aluminum or composite bats.
It also raises red flags for Little Leagues and others engaging in organized baseball activities since they too could be liable for injuries sustained through the use of the aluminum bats.
Hillerich and Bradsby has been ordered to pay $850,000 to the family of 18-year-old Brandon Patch. The teenager was killed during a 2003 baseball game after being struck in the head by a batted ball off an aluminum bat while pitching during an American Legion game in Helena, MT.I expect that H&B will appeal the verdict, primarily on grounds that the bat was not defective and also that warnings would not have changed the outcome.
The Patch family argued aluminum bats are dangerous because they cause the ball to travel faster than those hit off wooden bats. They said Brandon did not have enough time to react after the ball was hit.
Although the jury did award the Patch family money saying that H&B failed to place warning labels on the aluminum bats, they also said the bat was not defective.
Moreover, I expect the costs from any changes made as a result of this suit to be passed on to the end users - whether it is the phasing out of aluminum bats in favor of wooden bats (of which there are concerns over maple bats and the fact that they shatter when they split), and/or the higher replacement costs for wooden bats compared against aluminum bats that reduce operating costs for Little Leagues, plus higher insurance costs for playing.
The verdict sets a dangerous precedent for the bat maker and other baseball bat manufacturers who produce aluminum or composite bats.
It also raises red flags for Little Leagues and others engaging in organized baseball activities since they too could be liable for injuries sustained through the use of the aluminum bats.
Thousands of Gazans Rally For Israel's Destruction
And the diplomats continue to say that Israel has a partner in peace in the form of the Palestinians? Here are the Gazans once again getting together to call for Israel's destruction. They do so to commemorate and honor the death of the founder of the terrorist group Islamic Jihad, who repeatedly called for Israel's destruction before he met his demise.
The demonstrations once again engage in the indoctrination of kids into the hatefest against Israel. The rally is geared to increase membership in the terrorist group and glorifies suicide bombers and terrorists who intend to maim and murder Israelis.
Palestinians will continue living in squalor of their own creation because they continue to propagate hatred towards Israel's very existence. They'd much rather live in that squalor fighting Israel than peaceful coexistence with Israel because of their religious, ideological, and indeed pathological hatred of Israel.
Note too that the AP calls masked terrorists merely militants, despite the fact that Islamic Jihad is on the US State Department list of terrorist groups, and the group has repeatedly taken credit for, and have been implicated in, hundreds of terror attacks against Israel.
Gov. Corzine Pressing For Higher Transportation Costs Before Election Day
Gov. Jon Corzine must be tone deaf. People are in a foul mood because of higher taxes and fees, and Corzine is once again considering higher tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike to fund transportation projects.
The reasoning is that because those highways include quite a few out of state travelers, the impact on New Jersey residents is less than by other tax and fee schemes.
The problem is that it does exact a cost on state taxpayers and residents who have to use those highways to get around the state. The Parkway and Turnpike are the only true North-South highways cutting through the state.
Corzine said that his prior calls to increase tolls by 800% were the wrong toll at the wrong time, but now says that a modified plan may be in order.
In other words, Corzine is comfortable hiking taxes and fees at a time when the state taxpayers are already among those shouldering the highest tax burdens in the nation. The Tax Foundation found that New Jersey and several New York counties have the highest tax burdens in the nation.
Corzine wants to impose still more taxes and fees to cover necessary transportation projects. Transportation projects are a necessary and critical element in a state's economic competitiveness. Providing a steady stream of income is critical, but the state motor fuels taxes aren't going to pull the same revenues as cars and trucks become more efficient; tolls are a direct tangible charge for mileage use, but as anyone driving those tolls roads around New Jersey knows, the quality of the roads isn't what it should be, especially in comparison to the New York State Thruway, which is a far larger system and whose road conditions are far better. Better use of transportation dollars is needed - wasteful spending must be avoided, including boondoggle transportation projects that severely overestimate transit needs like Secaucus Junction or Ramsey Route 17, both of which continue to be underutilized by more than 50% of the projected amounts from conception.
It means getting rid of pet projects to concentrate on critical needs, something that Corzine has been incapable of doing. It means limiting spending; another area that Corzine has been incapable of doing, despite his claims that he cut spending in this year's budget (a bald-faced lie given that state spending was goosed by a $2 billion infusion of federal aid that allowed state spending to continue at the same pace despite a massive shortfall in revenues).
The reasoning is that because those highways include quite a few out of state travelers, the impact on New Jersey residents is less than by other tax and fee schemes.
The problem is that it does exact a cost on state taxpayers and residents who have to use those highways to get around the state. The Parkway and Turnpike are the only true North-South highways cutting through the state.
Corzine said that his prior calls to increase tolls by 800% were the wrong toll at the wrong time, but now says that a modified plan may be in order.
In other words, Corzine is comfortable hiking taxes and fees at a time when the state taxpayers are already among those shouldering the highest tax burdens in the nation. The Tax Foundation found that New Jersey and several New York counties have the highest tax burdens in the nation.
Corzine wants to impose still more taxes and fees to cover necessary transportation projects. Transportation projects are a necessary and critical element in a state's economic competitiveness. Providing a steady stream of income is critical, but the state motor fuels taxes aren't going to pull the same revenues as cars and trucks become more efficient; tolls are a direct tangible charge for mileage use, but as anyone driving those tolls roads around New Jersey knows, the quality of the roads isn't what it should be, especially in comparison to the New York State Thruway, which is a far larger system and whose road conditions are far better. Better use of transportation dollars is needed - wasteful spending must be avoided, including boondoggle transportation projects that severely overestimate transit needs like Secaucus Junction or Ramsey Route 17, both of which continue to be underutilized by more than 50% of the projected amounts from conception.
It means getting rid of pet projects to concentrate on critical needs, something that Corzine has been incapable of doing. It means limiting spending; another area that Corzine has been incapable of doing, despite his claims that he cut spending in this year's budget (a bald-faced lie given that state spending was goosed by a $2 billion infusion of federal aid that allowed state spending to continue at the same pace despite a massive shortfall in revenues).
Photo of the Day
Pronghorn antelope in Custer State Park, taken October 2009 using my Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 83
First, we have the Freedom Tower rising. There are now four massive cranes assembling the lowest levels above street level that make up the lobby atrium area:
That's followed by Fiterman Hall falling. Fiterman Hall has been an eyesore on the northern side of Ground Zero since after the 9/11 attacks seriously damaged the building, which is part of the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus. The demolition was a long time coming, but it is expected to be completely razed by December, and a new building will begin rising on the location shortly thereafter.
Both these photos were taken today on my cellphone.
That's followed by Fiterman Hall falling. Fiterman Hall has been an eyesore on the northern side of Ground Zero since after the 9/11 attacks seriously damaged the building, which is part of the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus. The demolition was a long time coming, but it is expected to be completely razed by December, and a new building will begin rising on the location shortly thereafter.
Both these photos were taken today on my cellphone.
Shooting at LA Shul Injures Two
Shortly before dawn this morning a lone gunmen went to a Los Angeles synagogue and shot two parishioners as they were making their way in to morning prayers.
The LA Times reports that the shooter is still at large and there is no motive for the shooting at the moment.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement condemning the shooting.
The LA Times reports that the shooter is still at large and there is no motive for the shooting at the moment.
A 17-year-old who was detained for questioning shortly after the shooting was released this afternoon, and police backed away from initial claims that the attack was motivated by religious hate.Police do not think that robbery was a motive in the attacks that injured Mori Ben-Nissan, 38, and Allen Lasry, 53, but beefed up security at other Jewish facilities in the area possibly believing that there was a religious motivation.
Although police initially said the suspect was a black man wearing a black hoodie, law enforcement sources later said the investigation was wide open and that police were investigating all possibilities, including whether the gunman specifically targeted either of the victims.
One source said detectives were not certain of the suspect's race.
Several law enforcement sources also said investigators were looking at whether the shootings were related to a business or personal dispute. The sources said detectives believe one of the victims was the target, and that the second victim may have been shot because he witnessed the attack.
Speaking to reporters outside the taped-off synagogue, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called the incident "a senseless act of violence." But the mayor was careful to temper worries that the shooting was a hate crime.
"None of us should presume or speculate more about this other than it was a random act of violence," he said.
The unidentified gunman walked into the underground parking garage of Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue at 12405 Sylvan St. shortly before 6:20 a.m., said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore. He approached a man who was parking his car to attend prayer service.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement condemning the shooting.
“We condemn this attack near the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Orthodox synagogue in the strongest possible terms and offer our prayers for the victims and their families,” CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said in a statement.The shooter is still at large.
“No worshiper -- whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, or other -- should be made to feel unsafe or intimidated at a house of worship. We also appreciate the LAPD’s investigation and enhanced security in response to the attack.”
The two victims, each of whom was shot in the leg, were in good condition at local hospitals, according to Baltimore Sun sister The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime.
