Sunday, July 20:

Leon: Obama and the War in Iraq Obama's decision to provide a mission before going to Iraq was the correct thing to do. We need a plan to get out of Iraq and it's not clear that the surge alone was responsible for the reduction in violence

Sherry Clark: A Tocsin to Proclaim Jubilee Throughout the Land! As our government reaches ever further into our wallets with corporate buyouts and printing ever more money, further devaluing the dollar, greater burdens are heaped upon our collective backs. American taxpayers will now carry the debt loads of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, making us slaves of debt that we never agreed to pay. Inscribed on the Liberty Bell is Leviticus 25: v. 10, "Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto al

Cui Bono? The 9/11 Promotions Cui Bono; who benefits? The FBI and CIA failed to stop the alleged 9/11 hijackers when they could have, and NORAD & the Air Force failed to intercept the off-course planes. No one was held accountable; in fact, certain principals were promoted.

Saturday, July 19:

D. H. Kerby: Happy Birthday, Madiba -- Rehabilitation: Better Late than Never On the occasion of Mandela's birthday, A reflection about the State Department and the Congress wising-up at long last about the African National Congress.

Marc McDonald: The Problem With "The Dark Knight" Between "The Dark Knight" and Heath Ledger's death, our corporate media has once again devoted acres of column space to a movie, during a time in which the ongoing Iraq War has all but disappeared from our nation's media radar. The long-suffering people of Iraq have no need to go a movie to see bloody shootouts and spectacular explosions: they see them all the time in real life, every day.

Dennis Kaiser: More Important Than Impeachment (4 comments) It may be way too late for impeachment. The nation may already be lost.

'Justifying' Torture: Two Big Lies by Coleen Rowley and Ray McGovern Lie #1: The Bush Administration claims they tortured out of concern for protecting American lives, and to disrupt Al Qaeda- but they blocked the FBI from interviewing Moussaoui for years after 9/11. Lie #2: Torture "saves lives"; the Bush Administration has claimed torture has prevented attacks, but has never offered any evidence to back up the claim. Torture's counter-productive effects have been documented

Roy S. Carson: Perhaps it is there that Chavez and his closest theorists in the administration have lost the plot? I guess you could call me naive, but I've always maintained a certain distance from party politics. Perhaps I am a purist inasmuch as I believe in the right of one man/woman one vote and the obligation of the elected representative to represent the totality of his constituency blinded to all other influences. To my mind that's true democracy.

Political harmony v. the rule of law: an easy choice for the political establishment Former Congressman Harold Ford argued that Bush officials shouldn't be held accountable for crimes they committed while in office, and then insisted that Democrats shouldn't be expected to defend civil liberties and Constitutional rights because -- as one observer summarized Ford's point -- "the Constitution doesn't poll very well."

Linn Cohen-Cole: *What is happening to farming - and to your world. (1 comments) Farming is in terrible trouble. When you hear talk of NAIS or banning of real milk and farmers pleading for no more regulations, please hear with a different ear. It is your world that is being lost.

Bob Herbert: Yes We Can (2 comments) Mr. Gore’s focus is primarily on solar, wind and geothermal energy. His belief is that a dramatic, wholesale transition to these abundant and renewable sources of energy is not just doable, but essential.

Half a Million Plastic Coffins? (2 comments) apparently the Government is expecting a half million people to die relatively soon, and the Atlanta Airport is a major airline traffic hub, probably the biggest in the country, which means Georgia is a prime base to conduct military operations and coordination.

VIDEO: Naomi Klein Tears into Bush's Offshore Drilling Plan on Fox News Naomi Klein debunks Bush's offshore drilling plan on Fox Business News' Happy Hour Program.

Uncomfortable Answers to Questions on the Economy Something has clearly gone wrong with the economy. But how bad are things, really? And how bad might they get before better days return? Even to many economists who recently thought the gloom was overblown, the situation looks grim. The economy is in the midst of a very rough patch. The worst is probably still ahead.

9/11: Press ForTruth (1 comments) Excellent documentary following the "Jersey Girls" and 9/11 Timeline creator Paul Thompson.

Heath Ledger's Tragic Overdose Death And What Can be Done To Prevent Others Tony Newman of Drug Policy Alliance was Heath Ledger's neighbor. He hopes America will now wake up to face overdose risk squarely. It is the second leading cause of death after traffic accidents, but it can be greatly reduced by distributing an opiate antagonist drug and by passing "9-1-1 Good Samaritan" laws giving immunity to those who call for help when a friend overdoses.

MOYERS & WINSHIP | Mother's Milk of Politics Turns Sour Once again we're closing the barn door after the horse is out and gone. In Washington, the Federal Reserve has finally acted to stop some of the predatory lending that exploited people's need for money. And like Rip Van Winkle, Congress is finally waking up from a long doze under the warm sun of laissez-faire economics. That's French for turning off the alarm until the burglars have made their getaway.

Mary Shaw: Does Obama Need A Running Mate With War Clout? (6 comments) Too many people mistakenly believe that McCain can keep them safer. So I've been wondering if it might help if Obama were to select a running mate with some war clout.

Phil Gramm steps down after 'whiners' comment Announcement and commentary concerning Phil Gramm's resignation, his "nation of whiners" comment, and Gramm's and others responses to the past week

Why Karl Rove Should Go To Jail (5 comments) The courts have made clear that no one, not even the president, is immune from compulsory process. Any person who scoffs at the law and who has committed an offense that is punishable by jail time should be put in jail. This includes Karl Rove.

Explosive and Revealing Quotations about 9/11 Completely Ignored by the Mainstream Media (1 comments) These explosive and revealing comments about 9/11 have been completely ignored by the Mainstream Media. While talking about the 9/11 commission, 9/11 family member Patty Casazza reveals that FBI translator and whistleblower Sibel Edmonds had incriminating insider information about the 9/11 attacks:

Mark Sashine: Here's Your Sign (4 comments) Recently the Russian state TV channel ran a poll. There was only one question, 'Choose the person you consider to be the most outstanding in the recent Russian History'. By an overwhelming margin (90%) the people had chosen Joseph Stalin.

When Human Rights Extend to Nonhumans - NY Times (3 comments) A thoughtful and provocative article, inspired by the vote of the environment committee of the Spanish Parliament last month to grant limited rights to our closest biological relatives, the great apes. If the bill passes, torture, including in medical experiments, and arbitrary imprisonment, (including for circuses or films) would be forbidden, and it would become illegal to kill apes except in self-defense.

Christopher Wright: Financial Groans and Creaking (1 comments) Somethin's happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I've got to beware Stop, children, what's that sound "For What Its Worth" Buffalo Springfield, 1967 (Stephen Stills)

chris rice: Sciopero generale globale Together we can IMPEACH Bush and Cheney and end the Global War On Terror. If we fail the war will continue on into Iran. Gas prices will sky rocket setting off a dominoe effect that will raise prices on everything. Thousands have died already. Millions diplaced and homeless. Creating widows and orphans for both sides. The Democrats will NOT end the war, they profit from it. They are invested in it....

