Secret Courts, Elitism, and Race Cards

• McCain Campaign says Obama played the “Race Card” (and from the “bottom of the deck.”)

Obama: “So nobody really thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face, so what they’re going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he’s not patriotic enough. He’s got a funny name. You know, he doesn’t look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know.”

McCain Campaign: “Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck.”

UK Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/01/barackobama.uselections2008

ABC News: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/07/mccain-camp-oba.html

Image (ABC): http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/images/2008/07/31/ap_obama_mccain2_080213_main.jpg

ABC News: Obama and McCain

• Water on Mars!

Laboratory tests aboard NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander have identified water in a soil sample. The lander’s robotic arm delivered the sample Wednesday to an instrument that identifies vapors produced by the heating of samples.

NASA: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080731.html

Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN3136620220080731?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews

• McCain’s New Ad

Comparing Obama to Britney Spears, Moses, Paris Hilton, and the Messiah.  What a weird group of people to throw together.  “I’m John McCain, and I approve of this message.”  Really?  Did you watch it?

Agence France-Presse: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080801/pl_afp/usvoteobamaadvertisement_080801200026

Watch the Ad at DailyMotion: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6bc9e_obamaone1

• Did Wal-Mart warn Employees Against a Democratic Win in November?

AP: “Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, denied a report Friday that it had pressured employees to vote against Democrats in November because of worries that a bill the party supports would make it easier for workers to unionize.”

The Associated Press: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hl3hyEYcD8yj4IJlCNPGy3DaLtfAD929L5DO0

• Wall Street Journal: Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is mobilizing its store managers and department supervisors around the country to warn that if Democrats win power in November, they’ll likely change federal law to make it easier for workers to unionize companies — including Wal-Mart.

WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB121755649066303381.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_leftbox

• Hamdan Trial Update: Closed to Public

“No court, civilian or military, has credibility when it listens to secret evidence in a closed courtroom,” said Lou Fisher, author of a book about the 1942 military trial of eight accused Nazi saboteurs, six of whom were executed.

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080102925.html

• Legislation to End Federal Penalties for Small(ish) Amounts of Pot Possession

(CNN) — The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance.

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/30/frank.marijuana/

• Man has Double Arm Transplant

BBC (video): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7537897.stm

• US Nuclear Submarine suspected of Leaking Nuclear Material

“TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. Navy said that one of its nuclear-powered submarines had leaked minimally radioactive water earlier this year, threatening to cause a stir in Japan where both the U.S. military presence and its nuclear vessels are controversial.”

AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hq2AqrYT2m1lNwKwq38TtPih9ilAD92A6SRG0

• Anthrax Suspect from 2001 Kills Himself

“Bruce Ivins, 62, who the state chief medical examiner said died this week by suicide, is being implicated in a crime that has ranked as one of the FBI’s biggest unsolved mysteries and most baffling technical cases.”

Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080102326.html

• MIT: Major Discovery to Unleash Solar Revolution

Scientists at MIT “have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.”

MIT: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html

• You Know How the McCain campaign tries to paint Obama as elitist?

• Check out McCain’s $520 shoes!

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/isabel-wilkinson/a-week-in-john-mccains-sh_b_115692.html

• the Large Hadron Collinder is finally ready to destroy the world!

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 17 mile long particle accelerator straddling the border of Switzerland and France, is nearly set to begin its first particle beam tests.    Wiki: Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the grounds that high-energy particle collisions performed in the LHC might produce dangerous phenomena, including micro black holes, strangelets, vacuum bubbles and magnetic monopoles.

Check out all the pictures — it’s unbelievable.

Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/the_large_hadron_collider.html

See Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

The Largest Deficit EVER!

• The Bush Administration released its budget

for next fiscal year. Would you be surprised if I told you (once again) that our United States will have a new record for our deficit?

“The US government’s budget deficit is expected to balloon to a record 482 billion dollars in the next fiscal year, largely due to an emergency economic stimulus and a slowing economy, a White House report showed Monday.”

So Senator Obama or Senator McCain will start off day one with the largest deficit ever recorded for any country in the history of the world. And this number does NOT reflect all WAR SPENDING for next year. Good luck, Mr. New President!

Agence France-Presse: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hlERvqX9gO99K_WKAsGeK-bAJMtA

• Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) has released a surprisingly critical statement regarding this projected deficit, claiming the Bush administration’s budget is “not an honest view of our country’s budget deficit.”

Way to go, Senator Corker!  Surprising, too.

The Chattanoogan: http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_132321.asp

• House Judiciary Panel votes to hold Karl Rove in Contempt of Congress

Of course, the full House has to vote on the measure, too.  Small steps.

AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-he8f7AdVl4IRQAEFnivpPn6HOAD928E9I80

• Charges filed in North Memphis Shootout

Memphis Commercial Appeal: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/30/charges-filed-shootout-chase-along-summer-memphis/

• House Formally Apologizes for Slavery and Jim Crow

Steve Cohen (R-TN) spearheaded the bill’s passage.  The bill says that Africans forced into slavery “were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage”

Way to go, Steve!

The Associated Press: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQfZv7F8c9hdd5CVurA3dUGMq6pQD927Q66O0

Listen to Keith Josef Adkins commentary “Slavery Apology Comes too Late” from All Things Considered this afternoon: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93086561

• Longest serving GOP Senator, Ted Stevens (R-AL), has been Indicted

The Senator is charged with accepting gifts in excess of $250,000 and failing to disclose them.

Reuters: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN2934582720080730

• Some crazy entered the Unitarian Universalist church

in Knoxville Sunday during a children’s production of Annie Jr. and opened fire with his shotgun, killing two, wounding seven. According to his suicide note (he expected the police to kill him), he went on his rampage because he could not find a job and *he hated “the liberal movement.”*

AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jOAQKzY-aOBqDspFkEAV_ZO65vZAD926SHLO0

• Obama and McCain again stress the importance of the economy, but do the candidates have solid plans?

Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a60Hgb0NQgXs&refer=us

• Obama meets with economic experts, including former Bush appointees. Meanwhile, Senator McCain “has a spot of skin removed from his face.”

AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iNxTApa2sQRu0Xx99P3jt2bEXw7gD9272L7O0

• Former Google Employees work on a rival search engine: Cuil (pronounced “Cool”).

Co-creator ” Tom Costello, a former researcher at Stanford, said that with 120 billion Web pages, Cuil’s search index is larger than any other.”

Internation Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/28/technology/28cool.php

• Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) continues blocking

both Democratic and Republican legislation in the Senate, and Senate Dems are hoping to pressure Republicans into joining them in getting the legislation unblocked. His reason main reason for being such an obstructionist on bipartisan spending bills? “We ought not be borrowing and expanding the federal government unless we get rid of stuff that is not working.”

Then STOP VOTING FOR WARS! Grrrr…

The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/washington/28coburn.html?ex=1374984000&en=b4f19b9fd12b0c4e&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

• Florida in 2000 Redux:

(at least) Three States are Accused of Purging Voter Lists … Kansas, Michigan, and Florida.

“Election officials in a handful of states appear to be ignoring the federal law dictating the way registered voters may be purged from voter rolls, civil rights attorneys say.”

As the election nears, more states may be questioned in their voter-purging practices. The reason that certain districts are supporting the surge (the theory goes) is that the methods they use to purge the voter roles disproportionately affects voters likely to support Senator Obama.

AlterNet: http://www.alternet.org/democracy/9269/three_states_accused_of_illegally_purging_voter_lists_/

• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on its way out?

Democrats in Congress hope to hold hearings and end this discriminatory practice.

USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-07-21-Dont-ask_N.htm

• Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader suggests Obama voters are trapped in “political slavery.”

Ooooops (once again) on trying to distance oneself from the label “racist.”

During a speech, and after the press conference that took place Sunday in Austin, TX, Nader said progressives who will vote for Obama as the “least worst candidate” are actually trapped in “political slavery.”

Was there no other metaphor than “slavery” Mr. Nader could have used?

RawStory: http://rawstory.com//news/2008/Nader_Democrats_are_political_slaves_Obama_0728.html

• Columnist Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor

and is suspending his journalistic activities.

YahooNews: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_re_us/novak_brain_tumor

• There is an interesting article in The Ranger’s Blog on NatureNet on how the Discovery Channel and the BBC have different approaches to covering natural programing.

There are some good video clips, and it’s apparent that the Discovery Channel is going for entertainment (think Fierce Creatures) and the BBC is interested in educated viewers (in a very informative and entertaining way …). The BBC manages to have engaging, thought-provoking programming that maintains scientific integrity. The clips they have are basically the same story about bees, one from each network.

Discovery Channel: “The jumping spider packs a ton of skulking pouncing killing fire-power in its tiny body.” And “If this were a slasher film, the audience would be screaming, ‘Look out behind you!’” And “How’d you like to stare into these eyes, with your life on the line? Ha! Yikes!”

BBC: “A white crab spider sits, almost invisible, on a white flower, waiting in ambush. And it catches a bee.” And “…ultra-violet markings on some flowers serve to guide insects to nectar.” And “Honey-bees seem more likely to visit flowers with crab spiders on them than those without.”

I agree completely, based mainly on my viewing PLANET EARTH and BLUE PLANET. Whoa. Even with the same video footage, the editing and narration is very different.

NatureNet: http://naturenet.net/blogs/index.php/2008/07/28/bbc_vs_ng

• Police in Bartlett, TN find 161 marijuana plants

in two homes after firefighters noticed the plants while responding to a house fire call.

ABC-24 (Memphis ABC Affiliate): http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=0827adf7-ba00-4a67-95fb-200a66f22d0f

• “Eve,” Virgin Galactic’s new tourism spaceship

was unveiled by Richard Branson, Buzz Aldrain, and others at the Mojave Spaceport. For a mere $200,000, you could one day soon be flown up for 5 minutes of weightlessness and a heckuva view.

BoingBoing: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/28/all-about-eve-virgin.html

Mojave Spaceport: http://www.mojaveairport.com/

• Potential uses for the Sears Crosstown building in Midtown Memphis

MyMidtownMemphis: http://mymidtownmemphis.blogspot.com/2008/07/potential-of-sears-crosstown-building.html

Tuesday in July … Estelle Getty, Radovan Karadzic, McCain, Steve Cohen, and More!

Using the McCains, Vanity Fair has created a spoof of the controversial Obamas cover.

VanityFair spoofs the New Yorker “offensive” cover …

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/politics/2008/07/new-yorker-cover.html

—-

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was arrested Monday by Serbian forces.

“Karadzic has been indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia for genocide during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. He has been hiding since 1998.” (AP)

AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hDN-CfGY3szC6ylS1zL87_tRXoSwD922GAEG0

—-

Congressman Steve Cohen updates:

The Commercial Appeal endorses Steve Cohen.

“But Congress is not a job for beginners. And Tinker, who has been planning for the past two years to challenge Cohen again, gives little indication that she has boned up in the interim on specific issues, especially those that have both national and local impact.

“During his first term in Congress, Cohen, a 24-year veteran of the state Senate, used the skills he honed as a state legislator to build relationships within and across party lines that have helped him make an impact on the national and local stage. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls Cohen, a 59-year-old native Memphian, the ‘conscience of the freshman class,’ citing his votes on issues such as increasing the minimum wage and extending unemployment benefits.”

“Steve Cohen for Congress” from The Commercial Appeal.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/22/editorial-steve-cohen-for-congress/

AND

Cohen has raised far more money than Tinker,

even with her (misguided) support from outside Tennessee Emily’s List donors.

CA/Bartholomew Solomon: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/22/gamblers-ante-up-64188-to-cohen/

—-

Attorney General Michael Mukasey wants Congress to “Subvert” the US Constitution.

“Attorney General Michael Mukasey prompted Congress Monday morning, during a speech to the conservative American Enterprise Institute, to create new rules governing the rights of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.”

