An opportunity to review nuclear security

by: Hopeful

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 08:48:00 PM EST

Another source, a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the case, said authorities have been aware of Mobley for some time.

If "some time" is months then okay, but if it is years then there could be a serious problem. I strongly believe that most non-natural naturals are due to a series of multiple failures: The 9/11 attacks and the failed Christmas bombing are prime examples. So if the background-check "system" failed here it is definitely worth looking into, even though it certainly seems he didn't have access to a plant recently, and even if a hostile person did, I trust there are security measures within the plant. I think the letter Bob Menendez sent to the NRC (PDF) today struck the right tone, especially this part:

According to the Yemeni government, Sharif Mobley was among 11 al-Qaeda suspects arrested during a series of raids in Sana'a, Yemen in early March.  While being treated at a local hospital, the suspect allegedly fatally shot a guard and wounded several others as he made a failed attempt to escape custody.  What makes this incident particularly troubling is that the suspect had previously worked at the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear reactors in New Jersey along with other reactors in the area from 2002-2008 and had been cleared by several federal background checks, most recently in 2008.

At this point, without further information about the case, it would be irresponsible to assume at what point the man in question began to engage in terrorist activity or if the federal background screening system missed any red flags. However, the window of time between his last background check and this incident in Yemen is relatively short, which raises concerns.

Thus, I would like a full briefing that covers the following questions:

   * Is there any intelligence that suggests when this man became involved in terrorist activity?
   * Is there any reason to believe that the federal background check system missed warning signs about this man's affiliations?
   * Does there need to be a review or a revamping of the background check system?
   * At any time in his employment at New Jersey nuclear reactors, could this man have handled or gained access to sensitive areas or material that would be valuable to a terrorist organization?

There's no reason to panic over this guy, make too many assumptions, or to launch furious partisan attacks. But we do need to review the security system.  

Republican Senate Candidates playing with the Poison of Birtherism

by: Hopeful

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:21:23 PM EST

Et tu, Rob Portman? Ye of sensibility and rectitude? Ye of maturity and political resolve?  Despite inquires from the Cincinnati Enquirer and Plain Dealer, Portman's campaign won't directly answer the question of whether the candidate believes that President Obama is a citizen. (Obama is.) So now, we're up to five Republican Senate candidates -- major ones, not including J.D. Hayworth in Arizona for the moment -- who have flirted with Birtherism.

Several of these candidates have later corrected their initial hesitation, but it is precisely that initial hesitation that contains so much information about what Republican candidates fear right now. No doubt that Portman and Marco Rubio know that Birtherism is bullshit. The gap between their private beliefs and how they articulate them publicly is fairly wide. I'm not a fan of stories that begin with X "refuses to denounce" Y -- I usually skip them. I make an exception here because the accusation is so reckless, so tied to race and culture, and so stupid that those who try to Wink at the Birthers are adding potency to a poison that everyone is forced to gulp.

Poison. You don't normally see our mainstream media using terms like this. It is dangerous poison.

Good for Senator Menendez for insisting on asking this question. It tells you all you need to know about today's Republicans.

More Budget Solutions: Charging State Workers for Air and Water

by: princetonblue

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 10:48:00 AM EST

Reading that Gov. Christie wants to start charging state workers for parking (By the way, how many private businesses charge their employees for parking in suburban Jersey? None in the area where I live), here are some other money raising ideas for New Jersey:

1.  Charge state workers for the costs of providing water, electricity, heat, and clean air in their work places.

2.  Charge state workers for the costs of their telephones, desks, computer equipment.

3.  Charge state workers for the costs of the educational training they get to use various computer software programs (it's education that the state is providing free right now).

Run for County Committee

by: Jeff Gardner

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 12:15:00 PM EST

You can do it alone, with the goal of adding your voice to the process. Or you can do it together with others in your town, with the goal of re-energizing your local democratic party. Either way, it really is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3:

Scott Garrett will not run unopposed

by: Adam L a/k/a clammyc

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 11:00:00 AM EST

That time is now, as Warren County resident Tod Theise has answered the call and announced his candidacy against Garrett.  In his statement to the press, Thiese noted the following contrast between him and Garrett:

"I don't think he represents working families in the district," Theise said. "He voted against extending unemployment benefits ... he voted for every [George W.] Bush budget."

A former Republican, Theise became an independent in the early part of the last decade and then migrated to the Democratic Party. He said his reasons for the leaving the Republicans were the spending policies and lack of Wall Street regulation under Bush.

His criticisms of Garrett are similar.

"What I find lacking is that he gives the people on Wall Street a complete and utter pass," Theise said. "He is basically bought and sold by Wall Street."

Now, I've met Tod and spoken to him numerous times over the past few months as he has been moving towards a run at Garrett.  There are a few things about this candidacy that I like personally - for starters, it will be interesting to see how a non-Bergen County challenger plays out - especially in the current climate where being associated with the BCDO isn't the best of associations right around now.  Additionally, I've always thought that lowering the 60%+ of the vote that Garrett routinely gets in Warren and Sussex counties is imperative - that this race cannot be won in Bergen alone.  I also like the views and approach that Tod is taking on a number of issues - but this will come out over the next few months as the campaign gets under way.  

Of course, this is one of the most uphill battles in general, as Garrett has never gotten less than 55% of the vote in his 4 previous races.  But you never know what can happen in an election, and there has been unprecedented focus on Garrett by a number of grassroots organizations in the District (ahem....).

Garrett himself didn't have any comments on Theise's candidacy, but "FakeGarrettNJ5" on Twitter had the following to say:

A challenger? I will crush him like I crush the souls of hardworking struggling families in the District.

New Burlington County Freeholder Administrator selection under fire

by: Jason Springer

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 09:50:00 AM EST

In the latest example of don't lie to the media, he initially said everything was up to date on his child support when asked, but then admitted he still owed money and was finding ways to catch up. That led the paper to his ex-wife who had this harsh observation about the man and the position:

"I think it's interesting that he can get a job overseeing 2,000 employees and a budget of more than $200 million when he can't even handle paying child support on time," Johnson said Thursday. "He's just a liar. I hate to say that."

A judge in Burlington County last year issued a judgment of almost $200,000 against Paul Drayton Jr. and two partners for failing to repay a bank loan for their firm, Capital Consulting LLC of Mount Laurel.

And in 2005, Drayton sued a former employer in federal court, claiming racial and age bias were behind his termination a year earlier. Drayton last week had said he left his job rather than accept a transfer to Texas. The bias lawsuit was dismissed in July 2006, according to court records.

He left in 2003 -- with a $198,000 cash severance package labeled as a settlement -- after a power struggle with Jeffrey Nash, a Camden County freeholder who was then the authority's vice chairman.

At the time, Nash called Drayton's settlement "the most blatant circumvention of DRPA policy I've ever heard of."

The Wrong Diagnosis

by: Ann Twomey, HPAE

Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 10:38:06 AM EST

Those of us in the medical field know that without the right diagnosis, you can't cure the real problem.  

Right now, New Jersey is facing trying economic times.  Our deficits are running high and most of our citizens feel overtaxed.  Governor Christie was elected on this wave of economic anxiety.  But this doesn't mean reducing or eliminating vital services and the people who provide those services is the right fix.  In fact, it's the wrong fix for our communities and for our economy.

News Roundup & Open Thread for Friday, March 12, 2010

by: Rosi Efthim

Fri Mar 12, 2010 at 06:58:00 AM EST

Lehman Fraud Confirmed

by: Hopeful

Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 11:18:58 PM EST

When you take that kind of gamble and lose, it's really no one else's fault, unless the leaders at Lehman who convinced the pension fund were somehow committing fraud. The New York Times reports that a new report says it was fraud and there is evidence to support a lawsuit:

But the examiner, Anton R. Valukas, also for the first time laid out what the report characterized as "materially misleading" accounting gimmicks that Lehman used to mask the perilous state of its finances...

Mr. Valukas writes in the report that "colorable claims" could be made against some former Lehman executives and Ernst & Young, meaning that enough evidence existed that could lead to the awarding of damages in a trial. He added that Lehman's directors were not aware of the accounting engineering.

By his reckoning, Lehman managed to "shed" about $39 billion from its balance sheet at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, $49 billion in the first quarter of 2008 and $50 billion in the second quarter. At that time, Lehman sought to reassure the public that its finances were fine - despite pressure from short-sellers.

There's a lot more in the article. Obviously the money is not going to be recovered, but both for the sake of justice and to discourage future Wall Street trickery I hope New Jersey vigorously sues everyone who knew.  

Blacklisting Johnny Weir

by: Hopeful

Thu Mar 11, 2010 at 10:47:04 PM EST

GLAAD has learned from a source that wishes to remain anonymous that sponsors of the Stars on Ice Tour, which include Smuckers and IMG Entertainment, have refused to allow 3-time US National Champion and 2-time Olympian Johnny Weir to participate because they claim that he is "not family friendly."

To say that Weir is "not family friendly" would be a clear jab at his perceived sexual orientation. Weir is extremely involved with his family. He is putting his younger brother through college, and supports the family financially because his father's disability prohibits him from working. Weir's dedication to his family can be clearly documented in the Sundance series, Be Good Johnny Weir, which follows him and his family and friends through his life and career as a championship skater.

I don't know if he still lives in New Jersey or not, but Weir should know he has lots of fans here, gay and straight, male and female. (Hattip: I saw the story at Dailykos.)