White House Fingerprints All Over Corzine Campaign
If there's one thing that the Obama Administration is good at, it's winning an election and they see the flailing incompetence of close ally Jon Corzine as a severe liability going into the 2010 midterm elections. They are pulling out all the stops to prevent Republican Chris Christie from winning this tight election. One of President Obama's top advisers is now heading the Corzine campaign efforts.
If Corzine goes down to defeat, it will definitely show the limits to Obama's coattails, and raise new questions about Democratic party strategy going into 2010. In fact, it should also raise questions about GOP tactics, and the need to put together candidates that appeal to moderates and independents, particularly in the Northeast, where the GOP is a dying breed. The GOP can't win national elections unless they put forth viable candidates across the nation, not just those that are acceptable to the right wing. Unless they can do so, the GOP will find itself increasingly marginalized on the national stage as a regional party.
Both Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden have campaigned for Corzine in the state, and Obama has cut television and radio ads for the governor. This Sunday, on the final weekend of the campaign, the president is returning to New Jersey for two events to try to pull Corzine over the finish line.The one (and perhaps only) thing that Corzine and his political advisers have going for them is that Corzine can outspend his opponents by a wide margin. That means lots more negative ads against Christie. That's eaten into Christie's polling significantly and made this a very tight race.
Benenson, the chief pollster in Obama’s 2008 campaign, along with David Plouffe, his former campaign manager, and a handful of others, make up a political inner circle that still meets regularly with White House senior advisor David Axelrod. Just as Bill Clinton once dispatched his political team to take over troubled campaigns from New York to Israel, Benenson’s arrival in New Jersey has stirred perceptions of a White House takeover – something he flatly denied.
“I’m known as a pretty strong New Jersey pollster and all [his hiring] says is that the campaign thought that I could add some value at a time when they felt they needed to make a move,” Berenson said.
Corzine trailed Christie badly in the polls throughout the summer, and according to three aides, began to suspect that the White House was considering pushing him to step aside for another candidate – a tactic the White House unsuccessfully tried against another northeastern Democrat in similar trouble – New York Gov. David Paterson.
If Corzine goes down to defeat, it will definitely show the limits to Obama's coattails, and raise new questions about Democratic party strategy going into 2010. In fact, it should also raise questions about GOP tactics, and the need to put together candidates that appeal to moderates and independents, particularly in the Northeast, where the GOP is a dying breed. The GOP can't win national elections unless they put forth viable candidates across the nation, not just those that are acceptable to the right wing. Unless they can do so, the GOP will find itself increasingly marginalized on the national stage as a regional party.
Racidal Imam Killed In Shootout With FBI In Detroit
A Detroit imam, Luqman Ameen Abdullah, who was under investigation for his radical activities, including conspiracy, receipt of stolen goods, and firearms offenses and exhorting his followers to jihad, was killed in a shootout with FBI officers as they attempted to arrest him yesterday.
Yesterday's raid seeking Abdullah's arrest was part of a 2-year investigation into the activities by his group.
UPDATE:
A newspaper photographer was assaulted outside the mosque where Abdullah preached.
Video on the incident.
A FBI press release is here, and provides a list of crimes alleged by the individuals listed above. It also requests knowledge of the whereabouts of the following:
Luqman Ameen Abdullah, imam of the Masjid Al-Haqq mosque in Detroit, was being arrested on a raft of federal charges including conspiracy, receipt of stolen goods, and firearms offenses.The group was advocating the creation of a separate Islamic state within the US and sought to bring about its creation through violence; jihad.
Charges were also filed against 11 of Abdullah's followers. Eight were in custody Wednesday night awaiting detention hearings today; three remained at large.
A federal complaint filed Wednesday identified Abdullah, 53, also known as Christopher Thomas, as "a highly placed leader of a nationwide radical fundamentalist Sunni group." His black Muslim group calls itself "Ummah," or the brotherhood, and wants to establish a separate state within the United States governed by Sharia law, Interim U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg and Andrew Arena, FBI special agent in charge in Detroit, said in a joint statement.
"He regularly preaches anti-government and anti-law enforcement rhetoric," an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit. "Abdullah and his followers have trained regularly in the use of firearms, and continue to train in martial arts and sword fighting."
The Ummah is headed nationally by Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, who is serving a state sentence for the murder of two police officers in Georgia.
(snip)
The others charged are:
• Mohammad Abdul Salaam, also known as Gregory Stone, 45, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes and sale or receipt of stolen goods.
• Abdullah Beard, also known as Detric Lamont Driver, 37, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Abdul Saboor, also known as Dwayne Edward Davis, 37, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Mujahid Carswell, also known as Mujahid Abdullah, 30, of Detroit and Ontario, Canada, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Adam Ibraheem, 38, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Gary Laverne Porter, 59, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
• Ali Abdul Raqib, 57, of Detroit, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Mohammad Alsahi, also known as Mohammad Palestine, 33, of Ontario, Canada, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Yassir Ali Khan, 30, of Ontario, Canada, and Warren, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes.
• Mohammad Abdul Bassir, also known as Franklin D. Roosevelt Williams, 50, of Ojibway Correctional Facility, with conspiracy to commit federal crimes, sale or receipt of stolen goods, mail fraud, supplying firearms to felons, possession of weapons by a felon, and altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers.
• A.C. Pusha, charged in a separate complaint late Wednesday with conspiracy to receive and sell stolen goods.
Salaam, Saboor, Porter, Beard, Ibraheem, Raqib, and Pusha all appeared in U.S. District Court in Detroit late Wednesday afternoon. Bassir is in state custody. Others charged are still at large.
Yesterday's raid seeking Abdullah's arrest was part of a 2-year investigation into the activities by his group.
UPDATE:
A newspaper photographer was assaulted outside the mosque where Abdullah preached.
Witnesses said the men were on the porch at the Masjid Al-Haqq mosque when Ricardo Thomas, 67, began taking photos from across the street. Several pushed him, one threw a punch at him and his camera equipment was smashed.UPDATE:
Thomas was kicked while on the ground and suffered a cut lip. He drove himself to a hospital and said later "there was no reason" for the attack.
"It's a public street," Thomas said. "I am a journalist doing my job, just like all the other journalists doing their jobs."
Video on the incident.
A FBI press release is here, and provides a list of crimes alleged by the individuals listed above. It also requests knowledge of the whereabouts of the following:
At the time of this release, Mujahid Carswell, Mohammad Alsahi and Yassir Ali Khan were still at large. Anyone with information regarding the location of these individuals should contact the FBI at (313) 965-2323.
Reports Indicate Economy Grew 3.5% in 3Q 2009
For a change, we have good news to report on the economy. It grew at a better than expected 3.5%. That's based on better than expected housing and car sales.
The problem is that I don't expect the 4th quarter to continue with those gains and other experts don't think we're out of the woods just yet, primarily because the impetus for those higher sales in both housing and auto sales will disappear; the homeowner credit ends November 30 (and essentially required sales to be consummated during the third quarter) and there isn't a cash for clunkers to increase car sales.
As for what the cash for clunkers program actually did with the $3 billion and the sales created by the program, Edmunds.com believes that the actual cost per additional vehicle sold by the program was nearly $24,000. That's not a lot of bang for the buck.
We paid $3 billion to shift sales around during the year, and there are dealers who have yet to be fully reimbursed for their participation in the program.
Then, there's the question of how many people are now taking on additional debt as a result of their participation in the program. An analysis by Edmunds or others should be able to figure that out - because you know that the cost of the new vehicles vastly exceeded the cost of the cars they replaced. Many of those had to have been paid for; particularly any car that was older than five years (which is high end limit on car loan duration). In particularly, it would be good to know the average age of the vehicles traded in, the book value of those cars, the book value of the cars bought, and the new debt incurred per vehicle. At a time when consumer debt is at near historic highs, taking on new debt to jump start the economy may spur the economy in the short run, but will adversely affect the national economy in the long run.
Meanwhile, GM is still in the crapper - GMAC is in talks to get a third round of bailout money because GM's credit arm is hemorrhaging money (because of exposure to the flailing auto markets and the real estate market). Chrysler isn't in much better shape, and that's even after the bankruptcy reorganization, shedding car divisions, and thousands of dealers have been forced out of business in the process. Chrysler also relies on GMAC for financing.
The problem is that I don't expect the 4th quarter to continue with those gains and other experts don't think we're out of the woods just yet, primarily because the impetus for those higher sales in both housing and auto sales will disappear; the homeowner credit ends November 30 (and essentially required sales to be consummated during the third quarter) and there isn't a cash for clunkers to increase car sales.
As for what the cash for clunkers program actually did with the $3 billion and the sales created by the program, Edmunds.com believes that the actual cost per additional vehicle sold by the program was nearly $24,000. That's not a lot of bang for the buck.
A study by Edmunds.com released Wednesday suggests that Cash for Clunkers mostly gave money to people who were going to buy a new car anyway.I've been saying this all along, all the cash for clunkers did was shift sales into July and August and weak sales for the rest of the year will bear silent testament to the folly of this program. Weak sales in the months following bear out the fact that people shifted their buying to take advantage of the "free money" when many would have bought vehicles anyway.
