| From Radical to Reformed Muslim
I later met with Afghan resistance leader Gulbeddin Hikmetyar and gave him thousands of dollars collected from Turkish merchants, who later became notorious for his destruction of Kabul and the brutal killing of thousands of Afghanis from other tribes. I had zeal, charisma, courage and plenty of stupidity. I was going to make a revolution in my country. Enough was enough for the rule of a secular, oppressive government and its ally the Great Satan, U.S.A. We were going to have an Islamic government that would bring economic and political justice, freedom and peace. "Shah, Butto, Hoveyda; which infidel is next to die?" "Sharia will chop and aggression will stop!" "Down with America!" "Allah-u Akbar!" I was recruited in the late 1970's by Iranian Islamic fundamentalists, who sought to cultivate me as an agent of the same revolutionary movement then sweeping Iran.
Charles Rangel
1984 Republican Party Platform
This year, the American people will choose between two diametrically opposed visions of what America should be. The Republican Party looks at our people and sees a new dawn of the American spirit. The Democratic Party looks at our nation and sees the twilight of the American soul. Republicans affirm that now, as throughout history, the spiritual and intellectual genius of the American people will create a better nation and maintain a just peace. To Republicans, creativity and growth are imperatives for a new era of opportunity for all. The Republican Party's vision of America's future, the heart of our 1984 Platform, begins with a basic premise: From freedom comes opportunity; from opportunity comes growth; from growth comes progress.
Aurora Loan to lay off 70
Aurora Loan Services is to lay off 70 people at its Sunrise regional center, as its parent company scales back its residential mortgage origination business. The layoffs are to take effect on March 17. About 1,399 employees will be affected as Lehman Brothers Holdings closes additional Aurora Loan Services regional centers in Lake Forest, Calif., and Florham Park, N.J., and consolidates other offices. It will continue its direct lending channel, and will continue to service its existing customers. Lehman said it will take a one-time, after-tax charge of about $40 million, partly due to severance costs. Started in 1997, Aurora Loan Services has more than 2,000 employees, according to the company's Web site. .
Morgan’s finances questioned
Former Speaker of the House Richard Morgan says the money he withdrew from his campaign account was taken as part of a political strategy. “The purpose of doing the distribution was so I would have an advantage over my political enemies,” Morgan said. “... I certainly didn’t want them to have the advantage knowing how many resources were available to me should I run for office again or in the legal matter that could have been forthcoming or would ensue.” Morgan’s 16-year legislative career ended in the 2006 Republican primary when Joe Boylan beat him by 333 votes. Morgan raised the largest chunk of his money in the mid- to late 1990s and in early 2000 when he held powerful positions in the legislature. Before new campaign finance laws took effect last fall barring the practice, Morgan moved more than $500,000 of campaign contributions to his personal accounts.
Wachovia Names David Pope President for Mortgage and Retail Credit ...
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wachovia Corporation announced today that David Pope has been named president of Wachovia Mortgage and Retail Credit. In his new role, Pope will be responsible for leading the daily sales, fulfillment, retention, service and operational aspects of the mortgage and retail credit businesses. "David has done an exceptional job in his role as chief operating officer for the Mortgage and Retail Credit Group over the past seven months," said Ben Jenkins, head of the general banking group for Wachovia Bank. "He has been instrumental in continuing to integrate World Savings and Wachovia Mortgage into one unified organization." Pope has served in a variety of roles over the course of a 20-year career with Wachovia. Prior to his most recent role, Pope was head of Wachovia's Business Banking group for three years.
Keep troops in Kandahar until 2011, Manley to recommend
As any successful ventriloquist's dummy could tell you, the act requires you to suspend your disbelief that the cute toy with the mechanical mouth and wood noggin and a man's hand up its back is actually a sentient, independant and free-thinking little scamp, who in encouragement of this hillarious illusion, will saucily mock his master, who in turn, will chastise the imp for his impertinance. Someone should tell our Prime Minister that this schtick went out with Vaudeville in '30s, and having Manley perched on his knee in his cute 'Liberal' shorts to spout earnest nonsense is no more amusing than yet another soldier's funeral.
But even the PM should know from watching his Ed Sullivan reruns, merely talking from both sides of one's mouth is not ventriloquism, and the act really bombs if the puppet and the puppeteer drivel on at the same time and say the same things.
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