Ron Fullwood: Barack Obama Redefines the "Center" of our Nation's Defense Against Terror As Sen. Obama has done, Democrats and others opposed to the Iraq occupation who continue to acknowledge Bush's 'terror war' should oblige him and aggressively tie it to the quagmire in Iraq and his wallowing failures elsewhere in the world.

Steven Leser: Obama Leads on Iran and Iraq – Bush and McCain Follow However you define leadership, Barack Obama has an overabundance of it and has done something unprecedented with his ability

Kathryn Smith: *Leaked "reports" about secret Congressional meeting may be a hoax (1 comments) The so-reported "leak" from Congresspeople about the contents of the secret Congressional meeting in March is based on theory, not fact. News reports and Dennis Kucinich confirm this. Check it out. THe meeting probably was about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and not about FEMA camps or the conversion of US currency to the Amero, as rumored.

Allen L Roland: *RACISM RAISES ITS UGLY FACE ON NEW YORKER COVER (2 comments) Racism has subtly raised its ugly face for all to see, courtesy of the New Yorker, but it was always there beneath the surface ~ so now we no longer have to deny its presence nor its role in an election where 45 percent of Americans believe Islam encourages violence: Allen L Roland

mfaison: *African Politics and International Interests: The Compounding of History, Economics, and International Policies Commentary concerning the manner in which the US and other Western or industrialized countries interact and aid Third World countries, calling into question the intent and the implementation of humanitarian aid to countries, especially Africa

Friday, July 18:

steve young: A Savage Betrayal of Humanity: Radio Host Michael Savage Says Autistic Kids Aren't Sick..."Just Brats" (9 comments) One proud dad and grandad beg to differ.

Dave Lindorff: I Was a Victim of the Government's Absurd and Over-Hyped War on Terror (5 comments) Thanks to the War on Terror, I have a sore toe.

Linda Milazzo: Pelosi Secures Her "BUT" (7 comments)

Linn Cohen-Cole: *Excuse this interruption of deadly serious matters, to ask what you're packing for the internment camp stay. (40 comments) There is a report out that Congress was informed in a secret meeting of the imminent collapse of the US economy and government and the institution of martial law, with internment camps being built in this country to hold "insurgents." Shall we stop doing business as usual and investigate, and if there is validity in this story, make a wee noise to object? Does this president plan to leave or declare martial law to stay?

David Bloys: Government Web Sites Linked to Cyberstalking and Murder (2 comments) Many people think the most dangerous thing about public record Web sites is the risk of identity theft. The fact is, government Web sites can cost you much more than your identity. These sites can cost you your life or the life of someone you love.

Michael Chavers: Who Says Bush Isn't A Socialist (9 comments) Last weekend Henry Paulson the Treasury Secretary appointed by Bush and the former head of the Goldman Sachs investment house announced that Bush /Cheney would ask congress to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Michael Fox: Bush's Nixon-in-China Move – Iran as the "October Surprise" (2 comments) History repeats itself, and October Surprises are nothing new. Michael Fox explains who's going to Teheran, and how gasoline will be $2.50 a gallon after labor day. And why none of it will really work, but it's worth calling their bluff.

Mikhail Lyubansky: Tuning into the election's racial frequency (2 comments) "When it comes to African-American audiences, some have called Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid a 'dual-track' candidacy, one that seeks to prove he is in tune with the needs of the black community while also not alienating whites." The purpose of this article is to examine what he needs to do in order to appeal to both of these groups and whether simultaneously appealing to both groups is even possible.

Spain Parliamentary Committee Votes for Rights for Apes Yesterday DawnWatch sent an alert that the Spanish Parliament's environment committee passed a resolution granting limited rights to great apes. The Great Apes include orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans. We share 98.7% of our DNA with chimpanzees and bonobos. I truly hope the Spanish resolution will pass and spread globally. It's time the US and other countries stop exploiting all great apes, including us.

David Swanson: English Translation of a John Conyers Press Release (6 comments) Below is the original text of a July 17, 2008, media advisory from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers in the original Pelosiconi, followed by the English in all caps.

Clutton Patsika: Zimbabwe Does Not Belong to Mugabe Alone (2 comments) Zimbabwe's crisis has reached untenable level, but do we want unity or just free and fair elections?

Tom Devine: *URGENT! SIGN PETITION FOR PRODUCT SAFETY TODAY! (2 comments) We urgently need coalitions and individuals to sign a petition urging Congress to pass sweeping consumer protection. 68 citizen groups have joined in this push. We need 100. Please email

Ralph Lopez: *Executive Privilege, Why Aren't They Hollering "Cover-up?" (1 comments) The congressional game is to attempt to appease the impeachment movement with some sort of action while keeping it as quiet as possible, lest the general electorate catch wind. We need to ask them why they aren't hollering "cover-up!" to Bush's recent claim of executive privilege.

Israel May Start Nuclear War- NYT (2 comments) Benny Morris, a Professor of Middle Eastern history at Ben Gurion University, claims Israel will most certainly attack Iran within the next 4 to 7 months, and if conventional weapons are unsuccessful to knock out Iran's nuclear program, than Israel will escalate to the use of nuclear weapons.

Morford: Here's oil in your eye I admit to a bit of total confusion mixed with a certain level of stupefied awe and teeth-rattling frustration as to why anyone with the mental acuity of more than a housefly would think that stabbing more holes into Alaska and the eastern seaboard in the search for a few remaining precious drops of oil is a good idea, would solve anything at all, is anything more than the equivalent of hurling matches at the devil.

David Swanson: *Guess Who's Coming to the Impeachment (2 comments) How They'll Try to Bury Impeachment and Fail

McCain-As-War-Hero Myth More laughable than the notion of Obama as the second coming of JFK is the founding myth of the McCain campaign: (a) he is a war hero, and (b) said heroism increases his credibility on national security issues. “A Vietnam hero and national security pro,” The New York Times calls him in a typical media blandishment.

Double-Secret Donations PRESIDENT BUSH has a new "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It involves his presidential library. Fundraising for the library is going on -- in secret, we are told, shielded even from the president himself.

Ann Kramer: An opportunity in this financial crisis (1 comments) In this financial meltdown, we have an opportunity to create change in our banking system that will result in a stronger economy for everyone. The private bankers have had 200+ years to make it work--and this current financial crisis shows they can't do it. Let's make change now.

A Government of People, After All Bet you can't guess who's on the thing! James Baker? Check. Warren Christopher? Check. Lee Hamilton? Check. Ed Meese? Check. Brent Scowcroft? Check. (What, no Henry Kissinger? Guess he was busy fighting war crime extraditions.)

(More...)