RawStory: http://rawstory.com//news/2008/ACLU_Mukasey_calls_on_Congress_to_0721.html

—-

Actress Estelle Getty died this morning.

(Sophia Petrillo/Ma from the Golden Girls). She won two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress on the Golden Girls.

(AP: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iTMkQDONxgujdSXbarMnrHCD_7FwD923371O1)

Thank you for being a friend, Estelle. (Shady Pines, Ma!) …

VIDEO: Golden Girls Opener (with the all-important bridge): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuKZNmY3YDU

VIDEO: Sophia Petrillo in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLYds1dlPf0

Blanche: “I am abhorred by their behavior.”

Sophia: “We know what you are, Blanche. I’m glad to hear you finally admit it.”
Blanche: “Sophia, I said abhorred.“

Sophia: “A whore, a tramp, it’s all the same…”

—–

WikiLeaks has Torture Photo?

WikiLeaks has a terrible photo (http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Image:Us-detainee-wired-2004-08-06.jpg) of a US Detainee in 2003 whose lips have been sewn shut and whose cheeks have been pierced with wires. This is horrible, so maybe don’t even look.

“Photo of a detainee held by the United States, with his face wired, lips sewn, red eyes and torso sacked. According to digital camera metadata the image was taken on Feb 9, 2003 03:49:25. “

-http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Wikileaks

—–

Impeachment Update: Hearings in the House on Friday?

Congressman Dennis Kucinich: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv478I8p3e8

—-

Taser Kills Again

Healthy 21 Year Old Black Man tasered by police nine times while handcuffed. Oh, then he died. Police cover up?

Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-taser_witt-web-jul19,0,2201847.story

—-

NYTimes/Politico suggest Hillary Clinton is still being vetted for VP. Or not.

Politico: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0708/Wolfson_Clinton_not_being_vetted.html

NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/us/politics/20veep.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

—-

President Bush video released from “banned” camera …

Househunting for post Presidency. Heh.

(HUFFINGTON POST/Houston Chronicle)…

The first moments form the July 18 event find him speaking almost incoherently in admitting, for once, that his friends in big business had screwed up: “There’s no question about it. Wall Street got drunk —that’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off the TV cameras — it got drunk and now it’s got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments.”

Then, making light of the foreclosure crisis, he said: “And then we got a housing issue… not in Houston, and evidently not in Dallas, because Laura’s over there trying to buy a house. [great laughter] I like Crawford but unfortunately after eight years of sacrifice, I am apparently no longer the decision maker.”

HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/banned-bush-video-surface_b_114363.html

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4fko-UbdjU

—-

Conan to take over the Tonight Show June 1 2009.

ByeBye Jay Leno. Oh, and Jimmy Fallon will replace Conan on Late Night. I love Conan. I will never watch Late Night after Fallon takes over. I’m just sayin …

New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/arts/television/22late.html

—-

McCain acuses Obama of not wanting to win in Iraq (again):

“This is a clear choice that the American people have. I had the courage and the judgment to say that I would rather lose a political campaign than lose a war. It seems to me that Sen. Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign,” McCain said in Rochester, New Hampshire 22 July 2008.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/mccain-obama-mo.html

VIDEO: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5426797

—-

A few John McCain ‘Misconceptions’ –

Lie: Iraq is safe enough to walk around without armor or protection.

28 March 2007

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/28/roberts-cnn-mccain-iraq/

“General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in an unarmed humvee.”

He told radio host Bill Bennett that there “are neighborhoods in Baghdad where you and I could walk through those neighborhoods, today.”

CNN’s John Roberts rebutted McCain’s assertions, stating, “I checked with General Petraeus’s people overnight and they said he never goes out in anything less than an up-armored humvee.” He added that a new report by retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey “said no Iraqi government official, coalition soldier, diplomat reporter could walk the streets of Baghdad without heavily armed protection.”

Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/28/roberts-cnn-mccain-iraq/

Lie: “As a matter of fact I received the highest award from literally every veteran’s organization in America.”

23 May 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/23/mccain-vet-awards/

The recognition McCain has received from veterans groups is not “high awards” but failing grades:

— Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)

– Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain’s dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans’ issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)

– In a list of “Key Votes,” Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain “Voted Against Us” 15 times and “Voted For Us” only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)

Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/23/mccain-vet-awards/

Lie: John McCain has a good environmental record.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/

Reality: John McCain received a ZERO Rating for his environmental record from the League of Conservation Voters for his 2007 record. Out of 535 Members of Congress, John McCain is the only one who chose to MISS EVERY SINGLE key environmental VOTE last year.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/

Lie: John McCain is (intentionally) funny.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/sources-recall-mccains-jo_n_112955.html

Well, this isn’t really a lie he told, so much as a few jokes that were tasteless that he told:

…McCain asked the crowd if they had heard “the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die?”

The punch line: “When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, “Where is that marvelous ape?”

AND

“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”

AND

His funny “joke” about exporting more cigarettes to Iran in hopes of killing off Iranians with lung cancer and other related diseases.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/sources-recall-mccains-jo_n_112955.html

I guess that’s all for now …

That weird long response about McCain and Obama …

This ranty thing was a response I posted on “thefacebook” (blech) but thought I might share with others who haven’t “thefacebook” access.

I think (redacted) has great points, as ever. And I am thrilled that someone is standing up for Senator McCain. I would argue against, however, using OpEd pieces as the main source of information. The problem with bloggers is they can use the Fox technique of saying “People have said…” and they can say whatever they want after that, true or not, no matter how ridiculous an accusation, because they have no sources. “People say” “I’ve heard people talk …” “Some public polls show…” WHICH ONES? WHO? etc.

But forget all that — thank you (redacted) for speaking up.

Now, for the truth. (that’s supposed to be funny):

(He) writes: “Withdrawing from a military area is not simply a matter of taking troops out. We can’t simply leave equipment in military zones; it’ll be stolen.”

