Friday, August 31, 2007
Elizabeth Edwards Talks of Clinton Hatred
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, says "hatred" of his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton would motivate Republicans to vote against her in the general election.
"I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified," Elizabeth Edwards said in an interview with Time magazine out this week. "I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality."
Responding to Mrs. Edwards, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said polls show that Clinton will be a strong opponent against the Republicans seeking the presidency.
"Senator Clinton leads all the leading Republicans in national and key swing state polls because Americans know she is the Democrat with the strength and experience to bring real change," Singer said.
Elizabeth Edwards has become the voice for many criticisms of her husband's leading rivals. She has suggested that Obama and his campaign plagiarized material from Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign and criticized Obama for opposing the Iraq war but voting for the funding, saying that he's been "behaving in a holier-than-thou way."
But many of her criticisms have been aimed at Clinton. She's criticized her for not having the "political will" to enact universal health care. She also said her husband has a better record on women's issues than Clinton.
Last year, Mrs. Edwards apologized to Clinton after saying her choices in life have made her happier than the New York senator.
John Edwards also has been making distinctions with Clinton as he tries to overcome her strong lead in the primary race, but his criticisms have been more veiled. Last week, during a speech in New Hampshire he said Washington is corrupt and suggested Clinton was part of the system.
"The American people deserve to know that their presidency is not for sale. The Lincoln Bedroom is not for rent," Edwards said, referencing a Clinton-era controversy in which high-dollar donors were allowed to stay in the White House's famed bedroom.
Clinton is a divisive candidate, with a recent Gallup Poll showing her unfavorables at 48 percent and her favorable rating at 47 percent.
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, says "hatred" of his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton would motivate Republicans to vote against her in the general election.
"I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified," Elizabeth Edwards said in an interview with Time magazine out this week. "I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality."
Responding to Mrs. Edwards, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said polls show that Clinton will be a strong opponent against the Republicans seeking the presidency.
"Senator Clinton leads all the leading Republicans in national and key swing state polls because Americans know she is the Democrat with the strength and experience to bring real change," Singer said.
Elizabeth Edwards has become the voice for many criticisms of her husband's leading rivals. She has suggested that Obama and his campaign plagiarized material from Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign and criticized Obama for opposing the Iraq war but voting for the funding, saying that he's been "behaving in a holier-than-thou way."
But many of her criticisms have been aimed at Clinton. She's criticized her for not having the "political will" to enact universal health care. She also said her husband has a better record on women's issues than Clinton.
Last year, Mrs. Edwards apologized to Clinton after saying her choices in life have made her happier than the New York senator.
John Edwards also has been making distinctions with Clinton as he tries to overcome her strong lead in the primary race, but his criticisms have been more veiled. Last week, during a speech in New Hampshire he said Washington is corrupt and suggested Clinton was part of the system.
"The American people deserve to know that their presidency is not for sale. The Lincoln Bedroom is not for rent," Edwards said, referencing a Clinton-era controversy in which high-dollar donors were allowed to stay in the White House's famed bedroom.
Clinton is a divisive candidate, with a recent Gallup Poll showing her unfavorables at 48 percent and her favorable rating at 47 percent.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Suspect Material Found in U.N. Office
UNITED NATIONS -- U.N. weapons inspectors discovered a potentially hazardous chemical warfare agent that was taken from an Iraqi chemical weapons facility 11 years ago and mistakenly stored in their offices in the heart of midtown Manhattan all that time, officials said Thursday.
The material _ identified in inventory files as phosgene, a chemical substance used in World War I weapons _ was discovered Aug. 24. It was only identified on Wednesday because it was marked simply with an inventory number, and officials had to check the many records in their vast archives, said Ewen Buchanan, a spokesman for the U.N. inspection agency.
U.N. and U.S. officials said the material posed no threat to anyone's health or safety.
A team of hazardous materials experts from the FBI and New York City police removed the substance from the office on Manhattan's east side, about a block north of U.N. headquarters, in three steel containers. The containers were flown to a military facility in Aberdeen, Md., for disposal, U.N. officials said.
While the disposal team was in UNMOVIC's sixth-floor office, its small staff was evacuated along with other tenants from that floor, Buchanan said.
When the material was discovered in a shipping container last week, Buchanan said U.N. experts followed their established procedure in dealing with unknown material _ putting the material in double zip-locked plastic bags, and securing it in a safe in a room that is double-locked.
U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the staff continued to work in the offices of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, or UNMOVIC, which are in the process of being shut down.
Tests conducted by U.N. personnel found no toxic vapors in the area where the material had been stored, police said. The materials had been in UNMOVIC and its predecessor inspection agency, UNSCOM, apparently since 1996 when they were inadvertently shipped to U.N. administrative offices instead of a chemical laboratory, police said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said the suspected chemical agent should have been transported to an appropriately equipped lab for analysis.
"I'm sure that there are going to be a lot of red-faced people over at the U.N. trying to figure out how they got there," Snow said.
Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the U.N. needs to be more careful because "it's a target."
"The fact that a container of deadly poison from Iraq was found at the U.N. is a wake-up call that they better start living up to the higher safety standards of a post 9-11 New York," he said in a statement.
Phosgene can be used as a chemical weapon, and was used extensively in World War I as a choking agent. Both phosgene gas and liquid can damage skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Buchanan said the phosgene was in liquid form, suspended in oil, in a soda-can-sized container that was sealed in a plastic bag.
Okabe said the chemical state of the phosgene was unknown but "could be potentially hazardous."
A U.N. chemical weapons expert, Svetlana Utkina, said phosgene is toxic and would cause a person's lungs to collapse if it was inhaled. She said a container the size of a soda can would likely not contain more than gram quantities of the substance.
Still, if it was opened and did contain phosgene, she said "probably about five people will get severe problems, (and a) couple of people will be dead."
The inventory records indicated the material was from a 1996 excavation of the bombed-out research and development building at Iraq's main chemical weapons facility at Muthana, near Samarra. The entire facility was extensively bombed during the 1991 Gulf War, Buchanan said.
UNMOVIC has 1,400 linear feet of paper files _ 125 five-drawer cabinets _ and it took until Wednesday to find the inventory matching the number on the package with the suspected phosgene, Buchanan said.
The agency and its archives _ including the suspect material _ had been in an office at U.N. headquarters until moving to its current site about three years ago, he said.
Also found at the UNMOVIC office was a second sealed package containing tiny samples of chemical agents in sealed glass tubes shaped like pens, Buchanan said. Each of these tubes contained less than a gram of the material, he added.
Okabe said the U.N. has launched an investigation to determine how and why the material was in UNMOVIC files. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon notified the Security Council, she added.
The State Department said it had learned of the discovery late Wednesday and had immediately contacted the FBI to deal with the disposal.
Deputy spokesman Tom Casey also said a joint U.S.-U.N. investigation would be conducted into why the samples had been stored in the office but stressed that the chemicals had been there for at least a decade and did not pose any health risk.
"One of the things we want to do is make sure that the U.N., working with the FBI, does conduct a full investigation of this, so we're absolutely certain how they in fact got there, how long they were there, and the kind of exact nature of how this came about," he told reporters.
"There is no threat that these items currently or in the past have posed to public health and safety in the area," Casey said.
U.N. inspectors pulled out of Iraq just before the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion and were barred by the U.S. from returning. The U.S. and Britain said they were taking over responsibility for Iraq's disarmament. In June 2003, the Security Council voted to shut down UNMOVIC and the U.N. nuclear inspection operation in Iraq.
Brian Mullady, a senior UNMOVIC official, told reporters that the staff did an immediate sweep of the rest of its archives to see if there were any more "surprises," but there was none.
UNITED NATIONS -- U.N. weapons inspectors discovered a potentially hazardous chemical warfare agent that was taken from an Iraqi chemical weapons facility 11 years ago and mistakenly stored in their offices in the heart of midtown Manhattan all that time, officials said Thursday.
The material _ identified in inventory files as phosgene, a chemical substance used in World War I weapons _ was discovered Aug. 24. It was only identified on Wednesday because it was marked simply with an inventory number, and officials had to check the many records in their vast archives, said Ewen Buchanan, a spokesman for the U.N. inspection agency.
U.N. and U.S. officials said the material posed no threat to anyone's health or safety.
A team of hazardous materials experts from the FBI and New York City police removed the substance from the office on Manhattan's east side, about a block north of U.N. headquarters, in three steel containers. The containers were flown to a military facility in Aberdeen, Md., for disposal, U.N. officials said.
While the disposal team was in UNMOVIC's sixth-floor office, its small staff was evacuated along with other tenants from that floor, Buchanan said.
When the material was discovered in a shipping container last week, Buchanan said U.N. experts followed their established procedure in dealing with unknown material _ putting the material in double zip-locked plastic bags, and securing it in a safe in a room that is double-locked.
U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said the staff continued to work in the offices of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, or UNMOVIC, which are in the process of being shut down.
Tests conducted by U.N. personnel found no toxic vapors in the area where the material had been stored, police said. The materials had been in UNMOVIC and its predecessor inspection agency, UNSCOM, apparently since 1996 when they were inadvertently shipped to U.N. administrative offices instead of a chemical laboratory, police said.
White House spokesman Tony Snow said the suspected chemical agent should have been transported to an appropriately equipped lab for analysis.
"I'm sure that there are going to be a lot of red-faced people over at the U.N. trying to figure out how they got there," Snow said.
Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said the U.N. needs to be more careful because "it's a target."
"The fact that a container of deadly poison from Iraq was found at the U.N. is a wake-up call that they better start living up to the higher safety standards of a post 9-11 New York," he said in a statement.
Phosgene can be used as a chemical weapon, and was used extensively in World War I as a choking agent. Both phosgene gas and liquid can damage skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Buchanan said the phosgene was in liquid form, suspended in oil, in a soda-can-sized container that was sealed in a plastic bag.
Okabe said the chemical state of the phosgene was unknown but "could be potentially hazardous."
A U.N. chemical weapons expert, Svetlana Utkina, said phosgene is toxic and would cause a person's lungs to collapse if it was inhaled. She said a container the size of a soda can would likely not contain more than gram quantities of the substance.
Still, if it was opened and did contain phosgene, she said "probably about five people will get severe problems, (and a) couple of people will be dead."
The inventory records indicated the material was from a 1996 excavation of the bombed-out research and development building at Iraq's main chemical weapons facility at Muthana, near Samarra. The entire facility was extensively bombed during the 1991 Gulf War, Buchanan said.
UNMOVIC has 1,400 linear feet of paper files _ 125 five-drawer cabinets _ and it took until Wednesday to find the inventory matching the number on the package with the suspected phosgene, Buchanan said.
The agency and its archives _ including the suspect material _ had been in an office at U.N. headquarters until moving to its current site about three years ago, he said.
Also found at the UNMOVIC office was a second sealed package containing tiny samples of chemical agents in sealed glass tubes shaped like pens, Buchanan said. Each of these tubes contained less than a gram of the material, he added.
Okabe said the U.N. has launched an investigation to determine how and why the material was in UNMOVIC files. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon notified the Security Council, she added.
The State Department said it had learned of the discovery late Wednesday and had immediately contacted the FBI to deal with the disposal.
Deputy spokesman Tom Casey also said a joint U.S.-U.N. investigation would be conducted into why the samples had been stored in the office but stressed that the chemicals had been there for at least a decade and did not pose any health risk.
"One of the things we want to do is make sure that the U.N., working with the FBI, does conduct a full investigation of this, so we're absolutely certain how they in fact got there, how long they were there, and the kind of exact nature of how this came about," he told reporters.
"There is no threat that these items currently or in the past have posed to public health and safety in the area," Casey said.
U.N. inspectors pulled out of Iraq just before the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion and were barred by the U.S. from returning. The U.S. and Britain said they were taking over responsibility for Iraq's disarmament. In June 2003, the Security Council voted to shut down UNMOVIC and the U.N. nuclear inspection operation in Iraq.
Brian Mullady, a senior UNMOVIC official, told reporters that the staff did an immediate sweep of the rest of its archives to see if there were any more "surprises," but there was none.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Castro Votes for Clinton-Obama Ticket
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is tipping Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up and win the U.S. presidential election.
Clinton leads Obama in the race to be the Democratic nominee for the November 2008 election, and Castro said they would make a winning combination.
"The word today is that an apparently unbeatable ticket could be Hillary for president and Obama as her running mate," he wrote in an editorial column on U.S. presidents published on Tuesday by Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma.
At 81, Castro has outlasted nine U.S. presidents since his 1959 revolution turned Cuba into a thorn in Washington's side by building a communist society about 90 miles offshore from the United States.
He said all U.S. presidential candidates seeking the "coveted" electoral college votes of Florida have had to demand a democratic government in Cuba to win the backing of the powerful Cuban exile community.
Clinton and Obama, both senators, called for democratic change in Cuba last week.
Castro has not appeared in public since intestinal illness forced him to hand over power to his brother Raul Castro in July last year.
He has turned to writing dozens of columns and essays, but rumors that his health is worsening or that he may even be dead have swirled through the Cuban exile community in Miami in the last two weeks.
Castro's only reference to U.S. President George W. Bush in his latest essay was to say that he "needed fraud" to win Florida's electoral college votes and the presidency in the fiercely contested election in 2000.
Castro said former President Bill Clinton was "really kind" when he bumped into him and the two men shook hands at a U.N. summit meeting in 2000. He also praised Clinton for sending elite police to "rescue" shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives in 2000 to end an international custody battle.
But even Clinton was forced to bow to Miami politics and tighten the U.S. embargo against Cuba in 1996, using as a "pretext" the shooting down of two small planes used by exile groups to overfly Havana, Castro wrote.
He said his favorite U.S. president since 1959 was Jimmy Carter, another Democrat, because he was not an "accomplice" to efforts to violently overthrow the Cuban government.
Sixteen years after Dwight Eisenhower broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba, Carter restored low-level relations in 1977 when interest sections were opened in each country's capital.
Castro made no mention of Republican Cold War victor Ronald Reagan, or of John F. Kennedy, whose Democratic administration launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion by CIA-trained Cuban exiles in 1961.
One of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War came a year later when Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev faced off for 13 days over Soviet missiles that Castro allowed Moscow to place in Cuba.
Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro is tipping Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up and win the U.S. presidential election.
Clinton leads Obama in the race to be the Democratic nominee for the November 2008 election, and Castro said they would make a winning combination.
"The word today is that an apparently unbeatable ticket could be Hillary for president and Obama as her running mate," he wrote in an editorial column on U.S. presidents published on Tuesday by Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma.
At 81, Castro has outlasted nine U.S. presidents since his 1959 revolution turned Cuba into a thorn in Washington's side by building a communist society about 90 miles offshore from the United States.
He said all U.S. presidential candidates seeking the "coveted" electoral college votes of Florida have had to demand a democratic government in Cuba to win the backing of the powerful Cuban exile community.