Saturday, July 19:

Investors riot in Pakistan as market tumbles n 2007, Pakistan's KSE-100 index soared 41%. In the first few months of 2008, the KSE-100 was the best performer among major emerging markets indexes. However, since April 18, when the index soared to a record high of 15,676 points, the KSE-100 has tumbled 35%. This article points out that that China and India have had bearish signs, but tend to set curbs in futures activities.

Africa's Last and Least The U.N. World Food Program reports that 130 million people on 3 continents are facing a food crisis. This article explains how it is for a woman and her 2 co-wives in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. Boabab leaves and potash sound like poor ingredients for the only meal. "Last and Least" refers to women who are the most malnourished. And they also must work outside the home.

A New Generation of Activists Arises in Burma Great Wash. Post article on an underground group of activists in Rangoon who are working against the current Burmese govt. With Aung San Suu Kyi in exile, they carry on with her principles. They would like to be recognized as a viable party. They consider the main opposition party, Natl League for Democracy, to be ineffective.

Xanadu Zinnia: How to Save the World? Given the current state of our planet, what should we focus on to save the world?

Joe Sims: McCain bashes workers, public education at NAACP meet "Bashing workers" was how AFL-CIO executive vice president Arlene Holt-Baker, characterized presumptive Republican nominee John McCain's speech at the 99th convention of the NAACP in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

ncvoter: Instant Runoff Means Touch Screen Tricks in North Carolina Fads trump election transparency.(electronic voting?). Since North Carolina passed its paper ballot law, its been harder to mess up the vote. So here comes Instant Runoff Voting, which is hardly transparent. NC tested IRV in 2007, and found a "creative" 100 plus steps method to count IRV on touchscreens.This may get a test again in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Why bother working for verified voting when it gets undone so easily?

Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad: Move beyond testing, punishing, NEA leader says The nation's capital played host to over 10,000 elected delegates of the National Education Association's 87th annual representative assembly July 1-6. Teachers, educational support and administrative personnel were joined by thousands of other allied professionals and trade unionists and guests at what was billed as the world's largest democratic deliberative body.

Pat Smith: Voter Registrations Drives at the VA is Intelligently Denied by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. Peak There is already a small fire burning at the VA and you want to add fuel/politics to it?

mfaison: *What a Shock? Phil Gramm Has Been Ousted Phil Gramm's departure from John McCain's campaign: good riddance.

More Evidence Madrid Bombing was a False Flag Op (1 comments) It is revealed that the man accused of supplying the dynamite used in the March 2004 Madrid train bombings was an informant who had the private telephone number of the head of Spain's Civil Guard bomb squad. Emilio Suarez Trashorras, a miner with access to explosives, as well as an associate named Rafa Zouhier both regularly informed for the Spanish police, telling them about drug shipments.

McCain camp reacts to Maliki's call for withdrawal: Voters don't care what Iraqi leaders say. "We're f**ked."

Bush, in a Shift, Accepts Concept of Iraq "Notional, National Horizon" Timeline Bush, who has long derided timetables for troop withdrawals as dangerous, agreed to at least a "notional" one as part of the administration’s efforts to negotiate the terms for an American military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year.

Obama Opens a Foreign Tour in Afghanistan The trip is intended to build impressions — and counter criticism — about his ability to serve on the world stage in a time of war. While the trip carries political risk, particularly if Mr. Obama makes a mistake — the three broadcast network news anchors will be along for the latter parts of the trip.

In a Shift, U.S. Joins Nuclear Talks With Iran The United States participated for the first time in international talks with Iran over its nuclear program. The move was viewed by officials as a sign the Bush administration wanted to avoid a military confrontation with Iran. US rep William Burns, under secretary of state, said following the disappointing outcome that the US will push for new punitive sanctions.

Failure to Fix Base Hazards Worried Pentagon Official A Pentagon safety expert told senior Defense Department officials earlier this year that their failure to heed warnings to fix widespread electrical hazards on American bases in Iraq could leave the Pentagon liable for multiple electrocutions of American soldiers, according to internal e-mail correspondence.

ABC News/ Wash. Post withheld results of poll favorable to Obama ABC News and The Washington Post issued staggered releases of the results of their latest poll, withholding from their first release results favorable to Sen. Barack Obama, including the finding that 50 percent of registered voters would vote for Obama for president versus 42 percent for Sen. John McCain.

Sherwin Steffin: Confident, Hopeful, Wishful, or Fantasy (1 comments) This poll asks for your assessment of the likelihood that America will eventually return to being the nation we all expected it to be.

San Francisco Bay View: The end of an era, the dawn of a new day (1 comments) Publishing the Bay View in print has been a labor of love and the love of our lives for over 16 years, but although major advertising agencies recognize the Bay View as one of the top 10 Black papers in the country, we were never able to make it profitable or even sustainable. Now we've had to face the reality that we're flat out of funds or any source to tap.

Raul Castro: Communism is not egalitarianism Raul Castro's change in economic policies as a consequence of worldwide economic issues, and his definition of Cuba's communist state

Linn Cohen-Cole: *Bill C51 in Canada is a MAJOR WARNING to all of us. Fascism is coming in through food and health products. (4 comments) Time to watch what is going on with farmers and food and natural substances like a hawk. All of them seem so basic and boring politically but all of them need serious attention and protection right now because CORPORATE police state control is coming down on all of them. The banning of healthy real milk and NAIS - global tracking info of EVERY move or EVERY farm animal into a CORPORATE data bank - are happening now.

Friday, July 18:

John Wojcik: Teachers union rolls out new vision for America's schools "Can you imagine a federal law that promoted community schools - schools that serve the neediest children by bringing together under one roof all the services and activities they and their families need?" With these words Randi Weingarten brought thousands of teachers to their feet in sustained applause, cheering for her union's bold new vision of the public school of the 21st century.

BREAKING: Phil Gramm Resigns McCain Campaign After 'Nation of Whiners' Comment Former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm resigned Friday from his role as Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign co-chairman, hoping to quiet the uproar that followed his comments that Americans had become a "nation of whiners" whose constant complaints about the U.S. economy show they are in a "mental recession."

mfaison: *Comes With the Territory: Responsibility, Accountability, Authority in Offices of Power Commentary concerning the concept of checks-and-balance in the US government today, and links to recent events that would call the practice of this concept into question

Ashcroft Testifies on Interrogation Policy In his first Capitol Hill appearance to address national security issues since leaving the Justice Department three years ago, Ashcroft batted away probing questions, blaming his memory and citing the still-classified status of memos and programs the Bush administration adopted after Sept. 11, 2001.

U.S. and Iraq Agree to Goals for Troop Cuts Just over the horizon...The United States and Iraq have agreed to set a “general time horizon” for the “further reduction of U.S. combat forces in Iraq” following the improvement in security conditions in the country.

