Friday, November 21:

David Swanson: Congress Opposes Bush Pardons Nadler Introduces Resolution Opposing Possible Bush Pardons of His Own Subordinates for Crimes He Authorized

Rescue schools and hospitals first, then build light rail New infrastructure will become so many bridges to nowhere unless Obama saves human-needs budgets and public-sector jobs. I'm not an infrastructure-crisis denialist, but first things first. We are now at a crash site, and our priority should be to save the victims, not change the tires or repair the fender, much less build a new car. In triage situation now confronting Obama, keeping local schools and hospitals open come first

Is it OK to be liberal again, instead of progressive? Discussion of political labels: Those, then, are six arguments in favor of using liberalism to describe the center-left. I've reserved the seventh for last. The word "liberal" is a badge of pride. What is more embarrassing in 2008, to be associated with self-described liberals like Roosevelt and Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barbara Jordan, or with conservatives like Reagan and George W. Bush and Tom DeLay?

Midnight Hour: regulations for the last 60 days | Comment: The New Yorker Clinton holds the record for the most regulations during his last days. Bush announced at the beginning of his Presidency, that he would review and eliminate those as soon as possible. Now, he too, is establishing his own pile of regulations -- or anti-regulations -- as he eliminates or restricts application of environmental, energy, and resource related laws and directives.

Frozen Scandal - You Can't Go Wrong with Mark Danner in the NYR Scandal is our growth industry. Revelation of wrongdoing leads not to definitive investigation, punishment, and expiation but to more scandal.

Thursday, November 20:

Craig Harrington: The Coming of the Second Great Depression? (8 comments) We may well find ourselves in a full-blown depression by 2011.

Andrew Bard Schmookler: Justice or Reconciliation: Alternative Approaches to Healing (7 comments) It looks as though, when it comes to dealing with wrong-doers, Obama has chosen the path of unifying through reconciliation rather than that of punishing through meting out justice. That's not the approach my gut would prefer. But Obama may well be choosing wisely.

David Ross: An Open Letter to the Republican Party Where the Republican Party is and how they got this place. What they did wrong and how to change it.

Frosty Wooldridge: What do 43 Million Abortions Annually Worldwide Have to do with the Catholic Church? (1 comments) When will the Catholic Church step out of the 1st century and into the 21st century. The human species cannot continue reproducing without responsibilities to the planet and all life on Earth. The Pope needs to advocate birth control!

Ray McGovern : Robert Gates: As Bad as Rumsfeld? Defense Secretary Gates has generated accolades from FCM pundits—like the Post's David Ignatius—that read like letters of recommendation to graduate school. This comes as no surprise to those of us–including his former colleagues at the CIA–familiar with Gates's dexterity in orchestrating his own advancement. What DOES come as a surprise is the recurring rumor that President-elect Obama may let Gates stay.

A Media Parable for "the Center" During the 1992 election year, Clinton had campaigned for the White House under the mantra "Putting People First." But as economic analyst Doug Henwood was to comment, President-elect Clinton swiftly morphed into the champion of an austerity plan that could have been called "Putting Bondholders First."

How Our Gutless Media Helped Trigger the Credit Crisis Consumerism, fostered by the press through consumer advice stories, has helped lead people to focus on "me" instead of "we" -- the notion that a lot of little guys are in the same boat. Lenders have reinforced that sensibility, when, for example, they argue before Congress that their practices are necessary so that good credit risks don't pay for bad ones.

Crisis? What Crisis? What we are experiencing is not the fall of the bourgeoisie, but its ascendancy to dictatorship. It is a charade, it's class war waged by a confidant, victorious bourgeoisie, not one on the verge of imminent ruin. In fact, the economic failure of the bourgeoisie, as things are currently constituted in the West, is an impossibility.

earl ofari hutchinson: Pritzker Saved Obama Much Embarrasssment By Bowing Out Of Commerce Billionaire Obama campaign finance chair Penny Pritzker did the smart, maybe the only, thing she could when she quickly scotched talk that she wanted to be Obama's Commerce Department Secretary.

Obama Throws No Bones to Progressive Base When is Obama going to appoint someone who reflects the progressive base that brought him to the White House? At this point, progressives are getting absolutely nothing from Obama.

Mandate Watch: "Team of Rivals" Or Rival Team? "Team of Rivals" is now being used to justify Obama administration appointments and congressional Democratic moves that appear - at least aesthetically - to be somewhat at odds with all "change we can believe in" rhetoric. Does "Team of Rivals"-ism mean appointing, say, neoconservatives warmongers? What about free trade zealots from Bob Rubin's extended political family?

Jane Stillwater: Advice to Obama: "The New Adventures of the Old New Deal" The bailout is a loser & betting on it is like betting on a losing horse in a race. Let's bet on a proven winner instead. President-elect Obama, please become the next FDR. Who knows? You may get your face on a dime. PS: The Red states are always complaining about government interference, except when it comes to marriage, bailouts or anythng else that involves scary TV ads or PACs -- but the New Deal is GOOD interference.

Jason Miller: Stacks of dead presidents or flesh and blood companions? What I'm saying is that most people with reasonably developed intellects and consciences are going to struggle in some way in this ocean of liquefied excrement, and I don't care what you call it-capitalism, corporatism, consumerism, Western civilization-it's a sea of shit.

Debt Man Walking Economists know the fatal flaw in our system--but they can't agree how to fix it. For decades, the United States has relied on a tortuous financial arrangement that knits together its economy with those of China and Japan. This informal system has allowed Asian countries to run huge export surpluses with the United States, while allowing the United States to run huge budget deficits without raising interest rates or taxes.

VIDEO: We are All Robots Now A beautiful, penetrating video from a beautiful, penetrating website. It's a bit radical, ...but then again, these are desperate times.

Herbert Calhoun: The Meaning of Barack Obama to America's Race Problem (2 comments) An essay on the meaning of Obama's election on America's race problem with a warning that it means trouble for Obama as well as for the country if rising expectations are not met and exceeded.

Peter Duveen: Author Griffin calls for the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission to heal the wounds of 9-11 (12 comments) Forgiveness, not revenge, should be the hallmark of a new 9-11 investigation, says author David Ray Griffin.

Jobarama: Obama's "Investment" (2 comments) With all of the talk of how charismatic Barack Obama is, or of his oratory ability-and especially given his recent presidential victory-it is time to engage in a deeper economic critique of Obama's actual policies. Once we see the true effects of his policies and the incentives they create, we will see that his leadership skills and abilities make him more of a threat to freedom than if he were less articulate.