I have NEVER heard Obama accused of saying he’s going to pull all the troops out immediately leaving equipment behind, etc., except in the “people say…” context, but I would add that there are thousands of vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan (and regional support countries) which are currently being destroyed not by the enemy combatants but by the weather and lack of funds to fully fund upkeep of the equipment (think about the outrage when certain troops weren’t fitted with armor and their vehicles had only the minimal shielding) … then you add months of sandstorms getting in gears.

—————————-

“ANNISTON, Ala. — Field upon field of more than 1,000 battered M1 tanks, howitzers and other armored vehicles sit amid weeds here at the 15,000-acre Anniston Army Depot — the idle, hulking formations symbolic of an Army that is wearing out faster than it is being rebuilt.”

“Partly as a result of the shortages, many U.S. units are rated “unready” to deploy, officials say, raising alarm in Congress and concern among military leaders at a time when Iraq strategy is under review by the White House and the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.”

The Washington Post – 5 Dec 2006

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401347.html

—————————-

“The destruction of equipment, the wearing out of equipment has accelerated over what it was before,” he said. “I mean we’re wearing out helicopters, trucks, Humvees, tanks at rates that are six, eight, 10 times in some cases what we’re programmed for, so obviously combat action is destroying equipment we’ve committed.”

National Public Radio – Military Equipment Takes a Beating in Iraq

by Adam Hochberg

1 March 2007

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7662481

——————————————————————-

The amount of money the US spends in a week on weapons is enough to feed ever person on earth for a year.

-foodnotbombs.org

http://www.borgenproject.org/ –

Political Priorities by the Numbers
****$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.

$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget.
$170 billion: Annual U.S. War Spending.

POLITICAL PRIORITIES Education v. War:

http://www.nea.org/lac/funding/images/EDvsDODfunding.pdf

From 2001-2008, Bush has appropriated in his budgets $431 Billion for Education. Loads of cash, right?

Same time period, 2001-2008, Bush gets $3.85 TRILLION dollars for WAR SPENDING. And that figure may be on the low side, considering secret appropriations.

John McCain on 100 years in Iraq:

Questioner at Town Hall Meeting: “President Bush has been talking about being in Iraq for 50 years …”

McCain: “Even one hundred years … would be fine with me.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFknKVjuyNk

He quotes one Iraqi military official from the NYTimes article…

When asked about what he thought of Obama being elected, General Nassir al-Hiti had this to say:
“Everyone in Iraq likes him, He’s young. Very active. We would be very happy if he was elected president.”

yet when asked about Obama’s plan for withdrawing troops:

“Any (Iraqi) army would love to work without any help, but let me be honest: for now, we don’t have that ability.”

(for a source of that quotation, which originally came from the NYTimes, a subscription-free copy: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008056140_iraqobama17.html)

He is quoted in the NY Times on the 17^th of July 2008.

HOWEVER, that was an Iraqi general speaking before Obama even visited Iraq.

Now that Obama has met with IRAQI PRIME MINISTER al-Maliki and other top Iraqi officials, the Iraqi government has made an all-out ENDORSEMENT of Obama’s plan:

“The Iraqi Government said yesterday that it had a vision for all US combat troops to leave the country by the end of 2010 — another apparent endorsement of Barack Obama’s war strategy during his visit to Baghdad.

The sudden and unexpected Iraqi comments on the desire for a timetabled withdrawal, made by Ali al-Dabbagh, the spokesman for the Iraqi Government, was greeted with dismay by the White House and John McCain, Mr Obama’s Republican rival, who opposes setting an exit date.

The call came after the Democratic presidential hopeful held talks with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister.

“We are talking about a real timetable which Iraqis set, up to the end of 2010,” Mr al-Dabbagh said — backing a timeframe that falls within the 16-month withdrawal plan proposed by Mr Obama.”

The LONDON TIMES

“Iraq: we want US troops out in two years”

22 July 2008

Times of London: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4373602.ece

In other words, while one general may have said what (he) points out about how it’d be nice to patrol their own country without any US help, this was a man who did not actually meet with Obama, and a man who is talking at cross-purposes with his country’s own Prime Minister. Beyond that, Obama isn’t saying we’re going to abandon everything we’ve done in Iraq. He’s looking for a responsible draw-down of troops. We have far too much infrastructure in Iraq for some magic withdrawal. For example, our Baghdad embassy is the largest embassy in the history of the world.

“The Vatican-size compound, which will be the largest U.S. diplomatic facility in the world, was scheduled to open in September 2007 at a cost of $592 million, but the price tag is expected to rise to more than $730 million.” -CNN Elise Labott, 14 April 2008

CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/14/embassy.baghdad/

Besides all that, George W Bush has now basically accepted the Obama plan, although they have their minions come up with some other name than “timetable:”

Perino tried to put the best face on Iraqi suggestions that U.S. troops could leave by 2010, saying it shows there is enough progress on the ground that the two sides can talk about an “aspirational time horizon.” (WH Press Conference 21 July 2008 )

NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92751618

(TIMETABLE=ASPIRATIONAL TIME HORIZON … BushSpeak, you know…)

(He) quotes an Iraqi citizen in charge of a former “fundamentalist” school just south of Baghdad. He got his quotation from a New York Times article (In Iraq, Mixed Feelings About Obama and His Troop Proposal, 17 July 2008 – http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/world/middleeast/17voices.html

However, (he) leaves out the other half of the quotations in that same article … including “Even as some Iraqis disagreed about Mr. Obama’s stance on withdrawal, they expressed broad approval for him personally as an improvement over Mr. Bush, who remains unpopular among broad portions of Iraqi society five years after the war began. No one interviewed expressed a strong dislike for Mr. Obama.”

and MOST IMPORTANTLY (if people had taken time to listen to what Obama’s plan actually is on withdrawal):

[Senator Obama] is calling for the withdrawal of combat brigades, but has said a residual force would still pursue extremist militants, protect American troops and train Iraqi security forces.”

At no point has Obama said we’re pulling everyone out and leaving our billions and billions of dollars of equipment (trucks, tanks, aircraft, artillery, mobile housing, our near trillion dollar embassy, etc), as (he) seems to suggest.