House Republicans Block Democratic Effort on Oil Leases, Calling the Bill a Sham House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to pressure energy companies into drilling for oil on lands they already leased from the federal government, calling the legislation a sham. The White House expressed a similar view in issuing a veto threat against the bill.

McCain Economic Adviser Gramm Quits Campaign Phil Gramm, a top adviser to presidential candidate John McCain, is resigning from the role as campaign co-chairman after his comments that the United States had become a "nation of whiners" who constantly complain about the state of the economy.

U.S. cracks down on arms smuggling into Iraq Iranian involvement in Iraq war

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For July 18, 2008 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issue

McCain: Oil Rigs "˜Very Successfully' Survived the Impact of Hurricanes McCrazy still hasn't read the memo...Katrina and Rita reeked havoc on the off-shore oil rigs. MUST SEE PICS!

Warming Is Major Threat To Humans, EPA Warns (1 comments) The strong warnings highlighted the contorted position that the EPA has staked out on climate change. Last week, the agency decided not to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, at least not until after President Bush's term ends.

Mark Crispin Miller: ROVE NAMED IN ELECTION FRAUD CONSPIRACY (1 comments) It is a case of vast historical importance, not just because of what it will reveal about US elections since 2000, but, no less, because it represents the only way that we might actually prevent another stolen race this fall. By shining a bright light, at last, on all the topmost perpetrators of the fraud thus far, this suit will drive them all into defensive mode and, therefore, out of business.

Jason Leopold: Reasons to Oppose Drilling in ANWR Found in Alaska's North Slope Last November, the oil company British Petroleum (BP) plead guilty to a misdemeanor and paid a $20 million fine for violating the Clean Water Act related to a massive oil spill that occurred at BP's Prudhoe Bay operations in Alaska's North Slope two years earlier.

Larisa Alexandrovna and Muriel Kane: New evidence that Diebold fixed the GA Senate race in '02! (6 comments) A blockbuster article with an introduction from Mark Crispin Miller.

Larisa Alexandrovna and Muriel Kane: GOP cyber-security expert suggests Diebold tampered with 2002 election (2 comments) Steven Spoonamore is the founder and until recently the CEO of Cybrinth LLC, an information technology policy and security firm that serves Fortune 100 companies. At a little noticed press conference in Columbus, Ohio Thursday, he discussed his investigation of a computer patch that was applied to Diebold Election Systems voting machines in Georgia right before that state's November 2002 election.

Charles Corry: Mail Ballots - cost, convenience, voter turnout, and other lies When something is broken and can't be fixed it is a common ploy of children and bureaucrats to attempt to hide it. With regard to electronic voting, mail ballots are just such a childish tactic, fertile ground on which election fraud will grow.A further caveat is that every election process and device must be completely transparent to concerned citizens.

Status Report on the Collapse of the U.S. Economy The problem politically is that control of the U.S. long ago was turned over to the bankers. A side effect of this control is that they are also Zionists, so we have the added multi-trillion dollar burden of trying to conquer the Middle East on behalf of the international oil interests and the state of Israel. The bankers do not care if nations and empires destroy themselves, the more war and starvation there is the better.

Gore Calls for Carbon-Free Electric Power (2 comments) Former Vice President Al Gore said on Thursday that Americans must abandon electricity generated by fossil fuels within a decade and rely on the sun, the winds and other environmentally friendly sources of power, or risk losing their national security as well as their creature comforts.

Evidence Shows That Tax Cuts Lose Revenue The claim that tax cuts "pay for themselves" - i.e., cause so much economic growth that revenues rise faster than they would have without the tax cut - has been made repeatedly in recent years and is one of the many tax policy issues that is likely to receive renewed attention in light of the upcoming election. As explained briefly below, this claim is false. The evidence shows clearly that tax cuts lose revenue.

Luke Ryland: West Point Terrorism Expert: Turkish involvement in Terror is 'best kept story' (1 comments) West Point Terrorism Expert: Turkish involvement in Terror is 'best kept story'

Bia Winter: Re-Defining "Terrorism" (15 comments) Who and what is a "Terrorism?

Paul Kruger: Congress, Rove & Contempt (10 comments) Rove and inherent contempt.

Kevin Gosztola: Should activist, citizen, and advocacy groups go to the DNC or RNC to protest? (22 comments) I believe this poll will help us have an important discussion and would greatly appreciate hearing from members of the OEN community and others on this.

Texas approves major new wind power project (2 comments) Texas, headquarters of America's oil industry, is about to stake a fortune on wind power. In what experts say is the biggest investment in the clean and renewable energy in U.S. history, utility officials in the Lone Star State gave preliminary approval Thursday to a $4.9 billion plan to build new transmission lines to carry wind-generated electricity from gusty West Texas to urban areas like Dallas.

Invoking the Memory of Mandela the Freedom Fighter It's just been a few weeks since Nelson Mandela was taken off the United States terrorism watch list. No doubt so that they too could join in the celebrations of this living icon, without the embarrassment of hoisting up a revolutionary.

Spying uncovered Undercover Maryland State Police officers repeatedly spied on peace activists and anti-death penalty groups in recent years and entered the names of some in a law-enforcement database of people thought to be terrorists or drug traffickers, newly released documents show.

A Cast of 300 Advises Obama on Foreign Policy "like a mini State Dept." is the way E Bumiller describes Obama's campaign staff concerning foreign policy. Two briefings each morning--one with news, and 2 with possible political ramifications on the trail. I'll bet those 300 are working overtime during buildup to the Senator's Iraq trip.

On FLDS, While the Media Focused on Child Abuse, Racism and Church-State Issues are Also Involved The media has focused on the alleged child sex abuse aspect of the FLDS story, but the Southern Poverty Law Center also chronicles racist statements and church-state issues.

steveheller: GOP whistleblower names Karl Rove in Ohio's 04 election theft (12 comments) Major lawsuit will expose Bush/Cheney's long conspiracy to steal their "victories" through election fraud. Repub Stephen Spoonamore, who worked for McCain's campaign until recently, is a respected expert on computer fraud, and has detailed high-tech sabotage over the past 8 years, and is naming names, Ohio attorney Cliff Arnebeck announced in a press conference yesterday.

Burmese Opposition Ready to Escalate Pro-Democracy Fight Members of Burma's battered and disparate opposition are growing disillusioned with the old methods of the pro-democracy movement and are seeking ways to escalate their armed struggle with the help of covert western support. "There is a very real debate among us about how to begin a more sustained armed struggle," an organiser of last September's failed uprising said. "We are ready for that kind of action."

Rob Kall: Do You Support Cindy Sheehan's Campaign Run Against Nancy Pelosi (22 comments) Pelosi or Sheehan? Will you be helping Sheehan or Pelosi?

How the Bush Administration Supports the Troops - NYT: Electrical Risks at Bases in Iraq Worse than Previously Said This deserves at least as much media attention as "America Held Hostage" did under Carter. Why is there so little regard for the safety of our troops?

