Questions raised as top Amtrak inspector resigns

Inspector number 3.

clipped from www.boston.com WASHINGTON - The inspector general of Amtrak unexpectedly resigned Thursday night, becoming the third such federal official to leave prematurely since the Obama administration took office and the latest in a string of potentially controversial moves involving government watchdogs. Fred E. Weiderhold, a 35-year veteran of the agency who was responsible for rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, is the most high-profile change among the group of senior government officials who have responsibility to conduct independent investigations of federal agencies and institutions. “As Amtrak’s first and only Inspector General, Fred has made important contributions in helping the Board of Directors understand key issues facing the railroad and made useful recommendations to improve how we do business,’’ Amtrak chairman Thomas Carper said in a statement yesterday. “We thank him for his dedicated service to Amtrak and wish him well in his retirement.’’

Christian Group Fined by State of Maine for Offending Muslims

The end of free speech?

clipped from www.christianaction.org FOREST, VA - In what could be a landmark legal case, the Christian Action Network has been fined $3,000 for mailing letters containing an "inflammatory anti-Muslim message" and for using Governor John Baldacci's name "without his written consent." Maine's legal action against Christian Action Network (CAN) was prompted by a letter the organization sent out nationally that exposed Islamic programs in public schools and a request that citizens sign a petition to their governor opposing such programs. Maine's Department of Professional and Financial Regulation accuses CAN of "using the name of John Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, without his written consent for the purpose of soliciting contributions from persons in this state…"

Key Iranian Dissident Riled at Obama's Approach

Obama doesn't speak for most Americans

clipped from www.newsmax.com A key Iranian dissident tells Newsmax he was stunned when he heard President Barack Obama tell reporters that, despite government's brutal crackdown in Tehran, the Islamic Republic has time to regain “legitimacy” in the eyes of the Iranian people. “I was hoping President Obama would lead the world and start a boycott of Iranian oil,” said former presidential candidate and opposition activist Mohsen Sazegara. “This is the best way to save the lives of the Iranian people.” Instead, Sazegara told Newsmax, he listened to Obama’s news conference on Tuesday with a sense of disbelief. It's "not too late for the Iranian government to see there is a peaceful path that leads to legitimacy in the eyes of the Iranian people,” Obama told reporters when asked for his reaction to the violence in Iran.

Barack And His Dad: A Kenyan Economy For The U.S.A.

Sad but true.

clipped from townhall.com Quick - - what do you know about the country of Kenya? That’s the country with the world’s greatest GDP, low inflation and stable employment - - right? Well, no. In 2008, the United States had the greatest GDP of any individual country in the world (it came in second behind the 27 nations of the European Union), whereas Kenya produced the world’s 82nd largest GDP. Kenya endured an annual inflation rate of 9.7% in 2008 (current inflation figures for Kenya are unavailable), while the United States recently posted an inflation rate of .1%. And while the United States is currently struggling with an unemployment rate of slightly over 9%, Kenya has suffered for most of this decade with an unemployment rate of roughly 40% (here again, precise, up-to-date figures are unavailable).

Education panel votes to add 2 Muslim holidays to school calendar

The beginning of the end?

clipped from www.silive.com Young Muslim women attend a meeting of Sisters Empowering Sisters on Staten Island in 2007. It's not easy having to choose between religion and education. Some would even say it's not fair. But for those people whose religious holidays aren't recognized by the public school system, that's the choice they have to make. Yesterday, the City Council's Education Committee advocated to eliminate that dilemma -- at least for Muslim families. The committee passed a resolution that would call upon the city Department of Education to incorporate two major Muslim holidays into the school calendar. The committee has also been pushing for the introduction of a state law that would require schools to close on those two days.