carapace – Not your father's america

Bloggers’ FAQ on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Press release: “Today, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released tips for bloggers who want the inside story on government agencies. The Bloggers’ FAQ on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) outlines how to use open government laws to get access to records kept by federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…The guide walks bloggers through making a FOIA request — addressing what to ask for, which government offices must comply, and what you can and cannot obtain through FOIA. It also explains how to put requests on the fast track and get processing fees waived.”

The Bloggers’ FAQ on the Freedom of Information Act

http://www.eff.org/bloggers/lg/faq-FOIA.php

                          ==========

On This Week, Will misrepresented Mehlman’s views on controversial RNC ad, ignored contrary evidence in asserting “objectively good” economy

George F. Will falsely claimed that Republican National Committee chairman (RNC) Ken Mehlman “was appalled” by a controversial RNC ad attacking Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. that critics have characterized as racist. In fact, Mehlman has repeatedly defended the ad as “fair.” Will also asserted that the economy “is just objectively good,” joined by Time’s Jay Carney, who asserted that real wages have been “coming up a little bit lately”; in fact, even though productivity has expanded by 14 percent since November 2001, real hourly wages have remained largely unchanged.

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610290004?src=other

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GOP picked a bad to time tout their failing economic policies:

Economy slows to a crawl due to housing. The annual rate of 1.6% was the most sluggish in more than three years. Home building fell the most in 15 years.

At:

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/15869033.htm

From: Poacnewsletter

                          ==========

Listen again to the national anthem

Monday, October 30, 2006

Dennis Drewes, guest columnist: When we allow our liberties to be scaled back, especially by appeals to our fears and anxieties, how can we claim to be either free or brave — at least to the extent our forebears expect of us?

…

Complete article at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/290386_firstperson30.html

                          ==========

No Conservative Party

by Charley Reese 

The Republican Party is not now, never was and never will be a conservative party. It is what it has always been – a representative of the rich and of big business.

It might have become a conservative party in 1964, when Barry Goldwater was nominated as the presidential candidate. The Rockefeller wing of the party, to which the Bush family has always been a part, conducted the most vicious character assassination campaign against Goldwater in modern political history. The liberal Rockefellerites preferred a crook from Texas to a conservative.

The Rockefeller wing never lost control of the party again, co-opting Nixon, Ford and even Ronald Reagan, who was forced to take George Bush as his vice president. The Bush people, within two years, ran off nearly all of the original Reagan supporters.

There was a famous quote by James Baker, the first Bush’s hatchet man. He was quoted as saying: “Who else are the conservatives going to vote for?”

Well, Mr. Baker discovered that the conservatives had three choices in 1992. They could stay at home, they could vote for Ross Perot, or they could vote for Bill Clinton. I hope he thought of that while he watched Clinton’s inauguration.

The hard truth is that if you are a genuine political conservative, you don’t have a party. The Democrats are practically socialists; the Republicans are closer to corporate fascists. Neither one offers conservatives anything but rhetoric.

…

Complete article at:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese314.html

Charley Reese

[send him mail]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese-contact.html

has been a journalist for 49 years.

                          ==========

WHY REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING FROM BUSH AT ELECTION TIME

By Joshua Holland, AlterNet

“Principled” conservatives are trying to run away from Bush because he’s the face of modern conservatism — the only kind that can win elections — and he’s showing that the idea that huge tax cuts and big government can coexist is nothing but a fairytale.

Complete article at:

http://www.alternet.org/stories/43452/

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“EQUAL RIGHTS” AD PROMOTES BLACK LUNGS

The September 2006 issue of a Denver area LGBT magazine, MetroMode, carries a curious full-page ad titled “Busting the Myths of Smoke-Free Colorado” that urges readers to protest Colorado’s Clean Indoor Air Act, the law that ended smoking in most workplaces(including bars and restaurants) as of July 1, 2006. The ad was paid for by a group called “The Coalition for Equal Rights,” and sends readers to the web site www.stopthebans.com where visitors are told that the Coalition for Equal Rights fights for “freedom of choice.” A small link on the page asks visitors to “Join CLBA,” which, it turns out, stands for Colorado Licensed Beverage Association, a longtime Tobacco industry ally and member of Philip Morris’ secret Colorado “Field Action Team”, a group of businesses that PM mobilizes to fight restrictions on the sale or use of tobacco. LGBT groups have significantly higher smoking rates than the general population and are more concerned about civil rights than most groups, two facts that certainly were not lost on whoever put together the ad.

SOURCE: MetroMode, September 2006

For more information or to comment on this story, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/node/5312

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Medicaid and Medicare Democratic Medicare Drug Reforms Could Save Seniors Billions of Dollars

Thursday, October 26, 2006 –

Democratic members of Congress have proposed reforms of the Medicare drug benefit that could save the average senior almost $500 per year and eliminate the donut hole, without any increased costs to the taxpayer.

A new report

http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1135

released by Rep. Waxman finds that under Democratic proposals:

Almost 14 million Medicare beneficiaries could save over $60 billion in premiums, copays, and other out-of-pocket drug costs. Democrats have proposed allowing the Medicare program to negotiate for lower drug prices, which could reduce prices by 25% or more. There are 8.7 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide enrolled in Medicare drug plans who pay their own premiums and copays, and they could expect average savings of almost $500 annually if Medicare negotiated for 25% lower drug prices. The total savings over the next decade for these beneficiaries would be $61 billion. If beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare HMOs received similar discounts, the total savings over the next decade would be $96 billion.
Over six million Medicare beneficiaries could avoid the “donut hole.” Drug benefits under standard Medicare drug plans end once beneficiaries have used $2,250 worth of drugs and do not begin again until they have used over $5,100 worth of drugs. The latest estimates indicate that 6.2 million beneficiaries nationwide will hit the donut hole this year, resulting in average out-of-pocket costs of $1,700 per beneficiary. Democratic reform proposals in Congress would provide enough savings to eliminate or significantly reduce the size of the donut hole.
Over one million Medicare beneficiaries could avoid hundreds of dollars in penalties. Enrollment in the Medicare drug program has been well below expectations, with over four million Medicare beneficiaries failing to sign up with a Medicare drug plan prior to the May 15, 2006, deadline. An estimated 1.1 million of these beneficiaries are now subject to lifetime penalties that could cost each individual almost $500 to over $1,000 over the next decade. Democratic reform proposals would give these beneficiaries an opportunity to participate in a Medicare drug plan without these unnecessary penalties.

From:

democrats.reform.min@mail.house.gov

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THE SEPTEMBER 11 SUICIDE ATTACK YOU PROBABLY NEVER HEARD ABOUT …

By Joshua Holland

Joshua Holland: The terror junkies are pretty selective about their outrage: Islamic terror is all the rage, but terrorism by extreme Christianists … not so much.