Raimondo: Dubious prospects for peace The Bush Administration is right now negotiating to leave a poison pill to the incoming Obama administration, assuring our continued presence in Iraq. Another harbinger of war: Hillary Clinton as Sec of State carries too much baggage to be a strong voice against the war.

Obama's secret plan to muzzle talk radio. Very, very secret. (2 comments) Marin Cogan of TNR investigates rumors that the new administration is gearing up to squelch Rush and the other talk radio entertainers. Talk radio is a multi-million dollar business, and it needs and feeds on outrage and discontent. Talk hosts routinely shout down opposing views, and stoke the fires of dissent. The inclusiveness, and hopeful positiveness of progressives is a threat. Relax Rush, there'll aways be wingnuts.

Debbie Morgan: AIG, Congress and the Taxpayers (4 comments) Why are we continuing to let the government bail out a failing business that is misusing taxpayer money? Surely there are independently owned businesses, and even individuals, that could put that money to far better use.

The Change We'd Held Our Breath For... probably good to breath out now.

Sandy Sand: California Supremes to Hear Challenges to Prop. 8 (2 comments) It's going to be a long court fight and both sides are getting their legal ducks in a row for the courts to rule whether the anti-same sex marriage ballot measure approved by voters is legal or un-Constitutional.

Harold Meyerson: A Job for Henry Waxman After a 14-year winter, it's legislating season again. Greenhouse gases are rising, the farms and factories producing the things we ingest have been spread across the globe, the number of uninsured has risen. Obama needs an ally on the Hill who can craft bills and obtain votes for the change he's pledged to deliver. He needs a master legislator. He needs Henry Waxman.

Dan Froomkin: The Attorney General of Rollback The tenure of Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general from 2005 to 2007 -- and before that, as White House counsel -- was marked by what critics described as torture, illegal surveillance and the overt politicization of the Justice Department. Holder, by contrast, could offer a restoration of the department's traditional role.

R. Queisser: We Don't Work for Them; They Work for Us Examining who works for us, the U.S. citizens who pay the taxes and cast the votes, if our Congress doesn't heed our votes.

John Basel: What is a Socialist Anyway? With all the ranting about Obama being a Socialist, do most people even know what that means? Apparently not.

michael payne: Yes, we voted for change in America; are we willing to make some personal sacrifices to get it? We must help this new President Obama in bringing massive change to America. For if he fails, then America and we will fail. And there is no better way to accomplish this than by changing our habits, our lifestyles and our entire lives. So, if a good dose of sacrifice on each of our parts is what it's going take to put America back on track, then we must rise to the occasion and do just that!

the web: *Ask Obama to change his mind regarding agricultural secretary Please contact Obama and urge him to reconsider his choice of Tom Vilsak for Secretary of Agriculture. Here's why:

David Glenn Cox: Will You Go Quietly? Can we cut the crap here? Can we look dispassionately at the issue before us? This is a class struggle; it has always been a class struggle and it is always going to be a class struggle. We can cloak the issue of globalization in the mantle of altruism, that this is good for all concerned, but that is just not so. Globalism is good for the investment class and the ownership class and the banking class.

Allen L Roland: *PLEASE BARACK / LEAVE HILLARY IN SENATE AND CHOOSE RICHARDSON (7 comments) Please Barack ~ leave Hillary in the Senate. You know as well as I that selecting Hillary as SOS gives slick willie a new life and that means your going to have to constantly watch and monitor their self serving actions on a world stage. There is only one logical qualified choice who has more than earned it by his courageous endorsement of you earlier this year ~ Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico: Allen L Roland

Vivian Berryhill: Obama Dissed By al-Qaeda #2 Zawahiri (7 comments) Wow... Zawahiri calls Obama the equivalent of a "house nigger". Now, as a world leader, it would not be expedient for Obama to flip-the-bird to Zawahiri and al-Qaeda, as he did Clinton and McCain when they insulted him on the campaign trail. But he is going to have to say something in response to this verbal affront... lest he, and America likewise... becomes the global 'whipping boys' for the next few years.

Wednesday, November 19:

Jerry West: Why The Republicans Lost (7 comments) The dust hadn't settled on election night before the Republican Party began trying to find someone to blame for their loss.

Mike Malloy: Three Blind Mice (1 comments) Congress is considering a bail-out? $25 billion? Where were these "lawmakers" when the auto executives were intimidating them into believing simple mileage increases or catalytic converters or safety modifications or anything reasonable or sensible added to the design of Detroit's gas-eating behemoths would somehow sink the entire industry. What sort of hearings were held then?

Stephen Pizzo: Auto Industry to You: "Your Wallet or Your Life." (6 comments) Extortion, that's the subtext this week as the heads of Detroit's financially and morally bankrupt auto makers try to shake tax payers down for their own sins.

Ernest Partridge: Why Liberals are Not Libertarians (16 comments) Liberal democracy and regulated capitalism is not perfect. But an anecdotal inventory of the shortcomings of public regulation of the environment does not, by itself, constitute a repudiation of the existing system. What is required is a clear and persuasive presentation of a better workable alternative. This the libertarians have not offered us.

Bernard Weiner: Getting Through the Coming Depression (12 comments) Recession doesn't even begin to describe where the U.S. and global economies are going. We have to recognize that likelihood and take steps now to build the social infrastructure that will help carry us all through the coming Depression. It ain't gonna be easy, but, if we do it right, our generation will be able to look back and feel proud of our efforts to help everybody rise out of the economic swamp.

Curt Day: Will The Peace Movement Survive Obama Or Will We Perish? (1 comments) The Peace Movement has lost many participants to those campaigning for the Democratic Party. The question becomes what will happen now that the Democrats have won? Regardless of what these Democrats do, for the Peace Movement to succeed, it must rely on the principles provided by past leaders like King and Gandhi.

the web: Stealing Georgia - Let's Hope Not Again No more DREs without voter-verifiable paper ballots,or blocking citizen observers from the vote tallying process.No elections without automatic audits of a substantial percentage of the ballots, outsourcing our elections to corporations,disenfranchisement, caging,and other tricks to keep citizens from voting.We're supposed to be the leading democracy in the world,a model for others;let's make that more than wishful thinking.

