Palast at it again re: Schwartzenazi ... Told ya' so!

[twilight]

I am deeply unhappy to report on the accuracy of our report on the success of Ken Lay's plan to have his governor, Mr. Schwarzenegger, sabotage state lawsuits against the electricity cartel.

The following is just in from journalist Katherine Yurica:

Arnold to Settle Lawsuits for Pennies on the Dollar

The Yurica Report has learned that only three days after Mr. Schwarzenegger won his victory in California, an aide announced that the governor-elect intends to settle pending energy fraud lawsuits. This apparently includes the suit filed by Cruz Bustamante under the California statute, Civil Code section 17200 ,of the Unfair Practices Act. The purpose of the act “is to safeguard the public against the creation or perpetuation of monopolies and to foster and encourage competition” the Act expressly prohibits, “unfair, dishonest, deceptive, destructive, fraudulent and discriminatory practices by which fair and honest competition is destroyed or prevented.”

According to news talk show host Bernie Ward of KGO radio, San Francisco, who reported the story Friday night on his radio show, (October 10th), Schwarzenegger's aid stated that the governor-elect's administration did not want to be saddled with someone else's lawsuits. The Unfair Practices Act, however, has provisions that require businesses who profit from unfair practices to pay the victims those profits. Although the Act does not authorize recovery of damages in a representative action, according to Hiliary N. Rowen, an attorney from the law firm of Thelen Reid & Priest, “the plaintiff—who need not have been harmed by the challenged conduct—may seek injunctive and restitutionary relief, including the disgorgement of profits on behalf of all those injured.” (See Hiliary Rowen's article) .This provision would make the power companies, who profited an estimated $9 billion from the California energy scam, the losers.

In the meantime, Claire Cooper of the Sacramento Bee reported Friday on another lawsuit in the Federal Court. She reported the judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seemed skeptical of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) “ contention that it acted legally three years ago, when it relied on competition among energy wholesalers to determine the cost of California's power supply and did not require them to file the rates they would charge.” California sued FERC, claiming it is due a refund of $9 billion in gouged profits because the Federal Power Act didn't authorize FERC to approve a fluctuating marketbased rate structure. The question is, does the governor-elect intend to settle the federal suit also?

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=286&row=1

"When we have the Terminator as Governator of California, WE have a big problem" - Al Sharpton

[oc2002]

1. Is there evidence that Arnold did meet with former Enron peopls?

If this is true, where is the media coverage?

I am sceptical, so I will wait and see. Possible that Greg P. is right, unfortunetly he is banned in this country, and only gets air time on the BBC, which nobody here watches.

Still.... where is the proof Arnold met in secrete with Ken Lay?

[twilight]

2. Ahnuld has been asked to explain ...

I did hear that much about it. Any more than that, nothing. That's 9 billion $ we're talking about! Cough it up Arnie you PIG!!!

:dem:

[madfloridian]

3. He is listed as being at the meetings in emails.

Do a search here to find them.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

4. Here's the proof you asked for

It's just not talked about. Much like many other open secrets in this country that aren't talked about.

Edited to add the proof you require:
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/pr/pr003708.php3

[arcane1]

8. it's not talked about because it doesn't involve sex

aside from California getting screwed...

:grr:

this steroid-ridden bastard is going to catch HELL from me for the next 3 years!!

[Melinda]

5. Have fun:

Enron E-Mails Show Arnold Met With Ken Lay During Energy Crisis
Santa Monica, CA -- Internal Enron e-mails confirm that Arnold Schwarzenegger was among a small group of executives who met with Lay at the posh Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel in May of 2001, in the midst of California's energy crisis. View the e-mails here (pdf). The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which obtained the e-mails, is calling on Schwarzenegger to acknowledge the meetings and disclose the information that was presented and discussed. The meeting with Enron occurred ten days after rolling blackouts darkened California for two consecutive days; Schwarzenegger has previously said that he does not remember such a meeting.

"You don't meet with America's most well-known corporate crook in the middle of California's biggest financial disaster and not remember," said FTCR's senior consumer advocate Douglas Heller. "Mr. Schwarzenegger should come clean about what happened at that meeting and if he shares Ken Lay's views on energy regulation."

The documents provide a list of invitees to the hastily arranged meeting and a list of those who actually attended. Only eleven of the 45 invitees attended, including Schwarzenegger. The meeting was meant to be an opportunity to gain business community support for Enron's "comprehensive solution" to the energy crisis. In one e-mail, Enron's VP of Public Relations wrote: "We'd like to position this meeting as an insider's conversation of what's going on with the energy situation. This meeting should be for principals only." (emphasis in original)


http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/pr/pr003708.php3

http://www.thesandiegochannel.com/politics/2554124/detail.html

http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/081903G.shtml

[twilight]

7. more proof here ...

<< WASHINGTON - California governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger must explain the substance of his private May 2001 meeting with Enron chief Ken Lay, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights wrote in a letter to Schwarzenegger Tuesday.

FTCR, which was the state's most vocal critic of Governor Gray Davis' handling of the energy crisis, said that if the governor-elect did not recount the meeting by the time of his inauguration, the group would ask state lawmakers to open an investigation to uncover the substance of the meeting, including any information that might further the state's efforts to return billions of dollars that taxpayers and consumers overpaid for electricity during the energy crisis.

"A meeting with the biggest corporate crook in recent memory, while he and his firm were in the midst of ripping off the state, should not be taken lightly," FTCR wrote. "As Governor, you must explain to Californians what you were doing at that meeting, what information Ken Lay shared with you and how the meeting has influenced your thinking on energy issues." >>

more here ....

http://truthout.org/docs_03/101703C.shtml

:dem:

[oc2002]

9. Thanks for the proof that Arnold did meet with Ken Lay in 5/2001, but...

.. it still leaves alot of the dots Greg Palast points out to be proven, yet anyway.

I think two things Greg is saying that there is a secrete agenda to let Enron not pay if the courts rule in favor of Calif/Bustamante's lawsuit against FERC, and that he will dismantle the Calf Regulations on energy to favor companies like Enron.

Both are good theories, and very probable, but Arnold has not made any statements in those areas. Lets face it though, Arnold got very favorable treatment by the media during the election, but I doubt it will last long.

Its nice to know that the President finaly found it worth his time to visit California.

[slaveplanet]

13. from the horse's mouth

exerpt from pre-recall Bill Forman atricle:


My third encounter with Arnold, I vowed, would be more fruitful. The debate organizers had decided to hold an additional press conference, this one for the overflow journalists stationed in the campus library. Positioning myself front and center, I watched the tough questions begin to fly, things like: Arnold, just why are Democrats so afraid of you?

Before long, Schwarzenegger’s spin doctor announced the last call for questions, and I weighed my options: Skulking in alleyways had not worked. The straight-arm salute felt creepy and also had proved ineffective. My only choice, I decided, was to be as submissive and pathetic as possible.

When Schwarzenegger made eye contact with me, I affected a look more desperate than a man trying to hail a cab in a hurricane, more sickeningly sincere than those Margaret Keane paintings of big-eyed kids on black velvet.

He broke eye contact, continuing to speak about the special interests to which lesser candidates are beholden. And then he looked back. I raised an index finger, silently mouthing a prayer: One question, just one.

OK, this really was the last question, the spin-guy insisted, as I offered up my most hopeful expression, the kind a dog makes after it has chewed up the rug.

It worked. Arnold pointed to me. The sea of reporters parted, and I rose to my feet and spoke the question: “Do you consider Ken Lay a special interest, and why won’t you talk about when you met with him during our California energy crisis?”

And this is how he answered: “Well, first of all, I just found out very recently --How many days ago? Two days ago? Three days ago?--I had someone look at the record who was there,” he continued, insisting he was just one of 30 people at Lay’s meeting. “And at that time, he was not a star. He was unknown, not the way he is known now. So, I did not remember ever meeting him. So, then we looked at the record, and then we found out two days ago, yes, he was in that room, but I don’t even remember meeting him.”

Another reporter followed up with a question about deregulation. As it turns out, Arnold is for it. And then it was time to go. As he left the room, reporters called out questions about Karl Rove and Cheney. Arnold ignored them, exiting to applause from the more star-struck “reporters” left behind.

This weekend--while I pondered the idea that Lay’s public disgrace was actually a rise to stardom--the Schwarzenegger campaign reportedly put journalists in isolation. The media was placed in a press-only section behind a stage from which he would no longer take questions. Now more than ever, with only days left before the vote, Arnold’s handlers need to make sure that no one screws things up. Not even Arnold.

[tom_paine]

6. Boring. Totalitarian Empires like Amerika are EASY to predict

Like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union and Marcos' Phillipines and Baby Doc's Haiti, nearly all outcomes ae preordained, nearly all systems corrupted and predictable for those with half an eye open.

So of course we new Imperial Gouvernor Facelift Gropymolestor was going to do this, as anyone who was watching knew exactly what happened to Marcos' opponent Benino Aquino.

A anyone knew who predicted that Brezhnev was lying when he announced 600% increases in agricultural production.

Totalitarian Societies, as Imperial Amerika is trending towards, are boringly predictable.

But thanks, Greg, for stating the obvious and documenting that, in fact, what everyone with half-a-brain knew was going to happen has happened.

[AP]

10. Physically ill here. 9 Billion dollar shift of wealth from middle class to

Enron (who will use wealth to consolidate political power) complete.

[bobthedrummer]

11. Compare Arnold to Dennis Kucinich on energy

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/082603Dong/082603dong.html

[rocktivity]

12. Put the heat on your Dem reps

Protest at his appearances. Write letters to the editor. Ask the local medi why there's been no coverage. Arnold is ready to leave at least billion dollars on the table that the state budget needs desparately?




rocknation

[Minstrel Boy]

14. sigh - doncha just miss

being wrong once in a bloody while?