American taxpayers paid a lot of cash for those clunkers: $24,000 for each new car sold, according to a study released Wednesday.
That’s a lot of money, especially when the so-called “cash for clunker” stimulus program offered only a maximum $4,500 in cash for each person who traded in an old gas-guzzler and bought a new car.
The government could have done almost as well by just giving away cars for free, instead of creating an elaborate incentive program, according to an analysis by the automotive information firm Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, Calif.
We paid $3 billion to shift sales around during the year, and there are dealers who have yet to be fully reimbursed for their participation in the program.
Then, there's the question of how many people are now taking on additional debt as a result of their participation in the program. An analysis by Edmunds or others should be able to figure that out - because you know that the cost of the new vehicles vastly exceeded the cost of the cars they replaced. Many of those had to have been paid for; particularly any car that was older than five years (which is high end limit on car loan duration). In particularly, it would be good to know the average age of the vehicles traded in, the book value of those cars, the book value of the cars bought, and the new debt incurred per vehicle. At a time when consumer debt is at near historic highs, taking on new debt to jump start the economy may spur the economy in the short run, but will adversely affect the national economy in the long run.
Meanwhile, GM is still in the crapper - GMAC is in talks to get a third round of bailout money because GM's credit arm is hemorrhaging money (because of exposure to the flailing auto markets and the real estate market). Chrysler isn't in much better shape, and that's even after the bankruptcy reorganization, shedding car divisions, and thousands of dealers have been forced out of business in the process. Chrysler also relies on GMAC for financing.
SC Deputy Attorney General's Trick 'n Treat Costs Him His Job
This goes in the what the heck category. Police found the South Carolina Deputy Attorney General Roland Corning engaging in illicit behavior in a cemetery on his lunch break.
A deputy assistant attorney general who said he was on his lunch break when an officer found him with a stripper and sex toys in his sport utility vehicle has been fired, his boss said Wednesday.Corning, a former Republican state legislator, hoped to get out of his mess by showing his DA's badge? That's typical of people in such positions of power. At least the officer did his job, and South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster sent Corning packing. Good for McMaster.
Roland Corning, 66, a former state legislator, was in a secluded part of a downtown cemetery when an officer spotted him Monday, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act.
As the officer approached, Corning sped off, then pulled over a few blocks away. He and the 18-year-old woman with him, an employee of the Platinum Plus Gentleman's Club, gave conflicting stories about what they were doing in the cemetery, Officer Michael Wines wrote in his report, though he did not elaborate.
Corning gave Wines a badge showing he worked for the state Attorney General's Office. Wines, whose wife also works there, called her to make sure Corning was telling the truth.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Westboro Goes To New Jersey
The hate-freaks at Westboro Baptist decided to come to New Jersey, and while Tony Soprano and his crew were unavailable, the Rutgers Hillel managed to get 200 counter protesters to come out against the six Westboro Baptist haters who showed up on campus.
Six members of Kansas hate group Westboro Baptist Church protested this morning at Rutgers Hillel, a campus Jewish group, but were met by roughly 200 Rutgers students and others who rallied for tolerance.The Westboro haters regularly protest against US servicemembers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, hate gays and lesbians, and routinely protest outside synagogues and Jewish centers.
Word of the planned visit by the Kansas group spread quickly over the past two weeks through Facebook, Hillel organizers said.
As of today, more than 14,000 people became Facebook “friends” of a page created for the rally, titled “Rutgers United Against Hate,” said Andrew Getraer, executive director of Rutgers Hillel.
The Topeka-based hate group is touring New Jersey this week, with stops Tuesday in West Orange, Elizabeth and Hoboken, and today demonstrations in New Brunswick, Paramus, Secaucus and Jersey City.
This morning, the group started protests at 7:30 a.m. in front of New Brunswick High School on Livingston Avenue, then moved to a corner on College Avenue, across from Hillel Rutgers, at about 8 a.m. They left by 8:40 a.m.
If You Can't Beat Them, Pay Them?
A new defense appropriations bill includes a most curious clause that would provide payments to Taliban thugs who renounce their fight against the Afghan government. It's basically a bribe.
Sen. Carl Levin thinks this is similar to efforts in Iraq to pay off the insurgents who were attacking US and Iraqi forces. The key difference is that the al Qaeda and insurgency was paying those individuals to operate on their behalf; a lack of economic opportunity was a key reason that the insurgency took hold, and once the Iraqi economy began showing improvement, the insurgency leaders lost a key selling point and efforts to reintegrate the former insurgency members gained ground.
The situation on the ground in Afghanistan is far different. The Taliban have an independent source of revenue, primarily from the sale of heroin and opium. Tribal and familial loyalties are working against similar efforts, and the Taliban will more than likely rebuff efforts to buy the silence of their weapons.
The Taliban already dominate parts of Afghanistan and buying protection for their towns and villages isn't changing the fact on the ground; they already control that territory so paying them for that task is redundant. In fact, it opens up the possibility that the money the US is providing will find its way to al Qaeda and the Taliban fighting in Pakistan. Moreover, it will be seen as a sign of weakness by the Taliban, and encourage more fighting.
The defense bill President Barack Obama will sign into law on Wednesday contains a new provision that would pay Taliban fighters who renounce the insurgency, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said on Tuesday.I think it shows a serious misunderstanding about the Taliban's character and motivations. Bribery will not buy off the Taliban; it will merely fund the Taliban's ongoing efforts against the Afghan, Pakistani, and US efforts to quell the Taliban threat in the region. The Taliban will not be satisfied until they regain control over Afghanistan, and their reach extends deep into Pakistan as well.
The provision establishes a program in Afghanistan similar to one used in Iraq where former fighters were re-integrated into Iraqi society, Levin told Reuters.
Obama plans to sign the bill authorizing Pentagon operations for fiscal 2010 on Wednesday, the White House said.
Reaching out to moderate Taliban members is part of the Obama administration's plan to turn around the eight-year war in Afghanistan. Levin also has advocated trying to convince Taliban fighters to change sides by luring them with jobs and amnesty for past attacks.
Under the legislation, Afghan fighters who renounce the insurgency would be paid for "mainly protection of their towns and villages," Levin said.
Sen. Carl Levin thinks this is similar to efforts in Iraq to pay off the insurgents who were attacking US and Iraqi forces. The key difference is that the al Qaeda and insurgency was paying those individuals to operate on their behalf; a lack of economic opportunity was a key reason that the insurgency took hold, and once the Iraqi economy began showing improvement, the insurgency leaders lost a key selling point and efforts to reintegrate the former insurgency members gained ground.
The situation on the ground in Afghanistan is far different. The Taliban have an independent source of revenue, primarily from the sale of heroin and opium. Tribal and familial loyalties are working against similar efforts, and the Taliban will more than likely rebuff efforts to buy the silence of their weapons.
The Taliban already dominate parts of Afghanistan and buying protection for their towns and villages isn't changing the fact on the ground; they already control that territory so paying them for that task is redundant. In fact, it opens up the possibility that the money the US is providing will find its way to al Qaeda and the Taliban fighting in Pakistan. Moreover, it will be seen as a sign of weakness by the Taliban, and encourage more fighting.
Amtrak's Money Woes Continue
A new report by the Pew Charitable Trust found that Amtrak is a black hole for money, and that the overwhelming majority of its rail lines lose money. The rail service loses $32 per rider and 41 of the 44 routes lose money. The Northeast Corridor, which is the system's busiest, loses an average of $5 per customer.
Amtrak has been incapable of maintaining its infrastructure and the Northeast Corridor is no exception. Problems with the Portal Bridge in Hackensack regularly cause delays, as do power problems with the overhead power lines. The Portal Bridge is scheduled for replacement, but other problems continue to creep in, including problems with concrete railroad ties that required early replacement because they failed prematurely. The infusion of federal aid is a bandaid that does not address underlying problems with Amtrak and the fact that air travel is seen as preferable to train travel, even with all the security headaches and delays.
Trying to build a sustainable rail service in the US is going to take a serious commitment, and while the Obama Administration seems more than willing to do so, the supply of money to make it happen isn't endless. At some point, people are going to demand results - and for Amtrak to turn a profit. I just don't see that happening anytime soon, not when Amtrak has shown itself incapable of growing its existing routes, maintaining its rights of way and introducing new technologies and equipment that will make the service more competitive with other modes of transportation.
Amtrak loses an average of $32 for every passenger who boards one of its trains, and 41 of its 44 routes lost money in 2008, according to a scathing watchdog report released yesterday.That's completely unacceptable. Part of the problem may be that Amtrak has attempted to cut prices for tickets to lure customers away from air travel or bus service, but they can't sustain such low prices. That means that the prices will have to go up to close the deficit, or else taxpayers will find themselves once again bailing out the rail service.
Still, the federal government keeps pumping money into the train wreck.