Freddie Venezia: What the Big 3 bailout debate is really about (9 comments) What the Big 3 bailout debate is really about

Sharon Martinson: The Power of Peaceful Protest: Field Notes from a Post-election Prop 8 Rally That elements combine to create change? While observing a rally supporting 'No On Prop8' in California (gay marriage ban) I made several observations. It is the goodness of people, combined with anger at injustice, and peaceful assembly that make this movement powerful.

Margaret Bassett: The car crazy crowd and the cross they may bear (4 comments) Personally, what is happening in Washington politics is local with me. Two families where I have long friendship ties are impacted. A parts manufacturer is closing down.

Mikhail Lyubansky: "Pretty little children": Some thoughts on how racism is socialized in immigrant communities (6 comments) Negotiating the U.S. racial hierarchy remains one of the primary and most salient experiences for most immigrants...Here's one person's story, with some critical analysis.

Michael Collins: Triumph of The Money Party: Lieberman and the Convenient Amnesia (16 comments)

Ray McGovern: Robert Gates: As Bad As Rumsfeld? (8 comments) "As Bad As Rumsfeld?" The title jars, doesn't it. The more so, since Defense Secretary Robert Gates found his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, such an easy act to follow. But the jarring part reflects how malnourished most of us are on the thin gruel served up by the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM).

Joe Bageant: The Sucker Bait Called Hope --Making the best of a slow apocalypse (10 comments) We just concluded an election in which both parties talked about hope, one more so than the other. There is quite a difference between hope and understanding the facts, then holding justified optimism. Hope is magical thinking, a sucker's game. Politicians the world round fully understand this.

Joan Brunwasser: Tim Robbins to NYC Bd of Elections (5 comments)

Angela Bonavoglia: Voices Carry: The Fight for Women's Rights in the Catholic Church

Jai Daemion: Stop! We're About to Bail Out the Wrong Auto Makers! (1 comments) A little political comedy. Before we drop another bundle on yet another mismanaged cultural institution, let's consider a brave, new alternative. My proposal - The Daemion Recapitalization Plan - offers a radical new use for taxpayer money and a simple way to get America's transportation, employment and entertainment industries back on track.

Ralph Lopez: *Where is Obama's Moral Compass on Torture? (2 comments) Is this what the Democrats think that millions of newly enfranchised Americans turned out in record numbers to vote for? Is this kind of same-old same-old the reason why people were dancing in the streets the night of November 4th? For most ominous missteps on important issues, before even taking office, I nominate the president-elect.

George Packer: After Kristol For Pinch Sulzberger and Andy Rosenthal to renew Kristol’s one-year contract, in 2009, would be for the Times to reward failure—and look where that got Wall Street and General Motors. In his year on the Op-Ed page, not one memorable sentence, not one provocative thought, not one valuable piece of information appeared under his name.

Scott Horton: AP: Obama Will Not Prosecute War Crimes Obama advisers said there’s little—if any—chance the incoming Justice Department will go after anyone involved in authorizing or carrying out interrogations that provoked worldwide outrage. Obama shouldn’t be focused on the fate of individual potential defendants. He should care about the nation’s reputation, our commitment to the rule of law, and a process that is worthy of our best traditions and aspirations.

A long and rocky road ahead for US President-elect, Barack Obama Never in living memory has the nation been in such a deplorable state. With a staggering national deficit edging towards a trillion dollars, unemployment soaring to a fourteen-year high and a costly, drawn-out, seemingly unwinnable war being fought on two fronts, the next president of the United States will have his hands full. The question is: can Barack Obama handle it? For that matter, could anyone handle it?

Will Roberts: Bill Clinton may help Hillary Clinton pack her bags (1 comments) We all know of Bill Clinton and his dealings since these recent campaigns. The odd part is that when Hillary was running for President these little affairs of Bill, business affairs, International business affairs didn't mean anything. Now that she is getting a real job offer they are a scandal and could a deal breaker. I have said this before and I will say it again.

Daniel Gugliotta: Who wants a lame duck? Fowl time

john de herrera: Note to Naomi Wolf (4 comments) Note to Ms. Wolf on electoral reform, the bailout, and how an Article V Convention might achieve an electoral process of the sovereign people which makes the final decision on all matters.

mike montagne: *Paulson Confesses Fatal Fault of Monetary System (2 comments) By inadvertent admission, Paulson confesses the bailout cannot succeed.

Aref Assaf: Obama's Palestine choices (1 comments) For the last sixty years, the US has sided with Israel. Israel today is neither at peace with itself or with its neighbors. Change, real change, is needed. Seeing the Middle East through the prism of Israel has outlived its pertinence, moral compass and intended consequences. We hope President-elect Obama will not be another friend of Israel but a vigilant advocate for peace and justice.

Charles L. Riccillo: The ChallengeTo Obama: Human Rights Top the List!" Human rights, gay, lesbian, equality, domestic affairs, plain talk, Truman, Reagan, Republican Democrat, wconomy, unemployment, international relations, foreign affairs, sexual freedom, interfernce with right, Guantanamo, Venezuela, Russia, Iran, Israel, Russia

Betsy L. Angert: The Unstoppables; Bill and Hill (1 comments) How do you stop a train that long ago left the station? How might you un-ring a bell that rang weeks months, or even years, before you knew the chord was struck? How can a countryman, or woman rewrite history? How might a Clinton, or two reclaim entrance into the White House? Perhaps, she [or he] has already done what, since Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination, no one expected. The Clintons have found a way ...

Ginger McClemons: GOT DOUBTS? (7 comments)

(More...)

Judge Orders Five Detainees Freed From Guantanamo (2 comments) In the first hearing on the government's justification for holding detainees at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp, a federal judge ruled Thursday that five Algerian men were held unlawfully for nearly seven years and ordered their release

Daschle to Be Nominee for Health Post in Obama Cabinet Headline is on Daschle. Lead concerns Clinton: Mr. Clinton's foundation has received contributions from the Saudi royal family, the king of Morocco, a foundation linked to the United Arab Emirates and the governments of Kuwait and Qatar. His tax returns show that he collected at least $12.6 million since 2002 as an adviser to the billionaire investor Ronald Burkle, whose Yucaipa Companies have invested money for the Dubai

Gene Cappa: 9/11 Traced Back To Cheney's Energy Task Force Meeting-Do You Agree? 9/11 can be traced back to Cheney's secret energy task force meeting. Do you agree?

Sandy Sand: Speculation Runs Rampant on the Future Who's Whos in the Obama Administration (1 comments) Vegas odds makers are probably in on the spek-a-latin' act, too. Maybe we should check them out; they were correct in calling Obama's election.

Thursday, November 20:

U.S. Attorney General Mukasey Collapses During Speech (1 comments) Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed while giving a speech tonight and was taken to a hospital. He began slurring his words, slumped at the lectern and fell to the floor as he neared the end of a speech to the Federalist Society. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital.

JUST RELEASED: Judge removes Guerra as prosecutor for 5 of 9 criminal cases involving Vice President Cheney and Texas S Texas Rangers to escort Guerra to court Friday morning after having been found in Mexico. Assuming he is not AWOL again; Guerra could continue as prosecutor for Vice President Cheney, Gonzales, Sen. Lucio, GEO Corp., and former warden David Forrest.

Coalition Against Genocide: Open Letter to Sonal Shah, Obama's Transition Advisory Board Member Muslim Indian groups question Sonal Shaw, a member of Obama's transition team about his silence on the violence in India against Muslims and other minorities, his personal relationship to the groups that were involved, and his dismissing their legitimate concerns as "Ridiculous tactics of guilt by association.

Patrick Malinowski: THE BIG THREE BAILOUT!!! Just a simple opinion about the BIG THREE wanting a bailout!!!!

Blackwater Busted? Six Guards May Be Charged in Iraq Massacre (1 comments) Bush will continue enthusiastically to use armed private forces until the W leaves office.This means that the future of Blackwater and the hundreds of for-profit war corporations servicing the Iraq occupation will lay with President-elect Obama.This includes Blackwater &at least 300 other companies,which have been hired by the US government for privatized armed services in Iraq to the tune of about $6 billion in taxpayer money

VIDEO: Ashton Kutcher On a Wednesday Election Holiday [M]aking Election Day a holiday would ease the crush of voters turning out at once (at poll opening before work, during work lunch hour, or after the work day). Though I'd recommend changing Election Day to a Wednesday when making it a holiday, so that a Tuesday holiday doesn't simply turn into a long out of town 4-day holiday weekend for many.

Bill Knell: October and November UFO Sightings in Stephenville, Texas On November 13, 2008, several photos were taken in the Stephenville, Texas, area that are reminiscent of the video and photos previously photographed in the skies over Erath County.

Make That Former Senator Ted Stevens Democrat Mark Begich unseats Stevens in Alaska, bringing Dems one step closer to a filibuster-proof Senate.

VideoTheVote Releases Footage of Major Problems on Election Day The election protection group releases a series of video reports showing the major problems faced by voters in 2008.While the meltdowns that marred 2000 and 2004 did not occur this year, these reports illustrate that significant changes still need to be made to the electoral process.

The Invisible Election These problems occurred even though more voters than ever before cast their ballots before Election Day,even though everyone knew that turnout would be extremely high,even though at least one of the campaigns --recognizing that victory depended on an election system capable of processing 100,000s of new voters--had done an extraordinary amount of work helping election administrators get ready for the turnout tsunami that was

Steven Rosenfeld: See (Literally) Why Al Franken is Gaining Votes The Minnesota recount shows exactly why most voting rights advocates conclude that hand-marked paper ballots are the best way to vote. Unlike Georgia, where the final unresolved U.S. Senate seat will be selected in a runoff election in early December and the public uses paperless voting machines, in Minnesota representatives of both parties can clearly see the voters' intent in a deliberative but accurate recount.

Troy Davis Granted Hearing; Oral Arguments Set for Dec. 9 (1 comments) A hearing date has been set for death row prisoner Troy Davis, before the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court, which stopped Davis's scheduled execution last month, will hear oral arguments about a new round of appeals on December 9th. His lawyers want the circuit court to give them permission to file an appeal with the U.S. District Court of Southern Georgia for a fresh trial, where they can present new evidence.

Japan-U.S. missile defense test fails off Hawaii A Japanese warship failed to shoot down a ballistic missile target in a joint test with U.S. forces Wednesday because of a glitch in the final stage of an interceptor made by Raytheon Co.U.S. Rear Admiral Brad Hicks, program director of the Aegis sea-based leg of an emerging U.S. anti-missile shield. "This was a failure," he said in a teleconference with reporters. It brought the tally of Aegis intercepts to 16 in 20 tries.

Nobel laureate Maguire: UN should suspend Israel membership Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire said Thursday the United Nations should suspend or revoke Israel's membership. In October this year she arrived on a boat that sailed into the Gaza Strip carrying international protesters who wanted to bring attention to Israel's blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory.

Longtime Head of House Energy Panel Is Ousted Representative Henry A. Waxman of California ousted Representative John D. Dingell of Michigan from his post as chairman of the influential Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday, giving President-elect Barack Obama an advantage in his plans to promote efforts to combat global warming.

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For November 20, 2008 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issues

New York Police Fight With U.S. on Surveillance An effort by the New York Police Department to get broader latitude to eavesdrop on terrorism suspects has run into sharp resistance from the Justice Department in a bitter struggle that has left the police commissioner and the attorney general accusing each other of putting the public at risk.

Discussions With Clintons as Obama Creates Team Mr. Clinton accepted several restrictions on his business and philanthropic activities to remove any obstacle to his wife’s nomination if the cabinet job is formally offered and accepted. “I’ll do whatever they want,” Clinton said Wednesday at a public appearance.

New friendly fire coverup: Army shreds files on dead soldiers Hours after Salon revealed evidence that two Americans were killed by a U.S. tank, not enemy fire, military officials destroyed papers on the men. Salon's investigation, which included graphic battle video and eyewitness testimony, indicated that their deaths were likely due to friendly fire. After Salon published Benjamin's Oct. 14 report, the Army ordered soldiers to shred documents about the men. A soldier saved some shreds

Emergency Managers Make It Official: They Want FEMA Out of DHS A prominent association of emergency mangers is recommending that the Obama administration pull the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) out of the Homeland Security Department and restore its leader to cabinet level status. IAEM has been generally unhappy with the way FEMA has operated within DHS, and removing it would allow the agency to "get its act together"

Ex-member: Klan leader plotted death The head of a Kentucky-based Ku Klux Klan organization led a failed plot to kill the co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups and challenges white supremacists, a former Klan member testified Thursday.

SPLC Wins $2.5 Million Verdict for Teen in Klan Case In a blow to one of the nation's largest Klan groups, jurors yesterday awarded more than $2.5 million to a teenager who was assaulted by Klansmen at a county fair in rural Kentucky. The verdict is expected to shut down the Imperial Klans of America (IKA), which has 16 chapters in eight states

Antonia Juhasz: my response to Washington Post review of The Tyranny of Oil Antonia Juhasz repsonds to the partisan jargon of Steve LeVine in a Washington Post Review of her book, The Tyranny of Oil.

Steph Fauxco: Will the Gay's Get Their Way? (10 comments) Will the Gay's get their civil liberties?

Ashin Mettacara: *Burma: Popular Burmese Hip-Hop Singer Gets 6 Years; Leader Monk Gets Another 15 years (3 comments)

Steven Freeman: Minnesota Recount Update (4 comments) Day one of the Minnesota recount appears to be a qualified win for Franken. Read on for more.

Cheri Cabot: Personal About Politics: To Bail or Not to Bail the Big Three Auto Makers; and Paulson Just Bails. (9 comments) Will it be bankruptcy or a bailout for Detroit's Big Three Automakers? They beg Congress for a bailout while Henry Paulson just bails.

Janet Napolitano will head Homeland Security Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama Democratic officials said.

Fight Breaks Out As Iraqi Lawmakers Debate Pact A fistfight broke out in Iraq's parliament on Wednesday, when lawmakers were supposed to be debating whether to ratify a new security pact with the United States — one that calls for the withdrawal of all American forces by the end of 2011. Eyewitnesses say the guards used force after the opposition lawmaker approached the podium and tried to rip a copy of the draft agreement from the hands of the speaker of parliament.

Wednesday, November 19:

National Cathedral Cuts Jobs, Programs Washington National Cathedral plans to slash its budget dramatically and lay off 30 percent of its staff to close a widening budget gap.To cut overhead, the cathedral plans to outsource its retail operations, which bring in about $4 million a year, to Event Network, a San Diego-based company that runs gift stores at cultural attractions.

Top judge: US and UK acted as 'vigilantes' in Iraq invasion Lord Bingham, in his first major speech since retiring as the senior law lord, rejected the then attorney general's defence of the 2003 invasion as fundamentally flawed. "It was not plain that Iraq had failed to comply in a manner justifying resort to force and there were no strong factual grounds or hard evidence to show that it had."

Unofficial Translation of U.S.-Iraq Troop Agreement from the Arabic Text Translation of complete agreement between the US and Iraq on the withdrawal of occupation troops. Since Bush won't share this with the Congress, perhaps they need to check with OEN. And, for questions about the oil, check the last graf of Article 26.

U.S. lawmaker accuses Bush of secrecy over Iraq deal The US government is refusing to make public the security pact it has signed with Iraq, even though it has been published in full in an Iraqi newspaper, a congressional hearing was told on Wednesday. The administration has said it will not seek congressional approval for the deal. It has been in a hurry to finalise the pact, which Iraqi lawmakers still must approve, before the UN mandate expires on December 31.

Arizona Gov Janet Napolitano to head Homeland Security (3 comments) Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) has been chosen to serve as secretary of the vast and troubled Department of Homeland Security for President-elect Obama, Democratic officials said. Napolitano is a border governor who will now be responsible for immigration policy and border security, which are part of Homeland Security's myriad functions.

Taxpayers will pay for Gonzales' private attorney (1 comments) The Justice Department has agreed to pay for a private lawyer to defend former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales against allegations that he encouraged officials to inject partisan politics into the department's hiring and firing practices.

Mary Ann Gould: Ellen Brodsky and Clint Curtis on tonight's Voice of the Voters! Both Brodsky&Curtis have recently suffered losses in the general election.Brodsky lost to incumbent Dr.Snipes in the race for Supervisor of Elections in Broward County & was later arrested at the direction of her political competition.Curtis lost his primary race for Congress in the 24th District of FL.This now-famous whistle blower against purpose-designed vote flipping software will talk of the state of voting in FL&beyond

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For November 19, 2008 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issues

Michael Richardson: Senate testimony by police captain reveals 9 sticks of missing dynamite in 'Omaha Two' bombing case (2 comments)

China seeks to curb unrest amid global crisis China has told police to ensure stability amid the global financial crisis after thousands of people attacked police and government offices in a northwestern city in unrest triggered by a plan to resettle residents. Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu said police "should be fully aware of the challenge brought by the global financial crisis and try their best to maintain social stability

Merkel Says Europe Is 'Closely' Watching U.S. Plans on Auto Aid German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have asked the European Union to monitor U.S. proposals to prop up its auto industry for signs of anti-competitive practices. ''We are watching the U.S. closely to see what they do on the car industry,'' Merkel told reporters today in the northern Italian city of Trieste during a joint news conference with Berlusconi.

Vice president, former AG, state senator indicted he indictment accuses Gonzales of using his position while in office to stop an investigation in 2006 into abuses at one of the privately-run prisons.Gonzales' attorney, George Terwilliger III, said in a written statement, "This is obviously a bogus charge on its face, as any good prosecutor can recognize. Hopefully, competent Texas authorities will take steps to reign in this abuse of the criminal justice system."

Maryland Police Conflate Peace Activists with Terrorists Under the direction of Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich, Maryland State Police spied on and infiltrated non-violent peace activist groups, and labeled members as “terrorists” and “anarchists”. Your tax dollars at work fighting “Osama Been Peaceniks”.

Big Three CEOs Flew Private Jets to Plead for Public Funds Ford CEO Mulally made his case Tuesday before the committee saying he's cut expenses, laid-off workers and closed 17 plants. "We have also reduced our work force by 51,000 employees in the past three years," Mulally said. Yet Ford continues to operate a fleet of eight private jets for its executives.

Rob Kall: Did Hillary Cut The Secretary of State Deal Months Ago, Before Obama Picked Biden? (7 comments) Maybe Hillary didn't want to be VP. Maybe what she wanted all along, if she couldn't be president, was Secretary of State. Maybe she cut the deal before Obama settled on his VP pick.

Juan Cole: Afghan article says US Bin-Ladin hunt phoney An article from the Persian Afghan press alleges that French troops were at one point close to capturing Usamah Bin Ladin in Afghanistan, but that American forces stopped them from doing so. It says that a forthcoming French documentary containing interviews with the French soldiers provides proof for the allegation. The argument is that the Bush administration needed Bin Ladin in order to justify its military expansionism.