And another random Iraqi on the same subject from the same article: “The Americans paved the way for the Iraqi Army there,” said the young man, who married this year. “If they weren’t there, the Iraqi forces could not have taken control.” Even so, he agreed with Mr. Obama’s plan for a faster withdrawal. American forces “helped the Iraqi Army to get back its dignity,” he said. “They are qualified now.”

(He) correctly points out that it would be dangerous to completely withdraw. Obama agrees. It’s misleading to suggest anything else.

On the “upcoming war between Iran and Israel” (and the USA), Senator John McCain:

*singing BombBombBomb Iran:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg

*suggesting we kill Iranians with cancer:

Responding to a question about a survey that shows increased exports to Iran, mainly from cigarettes, McCain said, “Maybe that’s a way of killing them.”

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/08/mccains_latest_iran_joke.html

I also find it laughable that a man who confuses Sunni and Shia Iraqis as though it’s simply a pronunciation difference claims Obama hasn’t the international knowledge or experience to lead the country.

**Funny, coming from John McCain who has “For the SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS, McCain has made a reference to “Czechoslovakia.” His answers were about contemporary events, not history.”

MSNBC – 15 July 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNsr2aF1XM0

Czechoslovakia hasn’t been called that for fifteen years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovakia

**On record, McCain has confused Shia/Shunni Iraqis dozens of times, and he has in the past year referred to “Czechoslovakia” at least four times since the beginning of this year.

He also made the same mistake in 1994 and again in 1999. In 1999, EVEN GWBUSH called him out on his not knowing this country doesn’t exist … kind of suggesting that GWBush would be abetter President because at least he knows that Czechoslovakia isn’t a country any more.

Bush said in 2000 when running against McCain for the nomination:
“John McCain says something about the ‘ambassador to Czechoslovakia.’ Well, I know there is no Czechoslovakia (there’s a Czech Republic and a Slovakia), but yet it didn’t make the nightly national news. I’m not going to gripe about it, but the media question is starting to pop up.”

He’s suggesting that if he, Bush, had made such an egregious error, the media would be all over him.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/15/mccain-czechoslovakia/

And from the man who brags about “graduating fifth from the bottom” of his class in College. Sounds like shades of GWBush:

Question: “We know President Bush was a C Student at Yale … do you remember your GPA at school?”

McCain: “My GPA earned me fifth from the bottom of my class at the Naval Academy.” (that’s 894 out of 899 graduates that year).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srbX26vp57c

He later admits to being computer illiterate in the same video clip. Great.

Senator Obama, on the other hand, graduated with a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1991 (as in the top 10% of his class), was the first African American to head the Harvard Law Review, and received a BA from Columbia.

———————————————————————–

(He) is also quick to cite sources suggesting they are other “articles of interest.” In reality, these “articles” he posted are not NEWS but Op-Ed pieces, including:

“What Part of ‘War’ Don’t We Understand?”

By Robert Tracinski

July 19, 2006

Real Clear Politics – hosted by Time Magazine

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/07/what_part_of_war_dont_we_under.html

“Obama’s Judgement”

Op-Ed Contributing Board of the Wall Street Journal (Rupert Murdoch/NewsCorp/Fox paper)

July 18, 2008

the Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121633647742963787.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks

“The Future of Iraq: The decline of violence, the rise of politics.”

By Kimberly Kagan

July 28, 2008

The Weekly Standard (ALSO owned by Rupert Murdoch/NewsCorp/Fox)

http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/345jfuan.asp

“Al Qaeda’s Market Crash”

by Ralph Peters

July 19, 2008

the New York Post (ALSO owned by Rupert Murdoch/NewsCorp/Fox)

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07192008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/al_qaedas_market_crash_120538.htm?page=0

These are NOT news articles that; these are opinion pieces. And the majority are owned by Rupert Murdoch.  There’s no reason not to read opinion pieces … opinion pieces and panel discussions can be used to help shape or suggest policies of all types.  It’s just misleading to treat it as news.

For news articles, try some of the following (notice how I include the Fox/Murdoch/NewsCorp websites … but I do NOT direct you to the OP ED sections):

NonBiased:

http://www.politico.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/

http://www.nytimes.com

http://www.suntimes.com/

http://www.boston.com

http://www.washingtonpost.com

http://www.c-span.org/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp-world-news.html (AFP)

http://www.npr.org/

Progressive/Liberal:
http://www.rawstory.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.therealnews.com

http://www.cnn.com/

http://www.drudge.com

http://www.slate.com

http://www.wonkette.com

Blogs –

http://dailykos.com/

http://corner.nationalreview.com/

http://www.redstate.com/

MediaWatchdogs:

http://www.thinkprogress.com

http://www.mediamatters.com

http://www.snopes.com

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/

Conservative:

http://www.foxnews.com/

http://www.drudgereport.com

http://www.wsj.com

http://www.nypost.com

http://www.washtimes.com/

Random/Fun:

http://www.reddit.com

http://boingboing.net/

It’s Tuesday! Have a Peach.

Are peaches even really in season yet? Anyway, some important (to me, anyway) news of the day:

WHITE HOUSE TRIES TO CIRCUMVENT HABAES CORPUS RULING FOR GITMO DETAINEES (Wahington Post)

The White House and allies in Congress have begun exploring how to limit the scope of this week’s Supreme Court ruling that says suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detentions in federal court. (Washington Post)

This is perhaps this morning’s most important story … The White House has been breaking laws in an arrogant way for the past six years. It is time that they abide by the Supreme Court … this is the third time the Court has told them that their detention center in Guantanamo is illegal without Habeas Corpus. The administration is tarnishing the image of the Presidency, the Judicial System, the balance of power, the US Constitution, and the United States of America.

