Trade Bill Info - or lack thereof

[Jack Sprat]

The current trade bill legislation being coordinated by the Bush White House and members of the US House has been suspiciously secret with the responsibility of the language/writing of the bill being granted to the Bush White House. The Democrat opponents of this bill have characterized its content as being, at best, unenforceable. There is an article by David Sorota, for those who are interested in US trade policy and whether it will truly free and fair.

I have tried many times to post a link, but honestly, I don't know how. However, it is called workingassets.com/sirota.

[Cerridwen]

1. Here's the link you're trying to get to...and a snippet from the

article

"your" link

<snip>

RANGEL SAYS FAIR TRADE DEMS IN CONGRESS "ARE JUST WASTING MY TIME" AND SHOULD BE "IGNORED": Reuters reports that in an interview with PBS's Nightly Business Report, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) defended the secret deal he cut with the White House, and lashed out at those raising questions about its secrecy and its potentially unenforceable nature. Reuters notes that the deal was the result of "months of closed-door negotiations" and that "Rangel offered no apology" for such secrecy. Addressing the Democratic congressional critics of the deal, the majority of Americans polls show are opposed to lobbyist-written trade pacts, and labor, environmental, health, human rights, religious, consumer protection and agricultural groups rising questions about the deal, Rangel said the only thing he would do differently would be to "ignore a lot of people that really were just wasting my time."

BUSH WHITE HOUSE "IS DRAFTING THE LEGAL LANGUAGE": Inside U.S. Trade reports that facing growing criticism about the secrecy of the deal from rank-and-file Democrats in Congress about the deal, Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) "said that little additional information could be provided until the exact legal language of the deal has been worked out" and that the Bush White House "is now drafting that legal language." In other words, Democrats in on the deal delegated the responsibility of drafting the final language to the Bush White House all while rank-and-file Democrats have not been given any potential drafts of the legislative language to review. Meanwhile, the Bush-connected head of the Chamber of Commerce has said he has received "assurances that the labor provisions cannot be read to require compliance."

<snip and waaaaaay more at link>

[Jack Sprat]

2. Thank you, cerridwen

You are very kind for having done that. I went away for awhile and just noticed that you linked it for me.

[Cerridwen]

4. You're welcome.

Mastering the "art" of linking can be an interesting
exercise in frustration - DU software doesn't handle them as
I'd expect and if you're not "link savvy" (for lack
of a better phrase), it can be a real pain.

For future reference a "plain" link looks like this:
 http://www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/05/secret_trade_deal_moyers_speci.html

The "hot linked link" looks like this: 
[link:www.workingassetsblog.com/2007/05/secret_trade_deal_moyers_speci.html|name
of link goes here]

note the square brackets [  ] and the little pipe | thingy
that comes between .html and name of the link.

[senseandsensibility]

3. What's Rangel's problem?

Please go to the link, read about this, and contact your reps. Please keep kicked; I have seen little about this on DU, and it is very important. Of course the "media" largely ignoring it.

[Cerridwen]

5. Yeah, things that make me go "hmmmmmm"

I hope people take your advice and read the article and linked articles.

[Jack Sprat]

6. It appears to me that Charlie Rangel is bought.

[senseandsensibility]

7. kick

Please keep kicked and contact your reps. If you happen to be in Rangel's district, please contact him.