Palestine: Fifteen Palestinian fishermen kidnapped by Israelis The 15 Palestinian fishermen abducted from Palestinian waters are being held by Israeli authorities in Ashdod, while their boats have been confiscated. three internationals who were arrested while accompanying the fishermen have been taken to Ben Gurion detention facility as Israeli authorities start deportation proceedings.

Beau Biden will not accept Senate appointment DOVER, Del. - Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden says he plans to fulfill his National Guard duties and won't accept an appointment to his father's U.S. Senate seat. The younger Biden has released a statement as his unit prepares to deploy to Iraq

The Real Goal of Israel's Blockade The latest tightening of Israel's chokehold on Gaza – ending all supplies into the Strip for more than a week – has produced immediate and shocking consequences for Gaza's 1.5 million inhabitants. Israel's long-term goal is to force an exodus to Egypt once the controls along its short border with the Strip are relaxed,thus ethnically cleansing Gaza

On Top of Humanitarian Disaster, A News Blackout in Gaza Israel has imposed a virtual news blackout on the Gaza Strip. For the last ten days no foreign journalists have been able to enter the besieged territory to report on the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's complete closure of Gaza's borders for the last two weeks. There have been no deliveries of fuel and basic humanitarian assistance, and sewage had to be pumped into the ocean due to a lack of fuel.

Douglas Smyth: Should the Obama Administration Prosecute Bush-Cheney Crimes? (32 comments) Should the Obama administration pursue the Bush-Cheney crimes committed in the war, its run-up, in intelligence and interrogation and in Justice? Or shouldn't it? If a broad Bush pardon constrains the new administration, is there a middle way?

Ashin Mettacara: *Burma's Jail News: Three Jailed Today

Dave Johnson: Post-election at the Election Protection Wiki As policymakers look back at the 2008 election they will need well- researched sources of background information. The Election Protection Wiki serves as a hub where they will either find the information directly or be directed to the organization or site that has it. Here are ways that you can help:

Mark Crispin Miller: Ted Stevens is out (which does NOT mean Alaska's race was clean) Here's yet another Democratic victory that does not mean "the system works." Stevens' lead was fishy from the get-go; and so we should be looking into it, just as we should be looking into Coleman's lead in Minnesota, and Chambliss's in Georgia (and, as well, at others nationwide). And yet, so far--and as usual--the only party out there warning of election fraud is the one that's been committing it.

Consumer prices drop record 1 percent in October consumer prices fell by 1% last month, the biggest one-month decline on records that go back to February 1947. The drop was twice as large as the 0.5 percent decline analysts expected. In other economic news, the Commerce Department reported that construction of new homes and apartments fell by 4.5 percent in October to an annual rate of 791,000 units. That was the slowest construction pace on records going back to 1959

For desperate vets, victory and anger They were told they were crazy. Statistical anomalies. Whiners. This week, after enduring 17 years of baffling and incurable ailments they blamed on exposure to nasty chemicals and untested anti-nerve-gas agents- veterans of the Persian Gulf War were told they were right. Colorado's veterans of Operation Desert Storm feel justified after a congressionally mandated panel this week announced that the mysterious and often malig

Snopes says Fake UPS (or FedEx) Delivery Failure Notice Virus is Real The newest virus circulating is the UPS Delivery Failure.You will receive an email from UPS Packet Service along with a packet number. NOTE: The word packet is misspelled on this line. It will say that they were unable to deliver a package sent to you on such and such a date. It then asks you to print out the invoice copy attached.DON'T TRY TO PRINT THIS.IT LAUNCHES THE VIRUS!Pass this warning on!

Obama to tap Eric Holder for Attorney General who prosecuted Rostenkowski (1 comments) Politics in Chicago--folks remember Holder as the US Attorney who successfully pursued corruption charges in 1994 against then Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.). Rostenkowski lost a re-election bid and Republican Michael Flanagan snatched the 5th Congressional District seat for a term with the slot returning to Democratic hands with the election of Rod Blagojevich who went on to run for governor and Emanuel succeeded him

Daley addresses Obama-related police presence Mayor Daley, on complaints of police underfunding & usage."In Washington, D.C., the Secret Service [would] be doing most of this - even outside the buildings. We've taken that responsibility and they're going to reimburse us for that... We'll utilize resources from headquarters and the training academy until next week. [After that], off-duty officers will be compensated at time-and-a-half, to be paid by the federal government.

Nuclear Waste DUMPED Into Hudson River (3 comments) Entergy Corporation's Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant has Dumped 459,000 Gallons of Nuclear Waste into the Hudson River. But the WORST is still yet to come! Internationally renown radiation scientist and researcher Dr. Chris Busby speaks about the radioactive waste poisoning of New York's majestic Hudson.

IMC Photos: Marching Against Racism In Rural New Jersey (1 comments) Over 300 people march in Hardwick New Jersey to support Gary Grewal and his family, supporters of Barack Obama who were the victims of a cross burning. In response to a call by Mayor Kevin Duffy, over 300 people marched from Hardick's municipal building a mile to Grewal's house in support of Grewal's right to fly a banner supporting Barack Obama.

Recount Set for Minnesota Senate Race as Challenges Loom A recount will be held in the undecided Minnesota Senate race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democratic challenger Al Franken, a comedian and author. This expected development was confirmed by the state election canvassing board at a meeting Tuesday in the Minnesota capital of St. Paul. The recount is scheduled to begin Wednesday and will be carried out at an estimated 120 sites around the state,

Tuesday, November 18:

Mara Der Hovanesian: Did someone have sex to obtain your mortgage? (1 comments) Are people selling their bodies to get your loan?

Debbie Krueger, Jordan Page, Adam Kokesh: Growing Movement Strikes at Fed in Washington, DC (6 comments) National "END THE FED" day of protest calls for sound monetary policy and an end to bailouts in D.C.

BREAKING: Mark Begich (D) Wins Alaskan Senate Seat Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in Senate history, narrowly lost his re-election bid Tuesday, marking the downfall of a pillar of the U.S. Senate and Alaska icon who apparently couldn't survive his conviction on federal corruption charges. Dems now have 58 Senate seats, 2 away from a filibuster proof majority, with the races in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided.

Massive riot in northwestern China - Los Angeles Times The Chinese people don't seem too inclined to go along with the Government's plans ...