Clinton and Obama, both senators, called for democratic change in Cuba last week.
Castro has not appeared in public since intestinal illness forced him to hand over power to his brother Raul Castro in July last year.
He has turned to writing dozens of columns and essays, but rumors that his health is worsening or that he may even be dead have swirled through the Cuban exile community in Miami in the last two weeks.
Castro's only reference to U.S. President George W. Bush in his latest essay was to say that he "needed fraud" to win Florida's electoral college votes and the presidency in the fiercely contested election in 2000.
Castro said former President Bill Clinton was "really kind" when he bumped into him and the two men shook hands at a U.N. summit meeting in 2000. He also praised Clinton for sending elite police to "rescue" shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives in 2000 to end an international custody battle.
But even Clinton was forced to bow to Miami politics and tighten the U.S. embargo against Cuba in 1996, using as a "pretext" the shooting down of two small planes used by exile groups to overfly Havana, Castro wrote.
He said his favorite U.S. president since 1959 was Jimmy Carter, another Democrat, because he was not an "accomplice" to efforts to violently overthrow the Cuban government.
Sixteen years after Dwight Eisenhower broke off diplomatic ties with Cuba, Carter restored low-level relations in 1977 when interest sections were opened in each country's capital.
Castro made no mention of Republican Cold War victor Ronald Reagan, or of John F. Kennedy, whose Democratic administration launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion by CIA-trained Cuban exiles in 1961.
One of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War came a year later when Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev faced off for 13 days over Soviet missiles that Castro allowed Moscow to place in Cuba.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Michael Vick has pled guilty and has been suspended without pay by the NFL . . . I don’t know where Vick is going to work now, but you can definitely rule out PetSmart.
Vick blamed his legal problems on being immature. Immature! You know kids today . . . with their skateboards and the highly organized dog fighting rings they all have.
Pretty busy day in Washington today. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove went to U-Haul together to help each other move.
Gonzales actually accidently fired himself.
David Letterman
A senator from Idaho, Larry Craig, was arrested in a men’s room. This gives new meaning to the word “caucusing.”
Sen. Craig said he made a mistake by pleading guilty. And I was thinking, “Well, maybe that was your second mistake.”
The way I look at it, anyone who spends more than two minutes in an airport bathroom is guilty of something.
My idea of getting lucky is when the motion sensor works in the faucet.
Conan O'Brien
According to a new study, Mississippi is the fattest state in the country with 30 percent of its residents listed as obese. Which makes sense because Mississippi's state bird is the Chicken McNugget.
Lisa Nowak, the astronaut who put on a diaper and then drove cross-country to kidnap another astronaut's girlfriend, has announced that she's going to plead insanity. When they heard about Nowak's insanity defense, the jury said: “Please — you had us at ‘diaper.’"
Nicole Richie went to jail for her DUI conviction this weekend, but she only had to spend 82 minutes in prison. This is due to California's new “minute-per-pound” rule.
Producers in Hollywood are working on a remake of the classic “Wizard of Oz,” and they say it will be much darker than the original. Apparently, in the remake, Toto isn't chased by the Wicked Witch of the West, he's chased by Michael Vick.
Jimmy Kimmel
The summer just flew by like a Nicole Richie jail sentence.
My son started high school yesterday. I was thinking about my high school experience . . . how boring it was, the bad food they had in the cafeteria, the beatings . . .
The forced showering . . . it wasn’t much different than prison.
Conservative Sen. Larry Craig pled guilty to playing footsie with an undercover police officer in the men’s room at the Minneapolis airport. Now he said he made a mistake. He shouldn’t have pled guilty. The police report says he tapped his foot, which means “I want gay sex.” It also means I’ll never wear my iPod to the bathroom again.
Jay Leno
Michael Vick has pled guilty and has been suspended without pay by the NFL . . . I don’t know where Vick is going to work now, but you can definitely rule out PetSmart.
Vick blamed his legal problems on being immature. Immature! You know kids today . . . with their skateboards and the highly organized dog fighting rings they all have.
Pretty busy day in Washington today. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove went to U-Haul together to help each other move.
Gonzales actually accidently fired himself.
David Letterman
A senator from Idaho, Larry Craig, was arrested in a men’s room. This gives new meaning to the word “caucusing.”
Sen. Craig said he made a mistake by pleading guilty. And I was thinking, “Well, maybe that was your second mistake.”
The way I look at it, anyone who spends more than two minutes in an airport bathroom is guilty of something.
My idea of getting lucky is when the motion sensor works in the faucet.
Conan O'Brien
According to a new study, Mississippi is the fattest state in the country with 30 percent of its residents listed as obese. Which makes sense because Mississippi's state bird is the Chicken McNugget.
Lisa Nowak, the astronaut who put on a diaper and then drove cross-country to kidnap another astronaut's girlfriend, has announced that she's going to plead insanity. When they heard about Nowak's insanity defense, the jury said: “Please — you had us at ‘diaper.’"
Nicole Richie went to jail for her DUI conviction this weekend, but she only had to spend 82 minutes in prison. This is due to California's new “minute-per-pound” rule.
Producers in Hollywood are working on a remake of the classic “Wizard of Oz,” and they say it will be much darker than the original. Apparently, in the remake, Toto isn't chased by the Wicked Witch of the West, he's chased by Michael Vick.
Jimmy Kimmel
The summer just flew by like a Nicole Richie jail sentence.
My son started high school yesterday. I was thinking about my high school experience . . . how boring it was, the bad food they had in the cafeteria, the beatings . . .
The forced showering . . . it wasn’t much different than prison.
Conservative Sen. Larry Craig pled guilty to playing footsie with an undercover police officer in the men’s room at the Minneapolis airport. Now he said he made a mistake. He shouldn’t have pled guilty. The police report says he tapped his foot, which means “I want gay sex.” It also means I’ll never wear my iPod to the bathroom again.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Washington Post Pulls Anti-Islam Cartoon
The Washington Post and several other newspapers did not to publish Sunday's installment of Berkeley Breathed's "Opus" cartoon that poked fun at Muslim fundamentalists.
In the cartoon, the spiritual fad-seeking character Lola Granola appears in a headscarf and explains to her boyfriend, Steve, why she wants to become a radical Islamist.
According to FOXNews.com, the strips were shown to Muslim staffers at the Post to gauge their reaction, and they responded "emotionally" to the depiction of a woman dressed in traditional Muslim garb and espousing conservative Islamic views.
The cartoon did not appear in print, but it ran on WashingtonPost.com and Salon.com. The next installment will also appear there.
Editors from The Washington Post declined to comment on why they made the decision to pull the two comic strips.
The Washington Post and several other newspapers did not to publish Sunday's installment of Berkeley Breathed's "Opus" cartoon that poked fun at Muslim fundamentalists.
In the cartoon, the spiritual fad-seeking character Lola Granola appears in a headscarf and explains to her boyfriend, Steve, why she wants to become a radical Islamist.
According to FOXNews.com, the strips were shown to Muslim staffers at the Post to gauge their reaction, and they responded "emotionally" to the depiction of a woman dressed in traditional Muslim garb and espousing conservative Islamic views.
The cartoon did not appear in print, but it ran on WashingtonPost.com and Salon.com. The next installment will also appear there.
Editors from The Washington Post declined to comment on why they made the decision to pull the two comic strips.
Monday, August 27, 2007
UK Gun Crimes Soar After Gun Ban
Gun crimes in England have almost doubled since 1997, when a ban on firearms began.
According to the Sunday Times of London, crimes in which guns were used numbered 4,671 in 2005-06.
Also, government officials report that most gun crime is committed by children and teenagers under 18 years old.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, told the Telegraph: "What this shows is that the majority of these crimes are committed by youngsters under 18.
"The government's policy has failed with the group most responsible for this increase in crime. It is long past time the Government stopped believing its own propaganda, and took measures to get a grip."
Gun crimes in England have almost doubled since 1997, when a ban on firearms began.
According to the Sunday Times of London, crimes in which guns were used numbered 4,671 in 2005-06.
Also, government officials report that most gun crime is committed by children and teenagers under 18 years old.
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, told the Telegraph: "What this shows is that the majority of these crimes are committed by youngsters under 18.
"The government's policy has failed with the group most responsible for this increase in crime. It is long past time the Government stopped believing its own propaganda, and took measures to get a grip."
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Dem Rivals Rap Clinton on Terror Comment
CONCORD, N.H. -- Democratic rivals criticized Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday for her comment that a terror attack between now and the election would help the Republicans.
On Thursday, the New York senator told supporters in Concord that she could defeat any Republican nominee, in part because she already knows how her opponents will go after her and because she is good at handling the unexpected.
"There are circumstances beyond our control, and I think I am better able to handle things I have no control over," she said. "It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself 'What if? What if?' But if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world," she said. "So I think I'm the best of the Democrats to deal with that as well."
Rivals took strong issue with her on Friday.
Talking with reporters in Wolfeboro, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said he would focus on keeping America safe _ not scoring political points.
"If we're talking about America being attacked, the last thing we should do is be engaged in political calculation," he said. "What I believe is that it is the responsibility of a presidential candidate, a serious presidential candidate, and the president of the United States when you're talking about something as serious as the potential for America to be attacked, to focus on what's good for America, not politics, and what needs to be done to keep this country safe, which is what I would do as president."
Likewise, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said in a statement, "We shouldn't be thinking about terrorism in terms of its domestic political consequences, we should be protecting the country from terrorists."
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, said in his own statement, "Frankly, I find it tasteless to discuss political implications when talking about a potential terrorist attack on the United States."
Calls to the Clinton campaign for a response to the criticism were not immediately returned Friday night.
CONCORD, N.H. -- Democratic rivals criticized Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday for her comment that a terror attack between now and the election would help the Republicans.
On Thursday, the New York senator told supporters in Concord that she could defeat any Republican nominee, in part because she already knows how her opponents will go after her and because she is good at handling the unexpected.
"There are circumstances beyond our control, and I think I am better able to handle things I have no control over," she said. "It's a horrible prospect to ask yourself 'What if? What if?' But if certain things happen between now and the election, particularly with respect to terrorism, that will automatically give the Republicans an advantage again, no matter how badly they have mishandled it, no matter how much more dangerous they have made the world," she said. "So I think I'm the best of the Democrats to deal with that as well."
Rivals took strong issue with her on Friday.
Talking with reporters in Wolfeboro, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards said he would focus on keeping America safe _ not scoring political points.
"If we're talking about America being attacked, the last thing we should do is be engaged in political calculation," he said. "What I believe is that it is the responsibility of a presidential candidate, a serious presidential candidate, and the president of the United States when you're talking about something as serious as the potential for America to be attacked, to focus on what's good for America, not politics, and what needs to be done to keep this country safe, which is what I would do as president."
Likewise, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said in a statement, "We shouldn't be thinking about terrorism in terms of its domestic political consequences, we should be protecting the country from terrorists."
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, said in his own statement, "Frankly, I find it tasteless to discuss political implications when talking about a potential terrorist attack on the United States."
Calls to the Clinton campaign for a response to the criticism were not immediately returned Friday night.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Late Nite Jokes
David Letterman
Last night the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30 to 3. And today, the crooked NBA ref said, “Hey, don’t look at me.”
I haven’t seen 30 on a scoreboard since the Nicks.
According to a new study, people are sexually active well into their 80s. First I say, "arghargh." Secondly, I would say, "God bless Cher."
According to U.S. intelligence, Iraq Prime Minister Maliki is an ineffective leader, unable to work with his cabinet, has poor communication skills . . . oh wait a minute . . . that’s President Bush.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Senior Citizen Pick-Up Lines
10. "Wanna swap teeth?"
9. "Are you a model, or were you one during the Truman administration?"
8. "Ever done it in a Craftmatic adjustable bed?"
7. "What's a nice girl like you doing in . . . wait, where am I?"
5. "Excuse me while I slip into something orthopedic"
3. "Wanna see my cane?"
1. "Hi, I'm Dave Letterman"
Craig Ferguson
It’s a great day for senior citizens. There’s a new study that says people can retain an active sex life well into their 80s. Apparently old people get it on how they drive . . . go slow, run out of gas, can’t remember your name . . .
Sex well into their 80s . . . Good news for Aston Kutcher.
Another thing that has come out today. Seniors spend more time in front of a computer than young people. Which I believe, actually, because it takes them so long to turn it on.
Not such a great day for Atlanta. They’re considering banning baggy pants. The pants drag too low and expose too much. Apparently Atlanta politicians are worried about the crack problem.
David Letterman
Last night the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30 to 3. And today, the crooked NBA ref said, “Hey, don’t look at me.”
I haven’t seen 30 on a scoreboard since the Nicks.
According to a new study, people are sexually active well into their 80s. First I say, "arghargh." Secondly, I would say, "God bless Cher."
According to U.S. intelligence, Iraq Prime Minister Maliki is an ineffective leader, unable to work with his cabinet, has poor communication skills . . . oh wait a minute . . . that’s President Bush.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Senior Citizen Pick-Up Lines
10. "Wanna swap teeth?"
9. "Are you a model, or were you one during the Truman administration?"
8. "Ever done it in a Craftmatic adjustable bed?"
7. "What's a nice girl like you doing in . . . wait, where am I?"
5. "Excuse me while I slip into something orthopedic"
3. "Wanna see my cane?"
1. "Hi, I'm Dave Letterman"
Craig Ferguson
It’s a great day for senior citizens. There’s a new study that says people can retain an active sex life well into their 80s. Apparently old people get it on how they drive . . . go slow, run out of gas, can’t remember your name . . .
Sex well into their 80s . . . Good news for Aston Kutcher.
Another thing that has come out today. Seniors spend more time in front of a computer than young people. Which I believe, actually, because it takes them so long to turn it on.
Not such a great day for Atlanta. They’re considering banning baggy pants. The pants drag too low and expose too much. Apparently Atlanta politicians are worried about the crack problem.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Late Nite Jokes
David Letterman
There is a tri-state area dog food recall. The tainted dog food will be rounded up and fed to Michael Vick.
Michael Vick pled guilty to dog fighting charges, and he may do jail time. And the say this guy went through more dogs than Bill Clinton.
The Falcons, Vick’s team, is still waiting to see if Vick violated the NFL personal conduct policy. And I was stunned. I said to myself, “The NFL has a personal conduct policy?”
Here’s news: A 90-year-old man has become a father. I’m lucky at my age if I can get the cap off the Viagra.
Craig Ferguson
Not such a great day for Brazil. Vampire bat attacks on cattle have reached a record high. Cows are being attacked by vampires. I think we know where Bob Barker went for retirement.
Not such a great day for Beyonce. Apparently a crowd at a Toronto concert got a look at Beyonce’s boobies. Beyonce jumped off some stairs just as a gust of wind blew her dress up. Or as I call it — perfect storm.
There’s a new study that comes out today. It says breaking up isn’t hard to do. You should always consider where you get relationship advice from. Should you be getting relationship advice from scientists? Scientists are pasty, pear-shaped mouse torturers . . . what do they know about relationships?
David Letterman
There is a tri-state area dog food recall. The tainted dog food will be rounded up and fed to Michael Vick.
Michael Vick pled guilty to dog fighting charges, and he may do jail time. And the say this guy went through more dogs than Bill Clinton.
The Falcons, Vick’s team, is still waiting to see if Vick violated the NFL personal conduct policy. And I was stunned. I said to myself, “The NFL has a personal conduct policy?”
Here’s news: A 90-year-old man has become a father. I’m lucky at my age if I can get the cap off the Viagra.
Craig Ferguson
Not such a great day for Brazil. Vampire bat attacks on cattle have reached a record high. Cows are being attacked by vampires. I think we know where Bob Barker went for retirement.
Not such a great day for Beyonce. Apparently a crowd at a Toronto concert got a look at Beyonce’s boobies. Beyonce jumped off some stairs just as a gust of wind blew her dress up. Or as I call it — perfect storm.
There’s a new study that comes out today. It says breaking up isn’t hard to do. You should always consider where you get relationship advice from. Should you be getting relationship advice from scientists? Scientists are pasty, pear-shaped mouse torturers . . . what do they know about relationships?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
White House: We're Not Subject to Freedom of Information Act
Opening a new front in the Bush administration's battle to keep its records confidential, the Justice Department is contending that the White House Office of Administration is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
The department's argument is in response to a lawsuit trying to force the office to reveal what it knows about the disappearance of White House e-mails.
The Office of Administration provides administrative services, including information technology support, to the Executive Office of the President. Most of the White House is not subject to the FOIA, but certain components within it handle FOIA requests. Last year the Office of Administration processed 65 FOIA requests.
However, the Justice Department maintained in court papers filed Tuesday that the Office of Administration has no substantial authority independent of President Bush and therefore is not subject to the FOIA's disclosure requirements.
The office has prepared estimates that there are at least 5 million missing White House e-mails from March 2003 to October 2005, according to the lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a private advocacy group.
The White House has said it is aware that some e-mails may not have been automatically archived on a computer server for the Executive Office of the President.
The e-mails, the White House has said, may have been preserved on backup tapes.
"The Office of Administration is looking into whether there are e-mails not automatically archived; and once we determine whether or not there is a problem, we'll take the necessary steps to address it," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.
The first indication of a problem came in early 2006 when special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald raised the possibility that records sought in the CIA leak investigation involving the outing of Valerie Plame could be missing because of an e-mail archiving problem at the White House.
The issue came into focus early this year amid the uproar over the firing of U.S. attorneys. It turned out that aides to Bush improperly used Republican Party-sponsored e-mail accounts for official business and that an undetermined number of e-mails had been lost in the process.
The Justice Department Web site, which lists all FOIA contacts inside the government, identifies seven units inside the Executive Office of the President as responding to FOIA requests, including the Office of Administration.
The Office of Administration "has certainly acted like an agency in the past," said Meredith Fuchs, general counsel to the National Security Archive, a private group advocating public disclosure of government secrets.
Fuchs' organization filed a request in February 2006 after Fitzgerald revealed that e-mails might be missing. When the Office of Administration finally denied the private group's request in June of this year, the office said it was not an "agency" as defined by the Freedom of Information Act and was therefore not subject to the law's requirements.
The administration has been resisting disclosure of information on an array of fronts.
In September 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney's lawyer instructed the Secret Service that it "shall not retain any copy" of material identifying visitors to the vice president's official residence. The lawyer, Shannen Coffin, wrote the letter as The Washington Post sought copies of Cheney's visitors.
The letter regarding the vice president's residence was in addition to an agreement quietly signed between the White House and the Secret Service when questions were raised about visits to the executive compound by convicted influence peddler Jack Abramoff.
That agreement, which didn't surface publicly until late last year, said White House entry and exit logs were presidential records not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
When the agreement was signed in May 2006, a number of private groups and news organizations had filed FOIA requests with the Secret Service in an effort to identify how many times Abramoff or members of his lobbying team visited the White House.
Opening a new front in the Bush administration's battle to keep its records confidential, the Justice Department is contending that the White House Office of Administration is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
The department's argument is in response to a lawsuit trying to force the office to reveal what it knows about the disappearance of White House e-mails.
The Office of Administration provides administrative services, including information technology support, to the Executive Office of the President. Most of the White House is not subject to the FOIA, but certain components within it handle FOIA requests. Last year the Office of Administration processed 65 FOIA requests.
However, the Justice Department maintained in court papers filed Tuesday that the Office of Administration has no substantial authority independent of President Bush and therefore is not subject to the FOIA's disclosure requirements.
The office has prepared estimates that there are at least 5 million missing White House e-mails from March 2003 to October 2005, according to the lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a private advocacy group.
The White House has said it is aware that some e-mails may not have been automatically archived on a computer server for the Executive Office of the President.
The e-mails, the White House has said, may have been preserved on backup tapes.
"The Office of Administration is looking into whether there are e-mails not automatically archived; and once we determine whether or not there is a problem, we'll take the necessary steps to address it," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.
The first indication of a problem came in early 2006 when special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald raised the possibility that records sought in the CIA leak investigation involving the outing of Valerie Plame could be missing because of an e-mail archiving problem at the White House.
The issue came into focus early this year amid the uproar over the firing of U.S. attorneys. It turned out that aides to Bush improperly used Republican Party-sponsored e-mail accounts for official business and that an undetermined number of e-mails had been lost in the process.
The Justice Department Web site, which lists all FOIA contacts inside the government, identifies seven units inside the Executive Office of the President as responding to FOIA requests, including the Office of Administration.
The Office of Administration "has certainly acted like an agency in the past," said Meredith Fuchs, general counsel to the National Security Archive, a private group advocating public disclosure of government secrets.
Fuchs' organization filed a request in February 2006 after Fitzgerald revealed that e-mails might be missing. When the Office of Administration finally denied the private group's request in June of this year, the office said it was not an "agency" as defined by the Freedom of Information Act and was therefore not subject to the law's requirements.
The administration has been resisting disclosure of information on an array of fronts.
In September 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney's lawyer instructed the Secret Service that it "shall not retain any copy" of material identifying visitors to the vice president's official residence. The lawyer, Shannen Coffin, wrote the letter as The Washington Post sought copies of Cheney's visitors.
The letter regarding the vice president's residence was in addition to an agreement quietly signed between the White House and the Secret Service when questions were raised about visits to the executive compound by convicted influence peddler Jack Abramoff.
That agreement, which didn't surface publicly until late last year, said White House entry and exit logs were presidential records not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
When the agreement was signed in May 2006, a number of private groups and news organizations had filed FOIA requests with the Secret Service in an effort to identify how many times Abramoff or members of his lobbying team visited the White House.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Osama Is Alive
A top Taliban commander said in a newly released video interview that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is alive and well.
"All praise be to Allah, he is extremely healthy and active,” the commander, Mansour Dadullah, said in the interview, according to a transcript of the video’s English subtitles released Tuesday by IntelCenter, which monitors extremist publications.
Dadullah, whose brother Mullah Dadullah was also a top Taliban commander and was killed earlier this year, said he had been contacted by bin Laden, according to Agence France-Presse.
"I received a message from him in which he advised me that I ‘must follow Mullah Dadullah and continue the same activities so that the mujahedeen may not weaken,’” he said in the interview.
Bin Laden has appeared in a number of video and audio clips since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but has not been heard from since May 2006.
An Internet video showing bin Laden was posted on July 15, but the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group said the footage was old.
A top Taliban commander said in a newly released video interview that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is alive and well.
"All praise be to Allah, he is extremely healthy and active,” the commander, Mansour Dadullah, said in the interview, according to a transcript of the video’s English subtitles released Tuesday by IntelCenter, which monitors extremist publications.
Dadullah, whose brother Mullah Dadullah was also a top Taliban commander and was killed earlier this year, said he had been contacted by bin Laden, according to Agence France-Presse.
"I received a message from him in which he advised me that I ‘must follow Mullah Dadullah and continue the same activities so that the mujahedeen may not weaken,’” he said in the interview.
Bin Laden has appeared in a number of video and audio clips since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but has not been heard from since May 2006.
An Internet video showing bin Laden was posted on July 15, but the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group said the footage was old.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Bush Lashes Out at War Critics
President Bush offered a tepid endorsement of the Iraqi government on Tuesday, yet brushed off a Democratic senator's call for the ouster of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Bush acknowledged his frustration with Iraqi leaders' inability to bridge political divisions, but he said only the Iraqi people can decide whether to sideline the troubled prime minister.
"Clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more," Bush said at the close of a two-day North American summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.
The Sept. 15 deadline for Bush's next progress report to Congress is fast approaching, leaving the president little time to show that his U.S. troop buildup is succeeding in providing the enhanced security the Iraqi leaders need to forge a unified way forward.
In a speech Wednesday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City, Mo., Bush will argue that the troop buildup is helping bring former Sunni insurgents into the fight against al-Qaida and clearing terrorists out of heavily populated areas.
"Our troops are seeing this progress on the ground, and as they take the initiative from the enemy, they have a question: Will their elected leaders in Washington pull the rug out from under them just as they are gaining momentum and changing the dynamic on the ground in Iraq?" Bush says in his prepared remarks. The White House released excerpts of the speech Tuesday evening.
On Monday, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said there is broad frustration with inaction from Iraq's central government. Levin, who recently returned from Iraq, urged the Iraqi Parliament to oust al-Maliki and replace his government with one that is less sectarian and more unifying.
And Sen. John Warner, R-Va., a former Armed Services Committee chairman and an influential voice on military affairs, joined with Levin in issuing a statement saying that while Bush's military buildup in Iraq had "produced some credible and positive results," the political outlook was dim.
Bush spoke at a news conference in Montebello, Quebec, with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper before flying back to the United States to visit Minneapolis for a fundraiser and update about the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
In his VFW speech Wednesday, Bush will compare today's war against extremists with the militarists of Japan and the communists in Korea and Vietnam. In a speech next Tuesday at the annual American Legion convention in Reno, Nev., the president will put the war in Iraq in the regional context of the Middle East.
In the aftermath of Japan's surrender, many thought it was naive to help the Japanese transform themselves into a democracy, Bush will tell the VFW conventioneers. He said critics also complained when America intervened to save South Korea from communist invasion. And in Vietnam, Bush said, people argued that the real problem was America's presence there, "and that if we would just withdraw, the killing would end."
"The advance of freedom in these lands should give us confidence that the hard work we are doing in the Middle East can have the same results we have seen in Asia — if we show the same perseverance and sense of purpose," Bush said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a response issued Tuesday night, said the comparisons ignored a key difference: "Our nation was misled by the Bush administration in an effort to gain support for the invasion of Iraq under false pretenses, leading to one of the worst foreign policy blunders in our history. While the president continues to stay the course with his failed strategy in Iraq, paid for by the taxpayers, American lives are being lost and there is still no political solution within the Iraqi government."
The president's address at the convention is preceded by a parade of presidential hopefuls and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, are to report to Congress before Sept. 15 about the impact of the troop buildup that Bush ordered in January. Their report will provide the basis for Bush's decisions about the way forward in Iraq in terms of troop levels and tactics.
Over the past year, Bush has tempered his endorsement of al-Maliki. When they met in Jordan last November, the president called al-Maliki "the right guy for Iraq." Now, he continually prods al-Maliki to do more to forge political reconciliation before the temporary military buildup ends.
"I think there's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general, inability to work — come together to get, for example, an oil revenue law passed or provincial elections," Bush said.
While the Iraqi parliament has recessed for the month of August, the president said lawmakers already had passed 60 pieces of legislation and have a budget process that distributes money from the central government to provinces.
He stressed U.S. commitment in Iraq, yet laid the political problems at Baghdad's doorstep.
"The fundamental question is, Will the government respond to the demands of the people? And, if the government doesn't demand — or respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government. That's up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians."
Trying to underscore the administration's commitment to al-Maliki, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that Bush continued to have confidence in the prime minister and that his level of support had not changed.
"President Bush believes that Prime Minister Maliki and the presidency council are going to be able to come together and reach some sort of political accommodation," Johndroe said. "He certainly urges them to do so every time he speaks with them."
President Bush offered a tepid endorsement of the Iraqi government on Tuesday, yet brushed off a Democratic senator's call for the ouster of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Bush acknowledged his frustration with Iraqi leaders' inability to bridge political divisions, but he said only the Iraqi people can decide whether to sideline the troubled prime minister.
"Clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more," Bush said at the close of a two-day North American summit with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.
The Sept. 15 deadline for Bush's next progress report to Congress is fast approaching, leaving the president little time to show that his U.S. troop buildup is succeeding in providing the enhanced security the Iraqi leaders need to forge a unified way forward.
In a speech Wednesday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City, Mo., Bush will argue that the troop buildup is helping bring former Sunni insurgents into the fight against al-Qaida and clearing terrorists out of heavily populated areas.
"Our troops are seeing this progress on the ground, and as they take the initiative from the enemy, they have a question: Will their elected leaders in Washington pull the rug out from under them just as they are gaining momentum and changing the dynamic on the ground in Iraq?" Bush says in his prepared remarks. The White House released excerpts of the speech Tuesday evening.
On Monday, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said there is broad frustration with inaction from Iraq's central government. Levin, who recently returned from Iraq, urged the Iraqi Parliament to oust al-Maliki and replace his government with one that is less sectarian and more unifying.
And Sen. John Warner, R-Va., a former Armed Services Committee chairman and an influential voice on military affairs, joined with Levin in issuing a statement saying that while Bush's military buildup in Iraq had "produced some credible and positive results," the political outlook was dim.
Bush spoke at a news conference in Montebello, Quebec, with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper before flying back to the United States to visit Minneapolis for a fundraiser and update about the Interstate 35W bridge collapse.
In his VFW speech Wednesday, Bush will compare today's war against extremists with the militarists of Japan and the communists in Korea and Vietnam. In a speech next Tuesday at the annual American Legion convention in Reno, Nev., the president will put the war in Iraq in the regional context of the Middle East.
In the aftermath of Japan's surrender, many thought it was naive to help the Japanese transform themselves into a democracy, Bush will tell the VFW conventioneers. He said critics also complained when America intervened to save South Korea from communist invasion. And in Vietnam, Bush said, people argued that the real problem was America's presence there, "and that if we would just withdraw, the killing would end."
"The advance of freedom in these lands should give us confidence that the hard work we are doing in the Middle East can have the same results we have seen in Asia — if we show the same perseverance and sense of purpose," Bush said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in a response issued Tuesday night, said the comparisons ignored a key difference: "Our nation was misled by the Bush administration in an effort to gain support for the invasion of Iraq under false pretenses, leading to one of the worst foreign policy blunders in our history. While the president continues to stay the course with his failed strategy in Iraq, paid for by the taxpayers, American lives are being lost and there is still no political solution within the Iraqi government."
The president's address at the convention is preceded by a parade of presidential hopefuls and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, are to report to Congress before Sept. 15 about the impact of the troop buildup that Bush ordered in January. Their report will provide the basis for Bush's decisions about the way forward in Iraq in terms of troop levels and tactics.
Over the past year, Bush has tempered his endorsement of al-Maliki. When they met in Jordan last November, the president called al-Maliki "the right guy for Iraq." Now, he continually prods al-Maliki to do more to forge political reconciliation before the temporary military buildup ends.
"I think there's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general, inability to work — come together to get, for example, an oil revenue law passed or provincial elections," Bush said.
While the Iraqi parliament has recessed for the month of August, the president said lawmakers already had passed 60 pieces of legislation and have a budget process that distributes money from the central government to provinces.
He stressed U.S. commitment in Iraq, yet laid the political problems at Baghdad's doorstep.
"The fundamental question is, Will the government respond to the demands of the people? And, if the government doesn't demand — or respond to the demands of the people, they will replace the government. That's up to the Iraqis to make that decision, not American politicians."
Trying to underscore the administration's commitment to al-Maliki, National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that Bush continued to have confidence in the prime minister and that his level of support had not changed.
"President Bush believes that Prime Minister Maliki and the presidency council are going to be able to come together and reach some sort of political accommodation," Johndroe said. "He certainly urges them to do so every time he speaks with them."
Monday, August 20, 2007
Democrats Fear Positive Iraq Report
Democrats are warily anticipating a September report on the Iraq war, realizing that opponents will use any upbeat assessment to portray them as defeatists just as glimmers of hope appear.
While many of their party colleagues find the notion fanciful, they acknowledge that top Republicans hope the report will show just enough progress in Iraq to persuade millions of Americans to be patient about troop withdrawals and less critical of how the war is being run.
Democratic candidates for president and Congress, the GOP argument goes, would then be stuck with their Iraq-is-lost stance, appearing irresolute and beholden to liberal activists just as things are looking better.
Many Democratic strategists consider it highly unlikely that a Bush administration report could convince voters the war is improving in a meaningful way. Polling data suggest most Americans are unlikely to change their views about the war based on a new report from the administration.
Still, some Democrats worry that credible reports of even slight improvements in the military situation in Iraq could hurt their party's momentum, built largely on public disenchantment with President Bush and his handling of the war. The administration is writing the September update while consulting with Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker. Both men will testify before Congress.
In late July, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said an upbeat assessment from Petraeus would carry significant weight with his party's most conservative members. They would "want to stay the course, and if the Republicans were to stay united as they have been, then it would be a problem for us," Clyburn told The Washington Post.
Republicans pounced on the remark, claiming Democrats see any progress in Iraq as a political setback. They also trumpeted a July 30 op-ed article in the New York Times by two Brookings Institution military scholars just back from Iraq.
"We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms," wrote Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack. "We were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily 'victory' but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with."
Some Democratic lawmakers have drawn similar conclusions, putting new strains on party solidarity. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., recently returned from Iraq and said he no longer supports a hard deadline for troop withdrawals.
"I have come to believe that calls for premature withdrawal may make it more difficult for Iraqis to solve their problems," Baird told The Columbian newspaper. The Democratic Party leadership "may be in a different place than I am right now," he said.
Bush's allies hope more good news will come from next month's administration report to Congress, even though no one expects a thoroughly optimistic assessment. U.S. military leaders have said some Iraqi regions such as the area around Mosul in the north and Al Anbar province in the west may be stable enough to let U.S. troops redeploy elsewhere.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, responding in writing to a reporter's question, said: "Democratic leaders made a political calculation in January and it is proving to be dead wrong."
"Ignoring American successes in favor of advocating failure is not leadership," he said.
With few exceptions, top national Democrats have called the war a mistake. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in April he believed that "this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything." Reid was referring to the roughly 30,000 troops and support personnel sent to Iraq this spring.
Of the party's major presidential contenders, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has opposed the war from the start; former Sen. John Edwards has apologized for his 2002 vote to authorize the war; and Sen. Hillary R. Clinton says Americans want "a leader who will end the war in Iraq."
Yet all three have cautioned against a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops that could lead to greater sectarian violence in Iraq.
Several conservative commentators, anticipating the September report, say Democrats have climbed out too far on a dangerous limb. "Democrats, who have been pandering to their anti-war base, will increasingly see that they have... 'a problem,"' William Kristol wrote this month in the Weekly Standard, alluding to Clyburn's remarks.
Not true, says Steve Elmendorf, a former Democratic congressional aide who now lobbies in Washington. "At the end of the day," he said in an interview, "the report gets filtered through the White House and Bush apparatus, and they don't have any credibility," he said.
A recent CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll found Americans almost evenly split when asked if the U.S. military is making progress in ending violence in Iraq. But by 53 percent to 43 percent, most said they do not trust the top U.S. commander there, Petraeus, to report what is truly happening when he briefs the president and Congress.
Moreover, 72 percent of all respondents said a positive report would not affect their view of the war, while 28 percent said it would make them likelier to support it. Most polls show six in 10 Americans still oppose Bush's handling of the war, think the war is going badly and favor cutting troop strength in Iraq.
Among them is Carol Cross, a political independent who lives in West Fargo, N.D. The war "seems like it's spinning its wheels, it's going nowhere," she said in a phone interview after answering poll questions.
An upbeat report from Petraeus and the administration would not change her mind, said Cross, who is retired. "I think it's time for them to come home," she said, "no matter what."
Democrats are warily anticipating a September report on the Iraq war, realizing that opponents will use any upbeat assessment to portray them as defeatists just as glimmers of hope appear.
While many of their party colleagues find the notion fanciful, they acknowledge that top Republicans hope the report will show just enough progress in Iraq to persuade millions of Americans to be patient about troop withdrawals and less critical of how the war is being run.
Democratic candidates for president and Congress, the GOP argument goes, would then be stuck with their Iraq-is-lost stance, appearing irresolute and beholden to liberal activists just as things are looking better.
Many Democratic strategists consider it highly unlikely that a Bush administration report could convince voters the war is improving in a meaningful way. Polling data suggest most Americans are unlikely to change their views about the war based on a new report from the administration.
Still, some Democrats worry that credible reports of even slight improvements in the military situation in Iraq could hurt their party's momentum, built largely on public disenchantment with President Bush and his handling of the war. The administration is writing the September update while consulting with Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker. Both men will testify before Congress.
In late July, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said an upbeat assessment from Petraeus would carry significant weight with his party's most conservative members. They would "want to stay the course, and if the Republicans were to stay united as they have been, then it would be a problem for us," Clyburn told The Washington Post.
Republicans pounced on the remark, claiming Democrats see any progress in Iraq as a political setback. They also trumpeted a July 30 op-ed article in the New York Times by two Brookings Institution military scholars just back from Iraq.
"We are finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms," wrote Michael O'Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack. "We were surprised by the gains we saw and the potential to produce not necessarily 'victory' but a sustainable stability that both we and the Iraqis could live with."
Some Democratic lawmakers have drawn similar conclusions, putting new strains on party solidarity. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., recently returned from Iraq and said he no longer supports a hard deadline for troop withdrawals.
"I have come to believe that calls for premature withdrawal may make it more difficult for Iraqis to solve their problems," Baird told The Columbian newspaper. The Democratic Party leadership "may be in a different place than I am right now," he said.
Bush's allies hope more good news will come from next month's administration report to Congress, even though no one expects a thoroughly optimistic assessment. U.S. military leaders have said some Iraqi regions such as the area around Mosul in the north and Al Anbar province in the west may be stable enough to let U.S. troops redeploy elsewhere.
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, responding in writing to a reporter's question, said: "Democratic leaders made a political calculation in January and it is proving to be dead wrong."
"Ignoring American successes in favor of advocating failure is not leadership," he said.
With few exceptions, top national Democrats have called the war a mistake. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in April he believed that "this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything." Reid was referring to the roughly 30,000 troops and support personnel sent to Iraq this spring.
Of the party's major presidential contenders, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has opposed the war from the start; former Sen. John Edwards has apologized for his 2002 vote to authorize the war; and Sen. Hillary R. Clinton says Americans want "a leader who will end the war in Iraq."
Yet all three have cautioned against a hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops that could lead to greater sectarian violence in Iraq.
Several conservative commentators, anticipating the September report, say Democrats have climbed out too far on a dangerous limb. "Democrats, who have been pandering to their anti-war base, will increasingly see that they have... 'a problem,"' William Kristol wrote this month in the Weekly Standard, alluding to Clyburn's remarks.
Not true, says Steve Elmendorf, a former Democratic congressional aide who now lobbies in Washington. "At the end of the day," he said in an interview, "the report gets filtered through the White House and Bush apparatus, and they don't have any credibility," he said.
A recent CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll found Americans almost evenly split when asked if the U.S. military is making progress in ending violence in Iraq. But by 53 percent to 43 percent, most said they do not trust the top U.S. commander there, Petraeus, to report what is truly happening when he briefs the president and Congress.
Moreover, 72 percent of all respondents said a positive report would not affect their view of the war, while 28 percent said it would make them likelier to support it. Most polls show six in 10 Americans still oppose Bush's handling of the war, think the war is going badly and favor cutting troop strength in Iraq.
Among them is Carol Cross, a political independent who lives in West Fargo, N.D. The war "seems like it's spinning its wheels, it's going nowhere," she said in a phone interview after answering poll questions.
An upbeat report from Petraeus and the administration would not change her mind, said Cross, who is retired. "I think it's time for them to come home," she said, "no matter what."
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Jane Fonda’s Radio Network Tanks
The "feminist” radio company whose founders include Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem failed to attract an audience and it signed off the air for good on Friday.
When the talk-radio network, called GreenStone, officially launched in September 2006, NewsMax reported that it was a "new left-wing radio network that plans to appeal to women listeners and counter the dominance of conservative talk radio.”
GreenStone claimed it would deliver "de-politicized, de-polarized talk radio by women hosts for female listeners,” and Steinem said it would offer an alternative to current radio talk, which she described as "very argumentative, quite hostile, and very much male-dominated.”
She also said radio was "overbalanced toward the ultra-right.” But "Greenstone Media’s brand of tepid liberalism didn’t appeal to women,” Carrie Lukas, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex and Feminism,” writes in the New York Post.
Greenstone offered interviews with such liberals as Ralph Nader, as well as segments on parenting and relationships.
But its programming was picked up by only eight affiliates in small to mid-sized markets, and its backers have now pulled the plug.
GreenStone’s CEO Susan Ness deplored the end of GreenStone as a loss for women. But Lukas observes: "Perhaps Ness should use her time off to tune in to other stations. She’ll find there are many prominent women on the airwaves – they’re just not saying what she thinks they should.”
Lukas pointed to Laura Ingraham, who is heard on 340 stations and has an audience of more than 5 million, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, with some 7.75 million listeners.
To attract large numbers of female listeners, "it will take more than having ‘all-female’ programming from an ‘all-female’ network,” Lukas opines.
"Women want to be entertained and engaged. We don’t listen to radio or (Hillary backers take note) vote out of solidarity.”
The "feminist” radio company whose founders include Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem failed to attract an audience and it signed off the air for good on Friday.
When the talk-radio network, called GreenStone, officially launched in September 2006, NewsMax reported that it was a "new left-wing radio network that plans to appeal to women listeners and counter the dominance of conservative talk radio.”
GreenStone claimed it would deliver "de-politicized, de-polarized talk radio by women hosts for female listeners,” and Steinem said it would offer an alternative to current radio talk, which she described as "very argumentative, quite hostile, and very much male-dominated.”
She also said radio was "overbalanced toward the ultra-right.” But "Greenstone Media’s brand of tepid liberalism didn’t appeal to women,” Carrie Lukas, author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Women, Sex and Feminism,” writes in the New York Post.
Greenstone offered interviews with such liberals as Ralph Nader, as well as segments on parenting and relationships.
But its programming was picked up by only eight affiliates in small to mid-sized markets, and its backers have now pulled the plug.
GreenStone’s CEO Susan Ness deplored the end of GreenStone as a loss for women. But Lukas observes: "Perhaps Ness should use her time off to tune in to other stations. She’ll find there are many prominent women on the airwaves – they’re just not saying what she thinks they should.”
Lukas pointed to Laura Ingraham, who is heard on 340 stations and has an audience of more than 5 million, and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, with some 7.75 million listeners.
To attract large numbers of female listeners, "it will take more than having ‘all-female’ programming from an ‘all-female’ network,” Lukas opines.
"Women want to be entertained and engaged. We don’t listen to radio or (Hillary backers take note) vote out of solidarity.”
Saturday, August 18, 2007
GOP Has Good Chance in '08
White House political adviser Karl Rove said Sunday he sees encouraging signs for the GOP in the public's strong negative opinions of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Democratic-run Congress.
"I do think the Republican Party is more in keeping with the attitudes and values of the American people," said President Bush's departing chief political strategist. Congress' approval in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll this month stood at 25 percent, compared with 35 percent for Bush.
Rove has a vested interest in the outcome of the 2008 election, after predicting he could build a long-term Republican majority, only to watch as Democrats swept Republicans from power in Congress in voting last year.
Rove disputed suggestions that his brand of politics was intended to divide. He said the White House won bipartisan support on issues ranging from education and tax cuts and the war in Iraq. But strong Democratic resentment of Bush blocked other efforts, he said.
"There's some Democrats who never accepted him as president after 2000," Rove said.
Rove defended his political tactics, which opponents have labeled as divisive.
"The Democrats could routinely question the president's integrity," Rove said, but "when we call the Democrats for their statements and for their votes, somehow that's wrong. I don't get it."
Rove announced last week he would leave the Bush administration by the end of August, return to Texas and spend more time with his family.
Rove said the field of Republicans seeking to succeed Bush offers the GOP "an excellent chance to keep the White House."
As Democratic hopefuls held a debate in Iowa, Rove appeared on three Sunday morning talk shows and stepped up his criticism of Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady.
"She enters the general election campaign with the highest negatives of any candidate in the history of the Gallup poll," he said.
"It just says people have made an opinion about her. It's hard to change opinions once you've been a high-profile person in the public eye, as she has for 16 or 17 years."
Clinton, at the debate, responded to Rove's criticism by saying: "I don't think Karl Rove is going to endorse me, but I find it interesting that he's obsessed with me."
Rove evaded a question during the broadcast interviews about whether the GOP wanted Clinton to win the Democratic nomination.
"It's going to be what it's going to be," Rove said.
