Go check out the official blog of Hillary's campaign. An intro:: Welcome to the campaign's new blog. I'm Crystal Patterson, and I'll be blogging for the campaign as Hillary travels around the country meeting all of you and sharing her vision for America. I was the one asking your questions during Hillary's live webcasts (if you missed them, you can watch them here). I look … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Blog
A short ride on the Straight Talk Express
I'll admit it. Happily. I've been pretty hard on John McCain, criticizing him harshly for his views on, inter alia, Iraq, abortion, same-sex marriage, and so-called intelligent design. Well, the old McCain -- the far more admirable one -- emerged yesterday in South Carolina. Sort of. At a retirement community near Hilton Head, he had this to say about the war (and one of the … [Read more...] about A short ride on the Straight Talk Express
Round 2 of a Bush-Supreme Court Showdown Looms
Another high-stakes showdown between the White House and the Supreme Court looms after a federal appeals court today upheld a key provision in President Bush's anti-terrorism law stating that Guantánamo Bay detainees may not challenge their military detention in civilian courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that civilian courts no … [Read more...] about Round 2 of a Bush-Supreme Court Showdown Looms
Of Criminals and U.S. Military Traditions
Here is a thought provoking edit in The New York Times: "The Iraq war has plunged the Army into a vicious cycle of declining standards. Multiple, extended tours of duty have sapped morale and blighted recruiting. New plans for a larger overall force could reduce pressures but would also mean that recruiters would have to meet higher quotas. "To keep filling the ranks, the … [Read more...] about Of Criminals and U.S. Military Traditions
Rape of the Seas
This is the harsh editorial heading in today's edition of The Independent following a news report based on the findings of leading American scientists. "The madness of the over-fishing of our oceans shows no signs of abating. A research paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco yesterday shows that, as fish stocks in coastal … [Read more...] about Rape of the Seas
Hillary’s Tough on Terrorism
Hillary Clinton will position herself as the Democratic candidate who's tough on security / terrorism / etc. Clinton also sought to draw a contrast with some of her Democratic rivals on the issue of terrorism. "Some people may be running who may tell you that we don't face a real threat from terrorism," she said. "I am not one of those." Chris Cillizza points out that … [Read more...] about Hillary’s Tough on Terrorism
Iraq, Al Qaeda and The Mulberry Bush Syndrome
Ayman Al-Zawahiri is again a familiar Al Qaeda talking head As surely as the sun comes up in the East, it was only a matter of time before American intelligence agencies would have to acknowledge that Al Qaeda, bowed but not beaten, has re-emerged in South Asia as a deadly force to again be reckoned with. As surely as the sun comes up in the East, it was only a matter of … [Read more...] about Iraq, Al Qaeda and The Mulberry Bush Syndrome
Is the Maverick Back?
This is quite surprising: Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday the war in Iraq has been mismanaged for years and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be remembered as one of the worst in history. "We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement _ that's the kindest word I can give you _ of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war," the Arizona … [Read more...] about Is the Maverick Back?
DVD Review: Street Fight
Filmmaker Marshall Curry’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, Street Fight is a story about how a nice guy in politics finishes last. Or did he? Street Fight is now out on DVD with a short update added at the end of the film -- and, oh, what a difference the short update at the end means.... The documentary centers on the 2002 mayoral race in Newark, New Jersey … [Read more...] about DVD Review: Street Fight
United States Senate Iraq War
Schwarzenegger, Woody Allen, Hillary Clinton and I: Are We Lucky Pigs?
Well that's what the Chinese think!!! We were all born in the Chinese Year of the Pig in 1947. The Year of the Pig repeats itself after every 12 years. But 2007 is going to be an extremely lucky year for the Pigs. "A rolling barrage of fireworks greeted the Year of the Pig in Beijing as residents chased away any lingering bad spirits and celebrated the new moon in boisterous … [Read more...] about Schwarzenegger, Woody Allen, Hillary Clinton and I: Are We Lucky Pigs?
Can Religions of the World Unite for World Peace?
Will the Protestant and the Catholic churches be able to heal their centuries old rift and unite under the Papal authority in Rome? Difficult to say but some interesting developments are taking place in that direction. Writes Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent of The Times: "Radical proposals to reunite Anglicans with the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership of the … [Read more...] about Can Religions of the World Unite for World Peace?
Literary Quote of the Day: John Greenleaf Whittier
Today's literary quote of the day is from John Greenleaf Whittier's Ichabod! When faith is lost, when honor dies, The man is dead! Share your thoughts on today's literary quote in the comment section of this post. … [Read more...] about Literary Quote of the Day: John Greenleaf Whittier
From Darfur to Chad
From the BBC: The violence in Chad could turn into a genocide similar to that in Rwanda in 1994, the UN refugee agency has warned. The UNHCR says the killing tactics from neighbouring Darfur in Sudan have been transported to eastern Chad in full. The U.N. and the A.U. seem confident that a joint "border peace force" will be established, but: Concern is now … [Read more...] about From Darfur to Chad
It’s All a Game
Sacha Zimmerman points out the horrifying: "[W]e demand more tolerance from our NBA stars than from our presidential candidates." … [Read more...] about It’s All a Game
White History Month
Stop teaching Jim Crow in the passive voice. … [Read more...] about White History Month
The Context of the Thailand Bombings
At least 28 bombs went off in Muslim-predominant southern Thailand yesterday, near the Malaysian border. The AP reports: The bombings targeted hotels, karaoke bars, power grids and commercial sites in the country's southernmost provinces, the only parts of predominantly Buddhist Thailand with Muslim majorities. Two public schools were torched. Three people were killed, … [Read more...] about The Context of the Thailand Bombings
The John McCain Dumpster Diving Tour
In life and in war, turnabout is fair play, and that may be nowhere more true than in politics. And so we have the sorry sight of John Kerry flip-flopping on yet another issue and sucking up to yet another right-wing constituency . . . Wait a minute! Kerry has quit politics. It’s John McCain, that "maverick" Republican presidential candidate, who has become a … [Read more...] about The John McCain Dumpster Diving Tour
Hillary Clinton’s Lesser Babka
In a belated attempt to look like she's as serious about stopping the Iraq War as her fellow Democratic presidential candidates and as other leading Democrats like Senators John Kerry and Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton "has called for a 90-day deadline to start pulling American troops from Iraq". Here's how she put it in a video on her website: "Now it's time to say the … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s Lesser Babka
India Hit by Terrorist Attack
Nos Journaal reports (Dutch), that bombs exploded in the New Delhi (India) - Lahore (Pakistan) train: 66 people have died. After the bombs exploded, the train caught fire. Passengers were trapped. They could go nowhere. Indian police found suitcases with homemade explosives in them in the train. The idea behind the explosives was not to kill many people immediately, but … [Read more...] about India Hit by Terrorist Attack