The Seven Deadly Deficits (Mother Jones) : What the Bush years really cost us, and how President Obama can get the economy back on track.

All The King's Men Discussion of the importance of an Obama Administration seeking justice for crimes of the bush Administration.

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

Beijing orders demolition of leading activist's home Beijing authorities have issued an order to destroy the home of one of China's leading rights activists who has been in police custody for more than 200 days, her husband and lawyer said Tuesday. Beijing's Xicheng court ordered developers to level the home of Ni Yulan and told the family to vacate the premises by the end of last week, husband Dong Jiqin told AFP, adding he had refused to leave.

BREAKING: South Texas county indicts Cheney, former AG and state senator (20 comments) A South Texas grand jury has indicted Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on misdemeanor charges related to the alleged abuse of prisoners in Willacy County's federal detention centers. The indictments were first reported by KRGV-TV.

BREAKING: Begich expands lead to 2,374 votes over Stevens 11,000 votes are left - due to be counted 8-9pm ET, but it's looking unlikely that Stevens will be able to overcome the growing deficit. If Begich holds onto the lead, Democrats would pick up their seventh Republican-held Senate seat this cycle, and would have 58 Senate seats -- with the races in Georgia and Minnesota still undecided.

Panel: Gulf War Illness Confirmed A federal health panel released conclusions Monday that evidence strongly and consistently indicates hundreds of thousands of US troops in the first Gulf War contracted long-term illnesses from use of pills, given by their own military to protect them from effects of chemical weaponized nerve agents, and from their military's pesticide use during deployment.

Monday, November 17:

Kevin Gosztola: Bail Out the Big Three Automakers? (36 comments) The Senate and the House will be deliberating and deciding whether or not to bail out the Big Three auto makers this week (Chrysler, Ford, GM). Here's what you should know when deciding whether or not to support a bailout. This is what you may not hear from network news or cable news.

Thursday, November 13:

Gene Cappa: Obama And The Imperial Presidency-Will He Give It Up? (12 comments) Obama inherits an imperial presidency chock-full of new powers. Will he give it up or embrace it?

Monday, November 10:

Rob Kall: Assassination Conversation Poll (80 comments) Have you been in a conversation or overhead a conversation expressing concern for Obama's assassination in the past week?

Gene Cappa: CAN Obama Reverse The Economic Slide? (8 comments) The ruinous Bush fiscal and monetary policies have brought the American economy to near collapse. Can Obama reverse the slide?

Sunday, November 9:

PrMaine: So, Why Was This Election Not Stolen? (66 comments) What made things go right this time?

Gene Cappa: Obama Should Use That Secret Tool Chest-Do You Agree? (17 comments) Obama inherited a secret tool chest from Bush. Should he use it like Bush did?

Saturday, November 8:

Kevin Gosztola: Will You Speak Up or "Give Obama a Chance"? (54 comments) How long will it be before you question Obama's decisions or seek to influence him if he is slow to make the changes you wish to see. How will you organize and pressure to enact real change or will you choose to not organize and apply pressure at all?

Friday, November 7:

Steve Windisch (jibbguy): ... And the justification against Impeachment is now what?? (19 comments) The election of '08 is now over.. What justifications against Impeachment will Pelosi and Conyers come up with next?

Wednesday, November 5:

Gene Cappa: LBJ Was Behind the JFK Assasination? Do You Agree? (22 comments) The "Big Event", code words for the JFK hit, is laid at the doorstep of LBJ.

Tuesday, November 4:

Gene Cappa: Tony Blair To The Hague For Trial-Do You Agree? (13 comments) Blair lied Britain to war with Iraq. He should be sent to the Hague for trial.

Monday, November 3:

Rob Kall: When Will We Know the Results of the Presidential Election (4 comments) We knew pretty quickly for Kerry. It took weeks for Gore. How long will it take to be sure on this election?

Sunday, November 2:

PrMaine: What Punishment? (7 comments) Vote caging and purges, systematic voter intimidation, vote-flipping and corrupt tallies of votes all go on in our elections and for the most part they go unpunished. Should this attitude change in the future?

karmacounselor: Do you know if your county is at risk for election fraud (6 comments) After reading an article warning of election fraud, what have you done, if anything, to speak up, verify, and ensure your vote is safe?

Kris Malmquist: Should We Legalize/Decriminalize Marijuana? (26 comments) Cast your vote on whether or not the time has come to stop locking people up for smoking a doobie or two.

Thursday, October 30:

Michael Bonanno: Please rate "Shock And Awe" (2 comments) ...one of the candidates for the presidency is still in shock and awe mode while the other has a word for that mode.

Wednesday, October 29:

PrMaine: Who is John McCain? (9 comments) The John McCain we see today seems to many to be a totally different person than the one we knew, say in the 1990's. Which John McCain is the one of today?

Tuesday, October 28:

Dave Kisor: Does homeland security make you feel safe? (11 comments) The disestablishment of the Department of Homeland Security

Sunday, October 26:

John Kusumi: Presidential Preference Poll (6 comments) Straight up, plain vanilla presidential preference poll.

Saturday, October 25:

Patricia 0rmsby: Anyone you know been disenfrachised yet? (5 comments) We hear about millions of people being disqualified to vote in the upcoming election or falling victim to registration fraud. Has this happened to you or anyone you know?

Tuesday, October 21:

Rob Kall: Should OpEdNews Notify Members When Their Content is Most Popular? (19 comments) Would you want an email notifying you that your article, poll, diary or member page was among the most viewed, most commented, most forwarded, highest rated, for a given period of time?

Gene Cappa: 9/11: Total Proof Bombs Were Planted-Do You Agree? (48 comments) Bombs were planted and detonated to bring down the WTC on 9/11. Do you agree?

Monday, October 20:

Gene Cappa: Should Bush Be Prosecuted for Murder? (27 comments) Over 4,100 American soldiers got killed in Bush's war against Iraq on false pretenses. Should Bush be prosecuted for murder?

Monday, October 13:

Michael Morris: America needs Leadership! (8 comments) Did Congress show leadership in voting to pass the bailout?

Sunday, October 12:

UncleSim: Voting the Lesser of Two Evils - A Poll (54 comments) How strong is your support for the person who will get your vote? This poll is an attempt to locate America's heart.

Karen Fish: Will Sarah Palin now step down? (11 comments) Does she stay or does she go? Why and by whom?

Thursday, October 9:

Rob Kall: Will McCain or Obama Challenge Vote Counts? (10 comments) Kerry wimped an quit. Gore gave up when the Supreme court waded in. If the election is close, will Obama challenge the results? Will McCain?

Gene Cappa: FASCISM Came To America-Do You Agree? (30 comments) The ten steps to fascism are now in place, and any crisis, real or make believe, can be used to declare a national emergency leading to martial law and tyranny over the land.

Wednesday, October 8:

chris rice: Bail~Outs Were Wrong: How Do We Regain Control of Congress (10 comments) You have ignored the hundreds of thousands of American people who have been calling, faxing and emailing you opposing this bailout at least 100 to 1. You have ignored the almost two hundred economists from around the country that have contacted you and who have no conflict of interest and told you this bill will outright fail. My congressman's web site had a pole showing that 97.3% of his constituents were opposed.

Steph Fauxco: Who do you think won the debate tonight? Obama or McCain VOTE NOW (1 comments) Debate #2 McCain V Obama who do you think will won the debate?

PrMaine: Are trolls effective? (12 comments) Have Republican trolls been trying to influence voters through comments on progressive web sites? If so, are they effective in this effort?

Sunday, October 5:

Paul Kruger: Are we safe from our own military? (51 comments) Would members of our own military refuse an order to turn their weapons against American Citizens on US Soil?

Friday, October 3:

Steph Fauxco: First Bail Out Bill VS New Bail Out Bill? VOTE!!! (17 comments) Should Congress have voted in the less pork Bail out bill of last week vs. the one they have to TODAY?

Lance L. Landon: Biden-Palin Debate, Who Won??? (15 comments) Vote for Joe Biden Vote for Sarah Palin

Thursday, October 2:

Steph Fauxco: Will Sarah Palin say "Alaska" more times than "Hero" tonight? (3 comments) Palin, debate, Funny Poll, Alaska, Hero

Peter Dearman: Do something, but ditch the Paulson Plan (4 comments) Should Congress promise to do something major, but ditch the Paulson Plan and start listening to other informed voices?

JC Garrett: Poll: Republican 'Capitalism' or Republican 'Socialism'? (10 comments) The choice really isn't between real Capitalism and real Socialism. The choice is between the reality that occurs by applying the Republican definition of Capitalism and the Republican definition of Socialism. Which would you prefer?

Monday, September 29:

Steph Fauxco: Did the Republicans commit extreme insider trading today? (2 comments) Do you think the Republican's committed extreme insider trading today?

Sunday, September 28:

Rob Kall: After Palin Bombs Debating Biden, & Withdraws from the Campaign, Who Will McCain Pick? (14 comments) Sarah Palin bombed in her interview with Katie Couric and she's going to hit bottom and break into 700 billion ugly pieces when she debates with Joe Biden. Who Will McCain choose to replace her when Palin withdraws to "take care of her family."

Friday, September 26:

Robert Arend: Are The Republicans Gaining Hero Status On The Bailout? (14 comments) Are Democrats risking dilution of the public's blame of the Republicans for current ills of the economy when the Dems support bailing out Wall Street and the Repubs stand against it?

Wednesday, September 24:

Constance Lavender: Bailout: Post-Bush Speech to Nation (11 comments) Post-Bush Speech Bailout Gauge

Tuesday, September 23:

MedicalWhistleblower: Should Medical Whistleblowers Be Protected? (5 comments) Should Medical Whistleblowers Be Protected?

Kevin Gosztola: How can America recover from the financial crisis? (13 comments) Three prominent politicians (two of them presidential candidates) have plans for how to respond to the bailout. Neither suggest that they would support the Bush administration's or Paulson's proposal, which is being advanced in the halls of Congress right now (despite the fact that many details about the proposal are unknown).

Monday, September 22:

Rob Kall: Screwed or Saved Bailout-wise? (38 comments) will dems pass or fix the bailout, or will Republicans do it? Or will a bipartisan congress screw the taxpayers.

Saturday, September 20:

Constance Lavender: Given the economic illness of the United States, What do you prefer to do? (21 comments) Tell the World What Your Future Plans Are Going To Be....

Friday, September 19:

Rob Kall: Has J. Edgar Hoover Styled Blackmail Come Back to Haunt Congress? (18 comments) with all the access to phone tapping, has the Bush admin and its surrogates been digging up blackmail material on Dem leaders in congress?

Constance Lavender: Do you support the government's bail out of Wall Street? (14 comments) Do you support the government's bail out of Wall Street?

Rob Kall: Government Welfare Buyouts and Rescues; Are They Over Yet? (7 comments) Will there be more massive loans or government takeovers that amount to corporations become socialized-- even whole industries?

Wednesday, September 17:

Karen Fish: Did George Bush bail out AIG to save AIG or John McCain and the Neocons? (21 comments) What are the true motives behind the Bush bailout of AIG?

Monday, September 15:

Rob Kall: Diagnose Sarah Palin Poll (38 comments) Which diagnosis do you pick?

Bruce Cain: A 20 Year Moritorium on Legal/Illegal Immigration Into the US (14 comments) The "New Agenda for America" is composed of 10 "Planks." The 2nd plank calls for a 20 Year Moritorium on Legal/Illegal Immigration Into the US. [Goto www.newagecitizen.com/NAA.htm to read the full agenda].

joel kauffman: "Under God," in the Pledge of Allegiance (25 comments) The phrase has presently been held unconstitutional by a California federal district court. The decision is on appeal to the Federal Court of Appeals. In 2006, a Florida federal district court has held that a 1942, state law requiring children to stand and recite the pledge violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and is therefore, unconstitutional

Greg Purcell: Does Rob Kall look like Tony Soprano? (5 comments) Is James Gandolfini Rob Kall's cousin?? What do you think?

PrMaine: Voting Motivations (17 comments) This poll is an attempt to get some understanding of what is motivating people to vote.

Sunday, September 14:

Constance Lavender: How much faith do you have in the American financial system? (11 comments) Given these extraordinary developments in the American financial system, how much faith do you retain?

Constance Lavender: Is Sarah Palin from the West or the Pacific? Decide where Sarah Palin is from: the West or the Pacific.

Saturday, September 13:

Hal Smith: Independent Candidates (19 comments) Who will you vote for?

Tony Forest: POLL: Will an Obama/Biden Victory Pacify The Movement ? (19 comments) Offset with an inverted question: Will a McCain/Palin Victory Empower The Moveme