Former Vice-President Al Gore is Endorsing Barack Obama

“Gore said Obama can lead the country past ‘eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure.’ He said Bush, who defeated him in the 2000 election, dishonored and disrespected the Constitution and made the worst foreign policy mistakes in the nation’s history.” (Associated Press)

AQ Khan may have sold Nuclear Bomb Detailed Plans (NPR)

A top weapons expert says blueprints for a sophisticated nuclear bomb may have been passed in recent years to Iran or North Korea or even to terrorist groups; however, “the IAEA currently has no information, apart from the Iranian metal document, on the actual design or manufacture by Iran of nuclear material components or of other key components of a nuclear weapon,” ElBaradei, director of the IAEA, said. (NPR)

Tiger Woods pulled out a victory in the US Open in Sudden Death (Telegraph UK)

Cindy McCain Repeatedly Passes Off Recipes to Magazines as her Own (Wonk ET AL)

“Cindy’s same old copy/paste. Just like her husband’s presidency will be. Copy Bush/paste McCain. Are we tired of this yet?” (Wonkette)

Barack Obama says he’ll visit Iraq and Afghanistan before the Election (Reuters)

Honda’s New Zero Emission Car (MSNBC)

Obama hires Former Clinton Campaign Manager, Patti Solis Doyle (Huffington Post)

“One thing the move does suggest, insiders believe, is that Hillary Clinton’s chances of being tapped for the vice presidency are now slim to nil.” (Huffington Post)

New Firefox Browser Launch Aims at Download Record (BBC)

Wide take-up of the new version of Firefox, to be released on the 17th of June, would further boost the market share of the browser which is currently used by about 15% of net users. With the release, Firefox developer Mozilla is attempting to set a record for the most downloads over 24 hours. ( BBC)

“Yes We Can” Video wins an Emmy (CNN)

Gay Couples in CA have in “Low Key” Weddings (wonkette via LA Times “Avoid Being too Gay with your Weddings…”)

Gaps in McCain’s Military Record (Huffington)

“I have never heard a story, even remotely, that John McCain was going to be a flag officer. I was early selected for captain, in 1976, and I was regular selected for admiral in 1981. So it’s probably five or six years, I guess. I’ve never heard of anybody being selected for flag rank within three or four years of making captain, ever.” (Huffington Post)

Greenland Starts “Commercial” Whale Hunt (BBC)

Google “Street View” Car gets a Ticket (Flickr)

Mr. Sulu Ties the Knot – George Takei to have a Star Trek Wedding? (NPR)

Palestinians Killed in Gaza Strike (al-Jazeera)

Five Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials have said.

Medical workers said the five were travelling in a car in the southern town of Khan Younis on Tuesday when they were hit by the strike. Israeli army confirmed an airstrike in southern Gaza. (al-Jazeera)

Polish member of EU Parliament calls for EU Standing Army (BBC)

The plans are likely to prove controversial in many countries, including Britain, where there is reluctance towards any move to a European army.
In Ireland there are concerns about neutrality, while in Germany there are worries about any policy that could go beyond a peacekeeping role. (BBC)

New Firefox Browser Launch Aims at Download Record (BBC)

Wide take-up of the new version of Firefox, to be released on the 17th of June, would further boost the market share of the browser which is currently used by about 15% of net users. With the release, Firefox developer Mozilla is attempting to set a record for the most downloads over 24 hours. (BBC)

Wait for It — Mudslinging to Begin Soon: McCain v. Obama (Huffington Post)

Your Weekend Update

Tim Russert dies of Massive Heart Attack

“Tom Brokaw, the former anchor of NBC Nightly News, came on the air at 3:39 p.m. and reported that Mr. Russert had collapsed and died early this afternoon while at work. He had just returned from Italy with his family.” (NYTimes)

VIDEO of Tom Brokaw making the announcement of Russert’s death … (YouTube/NBC)

Fox Apologizes for Third Time in Two Weeks to Obama

Apparently it isn’t very nice to refer to the presumptive Democratic nominee’s wife his “Baby’sMamma.” As Jezebel put it, there wasn’t any hidden message here (::COUGH:: They’re Black ::COUGH::). Fox was just trying to talk in plainfolkspeak.

“Bill Shine, senior vice president of programming at Fox, said in a statement on Thursday that a producer “exercised poor judgment” during the segment.” (Guardian/UK)

Jezebel: “I guess it’s apparently ok, though, because she’s, like, black and that’s, like, what “they” call each other, right? No subtext there, let’s just make sure to remind everyone that the Obamas aren’t white.” (Jezebel)

Gore Vidal on the Kucinich Impeach-Bush Legislation (TruthDig)

“As I listened to Rep. Kucinich invoke the great engine of impeachment—he listed some 35 crimes by these two faithless officials—we heard, like great bells tolling, the voice of the Constitution itself speak out ringingly against those who had tried to destroy it.” (TruthDig)

The US Supreme Court tells Bush Guantanamo Detainess Have Right to Appeal in US Civil Court (NPR)

In a seemingly devastating blow to the Bush Administration’s detainee policy, the US Supreme Court has issued a 5-4 Ruling stating that the Bush Administration has no right to prevent the appeals of detainees in US Civilian courts. The Bush Administration has argued that the detainees are in a special class “Unlawful Combatants” and are not citizens; therefore, none should appear in any US Civilian court. “WRONG-O,” says majority. (HOORAY!!!!) (NPR, AFP)

The Bush Administration, however, will go ahead with its illegal military tribunals as hundreds of detainees file applications to appear before US Civilian courts … (AFP)

“‘Liberty and security can be reconciled; and in our system they are reconciled within the framework of the law,’ the court added, ruling by five to four that prisoners in the US military prison in southeastern Cuba ‘have the constitutional privilege of habeas corpus.’” (AFP)

Bush: “It’s a Supreme Court decision, we’ll abide by the court’s decision. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.” (AFP)

Rahm Emmanuel: Dems will Get in Line Behind Barack … (Huffington Post)

Stephen Colbert asks for YOUR help in making McCain exciting … with GreenScreen Goodness! (Comedy Central)

Ahmadinejad Calls Bush’s Nuclear Bluff (Huffington Post)

Lesbian Couple in CA Hopes the Third Tries the Charmed Try …

NPR reports on a CA couple who have already been married twice, only be told later that they marriages are now nullified. The hope is that their third try might take, and they can celebrate a happy, legal married life together (NPR)