Proposed George W. Bush Sewage Plant makes ballot (4 comments) Finally, a fitting monument to Bush is planned by San Franciscans

Administration Wanted Loyalist As Justice Dept. Legal Adviser Then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft offered the White House a list of five candidates to lead the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel in early 2003, but top administration officials summarily rejected them in favor of installing a loyalist who would provide the legal footing needed to continue coercive interrogation techniques and broadly interpret executive power.

White House Blocks Release of FBI Files (2 comments) The White House yesterday blocked a House committee's attempt to obtain internal FBI reports about the leak of a CIA officer's identity, asserting that notes from interviews of Vice President Cheney and other administration officials are protected by executive privilege.

Electrical Risks at Bases in Iraq Worse Than Previously Said Pentagon has previously reported that 13 Americans have been electrocuted in Iraq, many more have been injured, some seriously, by shocks. At one building complex in Baghdad, soldiers complained of receiving electrical shocks in their living quarters on an almost daily basis.

Wednesday, July 16:

Kevin Gosztola: Should there be a massive anti-war march at the Democratic National Convention? (15 comments) Anti-war leaders do not know if they should have a mass march or little marches at the Democratic National Convention. Help them decide.

Tuesday, July 15:

Casey Reed: Separation of Corporate and State (13 comments) Do we need a Constitutional amendment to regulate the influence and current dominance of corporations and the rich and powerful interests? Should there be a separation of corporate and state?

Cindie Frap: Racial Divide (8 comments) Is there a racial divide in our country more now than before?

Monday, July 14:

Amy Fried: How do you feel about the New Yorker's satirical Obama cover? (56 comments) Reactions to The New Yorker's satirical cover featuring smear-inspired stereotypes of the Obama's.

Michael McCoy: Post 911 and Bush, what concerns you about America? (14 comments) With the profound change in the methods and tactics by which America is governed, what concerns you most about the lives of you children and grandchildren?

Gabe Shames: Are 'Chemtrails' a form of Government suppression? (22 comments) Have you heard of the supposed difference of regular airplanes excreting contrails (the short-duration line of exhaust) and what many are arguing are 'chemtrails?' Chemtrails are supposedly longer (continue instead of fading) and sometimes expand outward to unprecidented widths. Those in favor of the chemtrail theory often say they are purposefully sprayed by government-issued planes to control populations. What do you think?

PrMaine: What Happened on 9/11? (45 comments) What do you feel was the most likely explanation for the events of 9/11/2001?

Gene Cappa: Should ACLU Release Another Impeachment Pamphlet? (10 comments) The ACLU is in the forefront of defending the Constitution and should be releasing a new "Impeachment Pamphlet" INFORMING the American people why impeachment proceedings are urgently required presently?

Sunday, July 13:

Bill Samuel: Vote major party or not? (9 comments) Some people say you should vote for a major party candidate because these are the only ones with a chance to win. Others say that you should vote for someone with whom you agree on most major public policy issues, whether or not they appear to have a chance to win. Many OpEdNews readers really face this question, as they have major problems with thepositions of major party candidates.

Paul Kruger: Based on the Senate betraying America, who would support this campaign? (25 comments) Who here would activly support a campaign to remove from office EVERY single member of Congress who voted FOR IMMUNITY in both the House and Senate at the next possible election?

Friday, July 11:

Rob Kall: If Pelosi Changes Her Impeachment Position Will It Change Your Attitude Towards Congress (64 comments) What will it take to get you to approve of Pelosi's congress

Tuesday, July 8:

Linda Bemis: Should we eliminate medical insurance as we know it and replace with our own. Poll on whether we should eliminate employer insurance, Medicare, Medicade, Veterans health care, all medical insurance companies, etc.

Gene Cappa: Should John Conyers Hold Impeachment Hearings Anyway? (11 comments) Should House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers hold immediate impeachment hearings anyway even though his House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took impeachment "off the table" for Cheney and Bush, and Conyers has stated he is documenting everything for his next democratic president Barack Obama?

Rob Kall: Have Obama's Centrist Policy Policy Declarations Surprised You? (99 comments) Did you think Obama was a progressive or did you see him, from the beginning as a centrist moderate? If you saw him as a centrist moderate from the beginning, then his positions will not be as big a surprise as if you saw him as a progressive from the beginning.

Monday, July 7:

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: POLL IS THE Ancient Tablet Predating Jesus as Messiah and Resurrection Fraud Or Truth (14 comments) The Tablet now known as "Gabriel's Revelation" has stirred quite a controversy among, Christians, Jews and others. Many Hebrew scholars believe the stone to be authentic and if so it would to confirm the expectation of just such a Messiah even before Jesus was born. What do you think? Read and tap the link to read the original article and let us know.

Rob Kall: Which News Network Favors Right Wing Messages More? CNN or MSNBC? (15 comments) When you add Keith Olbermann, Andrea Mitchell, JoeScarborough and the rest on MSNBC and, Wolf Blitzer Lou Dobbs, Jack Caffrey, etcetera on CNN, which network cuts the right, McCain, Bush, etc. more slack, repeats the right wing message more?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should Organized Religion Focus more on The Evils of Avarice/Greed Than on the Bedrooms of (6 comments) American Churches and governmental agencies are shown by polls to be the most self-righteous, sexually uptight on the planet and never once have they expressed indignation at the despicable nature of Human Avarice/greed. It's time we found out what the people think.

Sunday, July 6:

Edwin Rutsch: Why do conservatives value Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy? (7 comments) Why do conservatives value Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy?

Paul Kruger: Are there too many similar causes diluting available resources? (21 comments) Should similar causes/groups narrow their focus and refer donors to each other on specific issues with regards to supporting action on those issues?

Saturday, July 5:

Sherwin Steffin: Impeachment update (43 comments) This poll is an update of my April 30th poll, asking for your assessment of then likelihood that either/or Bush and Cheney will be impeached by the House, and convicted by Senate

Paul Kruger: Should the Feds be handed all of your credit card transactions? (12 comments) Should the federal government have the right to demand records of every American's credit and debit card transaction?

Thursday, July 3:

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: SHOULD NO-BID CONTRACTS BE ABOLISHED? (10 comments) NO-BID Contracts perpetuate the notion that the contract awardee is so "Uniquely Qualified" at whatever he is "bidding" upon, as to be spared the indignity of having to compete with others, the Hoi Polloi whose bids are an insult to the No-Bidder guys. In my experience I have found NO evidence to support such an assumption.

Rob Kall: I'm Holding Back on Contributing to Obama Because of his Move to The Right (60 comments) I either will escrow money to give later, just wait and see where he ends up, or vote for someone else.