At:

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/43616/

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three to see

Bad Reporter (Don Asmussen): the lies behind the truth …

http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/pictures/2006/10/27/102706-950×315-badreporter.gif

Steve Benson: negative campaigning

http://www.azcentral.com/sshow/News/Benson/4271_70930.jpg

coolmitchell: The Pro-Life Party

http://coolmitchell.com/images/misc/miamiherald-savestemcells.jpg

Pope Benedict – artificial intelligence and technology

“Pope Benedict told scientists on Saturday that by believing only in “artificial intelligence” and technology they risked the fate of the mythical Icarus, whose home-made wings melted when he flew too close to the sun. ‘Contemporary life gives pride of place to an artificial intelligence ever more enslaved to experimental tecnhiques, thereby forgetting that all science should safeguard mankind and promote his tendency to authentic goodness,’ the Pope said. The German-born Pope, a theology professor and an enforcer of Vatican dogma before his election as pontiff last year, has voiced his concerns about some areas of scientific research that clash with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Like his predecessor Pope John Paul II, Benedict is against stem cell technology, which researchers say could help cure serious illnesses but the Church opposes it because it often relies on cells from embryo tissue.”

Learn more at ABC News.com.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2595766

From:

http://www.futurebrief.com/

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The New York Times failed to inform readers who GOP consultant LaCivita really is

In an article about Sen. George Allen’s attack on James Webb’s novels, The New York Times quoted Chris LaCivita and identified him simply as “a consultant for the Allen campaign.” In doing so, the Times ignored LaCivita’s connections to several controversial Republican front groups, including Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth.

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610280003?src=other

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Rumsfeld: Terrorists use media to manipulate American people. Which is funny since the GOP is using Al-qaeda media messages as their campaign material to manipulate American people.

At:

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123030031
From: Poacnewsletter

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GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

See:

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003254197
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is the first international court to declare that access to government information is a human right. The recent ruling was reached in a case brought by Chilean environmentalists against the U.S.-based logging company Trillium. The court’s decision is based on the American Convention on Human Rights’ Article 13, which deals with “freedom of thought and expression.” The ruling states, “Article 13 of the Convention, which specifically establishes the rights to ‘seek’ and ‘receive’ information, protects the right of all persons to request access to information held by the State.” In other news, the nonprofit research group National Security Archive (NSA) is criticizing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ report on improving access to U.S. government information. The report “fails to acknowledge that many of the admirable goals set by [federal] agencies [to improve responses to Freedom of Information Act requests] can only be met with an increased commitment of resources,” which “is not being considered by the Administration,” states NSA. Among the “serious deficiencies” noted by the group are some federal agencies’ “lack of basic technology such as copiers and Internet access.”

SOURCE: Editor & Publisher, October 13, 2006

For more information or to comment on this story, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/node/5315

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The Boston Herald reported on new policies that have been implemented to monitor and limit the content of military blogs published by personnel in Iraq, in the interests of operational security.

At:

http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=163506&format=text

From:

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/a021202b.html

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Voter Rolls and Election Day

JUSTIN LEVITT, justin.levitt@nyu.edu,

http://www.brennancenter.org
Associate counsel with the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center, Levitt said today: “We remain concerned that problems with the voter rolls will impact eligible citizens, and we urge voters who encounter problems at the polls to persevere in the face of administrative difficulties. People should not be discouraged if their names are not found in the poll book — at a minimum, they should demand a provisional ballot.
“For the first time this year, each state is required to have a computerized statewide voter list, replacing what had been local lists of varying quality. These new systems are extremely large and extremely complex, and were put together at an aggressive pace; as with any complex technology project, there could well be glitches in the first big test this election.
“Moreover, particular state procedures are likely to cause problems for some voters. For example, eligible citizens may have problems getting on the rolls in states like North Carolina or South Dakota, which require that a voter’s registration information match information on the motor vehicles or Social Security database before the voter can be registered to vote. Typos and other inconsistencies could prevent eligible voters from getting on the rolls. The Brennan Center successfully litigated a case in Washington state on this issue, but problems remain elsewhere around the country. In Florida, if registration information doesn’t ‘match,’ the voter must vote a provisional ballot, and return to the office of the county supervisor within three days with documentary proof of a driver’s license or Social Security number. And states like Ohio have not publicized their practices, and could well be implementing versions of these ‘no match, no vote’ rules.
“Other procedures may create problems with purges of eligible citizens. As states consolidate local lists statewide, they are also attempting to remove duplicate or ineligible entries, on a greatly expanded scale. Such cleaning is laudable, but must not sweep eligible voters out in the process. We remain concerned that purges undertaken without public scrutiny, and under pressure from federal officials, may cause eligible citizens to be struck from the lists. Given that most of these purges are poorly publicized, we may only find out about the problems with the purges for the first time on Election Day.”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

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Military tactics have changed, and failed

Margaret Carlson, guest columnist: What’s forcing the banishmen of the stay-the-course phrase is not the looming defeat in Iraq but the one looming at the polls.

…

Complete article at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/290245_carlson29.html
Margaret Carlson is a columnist for Bloomberg News.
E-mail: mcarlson3@bloomberg.net .

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October 24, 2006 A SUPERPOWER IN DECLINE

America’s Middle Class Has Become Globalization’s Loser
By Gabor Steingart

At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States is still a superpower. But it’s a superpower facing competition from beyond its borders as well as internal difficulties. Its lower and middle classes are turning out to be the losers of globalization.

There are essentially three exclusive characteristics whose simultaneous development have served as the foundations of the United States’s success up until now — and they only appear in this particular combination in America. They are not only the country’s biggest strengths, but also its greatest weaknesses. It’s worth scrutinizing them more closely.

First, nowhere in the world can you find such a high concentration of optimism and daring. America is the country that strives hardest for what is new — not just since yesterday (like Eastern Europeans) and not just for the last three decades (like the Chinese); rather from the very instant settlers began arriving. Unabashed curiosity seems to be hardwired into the nation’s genetic code.

The steady influx of the adventurous and hard-working — which helped increase the country’s labor force by about 44 million people since 1980 alone and continues today — ensures a constant replenishment of daring. After all, it’s not just the additional people that make the difference. The mere addition of 17 million people into Germany following reunification in 1990 – newcomers more concerned with preserving their guaranteed rights than with making the extraordinary effort necessary for success – did nothing to foster the kind of daring you see in the United States. Indeed, the result was exactly the opposite, and it has been a painful lesson for Germany.

Second, the United States is radically global. Its very origins — in the rebellious citizens from every country in the world who assembled on the territory that is now the United States — mark its people as true children of the world. Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt calls the founding fathers of the United States a “vital elite,” one that continues to pass down its genes to this very day. Their language is dominant, having marginalized Spanish and French during the second half of the past century. Their everyday culture — from the T-shirt and rock ‘n’ roll to e-mail — has peacefully colonized half the world. And from the very beginning, US corporations were eager to venture abroad in order to trade and set up production sites in other countries. Multinational corporations may not have been a US invention, but they became its specialty.

Third, the United States is the only nation on earth that can do business globally in its own currency. Indeed, the dollar has established itself as the world’s currency. Whoever wants to own it has to purchase it in the United States. All important decisions about the quantity of cash that circulates or the setting of interest rates are made within the nation’s borders, which guarantees a maximum degree of national independence. It’s American blood that flows through the veins of the global economy. Almost half of all business deals are closed using dollars as the currency, and two-thirds of all currency reserves are held in dollars. Charles de Gaulle, who was president of France after World War II, admired this “exorbitant privilege” even then.

The trial of strength

…

Complete article at:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,439766,00.html

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The psychosis of Rush Limbaugh.

By William Saletan

Posted Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, at 7:49 PM ET

I once had a friend who listened to Rush Limbaugh three hours a day. He was a Republican operative. He sat in my apartment, wearing headphones, while I worked. He swore that if I put on the headphones for 10 minutes, I’d be hooked. So I put them on.

Inside the headphones was another world. Everyone in this world thought the same way, except liberals, and they were only cartoon characters, to be defeated as though in a video game. In the real world, my friend was unemployed and had been staying with me, rent-free, for two months. But inside the headphones, he could laugh about welfare bums instead of pounding the pavement.

I thought about that this week when Limbaugh went after his latest target: Michael J. Fox. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease, has been appearing in ads for candidates who support government-funded embryonic stem-cell research. The ads promote this research as a potential cure for Parkinson’s and other ailments.

On Monday, Limbaugh played one of the ads for his audience. “In this commercial, he is exaggerating the effects of the disease,” Limbaugh said of Fox. “He is moving all around and shaking. And it’s purely an act. This is the only time I have ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has. … This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn’t take his medication or he’s acting, one of the two.”

Where had Limbaugh seen Fox? “I’ve seen him on Boston Legal, I’ve seen him on a number of stand-up appearances,” said Limbaugh. He pointed to Fox’s autobiography. Fox “admits in the book that before a Senate subcommittee … he did not take his medication, for the purposes of having the ravages and the horrors of Parkinson’s disease illustrated, which was what he has done in the commercials,” Limbaugh charged.

…

Complete article at:

http://www.slate.com/id/2152347/nav/tap1/

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GOP at a loss? Karl Rove has an 11th-hour plan to win. He taps government resources to boost candidates in need.

By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writers
October 29, 2006
During a whirlwind five-hour trip to bolster an endangered GOP congressman’s reelection prospects, White House political guru Karl Rove last week delivered a fiery speech to 500 party activists, then shook every available hand and posed for snapshots like a rock star. He toured suburbs recently trashed by a snowstorm. He also found time to huddle with local strategists.

But the most significant element of Rove’s effort to help four-term Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds keep his job may have occurred behind closed doors, when the White House strategist met with a federal disaster relief official contemplating how to respond to the storm. Four days later, Reynolds announced that President Bush would authorize millions of dollars in federal disaster aid for the area.

The timing was perfect: Reynolds broke the news hours after testifying before the House Ethics Committee about his role in the Mark Foley sex scandal — knocking reports on the scandal out of the spotlight.

Reynolds’ fate Nov. 7 could be a bellwether for Republicans in the Northeast — in the midterm election as well as the long term. And his poll numbers crashed after revelations that he had known about suspicious e-mails the former Florida congressman had sent to male congressional pages. In the wake of the announcement about federal aid, a survey by a Buffalo television station showed Reynolds regaining a narrow lead over Democrat Jack Davis.

…

Complete article at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-rove29oct29,1,1614621.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

By:

tom.hamburger@latimes.com

peter.wallsten@latimes.com

 

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three to see

Tom Toles: when you have a party of lemons, make …

http://www.buffalonews.com/graphics/2006/10/24/1024toles.jpg

Mike Luckovich: apple-bobbing at the cheney’s

http://www.creators.com/1029/LK/LK1029g.gif

Pat Oliphant: stay the benchmark

http://www.uclick.com/feature/06/10/26/po061026.gif

The latest from NASA’s Earth Observatory (24 October 2006)

In the News:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/

* Latest Images:
United States Population Density

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17439

Hurricane Paul

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17438

Volga River Delta

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17437

Ozone Hole Reaches Record Size

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17436

Palm Islands, Dubai

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17435

Greenland Ice Sheet Losing Mass

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17434

Severe Thunderstorms over the Southeastern United States

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17433

Carbon Monoxide, Fires, and Air Pollution

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17431

* NASA News

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/

- NASA and NOAA Announce Ozone Hole is a Double Record Breaker
- Greenland Ice Sheet on a Downward Slide

* Media Alerts

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/MediaAlerts/

- Expect a Warmer, Wetter World this Century, Computer Models Agree
- Methane Devourer Discovered in the Arctic
- Intelligent Sensors Gear Up for Real-Time Flood Monitoring

* Headlines from the press, radio, and television:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/Headlines/

- Vermont Island Features Oldest Coral Reef
- Hurricane Paul Becomes Category 2 Storm
- Storms, Floods Hit Greece
- U.N.: Ocean Dead Zones Growing
- The 100-Year Forecast: More Extreme Weather
- Pacific Northwest to Become Even More Dismal
- MetOp Weather Satellite Lifts Off
- NASA: Greenland Ice Sheet Shrinking
- Ozone Hole Size Sets Record
- Seabed Microbes Munch Methane: Curb Warming
- Himalayan Glaciers Resist Melting
- Antarctic Ice Collapse Tied to Greenhouse Gases
- Hawaii Remains Vulnerable to Quakes
- Madagascar Reefs Hold Key to Rebirth
- Warming May Be Drying Up Alaska’s Lakes
- Sea Creatures Affect Global Climate

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Limbaugh “apologize[d]” for being “wrong” that Michael J. Fox “didn’t take his medication,” then suggested Fox over-medicated himself “so you would really, really hate Republicans”

During the October 26 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh “apologize[d]” for being “wrong” in “speculat[ing]” that actor Michael J. Fox either “didn’t take his medication or he was acting” in a recent campaign advertisement for Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill, but then immediately returned to attacking Fox by baselessly accusing him of intentionally taking too much medication to induce the tremors visible in the ad. Highlighting an October 25 interview Fox gave on NBC’s Access Hollywood, during which, Limbaugh stated, Fox “himself said he took too much medication” before shooting the McCaskill ad, Limbaugh declared: “He didn’t do that when he goes on Boston Legal, but it happened for the taping of this ad; and I think the reason for that is so you would really, really hate Republicans.” In fact, while Fox acknowledged on Access Hollywood that his tremors were a result of having taken “too much medication,” he did not say he had intentionally done so. Indeed, after Limbaugh’s remark, Fox appeared on the October 26 edition of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and confirmed that the tremors he had experienced during the taping of the ad occurred because it is difficult to “calculate” the correct dosage of medication and, “[s]ometimes, it kicks in too hard.”

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610270019?src=other

==========

Report Warns of Potential Voting Problems in 10 States

At:

http://tinyurl.com/yewcra

From: Poacnewsletter

==========

IRAQIS STAND UP

At:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/page/0,,1927660,00.html

British war photographer Sean Smith spent nearly six weeks with the 101st Division of the U.S. army in Iraq and has produced an eloquent short film which explodes the myth around the claims that U.S.-trained Iraqis are preparing to take control of their own country. In fact, Shia militias loyal to fundamentalist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr seem to be ready, willing and able to seize power, while Sunni insurgents believed to belong to al-Qaida are so emboldened that they have been publicly staging military-like parades within striking distance of U.S. forces stationed in nearby bases. According to former Bush administration foreign policy official Richard N. Haass, the situation is reaching a “tipping point” both in Iraq and in U.S. politics, and the administration’s current strategy “has virtually no chance of succeeding.”

SOURCE: The Guardian (UK), October 2006

For more information or to comment on this story, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/node/5323

==========

Justice Dept: 2006 Forfeiture and Money-Laundering Manuals

These manuals come from the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Criminal Division, US Department of Justice. They are related to versions of documents that the Justice Department ordered libraries to destroy in 2004.

Asset Forfeiture Policy Manual, January 2006

http://www.thememoryhole.org/doj/doj-crim_forfeiture-policy_2006.pdf

Selected Federal Asset Forfeiture Statutes, May 2006

http://www.thememoryhole.org/doj/doj-crim_forfeiture-statutes_2006.pdf

Money Laundering Statutes and Related Materials, May 2006

http://www.thememoryhole.org/doj/doj-crim_laundering-statutes_2006.pdf

==========

Voter Rolls and Election Day

HARVEY WASSERMAN, harvey@freepress.org,

http://www.freepress.org/index2.php

Wasserman co-authored the book “What Happened in Ohio?” and has co-written the recent piece “Will Ken Blackwell find the ways to steal Ohio 2006 as he did in 2004?” which states: “Since 2000, under Blackwell’s supervision, Boards of Elections in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Toledo have eliminated some 500,000 voters from their registration rolls. Nearly all are in heavily Democratic urban areas. In a state where some 5.6 million people voted for president in 2004, this represents nearly 10 percent of the electorate.”

In related news, see AP: “Ohio Seeks to Appeal Judge’s Suspension of Voter ID Law”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/elections/15857541.htm .

From: Institute for Public Accuracy:

==========

CNET picks the worst political websites

At:

http://news.com.com/2300-1028_3-6129164-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg

==========

ENRON’S ENABLERS GO UNPUNISHED

By Robert Scheer, AlterNet

Why were the dots between the Enron swindlers and their government sponsors never connected?

Complete article at:

http://www.alternet.org/stories/43490/

==========

HOW JESUS ENDORSED BUSH’S INVASION OF IRAQ

By Damon Linker, Doubleday

In the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, Bush needed the approval of religious leaders to shore up his religious base and a group of Catholic theoconservatives were happy to help him do just that.

Complete article at:

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/43576/

==========

three to see

Jeff Danziger: Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary, Orwell, Stay the Course

http://danzigercartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/dancart2951.jpg

Mike Keefe: Rush vs. Michael J. Fox

http://www.intoon.com/toons/2006/KeefeM20061027.jpg

Paul Conrad: meltdown

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmpco/2006/tmpco061027.gif

#10 of 10 ways to become a better blogger

by  Deb Shinder 

Published: 9/29/06

Takeaway:

If nobody bothers to read your blog posts, you might as well just scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin. But if you truly want to share your ideas and opinions, check out these pointers for crafting an engaging blog and building a loyal following.

#10: Go syndicate yourself

You don’t have to wait for readers to come to your blog every day or every week. Instead, you can take your blog to them. Use RSS to feed your new blog posts to readers who sign up. This makes it easier for your readers, who don’t have to remember to visit your blog Web site to check for new posts–and whatever makes it easier for readers is good for authors. You can syndicate just your post titles, short summaries, or entire posts.

Most public blog hosting sites give you the option to syndicate your blog, and it’s usually as easy as clicking a button or two in the configuration interface.

If you want to syndicate your self-hosted Web site, see

http://www.xul.fr/en-xml-rss.html

for more information.

Complete article at:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10881_11-6120257.html?tag=nl.e138

This article is also available as a PDF download.

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=260220 (registration required)

                          ==========

Limbaugh falsely claimed of Michael J. Fox: “[E]very one of his ads is run for the benefit of a Democrat”

On the October 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh falsely claimed that “every one” of the political advertisements actor Michael J. Fox has appeared in “is run for the benefit of a Democrat.” In fact, Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease and has campaigned for candidates who support embryonic stem cell research, appeared in a campaign ad for Republican Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) in 2004, as Media Matters for America has noted. Additionally, as purported evidence that Fox supports only Democrats, Limbaugh alleged that Fox has done so “[e]ven in Maryland, where the Democrat [sic] beneficiary of the Michael J. Fox ad voted against exactly what Michael J. Fox is advocating for in the ad. That would be [Rep.] Benjamin Cardin.” However, as Media Matters noted when Fox News host Sean Hannity made a similar baseless claim, Cardin voted in favor of H.R. 810, the embryonic stem cell research bill that Fox endorsed, and voted to override President Bush’s veto of the bill. Cardin did vote against an alternative bill that the two lead sponsors of H.R. 810 claimed would impede embryonic stem cell research.

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610260011?src=other

                          ==========

Bill O’Reilly lectures former NATO Supreme Allied Commander about diplomacy, loofah techniques

At:

http://tinyurl.com/v8vec

From: Poacnewsletter

                          ==========

EMBEDDED ONLY WHILE IN BED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

At:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/15811043.htm
Apparently the U.S. government is only in favor of embedded reporters when it serves its own purposes. According to the Associated Press, Congressman Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services, has asked the Pentagon to remove CNN reporters embedded with U.S. combat troops because of the network’s broadcast of a video showing insurgent snipers targeting U.S. soldiers. Hunter penned a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stating that “CNN has now served as the publicist for an enemy propaganda film featuring the killing of an American soldier.” CNN producer David Doss wrote in a Web log Thursday the network televised the footage in an effort to present the “unvarnished truth” about the Iraq war. “Our responsibility is to report the news,” said CNN spokesperson Laurie Goldberg. “As an organization we stand by our decision and respect the rights of others to disagree with it.”
SOURCE: San Jos? Mercury News, October 20, 2006

For more information or to comment on this story, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/node/5329

                          ==========

Subject: North Korea’s Collapse? The End Is Near — Maybe

National Security Archive Update, October 26, 2006

North Korea’s Collapse?
The End Is Near — Maybe

At:

http://www.nsarchive.org

For more information contact:
Robert Wampler – 202/994-7000

Washington, D.C., 26 October 2006 – A CIA panel of experts concluded in 1997 that North Korea was likely to collapse within five years, according to declassified documents posted today on the Web by the National Security Archive. This “Endgame” exercise of former U.S. policymakers, intelligence officers and outsider experts warned that the North Korean regime could not remain “viable for the long term,” with the majority doubting the “current, deteriorating status could persist beyond five years.” Citing the “steady, seemingly irreversible economic degradation in the North,” the panel concluded that “the current situation in North Korea appears beyond corrective actions that do not fundamentally threaten the regime’s viability.”

The documents were posted today on the Web site of the National Security Archive:
http://www.nsarchive.org

                          ==========

Saddam Verdict and the Election

SCOTT HORTON, Shorton99@aol.com
Earlier this month, the U.S.-backed special tribunal in Baghdad set Nov. 5 as the date for the announcement of the verdict and sentence in the first trial of Saddam Hussein. The U.S. midterm election is Nov. 7.
Horton is chairman of the International Law Committee at the New York City Bar Association and adjunct professor at the Columbia University Law School. He makes frequent trips to Iraq, working as an attorney representing arrested local-hire reporters of U.S. media.
Horton said today: “Most observers expected the date would be much later, but it seems to have been moved up. It will be front page news in the papers on Monday — the day before the election. This is designed to show some progress in Iraq. The American public will see Saddam condemned to death and see it as a positive thing.
“When you look at polling figures, there have been three significant spike points. One was the date on which Saddam was captured. The second was the purple fingers election. The third was Zarqawi being killed. Based on those three, it’s easy to project that they will get a mild bump out of this.
“In my experience, everything that comes out of Baghdad is very carefully prepared for U.S. domestic consumption. … There is a team of American lawyers working as special legal advisers out of the U.S. embassy, who drive the tribunal. They have been involved in preparing the case and overseeing it from the beginning. The trial, which is shown on TV, has mild entertainment value for Iraqis, but they refer to it regularly as an American puppet theater.”

See: “November Surprise? Why Hasn’t Mainstream Media Connected the Dots Between Saddam’s Judgment Day and the Midterm Elections?” by Tom Engelhardt

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1018-23.htm .
From: Institute for Public Accuracy:

                          ==========

Bush Cabinet Secretaries Have Frequently Traveled on Private Jets at Taxpayer Expense

Bush Cabinet Secretaries Have Frequently Traveled on Private Jets at Taxpayer Expense

Wednesday, October 25 , 2006 –

Rep. Waxman reveals that Bush agency heads have taken 125 trips to over 300 locations aboard private jets, helicopters, and other aircraft at taxpayer expense and urges OMB Director Rob Portman to impose a moratorium on this luxury travel. 

The analysis of flights by cabinet secretaries and agency heads released by Rep. Waxman is based on information provided by 14 departments and agencies, ten of which reported travel aboard leased or chartered private aircraft at taxpayer expense.  The total cost to the taxpayer of the travel aboard private aircraft by cabinet secretaries and agency heads since 2001 is more than $1.5 million.

According to the records, taxpayer-funded travel aboard private jets intensified in 2004 when President Bush was campaigning for reelection.  In 2004, cabinet secretaries took 36 trips stopping in 74 cities aboard private aircraft at taxpayer expense.  Much of this travel was concentrated in electoral battleground states. 

From: Government Reform Committee, Minority Office

democrats.reform.min@mail.house.gov

                          ==========

Gas Price Manipulation?

STEVE KRETZMAN, steve@priceofoil.org,

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/10/20/separation_of_oil_and_state.php
Executive director of Oil Change International, Kretzman’s most recent piece is “Separation Of Oil And State.” He said today: “What we’re seeing in the oil markets right now is a chilling demonstration of the mutual and constantly converging interests of oil and state in the U.S. In other words, it’s not a conspiracy — it’s the gasoline market, which is an oligopoly, recognizing that its collective self-interest lies in more Republican rule.
“In the current election cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics reports  that donations from the oil industry and its employees are running 83 percent in favor of Republicans, which is the most pronounced slant by the oil industry — and possibly the most pronounced in any industry — ever. Clearly, they know which side their bread is buttered on, and can take actions to protect those interests.”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

                          ==========

Gasoline Price Manipulation Before the Elections

by Peter Stojan       
Is Goldman Sachs manipulating the gasoline futures market to push prices down before the November elections?

It sure looks that way.

An article appeared this Saturday in the New York Times pointing to some unusual trading by Goldman Sachs in the gasoline futures market. As Raymond Keller, who spotted the article, points out, “They always hide the good stuff in the low circulation Saturday edition.”

What’s Goldman doing?

Here’s how the Times reports it:

Politics and worries about oil supplies may have caused gasoline prices to go up at the pump earlier this year, but one big investment bank quietly helped their rapid drop in recent weeks, according to some economists, traders and analysts.

Goldman Sachs, which runs the largest commodity index, the G.S.C.I., said in early August that it was reducing the index’s weighting in gasoline futures significantly. The announcement did not make big headlines, but it has reverberated through the markets in the weeks since and some other investors who had been betting that gasoline would rise followed suit on their weightings.

“They started unwinding their positions, and those other longs also rushed to the door at the same time,” said Lawrence J. Goldstein, president of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation. The August announcement by Goldman Sachs caught some traders by surprise. The firm said in early June that it planned to roll its positions in the harbor contract into another futures contract, the reformulated gasoline blendstock, which is replacing the harbor contract at the end of the year because of changes to laws about gasoline additives. Later in June, Goldman said it had rolled a third of its gasoline holdings into the reformulated contracts but would make further announcements as to whether the remainder would be rolled over. Then in August, the bank said it would not roll over any more positions into gasoline and would redistribute the weighting into other petroleum products…

Some traders speculated that Goldman might have been concerned about the liquidity of the reformulated contract and whether other traders would embrace it because there were so few contracts outstanding. The open interest, or number of futures contracts taken out, has increased ninefold in the reformulated contract since then.

Unleaded gasoline made up 8.72 percent of Goldman’s commodity index as of June 30, but it is just 2.3 percent now, representing a sell-off of more than $6 billion in futures contract weighting.

…

Complete article at:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig7/stojan1.html

                          ==========

Borowitz Report – Guest Voter Shocker

Bush Proposes Making Illegal Immigrants ‘Guest Voters’

Would Be One-Day Citizens on November 7

In his boldest stroke to date to break the logjam over illegal immigration, President George W. Bush today proposed a “guest voter” program for illegal immigrants that would make them eligible to vote in the midterm elections on November 7.

Speaking at a press conference at the White House this morning, Mr. Bush said that his “guest voter” proposal would allow illegal immigrants to attain full citizenship status for one day only.

“Illegal immigrants are important to this country, because they do many of the things that other Americans are unwilling to do,” the president said. “Like voting.”

According to the president’s plan, undocumented immigrants would be bused to special “naturalization/voting booths” on November 7 where they could become citizens for the day simply by pulling a lever.

“Then, when their work is done, we’ll make sure they’re back on the other side of the border by November 8,” Mr. Bush said. “Everyone wins.”

But Mr. Bush’s guest voter program received mix reviews from congressional Democrats, many of whom believe that glitches in the so-called naturalization/voting booths could lead to invalid election results.

In particular, critics have complained that in an early prototype of the booth, the translation of the phrase “I want to be a U.S. citizen” appeared as “Vote for all Republican candidates with this lever.”

Unfazed by the critics, Mr. Bush said he would move forward with this and other immigration proposals, including building a 700-foot fence around Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-New York).

Elsewhere, the Department of Homeland Security warned of more attacks after supermodel Naomi Campbell was released on bail.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

                          ==========

three to see

Jack Ohman: cut and run

http://www.oregonlive.com/cgi-bin/prxy/photogalleries/nph-cache.cgi/cache=3000;/olive/images/5724/1002.JPG

David Horsey: making things perfectly clear

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20061027/cartoon20061027.gif

Trouble Town (Lloyd Dangle): democrats take congress

http://troubletown.com/cartoons/cartoons/ttown.833.gif

#9 of 10 ways to become a better blogger

by  Deb Shinder 

Published: 9/29/06

Takeaway:

If nobody bothers to read your blog posts, you might as well just scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin. But if you truly want to share your ideas and opinions, check out these pointers for crafting an engaging blog and building a loyal following.
 

#9: Proofread before publishing
Even if you’re an English professor, it’s easy to end up with typographical errors, misspellings, and grammatical flaws in your posts if you don’t proofread before you hit the Publish button. Especially if you’re writing in the heat of passion or inspiration, your typing fingers can get ahead of your thoughts and cause words to be omitted or transposed, commas to appear in the wrong places, or sentences to become garbled.

Maybe you pride yourself on not adhering strictly to the rules, but presumably, you still want your readers to understand what you’re saying. That complex sentence that seemed so brilliant in composition may read a little awkwardly once you see it on the screen.

It’s difficult to catch mistakes in your own writing, because you tend to fill in what you thought you typed, rather than see what’s really there. This is particularly true immediately after writing. If possible, have someone else proofread your post before you publish it. Otherwise, let it “cool off” for an hour or a day so you can approach it with a more objective proofreader’s eye.

And although it’s best to catch mistakes before they’re published, one huge advantage of Web content is that, unlike print copy, it’s easy to change if you discover a problem after publication.

Complete article at:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10881_11-6120257.html?tag=nl.e138

This article is also available as a PDF download.

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=260220 (registration required)

 

                          ==========

Media falsely reported Limbaugh “apologized” for attacking Michael J. Fox

On October 24 and 25, a number of media outlets — including ABC News, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press — falsely reported that nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh “apologized” for recent comments he made about actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease. As Media Matters for America documented, Limbaugh alleged on the October 23 edition of his radio program that Fox’s physical appearance in a recent campaign advertisement endorsing Missouri Democratic Senate candidate Claire McCaskill for supporting embryonic stem cell research, in which Fox was “moving all around and shaking,” was “purely an act.” Limbaugh then added that “this is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn’t take his medication or he’s acting, one of the two.” But while Limbaugh also stated on October 23 that “I will apologize to Michael J. Fox if I am wrong in characterizing his behavior on this commercial as an act,” Limbaugh not only did not apologize, he defended his comments on his show the next day. Pointing to Fox’s statement in his book, Lucky Man: A Memoir (Hyperion, April 2002), that he testified before Congress in 1999 “without medication,” Limbaugh declared on his October 24 show that “all I said yesterday was: ‘He’s either acting or he’s off his meds.’ I was right. He was off his meds.”

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610250014?src=other

                          ==========

New technology makes warrantless wiretapping worthless

At:

http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2006/10/22/19117/102

From: Poacnewsletter

                          ==========

WHY PEOPLE THINK MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE CROOKED: NINE OF THEM ARE BEING INVESTIGATED

by Conor Kenny

Fully 50 percent of Americans think that most members of Congress are corrupt and 36 percent think their own member of Congress is corrupt, according to a poll released Thursday by CNN. A quick stroll over to my personal favorite part of the Congresspedia wiki, the Members of Congress under investigation page, shows why: at least a dozen current and former members of Congress are under investigation for everything from covering up the Mark Foley page scandal to laundering campaign contributions to bribery. And don’t take comfort in the fact that three of those dozen are no longer in Congress: each was forced to resign in just the last year in the wake of investigations or guilty pleas related to actions they took while they were still in Congress.

Each of these current and former members of Congress has detailed explanations of the allegations against them on their Congresspedia profile pages, but the mind-boggling litany of allegations begs for a quick rundown:

For the rest of this story, visit:

http://www.prwatch.org/node/5326

                          ==========

Gas Price Manipulation?

NOMI PRINS, NomiPrins@msn.com,

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061030/prins
Author of the piece “How the Republicans Can Manipulate Oil Prices for Political Gain,” Prins said today: “Since their August highs, oil prices dropped from $77 to $59 per barrel. Gas prices have fallen from an average of $3.04 to $2.25 per gallon. In a September USA Today poll 42 percent of Americans thought there was a direct connection between the Republicans wanting to keep control of Congress and gas prices falling.

“Free-market types went to town. Oil is set by market forces, not Washington, rang the unified voice of analysts. ‘If only Bush had that kind of control,’ mused White House spokesman Tony Snow. But subtle manipulation is a form of control. …

“An overly speculated market like oil (the most traded commodity in the world) picks up on subtle signs. Just as traders push the market up, they can take it down, depending on those signs.”

Prins is a senior fellow at the think tank Demos. She worked as a managing director for Goldman Sachs and is author of the book “How ‘Conservatives’ are Picking Your Pocket (Whether You Voted for Them or Not).”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

                          ==========

Have you heard the latest about ExxonMobil? The company will announce its third quarter profits tomorrow, but that’s not all that has Exxon in the news! 

CHECK IT OUT:

In a shameless display of allegiance to ExxonMobil, Bush’s Energy Secretary, Samuel Bodman, has hand-picked former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond to lead an influential study to develop policy solutions to America’s energy crisis!

I know the irony (and danger) of appointing the czar of Big Oil to determine America’s energy future isn’t lost on you! What’s next? Will Jack Abramoff be appointed to solve corruption?

Will you please help spread the news by posting a call to action with a link to our action page

http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond

on your blog, Not Your Father’s America?

We’ve set up an online action campaign directed at Secretary Bodman to urge him to pull the project out from under Lee Raymond and his cronies at the National Petroleum Council and give it to an independent body that is NOT the mouthpiece of Big Oil. Congress members are being alerted as well. Over 60,000 people have already written Sec. Bodman within a week!

You can read (and sign!) the action letter at:

http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond

If you’d like more details, goto:

http://ga3.org/campaign/lee_raymond/explanation.

Or to read a short blog on this topic, goto:

http://priceofoil.org/2006/10/24/foxes-henhouses-and-lee-raymond/#more-512.

Earlier this year President Bush announced that America is “addicted to oil.” So why is his administration now putting the world’s most successful oil pusher in charge of our energy future?

ExxonMobil’s Lee Raymond doesn’t hold his opinions back: he repeatedly criticizes policies to help combat global warming, investments in renewable energy and concerns over dwindling oil supplies. As recently as June 2005, he told the Wall Street Journal, “It’s yet to be shown how much of this [global warming] is really related to the activities of man.”
As laughable as this appointment is, it is also incredibly dangerous. We cannot allow our future, and that of our children, to be put in the hands of ExxonMobil and Big Oil.

If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to email or call me. 

Please let me know if we can count on your help. Thanks again!

All the best,

Shawnee Hoover
Campaign Director

http://www.ExxposeExxon.com

Email: shoover@exxposeexxon.com

Tel: (202) 546-9707

                          ==========

“Some of us have been reluctant to speak of our faith in the political arena … because we can see a danger that people deeply rooted in faith will seek to use God rather than be used by God.”

- Tennessee State Sen. Roy Herron (Source: The Christian Science Monitor )

from the October 25, 2006 edition

Republican base loses faith

As midterm elections near, polls show that some religious voters are stepping off the GOP bandwagon.
By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Ever since George W. Bush named Jesus as his favorite philosopher and positioned himself as a strong man of faith, Republicans have increasingly been viewed as the party sympathetic to religion – with the Democrats found seriously wanting.

That may be changing.

…

Complete article at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1025/p15s02-uspo.html?s=hns

                          ==========

Dr. Frist’s Late-Night Surgery

October 04, 2006

Gambling with Port Security

What does a ban on Internet gambling have to do with port security? If you said “nothing” than you haven’t been following the goings on in Congress.  Late Friday night/early Saturday morning, the House and Senate passed an important bill increasing security at our nation’s ports.  However, the bill contained an unrelated provision banning the use of credit cards for most forms of Internet gambling.  Highly-placed Hill sources have informed yours truly that the gambling provisions were placed there because of a last-minute demand by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

According to my sources, First walked into the House-Senate Conference Committee Friday night as they where completing work on the bill and demanding that they insert the gambling provision in the bill or else he would block it from consideration on the Senate floor.  Most representatives and senators probably had no idea the gambling provision was in the bill.

Congressman Ron Paul’s Sunlight Rule would put an end to these type of late-night shenanigans.

http://www.moreliberty.org/more_liberty/2006/10/dr_frists_laten.html

                          ==========

Borowitz Report – Stay the Course Shocker

Bush: I Will Stay the Course of Not Using the Phrase ‘Stay the Course’

But Will Not Cut and Run from ‘Cut and Run,’ President Says

Responding to criticism that he has dropped the phrase “stay the course” from his speeches about Iraq, President George W. Bush said today that he would stay the course of refusing to say the words “stay the course.”

“There are terrorist folks out there who would like nothing better than to see me say the words ‘stay the course’ again,” Mr. Bush said in a feisty White House press conference. “But I have decided to stay the course of not using the phrase ‘stay the course.’”

Asked why he had decided to stay the course of refusing to use the phrase “stay the course,” the president said, “If I didn’t stay the course of refusing to use the phrase ‘stay the course,’ it would send a confusing message, and I am trying to do the opposite of that.”

While reaffirming his decision to no longer use the phrase “stay the course,” Mr. Bush had more positive things to say about the phrase “cut and run,” which will continue to appear in his speeches on Iraq.

“I have no intention of cutting and running from the phrase ‘cut and run,’” the president vowed.

Mr. Bush expressed impatience with the situation in Iraq, especially with the slow pace of Iraqi efforts to develop their own meaningless slogans.

“The time has come for the Iraqi government to concoct meaningless slogans of their own,” Mr. Bush said.

Elsewhere, after a new study showed that heavy cell phone use kills male sperm, Britney Spears ordered husband Kevin Federline to talk on the phone during sex.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

                          ==========

three to see

David Horsey: iraq reconstruction

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/20061026/cartoon20061026.gif

Minimum security: By the numbers

http://www.workingforchange.com/webgraphics/WFC/sm102506.jpg

John Branch: new slogan

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/showlink.cfm/25847/

#8 of 10 ways to become a better blogger

by  Deb Shinder 

Published: 9/29/06

Takeaway:

If nobody bothers to read your blog posts, you might as well just scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin. But if you truly want to share your ideas and opinions, check out these pointers for crafting an engaging blog and building a loyal following.

 #8: Keep it concise
Speaking of posts that aren’t particularly profound or long, don’t think you have to wait until you have something brilliant to say before you post or put off posting because you don’t have time to write War and Peace today. In truth, most readers have short attention spans and/or crowded schedules themselves and would prefer to read a short, pithy post rather than a long, complex one.

If you do post lengthy pieces, break them up into short paragraphs to make them more readable. There’s nothing more daunting to a reader than a huge mass of unbroken text, no matter how skillful your turn of phrase.

You’ll also attract more readers with common words than with obscure ones, so unless you’re writing for a particularly scholarly audience, follow the old KISS advice: Keep it simple, sweetheart.

Complete article at:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10881_11-6120257.html?tag=nl.e138

This article is also available as a PDF download.

http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=260220 (registration required)

                          ==========

Why Bush is so confident the House and Senate are in the bag:

Why Bush is so confident the House and Senate are in the bag

At:

http://tinyurl.com/sgnk9

From: Poacnewsletter

                          ==========

CBS’ “Free Speech,” Hannity falsely suggested Gore flip-flopped on Iraq, blamed Dems for “divided” country despite his own divisive statements

In an appearance on the “Free Speech” segment of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Sean Hannity falsely suggested that Al Gore “reversed course” on Iraq — in fact, Gore has consistently opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq — and, despite Hannity’s own history of politically divisive statements, attributed the country’s “divided” state to Democrats.

Read more

http://mediamatters.org/items/dailyemail/200610250001?src=other

                          ==========

LAWMAKERS IN GLASS HOUSES…

Volume XI No. 15 – October 24, 2006

The silly season is well upon us. As the election grows close, the political divisions between the parties appear deeper than ever.  In fact, as candidates define differences on issues ranging from immigration to tax cuts, there seems to be only one bi-partisan issue these days:  scandal.  Each party is trying to claim the moral high-ground by accusing the other of fiscal and political mismanagement. As the lawmakers throw their stones at the other parties glass house, we see only one loser: the nation’s taxpayers.

It’s hard to pick the most incredible story from the past year: Duke Cunningham’s (R-CA) lobbyist-bought Louis-Phillipe commode or cold hard cash hidden stuffed in Rep. Jefferson’s (D-LA) freezer; Rep. Mollohan’s (D-WV) land deals and federally-subsidized non-profit organizations or Rep. Taylor’s (R-NC) land deals and federally-subsidized non-profit organizations. The list goes on.

Read the rest of this week’s Wastebasket

http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/BHCRGKBHWJ/EPIPGKBHWS/927262486

Going on at Taxpayer.net This Week

TCS Exposes Rep. Taylor’s Unethical Earmarking — TCS worked with the Wall Street Journal to expose Rep. Taylor (R-NC) who secured transportation earmarks near his land in North Carolina.

Much more can be found at our website.

http://capwiz.com/taxpayer/utr/1/BHCRGKBHWJ/KFKNGKBHWU/927262486

TCS in the News
Newspaper, watchdog group stand by earmarking allegations against Taylor (Asheville Citizen-Times, North Carolina)
Where they stand: Cantwell vs. McGavick on the issues (Seattle Times)
Rogers’ role in tourism contract draws scrutiny (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Weldon’s Ties to Serbian Businessman Part of Probe (Washington Post)
Rep. Charles Taylor focus of Wall St. Journal article (Tryon Daily Bulletin,North Carolina)
Taylor faces challenge in 4th district (Hattiesburg American, Mississippi)
Mounting image woes for Congress (Rocky Mountain News, Colorado)
Pork or Public Service? (Virginia Connection Newspapers)
Disaster center records lacking (Mobile Register, Alabama)
Robert D. Novak: Key Republicans remain addicted to pork barrel gluttony
Seat in Congress Helps Mr. Taylor Help His Business (Wall Street Journal)
Defense contractors weigh Majority Leader Murtha (The Hill)
Candidates hope to keep federal cash flowing (Scranton Times-Tribune)
COTTON BAILOUT: Allies in the fight (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Bridge to Nowhere (New York Times Magazine)
Pork Before Defense (New York Post)
A Frist by Any Other Name (Nashville Scene)

Notable Quote

“Only a voting public armed with information will be able to demand that elected officials put the next generation ahead of the next election.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)

From: Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS)

www.taxpayer.net

                          ==========

Center holds in numerous states 

Marianne Means:

Moderates have had a rough time, shunted aside by ideological radicals who scorn any middle way as hopelessly outdated. But this fall, the center is actually holding in lots of states. Hooray!

…

Complete article at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/289674_means24.html

Marianne Means is a Washington, D.C., columnist with Hearst Newspapers. Copyright 2006 Hearst Newspapers. She can be reached at 202-263-6400 or means@hearstdc.com .

                          ==========

Top US general says Rumsfeld is inspired by God

Thu Oct 19, 3:35 PM ET
MIAMI (AFP) – The top US general defended the leadership of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, saying it is inspired by God.

“He leads in a way that the good Lord tells him is best for our country,” said Marine General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Rumsfeld is “a man whose patriotism focus, energy, drive, is exceeded by no one else I know … quite simply, he works harder than anybody else in our building,” Pace said at a ceremony at the Southern Command (Southcom) in Miami.

Rumsfeld has faced a storm of criticism and calls for his resignation, largely over his handling of the        Iraq war.

But he got a strong show of support from the military establishment at Thursday’s ceremony, where Navy Admiral James Stavridis took over Southcom’s command from General Bantz Craddock.

“He comes to work everyday with a single-minded focus to make this country safe,” said Stavridis who was a senior aide to Rumsfeld before taking on the Southcom job.

“We’re lucky as a nation that he continues to serve with such passion and such integrity and such determination and such brilliance,” said Stavridis, 51.

…

Complete article at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061019/pl_afp/usmilitarypolitics_061019193550

                          ==========

Election Protection Efforts

A nonpartisan “election protection” coalition, led by the People For the American Way Foundation, the NAACP, and the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law, has announced that it is launching a
national 1-866-OUR-VOTE voter-assistance hotline and the poll-location web site www.MyPollingPlace.com. The hotline is staffed by live call-center operators trained to provide state-specific assistance to all voters.

BARBARA R. ARNWINE, kalton@lawyerscommittee.org,

http://www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org
Arnwine is the executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law. Alton is the public policy director for the organization. Arnwine said today: “This election poses significant challenges for voters more than any time in recent history, with an estimated 30 million voters using new machines for the first time. The 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline serves as a lifeline to voters and is available now to help navigate new requirements as well as answer questions about voter eligibility or [the] location of the polling place.”

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

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A Pennsylvania miner was killed yesterday. His death came just days after a West Virginia miner died in a mine shaft—and less than a week after Bush made a recess appointment of a coal executive to head the nation’s mine safety agency.

Complete article at:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/10/23/pennsylvania-explosion-kills-coal-miner-in-deadliest-year-since-2001/

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Borowitz Report – Amnesia Shocker

White House Courts Vote of Amnesia Victim

Rove Masterminds Latest Electoral Strategy

A man who found himself in Denver with absolutely no memory of who he was or how he got there has now found himself at the epicenter of the midterm election campaign, as the White House moved aggressively today to court his vote.

The amnesia victim, who was known only as “Al” and could not recall any recent events, was instantly pegged as an “ideal voter” by G.O.P. political strategist Karl Rove, who flew the man to Washington today for a private meeting with President Bush in the White House.

“Here’s a guy who has no memory of Iraq, Tom DeLay, Jack Abramoff, or Mark Foley,” Mr. Rove told reporters today. “From where I sit, I think we have a chance at getting this guy’s vote.”

According to White House aides, the amnesia victim’s meeting with the president went well, and was capped by Mr. Bush presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“The guy didn’t seem to know exactly why he was getting it,” one aide said. “But then again, the same could be said of a lot of past recipients.”

Mr. Rove said that given the president’s success with “Al,” the White House was currently putting together a national database of amnesia victims to help get them to the polls on November 7.

“Our message to the amnesiacs is clear,” Mr. Rove said. “You may not remember anything else, but please remember to vote.”

Elsewhere, a new Labor Department study shows that Americans with no skills, talents or job prospects will eventually wind up on “Dancing With the Stars.”

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

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three to see

Scott Bateman: bring back lobotomy

http://www.batemania.com/sketchbook/11597.jpg

Jeff Danziger: China Loans, US Debt, Bush

http://danzigercartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/dancart2947.jpg

Matt Wuerker: Mucked Up

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/25452/