A new Newsweek poll has come out indicating a majority of American's don't like the way the Bush administration is expanding federal powers to fight terrorism — a poll that contradicts an earlier Washington Post poll, although the wording of the polls and the times they were taken may not be the same. First, the news from Newsweek:Has the Bush administration gone too far … [Read more...] about Newsweek Poll: Americans Don’t Like NSA Phone Database Spying Plan

According to Reuters, "U.N. inspectors have discovered new traces of highly-enriched uranium on nuclear equipment in Iran, deepening suspicions Tehran may still be concealing the full extent of its atomic enrichment program". The samples were taken from "a former research center at Lavizan-Shiyan". The center has since been "razed". The discovery suggests that there may indeed … [Read more...] about New highly-enriched uranium traces discovered in Iran

Travel back to the 50s and see Lucy and Ricky demonstrate a model that vanished: the Ford Retractable Hardtop. … [Read more...] about The Automobile Future Was Yesterday

We've said repeatedly in our posts that a key problem with the Bush administration is its nonstop, growing credibility crisis. It's a huge underlying factor in the current uproar over the collection of phone call data by NSA — a controversy that actually swirls on several other, more evident fronts. One is the privacy issue. One is the legality issue. Those are and will … [Read more...] about Some Other Implications Of The NSA Phone Databank Scandal

CNN: Thousands flee fiery volcano More than 20,000 people have been urged to evacuate their homes ahead of an "imminent" eruption of Indonesia's Mount Merapi. A lava dome forming at the peak of one of the nation's most dangerous and active volcanoes has triggered fresh concerns. Authorities are going door to door on Saturday to encourage residents to leave the densely … [Read more...] about The Earth Speaks….

Amba thinks the time has come for the middle to get galvanized. More here. … [Read more...] about Centrists…Get Tough

...different strokes for different folks... … [Read more...] about When It Comes To Burglaries

Judge: Have you ever been indicted? Defendant: Not since I was a baby, your honor.... That (old) joke may be a laughing matter (actually, given the quality of the joke, it isn't) but some dead serious predictions are now being made about the legal fate of White House political guru Karl Rove. Truthout.org goes out-on-a-limb on this one:Within the last week, Karl Rove told … [Read more...] about Will Karl Rove Be Indicted?

A Washington Post/ABC News poll finds widespread support for the NSA's phone data collection program:A majority of Americans initially support a controversial National Security Agency program to collect information on telephone calls made in the United States in an effort to identify and investigate potential terrorist threats, according to a Washington Post-ABC News … [Read more...] about Poll Says Most Americans Support NSA’s Program (UPDATED)

BBC:US federal agents have searched the house and office of the outgoing executive director of the CIA. Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, formerly the third-ranking official at the spy agency, announced his retirement earlier this week. He has been linked to a probe into possible corruption involving agency contracts, but denies any wrongdoing. The raid comes at a time of upheaval for the … [Read more...] about FBI Raids Home of CIA’s Outgoing Exec. Director

Or so my academic overlords/professors tell me. They instructed me to write this post. … [Read more...] about We…Are…Not…Being…Indoctrinated

From George Allen's (R-VA) senate campaign: "Allen To Travel In Virginia This Weekend." Good for him. After spending so much time in places like Iowa (he wishes he was born there!) and New Hampshire, it's nice of him to deign to give his own constituents a visit every once in awhile. At least, until 2008. … [Read more...] about Welcome Home Senator

It must be seen to be believed. … [Read more...] about NewsMax “Sells” The War?

Luttig's own resignation letter refers to "sheer serendipity". It was "a particular privilege to serve on the court" after 9/11. Since then, "the court has been asked to address some of the most complex and far-reaching legal issues of our day". Indeed, Luttig says, he has "loved every single aspect and every single moment of [his] service". But the Boeing offer "is a singular … [Read more...] about So why did Michael Luttig resign?

Egads, we get emails . But, alas, TMV himself will be out of pocket much of today(which means we can't post and that includes links sent to us for today). But keep checking back since our talented co-bloggers should have some things to say. … [Read more...] about TMV Himself Out Of Pocket Today

MSNBC, BBC and CNN have all emailed me about an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria which has killed anywhere from no-one to 200 people and may or may not be an accident. Go here for coverage: MSNBC BBC CNN UPDATE FROM REUTERS: LAGOS (Reuters) - A pipeline explosion on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria's biggest city, killed about 100 people on Friday, a Red Cross official … [Read more...] about Nigerian Blast: An Accident or Terrorism?

So Rush Limbaugh reportedly said Iran's President's letter to President George Bush had "the Democratic talking points, other than Israel, and even there... even some liberal Hollywood Jewish people talking point." Now, aside from Rush deciding to use a letter from Iran's President to demonize an entire political party (read that meaning "stir up hatred of"), this is veering … [Read more...] about Rush Limbaugh Veers Towards No-No Territory

...about anything. … [Read more...] about These Days You Can Sue

A quick update to yesterday morning's post on the DoJ ending its ethics investigation of itself in regard to the NSA warrantless eavesdrop program. The NYTimes reports this morning (in its story about the new hubbub over phone call collecting, which is covered well below) that Senator Specter yesterday called the denial of security clearances to the DoJ's Office of Professional … [Read more...] about UPDATE On Justice Department NSA Investigation

With each week seemingly taking President George Bush's political poll numbers to a new low, the latest controversy over the disclosure that the government has secretly collected data on phone call records of millions of Americans comes when Bush is not at his optimum political strength. Or enjoying optimum credibility except among his most steadfast supporters. Part of the … [Read more...] about NSA Call Database Disclosure Unleashes Firestorm