Booker Rising thinks so and tells you why. … [Read more...] about Is Osama bin Laden “Trippin'”?

No, I'm not talking about the recent staff shakeup. I'm talking about the White House's gawd awful website. Check out a new design here. … [Read more...] about Redesigning The White House

Good news for Taco Bell and perhaps fewer future giggles for schoolboys everywhere. The BBC reports: A method of creating super-nutritious but flatulence-free beans has been developed by scientists. Beans are a cheap and key source of nutrition especially in the developing world, but many people are thought to be put off by anti-social side-effects.What can they possibly mean … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Scientific Advance: Flatulance-Free Bean Invented

It's a good one. Possibly even brilliant...not something we usually see from the Dems. More here. … [Read more...] about The Dems Gas Tax Idea

In response to challenges on my last post drawing links between American torture policy abroad, and the brutal acts in Tennessee, I wrote the following email: **** When one does not condemn/tacitly consents to X immoral action, it does send a message to the world and to particular persons that X is condoned, even if that message is not intended. This is not particularly … [Read more...] about Asleep at the Gate

If we start torturing suspected terrorists, where do we stop? Suspected murderers? Robbers? Drug dealers? Read the story and listen to the audio of a suspected small-time drug dealer being beaten and shocked through his testicles by "officers of the law." From Abu Gharib to Guantanamo to Black Sites to the American south. If you don't stop inhumanity at the start, it spreads … [Read more...] about Torture Spreads To Tennessee

Also at The Reaction, The (liberal) Girl Next Door looks at the president's record on the environment and finds it rather lacking. It's a provocative post. See here. … [Read more...] about Bush and the environment

Newt Gingrich has laid out five points he feels are vital to America's future. Number two is "Defending God in the public square." Alan Stewart Carl explores this idea. … [Read more...] about Newt And God

Ahmadinejad's at it again. According to the AP, he said yesterday that Israel is a "fake regime" that shouldn't "continue to live". Lovely, huh? I realize he's playing the nationalism card for a domestic audience, but what is one to make of a nuclear Iran that makes such overt threats against Israel? (For past Ahmadmaninejadisms, see here. How's that for my neologism of the … [Read more...] about The Madman of Tehran speaks again

It's all but official — because it's now being leaked. CNN reports:Sources close to the White House said Monday that Fox anchor Tony Snow is likely to accept the job as White House press secretary, succeeding Scott McClellan. The sources said they expect him to announce his decision within the next few days. A source familiar with the discussions said Monday that newly … [Read more...] about Fox News‘ Tony Snow Reportedly Will Be White House Press Spokesman

Over at The Reaction, guest blogger Aspazia tackles poverty and health care within a feminist framework. Her conclusion: The risk here for many feminists is that we would be neglecting the specific agenda already laid out. But, I am sorry, I just don’t believe that feminist politics -- whether we are talking about NOW or Feminist Majority -- are going to be effective until … [Read more...] about Rethinking feminism: Poverty and health care

Sean Aqui runs the numbers:So let’s review the math. After four years of holding prisoners without charge, and without affording them the protections of either our legal system or the Geneva Convention, we have: 390 prisoners released without charge; 34 or so charged with various crimes; 300 or so continuing to be held without charge or any effective way to challenge their … [Read more...] about Our Shameful Detainee Policy

AP via the Toledo Blade: TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s top leader said today that Tehran is ready to transfer its nuclear technology to other countries. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the comments in a meeting with visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who said last month that his impoverished, wartorn country was considering trying to create a nuclear program to generate … [Read more...] about Tehran Would Like to Share

There are more signs that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld could be a kind of political anchor around the Bush White House's and the GOP Congress' necks this election year. And it raises the question: despite official smiles, handshakes, and declarations of loyalty, is Rumsfeld's political goose cooked or not? Will he join the list of other administration members who … [Read more...] about Is Donald Rumsfeld’s Political Goose Cooked Or Not?

Are you?I’m tired of people who find principles when their pensions are secured and people who are all for free trade (except for the trade restrictions that benefit them, personally). I’m tired of Fortune 1000 CEO’s who make 100’s of millions of dollars when there’s not a doubt in my mind that an Indian CEO every bit as competent could be hired for a fraction of the … [Read more...] about Dave Schuler Is Tired

...at the new point/counterpoint style left/right debate blog Swords Crossed. Swords Crossed is the brainchild of two of the finest political brains on the left and the right: longtime Daily Kos writer Armando (he uses his first name as a pen name) and Josh Trevino, a co-founder of the solid conservative website Red State.Org. Swords Crossed is new: in fact, its official … [Read more...] about Take A Peek….

A very special post by a blogger on Jane Goodall. NOTE: TMV has done some work over the years for the Jane Goodall Institute and makes no secret of his support for environmental causes, endangered species and efforts to save the ANWR region from drilling. He is a proud member of THIS ORGANIZATION. … [Read more...] about Boston’s Special Visitor On Earth Day

Yet another new poll shows President George Bush's poll numbers going down — although one commentator warns that it may not necessarily be a "new low." The new poll is from CNN and it seemingly shows Bush's new numbers down lower than ever:President Bush's approval ratings have sunk to a personal low, with only a third of Americans saying they approve of the way he is … [Read more...] about Another New Poll Shows Bush Support Going Down

Glad to see the legislators in South Carolina are tackling the "hard" issues:COLUMBIA — Lucy’s Love Shop employee Wanda Gillespie said she was flabbergasted that South Carolina’s Legislature is considering outlawing sex toys. But banning the sale of sex toys is actually quite common in some Southern states. The South Carolina bill, proposed by Republican Rep. Ralph … [Read more...] about Priorities

This is one of those stories where I just shake my head in disbelief. I just don't understand why somebody, who now knows that the troop level was not adequate, would say that he'd do the same thing given a second chance. From the Washington Post:President Bush today said mistakes were made in planning for the Iraq invasion, but he defended the troop level he ordered in the … [Read more...] about Defending Incompetence