1092 QuickLinks

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Synthetic Pot as a Military Weapon? Meet the Man Who Ran the Secret Program
Ketchum was into weapons of mass elation, not weapons of mass destruction. From before the Viet Nam War, as the Army researched new chemical warfare techniques, this doctor worked on compounds which would render enemies incapable of action without killing them. Articles updates issues of medical marijuana and decriminalization.

Saturday, July 19, 2008
A New Generation of Activists Arises in Burma
Great Wash. Post article on an underground group of activists in Rangoon who are working against the current Burmese govt. With Aung San Suu Kyi in exile, they carry on with her principles. They would like to be recognized as a viable party. They consider the main opposition party, Natl League for Democracy, to be ineffective.

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Africa's Last and Least
The U.N. World Food Program reports that 130 million people on 3 continents are facing a food crisis. This article explains how it is for a woman and her 2 co-wives in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. Boabab leaves and potash sound like poor ingredients for the only meal. "Last and Least" refers to women who are the most malnourished. And they also must work outside the home.

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Investors riot in Pakistan as market tumbles
n 2007, Pakistan's KSE-100 index soared 41%. In the first few months of 2008, the KSE-100 was the best performer among major emerging markets indexes. However, since April 18, when the index soared to a record high of 15,676 points, the KSE-100 has tumbled 35%. This article points out that that China and India have had bearish signs, but tend to set curbs in futures activities.

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Mole's Progressive Democrat: The Tangled Web of the Organic Industry
This blogger, who is a biologist living in Brooklyn, discusses organic food. What's really organic (or nearly so), and which corporations have the most involvement in the food industry. Interesting charts.

Friday, July 18, 2008
A Cast of 300 Advises Obama on Foreign Policy
"like a mini State Dept." is the way E Bumiller describes Obama's campaign staff concerning foreign policy. Two briefings each morning--one with news, and 2 with possible political ramifications on the trail. I'll bet those 300 are working overtime during buildup to the Senator's Iraq trip.

Friday, July 18, 2008
The Risks of Obama's Iraq Strategy
This CQ piece analyzes flipflopping of both candidates and sees past where they are inconsistent on Iraq War strategy. Did I get the impression right? That it says Obama's problem is he doesn't see that the surge is working?

Friday, July 18, 2008
Bob Benenson's Jigsaw Politics: Top 5 GOP Bids to Keep House Hopes Alive
Columnist looks back at Rep House conquests in 06 and tallies zero in Dem losses by incumbents, whereas Republicans cried in their beer. This time he sees a Democratic incumbent in five states with possible losses to Reps: TX, AL, KS, FL & LA. But he's not breaking out the champagne.

Friday, July 18, 2008
VA Ban on Voter Registration Drives for Injured Vets Becomes National Fight
If they're old enough to get wounded, they're old enough to vote. Secretaries of States (a bunch of them) are protesting official VA policy about helping veterans to vote. Please stand up for those who can't stand up.

Friday, July 18, 2008
Leader in a Struggling City _ Benon Harbor MI
I could not find the dateline to this story and decided it wouldn't matter to a man locked up for speaking out against local officials. Minister wrote a letter to a Chicago paper and was on a short list from it. Author of piece posted his email address for those who like to follow truth and justice issues.

Friday, July 18, 2008
A fractured party GOP in Idaho
Not the party of Senator Borah, but not the party of Senator Larry Craig, for sure. Idaho Republicans are trying to remain reddest of the red by courting an Independent running for Craig's seat.

Friday, July 18, 2008
We thought we were safe Not in Paradise!
A pensive tale of a man's escaping the fires of Northern California with his horse, and only memories of a house they had spent four years building. It happened June 12. A month later, he thinks about when he will get his horse back home.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Cracking Code Pink
(3 comments) An interview with Code Pink members at their headquarters brings out changing roles. There was a time to be outrageous in Congress and courageous on marches, but now comes a new phase. Medea Benjamin explains gliter tiaras gained admiration from supporters and no mainline media coverage. Iraq war appropriation bills still pass.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
In a Bit of a Turnaround, Business Groups Huddle With Dems
Fifteen prominent Democratic Senators met with leaders of business associations to discuss their concerns. One sentence, "Democrats are eager to reap the political benefits of getting business groups to buy into the party's agenda." may have double meaning, methinks.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tuesday Group and "˜Blue Dogs' Join Forces to Fight Deficit
The GOP Tuesday Group and the Democratic "Blue Dogs" have long shared the goal of reducing the federal deficit, says CQ article. Pete Peterson attended. There is a suggestion for members of both parties to meet over issues of reducing the deficit.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hate group watcher criticizes Alabama senator's talk
Through the courtesy of Southern Poverty Law Center's HateWatch program, I have this 7/9/08 AP report. Alabama State Senator Bishop spoke to the Council of Conservative Citizens, which is listed as a hate group. Anniston paper published it. SPLC attended the meeting.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Plot to Murder SPLC Founder Disclosed | Hatewatch
Tym Burkey and informant Dave Hall wrote "Into the Lion's Den" which is reviewed here. Hall was undercover for the FBI. Among other events disclosed is how Morris Dees, head of SPLC, was targeted for murder in the 90s. Thirty cases have been brought up in similar attempts. Picture of KY man currently being sued is best seen, rather than described here.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bring Me the Head of Osama bin Laden
A scenario of how Bush's legacy could be made shinier. Capture perpetrator No. 1. But of course there are issues. More boots in Afghanistan pointed to Pakistan which could touch off more rebellion. Remember the A-Bomb. And what about Obama's take on the Osama question?

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Obama Cover: What's the Point?
More coverage on The Cover, this time from Madison Powers, Senior Research Scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University. His point is that media's purpose is to get people talking, and he's joining them.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Obama Wants to Shrink One War, But Expand Two Others
(2 comments) Tom Hayden, who knows about war, says this in subtitle to his article: 'Obama is serious about a withdrawal plan for Iraq, but he's committed himself to expanding the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dumb Idea."

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
High-Quality, Universal Health Care Is Possible -- With No Premiums or Deductibles
A plan by this man: Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has the background and experience needed to help draft a blueprint for health care reform. An oncologist who also has a Ph.D. in political science and now serves as chair of the Department of Bioethics at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, Emanuel is attuned to the ethics as well as the politics of medicine, and he understands the needs of seriously ill patients.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Barack Obama's super marketing machine
How data mining works in campaigns. Enhanced from Rovian times into political sophistication by Obama.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Phil Gramm's Porn Stash
Phil Gramm, taken to the woodshed by John McCain over the "nations of whiners" comment has a political trail which makes him easy to attack. Enron. Girly-magazine startup. Economics is his chosen field of study, remember.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
US inflation rate at 26-year high
(2 comments) On Bernanke's 2nd day of Congressional testimony, BBC gives a background on his status report so far. News or opinion is hard to decipher on the issue. It's a lot to think about.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Court seeks to stay US executions
There are Mexican nationals on death row in US. Mexican govt sued in World Court because they were denied access to Consulate. One case is close to an execution date. BBC has written small article. Case hopefully appears more fully elsewhere.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Discussing The Uprising on Lou Dobbs 7/9/08
David Sirota and two other authors of recent books discuss (video) the political mindset with Dobbs. Congress, poorly regulated financial transactions, and campagn financing are all debated. Sirota provided the video.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Rush Limbaugh was right
Kamiya. Our friend Gary votes for New Yorker satire. In the process, has something to say about one more ism--elitism. He says Dems have been "framed" so long in proper political talk that they've kept the frame and lost the big picture. Like the Danish cartoons which incensed professional Islamism, this piece of art requires a sense of satire. And in the process some Left bloggers are being scolded.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
First Guantanamo video released
(2 comments) Video and text from BBC news concerning a 16-year-old Canadian held in Guantanamo. Canadian lawyers are trying to get him released. He is being held for murder. There is explanation of history and forward issues at this link.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Discussing McCain's Bush-onomics on Fox News
YouTube, courtesy of David Sirota who is being interviewed on Fox News. It'a about Phil Gramm's remarks on McCain economic policy. A little bit. In fact, it ranks close to slapstick comedy as a Republican committeewoman and and Sirota carry on simultaneous expostulations.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Political Economy: Turning Point
(3 comments) Dissecting the unemployment rate, columnist comes up with: "... almost 10 percent of the working-age population in June was either completely unable to find a job, too discouraged to look or unable to be fully employed - almost twice the official jobless rate." My town has a lot of restaurants for its size. When Knoxvillians stay away, we'll see more layoffs. My friend's husband is out an extra week at a car parts shop.