Tennessee Democratic Party Leader and Superdelegate calls Obama a Terrorist (Nashville City)

Under pressure to endorse Obama, Lincoln Davis (US Rep from TN’s 4th Congressional District, Democrat) has had a lot to say about Senator Obama, including, “He’s got some bad connections, and he may be terrorist connected for all I can tell. It sounds kind of like he may be.” (Nashville City Paper)

FoxNews Anchor: Was it some kind of terrorist fist jab? Yeah, she’s fired. (London Telegraph)

FoxNews Anchoress ED Hill Loses her job after calling the “knock the rock” that Obama and his wife greeted each other with a “Terrorist Fist Jab.” Yikes. Fox should quit now … they’ll never catch up to reality, even if they stop all the “Moooslim” “Black” “Terrorist” “Foreigner” BS they keep tossing at Obama and his family. (Telegraph)

Visit http://www.fightthesmears.com/ to see the latest reaction to attempted smears from Senator Obama. The campaign created this website to have realtime reactions to the horrible lies people are trying to spread in the media and online.

NYTimes covers Umphreys McGhee and Bonnaroo

Oh Scotty, What Have You Become? Plus: Campaign will End Next Week, Memphis Mayor Willie, and Much More

Scott McClellan Gets Thrown Under a Bus after throwing Bush Admin under a Bus.

That’s not the Scott I knew, either! He claims that the Bush Administration essentially lied intentionally to take the US to war. I mean, I knew this already, but suddenly other people are pretending to care? Scotty! Why have you forsaken me??

White House Responds to new Scott McClellan Tell-All

Preview: They’re not happy.

Jeff Guckert/Jeff Gannon, Male Whore-Turned-WhiteHouse-Journalist on Scotty McClellan:

Oh Jeff, are you accusing Scotty of being a finifiniff?

Sen. John McCain on Scott McClellan

Crazy Straight Talk Express. McCain claims, “I believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction as did every intelligence agency in the world and every assessment.” Nutjob.

Hillary Schedules Reporters Until 6 June

What happens after that? Apparently “a lot of places to go before November.” Apparently she won’t say where her reporters will go after 6 June 2008. Uh Oh!

Senator Obama: The General Election Starts Next Week.

Senator Joe Lieberman to Attend “Rev.” Hagee’s ‘religion’ summit …

How low can you go, Joe? Sen. Lieberman to address this summit, headed by a man who has claimed Hitler’s legacy will be the vonderball creation of Israel. Ahem.

Mars Pictures: The First Time a Satellite has taken Landing Photos of another Spacecraft.

Oil Costs too much, Ain’t It?

2 Year Olds taking anti-ADHD Drugs

… because Two Year Olds shouldn’t be Rambunctious.

NY Governor Says the State of New York will Recognize Out-of-State Weddings

Exactly as he should, Gov. Patterson agrees that NY couples and out-of-state couples who are “same-sex,” as it were, if they get married, the state of New York will recognize their union. Huzzah.

Al Green’s New CD: Lay It Down, as heard on National Public Radio

FYI: I “rode the levels” for this interview, with Al Green sitting just to my right and Michelle Norris of NPR connected by ISDN. Wow. (npr)

Toilet on the International Space Station is Broke Phi Broke

Astronauts forced to “hold it.”

Memphis Mayor Willie W. Herrenton has once again insulted the potential candidates to become the next Superintendent of the Memphis City Schools …

Bill Murray’s Wife Sues for Divorce

Of course, she gets $7 million automatically from the PreNup, so why does she have to claim he used marijuana, drank too much, or hit her? Oh — because he hit her. She claims. I love Bill Murray, though.

A Chicken’s Birth: Tracking the Fertilization of an Egg

These crazies have taken photos of the stages of egg fertilization in chickens. Like they say on the website, I always thought the yolk turned into the chicken!!

Clay Aiken to Have a Baby

Artificial Insemination, ‘Nuff Said.

One of the Last “Uncontacted” Tribes in the World Fire Arrows at Helicopter

These pictures are incredible. “Thought never to have had any contact with the outside world, everything about these people is, and hopefully will remain, a mystery.” Whoa.

Karl Rove Subpoenaed by Congress, Clinton threatens Barry, Isreali Weapons, and Much More!

Karl Rove subpoenaed by the US House of Representatives

Karl will be answering questions relating to his involvement with the controversial (read: they were politically motivated/illegal) firings of US Attorneys from the Justice Department. My bet: he may go, but he won’t answer questions, claiming executive privilege. And he’ll go into hiding before he goes to jail. (AFP)

Hillary Plots to Murder … I mean, Hillary Says the Wrong Thing

Ooops! Senator Hillary Clinton accidentaly on Friday when asked about why she doesn’t drop out of the race before June, “My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.” Oh My. Oh Dear. Oh HilDawg!

Wonkette has Video of Clinton Directing Stephanopoulos to Kill Barry Hussein Obama!! (Not Really)

I laughed out loud and scared my coworkers when I watched this video. Hillary Gives the Order.

Celebrating Veterans on Memorial Day, Bush Offers Insight

President Bush said today in Arlington Cemetery that Veterans are, “an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens.” Thank you, commander.

Fox News Anchor Laughs at her own Osama/Obama Assassination Joke

‘When asked her opinion of the recent scandal surrounding some comments made by Sen. Hillary Clinton, which Fox News Anchor Liz Trotta described by saying that, “some are reading [it] as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama.” Hemmer quickly corrected Trotta, having noticed that she had said “Osama” when she meant “Obama.” At this point, Trotta said, “Obama. Well…both if we could!” Trotta then laughed gleefully.’ (Huffington Post)

THE WIRE Creator Ed Burns discusses the 30 Year Old “War On Drugs” with Reason.com

Slate: Why It’s Harder to Run for President with an “Unsual” Name by Jeff Greenfield

Jimmy Carter: Israel has 150 Nuclear Weapons (London Times)

FEC Can’t Handle Obama Fundraising Cashcow: MS Excel can only take 65,536 rows and 256 columns (politico)

CNN: Iraq has Teens Train for Suicide Missions

Gallop Poll: Clinton Beats McCain, Obama Ties

Damn. (Rawstory)

There’s more, but I’m scared of the thunderstorm and am leaving.

