Your daily dose of civil rights and related news I'm not sure I agree with this reading of Frederick Douglass' career, but the comparison to Obama is interesting nonetheless. Virginia's new project to use DNA evidence to help exonerate falsely-convicted prisoners continues. The business community is throwing everything it has against the Ledbetter Fair Pay act. The … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/18/08
Nouriel Roubini: economist and pessimist
The New York University economics professor predicting a continuing crisis in the U.S. economy: For months Roubini has been arguing that the true cost of the housing crisis will not be a mere $300 billion — the amount allowed for by the housing legislation sponsored by Representative Barney Frank and Senator Christopher Dodd — but something between a trillion and a trillion … [Read more...] about Nouriel Roubini: economist and pessimist
Crosses, Cones & Codgers, Oh My!
Is it possible that the addled John McCain really believes the "cross in the dirt" incident occurred when he was a POW? I'll give him that much, but isn't it curious that he has brought it up at a time when a guy to whom such an incident did happened has been much in the news? And won't it just be ducky when we get past the conventions and can move on from crosses in the … [Read more...] about Crosses, Cones & Codgers, Oh My!
Bush Endangers Species
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Bush Endangers Species
Futuristic Glass
One of 10 Futuristic User Interfaces discussed at Smashing Magazine. … [Read more...] about Futuristic Glass
Wapo Hit Piece on Bob Barr
If you're Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, you have to start wondering which is worse: having the press virtually ignore your campaign or having them pay attention to it. While some may follow the Hollywood maxim of, "any press is good press as long as they spell your name right," the Barr team may not take any comfort from that after reading the results of Libby Copeland's two … [Read more...] about Wapo Hit Piece on Bob Barr
The Guantánamo Trials: Castles Built Of Sand & Other Bush Torture Regime News
When the Bush administration put out the word that only guilty verdicts were allowable at the Guantánamo Bay war crimes tribunal, Brigadier General Thomas Hartmann saluted crisply and answered the call. Hartmann (small photo), an Air Force reservist and corporate lawyer, has been a relentless and aggressive advocate for the military commission system despite his supposedly … [Read more...] about The Guantánamo Trials: Castles Built Of Sand & Other Bush Torture Regime News
Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf Resigns
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation in a live telecast to his countrymen today. He warned that the country was going down the hill. He said would send his formal resignation today itself, thus saving himself from the humiliation of the impeachment proceedings against him. This follows hectic backroom parleys/bargaining between powerful diplomats … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf Resigns
Pervez Musharraf’s “New Home”? (Update)
As the presidential impeachment drama unfolds in Pakistan, the indications are that Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf might resign if he is allowed to stay on in Pakistan and gets immunity from legal action. I recommend three interesting stories as to where Musharraf could find a sanctuary. "The United States and Britain remain top of the list of with Turkey and Saudi … [Read more...] about Pervez Musharraf’s “New Home”? (Update)
The ‘The Dirty Wars of Bush and Calderon’: From Mexico’s La Jornada
As you might imagine, trying to cover what the rest of the world thinks and says about the United States is a pretty ambitious undertaking. At times, when there is a major story like the war in Georgia or the U.S. presidential election, many other issues get shunted aside for a time. One such issue is the 'war on drugs' now taking place in Mexico, in good measure funded by … [Read more...] about The ‘The Dirty Wars of Bush and Calderon’: From Mexico’s La Jornada
John McCain and Ben Stein’s Money
Ben Stein, droll Renaissance man, said in a recent piece in the New York Times that he doesn't like paying taxes. But the lawyer, actor, and one-time speech writer for two presidents (Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford) is unimpressed with the supply side economics of the two most recent two-term GOP presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. He's also unimpressed that … [Read more...] about John McCain and Ben Stein’s Money
High School dress codes: the Confederate flag & the boy in the hot pink boots
Can High Schools enforce dress codes? Or do dress codes violate the teenage students' free speech rights? Let's consider the following two cases... David Shraub points to the case of the Knoxville, TN, area teen suspended for wearing the Confederate flag: "This case is about much more than Tom Defoe." That statement by Defoe's attorney Wednesday was the one thing on … [Read more...] about High School dress codes: the Confederate flag & the boy in the hot pink boots
Saddlegate?
I mostly agree with Joe Gandelman's take on the Saddleback Forum. Both candidates did well, though McCain beat the lower expectations set for him. I'd only add that the event took place on hardcore GOP home turf, so McCain's policy answers are naturally going to please more of the crowd than Obama's. Either way, McCain came out of it looking safe on the issues for the … [Read more...] about Saddlegate?
Before Georgia, It is Europe that Needs Mediation: Financial Times Deutschland
Everyone agrees that the Georgia-Russia crisis requires European mediation. But the question is, who'll settle the dispute among Europeans about what to do? As WORLDMEETS.US and The Moderate Voice readers have seen from around the continent over the past two weeks - Eastern and Central Europeans are completely split over what to do about the resurgent Russian bear. This … [Read more...] about Before Georgia, It is Europe that Needs Mediation: Financial Times Deutschland
Election 2008: Scoreboard
With 45 of the 50 states completed, we now have some outright majorities to report and they are unlikely to give the Republicans much comfort. President: Not only does Senator Obama retain his lead, he has now reached a majority for election. The numbers from the first 45 states give him 272 Electoral Votes to 224 for Senator McCain. This is a net Democratic Gain of 41 … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Scoreboard
Election 2008: Vermont
In the 102 years between the birth of the Republican Party in 1854 and the year 1956, the state of Vermont had a 100% record of electing Republican governors, senators, congressman and Presidents. Since then, the trend has shifted to the point that the state is now a Democratic stronghold. President: One word, Obama. Safe Democrat Governor: Although the state is a … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Vermont
Election 2008: Utah
Interestingly when Utah became a state it was dominated by the Democrats to a degree only rivaled in the solid south. Mormon leaders openly joined the GOP in order to try and establish a more balanced state (well some other ideas worked). President: The networks can save some time and project Utah for McCain now. Safe Republican Governor: They can also projected … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Utah
Election 2008: Texas
There are many ways in which Texas is unique among the states, but one of the lesser-known ones is the fact that it has the right to subdivide into as many as five states should it choose to. This would give it 8 more Senators and probably more House seats and electoral votes. President: Senator Obama has a decent base in Texas between minority voters and urban liberals but … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Texas
Election 2008: Tennessee
This week the state of Tennessee is probably best-thought-of as the home of Elvis Presley but in November it will probably be a second-tier state in most political analyses. President: Although Obama is going to make a real effort to win, or at least keep the GOP spending money there, the state usually votes Republican and even rejected native-son Al Gore. Leans … [Read more...] about Election 2008: Tennessee
Election 2008: South Dakota
South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore, Republicans and a populist streak that sometimes overcomes the GOP nature of the state. President: Senator Obama may want to use the state for a photo op but he has little chance of winning it in November. Safe Republican Senate: Incumbent Senator Tim Johnson (D) is something of the Mark Phelps of politics in South Dakota. Two … [Read more...] about Election 2008: South Dakota