Hey is that meter man really a TIPS respondent?

[Guest guest]

Unions Sell Out to TIPS, Cozy Up With Government

posted by Citizen on Wednesday August 07 2002 @ 08:01AM PDT

NEW YORK — A type of neighborhood anti-terror program launched by the Bush

administration will be up and active this month in 10 cities across the

country and some of those recruited could be neighborhood truck drivers,

utility employees and train conductors.

Those are just some of the jobs taken by Teamsters union members, which has

signed up to help the Justice Department with its Operation TIPS.

TIPS -- the Terrorism Information and Prevention System -- is one of the

core elements of President Bush's Citizen Corps Program. The national system

for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity is

predicated on the assistance of do-good local citizens who would be in

positions to witness unusual or suspicious activity in public places.

Volunteers will hand tips over to the Justice Department via a toll-free

hotline or online.

The Teamsters union is throwing its support behind Operation TIPS not only

as a means to show its nonpartisan stripes, but to lend an effort to

homeland security, said Teamsters spokesman Rob Black.

Teamsters President Hoffa -- re-elected last November to run one of

the nation's oldest and largest unions -- " made clear " at the end of June

during a meeting with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge that " the

Teamsters fully support Operation TIPS, " Black said.

" Mr. Hoffa said that Teamster members can be the eyes and ears on the war on

terrorism, " he added.

But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union say that asking workers

who have access to private residences to report possible suspicious activity

could turn neighbors against each other and generate thousands of

unreasonable and unwarranted charges against innocent people.

" The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will turn

local cable or gas or electrical technicians into government-sanctioned

peeping toms, " King, an ACLU legislative counsel, said in a

statement.

The ACLU is even providing forms to citizens to encourage them to write to

their utility companies protesting their involvement in TIPS.

The Teamsters' support of TIPS, however, is not attributable solely to its

Good Samaritanism. The union, which has traditionally leaned more

Democratic, wants to demonstrate that the labor group should not be written

off as only supportive of Democratic initiatives.

" The fact is that since Mr. Hoffa took office, he's made it extremely clear

that on the legislative and political strategy, that the Teamsters will have

no permanent friends, only permanent interests, " Black said. " With regards

to the Bush administration, that is exactly what we have done. "

The Teamsters are doing more than supporting TIPS to show they should not be

taken advantage of as a Democratic union.

The group has supported a mixed bag of political priorities. It has gone

from supporting Bush's idea to drill for oil in Alaska, to opposing Bush's

pet priority: fast-track trade negotiating authority. The group also fought

the administration over safety standards for trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico

border.

" Our approach is not to buddy up to one party or the other, but it's to

build a Teamster majority at all levels of government, " Black said.

It is building its majority in part by donating more to Republican campaigns

than it has done in the past. During the 2000 election cycle, the group

donated $2.9 million to various candidates; 93 percent went to Democratic

candidates and only 7 percent went to Republicans.

But so far in the 2002 election cycle, Teamsters have donated $1.2 million

-- 85 percent of which has gone toward Democratic candidates and 15 percent

to Republicans.

Hoffa recently said in an interview with The Washington Times that he is

considering endorsing Jeb Bush, the president's brother, for a second term

as Florida's governor. The Teamsters are also endorsing a number of other

Republican candidates, such as gubernatorial candidates Pataki in New

York and Bob Taft in Ohio. Hoffa also told the Times the Teamsters have more

access to the Bush White House than to the Clinton White House.

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Unions Sell Out to TIPS, Cozy Up With Government

posted by Citizen on Wednesday August 07 2002 @ 08:01AM PDT

NEW YORK — A type of neighborhood anti-terror program launched by the Bush

administration will be up and active this month in 10 cities across the

country and some of those recruited could be neighborhood truck drivers,

utility employees and train conductors.

Those are just some of the jobs taken by Teamsters union members, which has

signed up to help the Justice Department with its Operation TIPS.

TIPS -- the Terrorism Information and Prevention System -- is one of the

core elements of President Bush's Citizen Corps Program. The national system

for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity is

predicated on the assistance of do-good local citizens who would be in

positions to witness unusual or suspicious activity in public places.

Volunteers will hand tips over to the Justice Department via a toll-free

hotline or online.

The Teamsters union is throwing its support behind Operation TIPS not only

as a means to show its nonpartisan stripes, but to lend an effort to

homeland security, said Teamsters spokesman Rob Black.

Teamsters President Hoffa -- re-elected last November to run one of

the nation's oldest and largest unions -- " made clear " at the end of June

during a meeting with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge that " the

Teamsters fully support Operation TIPS, " Black said.

" Mr. Hoffa said that Teamster members can be the eyes and ears on the war on

terrorism, " he added.

But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union say that asking workers

who have access to private residences to report possible suspicious activity

could turn neighbors against each other and generate thousands of

unreasonable and unwarranted charges against innocent people.

