Although the US media has chosen not to cover this as news, marine terminals closed across the West Coast early Thursday as longshoremen protested the war in Iraq

All 29 U.S. West Coast ports were at a standstill on Thursday because of a stoppage by longshore workers, a Pacific Maritime Association spokesman said.
"We are hearing there is no activity taking place up and down the West Coast," spokesman Steve Getzug told Reuters. The Pacific Maritime Association represents all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast from San Diego to Washington. "There is no unloading or loading," Getzug said.

Guardian

I'm surprised nobody here is all over the Mexican Truck story -- that is, the fact that some Judge has decided, over the objections of Labor, Environmental, and Safety organizations, that it's just A-OK to start letting dangerous, overloaded, non-union Mexican trucks rumble across our highways.

This is a serious, serious problem and is one of the nails in the coffin for one of the last vestiges of American Union's clout in this country -- that of dockworkers and truckdrivers.  

More over the fold ....

Warning:  Before reading, rec'ing or commenting on any DKos diaries today, first read JR's diary VIRUS ALERT.  Check your recommends and sig line and use Firefox with the noscript software linked by YetiMonk and fareast.  Thank you

Dear America:

New Orleans does not need you.

Oh, don't get me wrong.  We really appreciate the billions you've pledged to our rebuilding, and we'll be requiring a lot more to restore our eroding coast and protect our threatened "land"scape from storms and the invading Gulf.  We'd really love a bit more help with housing and medical facilities for our dispersed population.

But in the end, New Orleans does not need you.  You need New Orleans.

TPM's Greg Sargent catches the Associated Press phoning it in again. Oh, wait, they didn't even do that:

Oh, man. The GOP has a new hit out on Nancy Pelosi that's even more absurd than the bogus plane story or the "controversy" over the trip to Syria. And predictably, the Associated Press is already running with the story. The AP has already gotten its reward for doing this: A pat on the head from Matt Drudge, who predictably linked the story today, complete with a big pic of Pelosi next to the headline.

Yet this latest hit is so easily debunked -- all it took was one phone call on my part -- that it's truly astonishing that the AP ever published this garbage in the first place.

What was it? The Port of San Francisco asked their Congresswoman to help secure $25 million for waterfront and port improvements in the new Water Resources Development Act. And guess what? She represented her constituents and did it. So naturally, the Republicans attacked:

Republicans are accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of including a provision in a water redevelopment bill that could benefit property her husband owns in San Francisco.

Pelosi's answer?

Aides to the San Francisco Democrat denied any connection, noting that the waterfront improvements were requested by the Port of San Francisco and the four rental properties in question are at least a mile away.

Oh. Well, what do these Republicans have to say about that?

Republicans, who raised the issue more than two weeks after the bill passed the House, offered no evidence of benefit to Paul Pelosi's real estate holdings.

"I don't have any facts to say anything untoward has been done here," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

OK, you have just read -- in order -- the first, second, third and fourth paragraphs of the AP's story. The last one I showed you was Rep. Jeb Hensarling -- who was also responsible, by the way, for hawking the ridiculous attacks about the Sergeant at Arms' request that the Speaker utilize a larger plane -- saying, "I don't have any facts."

So does anybody know why there are nine more paragraphs after that, and why this reporter didn't hang up on this idiotic prank call right then and there?

Hey, AP: I've got a hot tip about a Texas Senator, some scented candles, and a very surprised box turtle! Call me! I'm wearing a suit, so I must be credible!

Here is an issue of some immediate import - and I'm not referring to pet food.

Looking for some thoughtful comment here.

Sec of Homeland Security Chertoff is writing to Sen. Feinstein regarding S. 887 "To restore import and entry agricultural inspection functions to the Department of Agriculture."  

The Administration, namely the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS, oppose this legislative proposal which if enacted, would remove agricultural inspection functions from DHS’s Customs and Border and Protection (CBP) and transfer this function to back to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).  

During the Seattle WTO protests, in 1999, the phrase "Turtles & Teamsters, Together At Last" (and variations) jumped from protest sign to guiding philosophy. It symbolically described hundreds of thousands Sierra Club activists (who dressed as sea turtles) and union members who marched to demand that human and environmental concerns be included in discussions of global Free Trade regimes.

"Turtles & Teamsters" also put a name to the increasingly common alliances between environmentalists and labor unions, which were no longer willing to accept that protecting the environment and jobs were mutually exclusive conditions. That potent alliance has formed around the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and offers both hope and dangers.

Liberal Movement’s first campaign is to rename legislation passed by the Republican Congress under George Bush. You know the list: USA PATRIOT Act. Clear Skies Initiative. No Child Left Behind. And many, many more.

Now that Democrats control Congress it’s time that they got rid of the silly, Orwellian names. The planning stage is over and it’s time to take action.

I usually don't do reposts, but figured that this was too important for the work-only crowd here to miss.
Well, well.  In '02 and '04 the Repubs tarred us as weak on national security.  And now this:

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl joined other Senate Republicans, a few Democrats and the business lobby in defeating a plan that would have required security scans of all imports at U.S. ports.

Business groups opposed a proposal favored by New York Sen. Charles Schumer that would have a required all shipping containers coming into U.S. ports be scanned.

Democrats favoring the bill said it would help protect against dangerous and hazardous materials being shipped into the U.S. by terrorists, and would improve port security.

The amendment was tabled 58-38, with 10 Dems joining 48 Repubs (including both my senators) to vote it down.  Specter joined 37 Dems to vote nay.

Now who was leading the charge against this bill?  Yep, you guessed it, Wal-Mart!

Well, well.  In '02 and '04 the Repubs tarred us as weak on national security.  And now this:

Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl joined other Senate Republicans, a few Democrats and the business lobby in defeating a plan that would have required security scans of all imports at U.S. ports.

Business groups opposed a proposal favored by New York Sen. Charles Schumer that would have a required all shipping containers coming into U.S. ports be scanned.

Democrats favoring the bill said it would help protect against dangerous and hazardous materials being shipped into the U.S. by terrorists, and would improve port security.

The amendment was tabled 58-38, with 10 Dems joining 48 Repubs (including both my senators) to vote it down.  Specter joined 37 Dems to vote nay.

Now who was leading the charge against this bill?  Yep, you guessed it, Wal-Mart!

New legislation was introduced yesterday in the Senate that will make all you millionaires out there very unhappy.

If you earn more than $1 million a year, (and fortunately there are many more Republicans who make that dough than Democrats - research proves it), you are now being asked to pay your fair share of taxes.  

Imagine that.

More on the flip.

The corrupted USA-based insurer is AIG.  UAE is going to realize a profit through their ownership of DP World, which currently holds the USA port operations contracts in question.

The sale from DP World to a US-based business - which was primarily "forced" by the enabling will of an unusually resistant Republican Congress to President Bush's desired deal - is reportedly worth over $1B.

The reason I specifically mention UAE in this diary is due to the evolving and swirling controversies related to their association with DP World when reports of this relatively silent deal came to light earlier in the year - it seemed a significant aspect of interest to many folks in the blogosphere at the time, so I desired to explicitly note their involvement within the context of this deal . . . and the resulting irony of their making a profit from the whole ports affair.

So, all that prior speculation and debate being kept in context, I suppose this might just come down to the following observation of Bush Republican politics:

Step 1: Create controversy
Step 2: . . .
Step 3: Profit

Cross posted from My DD: This week's post is by Teamsters Organizing Director Jeff Farmer.

Unions are about members helping members, unlike advocacy groups such as the AARP, or professional organizations like the American Medical Association.

Yes, there are similarities -- such as national lobbying efforts, member publications and affinity credit card offers -- but for unions, these are ancillary, not primary functions.

I've never had someone come up to me when I'm wearing my Nature Conservancy T-shirt and say "Hey, I give to the Nature Conservancy too!" But when I'm traveling and people see my Teamster lapel pin, they will often comment that they are Teamsters too, or that their father was a Teamster or that they belong to some other union. That's because, as Mike said last week, unions are personal.

It's Teamsters standing with Teamsters, whether we're going up against an employer or chipping in to help another member in tough times.

But you don't need to hear me preach about solidarity. I'll let our members tell you themselves. The following comments are from real Teamsters in their own words.

In one of the most sweeping rulings on union membership in more than 50 years, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today redefined and expanded the definition of "supervisor," potentially taking away the federally protected freedom to form a union from 8 million workers.

Under federal labor law, supervisors are barred from forming unions.

The Republican-majority NLRB ruled on three cases today, collectively known as "Kentucky River," but it's the lead case Oakwood Healthcare Inc., that creates a new definition of supervisor. Dozens of cases involving the definition of supervisor now before the NLRB will be sent back, with employers having the option to craft arguments that will meet the new definition of supervisor and limit the number of workers who can join a union.

A lot of this diary is lifted from Friends4Brandt.com, which means it was written by [REDACTED]. Brandt's campaign is making this easy for bloggers, and they're going to make it even easier for anyone who loves to hate Dana Rohrabacher.

Jim Brandt made his money in software and his volunteers are building tools. If you get agitated that the DNC doesn't roll out the same voter ID technology that the GOP does - if you salivated over the SEIU's demonstration at YearlyKos - you're going to love this DIY campaign.

You can help win back Orange County without leaving your living room. But that's another diary, first let's introduce...

Well, this is what happens when the cameras are off.

Today the Senate passed the Oman Trade Agreement.  

There was a great deal of controversy about whether the United Arab Emirates and a company owned by that government called Dubai Ports World should be able to take over the management of a half dozen of America's seaports. The answer from this Congress was absolutely not; this country ought to have the capability to manage, for national security purposes and other purposes, its own seaports.

   Well, guess what. We have a trade agreement that comes to the floor of the Senate which says, it is going to be all right if Oman takes over our ports. Or for that matter, if a company from the United Arab Emirates that has a subsidiary in Oman takes over our ports.

   The folks at USTR say: Don't worry, be happy. There is an exception in the Oman trade agreement that allows us to block acquisitions for national security reasons.
- Senator Bryon Dorgan, D-ND, Senate floor, 6/21/06

How do they come up with phrases like Fair and Balanced to describe Faux News, and how did that thinking spread to the MSM? Has all pride in the ability to make sense of the news totally deserted our army of reporters?

What are they thinking that makes it seem to them that a misinformed populace is ultimately in a nations interest? Is the logic that it may somehow make it easier for that misguided populace to follow a misguided government really whats driving the phenomenon?

Where goes the mind that chooses a phrase like Intelligent Design to describe staying the course in prideful adherence to a poorly planned policy without that mind self destructing? How does a belief in whatever you wish with knowing rejection of the scientific method supporting a failure of intelligence as logical consequence manifest itself as a sensible course?

More around the bend