Top Republican strategists have said in the past that they aimed their harshest comments in 2004 at Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the eventual nominee, because they wanted Bush to take on Kerry rather than John Edwards, then a senator from North Carolina. Edwards ended up as Kerry's running mate.
Rove disputed that strategy was behind his criticism of Clinton.
Looking back to the 2006 elections, when Democrats took control of Congress, Rove said their success was not unexpected.
"The 2006 election was a normal off-year election, if you look at the sweep of American history," he said.
Rove disputed any suggestion that the president is a lame duck.
"He is a bold leader who's going to be milking every single moment that he's got in this office," Rove said. "He came here to do things, and he's going to keep doing things right up to the moment that he leaves on January 20th, 2009."
Rove's effect on American politics will be decided by "how the president is judged," said GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of those GOP presidential candidates.
"And I think the president's going to be judged on what happens, to a large degree what happens in the war in Iraq."
Rove appeared on "Fox News Sunday," NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS' "Face the Nation," while McCain was on CBS.
White House political adviser Karl Rove said Sunday he sees encouraging signs for the GOP in the public's strong negative opinions of Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Democratic-run Congress.
"I do think the Republican Party is more in keeping with the attitudes and values of the American people," said President Bush's departing chief political strategist. Congress' approval in an Associated Press-Ipsos poll this month stood at 25 percent, compared with 35 percent for Bush.
Rove has a vested interest in the outcome of the 2008 election, after predicting he could build a long-term Republican majority, only to watch as Democrats swept Republicans from power in Congress in voting last year.
Rove disputed suggestions that his brand of politics was intended to divide. He said the White House won bipartisan support on issues ranging from education and tax cuts and the war in Iraq. But strong Democratic resentment of Bush blocked other efforts, he said.
"There's some Democrats who never accepted him as president after 2000," Rove said.
Rove defended his political tactics, which opponents have labeled as divisive.
"The Democrats could routinely question the president's integrity," Rove said, but "when we call the Democrats for their statements and for their votes, somehow that's wrong. I don't get it."
Rove announced last week he would leave the Bush administration by the end of August, return to Texas and spend more time with his family.
Rove said the field of Republicans seeking to succeed Bush offers the GOP "an excellent chance to keep the White House."
As Democratic hopefuls held a debate in Iowa, Rove appeared on three Sunday morning talk shows and stepped up his criticism of Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady.
"She enters the general election campaign with the highest negatives of any candidate in the history of the Gallup poll," he said.
"It just says people have made an opinion about her. It's hard to change opinions once you've been a high-profile person in the public eye, as she has for 16 or 17 years."
Clinton, at the debate, responded to Rove's criticism by saying: "I don't think Karl Rove is going to endorse me, but I find it interesting that he's obsessed with me."
Rove evaded a question during the broadcast interviews about whether the GOP wanted Clinton to win the Democratic nomination.
"It's going to be what it's going to be," Rove said.
Top Republican strategists have said in the past that they aimed their harshest comments in 2004 at Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the eventual nominee, because they wanted Bush to take on Kerry rather than John Edwards, then a senator from North Carolina. Edwards ended up as Kerry's running mate.
Rove disputed that strategy was behind his criticism of Clinton.
Looking back to the 2006 elections, when Democrats took control of Congress, Rove said their success was not unexpected.
"The 2006 election was a normal off-year election, if you look at the sweep of American history," he said.
Rove disputed any suggestion that the president is a lame duck.
"He is a bold leader who's going to be milking every single moment that he's got in this office," Rove said. "He came here to do things, and he's going to keep doing things right up to the moment that he leaves on January 20th, 2009."
Rove's effect on American politics will be decided by "how the president is judged," said GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, one of those GOP presidential candidates.
"And I think the president's going to be judged on what happens, to a large degree what happens in the war in Iraq."
Rove appeared on "Fox News Sunday," NBC's "Meet the Press" and CBS' "Face the Nation," while McCain was on CBS.
Friday, August 17, 2007
John Edwards Fund Foreclosed on Homes
On the campaign trail, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards has railed against subprime lenders, especially those that have foreclosed on the homes of Hurricane Katrina victims.
But Edwards himself has about $16 million invested in Fortress Investment Group LLC, whose subprime lending units have foreclosed on Katrina victims, a Wall Street Journal investigation disclosed.
During a visit to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans in April, Edwards proposed to rein in subprime mortgage companies, saying their "shameful lending practices” threaten millions of homeowners.
In July he also visited a neighborhood in Cleveland with a high foreclosure rate, saying: "This is wrong ... These people have been taken advantage of.”
But the Journal found that 34 New Orleans homeowners have faced foreclosure suits from the Fortress units. Those units have also foreclosed on four homes in the Cleveland neighborhood.
Edwards worked for Fortress, a private-equity fund, from late 2005 through 2006, and in 2006 Fortress paid him $479,512 for part-time work, according to a Federal Election Commission report.
Also, Fortress employees comprise the largest class of political contributors to Edwards, having donated more than $150,000 to his presidential campaign in the first six months of this year.
When confronted about the apparent hypocrisy of his anti-subprime efforts, Edwards told the Journal on Thursday that he would personally provide financial assistance to New Orleans residents who have lost their homes to Fortress, and he vowed to divest his portfolio of any investments that may profit from their losses.
He did not provide details, although he said the money might come from his own holdings or in collaboration with a charity. This is not the first time a charge of hypocrisy has been leveled against the former North Carolina senator.
As NewsMax reported, on Aug. 2 Edwards criticized Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for taking more than $20,000 in donations from officials at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., arguing that the company’s Fox News Channel has a right-wing bias and Democrats should avoid the company.
But Edwards himself pocketed a $500,000 advance from publisher HarperCollins for his book "Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives.” HarperCollins is a News Corp. subsidiary.
After Edwards criticized Clinton, News Corp. asked if he would return the advance. Edwards said he would not. He has also said he donated the money to charity, but Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox claimed that when asked, he did not provide proof of the donations.
On the campaign trail, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards has railed against subprime lenders, especially those that have foreclosed on the homes of Hurricane Katrina victims.
But Edwards himself has about $16 million invested in Fortress Investment Group LLC, whose subprime lending units have foreclosed on Katrina victims, a Wall Street Journal investigation disclosed.
During a visit to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans in April, Edwards proposed to rein in subprime mortgage companies, saying their "shameful lending practices” threaten millions of homeowners.
In July he also visited a neighborhood in Cleveland with a high foreclosure rate, saying: "This is wrong ... These people have been taken advantage of.”
But the Journal found that 34 New Orleans homeowners have faced foreclosure suits from the Fortress units. Those units have also foreclosed on four homes in the Cleveland neighborhood.
Edwards worked for Fortress, a private-equity fund, from late 2005 through 2006, and in 2006 Fortress paid him $479,512 for part-time work, according to a Federal Election Commission report.
Also, Fortress employees comprise the largest class of political contributors to Edwards, having donated more than $150,000 to his presidential campaign in the first six months of this year.
When confronted about the apparent hypocrisy of his anti-subprime efforts, Edwards told the Journal on Thursday that he would personally provide financial assistance to New Orleans residents who have lost their homes to Fortress, and he vowed to divest his portfolio of any investments that may profit from their losses.
He did not provide details, although he said the money might come from his own holdings or in collaboration with a charity. This is not the first time a charge of hypocrisy has been leveled against the former North Carolina senator.
As NewsMax reported, on Aug. 2 Edwards criticized Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for taking more than $20,000 in donations from officials at Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., arguing that the company’s Fox News Channel has a right-wing bias and Democrats should avoid the company.
But Edwards himself pocketed a $500,000 advance from publisher HarperCollins for his book "Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives.” HarperCollins is a News Corp. subsidiary.
After Edwards criticized Clinton, News Corp. asked if he would return the advance. Edwards said he would not. He has also said he donated the money to charity, but Bill O’Reilly’s show on Fox claimed that when asked, he did not provide proof of the donations.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Bush's Approval Twice Congress
President George W. Bush’s overall job approval rating has taken a small dip, dropping to 32% positive, down from 34% who gave him positive job marks in mid-July, a new Reuters/Zogby International telephone poll shows.
The survey also shows that the overall job approval rating for the work of Congress remains far below the President’s, as just 15% give the national legislature a collective positive rating, up one point since last month. Changes in both the ratings for the President and Congress are statistically insignificant.
This latest Reuters/Zogby poll included interviews with 1,020 likely voters between August 9-11, 2007. It carries a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
Bush has lingered in the low 30s all year. His most recent high was a 42% positive rating just a week before the 2006 midterm elections, when Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress. At that time, the positive approval rating for Congress had languished in the low 20s or high teens, but plummeted in the wake of its handling of controversial issues, including immigration reform and the Iraq war, other Zogby polling showed.
Bush wins a positive job rating from 58% of Republicans, 29% of independents, and 11% of Democrats. Among those with a household member who is now or at one time served in the Armed Forces, 37% give the President positive marks, compared with 26% of those with no household member in the military who give him a positive job rating.
Meanwhile, Congress wins just 18% positive approval from Democrats, while 80% of Dems give them negative marks for their performance so far. Republicans watching the performance of the Democratic-controlled Congress are more harsh—just 12% give it good marks, while 86% said they are doing only a "fair” or "poor” job in Washington.
Political independents appear to agree with Republicans on this count—just 16% give Congress positive marks, while the balance give it a negative rating.
Most are not happy with the overall direction in which the nation is now headed, the poll shows. Just 24% said they think things in the country are going well, while 64% said they think things are off on the wrong track. The main problem is foreign policy, the Reuters/Zogby poll shows. Just 22% approve of foreign affairs as practiced by the Bush administration.
Despite their downcast view of the current political leadership in Washington, an overwhelming percentage said they are proud of their nation – 89% said they are either very or fairly proud of the United States.
Just 35% said they are pleased with current U.S. economic policy, but 60% said their own personal economic situation is good or excellent.
Overall, 65% said they feel secure in their current jobs, and most are optimistic about the long-term future of the nation: 64% said they expect their children to have a better life than them.
More than three-quarters—77%—said they feel America is facing threats from abroad, while 21% said they are not concerned about such things.
President George W. Bush’s overall job approval rating has taken a small dip, dropping to 32% positive, down from 34% who gave him positive job marks in mid-July, a new Reuters/Zogby International telephone poll shows.
The survey also shows that the overall job approval rating for the work of Congress remains far below the President’s, as just 15% give the national legislature a collective positive rating, up one point since last month. Changes in both the ratings for the President and Congress are statistically insignificant.
This latest Reuters/Zogby poll included interviews with 1,020 likely voters between August 9-11, 2007. It carries a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
Bush has lingered in the low 30s all year. His most recent high was a 42% positive rating just a week before the 2006 midterm elections, when Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress. At that time, the positive approval rating for Congress had languished in the low 20s or high teens, but plummeted in the wake of its handling of controversial issues, including immigration reform and the Iraq war, other Zogby polling showed.
Bush wins a positive job rating from 58% of Republicans, 29% of independents, and 11% of Democrats. Among those with a household member who is now or at one time served in the Armed Forces, 37% give the President positive marks, compared with 26% of those with no household member in the military who give him a positive job rating.
Meanwhile, Congress wins just 18% positive approval from Democrats, while 80% of Dems give them negative marks for their performance so far. Republicans watching the performance of the Democratic-controlled Congress are more harsh—just 12% give it good marks, while 86% said they are doing only a "fair” or "poor” job in Washington.
Political independents appear to agree with Republicans on this count—just 16% give Congress positive marks, while the balance give it a negative rating.
Most are not happy with the overall direction in which the nation is now headed, the poll shows. Just 24% said they think things in the country are going well, while 64% said they think things are off on the wrong track. The main problem is foreign policy, the Reuters/Zogby poll shows. Just 22% approve of foreign affairs as practiced by the Bush administration.
Despite their downcast view of the current political leadership in Washington, an overwhelming percentage said they are proud of their nation – 89% said they are either very or fairly proud of the United States.
Just 35% said they are pleased with current U.S. economic policy, but 60% said their own personal economic situation is good or excellent.
Overall, 65% said they feel secure in their current jobs, and most are optimistic about the long-term future of the nation: 64% said they expect their children to have a better life than them.
More than three-quarters—77%—said they feel America is facing threats from abroad, while 21% said they are not concerned about such things.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Karl Rove Slams ‘Elite, Effete Snobs’
Appearing by phone on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," President Bush’s chief political strategist Karl Rove slammed Bush’s critics as "elite, effete snobs.”
In his first interview since announcing he was leaving the White House, Rove also revealed why he thought Hillary Clinton was a "fatally flawed” candidate for president.
Rove told radio host Rush Limbaugh that he is often "amused” by references to Bush as "brain dead” or "frat boy.”
In his Wednesday interview he told Rush: "This is one of the best-read people I’ve ever met. This is a Harvard MBA. A Yale undergraduate whose major was history and whose passion is history.”
Those "elite, effete snobs” who criticize him — the "people on the Upper East Side who are putting their nose in the air about him — can’t hold a candle to him.”
He also told Rush that that after a 34-year relationship, he’s never "ceased to be amazed” by Bush.
"He’s just as passionate today about doing his job of protecting America and growing the economy . . . as he was the day he came in.”
Asked how he deals with constant criticism from what Rush calls the "drive-by media,” Rove said he tries to "just ignore” it. He said his life would be pitiful if he needed to be "validated” by The New York Times.
And he disclosed that Bush often dismisses attacks by saying, "Don’t worry, history will get it right and we’ll both be dead.”
Rove, who is currently the deputy White house chief of staff, said Monday that he would leave his post at the end of August. Recalling the 2000 election controversy in Florida, Rove said that "some Democrats never got over” the results and "hate” Bush.
"Some made a calculated decision . . . that the way back out of the political wilderness for them was to simply obstruct everything the president was trying to do.”
Hillary Clinton: Worst Negatives in History
As for his prediction about the likely Democratic candidate for president, Rove repeated an earlier remark that Hillary Clinton would probably be the nominee but is "fatally flawed.”
He said Hillary’s record on healthcare issues has been "spotty and poor.” And when Rush asked Rove to be more specific about Hillary’s "flaw,” Rove pointed out: "There is no front-runner who has entered the primary season with negatives as high as she has in the history of modern polling.”
He pointed to polls that reveal Hillary has a negative rating in the "high 40s,” and added: "There is nobody who has ever won the presidency who has started out in that kind of position.”
On board with Bush since the beginning of his political career in Texas, Rove was nicknamed "the architect” and "boy genius” by the president for designing the strategy that twice won him the White House.
On Monday, Limbaugh called Rove "one of the smartest people you would ever run into.”
Bush has recently been courting conservative radio hosts in an effort to bolster support for his policies, especially on the Iraq war. On Aug. 1, he met with 10 conservative hosts at the White House for a discussion that one host, Glenn Beck, termed "shockingly frank.”
The next day, Rush Limbaugh visited the White House, where he had dinner with the president and first lady and enjoyed a cigar with Bush and presidential counselor Ed Gillespie in the Treaty Room.
The following morning, Rush had breakfast with Rove at the White House.
Appearing by phone on "The Rush Limbaugh Show," President Bush’s chief political strategist Karl Rove slammed Bush’s critics as "elite, effete snobs.”
In his first interview since announcing he was leaving the White House, Rove also revealed why he thought Hillary Clinton was a "fatally flawed” candidate for president.
Rove told radio host Rush Limbaugh that he is often "amused” by references to Bush as "brain dead” or "frat boy.”
In his Wednesday interview he told Rush: "This is one of the best-read people I’ve ever met. This is a Harvard MBA. A Yale undergraduate whose major was history and whose passion is history.”
Those "elite, effete snobs” who criticize him — the "people on the Upper East Side who are putting their nose in the air about him — can’t hold a candle to him.”
He also told Rush that that after a 34-year relationship, he’s never "ceased to be amazed” by Bush.
"He’s just as passionate today about doing his job of protecting America and growing the economy . . . as he was the day he came in.”
Asked how he deals with constant criticism from what Rush calls the "drive-by media,” Rove said he tries to "just ignore” it. He said his life would be pitiful if he needed to be "validated” by The New York Times.
And he disclosed that Bush often dismisses attacks by saying, "Don’t worry, history will get it right and we’ll both be dead.”
Rove, who is currently the deputy White house chief of staff, said Monday that he would leave his post at the end of August. Recalling the 2000 election controversy in Florida, Rove said that "some Democrats never got over” the results and "hate” Bush.
"Some made a calculated decision . . . that the way back out of the political wilderness for them was to simply obstruct everything the president was trying to do.”
Hillary Clinton: Worst Negatives in History
As for his prediction about the likely Democratic candidate for president, Rove repeated an earlier remark that Hillary Clinton would probably be the nominee but is "fatally flawed.”
He said Hillary’s record on healthcare issues has been "spotty and poor.” And when Rush asked Rove to be more specific about Hillary’s "flaw,” Rove pointed out: "There is no front-runner who has entered the primary season with negatives as high as she has in the history of modern polling.”
He pointed to polls that reveal Hillary has a negative rating in the "high 40s,” and added: "There is nobody who has ever won the presidency who has started out in that kind of position.”
On board with Bush since the beginning of his political career in Texas, Rove was nicknamed "the architect” and "boy genius” by the president for designing the strategy that twice won him the White House.
On Monday, Limbaugh called Rove "one of the smartest people you would ever run into.”
Bush has recently been courting conservative radio hosts in an effort to bolster support for his policies, especially on the Iraq war. On Aug. 1, he met with 10 conservative hosts at the White House for a discussion that one host, Glenn Beck, termed "shockingly frank.”
The next day, Rush Limbaugh visited the White House, where he had dinner with the president and first lady and enjoyed a cigar with Bush and presidential counselor Ed Gillespie in the Treaty Room.
The following morning, Rush had breakfast with Rove at the White House.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
'Going Green' Bandwagon Stalling, Poll Finds
Written by Randy Hall, CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
Despite unwavering attention from the media, government and business, global warming is only of moderate concern to most consumers, according to a new survey of consumers and their environmental attitudes.
"Consumers are not drinking the Kool-Aid when it comes to green," said J. Walker Smith, president of the Yankelovich, Inc., marketing firm, which released the survey results on Monday.
"While they're highly aware of environmental issues due to the glut of media attention," said Smith, "the simple fact is that 'going green' in their everyday life is simply not a big concern or a high priority."
This is "the first study of its kind to examine how much consumers truly care about green issues," stated the research firm, based in Chapel Hill, N.C., in a news release, which further noted that only 34 percent of consumers feel much more concerned about environmental issues today than a year ago.
Also, only 22 percent of the 2,763 consumers surveyed think they can make a difference when it comes to the environment.
"Take former Vice President Al Gore's book, 'An Inconvenient Truth.' Even though it received widespread acclaim from media and scientists alike, 82 percent of consumers neither saw the film nor read the book," Smith said.
Nevertheless, consumers are far more knowledgeable about environmental issues than they're generally given credit for, he added.
"For example, Al Gore's '10 Myths' in 'An Inconvenient Truth' are not considered myths by consumers at all," said Smith. According to the survey, for instance, "only 7 percent of consumers believe Gore's 'myth' that it's already too late to do something about climate change."
In addition, "only 4 percent believe global warming is a good thing, and only 8 percent agree that the warming that scientists are recording is just the effect of cities trapping heat rather than anything to do with greenhouse gases," he indicated.
Chris Horner, senior fellow with the free market environmental group Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Cybercast News Service on Tuesday that the results of the survey indicate that global warming alarmists have "overplayed their hand."
These groups largely use "spoke-alarmists whose own wretched excesses expose the movement's hypocrisy and/or lack of seriousness," Horner said. As a result, "the consuming public sees this for what it is: a fashion accessory or statement of fashionability, but not a crisis."
Telephone calls and e-mails seeking comments from such "green" groups as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace International, the Environmental Defense Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council were not returned by press time. But Smith had some good news for environmental activists.
Despite the fact that nearly half of all consumers have lukewarm attitudes about "going green," Smith said that companies can -- and should -- exploit the "greenness" of their products.
"While the environment is not a mainstream consumer concern, it does represent a niche opportunity in the marketplace, with just over 30 million Americans (13 percent of the 234 million people 16years of age and older) 'strongly concerned' about it," he stated.
Second and equally important, "if organizations are required to meet strict federal and state environmental regulations -- often at huge expense -- it makes sense to try to leverage the 'new and improved' green product to consumers," said Smith.
"The good news for companies is that while the majority of consumers' attitudes towards the environment may be only of moderate concern, it is possible to change consumers' behavior so that the green attributes of a product become a key feature in the buying decision," he said.
"Where companies are currently falling short with their green marketing strategy is that they're failing to establish a personal connection with the consumer," Smith stated. "In other words, consumers currently have no knowledge of what green means or has to offer to them.
"To make a green marketing strategy successful, organizations must employ behavioral tactics that move consumers up the continuum to greater levels of 'greenness,'" he said. "Marketers who focus on these segments in isolation will not change consumers' green behavior."
Written by Randy Hall, CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
Despite unwavering attention from the media, government and business, global warming is only of moderate concern to most consumers, according to a new survey of consumers and their environmental attitudes.
"Consumers are not drinking the Kool-Aid when it comes to green," said J. Walker Smith, president of the Yankelovich, Inc., marketing firm, which released the survey results on Monday.
"While they're highly aware of environmental issues due to the glut of media attention," said Smith, "the simple fact is that 'going green' in their everyday life is simply not a big concern or a high priority."
This is "the first study of its kind to examine how much consumers truly care about green issues," stated the research firm, based in Chapel Hill, N.C., in a news release, which further noted that only 34 percent of consumers feel much more concerned about environmental issues today than a year ago.
Also, only 22 percent of the 2,763 consumers surveyed think they can make a difference when it comes to the environment.
"Take former Vice President Al Gore's book, 'An Inconvenient Truth.' Even though it received widespread acclaim from media and scientists alike, 82 percent of consumers neither saw the film nor read the book," Smith said.
Nevertheless, consumers are far more knowledgeable about environmental issues than they're generally given credit for, he added.
"For example, Al Gore's '10 Myths' in 'An Inconvenient Truth' are not considered myths by consumers at all," said Smith. According to the survey, for instance, "only 7 percent of consumers believe Gore's 'myth' that it's already too late to do something about climate change."
In addition, "only 4 percent believe global warming is a good thing, and only 8 percent agree that the warming that scientists are recording is just the effect of cities trapping heat rather than anything to do with greenhouse gases," he indicated.
Chris Horner, senior fellow with the free market environmental group Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Cybercast News Service on Tuesday that the results of the survey indicate that global warming alarmists have "overplayed their hand."
These groups largely use "spoke-alarmists whose own wretched excesses expose the movement's hypocrisy and/or lack of seriousness," Horner said. As a result, "the consuming public sees this for what it is: a fashion accessory or statement of fashionability, but not a crisis."
Telephone calls and e-mails seeking comments from such "green" groups as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace International, the Environmental Defense Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council were not returned by press time. But Smith had some good news for environmental activists.
Despite the fact that nearly half of all consumers have lukewarm attitudes about "going green," Smith said that companies can -- and should -- exploit the "greenness" of their products.
"While the environment is not a mainstream consumer concern, it does represent a niche opportunity in the marketplace, with just over 30 million Americans (13 percent of the 234 million people 16years of age and older) 'strongly concerned' about it," he stated.
Second and equally important, "if organizations are required to meet strict federal and state environmental regulations -- often at huge expense -- it makes sense to try to leverage the 'new and improved' green product to consumers," said Smith.
"The good news for companies is that while the majority of consumers' attitudes towards the environment may be only of moderate concern, it is possible to change consumers' behavior so that the green attributes of a product become a key feature in the buying decision," he said.
"Where companies are currently falling short with their green marketing strategy is that they're failing to establish a personal connection with the consumer," Smith stated. "In other words, consumers currently have no knowledge of what green means or has to offer to them.
"To make a green marketing strategy successful, organizations must employ behavioral tactics that move consumers up the continuum to greater levels of 'greenness,'" he said. "Marketers who focus on these segments in isolation will not change consumers' green behavior."
Monday, August 13, 2007
FCC Tested Defective Prototype Device
WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. on Monday gave a simple reason why its prototype for beaming high-speed Internet service over unused television airways failed a government test: the device was broken.
The Federal Communications Commission said on July 31 that the device did not reliably detect unoccupied spectrum and could interfere with other TV programming and wireless microphone signals.
On Monday, Microsoft sent the agency a letter explaining that a subsequent test determined the equipment was defective.
Representatives for Microsoft and other technology companies met with FCC engineers last week and determined the device "was working improperly and an internal component was broken," Microsoft's managing director for government affairs, Jack Krumholtz, said in a statement on Monday.
"This accounted for the FCC's aberrant test results," Krumholtz said.
An FCC spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
Microsoft said in an FCC filing that it sent a duplicate device that was functioning properly, but that the agency never tested it.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of companies that wants to beam high-speed Internet service through unoccupied TV channels, also known as "white spaces."
The coalition submitted two prototype devices, one developed by Microsoft and another developed by Phillips Electronics North America Corp., a division of Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics NV.
The coalition said the Philips device was able to detect both TV and wireless microphone signals in a laboratory setting.
The FCC's engineering office plans to hold a hearing Thursday to provide an overview of the tests and consider suggestions for further evaluation of the devices.
While FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he wants the white spaces to be utilized, he's facing resistance from TV broadcasters, who fear that it won't work and would cause problems with TV programming and with a federally mandated transition from analog to digital signals in early 2009.
The coalition said it's confident the FCC will be able to designate the white spaces for high-speed Internet service, which would be accessible and affordable especially in rural areas.
According to its timetable, the FCC could adopt rules for operating unlicensed devices in the white-space spectrum by October and start certifying similar devices that meets its technical requirement. In any case, no devices would go on sale before the digital TV transition in February 2009.
In addition to Microsoft and Philips, the technology coalition includes Google Inc., Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Intel Corp. and EarthLink Inc.
WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. on Monday gave a simple reason why its prototype for beaming high-speed Internet service over unused television airways failed a government test: the device was broken.
The Federal Communications Commission said on July 31 that the device did not reliably detect unoccupied spectrum and could interfere with other TV programming and wireless microphone signals.
On Monday, Microsoft sent the agency a letter explaining that a subsequent test determined the equipment was defective.
Representatives for Microsoft and other technology companies met with FCC engineers last week and determined the device "was working improperly and an internal component was broken," Microsoft's managing director for government affairs, Jack Krumholtz, said in a statement on Monday.
"This accounted for the FCC's aberrant test results," Krumholtz said.
An FCC spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
Microsoft said in an FCC filing that it sent a duplicate device that was functioning properly, but that the agency never tested it.
Microsoft is part of a coalition of companies that wants to beam high-speed Internet service through unoccupied TV channels, also known as "white spaces."
The coalition submitted two prototype devices, one developed by Microsoft and another developed by Phillips Electronics North America Corp., a division of Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics NV.
The coalition said the Philips device was able to detect both TV and wireless microphone signals in a laboratory setting.
The FCC's engineering office plans to hold a hearing Thursday to provide an overview of the tests and consider suggestions for further evaluation of the devices.
While FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he wants the white spaces to be utilized, he's facing resistance from TV broadcasters, who fear that it won't work and would cause problems with TV programming and with a federally mandated transition from analog to digital signals in early 2009.
The coalition said it's confident the FCC will be able to designate the white spaces for high-speed Internet service, which would be accessible and affordable especially in rural areas.
According to its timetable, the FCC could adopt rules for operating unlicensed devices in the white-space spectrum by October and start certifying similar devices that meets its technical requirement. In any case, no devices would go on sale before the digital TV transition in February 2009.
In addition to Microsoft and Philips, the technology coalition includes Google Inc., Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Intel Corp. and EarthLink Inc.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Protesters Set Up Camp Near Heathrow
LONDON -- Environmentalists pitched tents, erected a wind turbine and built a solar- powered movie theater Monday near London's Heathrow Airport as part of a protest against a proposed new runway and the environmental damage caused by air travel.
About 150 protesters set up tents in a field north of Heathrow's perimeter fence near where the new runway would be built to prepare for the start of the weeklong protest, which begins on Tuesday and culminates in a day of unspecified "direct action" on Sunday.
Hundreds are expected to attend the "climate camp" during the week. Organizers said their aim was not to disrupt people's travel plans but to start a debate about airport-related environmental damage.
A fifth terminal is scheduled to open at the airport in March 2008, and the government has proposed the third runway to open around 2020.
One of the protesters, Gary Dwyer, 34, said he expected the event to be peaceful.
"There will be the day of direct action, but we've said there will be no attempt to storm runways or anything like that. Public safety is paramount," he said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office warned the demonstrators not to interfere with the running of the airport.
"People do have a right to protest in this country, but the government believes that action that would disrupt the running of Heathrow would be unacceptable," a Downing Street spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
Up to 1,800 police officers will be on duty during the protest. Metropolitan Police said officers carried out patrols of the camp Monday to ensure no offenses were being committed.
Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said the airport operator would also take necessary steps to protect staff and travelers during one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.
"With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," Bullock said. "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful."
LONDON -- Environmentalists pitched tents, erected a wind turbine and built a solar- powered movie theater Monday near London's Heathrow Airport as part of a protest against a proposed new runway and the environmental damage caused by air travel.
About 150 protesters set up tents in a field north of Heathrow's perimeter fence near where the new runway would be built to prepare for the start of the weeklong protest, which begins on Tuesday and culminates in a day of unspecified "direct action" on Sunday.
