Remember when our fearless leader looked into Vlad's soul and "took the measure of the man?" Well, I wonder if he saw this: MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin issued... [More]
January 1, 2005
LOCKE WOULD BE PROUD
From my hometown paper: "People who shovel themselves out have a moral right to that spot," he said Friday. "They have invested their sweat equity." --------... [More]
January 2, 2005
SHOULD BE BIG BUT ISN'T
This is exactly the type of story that should get front page news but doesn't: WASHINGTON — With a bumper poppy harvest expected in Afghanistan in the new year, a... [More]
SWINDLED
I really hope things aren't as bad as they sound. ''I feel sorry for these 9/11 families who thought passing this intelligence bill will improve things," said retired Air Force... [More]
THE YEAR OF EINSTEIN
His greatest accomplishment? Perhaps that he was willing to admit when he was wrong. Or was he? --------... [More]
TODAY'S CSM CARTOON
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NO NEED TO CONSIDER THIS ONE
I'll give Sen. Lugar some credit for speaking out on this. But these comments are not nearly forceful enough: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A reported U.S. plan to keep some suspected... [More]
IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT...
Jared Diamond, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning Guns, Germs, and Steel, is out with a new book - Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed Don't have time... [More]
January 3, 2005
REPEAT AFTER ME
Up is down. Left is right. Opinion is fact. Lies are truth. ASHINGTON, Jan. 1 - To show that President Bush can fulfill his campaign promise to cut the deficit... [More]
LIES, DAMNED LIES...
Today's NYT simply shreds the Bush administration's argument that Social Security is "in crisis" and can only be saved through privatization. f you've lent even one ear to the administration's... [More]
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
This one is a week or two old, but... The Pew Charitable Trusts has an interesting poll out on the support for strong environmental protections among religious groups. Here's the... [More]
January 4, 2005
FLIP FLOP
Looks like the GOP leadership in the House has pulled a big ol' flip flop on proposed changes to its ethics rules: House Republican leaders last night abandoned a proposal... [More]
KRUGMAN'S ON IT
Looks like he's launched the first in a series of op-ed's on the non-crisis within the Social Security System: Here's the truth: by law, Social Security has a budget independent... [More]
200,000 INSURGENTS?
Spencer Ackerman's Iraq'd blog over at TNR.com has this interesting tidbit: According to Iyad Allawi's intelligence chief, General Mohammed Abdullah Shahwani, the Sunni insurgency consists of 200,000 fighters, of which... [More]
MORE MISTAKES?
Yesterday I commented on how the early missteps on ethics rules changes by the GOP House leadership reminded me of similar mistakes Clinton made early on in his administration. Today,... [More]
SCIENCE IS AMAZING
Seriously. It is. Check this out: LOS ANGELES -- The deadly Asian earthquake may have permanently accelerated the Earth's rotation -- shortening days by a fraction of a second --... [More]
MOUNTING COSTS
Two facts out of Iraq today: * The Pentagon is reporting today that total number of troops wounded in Iraq has crossed the 10,000 mark, with over half of those... [More]
SINCLAIR MEDIA UPDATE
Remember the boycott efforts aimed at Sinclair Media advertisers in the run-up to the election? Looks like they're continuing to have an effect: January 4, 2005 (Washington, DC) -- Media... [More]
January 5, 2005
BLOGGERS ON FIRE
Looks like everyone is back to work today... except me! I've still got another 2 weeks until school starts back up, so until then I probably won't be back to... [More]
THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING
Civil War is coming... WASHINGTON - Some conservative Republicans in the House want to roll back much of the new Medicare drug benefit and the "No Child Left Behind" education... [More]
REFORM THE VOTE
There is no reason - no reason - why states should continue to be allowed to have partisan election officials. None. Kenneth Blackwell, the Secretary of State in Ohio, is... [More]
January 6, 2005
STAGGERING
I was reading thru Keith Olbermann's to get an update on tomorrow's Electoral College certification (or perhaps lack thereof) tomorrow when I came upon thi Ambassador Rusdihardjo concluding that the... [More]
JON STEWART KILLED CROSSFIRE
Really. He did. CNN has ended its relationship with the conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and will shortly cancel its long-running daily political discussion program, "Crossfire," the new president of CNN,... [More]
ELECTION DAY
Under the United States Constitution, today is actually the day we elect the next President. That's right, today. Last November, you didn't actually vote for President. You voted for a... [More]
DESERVING OF A MEDAL?