Monday, July 14, 2008
The Bad Frame: Why Are the New Yorker, Salon and Other Liberal Media Doing the Right's Dirty Work?
(10 comments) Be advised! Left wing trying to make jokes about "silly" stereotypes of the Obamas is going to persist, even though the periodicals may be assuming Right wing stereotypers can't read. Action? Write letters? Cancel subscriptions? Or let the campaign handled it? If I knew how to make a poll I'd think of doing so on this tasteless caper.

Monday, July 14, 2008
Canada's Status as a Safe Haven for War Resisters Is Under Attack
A detailed account of war resisters (deserters from army) who are facing stiff legal challenges to remain in Canada. They have support on both sides of the border. That is new in this article, different from the one posted as a QuickLink yesteday.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Torture and the rule of law
(9 comments) 'I never thought I would say this, but I think it might, in fact, be time for the United States to be held internationally to a tribunal." said by Law Professor Jonathan Turley, on MSNBC discussing Jane Mayer's book. Good Greenwald article.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nat'l Park Service & Rules for Carrying Guns
Casper newspaper lays out arguments for changes in how US Park visitors may carry guns. After SCOTUS decision, the administration wants current rules changed to allow "open" rather than "stored" use by people. Safety issues are involved. And there is one case. Story comes from Kalispell MT.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Obamas: A love story
Most of 20 years in the Michelle/Barack story have appeared elsewhere, but this July 13 version puts the parts together. His second book is quoted. And, importantly, names of close family and friends are dropped. Watch later for Valerie Jarrett in political matters.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Democrats may cut Lieberman loose
(2 comments) Robert Novak gives a lot more than Lieberman in his roundup. But, Harry Reid says if Lieberman speaks at Rep. Convention, he will no longer caucus with Dems or have choice committee post. Then there's Dem's grand finale in Denver. Etc. etc.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Pres George W Bush lobbyist in "˜cash for access' row
Investigative report of Stephen Payne & his company Worldwide Strategic Partners. Dealing in money worth millions to help establish George W Bush's Library by enlisting the help of other administrative players. Bold. Scandalous?

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Nine US soldiers killed in Afghanistan as Taliban attacks base
Just in! NATO base in East Afghanistan and Taliban engaged in heavy fighting. Nine US soldiers are among the casualities.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
US Soldiers Lose Haven in Canada
(1 comments) Taking one example, this piece explains how US military deserters to Canada may fare. There are few cases in comparison to Viet Nam days, and a Canadian court just issued a decision that Americans cannot be considered for refugee status unless dire circumstances might beset them in USA. This man is in Canada through help from someone who came during Nam times and now must continue his case for asylum.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Advocate Conn, poll re Lieberman
80% think Senator Lieberman should be stripped of his committee chairmanship. See if you can vote.

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Efforts to Improve Dona Ana County Levee
In New Mexico, they do need a levee repaired! With news about floods on the Mississippi, New Mexicans are reassured to find their levee will be brought up to FEMA standards.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Partying like it's 1980 all over again
Marketwatch's columnist writes a good analysis of what happened economically since Watergate. A mixture of presidential administrations and Mid East oil woes, there's plenty of history. And through it all runs talk of inflation and the Fed.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
FISA Bill's Real Target: What Remains of Our Open Society
Chris Hedges' op-ed tells a lot of what surveillance policies can do to a free press. With considerable experience in covering sensitive stories, he relates how already it is harder to obtain information from sources who do not wish to talk on the phone. Opinion: progressive media needs to spend time describing how reporters are impacted.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Government shuts down mortgage lender IndyMac
Shades of banking crises of the 80's. IndyMac is the second largest bank to be closed by the FDIC. Continental Illinois was larger in 1984. Article details FDIC's procedures and announcements.

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Clean up Facebook pages, med students urged
University of Florida study of Facebook use by medical students raised questions of students' drinking/social habits. Could it come back to haunt them when in practice? Age and duties brought this: "The study found that while 64 percent of medical students had public Facebook accounts, only 12 percent of resident physicians did."

Friday, July 11, 2008
VP Watch Dems and Reps
Hard to sort out how much on this meandering article is new or useful. Starts with idea of vetting Sebelius for Obama's vice president. Good for reviewing names past and future.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Jesse Helms, Dead but Helmsism Lives On
A powerful analysis of politics, party and otherwise, and history of US culture through the post civil-war period. Helms who created Limbaughism is metaphor and living political model. This will help those who need a short synopsis of where we were and where we may be, still.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Obama's Accidental Sister Souljah Moment
Dan Balz chronicles how Jessie Jackson Sr. rhetoric worked to help Obama, even with Jesse Jackson Jr. (working for the Senator) rebuked his father. A classic of old versus new black political style, the outcome points to what "change" and "hope" might do.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Democrats take Obama shift in stride
LA Times piece shows how The People seem to not be perturbed over the particulars of Obama's "shift" to centrism--or whatever.

Friday, July 11, 2008
ICC prosecutor to seek arrest of Sudan's president for genocide
International Criminal Court is asking for a warrant against the Sudan's president concerning Darfur. Article details ramifications for UN policy, safety of NGOs, and international communities. Sources quoted from leading media.

Friday, July 11, 2008
US 'killed 47 Afghan civilians'
BBC reports that Afghan President Hamid Karzai is setting up a commission to study the killing of civilians. The incident happened in the remote district of Deh Bala, close to the Afghan border.

Friday, July 11, 2008
Leak closes French nuclear plant
Leak serious enough to warn residents against fish in river. Near a popular tourist center. Eighty percent of electricity in France is from nuclear power.

Friday, July 11, 2008
RESUBMITTED; Jesse Helms is not dead
This is an essay how Helms stood for an era of political scism between North and South. It is not totally gone, but it changes, wavering between Democrats and Republicans. Very thorough article.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
The FBI's plan to "profile" Muslims
(5 comments) Juan Cole, writing for salon.com, explains an impending change in FBI procedures to allow investigation based on nothing but type of group or appearance of being Muslim. If agreed to, the operation could begin in the fall. Article lays out past attempts of FBI which did not bring court cases. And it goes into cases which were dismissed for lack of solid evidence. But! It's domestic snooping of the worst kind.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Today's coverup of surveillance crimes and Barack Obama
Glenn Greenwald lays out the question of where Obama stands on domestic surveillance. Some of this may have been posted already, but there are addenda here.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Minnesota's Ventura May Bid to Pin Down Senate Seat
(2 comments) CQ outlines Jesse Ventura's possible run for US Senate. Tells of his previous service, ultimately reminding us that he was mayor of Brooklyn Park before seeking Minnesota's governorship. What would he do to Al Franken's race? Or Norm Coleman's?

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Obama Retreats From Key Progressive Issues
Roberto Lovato and John Nichols each have blogs on current issues. Lovato on Latino votes. And Nichols lays out the FISA fiasco and Obama's turn against it. It's a sore point with Wisconsans, since apparently he had made some promises. So something to look at more closely.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Zogby Report on Obama/McCain Standing in Key States
Pennsylvania and Michigan come in for Obama at this point. Some other major contests are not as definitive.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Saving White House e-mails
"George W. Bush, who has expanded his power to access the e-mails and other electronic communications of Americans, is resisting congressional demands that White House e-mails be saved for later research by historians." So says Jason Leopold's article.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Pelosi Says House Judiciary May Hold Hearings On Kucinich Impeachment Resolution, By John Bresnahan
(9 comments) At last! MSM put impeachment (the word, at least) in the mainstream. Nancy Pelosi spoke!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My interview with murderer Hans Reiser
Getting away with murder, but hiding the body, is a challenge for any jailhouse investigative reporter. This is a lesson in reading between the words.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Suing George W. Bush: A bizarre and troubling tale
(2 comments) Subtitle below: U.S. officials went to extremes to stifle our legal challenge to Bush's warrantless surveillance -- but a federal judge says the program is criminal, anyway. Then the article lays out history and questions concerning the president's legal condition.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Bush's Secret Army of Snoops and Snitches
(1 comments) Terrorism Liaison Officers, they're called. Organized state by state with areas to function in: airports and other public places like schools. Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive, wrote the article.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Talking Points Memo hosts David Sirota
Sirota outlines 5 actions to take to further The Uprising into change.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
U.S., Russia revert to cold-war rhetoric over missile-defense plan
A war of words erupted this week between the United States and Russia over a controversial US plan to deploy a missile-defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland. The plan has already strained US-Russia relations and encountered resistance from some in Europe. (One paragraph from article)

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Senate commits to shielding telecoms from suits
(10 comments) ALERT! By a 32-66 vote in the Senate immunity for telecom will become law. Obama/McCain are mentioned. Read and weep--or think.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
John Dean on Scott McClellan
In light of Rob Kalls' excellent radio interview with John Dean, here is the article referred to.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
John Dean on Obama & FISA
Rob Kall's radio interview with John Dean also covered Obama and his interest in having his AG investigate "past offenses."

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Obama's Search Team Begins To Vet - McCain Also
Article begins with assertion Jim Webb opted out, because he doesn't want to go through another vetting so soon after Senate bid. "{B}etween eightand ten" on McCain's list, with Pawlenty and Romney mentioned.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Obama campaign to reveal site of acceptance speech : DNC 2008
By now all media have made it clear that Senator Obama's acceptance speech will come from a football field (come rain or shine). Denver paper goes out of its way to applaud, reminding us that JFK gave his outofdoors.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
GOP Hopes to Use Obama's Words (and Voice) Against Him
In "Dreams of My Father" Obama lays out his life story, and recorded it for audiobooks as well. Republicans have a rare source of information to take snippets for campaign purposes.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Where have you gone, Marcus Welby?
Article covers much more than the importance of a primary care physician who is available when needed. Goes into global problems as far away as Zimbawbe. And of course the perennial reminder of Baby Boomers reaching Medicare age. Best just to read the article and see how it fits specifically.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Zogby International Electoral College Map
States colored red, blue and purple. Click on the state and see polling data

Monday, July 7, 2008
Pakistan: Suicide bombing in capital raises concerns about negotiating with militants
More unsettling news from Pakistan with latest suicide bombing in Islamasbad. Both Pakistani and American governments decry the event. Usual media reports spell out events and actions of all concerned.

Monday, July 7, 2008
Barack by the books He's read a lot!
(2 comments) Wonderful recap of Obama's travels through the printed page. Novelists such as Morrison. Curiously Ellison doesn't rank high although he cited "Invisible Man" in his own autobiography. He also cites Branch's discussion of Reinhold Niebuhr as Dr. King's influence. Doris Kearns Goodwin's book on Lincoln reflects his political take on Lincoln. Great discussion.

Monday, July 7, 2008
Obama veepstakes: The other woman
John Gilligan, father of Kathleen Sebelius, was governor for one term in Ohio. I recently heard her speak in Ohio about growing up handing out flyers. This article, like the real live person I saw, speaks volumes for making her Obama's Vice-President. Please read the article if you are inclined to think "Kansas" and dismiss her.

Monday, July 7, 2008
How Obama Could Radically Alter the Election Map This Fall
"Obama's experience as an organizer taught him a crucial lesson: Activating underrepresented communities can dramatically alter close elections." Above is sub-title of article written by a man who writes/edits at Progree Illinois. Gist: Obama has been doing grassroots politics since he was in Chicago in 1992, organizing the black community where Bill Clinton squeaked through by 2% in Illinois.

Monday, July 7, 2008
America Is in Major Need of Electoral Reform
Katrina vanden Heuvel, The Nation, makes a case for electoral reform as "change" is on the horizon. Long article, which frankly I intend to read after it is posted on OEN. She's worth listening to.

Monday, July 7, 2008
Immigration Not the Only Issue That's Key to Latino Vote
2007 Pew Hispanic Center survey: 'immigration was deemed to be "very important" or "extremely important" by 79 percent of respondents, ranking it fifth among the issues tested. Education, health care, the economy and jobs, and crime rated higher, and the Iraq War finished behind immigration with 70 percent of respondents calling it very important or extremely important." More on the Obama/McCain chances.

Monday, July 7, 2008
McCain, Obama and Russia
Steven Cohen, Professor of Russian Studies at NYU, was on C-Span's Washington Journal on July 7. There's a link there, but I prefer to use his Nation article for about the same view. Regardless of who wins in Nov. the president needs to speak as equals with Russia, he says.

Sunday, July 6, 2008
The political establishment and telecom immunity -- why it matters
(2 comments) Glenn Greenwald: "I would really like to know where people like Soderberg get the idea that the U.S. President has the power to "order" private citizens to do anything, let alone to break the law" Author refers to a Clinton appointee who gives the current question a yes in LATimes. Remember: NSA was begun under Truman, FISA was enacted after the Church Committee found what Nixon's reign did. And remember Bush antics.

Sunday, July 6, 2008
Now Let's Talk About Populism for Real
(2 comments) "The Populist Vision," by Charles Postel is reviewed here. Alliance of many groups of both genders and races from rural and urban areas were involved. Women had considerable influence since the time was late 19th Century before they could vote. Reason for the uprising was because of rapid change from agrarian to mechanical style. As now, innovators became filthy rich and change was demanded.

Saturday, July 5, 2008
9/11 third tower mystery 'solved'
(5 comments) BBC News has written a good article about latest findings by NIST. There is an invitation for reader interaction.

Saturday, July 5, 2008
he unbearable whiteness of being
(2 comments) The author's subtitle is "Stuff White People Like" skewers the sacred cows of lefty Caucasian culture, from the Prius to David Sedaris." It's about Christian Lander's blog (with a link for downloading a podcast.) Excuse little old me: I don't worry about what kind of container to drink water from. And I don't know who Sedaris is. Watching Wired is a sometime thing with me, but I fear I'm not white enough in the right way.

Saturday, July 5, 2008
Jesse Helms dies on July 4th
(5 comments) I picked up my hometown paper this morning where this AP story appeared with banner headline on first page. Now I find it in Salon. Jesse Helms is dead. Is it remarkable that 2 such diverse media picked it up? Or is the news in the fact that AP is the one covering the story. Or is it because he died July 4. Heck, both Adams and Jefferson did that!

Friday, July 4, 2008
The Al-Haramain ruling and the current Congress
Glenn Greenwald lays out the argument that FISA in its original mode has made it certain that the immunity of telecoms is not and cannot be enforced legally. Three Appeals Court judges have ruled pretty much along that line already. Very legal, well documented, this column is something it will take a constitutional legal mind to appreciate.

Friday, July 4, 2008
Bush-Led 'Disaster Capitalism' Exploits Worldwide Misery to Make a Buck
Naomi Klein makes clear how price of oil, as well as food shortages, can be used to manipulate opinion. ANWR insistence offset by Canada. She writes "oil from this largely untapped source has been pouring into the market, so much so that Canada is now the largest supplier of oil to the United States, surpassing Saudi Arabia." And then she tackles the Monsanto insistence concerning genetically modified seed.

Friday, July 4, 2008
A Weekend with America's Premiere Pro-White Activist Group
Council of Conservative Citizens replaces the White Citizens Council. Author sits in on a national meeting in Sheffield AL where he takes notes without consequence. And the words he takes down! African-Americans, Mexicans, Southern Poverty Law Center, California's same-sex marriage law, and Barack Obama--among others.There's Haley Barbour and a few other Southern gentlemen too.

Friday, July 4, 2008
The Muppets on the Constitutional Convention
(2 comments) A Happy Fourth from Big Bird!

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Philadelphia goes from Liberty Bell to economic bellwether
(2 comments) A very informative article on the history, challenges and prospects for the city of Philadelphia. Although population is skewed as middle income workers leave, offset is the median cost of living in comparison to other large cities. It is not as dependent on automobiles to get to work. Comcast has created a steady supply of jobs.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
It's About Time for Online Voting | Media and Technology
The author of this piece is in favor of using the internet as a voting machine. Subtitle is: Historians will undoubtedly consider our current era of voting machines the technological equivalent of the 8-track tape machine. Question? What do you who study the voting situation think?

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Google: Good or Evil When It Comes to the Environment?
I sit here powered by TVA electricity, which is derived from nuclear, coal and still a little bit of Tenn. River water. Here comes a thoughtful columnist telling me Google's carbon footprint needs to be studied. And the farm question deals with server farms. I'm still trying to figure out why the Mississippi can't make electricity instead of hell.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Google must divulge YouTube log
Calling all YouTubers! A legal situation between Viacom and Google is now involving privacy of viewers.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Iran hints at nuclear talk progress, but world still wary of possible conflict
CSmonitor article with interview of Iranian foreign minister from the UN Wed. He discounts chances of an attack on his country. Admiral Mullen's comments are also covered in the piece.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
They shoot horses, don't they? Not any more
(2 comments) Why horses were allowed to propagate so wildly is not covered in this essay. Therein comes the issue. To butcher them for countries who eat horse meat is touchy and therefore not done any more. Filling them full of toxic substances and putting them in dumps seems insane. When there were so few unwanted horses the issue was whether they were ready for the glue factory.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Seed in the ground (Hemp!)
(2 comments) A good article concerning the efforts of Pine Ridge Indians in South Dakota who fought to grow hemp for building, not connected to marijuana. They do it cooperatively despite being marauded by the Feds.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Minorities and teens suffer as payrolls shrink
Unemployment report for June, breaking down figures to include teens and minorities. It reminds us that nearly a million have lost jobs during the past year. Question: Who knows how many casual (legal to work) employees are off the roles, perhaps under the table but also not qualified by special state requirements?

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Gen. Clark Comes From Behind to Win CQ Politics VP Madness
Polls and more polls. This one, unscientific, to help Obama find a running mate. Note: article points out that poll was conducted before Clark expounded on McCain's qualifications.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Ignorant America: Just How Stupid Are We?
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." -- Thomas Jefferson This is a comprehensive article on what Americans don't know. Please read and cogitate.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Inside Obama's Christian Crusade
Lots of names dropped on both sides of the political and religious spectrum. Question: Are we in for "human values" update.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
No peace for Obama on Israel
Florida, Lieberman, Israel, and more to think about in Obama's campaign. It's sure enough time to talk religion. This Salon.com article has plenty to say.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Could be Biden time VP-think
I sent one QuickLink where Joe Biden was history. Here's one for making him Obama's running mate. Foreign policy experience. White Catholic vote. Just name it. How to define Obama, with plenty of help from the E-bleachers.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Obama campaign's past two weeks
Glenn Greenwald lays out the political odyssey of Senator Obama over the past few weeks. One nice interlude is to hear Russ Feingold from his "own backyard" on FISA.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
10 Most Awesomely Bad Moments of the Bush Presidency
(2 comments) Just a way to remember where things went wrong for the president and the rest of us. Keeping this on file would be good reading for your grandchildren when they become adults. Bush jumps from jumpsuit antics to other momentous images.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Western govs hope to sway future energy policy
Western governors, including some Canadians, met for three days to try to make a consensus statement about their energy-rich region to the next administration. Freudenthal and Gregoire are two Democrats mentioned here.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Slamming Wesley Clark
Good thinking about Wesley Clark's observations on John McCain. Joan Walsh writes on the context of the General's remarks.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Political Economy: Skewing the Stats
Kevin Phillips' "Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism" was excerpted in a magazine. This column counters the thesis that current economic conditions are less healthy than government's statistical indicators point to. Are we or aren't we in a bad economic condition? Go figure!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Amid Policy Disputes, Qaeda Grows in Pakistan
An assessment of increasing Qaeda involvement in Pakistan's tribal areas, and how the US formed a plan which is written about here. New York Times reporters cover history and current situation.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Feingold on Preventing the FISA Amendments Act from Being Jammed Through the Senate
Short and very sweet. Russ Feingold's statement on the FISA amendment from his official website. There's a great video of him thanking True Majority for our help, but it solicits more involvement, so be aware! Save by the filibuster until after July 4 break.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Nigeria and Burundi to deploy troops in Somalia
Responding to increased violence by Islamist insurgents in Somalia – Al Qaeda's base in Africa – the United States is preparing to help Nigeria and Burundi deploy peacekeeping troops to the Somalian capital, according to the top US diplomat in Africa.

Monday, June 30, 2008
Clark hits McCain's military credentials
From The Politico, this is news if Monday morning recap of Sunday talk shows is news. Headline makes the point that Wes Clark doesn't think McCain has enough executive experience. Coverage of much more.

Monday, June 30, 2008
Comparing Tax Proposals Obama & McCain
A PDF file shows gains and losses for taxpayers according to their income. Source is Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, printed in Chicago Sun-Times.

Monday, June 30, 2008
Carlson: Floods empty Oakville for 16 days -- so far | DesMoinesRegister.com
Des Moines Register reporter is a former resident of Oakville IA. The town's residents are still flooded out after 16 days. Governor Culver paid a visit. All 439 residents were forced to flee.

Monday, June 30, 2008
VIDEO: Crowds await Obama speech - Independence, MO
Short article and a small video on Obama's appearance in Harry Truman's hometown. Just the usual fans and those not sure.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Fla. vandals tag 60 cars with anti-Obama messages
Parked by city hall in Orlando, the cars were found by a Reuters photographer Sat night. Sprayed painted with messages against Obama and McCain, but siding with Hillary. The left calling cards.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Israel approves prisoner exchange - Lebanon
Discussion of Israeli cabinet vote, which returnees on both side are dead and which are from jail. Gist: Olmert was widely for it despite knowledge that Israelis were dead.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Florida prepares for 1st execution since foul up
Details of planned execution of man convicted 16 years ago. A botched injection in 2006 required the state of Florida to halt procedures until they could assess how to be sure the injections would comply with legalities.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Inundated towns along river ponder their futures
Another flood report. As the Mississippi River crests at southern end of Missouri--if no more rain--by Friday, those upstream on soaked banks ponder to rebuild or move. Great flood of 2008, with memories of the one in 1993.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Giant Saudi field is key to boosting oil output
Maybe there will be enough oil. So hope the Saudi monarchy as they decided to open up another area in the easter desert. Since they don't reveal potential of the new field, we'll have to wait when it goes online next year.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Obama to Call Bill Clinton -- Political Wire
Within the next 2 days, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who called President Clinton, will discuss his role in the campaign. CNN made it public and Goddard sent us a news flash.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Huge US payout over anthrax case
Dr Steven Hatfill, a former US army scientist, gained a multi-million dollar settlement from the US government. Newspapers printed information concerning his possible involvement in the anthrax case of 2001. That was disproved but the plaintiff sued because his privacy was invaded.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Another sandbag barrier fails at Winfield, Mo.
Levee at Winfield, MO broke. Some residents evacuated.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
With Reasonable Doubts, Unions Line Up for Obama
John Nichols recounts how labor is for Democrats and definitely for Obama. Nice quote: Abraham Lincoln's view that, "Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Florida's 2008 Election Landscape Looking More Like 2000
New legal problem for new voters in Florida. Using electronic information, without careful checking of input data could leave the new voter with no listing on election day.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
John McCain Meets With Gay Republicans (In Secret, of Course)
Short piece where McCain meets with Log Cabin Republicans to tell them he doesn't hate them, but wants the Evangelicals to think so.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Israel Lobby Authors Walt, Mearsheimer Travel to Tel Aviv
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, authors of "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy," spoke in Tel Aviv. Linda Mamoun of AlterNet attended and analyzes how discussing AIPAC without seeming anti-Semitic is challenging.

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Pakistan army attacks militants near Peshawar
Pakistani militant leader Baitullah Mehsud said he was suspending peace talks with the government. Troops have moved into the Khyber tribal region, close to Peshawar, with tanks and armoured vehicles. The above are sentences taken from the BBC article.

Friday, June 27, 2008
New report highlights ties between global warming and US security
A new National Intelligence Assessment says that food shortages and migration caused by a warming climate could threaten US national security by aggravating ethnic strife around the globe, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. There's a link to the report itself. And a citing of articles in other media.

Friday, June 27, 2008
With Three Already Down, Eight More House Incumbents Face Primary Worries
Primaries coming up with possible loss to incumbent House members are listed according to date. Both Democrats and Republicans are listed here. And reasons given range from scandals to earlier matches and change of voter sentiment.

Friday, June 27, 2008
The Candidates' Wives Face Media Sexism
(2 comments) Lisa Vitter, co-author of "The She Spot," writes on chatter about McCain vs. Obama as first ladies. And how softening their images are at the forefront. She reminds us how quickly the tone changed since Hillary Clinton lost. And as usual there is the subject of racism overlapping with sexism.

Friday, June 27, 2008
The Big Outcome of the '60s: The Triumph of Capitalism
(5 comments) Slavoj Žižek, a philosopher and psychoanalyst, writes about how 1968 protesters, bent on changing "the Establishment," reinforced capitalism. Veneer is casual dress at work and teams working on projects, not to mention new attitudes concerning sexuality. Capitalism as an economic system remains, but few new thoughts are apparent despite the global nature of commerce.

Friday, June 27, 2008
Obama's Draconian New Death Penalty Stance | Rights and Liberties | AlterNet
(1 comments) After the Supreme Court decision-- OBAMA: "I think that the rape of a small child, 6 or 8 years old, is a heinous crime," FURTHER: "and if a state makes a decision that under narrow, limited, well-defined circumstances the death penalty is at least potentially applicable, that that does not violate our Constitution."

Friday, June 27, 2008
The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America
(2 comments) Excerpts of Robert Scheer's new book, The Pornography of Power: How Defense Hawks Hijacked 9/11 and Weakened America (Twelve, 2008) are printed here. Historical and critical, here's a quote: The proof that Eisenhower's warnings were all too prescient is provided by the 2008 federal budget in which defense spending consumes $217 billion more than the total discretionary funding for all other divisions of the federal government.

Friday, June 27, 2008
The Five Secret Billion-Dollar Companies Sucking Obscene Amounts of Taxpayer Money
Names: Companies, owners and service are spelled out in billions of dollars over years. Military procurement in hard facts. Along with the usual airplane companies come five newer types. An explanation of which they are and how much they make is listed here.

Friday, June 27, 2008
Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises: The Chemical Industry Has a Hold on Your Reproductive Future
Far=reaching article on the impact of chemicals from air, food, water, and ordinary household items concludes that the human species is changing without their knowing it. Birth defects, fertility, and health are impacted. Science knows enough to realize that more regulation should be conducted by groups such as the EPA.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Taking aim at Countrywide CA & IL among others
What seemed an exercise in futility just got promise after Bank of America took on ownership of Countrywide. Chicago Trib reports that Illinois is suing Countrywide as is California.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Rain threatens fragile Mississippi River towns
Never rains but it pours! Thursday morning rain continues in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. Des Moines got more. The dateline on this AP report say Winfield MO is on the critical watch list. It will be Friday before cresting passes that point.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Floods: A Manmade Disaster? -- Printout -- TIME
(3 comments) This article by TIME would be news if it weren't that the Mississippi rampages once again. The Army Corps of Engineers fixes their image and the nation is impacted. In March, three professors wrote them about how their engineering has worked for barges to use the River without the Corps' having to dredge, while causing a tragedy downstream. Story talks about Winfield MO, a place impacted as I write this on Thurs.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
US court overturns DC handgun ban
Supreme Court has declared that Washington DC residents should have the right to keep handguns in their homes, thus reversing a local law 32 years old. Second Amendment clarification on the issue will have remifications in other states and in elections, no doubt.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Web panel paves way for hundreds of new domains
ICANN, the organization which decides on domain names for webpages will allow many new DotWhatevers. To get a new domain name will cost to offset the budget. It will be about August before they can implement the process. After all, this is World Wide Web job.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Aids epidemic a 'global disaster'
BBC reports on latest statistics of where AIDS is classified as a global disaster, meaning it is bigger than a single country can remedy. Most cases are in Sub-Saharan Africa. As Red Cross and Red Crescent point out, natural disasters cause further spikes because medication is unavailable. Kenya is cited for good control during the uprisng there.

Thursday, June 26, 2008
Reach Higher in Adult Education
An 8-page pdf outline of why the US needs to pass an act to promote updated education. Immigrants, prison populations, and high school dropouts will have a hard time replacing Baby Boomers due to retire.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Joe Lieberman Must GO
Just a good video on where Lieberman stands, marches, irritates. From Vice Presidential candidate to what? VP for McCain. Video doesn't mention it. I do.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Historic port call marks Japan-China thaw
A thaw in the Far East came as vessels sailed between two enemies--China and Japan. A earthquake was impetus to be neighborly, but the visit comes on the heels of a landmark deal last week between Tokyo and Beijing to jointly develop gas fields in the East China Sea.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Michelle Obama's "makeover"
A video on WHERE, not HOW Mrs. Obama is campaigning. It's before women who can relate to women who work, raise children and also who wanted Hillary to win.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Reason Takes an Early Holiday; Washington Capitulates on Surveillance
One more essay on how Congress gives the administration a pass on the FISA bill. Best summed up with this quote from article: A few senators are speaking out against the bill. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick J. Leahy and ranking panel Republican Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania are among the vocal few, but Russ Feingold summed it up best when he said that the "deal is not a compromise; it is a capitulation."

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
DNC Files Lawsuit to Force FEC Action on McCain
Some tricky timing going on in regard to Federal Election Commission and lawsuit DNC filed against it because of McCain's primary actions with it. Tricky is the need to approve enough FEC commissioners to be engaged.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Anti-War Soldier Jonathan Hutto: People, Not Politicians, Will End the War in Iraq
Jonathan Hutto is a sailor, who enlisted to help pay off college loans. His book is discusses how to Appeal for Redress, which is the name of his movement. Interview of him is indepth here. "The author of Antiwar Soldier discusses the GI movement, the election and why "the military needs racism" to fight its wars." Author is black and says he could not support any presidential candidate.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Obama Goes Soft on Free Trade
(6 comments) John Nichols defines Obama's early and later take on NAFTA. It's a switch which not only allows McCain a chance to do the flip-flop routine on him, but also carries risk to that part of the electorate who expected relief from current trade policies.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Body Fat Holds The Key to Energy Independence
(3 comments) With humor Barbara Ehrenreich describes a rich source of gasoline close to where people live. Liposuction!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Americans Pay More, Get Less in Healthcare
Written by one who studies healthcare from basic research to the insurance bill, this shows that by including taxes paid for the whole process, American families pay a third of income. And what they receive may be little.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The swing states of 2008 - A roundtable
An early assessment of how states will decide in November.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The New Republic syndrome
The New Republic syndrome. A mentality that repeatedly admitted wrongdoing, reversed itself and spawned great destruction nonetheless continues to dominate the Democratic Party,says Glenn Greenwald. Not just history of the Bush administration and the ineffectiveness of its opposition in elections. But take Steny Hoyer, for example.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Barr is Media's Favorite Spoiler
(1 comments) A Congressional Quarterly piece with little narrative, but two short videos of "spoilers." Bob Barr is the Libertarian candidate and says those who will vote for him are not disposed to vote for McCain. With Ralph Nader, just a history rerun.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Scare as Sarkozy departs Israel
BBC account of Sarkozy's farewell from Israeli airport. Video. Some said policeman shot himself. Suicide or accident is the question.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Bill Clinton 'committed to' Obama
The picture of Bill Clinton is telling. The former president will be away celebrating Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. Hillary and Obama meet jointly Friday. But of course BC is supporting the Democrat!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
NATO steps up Taliban attacks along Pakistan-Afghanistan border
In the latest incident to spell trouble on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, suspected Taliban militants attacked check posts, kidnapped Pakistani policemen, and blew up oil tankers destined for US and NATO troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday. In retaliation, NATO forces are stepping up attacks inside Pakistan, causing friction with Pakistan's new government, which hopes to negotiate peace with the militants.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Hundreds of fires sparked by rare lightning storm
Lightening, little rain causes havoc in northern California. Are we just sensitive to Mother Nature's whims, or is she trying to teach us something about the environment?

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Calls for Investigation of Electrocutions of our Soldiers
(2 comments) Perhaps I just missed stories on this. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is looking into the death of soldiers because of faulty wiring, performed by Halliburton=type contracts. This blog has a copy of the Senator's letter to the GAO, requesting an investigation.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Jewish Lawmakers Hit the Hustings for Obama
(1 comments) Congress members who are Jewish speak about Obama's chances with the conventional Jewish vote for Democrats. This is a who's who in politics from one state to the next. And the lone Republican Congressperson is speaking out for McCain.

Monday, June 23, 2008
The New Surveillance Bill: The Worst of Both Worlds
(7 comments) The worst of both privacy and accountability is the author's conclusion. New FISA, he says, gives amnesty to telecom, not just to protect companies but to cover illegal government surveillance. It appears to have been tailored to protect administration activities by asking for a piece of paper from the US to the companies. Thus, retroactive cases are DOA.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Scott McClellan Lays out a Damning Case Against Bush's White House (Video)
A handy 7-min video of Scott McClellan's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Most of the persons are Republican members who ask the question. Importance may rest more with the way in which McClellan answers.

Monday, June 23, 2008
The ground warriors in Ohio
Lots of names associated with each candidate. Strickland does not want to be Obama's VP but is giving big help. A former Rove lieutenant is coordinating McCain's campaign.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Turning Your Lawn into a Victory Garden Won't Save You -- Fighting the Corporations Will
(1 comments) As a gardener who survived Reagan inflation, I wanted to see how this piece plays out 30 years later. The personal back and front yard family garden is good defenxe. But reality kicks in when attacking world food needs. Globally, we use grains and oilseeds to supplement vegetables and fruits. Growing crops which require larger acreage is not compatible with capitalism. A better farm bill is needed in the US, he says.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Nigeria rebels declare cease-fire in oil-rich delta
The possibility of more oil from Nigeria comes as a rebel group in the Delta agrees to compromise.

Monday, June 23, 2008
Time magazine uncritically prints Nancy Pelosi's "justifications" for the FISA "compromise"
(2 comments) Greenwald on FISA fiasco with a video of Olbermann interviewing law professor Jonathan Turley. At this point it's history but the kind of history to take to heart. Feingold's comments. The professor's "reverse engineering" comment. Scroll to bottom to hear video.

Monday, June 23, 2008
ACORN Demands of National City
ACORN in the Detroit area is asking National City to use restraint on foreclosures. There have been many and more are due unless the bank will allow a cooling period. One of the complaints concerns how high the new rate is placed for those who refinance. They want more transparency on National's practices.

Sunday, June 22, 2008
Obama's support for the FISA "compromise"
(4 comments) Greenwald's explanation of the "sellout" on FISA bill extension. He starts with Obama's take on it and proceeds to cover other Congress members.

Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Swamp: Jim Webb: Obama's answer to McCain?
Jim Webb's history and credentials are presented and explained. But he hasn't said he's interested in being Vice-President. His ability to be free to go his own way would be curtailed. His military achievements would stand up to McCain's. His favorite president is Andrew Jackson. On Friday he was in Chicago to promote his new book "A Time to Fight."

Sunday, June 22, 2008
AP: Billions more needed to secure US embassies
AP lists how many embassies and consulates the US needs to upgrade to bring them to standards mandated after the bombings ten years ago. The current appropriations fall short of fixing any but the most vulnerable. Long range estimates reveal 7.5 billion is needed. My comment: How much would be saved by cancelling Blackwater-type contracts?

Sunday, June 22, 2008
Mugabe rival quits election race
BBC lists reasons Mugabe's opposition is pulling out of this week's rerun election. It would only lead to more killing, he fears. Article concludes: "While Mr Tsvangirai's move will hand victory to Mr Mugabe, it is unclear whether the international community or election observers will confer any legitimacy on the process..."

Saturday, June 21, 2008
yoo_army_torture_memo.pdf
Somewhere I saw a comment on OEN where a member said he wished he could see the document written for Wm Haynes. It's 81 pages long and I haven't read it. But the link should work. So whether it is redacted enough, I can't say.

Friday, June 20, 2008
What Happens When a School Board of Religious Zealots Will 'Lie for Jesus'?
Lauri Lebo wrote "Devil in Dover" book concerning the schoolboard case in Dover PA. And this an interview of her and a review of the book. What she initially discovers is that it was essentially a case of lies versus what was happening.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Roadmap to Torture
Testimony reveals how torture resistance training, "SERE," became Pentagon's "enhanced" interrogations. The above is the subtitle of article. SERE is the program used to train Special Forces in what torture techniques might be used on them. In lengthy testimony before Congress it is revealed how SERE was the incubator for DOD policy in Gitmo and other places.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
FBI interviews of Bush, Cheney subpoenaed
(5 comments) Rep. Waxman's committee subpoenaes FBI records of Bush and Cheney regarding leaks in the Plame case. "Unredacted" is he qualifying word for transcripts which also include those from Rice, Libby, Rove and Scott McClellan. The latter's upcoming appearance before the committee adds impetus for the requests.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Ex-Bear Stearns managers surrender in NYC
Two former Bear Sterns executives are indicted in federal court for enriching themselves while giving inaccurate information to their customers. In the housing meltdown this is the first criminal case. The indictment is the result of a yearlong investigation. Report says more information will be given later on Thursday.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
What Does Obama's 'Love of Markets' Mean for Our Economic Future?
(4 comments) Naomi Klein sorts out how Obama, connected to the Univ of Chicago, believes in markets. Read the whole article to determine that he is not enamored with the Chicago School of Economics, ala Milton Friedman. Men who advise him include those of Keysian persuasion.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
NY Times Hypes McCain Credentials
(7 comments) Major story of how New York Times treats John McCain's background and views with less than thorough investigation. This is worth reading for understanding more of McCain's background. It also alerts the policital pundits to what sometimes is poor journalism.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Midwest flood victims feel misled by feds
The levee at Gulfport, IA broke. When it was fixed previously the town was told by FEMA it was not longer in a flood plain. Banks didn't require flood insurance for a mortgage. Now the floods came. This is just one of the situation reported in the article. Interesting little note: some of FEMA's flood plain maps are 20 years old.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Iran, Bush, Olmert, & What Next?
Ray McGovern writes on meeting between the two leaders, who came out saying they were of one mind. The difference between preparing for an Iraq war and one with Iran is that troups movement is not needed. Just the Air Force.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Somali bomb attack targets president Abdullahi Yusuf
Last week a truce was made with the help of UN officials. This week the president of Somali was attacked in Mogadishu. Two policemen were killed. The UN fears the deal is in danger.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Cuba awaits EU sanctions decision
Unlike the US who have restrictions on trade against Cuba since 1962, the EU has only diplomatic restrictions. It would be, however, if diplomats could exchange visits now that Raul Castro is the ruler. The EU has little trade with Cuba. China and Venezuela are the main customers.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Governor's Acceptance of Gay Daughter Sends Message of Tolerance
(2 comments) This tells the story of an influential political family who accepts a gay daughter. What makes it news is that a second black governor has embraced the issue. Deval Patrick and his wife embraced their daughter when she came out. Is it a fair question to ask whether the old "human values" of 2004 will be more humane in 2008?

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
House Latinas Deflect Courting by Obama
Obama is concentrating on US House support, one caucus at a time. Latino caucus brought scanty results from women members. Excuses/reasons aside, there is hurt there when Hillary lost. It was made worse when Patty Solis, former Clinton adviser, is Obama's VP vetter. The Black Caucus needs attention. And then comes those tricky Blue Dogs. Great information.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Democrats Target Coburn's Holds (about 80 of them)
Dr. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, by Senate rules, is keeping many quite innocuous bills from coming to the floor. In a showdown, Democrats are planning to package all his holds into one bill and thus deliberating on all matters at once. It's high noon in July on the matter. It will test the ability of some Republicans to remain party loyal since many of the measures deal with things they want. Tune in later!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
McCain's Tortured Logic - A Look into Military Understanding
A long, well written essay on how McCain can have generations of military involvement but still might not understand the constitutional and diplomatic ramifications of war policies needed by a president. It's in depth and not strident.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Mississippi breaks Midwest levee
Following quotes are from BBC article about our new Katrina. "I fully understand people are upset when they lose their home. A person's home is their most valued possession," he said. "We want to work with the state and local folks to have a clear strategy to help people." Mr Bush will visit the region on Thursday to inspect some of the flood damage.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
UN: Iraq conflict exacerbates unprecedented refugee flows
Article quote: Afghanistan and Iraq were identified as the two leading countries of origin for cross-border refugees. Afghans made up 27 percent of the total refugee population, with almost 3.1 million living in Iran and Pakistan. Iraqis were the second largest group, with 2.3 million living outside the country. Of those, 2 million live in Jordan and Syria. It further says Somalia, Sudan & Colombia are danger zones.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Generation Y Refuses Race-Gender Dichotomy
Great article about younger voters and old cliches. Quote:as Democracy Now so brilliantly put it, call into question the whole idea of empire. The debate shouldn't center on the quandary: How can we make our empire more effective? But, do we want to be an empire in the first place?

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Exposed: Harvard Shrink Gets Rich Labeling Kids Bipolar
Bloomberg News reported in 2007 a 40% increase in diagnoses. Quote: "The expanded use of bipolar as a pediatric diagnosis has made children the fastest-growing part of the $11.5 billion U.S. market for anti-psychotic drugs." This article reports how Dr. Joseph Biederman has enriched himself. My observation goes back to the 90s with AHDH in every school.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Hil and Obama, together again: First joint appearance to rally her donors
Hillary Clinton will join Barack Obama for a joint appearance on June 26 in Washington to persuade her donors to begin giving to Obama.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Hillary Holding Private Conference Call With Top Fundraisers On Thursday*
Before the meeting with Obama on June 26 concerning fundraising for him, Hillary is to hold a conference call with her former top fundraisers.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
And Obama's veep is ... a Republican?
(3 comments) It's been mentioned before, but this is a longer article on possibly having Hagel as VP. It looks back to other races.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Soldiers risk ruin while awaiting benefit checks
A case of a soldier still stateside, injured during training, and then given the goaround. Sad stories, some motions for correcting a bad system. Still very hurtful.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Midwest Floods & Tornadoes & Volunteering
Found this from a United Church of Christ appeal. In case anyone can volunteer help in Iowa area.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Investigation: In Afghanistan, routine abuse of terror detainees
A report after investigation by McClatchy details abuse and wrongful detention of Afghanis in Baghram. Most were jailed after original roundup at time of Taliban battles. After the jailbreak at Kandahar more attention points to abuse in Afghanistan. Other print media in US are also taking a closer look.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Bush/Cheney Transcripts Subpoenaed
(2 comments) Jason Leopold may have posted his report directly to OEN. It's important enough to be here also. Atty Genl Mukasey is subpoenaed by Sen Waxman's committee. With new information about Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald's Plamegate case, the AG has until June 23 to comply.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Fired Clinton Campaign Manager Named to Run Obama's VP Campaign
CQ article outlines history of Patty Solis Doyle's employment record with Hillary. And how she is now in charge of finding a VP for Obama. Reading the comments is to learn more of "Chicago politics" for whatever it's worth.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Danger Obama Faces Is Real
(6 comments) Earl Ofari Hutchinson, who is an OEN member, writes analytically about Obama and assassination. Historically, the 40-year span since the death of MLK & JFK, as well as 45 years since JFK's assassination, makes the issue ripe for conjecture. More to the point are some of the other changes since that time, and the alertness of the public.

Monday, June 16, 2008
Softer-Touch Marketing Woos Cross-Party Voter
CQ describes how ads are being planned in "solid" states to lure other-party voters to elect them in Congressional races. Frankly I didn't read pages 2 & 3 because ad strategy is something I can't respond to. But it's worthwhile where a voter is impacted. PS Tennessee doesn't swing! Not if they can help it.

Monday, June 16, 2008
If It's Like 1956, McCain Wins Big; If It's Like 1980, Obama Wins Bigger
Thinking of past elections and comparing them to 2008 makes 2 scenarios. There's Reagan and Ike and crises and "little known" and much more. But none means little without considering debates and the economy. I just threw in that last bugaboo,

Monday, June 16, 2008
McCain's Playbook: Hate, Fear and Caveman Politics
(3 comments) Written before McCain knew for sure who he was running against, he gives a off the shelf rundown on those "sixties weenie liberals" as this Rolling Stone essay describes his opposition. Why New Orleans to launch a campaign against the "change" of Dems goes on for a long discussion.

Monday, June 16, 2008
Blogger arrests hit record high
(3 comments) A report from the Univ of Wash. lists 64 cases--majority from Egypt, China & Japan--since 2003. But also some from UK, Canada & US. Article adds that it's hard to count. The Committee to Protect Bloggers published information about 344 people areested in Burma, according to article.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Edwards backs off from veep refusal
(3 comments) Edwards is from "been there, done that" to "well, maybe" on whether he would take the VP slot. "Anything he would ask me to do" is the tone.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
New strike by Argentine farmers
Argentina exports beef, wheat and soya, enriching farmers and national treasury. The latter through export taxes which farmers and truckers consider excessive. When their unions failed to reach agreement on the taxes, truckers block roads leaving the country. It is a question of more funds for what the country declares will be used to fight poverty or a better price for the sellers.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Jackson leads protest at Lake Barrington manufacturer of semiautomatic weapons
(1 comments) Jesse Jackson protesting at a rifle factory at a Chicago suburb might be an important news note in this election year. Except this is a year when Chicago is suffering an increase of murder in the city. So this is posted on the assumption that "guns" will be a topic on the campaign trail.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Fight the Smears | Barack Obama Loves His Flag and His Country
Not politics as we've known it, this site is set up to counter innuendos and pronouncements made against Barack Obama. Bookmarking for ready reference is in order.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Iowa City shifts sandbagging focus to homes
As floods in Iowa are reported, this is not the most serious, perhaps. Just the most personal, since I've seen the Iowa River cut off two parts of the campus, and have read about it, especially in 1993. More broadly, I found a news note that the President is sympathetic to what is happening in the state. And some snide remarks about Katrina2 elsewhere.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Yepsen: These times are crucible for leaders
Iowa Floods is central to national politics as well as local, and no one puts it better than the Register's political correspondent. History of representation in Congress which worked, and when it didn't carry through, is symbolic of federalism as it relates to infrastructure.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Gun rights is biggest issue for court to decide
(2 comments) "the court has never definitively said what it means to have a right to keep and bear arms" is a quote which sums up one big issue in this week's SCOTUS decisions. As a rule, the end of term brings up big issues. This week is a time to take notice.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Karzai issues warning to Pakistan
BBC addresses the Afghan/Pakistani border question after Taliban forces breached an Afghan jail. Quote from article: {Karzai} warned that he was prepared to seek out Taleban leaders wherever they were, specifically naming Baitullah Mehsud, who is based in South Waziristan, Pakistan. A TWO-WAY ROAD, is caption to quote.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Bush begins two-day visit to UK
Considered to be President Bush's final official tour to England, article notes usual tea and cake with Queen and church in London. But more importantly, BBC relates talk of pullout of remaining 4500 British troops as the "allies" wind down involvement in Iraq. It's what probably interested Gordon Brown and George Bush at the Downing Street dinner.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Burma Gives "Cronies" Slice of Storm Relief
"On magazine's list of junta's chosen tycoons are some facing US sanctions." is the subtitle of article written in Washington Post magazine. Apparently, once the Irawaddy Delta was parceled to favored cronies of the government. Then it outside relief was allowed into the country. The US Treasury has targeted of those same people.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Long Life of the Frontier Mullah
Writing in the Nation, Basharat Peer describes how things were and how the news brought him and a group of Pakistani cab drivers to watch what is. Article is long, historical, and discusses how partititioning from India was the start of the story. And now how the various factions in current Pakistani government affairs may play out. It's worth looking at just to know what the acronyms used now stand for.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
Hundreds ordered to flee Iowa City homes, as residents hope week's worth of sandbagging holds
More on Iowa City's flooding woes. It's not just a campus town that this article points out, but the crops endangered and possible problems downstream as the water takes its course.

Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Divided States of America -- The Sixties
Book Review of Rick Perlstein's Nixonland. The thesis is that Nixon recognized that when Reagan beat him for Cal. governor that there needed to be a new idiom to attract those who otherwise might think like labor. He built it on the basis of backlash of the cultural revolution by "longhairs" and convinced former Southern Democrats that it was proper to become Republicans. And he lied a lot, says the reviewer.

Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Texas Border Wall Can't Separate Latinos from Their Memories and Culture
(10 comments) Written by a Texan, a Tejanp, with history of the Rio Grande's Valley being newly a fenced area. The same area was once Mexican before the Alamo. Written as personal family history, it describes what is best called The Human Condition.

Saturday, June 14, 2008
Black conservatives conflicted on Obama campaign
(2 comments) AP interviews Black voters who are traditionally conservative. Just to read the interviews at this point is probably all that counts. As Armstrong Williams says, it's too early to tell.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Veterans Affairs Tells Court It Can't Imagine Voter Registration Drives for Its Wounded Veterans and the Homeless
A case before an appeals court petitions the VA to allow voter registration at its facility & to facilitate homeless veterans under their supervision to do the same. Pres. Clinton issued an order to do voter registration and Pres. Bush rescinded it. The niceties of Hatch Act and the VA's duties per appropriations are arguments. The not so niceties play out in Menlo Park (CA) case.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Ben Smith's Blog: Obama moves DNC operations to Chicago
The DNC's political department, housed in Washington, D.C., will be dramatically rebuilt, with staffers offered a choice of moving to Chicago, joining state operations, or staying in Washington, DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said. Above paragraph comes from article. Tewes is the man already chosen by Obama to coordinate with official DNC and to oversee presidential campaign.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Getting to Know Jim Webb Through his Book
"A Time to Fight" by Jim Webb is reviewed by Joe Klein of TIME. The book is readable & is considered to be a harbinger of Democratic Party strategy in 21st politics. This is worth looking into IMHO.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Gadabout Blog on Bobby Jindal & a little McCain
The piece starts with Governor Jindal, about half McCain's age, touring with him in the 9th Ward in New Orleans. And goes on from there to tell about the Republican's whiz kid. When Obama hits the trail in Lousisiana, there may be some more about Bobby Jindal.

Friday, June 13, 2008
This Land Is Their Land by Ehrenreich
From the book, a segment discussing how the most scenic places in America have been developed for the super rich, driving their servants so far away that there's gridlock and less service. Even gentrification has its troubles. I say this as I look at an old store building, retrofitted, up the hill from our senior center down by the park.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Cedar Rapids may be without power for months
One of many stories on devastation of storms in the middle of the country. Des Moines is asking for evacuations. Some storms are heading east according my TV forecast.This seems to be a major disaster story in the making. I relate to similar events in 1993 which impacted commerce.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Tim Russert, host of 'Meet the Press,' dies of a heart attack
(3 comments) A short bio on Tim Russert from his hometown's newspaper.

Friday, June 13, 2008
Taleban jail raid frees hundreds
BBC article relates that 340 Taliban prisoners at Kandajar were among those who escaped. Suicide bombers attached the jail and blew up windows as far as a mile and a half away.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Chance of Chaos Still on the Ballot With Ohio in View
A long and thorough explanation of past voting problems in Ohio and zeroing in on Cleveland, particularly. Lots of voting machine background.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Worse Than Fascists: Christian Political Group 'The Family' Openly Reveres Hitler
(3 comments) Book review of Jeff Sharlet's book "The Family," which is an evangelical group in existence since the 30's. They have a house in Washington where federal high officials are counted as members. They are not, however, among those waiting for the rapture.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Kucinich's Mammoth Case for Impeaching Bush
This article about Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment are picked up by Alternet. However the article has MSM overtones, having been written by Marie Cocco, Washington Post Writers Group. She dismisses Kucinich and his efforts in her intro, but concludes by advising that if you read the House record you won't have to buy McClellan's book.;

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Supreme Court backs rights for Guantanamo detainees
Guantanamo detainees were granted a gleam of hope from Supreme Court. Kennedy wrote opinion. Roberts was the minority opinion. Third setback for Bush, article says.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
US releases video of clash along Afghan border
US govt releases video of the clash on Pakistani border, which resulted in death. According to the voiceover in the video, the ridge is in Afghanistan's Kunar province, about 200 yards from the Pakistan border and close to the Gorparai checkpoint.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Texas governor vows to rebuild burned mansion
(2 comments) Governor Perry vows to restore the Executive Mansion, which suffered fire from questionable sources. His children grew up there, he says.

Thursday, June 12, 2008
Chinese hacked computers, U.S. lawmakers say
(2 comments) CS Monitor article on cyber attacks from Chinese ISPs to sensitive US sites. Two Republican Congresspersons have made a case. And then things get more ancient, back to the NE blackout in 2003, which is traced to problems in Cleveland tree trimming. Whatever the validity of various allegations, there is a warning for US officials to secure their laptops while visiting the Olympics in August.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Old McDonald had a pharm Biotechnology at work
Goats and humans have a shared gene which is allowing production of substances used as medicine. This a serious article, telling about science.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
House to Vote on Sending Impeachment Articles to Committee
Just a rundown of House rules, and some speculation of outcome. Wednesday is the day something will happen with Kucinich's 35 Articles.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Craig Crawford's Trail Mix on Jim Johnson
Title of piece is "Obama Vetter Not Worth Vetting." Whether significant or not, writing in CQ makes it noticeable. So here it is!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Hillary's Pivotal Role: Help Obama or Let Him Twist in the Wind?
Sexism & racism after nomination and before fall election are here to stay. At least this writer believes Hillary has options left of which way she wants to play her support role. "Angry white women" is a phrase which still has traction.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The War in Iraq Is Pure Murder from Chris Hedges' Book
Probably shown in other ways at OEN, this is posted because it would be a good way to see essence of the Hedges' latest.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
How Different Will the 2008 White House Map Look
The Rothenburg Report writes that few states will flip from 00 and 04 results in 08. Based on past, Dem. primary results, and the number of voters who stay home, he even considers that the popular vote and the final result could split.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Secret accord sheltered Al Qaeda linked militants in tribal Pakistan
Wednesday, a US airstrike killed 11 Pakista