Hundreds are expected to attend the "climate camp" during the week. Organizers said their aim was not to disrupt people's travel plans but to start a debate about airport-related environmental damage.
A fifth terminal is scheduled to open at the airport in March 2008, and the government has proposed the third runway to open around 2020.
One of the protesters, Gary Dwyer, 34, said he expected the event to be peaceful.
"There will be the day of direct action, but we've said there will be no attempt to storm runways or anything like that. Public safety is paramount," he said.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office warned the demonstrators not to interfere with the running of the airport.
"People do have a right to protest in this country, but the government believes that action that would disrupt the running of Heathrow would be unacceptable," a Downing Street spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
Up to 1,800 police officers will be on duty during the protest. Metropolitan Police said officers carried out patrols of the camp Monday to ensure no offenses were being committed.
Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, said the airport operator would also take necessary steps to protect staff and travelers during one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.
"With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business," Bullock said. "Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful."
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Ex-Yemeni Soldiers Step Up Protests
ADEN, Yemen -- Security forces in southern Yemen clashed Monday with former army soldiers protesting low pensions and demanding to be allowed back into the armed forces. Witnesses said one person was killed and another injured in the fifth consecutive day of street demonstrations.
The death, which police denied, was the second to be reported since Thursday. Witnesses who reported the deaths requested anonymity saying they feared government reprisal.
The protests by thousands of former soldiers in three southern Yemen provinces highlight growing tensions between southern and northern Yemen 13 years after a short-lived civil war ended.
Most of the protesters were members of the army of south Yemen who were ousted after being defeated by northern forces during the civil war.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters in Lawder, Thale'a and Radafan, located north of this southern port city that was once the capital of socialist South Yemen.
In a statement carried on the state news agency, Saba, the government blamed the conflict on "lawbreaking elements who entered from neighboring provinces seeking incitement and chaos."
Organizers said they will continue demonstrations. They charge that the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh is ignoring complaints of discrimination against southerners at the hands of the northern-dominated leadership.
North and South Yemen were united in 1990, with Saleh _ who had been the north's president _ remaining in his post. In 1994, rebels announced secession of the south, battling northern forces for several months in a civil war that ended in their defeat.
Afterward, about 60,000 southern servicemen were discharged from the army, and many of them fled abroad. Most have since returned, drawn back by an amnesty and promises they would be allowed to re-enlist.
But many have not been allowed back into the military, which is dominated by northerners. At the same time, southerners complain they are kept out of government jobs _ a main source of employment in the south _ in favor of northerners brought in to fill the bureaucracy and security forces.
Northerners also continue to hold large tracts of land in the south granted to them after the civil war.
ADEN, Yemen -- Security forces in southern Yemen clashed Monday with former army soldiers protesting low pensions and demanding to be allowed back into the armed forces. Witnesses said one person was killed and another injured in the fifth consecutive day of street demonstrations.
The death, which police denied, was the second to be reported since Thursday. Witnesses who reported the deaths requested anonymity saying they feared government reprisal.
The protests by thousands of former soldiers in three southern Yemen provinces highlight growing tensions between southern and northern Yemen 13 years after a short-lived civil war ended.
Most of the protesters were members of the army of south Yemen who were ousted after being defeated by northern forces during the civil war.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters in Lawder, Thale'a and Radafan, located north of this southern port city that was once the capital of socialist South Yemen.
In a statement carried on the state news agency, Saba, the government blamed the conflict on "lawbreaking elements who entered from neighboring provinces seeking incitement and chaos."
Organizers said they will continue demonstrations. They charge that the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh is ignoring complaints of discrimination against southerners at the hands of the northern-dominated leadership.
North and South Yemen were united in 1990, with Saleh _ who had been the north's president _ remaining in his post. In 1994, rebels announced secession of the south, battling northern forces for several months in a civil war that ended in their defeat.
Afterward, about 60,000 southern servicemen were discharged from the army, and many of them fled abroad. Most have since returned, drawn back by an amnesty and promises they would be allowed to re-enlist.
But many have not been allowed back into the military, which is dominated by northerners. At the same time, southerners complain they are kept out of government jobs _ a main source of employment in the south _ in favor of northerners brought in to fill the bureaucracy and security forces.
Northerners also continue to hold large tracts of land in the south granted to them after the civil war.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Whites Now Minority in 1 in 10 Counties
Whites are now in the minority in nearly one in 10 U.S. counties. And that increased diversity, fueled by immigration and higher birth rates among blacks and Hispanics, is straining race relations and sparking a backlash against immigrants in many communities.
"There's some culture shock," said Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based research agency. "But I think there is a momentum building, and it is going to continue."
As of 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up less than half the population in 303 of the nation's 3,141 counties, according to figures the Census Bureau is releasing Thursday. Non-Hispanic whites were a minority in 262 counties in 2000, up from 183 in 1990.
The Census Bureau's report has population estimates by race and ethnicity for every county in the nation. They are the first such estimates since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, scattering hundreds of thousands of people.
The biggest changes in were in Orleans Parish, La., home to New Orleans. The share of non-Hispanic whites in Orleans Parish grew from 27 percent in 2005 to 34 percent in 2006, while the share of blacks dropped from about 68 percent to 59 percent.
Many of the nation's biggest counties have long had large minority populations. But that diversity is now spreading to the suburbs and beyond, causing resentment in some areas.
Many Latinos say they see it in the debate over illegal immigration.
In northern Virginia, Teresita Jacinto said she feels less welcome today than when she first arrived 30 years ago, when she was one of few Hispanics in the area.
"Not only are we feeling less welcome, we are feeling threatened," said Jacinto, a teacher in Woodbridge, Va., about 20 miles southwest of Washington.
Woodbridge is part of Prince William County, which recently passed a resolution seeking to deny public services to illegal immigrants. Similar measures have been approved or considered in dozens of communities across the nation. In all, state lawmakers have introduced more than 1,400 measures related to immigration this year, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.
Supporters say local laws are necessary because Congress has failed to crack down on the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. But many Hispanics legally in the U.S. say they feel targeted, too.
"I think across the board all of us feel like we're not welcome," said Jacinto, who was born in the U.S. and volunteers for an advocacy group called Mexicans Without Borders.
Prince William County has seen its Hispanic population more than double since 2000, to nearly 70,000 last year. Non-Hispanic whites account for a little more than half the population, down from about two-thirds in 2000.
Greg Letiecq recently helped form a group to fight illegal immigration in northern Virginia, called Help Save Manassas. The group is named for a city surrounded by Prince William County.
"It's not about ethnicity, it's not about race. It's about lawful behavior versus unlawful behavior," Letiecq said.
Still, he complained that many newcomers eschew American culture in favor of their Latino heritage.
"It's the folks who come in and try to maintain the culture of the country they came from," Letiecq said. "They don't seem to embrace the American culture, the English language, the social norms of American culture."
Nationally, the number of minorities topped 100 million for the first time in 2006 - about a third of the population. By 2050, minorities will account for half of U.S. residents, according to Census Bureau projections.
"I don't think Latinos or any other so-called minority group are seeking to make white people a minority," Jacinto said. "It's just a reality."
Whites are now in the minority in nearly one in 10 U.S. counties. And that increased diversity, fueled by immigration and higher birth rates among blacks and Hispanics, is straining race relations and sparking a backlash against immigrants in many communities.
"There's some culture shock," said Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based research agency. "But I think there is a momentum building, and it is going to continue."
As of 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up less than half the population in 303 of the nation's 3,141 counties, according to figures the Census Bureau is releasing Thursday. Non-Hispanic whites were a minority in 262 counties in 2000, up from 183 in 1990.
The Census Bureau's report has population estimates by race and ethnicity for every county in the nation. They are the first such estimates since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, scattering hundreds of thousands of people.
The biggest changes in were in Orleans Parish, La., home to New Orleans. The share of non-Hispanic whites in Orleans Parish grew from 27 percent in 2005 to 34 percent in 2006, while the share of blacks dropped from about 68 percent to 59 percent.
Many of the nation's biggest counties have long had large minority populations. But that diversity is now spreading to the suburbs and beyond, causing resentment in some areas.
Many Latinos say they see it in the debate over illegal immigration.
In northern Virginia, Teresita Jacinto said she feels less welcome today than when she first arrived 30 years ago, when she was one of few Hispanics in the area.
"Not only are we feeling less welcome, we are feeling threatened," said Jacinto, a teacher in Woodbridge, Va., about 20 miles southwest of Washington.
Woodbridge is part of Prince William County, which recently passed a resolution seeking to deny public services to illegal immigrants. Similar measures have been approved or considered in dozens of communities across the nation. In all, state lawmakers have introduced more than 1,400 measures related to immigration this year, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.
Supporters say local laws are necessary because Congress has failed to crack down on the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. But many Hispanics legally in the U.S. say they feel targeted, too.
"I think across the board all of us feel like we're not welcome," said Jacinto, who was born in the U.S. and volunteers for an advocacy group called Mexicans Without Borders.
Prince William County has seen its Hispanic population more than double since 2000, to nearly 70,000 last year. Non-Hispanic whites account for a little more than half the population, down from about two-thirds in 2000.
Greg Letiecq recently helped form a group to fight illegal immigration in northern Virginia, called Help Save Manassas. The group is named for a city surrounded by Prince William County.
"It's not about ethnicity, it's not about race. It's about lawful behavior versus unlawful behavior," Letiecq said.
Still, he complained that many newcomers eschew American culture in favor of their Latino heritage.
"It's the folks who come in and try to maintain the culture of the country they came from," Letiecq said. "They don't seem to embrace the American culture, the English language, the social norms of American culture."
Nationally, the number of minorities topped 100 million for the first time in 2006 - about a third of the population. By 2050, minorities will account for half of U.S. residents, according to Census Bureau projections.
"I don't think Latinos or any other so-called minority group are seeking to make white people a minority," Jacinto said. "It's just a reality."
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Clinton: Penalize Predator Mortgage Brokers
NewsMax - Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called for penalties against mortgage brokers who engage in predatory lending and a $1 billion federal fund to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
The New York senator has been critical of subprime mortgages, loans given to people with blemished credit histories or low incomes. Weak home prices and rising interest rates have made it increasingly difficult for borrowers to keep up with their payments; delinquencies and foreclosures are rising sharply.
"Today we have a clear choice: We can look at the statistics, wring our hands and continue to do nothing, or we can do what America has done in times of difficulty, acknowledge we have a real challenge and confront it head-on with real solutions," Clinton said. "I think we need to act now with smart, practical solutions to strengthen our housing and mortgage markets."
The New York senator's proposal includes a $1 billion federal fund to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, an end to prepayment penalties and more affordable housing options.
The nation's 10th largest mortgage lender, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp., filed for bankruptcy protection a day earlier. Two other mortgage lenders said they are not accepting new applications. Falling home prices and a spike in payment defaults have scared investors away from investments backed by home loans.
"It's a combination now, of economic conditions that are not working for the majority of Americans, and unsavory practices that are undermining the dream of home ownership," Clinton said.
When Congress returns from its summer recess, Clinton said she will introduce legislation targeting "fly-by-night mortgage lenders" who make "really seductive offers."
If President Bush and his Republican allies fail to act, Clinton promised she would as president.
"They believe in letting everyone fend for him or herself. They believe in what the president calls an ownership society, which is really you're on-your-own. It's the yo-yo economy; some go up and some go down and the strings are pulled by other people," Clinton said, repeating a familiar theme from her campaign speech. "I don't think that's how America works best."
Clinton also proposed banning contracts that trap borrowers in "unworkable" mortgage scenarios in which nothing is budgeted for taxes and insurance.
Last year, 1.3 million homes were foreclosed. This year, there have been more than 900,000 foreclosure filings. In New Hampshire, there were 150 foreclosure filings last year; so far this year, 1,400.
In March, Clinton called on a crackdown on predatory lending practices in the subprime market. On Tuesday, she said those loans were only the start.
"I think the subprime market, that was like the canary in the mine. It was telling us loudly and clearly, there are problems here," she said.
Rival John Edwards also has proposed cracking down on predatory lenders in a market he compared in June to "the wild West."
NewsMax - Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called for penalties against mortgage brokers who engage in predatory lending and a $1 billion federal fund to help homeowners avoid foreclosure.
The New York senator has been critical of subprime mortgages, loans given to people with blemished credit histories or low incomes. Weak home prices and rising interest rates have made it increasingly difficult for borrowers to keep up with their payments; delinquencies and foreclosures are rising sharply.
"Today we have a clear choice: We can look at the statistics, wring our hands and continue to do nothing, or we can do what America has done in times of difficulty, acknowledge we have a real challenge and confront it head-on with real solutions," Clinton said. "I think we need to act now with smart, practical solutions to strengthen our housing and mortgage markets."
The New York senator's proposal includes a $1 billion federal fund to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, an end to prepayment penalties and more affordable housing options.
The nation's 10th largest mortgage lender, American Home Mortgage Investment Corp., filed for bankruptcy protection a day earlier. Two other mortgage lenders said they are not accepting new applications. Falling home prices and a spike in payment defaults have scared investors away from investments backed by home loans.
"It's a combination now, of economic conditions that are not working for the majority of Americans, and unsavory practices that are undermining the dream of home ownership," Clinton said.
When Congress returns from its summer recess, Clinton said she will introduce legislation targeting "fly-by-night mortgage lenders" who make "really seductive offers."
If President Bush and his Republican allies fail to act, Clinton promised she would as president.
"They believe in letting everyone fend for him or herself. They believe in what the president calls an ownership society, which is really you're on-your-own. It's the yo-yo economy; some go up and some go down and the strings are pulled by other people," Clinton said, repeating a familiar theme from her campaign speech. "I don't think that's how America works best."
Clinton also proposed banning contracts that trap borrowers in "unworkable" mortgage scenarios in which nothing is budgeted for taxes and insurance.
Last year, 1.3 million homes were foreclosed. This year, there have been more than 900,000 foreclosure filings. In New Hampshire, there were 150 foreclosure filings last year; so far this year, 1,400.
In March, Clinton called on a crackdown on predatory lending practices in the subprime market. On Tuesday, she said those loans were only the start.
"I think the subprime market, that was like the canary in the mine. It was telling us loudly and clearly, there are problems here," she said.
Rival John Edwards also has proposed cracking down on predatory lenders in a market he compared in June to "the wild West."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Did you see that horrible rain storm in New York City? The flooding was so bad Hillary Clinton had to switch from a pantsuit to a wetsuit.
Another presidential debate last night. It did not do well in the ratings. In fact, you know the two Americans John Edwards is always talking about? Neither one of them was watching last night.
Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney say they will not participate in the Republican debate next month in Florida. John McCain said he will be there . . . if he can get a ride.
Elizabeth Edwards is speaking out again. She says the problem with her husband’s fundraising campaign is she can’t make him black, and she can’t make him a woman. That’s the same problem with Michael Jackson’s people.