" The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will turn

local cable or gas or electrical technicians into government-sanctioned

peeping toms, " King, an ACLU legislative counsel, said in a

statement.

The ACLU is even providing forms to citizens to encourage them to write to

their utility companies protesting their involvement in TIPS.

The Teamsters' support of TIPS, however, is not attributable solely to its

Good Samaritanism. The union, which has traditionally leaned more

Democratic, wants to demonstrate that the labor group should not be written

off as only supportive of Democratic initiatives.

" The fact is that since Mr. Hoffa took office, he's made it extremely clear

that on the legislative and political strategy, that the Teamsters will have

no permanent friends, only permanent interests, " Black said. " With regards

to the Bush administration, that is exactly what we have done. "

The Teamsters are doing more than supporting TIPS to show they should not be

taken advantage of as a Democratic union.

The group has supported a mixed bag of political priorities. It has gone

from supporting Bush's idea to drill for oil in Alaska, to opposing Bush's

pet priority: fast-track trade negotiating authority. The group also fought

the administration over safety standards for trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico

border.

" Our approach is not to buddy up to one party or the other, but it's to

build a Teamster majority at all levels of government, " Black said.

It is building its majority in part by donating more to Republican campaigns

than it has done in the past. During the 2000 election cycle, the group

donated $2.9 million to various candidates; 93 percent went to Democratic

candidates and only 7 percent went to Republicans.

But so far in the 2002 election cycle, Teamsters have donated $1.2 million

-- 85 percent of which has gone toward Democratic candidates and 15 percent

to Republicans.

Hoffa recently said in an interview with The Washington Times that he is

considering endorsing Jeb Bush, the president's brother, for a second term

as Florida's governor. The Teamsters are also endorsing a number of other

Republican candidates, such as gubernatorial candidates Pataki in New

York and Bob Taft in Ohio. Hoffa also told the Times the Teamsters have more

access to the Bush White House than to the Clinton White House.

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Unions Sell Out to TIPS, Cozy Up With Government

posted by Citizen on Wednesday August 07 2002 @ 08:01AM PDT

NEW YORK — A type of neighborhood anti-terror program launched by the Bush

administration will be up and active this month in 10 cities across the

country and some of those recruited could be neighborhood truck drivers,

utility employees and train conductors.

Those are just some of the jobs taken by Teamsters union members, which has

signed up to help the Justice Department with its Operation TIPS.

TIPS -- the Terrorism Information and Prevention System -- is one of the

core elements of President Bush's Citizen Corps Program. The national system

for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity is

predicated on the assistance of do-good local citizens who would be in

positions to witness unusual or suspicious activity in public places.

Volunteers will hand tips over to the Justice Department via a toll-free

hotline or online.

The Teamsters union is throwing its support behind Operation TIPS not only

as a means to show its nonpartisan stripes, but to lend an effort to

homeland security, said Teamsters spokesman Rob Black.

Teamsters President Hoffa -- re-elected last November to run one of

the nation's oldest and largest unions -- " made clear " at the end of June

during a meeting with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge that " the

Teamsters fully support Operation TIPS, " Black said.

" Mr. Hoffa said that Teamster members can be the eyes and ears on the war on

terrorism, " he added.

But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union say that asking workers

who have access to private residences to report possible suspicious activity

could turn neighbors against each other and generate thousands of

unreasonable and unwarranted charges against innocent people.

" The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will turn

local cable or gas or electrical technicians into government-sanctioned

peeping toms, " King, an ACLU legislative counsel, said in a

statement.

The ACLU is even providing forms to citizens to encourage them to write to

their utility companies protesting their involvement in TIPS.

The Teamsters' support of TIPS, however, is not attributable solely to its

Good Samaritanism. The union, which has traditionally leaned more

Democratic, wants to demonstrate that the labor group should not be written

off as only supportive of Democratic initiatives.

" The fact is that since Mr. Hoffa took office, he's made it extremely clear

that on the legislative and political strategy, that the Teamsters will have

no permanent friends, only permanent interests, " Black said. " With regards

to the Bush administration, that is exactly what we have done. "

The Teamsters are doing more than supporting TIPS to show they should not be

taken advantage of as a Democratic union.

The group has supported a mixed bag of political priorities. It has gone

from supporting Bush's idea to drill for oil in Alaska, to opposing Bush's

pet priority: fast-track trade negotiating authority. The group also fought

the administration over safety standards for trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico

border.

" Our approach is not to buddy up to one party or the other, but it's to

build a Teamster majority at all levels of government, " Black said.

It is building its majority in part by donating more to Republican campaigns

than it has done in the past. During the 2000 election cycle, the group

donated $2.9 million to various candidates; 93 percent went to Democratic

candidates and only 7 percent went to Republicans.

But so far in the 2002 election cycle, Teamsters have donated $1.2 million

-- 85 percent of which has gone toward Democratic candidates and 15 percent

to Republicans.