We give the Medal of Freedom to our nation's heroes, men and women who have made a "meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or... [More]
CIVIL WAR
Looks like both Brent Scowcroft, the former national security adviser to President Bush's father, and Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was national security adviser to President Carter, both believe we may be... [More]
January 7, 2005
NOT MY AMERICA
This is what your government is doing in Gitmo: Also yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union released new documents showing that 26 FBI agents reported witnessing mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay... [More]
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Two stories promoted side by side on the WaPo home page: Bush Touts Progress in Iraq President Bush today rejected growing pessimism in the U.S. foreign policy establishment about stability... [More]
WORSE THAN FICTION
Sad but true, yes, the reality is indeed worse. --------... [More]
BABY STEPS
It's very, VERY early in the research process, but nevertheless, an enormous breakthrough Throughout the history of the AIDS epidemic, a few lucky people have avoided infection despite being exposed... [More]
DEHUMANIZING
Just read this. Please. --------... [More]
January 9, 2005
STEPHEN BAXTER
So... When I began this blog roughly 6 months ago, my original intention was for it to serve as more than just a place for my comments on politics. But... [More]
5,500 DESERTERS
Why did I have to go to a UK newspaper to find this story? American Army soldiers are deserting and fleeing to Canada rather than fight in Iraq, rekindling memories... [More]
U.S. LED DEATH SQUADS CONSIDERED AN OPTION
Is this the America you want to live in? Jan. 8 - What to do about the deepening quagmire of Iraq? The Pentagon’s latest approach is being called "the Salvador... [More]
January 10, 2005
WORTH REPEATING
I found this quote today over at Andrew Sullivan, and its so good I'm going to have to lift it and repost it here: "Now, if you know the tradition... [More]
BILL O'REILLY - MASTER OF PATHOS
Publius nails it once again. The pathos of O'Reilly. --------... [More]
January 11, 2005
LEAVE NO FAILURE BEHIND
So... Went in today to get some service done on my car, and while I was in the waiting room I picked up a copy of the Boston Globe and... [More]
JOBS IS GOD
The man has done it again. First the guy pushes the idea of a small, "portable" all in one computer - the original Macintosh. Then he creates the iMac, a... [More]
NOT SURPRISING
Ian Shapiro has an op-ed in today's WaPo detailing the one two punch of Bush's tax cuts and suggested spending cuts. His premise is that the reality behind all of... [More]
INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE
Looks like someone has begun the work necessary to determine if the Armstrong Williams pay-for-propeganda scandal is a single event, or just the tip of the iceberg. Knowing the Orwellian... [More]
THE DEBATE
Slate's Book Club has a good one going this week. Malcolm Gladwell, author of the new book "Blink", and James Surowiecki, author of "The Wisdom of Crowds," debate human decision-making.... [More]
OFFENSIVE
And insider's account of the corruption becoming commonplace within the GOP. And yes, this guy is a life-long conservative Republican, and even he is disgusted. I have been thinking a... [More]
EXCUSE ME?
So let me get this straight. The President can find people to donate $40 million to fund his lavish wartime "tributes" and parties, but he can't come up with the... [More]
THE SALVADORAN OPTION
Just how bad were US funded death squads in el Salvador? Billmon is back and he has the goods. But I warn you, this is not easy reading. Hat tip... [More]
WHALE RIDER
OK, I'm admittedly about a year late on this, I realize, but.... if you haven't seen this movie please, Please, PLEASE see it. I just finished watching it, and I'm...... [More]
January 12, 2005
NO PLAN
Via Andrew Sullivan: Lest there be any doubt about the absence of a plan, one need only consult the Third Infantry Division’s after-action report, which reads: "Higher headquarters did not... [More]
IT'S OFFICIAL
The search was called off last month. I wonder why there was no grand public announcement? The hunt for biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in Iraq has come to an... [More]
DEFINE "BANKRUPT"
By the time today's workers who are in their mid-20s begin to retire, the system will be bankrupt," Bush said on Tuesday as he launched what the White House says... [More]
SOUND FOOTING
Funny that Bush isn't talking about the real crises he created, just the one that doesn't exist. In fact, Social Security is on a sounder footing now than it has... [More]
January 13, 2005
SAY WHAT YOU REALLY MEAN
Think about this: The Bush administration played down voter turnout yesterday in determining the elections' legitimacy and urged Americans not to get bogged in a numbers game in judging the... [More]
A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
This is just plain scary. "I fully understand that the job of the president is and must always be protecting the great right of people to worship or not worship... [More]
SENTENCING GUIDELINES GO POOF!
Yesterday afternoon the Supreme Court handed down a decision essentially overturning Federal Sentencing Guidelines. There's been little to no real explanation of the effects of this out in the media.... [More]
ASTONISHING
our level of ignorance is just astonishing According to a 1997 poll, only one out of three U.S. citizens is able to name the most basic of Christian texts, the... [More]
BEFORE AND AFTER
Via Americablog, and thanks to the AP.... Before and After" Bush administration comments on WMDs By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Statements by the Bush administration before and after the invasion of... [More]
MORE CRACKS
More on the coming civil war here. And more. And more. And more. And more. But not here. Interesting. --------... [More]
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
I'll be honest. I'm shocked. How on Earth did this happen? WASHINGTON - The National Park Service has agreed to give thousands of anti-war demonstrators a prime spot along President... [More]
WHO'S TAUNTING WHO?
Wasn't this inevitable? BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Departing from fiery Islamic slogans, Iraqi guerrillas have launched a propaganda campaign with an English-language video urging U.S. troops to lay down their weapons... [More]
MORE PLEASE
More of this please! "Our new progressive vision must . . . speak more directly to the issues of deep conscience in the policy positions we take." While reasserting his... [More]
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Via Uptown Swami. The decision to replace Smith (R-4th Dist.) with Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), a Persian Gulf War veteran, was made behind closed doors by the House Republican Steering... [More]
ON HOLIDAY
Heading out of town for one last weekend before school starts back up. I'll be computer-less, so expect no new posts until Tuesday. See you on the flip... --------... [More]
January 19, 2005
SCARED YET?
If you aren't, you should be. He makes the case against communism, socialism, and the most heavy-handed forms of government regulation in this country; but he also criticizes programs that... [More]
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Compare and Contrast: V.P. Cheney in today's WaPo: Cheney was especially critical of anything that would undermine the president's powers as commander in chief. He said he agrees with many... [More]
YUK!
Those of you out there who know me well are familiar with my long-standing dislike for the Dave Matthews Band. They were the top fraternity band back in the late... [More]
January 20, 2005
CIVIL WAR, PT 57
Funny... You'd think they'd be used to getting punked by now. Apparently not. President Bush came under fire from some social conservatives yesterday for saying he will not aggressively lobby... [More]
January 21, 2005
WHAT LIBERAL MEDIA?
Just how far has the balance tilted towards the conservative Republican agenda on mainstream TV? Check this out and see for yourself. Media Matters for America inventoried all guests who... [More]
GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE
Michael Powell has announced he's leaving as Chair of the FCC in March. Under his tenure the FCC has been an absolute disaster. One the one hand, they've been more... [More]
SORRY. TRY AGAIN.
Sure. The speech sounded good. But once again, the reality.... Some of the administration's allies in the war against terrorism -- including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan -- are... [More]
WHOM DO YOU SERVE?
Ignatus nails it in toady's WaPo: These are public servants, whose confirmation hearings are their equivalent of an election. If they aren't prepared to answer tough questions from the public's... [More]
SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST
Paul Krugman continues his crusade to save Social Security. The whole scheme ignores the most basic principle of economics: there is no free lunch. There are several ways to explain... [More]
BUSHCHEATED.COM?
Who owns the domain? The answer just might surprise you. --------... [More]
HAIL SATAN!
At least, in Norway, that's what Bush was saying. --------... [More]
January 22, 2005
FREEDOM 27, LIBERTY 15
Brilliant. Simply brilliant. UPDATE: Did anyone else see Lieberman on the Show? Why didn't that guy show up on the campaign trail? And the Wal-Mart segment? Every time I think... [More]
YOU'RE KIDDING ME, RIGHT?
C-Net's News.com has an interesting interview with Dell CEO Kevin Rollins. Included in it is this gem: "It's interesting the iPod has been out for three years and it's only... [More]
METHANE RAIN?
Science never ceases to amaze. I'm just speechless. UPDATE: Wired News has more details, including this quote: "It did not rain yesterday on Titan, but it will probably rain tomorrow,"... [More]
January 25, 2005
IT'S 1978 ALL OVER AGAIN
So.... the last winter I moved to New England, the year was 1978. After decades spent in warmer climates, I moved back this past summer. I don't want to jump... [More]
OPPOSITION
If this is any indication, Harry Reid is going to make a great leader for the Dems in the U.S. Senate. Don't feel like wading through the entire set of... [More]
NO ON GONZALES
DailyKos, the behemoth of the left-leaning blogs, has started a web-based drive to push for the rejection of Alberto Gonzales' nomination to the position of Attorney General of the United... [More]
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Let's play my favorite game, compare and contrast: As they say in church, this is the word of the Lord: Matthew 25:31-40 (New International Version) “When the Son of Man... [More]
AS IF YOU NEEDED FURTHER PROOF
Just in case it wasn't already clear that this guy is certifiably inasne... The man who co-authored the book that launched the Swift Boat Veterans for Dishonesty campaign plans to... [More]
WHERE'S MY KAZOO???
Richard Cohen reflects on Bush's inauguration rhetoric: This sort of language has been a staple of American inaugurals for some time. It reflects something in the American character -- a... [More]
January 26, 2005
THE ENDORSEMENT
Didn't believe my previous post tonight that Gonzales provided the legal justification for torture? Then (via Kos) explain this: Gonzales: Torture treaty doesn't bar 'cruel, inhuman' tactics By FRANK DAVIES... [More]
LIBERATORS!
Via TPM, this is priceless: --------... [More]
DISPENSABLE NATION
There's a piece out today in the Financial Times that's getting considerable attention around the blogosphere, and after some searching, I've found someone who's been given permission to reprint it... [More]
PRECEDENT
As a member of the UVa alumni association, every few months I get a copy of the alumni news magazine. Now... I loved the school, don't get me wrong, but... [More]
PING THE IED'S
Remember, this mess was caused entirely by our failure to secure Iraq's numerous weapons dumps following the invasion. But, however well PING has been performing, it hasn't been enough to... [More]
WE"VE BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A CULT
Via Kos, I came across this unbelievably depressing interview/speech with Pulitzer Prize winning Seymour Hersh. Unfortunately, this man's track record is just amazing. And what he has to say is... [More]
January 27, 2005
THE WHEEL TURNS
If you don't think this has the potential to become a massive scandal for the Bush administration, you clearly haven't been paying attention: Via Andrew Sullivan, this comes from The... [More]
GOODBYE GREENSPAN?
For all the focus on the Supreme Court, this appointment may perhaps be more important, at least in the short term. From today's NYT Alan Greenspan is expected to retire... [More]