Amtrak received $1.3 billion in taxpayer funds in 2008, and will get $2.7 billion in subsidies and stimulus dollars in 2009, the Pew Charitable Trusts study says.
"Losses range from nearly $5 to $462 per passenger, depending upon the line," the report said.
The loss-per-rider breakdown is the first of its kind.
"Everybody should be able to see what the subsidy is and make a judgment about whether that money is being well spent or not," said Marcus Peacock, the study director.
The group's loss-per-rider figures were four times higher than Amtrak's, because the new study took into consideration the inevitable decay of trains, buildings and rails and the cost of repairs.
Amtrak has been incapable of maintaining its infrastructure and the Northeast Corridor is no exception. Problems with the Portal Bridge in Hackensack regularly cause delays, as do power problems with the overhead power lines. The Portal Bridge is scheduled for replacement, but other problems continue to creep in, including problems with concrete railroad ties that required early replacement because they failed prematurely. The infusion of federal aid is a bandaid that does not address underlying problems with Amtrak and the fact that air travel is seen as preferable to train travel, even with all the security headaches and delays.
Trying to build a sustainable rail service in the US is going to take a serious commitment, and while the Obama Administration seems more than willing to do so, the supply of money to make it happen isn't endless. At some point, people are going to demand results - and for Amtrak to turn a profit. I just don't see that happening anytime soon, not when Amtrak has shown itself incapable of growing its existing routes, maintaining its rights of way and introducing new technologies and equipment that will make the service more competitive with other modes of transportation.
Terrorists Strike Peshawar As Secretary of State Clinton Visits Pakistan
A terrorist detonated a large car bomb in the middle of a market in Peshawar, killing at least 90 people.
This terror attack is no coincidence. The Taliban meant this mass murder to send a message to the Pakistani government and the United States.
The attack is just the latest in a string of mass murder attacks committed by the Taliban against the Pakistani people in retaliation for the Pakistani military's ongoing military campaign in the frontier provinces. The attacks aren't confined to Pakistan either, as a an assault on a UN guest quarters killed six UN workers in Kabul:
A car packed with 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of explosives detonated at Peshawar's Meena Bazaar Wednesday, killing at least 90 people and injuring more than 200 others, according to a government official.That came at a time when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was visiting Islamabad to discuss foreign relations with the Pakistani government.
Most of the dead were women who were shopping in the labyrinth of stores in the Peepal Mandi section of the city, according to North West Frontier Province's information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.
The flames from the explosion sparked fires at stores selling highly flammable fabric, causing some of the casualties, Hussain said.
This terror attack is no coincidence. The Taliban meant this mass murder to send a message to the Pakistani government and the United States.
The attack is just the latest in a string of mass murder attacks committed by the Taliban against the Pakistani people in retaliation for the Pakistani military's ongoing military campaign in the frontier provinces. The attacks aren't confined to Pakistan either, as a an assault on a UN guest quarters killed six UN workers in Kabul:
Several Taliban fighters wearing police uniforms and suicide bombs stormed the compound. Three of the bombers detonated their vests.
Afghan security forces cleared the compound and discovered six foreign UN workers were killed in the attack.
The Taliban took credit for the attack and said it was part of a campaign to disrupt the run off presidential election scheduled for Nov. 7.
"We have said that we would attack anyone engaged in the process and today's attack is just a start," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters.
Photo of the Day
Badlands National Park after the snow.
This photo were taken using my Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Earth Still Woefully Unprepared For Possible Asteroid Strikes
Asteroids and meteors have repeatedly struck the planet since time immemorial, but it only recently that people have had the technology to begin tracking these objects and possibly do something about it.
The problem is that the efforts are still in their infancy, all while these objects continue to be in the path of the Earth's orbit.
One such object struck the planet on October 8th over Indonesia. A report indicates that it struck with a force of 50,000 tons of TNT, or the equivalent of a medium-sized nuclear blast. The nuclear weapon that detonated over Hiroshima was smaller than the energy released by this:
The problem is that the efforts are still in their infancy, all while these objects continue to be in the path of the Earth's orbit.
One such object struck the planet on October 8th over Indonesia. A report indicates that it struck with a force of 50,000 tons of TNT, or the equivalent of a medium-sized nuclear blast. The nuclear weapon that detonated over Hiroshima was smaller than the energy released by this:
No telescope spotted the asteroid ahead of its impact. That is not surprising, given that only a tiny fraction of asteroids smaller than 100 metres across have been catalogued, says Tim Spahr, director of the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Yet objects as small as 20 or 30 metres across may be capable of doing damage on the ground, he says.Movies like Armageddon and Deep Impact warn of the threat of planet-killers, but those objects are easier to spot than the far more numerous smaller objects that could potentially ruin the day of a city or region.
"If you want to find the smallest objects you have to build more, larger telescopes," says Spahr. "A survey that finds all of the 20-metre objects will cost probably multiple billions of dollars."
The US Office of Science and Technology Policy, which advises the White House, must develop a policy to address the asteroid hazard by October 2010 under a deadline imposed by 2008 legislation. It is likely to be influenced by a report from the National Research Council on the asteroid problem, which is expected by year's end.
Solar Thermal Power Getting Ready For Prime Time With Caveats
Solar thermal power systems appear to be ready for prime time. That's the claim of a company preparing to build a multiple array solar thermal power system in California's Mojave desert. It involves using a matrix of 82 mirrors focusing light on a single point to heat up hydrogen gas to 1,450F, which would in turn power a Stirling engine to generate electricity. Each of these free-standing arrays would produce 25kw of power. Linking 40 of these units together would send power to the grid and produce 1mw of power.
This design is far more efficient than the parabolic collectors now in use in California and Arizona. It also means that power generators can work on individual units without shutting down power production for the entire facility as must be done with the parabolic collectors.
All that sounds great, until you hear the caveats.
Yet, it is the lack of those transmission lines that are going to keep large scale alternative energy facilities from being built in the first place.
At the same time, water usage is a major concern at power plants because of the scarcity of water in the desert Southwest and competing needs for water are only expected to grow as the population increases there.
Meanwhile, photovoltaics are showing signs of improvement and may end up being a small scale power producer at the local level. Instead of utilities building photovoltaic facilities, individual homeowners or businesses may install arrays and reduce the need for power from the grid, reducing the load on utility infrastructure.
It would also mean that President Obama's energy infrastructure program is needed more than ever since a smart grid would be needed to handle the diverse input of energy from multiple and variable sources to maintain reliability.
This design is far more efficient than the parabolic collectors now in use in California and Arizona. It also means that power generators can work on individual units without shutting down power production for the entire facility as must be done with the parabolic collectors.
All that sounds great, until you hear the caveats.
The enormous scale of the Abengoa and Stirling Energy plants provides an answer to skeptics who doubt whether a few rooftop panels here and there can ever play a meaningful role in the world’s energy portfolio. But size also creates its own set of problems. For one thing, the power has to be transmitted to where it’s needed, and the empty deserts best suited for sprawling CST plants tend to be in the middle of nowhere. The site of Stirling Energy’s future plant for the San Diego market currently has enough transmission capacity for 300 Mw, or 12,000 dishes. The remaining 24,000 dishes will be built only if San Diego Gas & Electric is able to complete a proposed 150-mile transmission line between the plant and the city.In other words, until the transmission lines are built from these remote locations, the full application of solar thermal power will not be achieved. That's the same problem that killed a Pickens' wind power project in Texas, and opposition to transmission line siting rules promulgated by the federal government is fairly widespread, including here in New Jersey where Governor Corzine announced his opposition to the rule claiming it would allow cheaper non-renewable or non-green power sources to provide power decimating New Jersey's green power initiatives.
Water use is another issue. CST plants with steam turbines can require hundreds of millions of gallons of water to cool their condensers—a challenge in regions where water is already at a premium. In this respect, Stirling Energy’s hydrogen-based system has a significant advantage, since it only uses water to rinse the mirrors every few weeks. Osborn estimates that the San Diego plant, when producing power for 500,000 households, would use the same amount of water as 33 average homes.
Utility-scale solar power also requires enormous capital, which keeps it out of reach of people in the developing world, where such solutions are desperately needed. That’s a challenge RawSolar, an MIT spinoff, is trying to meet with a dish that is just 12 ft. wide, and simple and cheap enough to make for stand-alone operation. The nonprofit Solar Turbine Group, another MIT spinoff, built an even more bare-bones mini-CST system in Lesotho last summer, using spare car parts for the heat engine.
Yet, it is the lack of those transmission lines that are going to keep large scale alternative energy facilities from being built in the first place.
At the same time, water usage is a major concern at power plants because of the scarcity of water in the desert Southwest and competing needs for water are only expected to grow as the population increases there.
Meanwhile, photovoltaics are showing signs of improvement and may end up being a small scale power producer at the local level. Instead of utilities building photovoltaic facilities, individual homeowners or businesses may install arrays and reduce the need for power from the grid, reducing the load on utility infrastructure.
It would also mean that President Obama's energy infrastructure program is needed more than ever since a smart grid would be needed to handle the diverse input of energy from multiple and variable sources to maintain reliability.
New Rassmussen Poll Puts Christie Ahead
Rassmussen Reports issued a new poll showing that Republican Chris Christie has again taken a slight lead against incumbent Governor Jon Corzine. Independent candidate Chris Daggett has all but fallen off the radar.
The increase in support and the decline in support for Daggett is too much to be mere coincidence. It appears that those people who proffered support for Daggett are again returning to Christie. Daggett has run a series of humorous ads lampooning the sclerotic politics of both Democrats and Republicans using lookalikes as stand ins for Christie and Corzine.
The problem for Daggett is that he's offering a prescription that leads to higher taxes, not lower taxes. Daggett wants to greatly expand the sales and use tax as a lever to reducing property taxes. That's the same tact that Corzine took, when Corzine sold the state on raising the sales and use tax by one point to fund property tax rebates. When the tax revenues dropped, the rebates dried up as well and Corzine initially sought to can the rebates while keeping the sales tax hike but relented to a vastly reduced property tax rebate program. In the end, we're saddled with a higher sales tax, higher property taxes, and no end in sight to the relentless increases because state spending is out of control.
Christie has also started running a new ad linking Daggett to Corzine - more of the same tax and spend policies. That's geared to those independents who are on the fence. People are also realizing that voting for Daggett might mean a second term of Corzine, and they're not comfortable with that fact.
Rassmussen also points out that Corzine's unfavorables greatly outpace the favorables 57/41, while Christie is even 49/49. Corzine also gets a much greater negative rating - 40% have a very unfavorable view of the governor. Only 39% of those polled think that Corzine is doing a good job (in comparison to 53% who think President Obama is doing a good job). 59% think that Corzine is doing a bad job (compared to 46% who think that Obama is doing a bad job). It's little wonder that Corzine has had President Obama come to New Jersey three times to stump for him. Corzine needs all the help he can get from someone perceived as doing a better job than Corzine.
Despite all the negative sentiment, Corzine is still managing to be neck and neck with Christie. That's quite telling as to power of Corzine's ad campaign outspending Christie 3-1 and the fact that Christie's message isn't fully resonating.
People in New Jersey are angry over the state's fiscal situation, and yet they're not quite willing or able to pull the trigger on Christie.
I don't have access to the crosstabs, but the topline questions are here. With a margin of error of +/- 3%, it looks like more than 1,000 people were polled.
The increase in support and the decline in support for Daggett is too much to be mere coincidence. It appears that those people who proffered support for Daggett are again returning to Christie. Daggett has run a series of humorous ads lampooning the sclerotic politics of both Democrats and Republicans using lookalikes as stand ins for Christie and Corzine.
The problem for Daggett is that he's offering a prescription that leads to higher taxes, not lower taxes. Daggett wants to greatly expand the sales and use tax as a lever to reducing property taxes. That's the same tact that Corzine took, when Corzine sold the state on raising the sales and use tax by one point to fund property tax rebates. When the tax revenues dropped, the rebates dried up as well and Corzine initially sought to can the rebates while keeping the sales tax hike but relented to a vastly reduced property tax rebate program. In the end, we're saddled with a higher sales tax, higher property taxes, and no end in sight to the relentless increases because state spending is out of control.
Christie has also started running a new ad linking Daggett to Corzine - more of the same tax and spend policies. That's geared to those independents who are on the fence. People are also realizing that voting for Daggett might mean a second term of Corzine, and they're not comfortable with that fact.
Rassmussen also points out that Corzine's unfavorables greatly outpace the favorables 57/41, while Christie is even 49/49. Corzine also gets a much greater negative rating - 40% have a very unfavorable view of the governor. Only 39% of those polled think that Corzine is doing a good job (in comparison to 53% who think President Obama is doing a good job). 59% think that Corzine is doing a bad job (compared to 46% who think that Obama is doing a bad job). It's little wonder that Corzine has had President Obama come to New Jersey three times to stump for him. Corzine needs all the help he can get from someone perceived as doing a better job than Corzine.
Despite all the negative sentiment, Corzine is still managing to be neck and neck with Christie. That's quite telling as to power of Corzine's ad campaign outspending Christie 3-1 and the fact that Christie's message isn't fully resonating.
People in New Jersey are angry over the state's fiscal situation, and yet they're not quite willing or able to pull the trigger on Christie.
I don't have access to the crosstabs, but the topline questions are here. With a margin of error of +/- 3%, it looks like more than 1,000 people were polled.
When Taxes Chase People Away
A new study has found that 1.1 million New Yorkers are now former New Yorkers as they have moved away from New York State since 2000. That's the largest such migration in the nation. 1 in 7 City residents moved away in that time.
More alarming, those people who have immigrated to the city are making nearly $20,000 less than the people they're replacing.
That's a huge drag on tax revenues, and further compromises the fiscal stability of the state.
One way to stem the flight to cheaper (even relatively cheaper) locales is to reduce the crushing tax burden. Housing costs also play a role, and allowing the construction of more housing is a grave concern to reduce the cost of housing. Programs that artificially reduce the cost of housing through subsidies does not add units of housing; it merely inflates the cost of housing elsewhere in the City as property managers seek to recoup their profits elsewhere.
More alarming, those people who have immigrated to the city are making nearly $20,000 less than the people they're replacing.
That's a huge drag on tax revenues, and further compromises the fiscal stability of the state.
Overall, the ex-New Yorkers earn about 13 percent more than those who moved into the state, the study found.New Jersey has largely benefited because many people have given up trying to live in New York City because of the expense, but their jobs tie them to the City. That is my situation as well.
And it should be no surprise that the city -- and Manhattan in particular -- suffered the biggest loss in terms of taxable income.
The average Manhattan taxpayer who left the state earned $93,264 a year. The average newcomer to Manhattan earned only $72,726.
That's a difference of $20,538, the highest for any county in the state. Staten Island was second, with a $20,066 difference.
It all adds up to staggering loss in taxable income. During 2006-2007, the "migration flow" out of New York to other states amounted to a loss of $4.3 billion.
The study used annual US Census reports, which showed which states had increased population, combined with Internal Revenue Service data, which show which states, cities and counties had lost people.
While New York City and the state were the losers, the Sunshine and Garden States were winners. more than 250,000 New Yorkers who lived in and around the city fled to Florida. Another 172,000 city taxpayers ended up in New Jersey.
One way to stem the flight to cheaper (even relatively cheaper) locales is to reduce the crushing tax burden. Housing costs also play a role, and allowing the construction of more housing is a grave concern to reduce the cost of housing. Programs that artificially reduce the cost of housing through subsidies does not add units of housing; it merely inflates the cost of housing elsewhere in the City as property managers seek to recoup their profits elsewhere.
Photo of the Day
Mt. Rushmore after an early October snowstorm.
This photo was taken using my Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
This photo was taken using my Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
Monday, October 26, 2009
Two Dubious Polls; NY-23 and NJ Governors Race
NY-23 is a contentious Congressional race to fill the seat vacated by Rep. John McHugh, who was chosen by President Obama to be his Secretary of the Army. It's a three-way race between Republican Dede Scozzafava, Democrat Bill Owens, and Conservative Doug Hoffman. The district leans Republican, so a split vote between Scozzafava and Hoffman could benefit Owens.
A Club for Growth poll shows Hoffman ahead, but the sample size is one that caught my attention.
Meanwhile, another unreliable poll is now being proffered to indicate that Jon Corzine has rebounded and taken a significant lead over Republican challenger Chris Christie and longshot independent Chris Daggett. It was taken by Suffolk University (cross tabs are here) and among the oddities is that it included all politicians on the ballot for governor, not just the top three candidates. It also has unbelievably high undecided figures, which would swamp any possible advantage proffered to Corzine by the poll. Only 400 people were counted in this particular poll.
On question 14 (page 17 of cross tabs), which asks those who were undecided, (which comprised nearly 25% of those polled) "if you are standing in a voting booth right now, who would you vote for" out of the 400 polled, only 104 actually answered this particular question, and of that total, 26 said Corzine, 14 for Christie, and 2 for Daggett. 56 said they were undecided.
That's a far higher number of undecideds at this stage than other races. It definitely seems that this is related to the poll's methodologies.
By comparison, Quinnipiac polled more than three times that amount - 1,200 statewide - to get a reasonable snapshot of views in their last major poll released mid-October.
I'm not alone in questioning the Suffolk poll. Other polls show that the number of undecided voters is half that what was seen in the Suffolk poll, and it seems to indicate the methodologies used by Suffolk appear to have affected the poll results. Moreover, no poll taken in the past couple of months have shown a Corzine lead of greater than three points - and those have been few and far between. It has only been in the last couple of weeks that Corzine has closed the gap to a dead heat, and that's largely due to a massive attack ad campaign against Christie.
What's troubling is that the poll indicates that a clear majority think that Corzine will win, regardless of their preference.
UPDATE:
Small sample size relates directly to margin of error. The smaller the sample size, the greater the margin of error. That's why many reputable pollsters run samples of at least 1,000 people. Smaller than that, and results will fall within the margin of error.
A Club for Growth poll shows Hoffman ahead, but the sample size is one that caught my attention.
The poll of 300 likely voters, conducted October 24-25, 2009, shows Conservative Doug Hoffman at 31.3%, Democrat Bill Owens at 27.0%, Republican Dede Scozzafava at 19.7%, and 22% undecided. The poll's margin of error is +/- 5.66%. No information was provided about any of the candidates prior to the ballot question.300 people is far less than what would otherwise be considered an adequate number to fair sample. Other polls from the last week or two have shown a near dead heat. Given the margin of error and the small sample size, I think it's fair to say that the poll is unreliable as an indicator of voter sentiment in the district.
This is the third poll done for the Club for Growth in the NY-23 special election, and Doug Hoffman is the only candidate to show an increase in his support levels in each successive poll. The momentum in the race is clearly with Hoffman.
Meanwhile, another unreliable poll is now being proffered to indicate that Jon Corzine has rebounded and taken a significant lead over Republican challenger Chris Christie and longshot independent Chris Daggett. It was taken by Suffolk University (cross tabs are here) and among the oddities is that it included all politicians on the ballot for governor, not just the top three candidates. It also has unbelievably high undecided figures, which would swamp any possible advantage proffered to Corzine by the poll. Only 400 people were counted in this particular poll.
On question 14 (page 17 of cross tabs), which asks those who were undecided, (which comprised nearly 25% of those polled) "if you are standing in a voting booth right now, who would you vote for" out of the 400 polled, only 104 actually answered this particular question, and of that total, 26 said Corzine, 14 for Christie, and 2 for Daggett. 56 said they were undecided.
That's a far higher number of undecideds at this stage than other races. It definitely seems that this is related to the poll's methodologies.
By comparison, Quinnipiac polled more than three times that amount - 1,200 statewide - to get a reasonable snapshot of views in their last major poll released mid-October.
I'm not alone in questioning the Suffolk poll. Other polls show that the number of undecided voters is half that what was seen in the Suffolk poll, and it seems to indicate the methodologies used by Suffolk appear to have affected the poll results. Moreover, no poll taken in the past couple of months have shown a Corzine lead of greater than three points - and those have been few and far between. It has only been in the last couple of weeks that Corzine has closed the gap to a dead heat, and that's largely due to a massive attack ad campaign against Christie.
What's troubling is that the poll indicates that a clear majority think that Corzine will win, regardless of their preference.
UPDATE:
Small sample size relates directly to margin of error. The smaller the sample size, the greater the margin of error. That's why many reputable pollsters run samples of at least 1,000 people. Smaller than that, and results will fall within the margin of error.
More US Energy Policy Insanity
The insanity that surrounds the nation's energy policy can often be distilled to two words: NIMBY and money. Those are the words that kill power generating facilities, transmission lines, and an improved energy infrastructure. It has all but killed the nuclear power industry in the country at a time when increased demand and desire to reduce emissions from conventionally powered facilities is high priority.
Yet, we now get reports that proposals for the US government to oversee siting of high power transmission lines is generating a backlash from states that want more control over such plans because they might not directly benefit from the high power lines. That includes New Jersey, where wind power facilities are planned and the high power transmission lines might end up being cheaper than the offshore power generating facilities.
In fact, PSE&G's head made the following claim:
The nation needs improved energy generation from clean sources, whether it is nuclear or renewable power - hydro, wind, or solar. It also needs new and expanded power transmission capabilities, and states looking to protect their own interests continues to thwart the improved energy infrastructure.
One of the reasons new power transmission lines are needed is because the construction of onshore (and offshore) wind power projects require linking up to the existing grid, and the sites often chosen around the nation for such projects are not near existing high power transmission lines. The lack of a high power transmission line played a role in killing a wind power project in Texas by T. Boone Pickens. The land-use needs for wind power necessitate the need for additional high power transmission lines, in addition to the needs to upgrade and reinforce the existing grid. When the transmission lines aren't built, they kill the wind power projects.
Moreover, the transmission line policy actually pits Gov. Corzine against the Obama Administration, which has sought to improve the nation's energy infrastructure through the latest regulatory efforts.
Note too that the New Jersey politicians, including Gov. Corzine, are opposed to power transmission lines that would improve the transmission of power generated by renewables despite their claimed preference for such renewable energy production.
The fact is that if these power lines are built, they would increase the competition and drive down the costs - and it would provide additional backup for power production regionally and nationwide. It would also allow PSE&G to consider shutting down their most polluting energy production facilities and to concentrate on cleaner technologies at their remaining facilities.
Yet, we now get reports that proposals for the US government to oversee siting of high power transmission lines is generating a backlash from states that want more control over such plans because they might not directly benefit from the high power lines. That includes New Jersey, where wind power facilities are planned and the high power transmission lines might end up being cheaper than the offshore power generating facilities.
Governor Corzine joined governors from nine other Atlantic coast states in opposing the idea. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., voted against a major energy bill because of it.This goes to the heart of improving the nation's energy infrastructure and the need to provide new and additional power transmission capabilities is needed to reduce the likelihood of blackouts and provide an ongoing reliable power supply for the nation's insatiable need for power.
And the heads of the state's Sierra Club chapter and its biggest electric company, who are fighting in court over other power plant issues, are united against it.
New Jersey leaders who support global warming laws are against new proposed power lines to carry wind and solar power from sparsely populated plains and deserts to big cities.
They all say the plan, intended to promote renewable energy from wind, solar and geothermal sources, could derail offshore wind energy projects already under way in the East, and open new markets for coal, one of the most carbon-dioxide intensive fuels.
The proposal is envisioned as a way to tap the wind whipping down the plains and the sun baking the desert to power major population centers on the East and West coasts. No transmission-line routes have been laid out yet, and it is not clear how Congress will handle the issue.
Backers, including a former Nevada regulator now running the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., say the nation's energy future requires giving the federal government new power over siting and cost-sharing.
"The Achilles' heel of renewable energy is transmission," FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff told a forum sponsored by Energy Daily in Washington last month. "Many of the clean resources are located far from consumers."
States currently control siting issues, and it is understandable states might oppose high-voltage towers across their land if the states are not benefiting directly. But advocates for giving FERC the power to site power lines, even if states object, say that reducing the billions of dollars spent on oil from countries that are not friendly to the United States, and shifting to energy that produces less carbon, provide national benefits that justify federal authority and regional cost-sharing.
In fact, PSE&G's head made the following claim:
You could end up with transmission lines that are economically unjustified and environmentally self-defeating.Really? How about a massive expenditure on an offshore wind power project that would be far cheaper if done onshore? How about the environmental costs of a wind power project that necessarily has to be spread over a wide geographic area to provide the power comparable to an existing conventionally powered (coal, gas, or even nuclear) facility? No, this comes down to money, and PSE&G is concerned about competition from out-of-state wind power and other power sources that would be cheaper than in-state sources.
The nation needs improved energy generation from clean sources, whether it is nuclear or renewable power - hydro, wind, or solar. It also needs new and expanded power transmission capabilities, and states looking to protect their own interests continues to thwart the improved energy infrastructure.
One of the reasons new power transmission lines are needed is because the construction of onshore (and offshore) wind power projects require linking up to the existing grid, and the sites often chosen around the nation for such projects are not near existing high power transmission lines. The lack of a high power transmission line played a role in killing a wind power project in Texas by T. Boone Pickens. The land-use needs for wind power necessitate the need for additional high power transmission lines, in addition to the needs to upgrade and reinforce the existing grid. When the transmission lines aren't built, they kill the wind power projects.
Moreover, the transmission line policy actually pits Gov. Corzine against the Obama Administration, which has sought to improve the nation's energy infrastructure through the latest regulatory efforts.
Note too that the New Jersey politicians, including Gov. Corzine, are opposed to power transmission lines that would improve the transmission of power generated by renewables despite their claimed preference for such renewable energy production.
The fact is that if these power lines are built, they would increase the competition and drive down the costs - and it would provide additional backup for power production regionally and nationwide. It would also allow PSE&G to consider shutting down their most polluting energy production facilities and to concentrate on cleaner technologies at their remaining facilities.
Gov. Paterson Calls For November Special Session
Governor David Paterson (D-NY) has called for a special session to deal with a multibillion dollar deficit and to enact gay marriage legislation. The session would likely start November 10.
The state budget is in shambles, and there is no one to blame but Governor Paterson and the state legislature, which passed an abomination of a budget. Knowing that state revenues were down sharply and that there was little sign of an improvement from Wall Street (where much of the shortfall was due to the collapse of the credit markets and resulting uncertainties along with the real estate market downturn), Gov. Paterson passed a state budget that was billions more than last year. In fact, he increased state spending by nearly 10%.
That was the height of irresponsibility. Instead of containing spending at last year's levels (which was still much more than the state could afford at the time), state spending grew, which meant that budget deficits were not only a given, but the size would depend on just how bad the economy was.
The state is now facing a $3 billion deficit.
Had the state passed a no-growth budget, this deficit would not have occurred. Instead, the legislature was treating taxpayers like a piggy bank that they could raid at any time.
Note that Paterson has called for a cut of $1 billion in midyear local school aid and another $1 billion in health care cuts. That means there's $1 billion unaccounted for - and the gap for which would largely be closed through tax hikes and fees.
Indeed, watch for a new round of taxes and fees to bring the state budget into alignment over spending cuts.
Paterson may also want to take another look at a newly enacted regulation that may make it far more difficult for wind power providers to bring their projects online since they require a study of whether there is sufficient power transmission capacity and whether the wind power project is replacing existing conventionally generated power.
All of these problems with the New York budget were wholly avoidable had a prudent spending plan been enacted at the time. Instead, Paterson and the legislature pursued higher spending regardless of the direct and indirect costs to the state and the taxpayers.
Meanwhile, why does Gov. Paterson think that the gay marriage issue is so critical that there are numerous reports that indicate that this will be on the special session agenda? The state has so many more important and pressing issues, and this is nothing more than a distraction (which perhaps explains the reason that it's out there). The state has to get its fiscal house in order, and until it does so, everything else is secondary.
The state budget is in shambles, and there is no one to blame but Governor Paterson and the state legislature, which passed an abomination of a budget. Knowing that state revenues were down sharply and that there was little sign of an improvement from Wall Street (where much of the shortfall was due to the collapse of the credit markets and resulting uncertainties along with the real estate market downturn), Gov. Paterson passed a state budget that was billions more than last year. In fact, he increased state spending by nearly 10%.
That was the height of irresponsibility. Instead of containing spending at last year's levels (which was still much more than the state could afford at the time), state spending grew, which meant that budget deficits were not only a given, but the size would depend on just how bad the economy was.
The state is now facing a $3 billion deficit.
Had the state passed a no-growth budget, this deficit would not have occurred. Instead, the legislature was treating taxpayers like a piggy bank that they could raid at any time.
Note that Paterson has called for a cut of $1 billion in midyear local school aid and another $1 billion in health care cuts. That means there's $1 billion unaccounted for - and the gap for which would largely be closed through tax hikes and fees.
Indeed, watch for a new round of taxes and fees to bring the state budget into alignment over spending cuts.
Paterson may also want to take another look at a newly enacted regulation that may make it far more difficult for wind power providers to bring their projects online since they require a study of whether there is sufficient power transmission capacity and whether the wind power project is replacing existing conventionally generated power.
All of these problems with the New York budget were wholly avoidable had a prudent spending plan been enacted at the time. Instead, Paterson and the legislature pursued higher spending regardless of the direct and indirect costs to the state and the taxpayers.
Meanwhile, why does Gov. Paterson think that the gay marriage issue is so critical that there are numerous reports that indicate that this will be on the special session agenda? The state has so many more important and pressing issues, and this is nothing more than a distraction (which perhaps explains the reason that it's out there). The state has to get its fiscal house in order, and until it does so, everything else is secondary.
UN Wants To Know If Lack of Affordable Housing In NYC Violates Human Rights
The New York Times has a curious report noting that the United Nations is looking into the question of whether a lack of affordable housing somehow violates human rights.
I know.
I have lived and/or worked in New York City practically my entire life. Many of my friends live and work there.
We moved out of New York to New Jersey because it was marginally less expensive. Many others have done the same. Unless you're Rep. Charles Rangel, you don't have a guarantee on living in New York City in an affordable housing arrangement. Yet, the UN seems to think there's some kind of right being violated here.
New York City is expensive, but it hardly alone in large cities around the world that are insanely expensive to live in. Toyko, Moscow, London, and Paris - any large international city will be far more expensive than surrounding areas.
Throw in government policies that restrict housing construction, "affordable housing" laws and rules that limit rents that can be asked for which actually has the opposite effect of providing more affordable housing since those who build the properties don't see the kind of profit that makes such projects feasible in the first place, and it still doesn't rise to the level of a human rights violation.
No one is saying that a person has to live in New York (or any other expensive place to live). Even within New York, there are affordable corners of the city - you just have to look hard enough. Not everyone can afford to live on Park Avenue or the Upper West Side or Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope or any other desirable area in the City.
This is instead a witch hunt by the UN that will single out housing issues that are minor in comparison to problems seen elsewhere in the world - like say India or China where living conditions are deplorable - where lack of sanitation, clean air, potable water and other basic necessities are in short supply.
The United Nations has assigned an official, “a special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing,” to check the city’s affordable housing. The rapporteur, Raquel Rolnik, is to tour the city for the next three days with housing advocates and city officials to “hear the voices of those who are suffering on the ground,” she said.Base question here. Is there any law or justification anywhere saying that anyone has a right to live wherever they want, regardless of the cost to live there? New York City is an insanely expensive place to live.
The United Nations Human Rights Council appoints a rapporteur, or independent experts, to investigate human rights conditions around the world. In the case of Ms. Rolnik, a professor of urban planning at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, her “mission” is to tour New York City and six other places in the United States and to report back to the United Nations General Assembly about housing rights violations and advances.
After that, “We send off letters to governments to ask, ‘Is this true? What’s going on?’ and to please intervene,” she said.
Housing advocates will be taking Ms. Rolnik to the Atlantic Yards site in Brooklyn to see the results of the government’s use of eminent domain to seize property; to the New York City Housing Authority’s Grant Houses in Harlem to see how public housing residents live; and to the Bronx to meet residents whose landlords are in foreclosure.
I know.
I have lived and/or worked in New York City practically my entire life. Many of my friends live and work there.
We moved out of New York to New Jersey because it was marginally less expensive. Many others have done the same. Unless you're Rep. Charles Rangel, you don't have a guarantee on living in New York City in an affordable housing arrangement. Yet, the UN seems to think there's some kind of right being violated here.
New York City is expensive, but it hardly alone in large cities around the world that are insanely expensive to live in. Toyko, Moscow, London, and Paris - any large international city will be far more expensive than surrounding areas.
Throw in government policies that restrict housing construction, "affordable housing" laws and rules that limit rents that can be asked for which actually has the opposite effect of providing more affordable housing since those who build the properties don't see the kind of profit that makes such projects feasible in the first place, and it still doesn't rise to the level of a human rights violation.
No one is saying that a person has to live in New York (or any other expensive place to live). Even within New York, there are affordable corners of the city - you just have to look hard enough. Not everyone can afford to live on Park Avenue or the Upper West Side or Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope or any other desirable area in the City.
This is instead a witch hunt by the UN that will single out housing issues that are minor in comparison to problems seen elsewhere in the world - like say India or China where living conditions are deplorable - where lack of sanitation, clean air, potable water and other basic necessities are in short supply.
Photo of the Day
Devils Tower National Monument, with the monument silhouetted against the night sky. 
Taken with a Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
Taken with a Canon Rebel XTi with the Tamron 28-300mm XR Di VC (image stabilizer).
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Corzine Hopes Money and Star-Power Helps Win Reelection
Incumbent New Jersey governor Jon Corzine is hoping that current and former Presidents and a whole lot of money help him achieve his goal of reelection.
President Barack Obama will be in New Jersey for the third time this year to stump for Corzine. Former President Bill Clinton will make two more appearances. Obama Administration officials, including various Cabinet Secretaries, will be in the state stumping for Corzine.
And Corzine will continue expanding on his 3-1 spending advantage against GOP candidate Chris Christie with still more negative advertising to try and win in New Jersey despite an economy that is in the crapper and a fiscally irresponsible budget situation.
Despite Corzine's efforts, Christie and Corzine are virtually tied in the polls.
After dozens of attack ads, Corzine finally ran a personal ad that didn't involve attacking Corzine. It was actually effective, recalling Corzine's service in the US Marine Corps, and claims that he supports education and economic growth. It's clearly targeted at independents, who make up the largest election bloc in the state, but the facts go against Corzine at every turn.
Corzine ran up state budgets year after year, and the current year budget was only brought into balance as a result of $2 billion in federal stimulus money. Abbott district restrictions were finally lifted, an actual achievement in the state, but not because of reduced spending, but massively expanded spending in include other districts other than the 30+ districts originally included in Abbott district funding. Such spending is unaffordable and throwing money at the problem - students that aren't achieving - hasn't generated results. It has, however, helped out the teachers unions, which is a political calculus that helps Corzine.
President Barack Obama will be in New Jersey for the third time this year to stump for Corzine. Former President Bill Clinton will make two more appearances. Obama Administration officials, including various Cabinet Secretaries, will be in the state stumping for Corzine.
And Corzine will continue expanding on his 3-1 spending advantage against GOP candidate Chris Christie with still more negative advertising to try and win in New Jersey despite an economy that is in the crapper and a fiscally irresponsible budget situation.
Despite Corzine's efforts, Christie and Corzine are virtually tied in the polls.
After dozens of attack ads, Corzine finally ran a personal ad that didn't involve attacking Corzine. It was actually effective, recalling Corzine's service in the US Marine Corps, and claims that he supports education and economic growth. It's clearly targeted at independents, who make up the largest election bloc in the state, but the facts go against Corzine at every turn.
Corzine ran up state budgets year after year, and the current year budget was only brought into balance as a result of $2 billion in federal stimulus money. Abbott district restrictions were finally lifted, an actual achievement in the state, but not because of reduced spending, but massively expanded spending in include other districts other than the 30+ districts originally included in Abbott district funding. Such spending is unaffordable and throwing money at the problem - students that aren't achieving - hasn't generated results. It has, however, helped out the teachers unions, which is a political calculus that helps Corzine.
Journalistic Malpractice From the First Word
The AP engaged in a stunning piece of journalistic malpractice today in the course of reporting on a situation in Jerusalem. The headline screams that Israeli police storm Jerusalem's holiest shrine.
Really? Which would that be? The Kotel/Western Wall, which is the holiest spot on the planet to Jews? The Church of the Holy Sepulchur, holy to Christians? Or the Dome of the Rock or al Aqsa Mosque holy to Muslims built atop and adjacent to the Western Wall?
Well, it turns out that the police went into the al Aqsa Mosque because Palestinian thugs were busy throwing stones from the vicinity of the mosque.
The report makes no mention that those who were rioting were Muslim, only that Palestinians were involved.
And the police never actually stormed the mosque.
They have no plans to do so - as the report actually indicates.
I am reprinted this crap in full so that there's a record of the malpractice and overt lies.
So, what do we have here if we want to count the mistakes?
1) Palestinian thugs were busy engaging in riots, throwing rocks and firebombs.
2) Israeli police came to the vicinity of the Temple Mount to break up the rioters and never entered the mosque or Dome of the Rock.
3) Israeli police did not storm a shrine holy to Muslims. That directly contradicts the headline.
4) Israeli authorities have repeatedly prevented Jews from visiting the Temple Mount, which is holy to all Jews, for fears that a Jewish presence on the Temple Mount would cause rioting by Palestinians.
5) Palestinians, Islamists and Arab revisionists repeatedly try to disavow Jewish claims to historical ties to the Temple Mount, attempting to write out 3,000+ years of Jewish ties to Jerusalem in the process.
6) No where in the report do we read that Palestinian leaders condemn the attacks by Palestinians on Israelis or the use of violence. Instead, we read of the Palestinian leadership support for the rioters. That's a partner in peace?
This report, full of lies and omissions is propaganda that aids and abets Palestinian terrorism and efforts to initiate another intifada.
In fact, the Jerusalem Post reports that among those arrested by police were senior Fatah imams exhorting the thugs to violence who had been previously banned from Jerusalem for previously calling for Muslims to engage in violence against Israel.
And what precipitated this latest violence in Jerusalem? Well, it was a video showing Palestinian kids preparing for the violence:
Really? Which would that be? The Kotel/Western Wall, which is the holiest spot on the planet to Jews? The Church of the Holy Sepulchur, holy to Christians? Or the Dome of the Rock or al Aqsa Mosque holy to Muslims built atop and adjacent to the Western Wall?
Well, it turns out that the police went into the al Aqsa Mosque because Palestinian thugs were busy throwing stones from the vicinity of the mosque.
The report makes no mention that those who were rioting were Muslim, only that Palestinians were involved.
And the police never actually stormed the mosque.
They have no plans to do so - as the report actually indicates.
I am reprinted this crap in full so that there's a record of the malpractice and overt lies.
By RAWHI RAZIM, Associated Press Writer Rawhi Razim, Associated Press Writer – 25 mins ago
JERUSALEM – Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's holiest shrine Sunday, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in a fresh eruption of violence at the most volatile spot in the country.
A wall of Israeli riot police behind plexiglass shields closed in on the crowd, sending many protesters — overwhelmingly young men — running for cover into the black-domed Al-Aqsa mosque. The mosque is one part of the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
After several rounds of clashes, dozens of protesters were still holed up inside the mosque at midafternoon, occasionally opening shuttered doors to throw objects at police. The Israeli forces did not enter the building and police said they had no plans to do so. There were no serious injuries.
Israel's national police chief, David Cohen, accused a small group of Muslim extremists of trying to foment violence — echoing a charge made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu two weeks ago.
"The police will act with a strong hand against anyone who disrupts order on the Temple Mount and against those incite to riot," Cohen said.
Religious and nationalist sentiment connected with the site have made it a flashpoint for violence in the past. A visit in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then an Israeli opposition leader, helped ignite deadly clashes that escalated into violence that engulfed Israel and the Palestinian territories for several years.
The clashes were the most intense in the past month of unrest around the compound. Frictions in recent weeks have stemmed largely from rumors among Palestinians about Israeli plans to allows Jews to pray at the site or to dig under the compound and harm the Muslim buildings there. Israel has carried out numerous archaeological digs in nearby areas, but there has been no evidence to support the Palestinian claims.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority condemned the Israeli police action.
"Jerusalem is a red line that Israel should not cross," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas.
Muslim leaders had urged their followers to gather at the compound early Sunday in response to what they said was a planned "Jewish conquest."
Israeli police said the protesters hurled a fire bomb and poured oil on the ground to make the forces slip. Around midday, small groups of youths were seen darting in and out of nearby alleyways in Jerusalem's Old City, throwing stones and bottles at police, who responded with more stun grenades. Many protesters masked their faces with black-and-white checkered keffiyeh headdresses.
Three police officers were lightly wounded and 15 protesters were detained. The Palestinian president's adviser on Jerusalem affairs, was arrested for alleged incitement, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. At least two Palestinians were lightly wounded.
The disputing claims to the hilltop compound in Jerusalem's Old City lie at the heart of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. It is revered as the holiest site in Judaism, home to the biblical Temples.
It also is the third-holiest site in Islam, after the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina, and believed to be the place where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. At the center of the compound is the famous golden cap of the Dome of the Rock.
The site has been under Israeli control since 1967, but it is administered by a Muslim religious body known as the Waqf. The compound is opened for several hours a day to allow tourists and Jews to visit, though only Muslims are allowed to pray there.
The Palestinians seek to make east Jerusalem — including the holy compound — the capital of a future independent state, while Netanyahu says he will never share control of the holy city.
The Gaza Strip's rival rulers, the Islamic militant group Hamas, called on Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims to rise up against Israel. "The real battle begins again," spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.
So, what do we have here if we want to count the mistakes?
1) Palestinian thugs were busy engaging in riots, throwing rocks and firebombs.
2) Israeli police came to the vicinity of the Temple Mount to break up the rioters and never entered the mosque or Dome of the Rock.
3) Israeli police did not storm a shrine holy to Muslims. That directly contradicts the headline.
4) Israeli authorities have repeatedly prevented Jews from visiting the Temple Mount, which is holy to all Jews, for fears that a Jewish presence on the Temple Mount would cause rioting by Palestinians.
5) Palestinians, Islamists and Arab revisionists repeatedly try to disavow Jewish claims to historical ties to the Temple Mount, attempting to write out 3,000+ years of Jewish ties to Jerusalem in the process.
6) No where in the report do we read that Palestinian leaders condemn the attacks by Palestinians on Israelis or the use of violence. Instead, we read of the Palestinian leadership support for the rioters. That's a partner in peace?
This report, full of lies and omissions is propaganda that aids and abets Palestinian terrorism and efforts to initiate another intifada.
In fact, the Jerusalem Post reports that among those arrested by police were senior Fatah imams exhorting the thugs to violence who had been previously banned from Jerusalem for previously calling for Muslims to engage in violence against Israel.
And what precipitated this latest violence in Jerusalem? Well, it was a video showing Palestinian kids preparing for the violence:
Police said that the disturbances began when officers were accompanying a group of tourists up to the mount, and several Muslim youngsters were caught on video camera preparing to cause trouble, including gathering rocks to throw and pouring oil onto the ground to hinder the access of security forces and the visitors.
Following the discovery, police reinforcements stormed the mount and were pelted with stones and a fire bomb by the young rioters. The forces dispersed the riots using stun grenades, among other means at their disposal, and a tense calm was briefly restored to the area.
Security forces stormed the mount for the second time when Arab youths began hurling rocks just as police officers were talking to the Waqf in a bid to convince some 100 Muslim youths involved in the earlier violence to come out of the Aksa Mosque where they had holed themselves up. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that the officers had promised not to arrest them if they descended from the mount.
Forces didn't enter the mosque, but throughout the day, protesters inside occasionally opened the shuttered doors to throw various objects, such as chairs, at security forces. At one point, protesters shot water and a fire extinguisher toward the door.
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