Hoffa recently said in an interview with The Washington Times that he is

considering endorsing Jeb Bush, the president's brother, for a second term

as Florida's governor. The Teamsters are also endorsing a number of other

Republican candidates, such as gubernatorial candidates Pataki in New

York and Bob Taft in Ohio. Hoffa also told the Times the Teamsters have more

access to the Bush White House than to the Clinton White House.

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Unions Sell Out to TIPS, Cozy Up With Government

posted by Citizen on Wednesday August 07 2002 @ 08:01AM PDT

NEW YORK — A type of neighborhood anti-terror program launched by the Bush

administration will be up and active this month in 10 cities across the

country and some of those recruited could be neighborhood truck drivers,

utility employees and train conductors.

Those are just some of the jobs taken by Teamsters union members, which has

signed up to help the Justice Department with its Operation TIPS.

TIPS -- the Terrorism Information and Prevention System -- is one of the

core elements of President Bush's Citizen Corps Program. The national system

for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity is

predicated on the assistance of do-good local citizens who would be in

positions to witness unusual or suspicious activity in public places.

Volunteers will hand tips over to the Justice Department via a toll-free

hotline or online.

The Teamsters union is throwing its support behind Operation TIPS not only

as a means to show its nonpartisan stripes, but to lend an effort to

homeland security, said Teamsters spokesman Rob Black.

Teamsters President Hoffa -- re-elected last November to run one of

the nation's oldest and largest unions -- " made clear " at the end of June

during a meeting with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge that " the

Teamsters fully support Operation TIPS, " Black said.

" Mr. Hoffa said that Teamster members can be the eyes and ears on the war on

terrorism, " he added.

But groups like the American Civil Liberties Union say that asking workers

who have access to private residences to report possible suspicious activity

could turn neighbors against each other and generate thousands of

unreasonable and unwarranted charges against innocent people.

" The administration apparently wants to implement a program that will turn

local cable or gas or electrical technicians into government-sanctioned

peeping toms, " King, an ACLU legislative counsel, said in a

statement.

The ACLU is even providing forms to citizens to encourage them to write to

their utility companies protesting their involvement in TIPS.

The Teamsters' support of TIPS, however, is not attributable solely to its

Good Samaritanism. The union, which has traditionally leaned more

Democratic, wants to demonstrate that the labor group should not be written

off as only supportive of Democratic initiatives.

" The fact is that since Mr. Hoffa took office, he's made it extremely clear

that on the legislative and political strategy, that the Teamsters will have

no permanent friends, only permanent interests, " Black said. " With regards

to the Bush administration, that is exactly what we have done. "

The Teamsters are doing more than supporting TIPS to show they should not be

taken advantage of as a Democratic union.

The group has supported a mixed bag of political priorities. It has gone

from supporting Bush's idea to drill for oil in Alaska, to opposing Bush's

pet priority: fast-track trade negotiating authority. The group also fought

the administration over safety standards for trucks crossing the U.S.-Mexico

border.

" Our approach is not to buddy up to one party or the other, but it's to

build a Teamster majority at all levels of government, " Black said.

It is building its majority in part by donating more to Republican campaigns

than it has done in the past. During the 2000 election cycle, the group

donated $2.9 million to various candidates; 93 percent went to Democratic

candidates and only 7 percent went to Republicans.

But so far in the 2002 election cycle, Teamsters have donated $1.2 million

-- 85 percent of which has gone toward Democratic candidates and 15 percent

to Republicans.

Hoffa recently said in an interview with The Washington Times that he is

considering endorsing Jeb Bush, the president's brother, for a second term

as Florida's governor. The Teamsters are also endorsing a number of other

Republican candidates, such as gubernatorial candidates Pataki in New

York and Bob Taft in Ohio. Hoffa also told the Times the Teamsters have more

access to the Bush White House than to the Clinton White House.

_________________________________________________________________

Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Hoffa and the Teamsters are supporting TIPS ?!? Give me a break.

The workers need a new union. And the teamsters are considering

endorsing Jeb Bush in Florida. Yeah right! Jeb, a representative of

the working class. I don't think so.

[Guest guest]

Hoffa and the Teamsters are supporting TIPS ?!? Give me a break.

The workers need a new union. And the teamsters are considering

endorsing Jeb Bush in Florida. Yeah right! Jeb, a representative of

the working class. I don't think so.

[Guest guest]

Hoffa and the Teamsters are supporting TIPS ?!? Give me a break.

The workers need a new union. And the teamsters are considering

endorsing Jeb Bush in Florida. Yeah right! Jeb, a representative of

the working class. I don't think so.

[Guest guest]

Hoffa and the Teamsters are supporting TIPS ?!? Give me a break.

The workers need a new union. And the teamsters are considering

endorsing Jeb Bush in Florida. Yeah right! Jeb, a representative of

the working class. I don't think so.