Wednesday, July 2:

Edwin Rutsch: How many readers of Opednews.com will be going to Netroots Nation Conference? (1 comments) The Netroots Nation Conference will be held in Austin, TX from July 17-20. How many readers of Opednews.com will be going to Netroots?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should Individual States and Cities Indict Cheney/Bush For Murder? (9 comments) GW Bush and Dick Cheney have been let of the hook for impeachment, but that does not mean that we, the citizens of America need to sit idly, impotently, by and let him bully his way out of prosecution. Should we indict them for murder in cities and states all across our nation, thus pinning him down or forcing him to go to war with the states with his mercenaries?

Brett Paatsch: Have you checked whether your rep has read Kucinich's 35 articles of Bush impeachment ? (3 comments) This is a poll to see what portion of Opednews readers have personally checked that either their congressional representative or a member of the House Judiciary Committee have read Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment for President Bush.

Ben Kall: Mrs. McCain or Obama; Who Is Evading Media Coverage More? (1 comments) who's the more private?

Kevin Gosztola: What issue will Obama move to the center right on next? (5 comments) Obama's ever-increasing impulse to be on the center right of as many issues as possible could potentially be detrimental to progressives/liberals who think he is no match for McCain in November. Many are already calling his moves a sign that he suffers from a "character flaw." What issue will he move to the center right on next?

Tuesday, July 1:

Gene Cappa: Do YOU Support An Independent International 911 Invesitgation? (18 comments) Scientific and eyewitness evidence shows that the 9/11 Commission Report is a fraudulent document and those behind the report are guilty of covering up what really happened on 9/11/2001. This evidence overwhemlmingly supports the conclusion that World Trade Center Towers, 1, 2, and 7 were brought down by demolition explosives and official theory of airplanes and ensuing fires is irrefutably false.

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: IN YOUR OPINION, IS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FIXED? (2 comments) Some statistics indicate the the steroids issue is a faux issue designed to deter people from examining the horrible calls by umpires. which most often seem to favor the home team. Well, guess what, they do favor the home and and for a good reason, doing so is VERY profitable. If the home team wins more often or at least almost wins pretty often, fans keep on coming. So, then are baseball game outcomes fixed?

Frank J. Ranelli: Is Barack Obama moving too far to the right just to be elected? (11 comments) In recent days, Obama has been accused of moving to the center and triangulating, a course and tactic that Bill Clinton used to get elected, and flip-flopping on many positions he held during the protracted, 16 month, Democratic primary. Today, Barack Obama announced if elected he would expand President Bush's Faith-Based Initiative programs.

Edwin Rutsch: Is Congresswoman Maxine Waters correct that conservatives value Blame, Hate & Lying? (4 comments) Is Congresswoman Maxine Waters correct that conservatives value Blame, Hate & Lying?

Rady Ananda: Lever Voting Machines or Computerized Systems? (1 comments) Which voting system do you trust more?

Saturday, June 28:

Edwin Rutsch: What social or political movements would psychopaths and narcissists join? (29 comments) What social or political movements would psychopaths and narcissists, who don't value empathy, tend to join?

Kevin Gosztola: Our Nation's Independence Day (6 comments) What are you thinking about this year's Fourth of July?

Friday, June 27:

Edwin Rutsch: Worst of the Failed Conservative Values that James Dobson exemplifies? (13 comments) What is the worst of the Failed Conservative Values that James Dobson exemplifies?

Gene Cappa: Will Bugliosi Succeed in Getting Bush Indicted & Prosecuted on Murder Charges? (18 comments) Over 4,000 American soldiers have lost their lives fighting in George W. Bush's war in Iraq on "false pretenses". Can Bush be indicted and prosecuted for murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should The Catholic Church Excommunicate Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas? (34 comments) Since, in my opinion, the below have not only acted with sycophantic accord with the powerful, corporate wealthy and in the best interests of encouraging a fascist dictatorship, and have done incredible harm to our Constitution and people, since they are CATHOLIC; Should The Catholic Church Excommunicate Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas?

Thursday, June 26:

Sherwin Steffin: The Article, "Using Cross Tabulation." Valuable or Not? Select the Poll Response which best expresses your Evaluation of the article, "Using Cross Tabulation."

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN AND A CONSERVATIVE AT THE SAME TIME? (36 comments) I wish to know if you think CAN ONE BE A CHRISTIAN AND A CONSERVATIVE AT THE SAME TIME?. I do not, therefore, yes, or no!

Rob Kall: Should House Pass HR 362, Calling for prohibiting of refined petroleum products to Iran (15 comments) Some say this could lead to Bush/Cheney justifying a Naval Blockade as a congressionally approved way to escalate a confrontation.

Wednesday, June 25:

Edwin Rutsch: Dealing with Failed and Failing Conservative Values (22 comments) Conservative values have failed and continue to fail. 70-80 percent of Americans say they feel the country is going in the wrong direction. Since conservatives say their policies are based on their values, we can assume that Americans are rejecting them. How do you think conservatives will deal with the failure of their values.

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: SHOULD SCALIA BE IMPEACHED? (25 comments) Scalia Cites False Information in Habeas Corpus Dissent Marjorie Cohn says, "Scalia bolstered his hysterical claim that the Boumediene decision 'will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed' with stale information that was proven to be false a year ago."

Tuesday, June 24:

Edwin Rutsch: Is authoritarianism a Failed Conservative Value? (1 comments) Is authoritarianism a Failed Conservative Value?

Monday, June 23:

Richard McGinn: Why does the United States use torture? (20 comments) People often wonder why totalitarian governments tend to use torture to investigate crimes and to gather intelligence from prisoners of war; and many wonder why the US has followed that same path in conducting the "war on terror".

Paul Kruger: Should anyone be immune from our laws? (13 comments) There is only one reason Bush or the telephone companies would want or need immunity; they have already or intend to break the law and illegally spy on Americans' private communications and feel they should be above the law.

PrMaine: Listen to the Radio? (13 comments) Do you still listen to the radio or have you turned to other programming?

Friday, June 20:

Paul Kruger: Should oil companies be permitted to drill off shore US? (11 comments) America needs to become LESS dependent on oil. All drilling for more does is continue that dependence. Should we drill for more?

Paul Kruger: Should States be Allowed to Profit from Prisoners' Families? (3 comments) The question, should states be permitted to reap millions in profits at the expense of innocent poor families in order that they may stay in touch with their loved ones despite the risk of higher recidivism ?

Saturday, March 15:

Sponsored by www.worldproutassembly.org: "Building a New World" Conference The deep longing for positive, lasting change is the bedrock upon which this conference is based. How do we fix our country and our world? And how can we form one mass movement to address the crisis? (Event Date: May 22, 2008)

Sponsored by ourfuture.org: Take Back America a meeting of progressives (Event Date: Mar 17, 2008)

Wednesday, December 31:

Sponsored by Freedom Ambassadors: Walk for Human Dignity A national coalition of over 50 local, state and national organizations are participating in walk from Tucson to Phoenix beginning May 2 to call for an end to racially fomented hate crimes. The ten-day peaceful walk will end with a rally in downtown Phoenix on Mother's Day, May 11, honoring mothers for teaching children to treat all human beings with equal dignity. (Event Date: May 1, 2008)

(More...)

Saturday, July 19:

Allan Lichtman: Conservative Denial (1 comments) This article opens a discussion of the history and current status of American conservatism through a response to David Frum's review of my book, White Protestant Nation: The Rise of the American Conservative Movement.

Mole's Progressive Democrat: The Tangled Web of the Organic Industry This blogger, who is a biologist living in Brooklyn, discusses organic food. What's really organic (or nearly so), and which corporations have the most involvement in the food industry. Interesting charts.

Synthetic Pot as a Military Weapon? Meet the Man Who Ran the Secret Program Ketchum was into weapons of mass elation, not weapons of mass destruction. From before the Viet Nam War, as the Army researched new chemical warfare techniques, this doctor worked on compounds which would render enemies incapable of action without killing them. Articles updates issues of medical marijuana and decriminalization.

Richard Volaar: Misogyny And the Beer-Bellied Portion of the Bell-shaped Curve (7 comments) A shocking retort to those who would shy away from the defense of things manly and untoward

Swiss Man, Moved By the Sun, Produces Solar-Powered Car (1 comments) A car with Swiss license plates cruising along roads on the sunburned hills of Merced County isn't exactly common sight. An even less common sight is a solar-powered car that produces zero carbon emissions. That's exactly what a small group of residents saw Friday, as Swiss schoolteacher and world traveler Louis Palmer rolled into UC Merced with his Solar Taxi.

The Crisis is Upon Us by Ron Paul (2 comments) The doctor/Congressman/scholar writes about the economic calamity facing the world and discusses what we can do to lessen its impact.

Rady Ananda: Debunking Pre-Election Testing Myths (1 comments) Debunking myths can be a full time job in the election integrity world. Here are 12 expert quotes on testing election software. Malware (malicious software code) can easily defeat pre-election testing and certification processes: logic and accuracy tests cannot "prove" that software is free of malware.

mfaison: Plan X: My Deferred Dream Plan (2 comments) creative writing expressing feelings concerning economic and occupational uncertainties

Friday, July 18:

SolarCity provides SF power below grid price If you are a San Francisco resident considering solar panels, now is the time for action, says Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity, a start-up that leases panels to homeowners. Since the city solar-incentive program came into effect in July, it has become financially viable for even small energy consumers to install solar-power systems.

Homeowner boards can't exclude democracy Prof. Political Science and Homeowner rights advocate criticize HOAs for lack of democracy. The NJ Supreme Court heard this case pertaining to free speech rights at a cost of $500,000 to the HOA.

We thought we were safe Not in Paradise! A pensive tale of a man's escaping the fires of Northern California with his horse, and only memories of a house they had spent four years building. It happened June 12. A month later, he thinks about when he will get his horse back home.

Dr. GLEN MABSON, Phd. Epileptic Foundation of Maui dba Pacific Epilepsy Society: Epilepsy Study Incriminates Aspartame in Medications (4 comments) Shocking analysis of the large numbers of victims of Epileptic Seizures in Hawaii, tying it in to their use of the artificial sweetener and neurodegenerative carcinogen, Aspartame, still commonly added to many medications!

Strongest Material Ever Tested: Graphene, praised for its electrical properties, has been proven the strongest known mat Materials scientists have been singing graphene's praises since it was first isolated in 2005. The one-atom-thick sheets of carbon conduct electrons better than silicon and have been made into fast, low-power transistors. Now, for the first time, researchers have measured the intrinsic strength of graphene, and they've confirmed it to be the strongest material ever tested.

Quantum Leap: Researchers have controlled the position of a single electron in a silicon circuit. An international team of researchers has shown that it can control the quantum state of a single electron in a silicon transistor--even putting the electron in two places at once. Their discovery could help pave the way toward a practical quantum computer.

Automated Precision Satellite Guidance Of 9/11 Type Aircraft Largely Possible Just Before Attacks Because information collected after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 has raised questions about the alleged ability and motivation of the people accused of piloting Boeing 757 and 767 planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, speculation has since lingered regarding the covert use of technology to precisely self-navigate all 4 airliners into targets that day.

The Risks of Obama's Iraq Strategy This CQ piece analyzes flipflopping of both candidates and sees past where they are inconsistent on Iraq War strategy. Did I get the impression right? That it says Obama's problem is he doesn't see that the surge is working?

Tidal power feeds electricity to National Grid in world first The first ever commercial electricity powered by the tides has been put on the National Grid, project managers said today. The £10million SeaGen turbine based in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough generated enough green energy to supply 150 homes in a test. Full-blown production is expected in a few weeks' time.

Ray Louis: Spoiler Alert! The Dark Knight is an Unmasked Bush Apologist (4 comments) This is partially a review of the new Batman movie (The Dark Knight), as well as a look at the questionable actions and the cultural impact of the comic book character. Bruce Wayne/Batman is clearly a villain, not a hero.

Steve Windisch (jibbguy): Free Energy and the Open Source Energy Movement (Part 3) (2 comments) Third article in the series; discussing Dr. Eugene Mallove and Cold Fusion, the non-profit organization Panaea-BOCOF, and an interview with Mr. Ashtweth Palise.

Ferdinand: Prepare Yourself (2 comments) The news articles will be meant to instill fear and create confusion. Do not believe any of them without serious thought and consideration, no matter their apparent credibility. We could never trust the mainstream media and its pundits...

Thursday, July 17:

Rachel Maddow, Host Apparent: Analyst "At The Top" Of "Very Short List" For Next MSNBC Opening (5 comments) For eight nights beginning just before the 4th of July, Rachel Maddow, the host of a program on Air America, the liberal talk-radio network, served as a substitute for the vacationing Keith Olbermann. "At some point, I don't know when, she should have a show," said Phil Griffin, hours before he was promoted on Wed to president of MSNBC. "She's on the short list. It's a very short list. She's at the top."

Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows British buildings equipped with solar, wind and other micro power equipment could generate as much electricity in a year as five nuclear power stations, a government-backed industry report showed today.

How You Can Turn a Vacant Lot Into a Community Garden (1 comments) If you see a vacant lot in your neighborhood that would make a great garden, here's how to get started:

German Expert Predicts US Solar Energy Boom There's something incongruous about experts from normally cloudy Germany coming to California, the land of eternal sunshine, to teach the locals about how to harness solar power. But that's was happening this week in San Francisco, where organizers of the world's largest solar exhibition, Germany's Intersolar, launched an American version of their confab amid predictions of a massive solar boom in the ailing US economy.

High Density Vertical Growth (HDVG) Garden An intro to "vertical gardening"; beat the high cost of good by growing your own- and break the corporate stranglehold on human life at the same time.

The Power of Solar Communities The great innovations of the 21st Century will be social. I predict that the solutions to our greatest challenges will emerge through new ways of coming together. Case in point, the Drake Landing Solar Community is a fully integrated housing development that takes solar to the next level. Solar panels channel heat through a series of underground pipes to produce a reservoir of energy for warming the 52 home neighborhood

robert braunstein: The Noose Media theater and distractions, false consciousness; form as content

George Staropoli: HOAs: Exchanging individual property rights for property values Homeowner associations are continuing to spread across the country. Yet, very little is said by the real estate special interests about the loss of individual rights and freedoms. These private government authoritarian regimes have the mission to protect property rights, first and foremost, and there is no bill of rights protections within the private HOA "constitution".

Rady Ananda: 2008 Bibliography of Scientific Studies on Software Driven Voting Systems (3 comments) Bibliography of over 50 scientific studies on software driven voting systems, consulted in preparation for contemplated litigation in New York.

andi novick: Lever Lawsuit Gears Up; "Stealing America" Premiers Aug. 1st (1 comments) NY gears up for the battle of mechanical levers vs. software driven voting systems. Sequoia's software suffers a statewide failure of 50%; and an 85% failure rate in Nassau County. But NY proceeds with Eyes Wide Shut. Why reject software? See "Stealing America, Vote by Vote," premiering in NYC on August 1st.

Compusician: Time Travel: Yes and No? (2 comments) Is time travel possible? Do the scientists have it right? How did logic escape our most masterful minds, including Einstein?

Wednesday, July 16:

Mark Biskeborn: Book Review: Generation Kill Under Bush, Rumsfeld and Cheney decided to wage a conventional war against a soveriegn country, Iraq. Meanwhile they talk endlessly about bringing justice to the guerrilla warrors of 9/11.

Ashin Mettacara: *World's Oldest Blogger Dies (3 comments) Olive Riley, the world's oldest blogger, dies. May her soul rest in another world with prayers.

"W" Actors Arrest Details: Tasers, Pepper Sprayed, "N" Word (2 comments) Saturday in Shreveport, LA actors from Oliver Stone's Bush biopic "W" were arrested around 2 am in what has been billed a bar brawl, and Wednesday night new details about repeated tasering, pepper spray and use of racial slurs emerged. If the reports of cell phone video...

Water Scarcity: The Real Food Crisis In the discussion of the global food emergency, one underlying factor is barely mentioned: The world is running out of water. A British science writer, who authored a major book on water resources, here explores the nexus between water overconsumption and current food shortages.

Discussing The Uprising on Lou Dobbs 7/9/08 David Sirota and two other authors of recent books discuss (video) the political mindset with Dobbs. Congress, poorly regulated financial transactions, and campagn financing are all debated. Sirota provided the video.

George Washington: Micro Generation and Micro Farming: Combatting High Energy Prices, High Food Prices, and Tyranny (7 comments) Can we beat high energy and food prices . . . and fight tyranny in the process?

Allen L Roland: *A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FROM THE PRAIRIES / GARRISON KEILLOR (2 comments) Just when I've almost been totally disgusted by Bush, Cheney and the spineless Democrats, when I've almost given up hope for a renewed America ~ Garrison Keillor reminds me, like a fresh July summer breeze, what is really important: Allen L Roland

Ed Martin: The denial of what makes you fat. An article from McClatchy-Tribune News Service about obesity and what causes it says the reasons for weight gain are as varied as life itself.

Tuesday, July 15:

Wolfie: OUR EGOS ARE SO BIG THAT WE KILL DEVILS WITH THEM (6 comments) We have caused death and destruction, yet nature tries to overcome our pathologies.

C.L. Pagano: Capricorn Full Moon 2008 Full moons ask for our awareness. Do we have it in us to 'reflect' on our lives, our our society, and on our purpose? Cancer and Capricorn combine the energies of family and state, individual and culture. It's time to show the world who and what you really are!

Monday, July 14:

Scientists plan to bring back rocks - and perhaps even life - from Mars (3 comments) mission, which is proposed for launch between 2018 and 2023 and could cost up to $8bn, would require expertise and funding from both Nasa and the European Space Agency, as well other national space agencies. "If you can't bring a rock back you are not going to be able to bring people back... bringing samples back from Mars is absolutely essential if we are going to continue our Martian exploration program"

Compusician: Why are we here? (10 comments) Answer to the age old question of why we are here on Earth.

Sunday, July 13:

The Advocate Conn, poll re Lieberman 80% think Senator Lieberman should be stripped of his committee chairmanship. See if you can vote.

Robert McElvaine: Grand Theft Jesus-IJ Released! (2 comments)

Suzana Megles: Open Letter to the Gates Foundation (17 comments) I was devastated reading Martha Rosenberg's article on the Gates Foundation intending to use Heifer International to promote animal husbandry in the poor parts of Africa. I couldn't help thinking --when will it stop? We and the poor of Africa don't need meat to be healthy and it is not even cost efficient, good for the animals or the environment.

Allen L Roland: *SYNCHRONICITY / THE VEHICLE ON THE PATH OF THE HEART Love is the uniting force of the universe and synchronicity is the vehicle by which we are each guided to our individual part in a loving plan ~ responding to this inner call is the ultimate YES to yourself and affirmation of your life: Allen L Roland

George Staropoli: Homeowner Associations and the Role of the Media (1 comments) The media has repeatedly failed to cover serious issues of the loss of constitutional and property rights of millions of people living in homeowners associations. It has failed in its duties and obligations to provide information, pro and con, to the people in order for our democracy to function as intended.

Saturday, July 12:

ALONE: When are India and its villages going to unite? (4 comments) Even though India is officially a federal state, it has had a centralized mentality since J. Nehru took over in 1948. This has slowed development in many rural areas. This article focuses on health care and empowerment of the local communities in India today

Ed Martin: McCain says you're a disgrace if you receive Social Security (26 comments) John McCain says that if you pay into Social Security or receive Social Security, you're a disgrace.

Mumia Abu-Jamal: The Boy They Called "Bus Head" When he was housed at the state prison in Pittsburgh, he participated in the Scared Straight program, and spoke to young people coming into the prison, deeply impressing upon them the emptiness and loss of imprisonment. He did all he could to convince them to avoid his fate.

Dan Fejes: Giving Up The Third Habit Recent changes in the newspaper industry have prompted me to reconsider a daily routine that I thought would be with me for life.

(More...)

Sunday, July 20:

Muhammad Khurshid: Obama, You Hit The Right Target

Saturday, July 19:

Auveline Robinson: HERR ROVE AND HIS ONE-FINGER SALUTE, by Jerry Wilhite

Auveline Robinson: What in the Hell has Happened to Morality and Values, by Jerry Wilhite

George Washington: Endless War = Endless Recession (1 comments)

John Kusumi: