Wednesday, January 7:

Palestinians Will Never Forget Author Susan Abulhawa says, "Just as Nazis gave Jews only the right to die silently, Israel starves and besieges Palestinians, giving them only that same right." Her essays have appeared in major print media, such as the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Philadelphia Inquirer,and others.

W. Christopher Epler (Bill): Is shooting Palestinian ducks in the Gaza barrel a last attempt to exploit Bush's "Hate Crusade" against Muslims? Bush (God be praised!) is on his way out and predictably so is most of his "Hate Crusade" against Muslims and Palestinians", so exploited the lunatic right wing fringe of Israel who have NEVER spoken for the entire State of Israel any more than fundamentalist, murder in the name of God Sarah Palin types speak for the vast majority of American citizens -- who still strongly support the separation of "church and state".

Marc Ash: Hamas Should Stop

Tasering W: The Torture of Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright by Lourisanna Police TMZ has released the incredible video of Josh Brolin's arrest outside of a Shreveport bar last summer, along with his "W" costar Jeffrey Wright. In the video, viewers see Brolin and Wright standing hugging as they are sprayed with pepper spray and then separated by cops. Brolin is made to kneel and is handcuffed while Wright gets laid out on the street and repeatedly tasered...Link to video.

Margaret Kimberley: Freedom Rider: Bush Goes Out a Winner (5 comments)

David Swanson: *Unlawful Assembly As the 111th Congress was being sworn in on Tuesday, a seemingly endless line of figures dressed all in black with stark white masks slowly marched single-file around Capitol Hill.

Brock Novak: Queen Caroline, Senator Kennedy - Two Hats, One Loyalty Does Caroline run out of a genuine personal political interest – or for some other reason?

Stephen Lendman: The Quartet's Hypocrisy and Failure in Occupied Palestine (1 comments) The Quartet's complicity in Israeli crimes of war and against humanity.

Ernest Partridge: A Battle is Won, but the War Continues Regressives routinely promote policies that have failed spectacularly in the past. This is no time for progressives to imitate the regressives. For, as George Santayana famously warned, those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Bernard Weiner: Obama and Gaza: Exiting the Vortex of Violence The never-ceasing war between Israelis and Palestinians speaks both to a kind of political mental-illness and to a failure of will and creative imagination on a grand regional and global scale. But, if the desire of peace can be enlarged, there are ways out of the maelstrom of slaughter

Will Roberts: Bus Driver gets Schooled and kid becomes popular! I can have them swear that was all I did was suggest that your child should consider a different route next time they have a conflict with another student. And that my intention was to suggest to the child and not tell the child what to do. But, first I might call my lawyer and see that I am not committing a crime and I guess I could have the other adult film this all on their cell phone for a record in case this goes to cou

Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed: Gaza Catastrophe: Resource Conflict? Natural Gas, Palestinian Elections, and Israel's Subversion of the 'Peace Process' (1 comments) The Gaza crisis cannot be understood without grasping the inherent assymetries in military violence; the racist nature of Israel's occupation; discoveries of natural gas reserves in Gaza; and joint US-UK-Israeli attempts to monopolise these energy resources through the cooptation of a Fatah-run Palestinian Authority. Operation Cast Lead heads-off incoming 09 Palestinian elections, for permanent "cantonization" and transfer.

mikel weisser: Current Comedy, 1/6/09: Tainted A phrase with all the lurid appeal of criminality, sex, open wounds and spoiled vegetables was bound to be so overused, unto death, that in a matter of days, no, hours, Stephen Colbert could make fun of said overuse with plenty of clips to spare of supposedly serious people intoning the word "taint" as if it were a physical badge, a Scarlet A soldered onto one's chest that they saw on Roland Burris and not in their own souls.

Glen Ford: Who is Black America's Moral Emissary to the World? (1 comments)

Kevin Gosztola: On Israel-Gaza Crisis: Obama, How About a Game of 20 Questions?

When Will Bush Have His Day in Court? (4 comments) His inordinate ambition in the country was obvious when UN atomic agency went to the country (Iraq) many times and did not see anything like Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), yet, he insisted that his own (false) intelligence could see the destructive weapons. Now that his so-called intelligence has turned to foolishness by his own admission, what is the United Nations waiting for?

Digby: I Gotcher Progressive For Ya, Right Here If you want to know what a real progressive candidate looks like, this is the guy. He's running for Congress to fill Rahm Emmanuel's seat (which formerly belonged to Rod Balgojevich!) Here's his statement:

Dave Berman: Humboldt's Secret Hart Attack Humboldt, CA - Registrar of Voters authorizes citizen-developed Election Transparency Project; audit discovers Diebold secretly deleted 197 ballots and inaccurate results were certified; Registrar proposes "false alternative" of Hart InterCivic machines, and keeps the plan a secret until it is nearly too late.

Paul Krugman : The trouble with Sanjay Gupta So apparently Obama plans to appoint CNN's Sanjay Gupta as Surgeon General. I don't have a problem with Gupta's qualifications. But I do remember his mugging of Michael Moore over Sicko. You don't have to like Moore or his film; but Gupta specifically claimed that Moore "fudged his facts", when the truth was that on every one of the allegedly fudged facts, Moore was actually right and CNN was wrong.

When Will Bush Have His Day in Court? His inordinate ambition in the country was obvious when UN atomic agency went to the country (Iraq) many times and did not see anything like Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), yet, he insisted that his own (false) intelligence could see the destructive weapons. Now that his so-called intelligence has turned to foolishness by his own admission, what is the United Nations waiting for?

Dahr Jamail: The Monstrosity of War (2 comments) Israel began the military assault on Gaza on November 4, breaking the truce that Hamas had observed for many months. It went on to block food supplies to be delivered into Gaza by the UN Relief Works and World Food Program. The next casualty was the crucial fuel delivery service used to run Gaza's power plant. Finally, Israel banned journalists and aid workers from entering Gaza.

BOB HERBERT: The Afghan Quagmire What Mr. Obama doesn’t need, and what the U.S. cannot under any circumstances afford, is any more unnecessary warfare. And yet, while we haven’t even figured out how to extricate ourselves from the disaster in Iraq, Mr. Obama is planning to commit thousands of additional American troops to the war in Afghanistan, which is already more than seven years old and which long ago turned into a quagmire.

Wartime in Gaza: The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear (1 comments) Herewith the first in a two-part guide to the 10 most gratuitous, least productive, most resolutely ingenuous claims likely to be hurled in an effort to attack Israel.The first five are arguments of the anti-Israel left, claims which are, curiously, as tired as they are unflagging.

Israel cannot win - Jane's The security situation in southern Israel and the Gaza Strip will not be improved by Israel's assault. Fighting will likely continue until Israel feels it has completed its objectives, because the United States is unlikely to put pressure on its ally before Barack Obama replaces George Bush as president on January 20.

The Palestinian tilt toward self-destruction (1 comments) It is true that the Palestinian rockets are relatively weak and more nearly flung than aimed, but what country, really, would ask a good swath of its people to live under constant bombardment on the basis that it wasn't very effective? Actually, Israel did that during the supposed ceasefire until the frequent violations became constant.

Welcome Alice...just follow the white rabbit In two weeks, President-elect Barack Obama will place one hand on the Bible and raise the other to take the oath of office. He promises to "hit the ground running." He may be running for cover. The President-elect is walking into the biggest mess of any President of modern times.

The suffering that Hamas causes Israeli author Amos Oz, whose call for peace with the Palestinians is shared by a majority of Israelis, succinctly described the brutalization of Israeli civilians in terms that cannot fairly be disputed.Oz is correct. But it isn't only Israelis whose fundamental human rights Hamas is violating. It is those of the Palestinian population about whose welfare Hamas professes to care.

Richard Smith: PANETTA TO CIA: A "BRILLIANT" CHOICE? (3 comments) Examing the case for Leon Panetta appointment as President-elect Obama's CIA Director

Israel's New War Ethic - Neve Gordon (2 comments) "My mother, like most Israelis, is a devout news consumer, and last night I decided to keep her company in front of the TV." Neve Gordon is chair of the department of politics and government at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Martha Rose Crow: Behind Israel's Siege of Gaza: Palestinians Have Oil and Gas (12 comments) Few people in the world know that Palestine is sitting on a rich cache of natural resources and that Israel would love to own it.

Muhammad Khurshid: Why Rulers Always Support War? (3 comments) History is witness to the fact that rulers whether they have been living in Pakistan, India or the United States always supported war. I think they have been enjoying the killing and destruction. They have made themselves secure, but the poor people have been dying in the endless fighting.

Why Congress Must Stop the Fed's Massive Pumping The current policy of fighting price deflation is a remedy for economic disaster. What is required is purging the economy of various false activities that severely undermine its ability to generate real wealth. Various policies aimed at fixing the symptoms rather than addressing the true causes are only making matters worse.

Hell is for Children Every day 1.3 million runaway and homeless youth live on the streets of America. One out of every seven children will run away before the age of 18. Each year approximately 5,000 runaway and homeless youth die from assault, illness, and suicide.

A useful recap of the problem This article focuses on the role of the Israeli press and education system in denying Israeli citizens the facts about the origins of their conflict with the Palesitnians. It is this ignorance that leads most Israelis to believe they are innocent victims.

"Ask Congress to Speak Out About Gaza Violence" - Naiman If you're a Member of Congress, and your name doesn't happen to be Dennis J. Kucinich, can you still speak out in opposition to the carnage that President Bush and Secretary of State Rice are actively promoting in Gaza? Yes, you can!

How Bush Broke the Government To gain a true sense of Bush's legacy, we survey the systematic and politically motivated ways he undermined the federal government.

Deena Stryker: Cradle to Grave Television We've already got cradle to grave television, now all we need is to apply it to solidarity.

Jane Stillwater: The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, 2009-style: Another little girl in a red coat.... (20 comments) Being sick at heart over the slaughter in Gaza, I went to the United States Holocaust Museum's website to see if there was any similarities between the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943 and what is happening in Gaza right now. What I found was sickening. Never again? Yeah right. What Gaza needs right now is a new Schindler's list.

Mary MacElveen: Harry Reid shows no leadership as he stands with Lieberman and against Burris (3 comments) Harry Reid will stand up for senators like Lieberman and call a disgraced and convicted felon Ted Stevens, "distinguished", yet you are failing to stand up for a man whose only desire is to serve the citizens of Illinois and his name is Roland Burris.

George Washington: Americans Have Learned the Wrong Lesson from the Holocaust (11 comments) What is going on behind the scenes regarding Israel?

Dave Johnson: Tax Brackets (5 comments) Beginning a discussion of taxes, this starts to explain some basics and clear up some misunderstandings.

Stephen Pizzo: Orangutans Hate Changes in Their Cages (4 comments) If Barack Obama's economic team wants to make changes in how American businesses do business, there are two relatively simple changes that, if made, could change everything.

J. Edward Tremlett: Israel: The Big Question No One Wants to Answer (41 comments) At what point will it be considered acceptable by the international community for Israel to defend itself against terrorist attacks, and take the fighting to the front door of its sworn enemies? How long must Israel be pushed before it can be allowed to push back?

The Great Credit-Crunch Hoax of  2008 The beauty of the Great Hoax of 2008, from the perspective of the ruling class, is that is was also a Great Scare, and such scares invariably serve as pretexts for the rulers' most audacious assaults on the peasants' lives, liberties, and purses.

Piracy raises pressure for new international tack on Somalia With Islamist militias in control of much of the country, pirates using Somali coasts to attack commercial ships with ease, and mounting hunger among civilians, Somalia is a failed state begging for new ideas in 2009. The world is not willing to allow this strategic nation to remain ungoverned.

Mary MacElveen: Israel, stand down...Images of dead children are what nightmares are made of (4 comments) I know that I am over-simplifying how to end this violence, but perhaps the simplest of answers is always the best. Because I for one am sick and tired of seeing dead and injured children in war zones. Their very images are the things that nightmares are made of.

Kevin Gosztola: Scenes from Dante's Inferno (28 comments)

We're being lied to about Pirates in Somali (3 comments) Pirates of old were the good guys, rebelling against intolerable conditions of British seafaring, creating democratic egalitarian societies, trying to survive. Today off the Somali coast, Italian Mafia is using their ocean as a nuclear & toxic waste dump for Europe, poisoning the oceans for all of us, with ships dumping thousands of barrels of waste in the dead of night. It's killing Somalis, and will us as polution spreads.

What to Do About the Torturers? "The next administration or the next Congress should at a minimum appoint an independent, bipartisan, blue-ribbon commission to investigate and assess responsibility for the United States' adoption of coercive interrogation policies."

Allen L Roland: Ron Paul on Gaza, Economy and Common Sense (1 comments) In a world of posturing politicians, many beholden to AIPAC and other special interest groups, Ron Paul speaks out on Gaza, the need for an honest neutral Middle East broker as well as common sense observations about our deteriorating debt ridden economy: Allen L Roland

David Glenn Cox: Money Owes No Allegiance (1 comments) Money owes no allegiance; the imaginary jobless rate stands at 6.7% while the real number is closer to 10% now and headed towards 15%. The capitalists look at total US debt, like investors in GM stock, and ask, "Is this a viable entity?" The Fed lends to banks who then look at the American public saying, "Invest in them? Are you crazy? Those people are in the tank and we're not going in after them."

Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed: The End of Capitalism? Not quite, but nearly.... (7 comments)

Bill Scheurer: Afghanistan 2009: Try Something Different (1 comments)

Bill Scheurer: Afghanistan 2009: Try Something Different (1 comments)

Frank Schaeffer: Breaking The Real "Last Taboo" - The Things No One Dares To Say (2 comments) The last taboo is talking about topics that might really offend. I don't mean the pretend "hot topics" that never offend because the audience they're directed to already agree. I mean topics that could spark authentic outrage in one's own peer group of like minded readers and then maybe a real debate.

Tony Elliott: U.S. To Blame For Middle East Problems Offers enlightenment on the problems of terrorism and conflict in the Middle East and America's responsibility for finding a solution.

Paul Craig Roberts: Will There Be a Recovery? (8 comments) The US, with its collapsing economy, its bailouts of financial institutions, and its wars, is facing the largest government budget deficit in its history, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of national income. But old solutions can't apply today; the circumstances are different.

Chris Hedges: Lost in the Rubble (14 comments) I often visited Nizar Rayan, who was killed Thursday in a targeted assassination by Israel, at his house in the Jabaliya refugee camp when I was in Gaza. His four wives and 11 children also were killed. Rayan's sons, according to their father, strove to be one thing: martyrs for Palestine.

Eileen Fleming: *SHOE INTIFADA Intifada means to RISE UP and CAST OFF!

Monday, January 5:

Can America Clean Up from Its Worst Environmental Disaster? On December 26, 2008, the Roane County Codes Enforcement Office condemned three homes along Swan Pond Circle Road in Harriman, Tennessee, four days after 5.4 million cubic yards, more than 1 billion gallons, of coal combustion waste (CCW) slurry surged, "like a tsunami" according to residents, into the confluence of the Emory and Clinch Rivers after breaking a 40-acre holding pond at the TVA's Kingston coal-fired plant.

Bill Harris: *How to Stop the War on Drugs (4 comments) The time is ripe to bring the War on Drugs to a screeching halt by repeal of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. We need a science-based drugs policy informed by the experience of experts such as the Beckley Foundation.

David Swanson: How Did Perriello Beat Goode? And what does this election upset mean?

Strike updates for Greece VIDEO General Strikes called until President steps down.

Obama's Bay of Pigs A counter-terrorist operation involving US military materiel and foreign troops is taking place before the inauguration of the next president, and there are some striking similarities between the Bay of Pigs and the Gaza War for the origins of both stem from the secret chambers of the previous administration.

Cheri Cabot: Phantom President in Public, but Busy in the Background Have you noticed that President Bush is keeping such a low profile he is practically a phantom? Ever since Barack OBama was elected as our next president, Bush has been gradually fading into the background. Unfortunately, while his public persona is practically non-existent, he has been very busy creating havoc behind the scenes, by issuing new rules and regulations.

Robert Parry: The Long and Bloody Hypocrisy of U.S.-Israeli Acts of Terrorism Since the classic definition of “terrorism” is the use of violence against civilians to achieve a political goal, Israel would seem to be inviting an objective analysis that it has chosen its own terrorist path. But it is clearly counting on the U.S. news media to continue wearing the blinders that effectively limit condemnations about terrorism to people and groups that are regarded as Washington’s enemies.

Perino: Ground Invasion Will Help ‘Create A More Stable And Secure Area’ For People Of Gaza In a video statement today, President Bush seemingly condoned Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, saying, “Israel has obviously decided to protect herself and her people.” Minutes later, in the White House press briefing, Press Secretary Dana Perino suggested that the war would help create “a more stable and secure” life for the people of Gaza.

Bush Cites Failed Social Security Privatization Push As His Biggest Domestic Policy Achievement It seems odd that Bush cited an unsuccessful effort as his biggest domestic policy achievement, but understandable given that he doesn’t have much else to consider. But not only was Bush’s drive to privatize Social Security an utter failure, the concept is also widely unpopular with the American public and if enacted, it would have had disastrous consequences for Americans’ retirement funds.

National Security Archive: "Riveting" account of U.S. Presidents and the Middle East American Presidents from Eisenhower to George W. Bush have sought to distinguish themselves from their predecessors with sudden shifts in Middle East policy and questionable strategies that have contributed to undermining American credibility in the region, according to a new book, A World of Trouble, by veteran correspondent Patrick Tyler, a fellow of the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

David Corn: Obama Picks Anti-Torture Advocate for CIA Chief Corn says hold on before dismissing Leon Panetta as CIA Chief. "Panetta is an even-tempered and highly regarded Washington player--kind of a Mr. Fixit in a nice suit. He is also a zero-tolerance critic of the use of torture, and he considers waterboarding--a tactic used by the CIA--to be torture."

Krugman Blog: Is Obama relying too much on tax cuts? Maybe this is just a head fake from the Obama people — they think they can win the PR battle by making bipartisan noises, then accusing the GOP of being obstructionist. But I’m really worried that they’re sending off signals of weakness right from the beginning, and that they’re just going to embolden the opposition.

Commentary: Israel's endgame For two of Israel's three principal contenders in the Feb. 10 elections, Defense Minister (and former Prime Minister) Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, hundreds of air strikes, a massive artillery barrage and a ground offensive against Hamas targets demonstrated they could be just as tough as the challenger, superhawk and former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

earl ofari hutchinson: The Genius of Ann Coulter (4 comments) Ann Coulter is a genius. All she has to do is shake that stringy blonde hair, prance around in tight mini skirts, show her rail thin, pale white legs, spew foul mouthed expletives about her favorite whipping boy, liberals and the so-called liberal media and the tongues roar furiously.

Chaos in Gaza Libertarians aren't foolish enough to think we have the answer to solve the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. However, we do realize that steps can be taken by the United States to remove itself from injury in the conflict, and perhaps begin the process of long-term stability in the region. The biggest of these steps is to eliminate all economic and military aid to Israel and all other foreign countries.

(More...)

Wednesday, January 7:

White House Asked Howard To Stay In Blair House To Give 'Some Plausible Reason' For Refusing Obama Bloomberg reported on December 11 and 12 that there were no foreign dignitaries booked into Blair House during the time period Obama requested. "I have the feeling they asked him [Howard] to come and stay so that there might be some plausible reason for not letting the Obamas stay there." It was also pointed out that Blair House has "119 rooms with 35 bathrooms. Howard wouldn't even have to share a sink with the Obamas."

Report: Burris will be seated as new Senator from Illinois Senate Democrats now plan to seat Roland Burris.

Prominent Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups as FBI Informant An Austin-based activist named Brandon Darby has revealed he worked as an FBI informant in the eighteen months leading up to the Republican National Convention. Darby has admitted to wearing recording devices at planning meetings and wearing a transmitter embedded in his belt during the convention. He is expected to testify on behalf of the government later this month in the trial of two Texas activists.

Press Release: Florida LGBT Groups Form OUT New federation of local organizations aims to improve communication and cooperation among existing local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied organizations across the state, and to assist community activists seeking to form new local organizations where none presently exist.

Tuesday, January 6:

B'Tselem : The siege on the Gaza Strip The foreign trade of Gaza is conducted almost solely with Israel or via Israeli ports. Israel controls the air space and territorial waters of Gaza, and does not allow Palestinians to build an airport or seaport. Rafah Crossing has a terminal for the crossing of goods. However, even when the terminal is open, goods are not allowed to pass through.

Prominent Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups as FBI Informant An Austin-based activist named Brandon Darby has revealed he worked as an FBI informant in the eighteen months leading up to the Republican National Convention. Darby has admitted to wearing recording devices at planning meetings and wearing a transmitter embedded in his belt during the convention. He is expected to testify on behalf of the government later this month in the trial of two Texas activists.

Kevin Gosztola: The Invaluable PalestineChronicle.com Hacked by Israeli Hackers (9 comments) Palestine Chronicle provides a voice for the oppressed Palestinians. Currently, some hackers have stopped the site from promoting pro-Palestinian views.

Prominent Austin Activist Admits He Infiltrated RNC Protest Groups as FBI Informant An Austin-based activist named Brandon Darby has revealed he worked as an FBI informant in the eighteen months leading up to the Republican National Convention. Darby has admitted to wearing recording devices at planning meetings and wearing a transmitter embedded in his belt during the convention. He is expected to testify on behalf of the government later this month in the trial of two Texas activists.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich: Israel May Be in Violation of Arms Export Control Act Kucinich to Rice: "I believe that Israel's use of defense articles provided by the U.S in the current Gaza military attacks may constitute a violation of the AECA. At a minimum, the conflict is sufficient to warrant an immediate report to Congress as required by 22 U.S.C. §2753. Please contact my office by close of business on January 7, 2009 with the date the report will be submitted.

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For January 6, 2009 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issues

Israel Rejects Intensified Push for Cease-Fire More than 40 Palestinians were killed in Gaza Monday, almost half of them children, and five civilians were killed early Tuesday when a shell fired by an Israeli ship hit their house. The Gaza death toll has risen to about 550 since Israel began airstrikes. More than 2,500 have been wounded. At least 8 Israelis have died overall, including 3 by friendly fire.

Did the Reagan Revolution actually win? Local and State Governments are Selling Off Public Property and Services It seems as if the nearly three decades that Reaganomics has been allowed to survive, if not thrive, have been enough to allow the trickle-down theory to come to fruition. Unfortunately, it is debt -- and not wealth --that has been trickling.

Israeli citizens call on international community to stop Israel (1 comments) It is the signatories' belief that Israel's atrocities will not cease without a massive intervention by the international community. In particular, they ask world leaders to implement the call by Palestinian human rights organizations which urges...

SEC IG, Probing Madoff, Looks To Be On The Warpath SEC Inspector General David Kotz, who is conducting an investigation into the agency's failure to detect Bernard Madoff's alleged "$50 billion ponzi scheme" despite conducting several probes of Madoff's business over the last decade, testified before Congress today. And from the sound of his opening statement, his inquiry could be worth paying attention to...

If This Thread Doesn't Open You're Eyes,Then Nothing Will Let us not ignore the truth among ourselves...politically we are the aggressors and they defend themselves...The country is theirs, because they inhabit it, whereas we want to come here and settle down, and in their view we want to take away from them their country. -- David Ben Gurion, from a 1938 speech.

Feinstein And Rockefeller To Obama: We Liked Bush's Appointees More When it came to approving of Bush nominees who defended torture, illegal wirteapping, and the Iraq war, Sens. Feinstein and Rockefeller never complained. Consider their voting records on key Bush appointees in light of their reactions to the nomination of Leon Panetta as CIA Chief.

Indymedia-US: Anti-war Protests Escalate as Israel Launches Ground War Thousands of US residents were in the streets and at the doors of the politicians and ambassadors, imploring for intervention, as Israel was preparing to dispatch troops into Gaza. In Washington, DC, between one and two thousand people descended on the Israeli and Egyptian embassies to protest the atrocities. (Egypt, and other Arab leaders, are seen as complicit in the attacks due to their support of the blockade of goods.)

Burris denied seat in US Senate to succeed Obama Roland Burris announced Tuesday he was rejected for Barack Obama's Senate seat, in a bizarre rainy-day scene on the Capitol grounds as lawmakers awaited the gaveling of the 111th Congress into session. Standing amid a huge throng of reporters and television cameras in a cold and steady rain, Burris, 71, declared that he had been informed that "my credentials are not in order and will not be accepted."

Extremist group in Greece attacks police The incident Monday, which left 21-year-old policeman Diamandis Matzounis in critical but stable condition, marks a dramatic intensification of the violence. Although protesters have previously destroyed property and hurled Molotov cocktails at police, gun violence is extremely rare. Greece has been wracked by violent street protests and attacks on government and police facilities since the Dec. 6

Martha Rosenberg: Who Are These Old People at My Class Reunion? (4 comments) Nowhere in science is the "survivorship bias" as well demonstrated as the class reunion. Where are the people who failed economically, professionally, socially, romantically and bodily? They don't show up!

Human Rights Watch: Israel: Allow Media and Rights Monitors Access to Gaza (11 comments) Human Rights Watch urged the Israeli government to abide by an Israeli high court ruling on December 31, 2008 and allow foreign media into Gaza. The presence of journalists and human rights monitors in conflict areas provides an essential check on human rights abuses and laws-of-war violations

Press Release: Prosecutors Bully Ohio Voters: Ohio Election Justice Campaign Calls for Day of Silence on January 6, 2009 Four years ago, on January 6th, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) led the challenge to the certification of Ohio's votes in the 2004 presidential election.This was the first time in U.S. history that an entire state's electoral college votes were challenged.If the challenge had been successful, Bush would have lost the electoral college votes he needed to clinch the election.

Press Release: ADL: HOLOCAUST & NAZI IMAGERY ABOUND AT ANTI-ISRAEL RALLIES IN U.S. (1 comments) "Freedom of speech is not just a right, it is also a responsibility," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor. "Comparisons of Israel to the Nazis are a deeply cynical perversion of history, an attempt to turn the tragedy that befell the Jewish people into a bludgeon against Israel." Examples from the more recent rallies across the country, links provided.

Rob Kall: Not Getting Gaza News on Al Jazeera? Then You're Not Getting the News. Here's How to Get it On-Line. (11 comments) There are routine, weekly reports on the decline of the old media. The situation in the Middle East is highlighting that situation.The Networks are falling further behind. The current hot, hot news in the world today, the Gaza conflict, exemplifies this decline of the old media. The fact is, the networks can't give you the best news coverage on Gaza. Cable TV, for the most part, can't. But you can get it on the net.

ALONE: Poll: Should non-profit cooperative groups and workers be supported more in 2009? In the wake of other depressions in the last two centuries, workers have organized cooperatives and have even taken over firms. Currently little has been done in this depression to empower labor in terms of taking over badly run firms--in the banking sector, auto sector, finance sector, newspaper sector, etc. What do Americans need to do in January 2009 to empower workers to control more of their lives?

Monday, January 5:

Dennis Olson, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: *60 Groups Urge President-elect Obama to Renegotiate NAFTA (3 comments) Nearly 60 organizations and networks sent a letter to President-elect Obama urging him to follow through on his campaign pledge to renegotiate NAFTA as a first step towards crafting an alternative trade model that puts people and the environment first over the profits of global corporations.

Sen. Feinstein May Block Leon Panetta As CIA director (8 comments) Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who this week begins her tenure as the first female chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said today that she was not consulted on the choice and indicated she might oppose it. Feinstein said. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."

The U.S. Army speaks up for Hamas The Army War College chose this week to release a report that has some surprisingly kind words for Israel's foes in the Gaza Strip: "HAMAS' political and strategic development has been both ignored and misreported in Israeli and Western sources which villainize the group, much as the PLO was once characterized as an anti-Semitic terrorist group," and "Israel and the United States need to abandon their policies of non-negotiati

Mars Rovers Are Alive at Five NASA expected its two Mars rovers to survive only three months in the dusty and freezing Martian conditions. But Saturday was the five-year anniversary of the first robot’s landing.

Obama's Justice nominees signal end of Bush terror tactics Obama's pick of Indiana University law professor Dawn Johnsen to take charge of the Office of Legal Counsel, the unit that's churned out the legal opinions that provided a foundation for expanding President George W. Bush's national security powers. Johnsen has publicly assailed "Bush's corruption of our American ideals."

Physician says Unconventional weapons used against Gazans Dr. Mads Gilbert:All that is happening in Gaza here now is against international law, it is against humanity and I think it is against what it means to be a decent person. You don't treat other people like this. Even if you disagree with him… maybe even if you fight with them, you don't treat civilians, children and women like this.

Say, What? US troops 'monitoring Rafah crossing' NBC anchorwoman and chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell said Sunday that US military officers from the Corps of Engineers had been stationed on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing in order to prevent "arms smuggling from illegal tunnels" by Palestinian fighters.

Israel: Gaza op to continue in spite of UN Jerusalem expressed satisfaction Sunday that the UN Security Council's emergency meeting on the fighting in Gaza ended with no results, after the United States blocked Libya's proposal for an immediate ceasefire. Top diplomatic officials said that even if the Security Council approves a resolution that conflicts with Israel's interests in its next meeting, "it's no big deal", and will not interfere with Israel's operation.

Top Democrats Give Longer Timetable for Stimulus Bill Congressional leaders had hoped to hand Obama an economic assistance package immediately after he is sworn in Jan. 20, but that looks increasingly doubtful as the legislation grows in complexity and size. In separate interviews this morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) and House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said the process could take six more weeks.

Solicitor General and Deputy Attorney General Named The new Justice Department began to take shape this morning as President-elect Barack Obama announced he would nominate a quartet of well known lawyers to key posts including the department's chief operating officer, its top representative to the US Supreme Court and the chief of the Office of Legal Counsel.

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For January 4 and 5, 2009 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issues

Biden to head to Asia for congressional trip Joining Biden will be Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the incoming chairman of the committee. Also accompanying the vice president-elect will be Democratic Sens. Jack Reed, Susan Collins; and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Collins and Graham are members of the Armed Services Committee.

Marti Oakley: *NAIS---PREMISES DEFINED---WHO WINS? (3 comments) In what can only appear to be nothing more than a last ditch effort to eradicate all family farms and ranches, USDA has been caught repeatedly misrepresenting the voluntary National Animal Identification System and many states and groups are fighting back

Ann Coulter's "Today" Show Appearance To Promote Her New 'Hate' Book Canceled NBC had come under fire for booking Coulter, who had been scheduled to promote her new book, Guilty, on the "Today" show Thursday morning. In the book, Coulter repeatedly refers to President-Elect Obama as B. Hussein Obama, and mocks Michelle Obama's style while praising Cindy McCain's.

Israeli press reports cluster bombs being used in Gaza The ground invasion was preceded by large-scale artillery shelling from around 4 P.M., intended to "soften" the targets as artillery batteries deployed along the Strip in recent days began bombarding Hamas targets and open areas near the border. Hundreds of shells were fired, including cluster bombs aimed at open areas.

11th Hr Coup: Bush Eviscerates Endangered Species Act Fr Natl Wildlife Federation: The Bush Administration today issued a final rule eliminating the Endangered Species Act requirement that federal agencies consult with independent scientists. "Wildlife and marine biologists form the pillars of scientific integrity that support the Endangered Species Act. Knocking them out of the process will erode the foundation of this bedrock law.

Greg Palast: Bill Richardson - Kissinger-American (19 comments) Bill Richardson is out: Caught with his hand, if not exactly in the cookie jar, at least you could say his sticky finger were near it. I'm not surprised. For years I've been investigating the second-most corrupt state in the USA (after Alaska). I like to check in on the enchanted state with my bud Santiago Juárez.

New Book Probes the Bush "Family of Secrets" What does it say about the American political system that someone like George W. Bush was able to ascend to the highest office in the land, despite his meager and ambiguous record? "Family of Secrets" postulates a network of politically and financially powerful individuals working behind the scenes to advance their interests at the expense of the nation.

U.S. Blocks UN Security Council Vote Calling For Immediate Cease-Fire In Gaza (1 comments) On Saturday the United States blocked a U.N. Security Council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Egypt meanwhile is hosting meetings for a European-backed ceasefire today. The Security Council is meeting again today to discuss the crisis, after Sunday's emergency session did not produce a ceasefire resolution.

NY Fed begins purchasing mortgage securities The New York Fed is overseeing the program for the Federal Reserve. The New York Fed is working with four investment managers - BlackRock Inc., Goldman Sachs Asset Management, PIMCO and Wellington Management Co. - to purchase the securities. Up to $500 billion in securities will be purchased by the end of the second quarter.

Judith McGeary - Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance: *You can help American farmers in their effort to stop NAIS Vote now against NAIS - the National Animal Identification System - a massive corporate threat to all American farmers.

Roger Shuler: The Orwellian World of a Southern University An Alabama university's handling of free-speech cases indicates higher education might not be as liberal as many people think.

Kenneth Briggs: A 21st Century Veterans Affairs On December 7th,2008,President-elect Obama named retired Army General Eric Shineski as his Secretary of Veterans affairs[VA]

thepen: Bush Special Prosecutor is Top Question for Obama (18 comments) For the second time now, President-Elect Obama has asked the American people, to come to his web site at Change.gov to ask and vote for questions, to help set the priorities for his administration, and the current the top-ranked question seeks a non-partisan Special Prosecutor to investigate the crimes of the Bush Administration.

John Bessa: Gaza Peace Rally in New York City, Janurary 3rd, 2009 There was a Gaza peace rally in New York City, on January 3rd, 2009. It was really peaceful, which is not what I expected when I went. The crowd was said to be about 10,000 - 20,000.

Sunday, January 4:

World unites in protests (1 comments) There was violence in Amman, Jordan; Nicosia, Cyprus; and Athens, Greece. And in Tehran, in Iran, more than 6,000 people gathered in a procession half a mile long, most chanting "Death to Israel". In the Israeli town of Sakhnin as many as 10,000 people, mostly Arabs, protested against the action, which has claimed at least 430 lives.

Back to the Front (TNR) Michael B. Oren: "My job in this war is to reinforce Israel's position in the media. And, with all due deference to Hamas's fighters, journalists often pose a more formidable challenge." Post Date Sunday, January 04, 2009.

The Economy Crumbled (1 comments) Of all the economic earthquakes that racked the global economy in 2008, one temblor ranks supreme. Alan Greenspan's declaration to Congress on Oct. 23: "I made a mistake." In those four words can be heard the crumbling of at least three decades of "unfettered free market deregulating" conservative ideological dominance. We now know unfettered free market greed and self-interest will steer you into the ditch every time.

A donor's gift soon followed Clinton's help Hillary Clinton helped enact legislation allowing the developer, Robert Congel, to use tax-exempt bonds to help finance the construction of the Destiny USA entertainment and shopping complex, an expansion of the Carousel Center in Syracuse.

Richardson withdraws as commerce nominee Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, one of the country's most prominent Hispanic politicians and President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be commerce secretary, on Sunday dropped out of consideration for that post. He attributed his decision to the ongoing investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico.

Richardson withdraws bid to be commerce secretary New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won a lucrative state contract.

Reid cites "legal authority" to bar Illinois pick Under the Constitution, Reid said, "We determine who sits in the Senate. And the House (of Representatives) determines who sits in the House. So there's clearly legal authority for us to do whatever we want to do. This goes back for generations."

Senate race certification set for Monday with Franken up 225 votes Al Franken won an impressive share Saturday of what may be the last ballots tallied in the U.S. Senate recount, boosting his unofficial lead over Sen. Norm Coleman to 225 votes heading into a Monday meeting where the state Canvassing Board will certify the final result of the race.

Times Square Rally Protests Fighting in Gaza (1 comments) News of the conflict's escalation to Israeli ground attack came midway through the demonstration and cast a pall over the crowd as it was announced over loudspeakers and crept across the news tickers nearby.

Russia wants warships stationed around the world (1 comments) Russia's military leaders approved a plan by the navy on Sunday to station warships permanently in friendly ports across the globe.

Israeli forces split Gaza in two Israeli ground troops and heavy armour have moved deeper into the Gaza Strip, in effect cutting the territory in two.

Cheney: Financial Crisis 'Developed' Only 'Over The Last Six Months' In addition, after listing off policies that h claimed were accomplishments, such as No Child Left Behind, Cheney acknowledged that the Bush administration was leaving the incoming Obama administration "with their hands full." But Cheney was unwilling to admit any real culpability for the challenges Obama will face, saying only that they are a "new set of problems."

Cheney Calls Iraq "Significant Success, Masterfully Done" Dick says blame any war failures on the lazy Iraqis who were unwilling to stand up and take responsibility for their own affairs.

George H. W. Bush: I'd like to see Jeb elected president. (3 comments) Unhappy that any in America remain standing, the Bushes want another shot to take the rest of us out... This morning on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace asked former President George H.W. Bush about the possibility of his son, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, running for Senate. The former president expressed his hope that Jeb would run and then told Wallace that he'd ultimately like to see Jeb elected president.

Reports suggest Israeli forces using cluster bombs in Gaza. "The use of cluster bombs - which have a large footprint when initially dropped and then remain a threat for decades - in a location like the Gaza Strip which is so packed with people is horrifying." (FDL notes that video footage seems to confirm the use of cluster bombs.)

US Blocks UN Action on Gaza Conflict (2 comments) Bush shows true colors. The United States late Saturday blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel and expressing concern at the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas.

Michael Richardson: FBI agent in Pentagon Papers case ran COINTELPRO operation against 'Omaha Two' (4 comments)

Bill Richardson withdraws from Commerce Secretary nomination. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

Depleted uranium found in Gaza victims Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned on Sunday that the wide-ranging ground offensive in the Gaza Strip would be "full of surprises." Norwegian medics told Press TV correspondent Akram al-Sattari that some of the victims who have been wounded since Israel began its attacks on the Gaza Strip on December 27 have traces of depleted uranium in their bodies.

9th day of attacks on Gaza, Israel uses Depleted uranium and cluster bombs on Palestinians Depleted uranium attack Gaza Palestinians Palestine israel israeli West Bank demonstration un resolution cluster bombs

Former DNC chief announces Va. gov run Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe said on Saturday he intends to run for governor of Virginia."McAuliffe also brings a political portfolio well to the left of Democrats Mark R. Warner and Kaine, who toiled in the state party for years before they were elected governor by pledging bipartisan cooperation and campaigning as moderates."

Balance Of Power Swings To Liberal Legal Group (1 comments) The past eight years were a good time to be in the Federalist Society. Members of that conservative legal group occupied every level of the Bush administration. Now that the Democrats are ascending, a different legal group is on the rise in Washington: the American Constitution Society.

Men Can Fly (5 comments) A few brave guys in Norway skiing off a huge cliff and then flying like birds in their wing suits. Sounds crazy right? Just an astounding video

Iran Threatens To Break Israel's Gaza Blockade (6 comments) It is hard to imagine how much worse the situation could get, but the confrontation in Gaza could see a dangerous escalation in the coming days as Iran threatens to break the Israeli blockade and deliver urgently needed medical supplies and other aid to the coastal strip.

Demonstration in Tel Aviv Against Gaza Assault Amid cries of "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies!" and banners reading, "Enough!" thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against the country's war on Gaza. Protesters called for an immediate end to the Israeli attacks, in which more than 450 Palestinians have been killed and around 2,100 injured since air assaults on Gaza began last Saturday.

Israel Project: Fiction vs. Fact: Israel and the Situation in Gaza (16 comments) "While there is real suffering in Gaza, it is important to sort fact from fiction and understand that Hamas is responsible for this sad situation," said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, founder and president of The Israel Project. "The important thing now is to defeat terror so that there can be a two-state solution and lasting peace. Both sides need a better future."

Saturday, January 3:

Protests Against Israel's Gaza Bombardment Spread Massive protests are erupting across capitals in the Middle East and around the world in condemnation of Israel's deadly bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The Arab League and the United Nations Security Council held emergency meetings on the crisis this week. The Security Council rejected an Arab proposal to pass a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, saying more debate was needed on the issue.

Iraq: We won't bow to pressure about Iran Al-Maliki: I can say openly and frankly that the Iraqi government will not force any kind of pressure or anything else for that matter on Iran or any other country in the region. We will defy any pressure brought against us to do anything that is not in line with our constitution, our policies, our beliefs and our national interests.

France condemns Israel's ground assault (1 comments) French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said late on Saturday that Israel's decision to send ground forces into Gaza after a week of heavy air bombardments was a 'dangerous military escalation', while Britain has also called for an immediate ceasefire.

(More...)

Wednesday, January 7:

Watch Sanjay Gupta's Error-Laden 'Hit Job' on Sicko Challenged by Moore Gupta gets Blitzed by Michael Moore over a unprofessional, inaccurate, biased report on the movie, Sicko. Gupta's segments on CNN are largely sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. Moore exposes Gupta's 'fudged facts.' Gupta and CNN was forced to admit its errors. Will these healthcare industries continue to have access to Gupta and influence his objectivity as the Surgery General heads healthcare reform?

Tuesday, January 6:

richard bushway: The Music These Days (1 comments) An aging rocker comes to terms with rap music.

Cathy Lynn Pagano: Cancer Full Moon January 10-11 2009 With Pluto's entrance into Capricorn, we can be certain that the old King ... the rule of the 'fathers' ... the old corporate structures ... the deadening social corruption ... is dying. The next 16 years will show us how we intend to evolve our vision of society and our responsibility to it. This is Capricorn's spiritual purpose. Pluto wants to renew it. This week's Cancer full Moon will nurture our dreams. Dream Big!

Brits Want Private Firm To Monitor Super Database Of Every Person In Britain (1 comments) A super database containing the identities and location of every person in Britain is under consideration. It would be run by one or a number of private companies and would track every citizen's Internet usage, every phone call, every text message, as well as many other transactions.

Regulate untested and unlabeled nano-silver pesticide products! (2 comments) at least 300 products containing nano-silver are on market shelves, ranging from household appliances and cleaners to clothing, cutlery, and children's toys, to personal care products, packaging and coated electronics. Yet scientists agree that nanoparticles are fundamentally different substances and that nanomaterials can create new and unique health and environmental risks that need new forms of safety testing.

GLloyd Rowsey: A Late Fauvist Belgian Painter – Rik Wouters (1 comments)

Hemingway archive opens in Cuba The items had been stored in the cellar of the writer's Cuban home for decades. Cuba has opened up electronic access to thousands of documents belonging to the writer Ernest Hemingway Curators say the files offer an insight into Hemingway's life on the island, where he lived for 20 years. "We are talking about 3,194 pages of documents

Rady Ananda: