Chile backs off removing ‘dictatorship’ from texts

“Chile is backing off a controversial plan to remove the word “dictatorship” from school textbooks in reference to the military government of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.”

Sen. Isabel Allende, Salvador Allende’s dau, led the resistance to this little exercise at white-washing.

LINK.

Joe Kennedy III Gears Up for Congressional Bid

Barney Frank’s old seat.

LINK.

Walmart Blacklisted By Major [Netherlands] Pension Fund Over Poor Labor Practices

LINK.

Georgia Survey Finds Farmers Are Having Hard Time Replacing Migrant Workers

“Asked the reasons for the difficulty in finding workers, many [farm owners] said “the work is too physically demanding and difficult for U.S. citizens (non-immigrants),” the report said. “Respondents believe that only immigrant workers are willing to do the tasks needed in their operations. An additional theme is that respondents believe that it is difficult to find qualified and trained workers to aid in their operation.”
. . .
“Georgia tried using criminals on probation to fill some of the farm jobs, with mixed results. But while some farmers who agreed to employ people on probation cited some deficiencies, a few said that it was an option that deserved more consideration.”

LINK.

Devastating prospects:

California in retreat on social service spending
In his new budget, a frustrated Gov. Jerry Brown cuts a swath through California’s renowned assistance programs.

“His plan would strip welfare benefits from people who cannot find adequate work after two years rather than four, forcing more than a quarter-million families from the rolls. Although families with children would continue to receive benefits, the average monthly check would be slashed by 20%, to $368. Child-care programs would be cut almost 40%, eliminating 62,000 slots.

“The children moved out of Healthy Families would be enrolled instead in Medi-Cal, the state’s healthcare program for the poor, which covers fewer costs and would take an $842-million hit in Brown’s plan.”

LINK.

Let’s keep in mind that California has the Constitutional provisions the Republicans want for the Congress in order to bring fiscal responsibility to the nation and end all the big government spending:
- a balanced budget requirement
- a two-thirds vote required to hike taxes

Clearly California has had lean effective government and balanced or surplus budgets for several decades thanks to conservatives bringing fiscal responsibility to the State of California. They put an end to big government liberals like Reagan hiking taxes.

Both Rahm and Gibbs get a bit of a thump in this book.

Book depicts tensions between first lady, aides

LINK.

Musharaff is now considered a fugitive and subject to arrest in Pakistan. How quickly the tables can turn.

Well, it’s about time. Five years in the making, it’s as if the fund couldn’t count all the while.

Now, if the NLRB would only get on the stick.

Your list is bad enough, but there’s a third problem in CA to make it worse still.

The I&R process there permits direct ballot access to the state Constitution as well as to regular legislation, and the ballot’s ability to require specified (or prohibited) spending as well.

In theory it amounts to a libertarian’s dream world, but the state can’t be managed and faces virtual bankruptcy.

You may now rend your garments and gnash your teeth:

Pat Buchanan out indefinitely at MSNBC

LINK.

Afghan inmates ‘abused’ at US-run Bagram prison

Afghan investigators have accused the US Army of abusing detainees at its main prison in the country, saying inmates had reported being tortured and held without evidence.

LINK.

Santorum probably won Iowa and no one cares:

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/iowa-will-not-change-caucus-result-from-disputed-precinct/?hp

Another interesting factoid is Santorum only spent $30,000 on advertising while Romney spent about $3 million.

As Jason Linkins put it, nobody won and hardly anybody (5.4%) voted:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/iowa-caucus-results_n_1184479.html

“the work is too physically demanding and difficult for U.S. citizens (non-immigrants),”

Same bullshit. It isn’t that Americans aren’t willing (or in this ridiculous case, unable); it’s that they won’t do it for what they pay!

Is this the fatster news dump thread ;-)

(Good work as always).

I guess I get so caught up in the news that I fail to notice I’m overloading the Roundup comments section. I’ll try and be more mindful about this in the future. Thnx.

(You know, of course, it’s not my fault. The world relentlessly generates so much news! You’d think a pandemic of major dysfunctions was operating on this abused ol’ planet 24/7. Enough to drive one batty. Oh, wait . . . )

somebody has to read that stuff.

Dawn.com:

” Former president and All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Chief General (r) Pervez Musharraf said that he will return to Pakistan between 27- 30 January. He said that he will arrive in Karachi.

During a telephonic speech to supporters at an APML gathering in Karachi, the former president said that he was not afraid of allegations that have been leveled against him and vowed to face charges that have been pressed against him.”

OK, mafr, you’ve given me the courage to soldier on! Thnx. It was getting lonely out here.

From the War on Women front:

Prosecutor: Expel Arizona Sen. Bundgaard
He was assaulting his girlfriend in a freeway median in Phoenix. Sheesh.

That’s a no-no, Bobby Joe. Score one for our side in the War on Women. (This little clinic has somehow survived several brutal attacks.)

Arrest made in Florida clinic fire

LINK.

Here’s how they treat foreigners in Finland:

Norway police cut traffic fine for ‘lower-income’ Swede

LINK.

This one’s specially for you, bmull:

“A one-sentence provision inserted in the 2012 budget bill by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein will allow a handful of powerful San Joaquin Valley water oligarchs to sell federally subsidized agricultural water in a private market for as much as 150 times more than what they pay for it.”

LINK.

“Chinatown”

Oh, thanks for making that connection, mafr. Yep.