Andrew Sullivan points to The Economist suggestion that Religious diversity may be caused by disease: SOME people, notably Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist at Oxford University, regard religion as a disease. It spreads, they suggest, like a virus, except that the “viruses” are similar to those infecting computers—bits of cultural software that take over the hardware … [Read more...] about Scientific proof of the good that religions provide
Civil Rights Roundup: 08/08/08
Your daily dose of civil rights and related news Texas has executed another illegal immigrant in a case with similar fact patterns to Medellin. ...And the Washington Post asks why Texas hates America. A federal judge ruled that the government owes Indian tribes $455 million for mismanaged oil and gas revenues -- far less than the $47 billion they were seeking. Even … [Read more...] about Civil Rights Roundup: 08/08/08
Music Man Minds
It's no secret that a certain six-letter word has had its fair share of exercise this election season. I'm talking, of course, about "change." The funny thing about change is that, the further along this election season moves, and the more we read and talk with people about it, the more we see hints that the masses are starting to migrate -- from hunger for change to fear … [Read more...] about Music Man Minds
Four Innocent Victims; Two Dead
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about Four Innocent Victims; Two Dead
Kick off the Olympics with a new war!
What better way to note the opening day of the Olympics than with a new war. James Joyner reports that Russi has tanks rolling over the border into the Caucasus region of South Ossetia in Georgia. (For all of you who consider yourself "caucasian" this may be your homeland. Ok... enough snark.) Indeed, news reports have already begun pouring in about military activity in the … [Read more...] about Kick off the Olympics with a new war!
That Habbush Letter… Redux
Can someone explain this to me, please? This isn't some sort of rhetorical device, by the way. I honestly would like some help in understanding the questions surrounding Ron Suskind's allegations regarding the forged documents which sought to tie Saddam to AQ in an effort to gin up support for the Iraq war. According to his account, George Tenet delivered the order from the … [Read more...] about That Habbush Letter… Redux
Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf In Trouble?
Yes, says The Economist. It seems that Pakistan's rival centers of power are converging on one theme. "After showdown talks on August 6th and 7th Mr Nawaz Sharif and the PPP’s leader, Asif Zardari, reached a provisional agreement to impeach the president and restore the judges (sacked by President Musharraf). (Meanwhile in a dramatic development President Pervez Musharraf on … [Read more...] about Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf In Trouble?
Beware The Double Helix Of History
History has a funny way of bending back on itself. Contemporary events uncannily echo past events and past events suddenly present themselves not as hoary old newsreel images but as preludes to today. It is easy to dismiss this double helix of history as merely a series of coincidences. Were it only that simple. It is not, as several of today's posts at my blog make … [Read more...] about Beware The Double Helix Of History
Foreign News Roundup
We all tend to focus on stories in our own country so I thought I'd post just a few of the stories that are making news overseas. In Brazil while the economy around the world remains sluggish the people of this South American nation are enjoying a boom thanks in part to efforts to balance the left and the right in management of the economy. But the government does make … [Read more...] about Foreign News Roundup
McGovern Opposes EFCA
In something of a surprise former Senator and Presidential Candidate George McGovern has come out in opposition to the so called Employee Free Choice Act which is being pushed by labor unions. The EFCA seeks to amend current labor laws with regard to how they deal with the formation and certification of unions in the workplace. Right now there can be a secret ballot to … [Read more...] about McGovern Opposes EFCA
Myanmar Still A Disaster
Despite being ruled by the "glorious and wonderful government" of Than Shwe and his cronies things continue to get worse and worse in Myanmar. According to the United Nations there is still little progress towards fixing the damage caused by Cyclone Nargis earlier this year. Officially at least 140,000 people died but many believe the true death toll may actually be closer … [Read more...] about Myanmar Still A Disaster
Perhaps We Fret Too Much
The race between Steve Cohen and Nikki Tinker has certainly caused some stress for those of us concerned with Black/Jewish relations, but we may have worried too much: With 67% reporting, Cohen is stomping Tinker by 60 points. Presumably, if a strong Tinker challenge fueled by anti-Semitic themes would have strained Black/Jewish relations, a majority Black district … [Read more...] about Perhaps We Fret Too Much
Republican same-sex marriage backers reap big benefits
The NYSun: Assembly Republicans who bucked party leaders and voted to legalize same-sex marriage in New York have been rewarded with an outpouring of donations from gay rights advocates across the nation. The lawmakers...have benefited from a fund-raising network stretching to at least nine other states. The money has flowed in at such a rapid pace that these Republicans … [Read more...] about Republican same-sex marriage backers reap big benefits
‘Barack Obama Pumped Up His Muscles Right Next to Me’
This story was first mentioned in the United States by Maureen Dowd of The New York Times. In her column she wrote that Barack Obama felt 'hustled' by a German reporter for the Bild newspaper, who pretended to have accidentally noticed him at a Berlin gym and sought to have a picture taken with him. As it turned out - she had stalked him to write this article, which … [Read more...] about ‘Barack Obama Pumped Up His Muscles Right Next to Me’
The Hamdan Sentence and Another Aspect to Hamdan and the Proceedings Against Detainees
I previously discussed commentary by legal and policy experts on the terror detainee procedures used in the Hamdan case. Shaun Mullen has background here. Hamdan has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years, which---as The Washington Post says---is a relatively light sentence. Prosecutors wanted him to get 30 years, if not a life sentence. (WaPo) [The sentence] means the first … [Read more...] about The Hamdan Sentence and Another Aspect to Hamdan and the Proceedings Against Detainees
Plenty of Pawlenty
The so-called "veepstakes" bore me. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty does not. I need to learn more about him before making a fully informed judgment, but stuff like this sparks my interest: Gov. Pawlenty suggested Republicans occasionally have done a poor job of addressing growing economic anxiety among many blue-collar and middle-class voters. He had earlier used the term … [Read more...] about Plenty of Pawlenty
Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s off to jail I go!
"CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!" Detroit (Michigan) Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been ordered to jail today for violating the terms of his bond: Mayor Kilpatrick jailed By Doug Guthrie and David Josar / The Detroit News DETROIT -- A judge on Thursday ordered Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to jail, shocking the city and plunging the leadership of the nation's 11th-largest city into … [Read more...] about Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s off to jail I go!
An Energy Policy vs. An Energy Vision
John McCain has taken what seems in this highly energy-conscious election year a prudent view about energy. We have to use all our options, he says. Drill, drill, drill for more oil offshore. Use more clean coal. And yes, develop alternative energy resources if and when this seems possible. It's a safe-sounding policy. But that's all it is. A policy. A way to plod along as … [Read more...] about An Energy Policy vs. An Energy Vision
The (True) Wisdom of Crowds
Recently, my partner and I were walking around the Twin Cities Gay Pride Festival enjoying the day. We stopped at the Log Cabin Republicans booth just to say hello to folks. (I have been part of Log Cabin for years and staffed the booth at Pride for several years.) I ended up talking to this guy who had stopped at the booth to complain about the GOP. I expressed my support … [Read more...] about The (True) Wisdom of Crowds
McCain: Obama Forced Me to Go Negative
At this point, John McCain’s ability to hold multiple views on the same subject is quickly becoming the stuff of legend. Exhibit A in this regard is his shifting rationales for running negative campaign ads that attack everything from Barack Obama’s self image to his eating habits to his religious scruples. But this explanation offered in a David Broder column takes the … [Read more...] about McCain: Obama Forced Me to Go Negative