Elections, Teddy Kennedy, New Money, and More

Senator Ted Kennedy has a “malignant brain tumor,” according to doctors in Boston.

The Senator had a seizure over the weekend that was first thought a possible stroke.  After testing, the tumor has been discovered and identified as a “malignant glioma” in the top of the Senator’s brain.  Colleagues from both sides of the aisle have been stating their support for the Senator.  (NPR)

Senators Clinton and Obama continue their battle for the Democratic nomination…

It is widely expected that, after the voting ends tonight in Kentucky and Oregon, Senator Barack Obama will have the majority of pledged delegates, but he still will not have enough to secure the nomination.  Voting ends at 6 CST in Kentucky and 10 CST this evening.  Obama will still be between 50 and 75 delegates (total required: 2,026 delegates to win).  Clinton is expected to win Kentucky handily, while Oregon is likely going to go for Obama by up to eleven points. (reuters)

**Update: NPR News et al have called Kentucky for Senator Clinton.

More tomorrow — I gots to go!

You Talk Too Much, Don’t It?

Why was President Bush talking US elections during a speech in Israel to celebrate Israel? Why did he bring up Hitler? Why oh why???

President Bush says Elect Barry Hussein Obama and You’ll Die

In a speech in Israel to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of that country, our pResident said, “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along.” (Bloomberg)

This is not only an unfair and ridiculous thing to throw at Obama, what the heck does a statement like that have to do with Israeli politics? I understand that Israel depends on the US for military aid, but should the President have been campaigning for John McCain in the Knesset (Israeli parliament)?

The pResident continued, “We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: `Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’”

Yes, pResident Bush, in the Israeli Parliament, on the 60th anniversary of the creation of their country, talked Hitler. “An American senator declared…” Seriously? Not subtle. Please stop talking.

Senators Obama and Clinton both denounced the statements, as well they should. The White House contends that they mentioned no one by name, and that the pResident was talking history, not current US politics. Again, he should just not talk at all.

Stephen Colbert responds: “Now, this can only mean one thing, folks– the American Senator who wanted to talk to Hitler back in 1939 was, in fact Barack Obama. He is not just a secret Muslim. He’s a secret time-traveling Nazi Muslim.” (Comedy Central/RawStory with Video) Also: Comedy Central does a side by side comparison of Hitler and Barack. And it’s horrible.

Senator Barack Obama responds: I believe there is no separation between John McCain and George Bush when it comes to our Middle East policy and I think their policy has failed. I will make that case as strongly as I can to the American people. I trust the American people to trust their own eyes and to see what the results have been.”

And John McCain: “It would be a wonderful thing if we lived in a world where we don’t have enemies,” McCain said Friday at the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Ky. “But that is not the world we live in, and until Senator Obama understands that reality, the American people have every reason to doubt whether he has the strength, judgment, and determination to keep us safe.” (Politico)

And the NYTimes Editorial: The President goes Negative.

Tens of Thousands Dead in China after Quake, 5 million or more Homeless:

CHENGDU, CHINA — With the death toll still rising from the Sichuan earthquake, China disclosed that at least four million apartments and homes had been damaged or destroyed in the massive quake, leaving almost five million people homeless.

Strong aftershocks were continuing to rattle the disaster zone yesterday, knocking out phone lines and triggering landslides that blocked roads and buried a number of vehicles on a road leading to the epicentre. (Globe and Mail)

NPR’s INCREDIBLE coverage of the earthquake in China: All Things Considered hosts Robert Siegel and Melissa Block are in Sichuan Province covering the massive earthquake. They continue to report on the aftermath and recovery efforts.

Gay Folks can now get Married in California:

In a 4-3 decision, the California Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to prevent gay men and women to wed in their state.

OpEd Dana Parsons: Same-Sex Marriage is no Threat to Society – “Being a heterosexual male — not that there’s anything wrong with that — the gay-marriage debate doesn’t hit me where I live. If I had half a brain, I’d just leave the subject alone because you know how some people get when the topic is raised.”

And the CA Catholic Daily: Gay marriage will destroy the earth (paraphrased).

And opponents of equal rights – I mean, uh, gay marriage – want to change the CA Constitution

Mike Huckabee Jokes about Obama Getting Assassinated

You can’t make this stuff up:

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he’s getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.” (CNN Political Ticker – 16 May 2008)

Rush Limbaugh: White Obama would’ve been knocked out of race by now:

On his radio show, while discussing recent statements Sen. Barack Obama made about Afghanistan, Rush Limbaugh asserted: “If Barack Obama were Caucasian, they would have taken this guy out on the basis of pure ignorance long ago.”

What is with these nutjobs??

Rep Tom Davis Uses Term “Tar Baby” In GOP Obama Memo:

In a 20-page memo on GOP electoral troubles, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) repeatedly misspells Barack Obama’s name and uses the term “tar baby” in a paragraph about Obama and immigration. (Crooks and Liars)

“Remember,” Davis writes, “Hispanic voters are a swing group in this election and future elections. John McCain, being from a border state, may be out of sync with many Republicans but he has standing among Hispanics. Barrack Obama has not made the sale to Hispanic voters. Thus, this issue is a tar baby for anyone who touches it, with land mines everywhere.”

Wow.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Visits Iraq in Secret:

Pelosi went into the meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shortly after arriving in the Iraqi capital, a government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information. (AP)

Soldier refuses to serve in “illegal war:”

“I stand before you today with the strength and clarity and resolve to declare to the military, my government and the world that this soldier will not be deploying to Iraq,” the soldier stated… (AFP)

Gay in Poland? The Catholic Church can Help!

“The Odwaga (Catholic) Center uses therapy, prayer and chastity to teach its patients to resist their homosexual impulses. Men at the center are taught to play football and women are taught to cook.” (RawStory)

LSD vs. Alcohol vs. Tree

This is just funny. Including:

RawStory Barry H Pic: