Gangs of America – good reading these days
February 9th, 2017
Looking forward to catching up with Ted Nace soon in San Francisco. He’s author of Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy — get your copy HERE.
Alan Muller and I had the good fortune of meeting him through our “no coal” work and the “No New Coal Plants” list that was instrumental in stopping so many coal gasification plants across the U.S., including Minnesota’s Excelsior Energy Mesaba Project (see also www.camp-site.info)and the NRG coal gasification plant proposed for Delaware. He wrote this Orion article about that coal gasification fight (a couple things are off — hey, Ted, it’s an ORANGE crate!!):
And from that, he also also wrote:
Climate Hope: On the Front Lines of the Fight Against Coal
Check these out, you can find them reasonably priced at www.abebooks.com. Support your independent bookseller!
#No DAPL – Army Corps primary documents
February 8th, 2017
UPDATE: Corps grants easement to Dakota Access LLC
You may have read tRump’s Memorandum pushing the Army Corps of Engineers to ram through the Dakota Access pipeline:
From the Stanley Gazette:
Breaking News: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ready to Grant Easement for DAPL
And from the DC District Federal Court, here are the filings:
Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline – Memorandum – Document No. 207-02032
The Army rolled, and here are the documents stating intent to issue the DAPL easement across Lake Oahe, and the Notice of Termination of the Environmental Impact Statement:
ACoE_Notice Regarding Recently Issued Documents
How is this anything but “arbitrary and capricious” action on the part of the Army Corps of Engineers?
Two trains stranded… now freed up, but track is a mess.
February 7th, 2017
YES! On the move. BNSF has permit to trigger avalanches to mitigate risk of more in this HUGE snowstorm — over 5 feet of snow dumped on Montana. What a mess! Amtrak says service should start Friday… we shall see!
Amtrak passengers finally on the move after being stranded along Hi-Line due to avalanche
Historic winter storm drops more than 5 feet of snow in parts of Montana
Earlier:
BNSF to re-open Montana route following avalanche
Two Amtrak trains stranded in Montana due to avalanche on Marias …
Passengers irritated still stranded on Amtrak in Montana
More tRump docs — deregulation and the Bankster Memo & EO
February 3rd, 2017
Bad news for regular people trying to get by, the protective measures to keep us safe from “Wall Street” grifters are being rolled back:
Presidential Memorandum on February 03, 2017
Presidential Memorandum on Fiduciary Duty Rule
Executive Order on February 03, 2017
Presidential Executive Order on Core Principles for Regulating the United States Financial System
This is the one I’m most concerned about:
Executive Order on January 30, 2017
I’ve been focused on the Muslim Ban and the federal court festivities, so haven’t read these yet. Have at it! They’re your for the clicking…
UPDATE! Minnesota joins Washington State against tRump’s EO 13769
February 3rd, 2017
FRIDAY UPDATE: Court Order Halting tRump Immigration Action — Washington A.G.
From Geekwire – Press Conference on courthouse steps
Written ruling “soon.” Looking forward to that Order — covers the parts they challenged, the Constitutionally of parts 3 and 5, per AG’s Office.
On Monday, Washington State’s Attorney General, Bob Ferguson, filed a Complaint in federal court challenging the constitutionality of tRump’s Executive Order 13769, and a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order to stop enforcement of this Order. Several jurisdictions have filed for, and received, restraining orders regarding particulars of that Executive Order, but this Washington State filing was the first generally challenging the Constitutionality of the Executive Order.
Thank you, Washington State, for posting these pleadings:
And just a bit ago, Minnesota’s Attorney General Lori Swanson joined our state with Washington State in suing Trump.
Read the Complaint, it’s a delight, particularly because it quotes from tRump’s campaign page where he lays out his intent to stop Muslim immigration — and it’s still posted on his site as of earlier today — what an idiot:
AG Lori Swanson (with Taffy, above) had this statement today:
Attorney General Lori Swanson Joins Lawsuit Over Federal Executive Order
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has joined a lawsuit against the federal government that alleges that the January 27, 2017 Executive Order that imposes blanket entry restrictions to the United States for people from certain countries is unconstitutional.
Attorney General Swanson said: “It does not pass constitutional muster, is inconsistent with our history as a nation, and undermines our national security.” She added: “America can keep its people safe without sacrificing bedrock constitutional principles.”
The Attorney General joined the lawsuit filed earlier this week by Washington State, which is supported by major corporations concerned about the impact of the travel ban on the economy and their employees. The lawsuit alleges that the Executive Order violates the equal protection, establishment, and due process clauses of the United States Constitution and the federal Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which prohibits discrimination in the issuance of visas on the basis of nationality, race, or place of birth or residence.
The lawsuit alleges that the Order is overbroad in imposing a blanket travel ban on people from certain countries “and sweeps within its ambit infant children, the disabled, long-time U.S residents, those fleeing terrorism, and those who assisted in the United States in conflicts overseas” who do not pose a security risk.
The lawsuit describes the impact of the travel ban on people with a lawful right to be in the United States, such as parents and their children, students with valid student visas, and scientists and other employees with valid work visas, who either cannot leave or return to the United States under the Order and some who have been separated from family. The lawsuit also describes the chilling effect of the Order on recruitment for employers and academic institutions.
Four different federal judges have temporarily halted certain detentions under the Executive Order.