Conan
Last night President Bush did not call Barry Bonds after he broke Hank Aaron’s homerun record, but today, Bush decided to make the call. Bush said, "I realized I had a rare opportunity to talk to the only guy in the country who is less popular than I am.”
Latest from the presidential campaign: Hillary Clinton says she’s going to reach out to healthcare employees by working a shift as a nurse at a hospital. When he heard this, Bill Clinton was upset and said, "Great. This will ruin the plot of my favorite porn movie.”
A couple in Arkansas had their 17th child. Afterwards, the other 16 kids threw their dad a "We get it — you’re not gay” party.
Ferguson
It’s a great day for Barry Bonds. He finally broke the homerun record. He celebrated last night with an expensive bottle of champagne which he injected into his ass.
Not such a great day for Donald Trump. His casinos are losing money. How does a casino lose money?
It goes against the laws of physics. Then again, so does that thing on his head.
There was a guy in New York who got arrested for smuggling a monkey onto a plane. I can’t get four ounces of shaving creme onto a plane! How’s he get monkey on there?
Kimmel
It was another beautiful day here; I almost feel guilty since the weather on the East Coast is so miserable. But really, when you’re laying by the pool, who cares?
Floods in New Jersey . . . they think there may have been a tornado in New York . . . it’s like Christmas for Al Gore.
It was a very big night for the very big-headed Barry Bonds.
He has the all-time record for career homeruns. There was big skirmish in the bleachers for the ball. Collectors say it’s worth somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000, which is actually a lot less than some other baseballs. Some baseballs have actually fetched millions of dollars so I guess taking steroids really does shrink the value of your balls.
Leno
Did you see that horrible rain storm in New York City? The flooding was so bad Hillary Clinton had to switch from a pantsuit to a wetsuit.
Another presidential debate last night. It did not do well in the ratings. In fact, you know the two Americans John Edwards is always talking about? Neither one of them was watching last night.
Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney say they will not participate in the Republican debate next month in Florida. John McCain said he will be there . . . if he can get a ride.
Elizabeth Edwards is speaking out again. She says the problem with her husband’s fundraising campaign is she can’t make him black, and she can’t make him a woman. That’s the same problem with Michael Jackson’s people.
Conan
Last night President Bush did not call Barry Bonds after he broke Hank Aaron’s homerun record, but today, Bush decided to make the call. Bush said, "I realized I had a rare opportunity to talk to the only guy in the country who is less popular than I am.”
Latest from the presidential campaign: Hillary Clinton says she’s going to reach out to healthcare employees by working a shift as a nurse at a hospital. When he heard this, Bill Clinton was upset and said, "Great. This will ruin the plot of my favorite porn movie.”
A couple in Arkansas had their 17th child. Afterwards, the other 16 kids threw their dad a "We get it — you’re not gay” party.
Ferguson
It’s a great day for Barry Bonds. He finally broke the homerun record. He celebrated last night with an expensive bottle of champagne which he injected into his ass.
Not such a great day for Donald Trump. His casinos are losing money. How does a casino lose money?
It goes against the laws of physics. Then again, so does that thing on his head.
There was a guy in New York who got arrested for smuggling a monkey onto a plane. I can’t get four ounces of shaving creme onto a plane! How’s he get monkey on there?
Kimmel
It was another beautiful day here; I almost feel guilty since the weather on the East Coast is so miserable. But really, when you’re laying by the pool, who cares?
Floods in New Jersey . . . they think there may have been a tornado in New York . . . it’s like Christmas for Al Gore.
It was a very big night for the very big-headed Barry Bonds.
He has the all-time record for career homeruns. There was big skirmish in the bleachers for the ball. Collectors say it’s worth somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000, which is actually a lot less than some other baseballs. Some baseballs have actually fetched millions of dollars so I guess taking steroids really does shrink the value of your balls.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
MoveOn.org Insists Bush Will Wiretap You
By Susan Jones, CNSNews.com Senior Editor
A liberal advocacy group is blasting the Democrat-run Congress for giving the Bush administration "more unchecked power to wiretap Americans without a warrant."
President Bush "used fear to intimidate lawmakers" into passing the Protect America Act last week -- "and it worked," said MoveOn.org in a message to its supporters.
The legislation updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to help the intelligence community gather information about budding terrorist plots.
The White House argues that the government should not have to get a court order to wiretap the phone calls and emails of "foreign intelligence targets" located abroad who communicate with Americans in the United States.
"When our intelligence professionals have the legal tools to gather information about the intentions of our enemies, America is safer," the White House said.
President Bush has made it clear that the warrantless wiretapping does not extend to Americans communicating with each other within the United States. In those cases, a court order must be obtained for surveillance.
But liberal groups aren't buying it: "Enough is enough. We have to send a strong message to Congress that there is no trade-off between fundamental liberties and security," MoveOn.org said on Tuesday.
"Preserving our Constitution is essential to our security -- we can't lead on freedom around the world when we're actively undermining the rule of law at home."
Following its normal procedure, MoveOn.org is asking "hundreds of thousands of us" to sign a petition "demanding that Congress reverse their capitulation to Bush and the politics of fear."
The group says if enough people speak out, it will send a message that Americans are rejecting the administration's "scare tactics."
MoveOn.org said it will deliver the petitions to members of Congress this week.
American Freedom Campaign
"The President used fear of another terrorist attack to bully Congress into giving him more unchecked power and they gave in to his scare tactics," MoveOn.org said. "While most Democrats voted against these expanded powers, Democratic leaders in Congress didn't put up much of a fight and they didn't stand up and say 'no' to Bush."
MoveOn.org said Democrats capitulated to the White House because they were afraid of being seen as weak on national security -- and because they think that most voters "don't really care about constitutional freedoms."
MoveOn.org announced on Tuesday it is launching an American Freedom Campaign - a long-term effort to "keep the pressure on Congress and make sure they fix this mess instead of making these powers permanent." The reforms included in the Protect America Act expire in six months, unless Congress renews them.
"It's Congress's job to act as a check on the president's authority -- not as a rubber-stamp. They have to know that we're watching them and we're demanding real accountability for this overreaching president," MoveOn.org said.
'Highly misleading
On Monday, the White House took the unusual step of responding to a "misleading" New York Times report on the Protect America Act.
"Today's New York Times story by James Risen makes the unfounded claim that new FISA legislation has 'broadly expanded the government's authority to eavesdrop on the international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens without warrants.' This is highly misleading," said Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto.
"The new law makes clear that a court order is not required to conduct surveillance of foreign intelligence targets located overseas. But under FISA, court approval is required for the government to target an individual located in the United States, and nothing in the new law changes that," Fratto said.
"Congress has recognized there does not have to be a trade off between the goals of protecting Americans' rights and keeping our Nation safe. The Protect America Act accomplishes both goals."
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino said it's important to be clear about what the law does and doesn't do:
The law involves going after "foreign targets in foreign locations for foreign intelligence surveillance. Anytime you have a target on an American you have to get a warrant," she told Fox News.
"That was true before the President signed the bill yesterday, and it's true now."
Perino said that Congress, in establishing the FISA courts, "never intended to apply American civil liberty protection to foreigners who are located overseas."
By Susan Jones, CNSNews.com Senior Editor
A liberal advocacy group is blasting the Democrat-run Congress for giving the Bush administration "more unchecked power to wiretap Americans without a warrant."
President Bush "used fear to intimidate lawmakers" into passing the Protect America Act last week -- "and it worked," said MoveOn.org in a message to its supporters.
The legislation updates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to help the intelligence community gather information about budding terrorist plots.
The White House argues that the government should not have to get a court order to wiretap the phone calls and emails of "foreign intelligence targets" located abroad who communicate with Americans in the United States.
"When our intelligence professionals have the legal tools to gather information about the intentions of our enemies, America is safer," the White House said.
President Bush has made it clear that the warrantless wiretapping does not extend to Americans communicating with each other within the United States. In those cases, a court order must be obtained for surveillance.
But liberal groups aren't buying it: "Enough is enough. We have to send a strong message to Congress that there is no trade-off between fundamental liberties and security," MoveOn.org said on Tuesday.
"Preserving our Constitution is essential to our security -- we can't lead on freedom around the world when we're actively undermining the rule of law at home."
Following its normal procedure, MoveOn.org is asking "hundreds of thousands of us" to sign a petition "demanding that Congress reverse their capitulation to Bush and the politics of fear."
The group says if enough people speak out, it will send a message that Americans are rejecting the administration's "scare tactics."
MoveOn.org said it will deliver the petitions to members of Congress this week.
American Freedom Campaign
"The President used fear of another terrorist attack to bully Congress into giving him more unchecked power and they gave in to his scare tactics," MoveOn.org said. "While most Democrats voted against these expanded powers, Democratic leaders in Congress didn't put up much of a fight and they didn't stand up and say 'no' to Bush."
MoveOn.org said Democrats capitulated to the White House because they were afraid of being seen as weak on national security -- and because they think that most voters "don't really care about constitutional freedoms."
MoveOn.org announced on Tuesday it is launching an American Freedom Campaign - a long-term effort to "keep the pressure on Congress and make sure they fix this mess instead of making these powers permanent." The reforms included in the Protect America Act expire in six months, unless Congress renews them.
"It's Congress's job to act as a check on the president's authority -- not as a rubber-stamp. They have to know that we're watching them and we're demanding real accountability for this overreaching president," MoveOn.org said.
'Highly misleading
On Monday, the White House took the unusual step of responding to a "misleading" New York Times report on the Protect America Act.
"Today's New York Times story by James Risen makes the unfounded claim that new FISA legislation has 'broadly expanded the government's authority to eavesdrop on the international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens without warrants.' This is highly misleading," said Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto.
"The new law makes clear that a court order is not required to conduct surveillance of foreign intelligence targets located overseas. But under FISA, court approval is required for the government to target an individual located in the United States, and nothing in the new law changes that," Fratto said.
"Congress has recognized there does not have to be a trade off between the goals of protecting Americans' rights and keeping our Nation safe. The Protect America Act accomplishes both goals."
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino said it's important to be clear about what the law does and doesn't do:
The law involves going after "foreign targets in foreign locations for foreign intelligence surveillance. Anytime you have a target on an American you have to get a warrant," she told Fox News.
"That was true before the President signed the bill yesterday, and it's true now."
Perino said that Congress, in establishing the FISA courts, "never intended to apply American civil liberty protection to foreigners who are located overseas."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
President Bush signed a law on Sunday that broadly expands the government’s authority to eavesdrop on our telephone calls and e-mails without a warrant. So our phone calls are being watched, our e-mails are being watched. The only thing not being watched? NBC. Why can’t we get some of that action?
A new study found that angry men get ahead in the world. Angry men tend to beat their rivals for power. Finally some good news for John McCain.
Actor Sean Penn is currently touring Venezuela with President Hugo Chavez. Penn said between listening to Chavez attack President Bush and calling us the Great Satan, he said it was like being back in Malibu.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Kathy Hilton said that her daughter Paris Hilton may have gotten a rash from the sheets in her cell. Today the sheets issued a statement saying, no, they got the rash from Paris Hilton.
Conan
Britney Spears in trouble again. Yesterday Britney Spears was involved in a fender bender. Fortunately, her kids weren’t in the car at the time. Unfortunately, they were strapped to the roof.
Earlier this week at a campaigning event in Utah, hundreds of people showed up to hear a speech by Barack Obama. After Obama’s speech, the Utah crowd said, "That was great; now let us know if an Asian guy ever comes to town.”
The '80s rock band Van Halen announced that they are reuniting for their first tour with David Lee Roth in 20 years. The band says they would have reunited with David sooner, but up until now, they weren’t desperate enough.
The Hooters restaurant chain has announced that they may open up a Hooters in the Muslim city of Dubai. Right next to Thank God It’s Fatwah.
Ferguson
David Beckham and Posh Spice have got a new perfume coming out. It’s called "Intimately Beckham.” Apparently, it’s a delicate combination of anorexic breath and athlete’s foot.
And that’s just hers.
Remember the rumors that Keith Richards snorted his father’s ashes with cocaine? Now, Keith is saying the rumors are true. Well, partially true. He said he did snort his father’s ashes — but he didn’t mix them with cocaine. Because I suppose that would be disrespectful. "Beer and liquor, never sicker. Coke and Dad, that’s just bad.”
Kimmel
Another debate between Democratic candidates. They’re having three of these a week now. This time they did it in Soldier Field in Chicago. It was sponsored by the AFLCIO. The candidates did their best to wave their union flags, and they all talked about picketing with unions, being in unions . . . with the notable exception of Joseph Biden. [Footage of Biden wearing a pin with the words "Unions Are Gay” dubbed in.]
A new reality show debuted on VH1 last night. They’ve really cornered the market on putting people no one in their right mind would want to see on television, on television. This one is called "The Pick-Up Artist.” The idea is they take eight lovable losers and they team them with this master of romance: "The world’s most successful pick-up artist. A man who goes by only one name. Mystery.” They call him Mystery because it’s a mystery he’s ever had sex at all.
Earlier this year, there was a strange story about Keith Richards. He claims he once snored a mixture of cocaine and his dead father’s ashes. That was the story, but he denied it. Now, though, he’s saying he did snort his dad; he did not mix him with some cocaine. He only snorted his dad. Stars. They’re just like us.
Leno
President Bush signed a law on Sunday that broadly expands the government’s authority to eavesdrop on our telephone calls and e-mails without a warrant. So our phone calls are being watched, our e-mails are being watched. The only thing not being watched? NBC. Why can’t we get some of that action?
A new study found that angry men get ahead in the world. Angry men tend to beat their rivals for power. Finally some good news for John McCain.
Actor Sean Penn is currently touring Venezuela with President Hugo Chavez. Penn said between listening to Chavez attack President Bush and calling us the Great Satan, he said it was like being back in Malibu.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Kathy Hilton said that her daughter Paris Hilton may have gotten a rash from the sheets in her cell. Today the sheets issued a statement saying, no, they got the rash from Paris Hilton.
Conan
Britney Spears in trouble again. Yesterday Britney Spears was involved in a fender bender. Fortunately, her kids weren’t in the car at the time. Unfortunately, they were strapped to the roof.
Earlier this week at a campaigning event in Utah, hundreds of people showed up to hear a speech by Barack Obama. After Obama’s speech, the Utah crowd said, "That was great; now let us know if an Asian guy ever comes to town.”
The '80s rock band Van Halen announced that they are reuniting for their first tour with David Lee Roth in 20 years. The band says they would have reunited with David sooner, but up until now, they weren’t desperate enough.
The Hooters restaurant chain has announced that they may open up a Hooters in the Muslim city of Dubai. Right next to Thank God It’s Fatwah.
Ferguson
David Beckham and Posh Spice have got a new perfume coming out. It’s called "Intimately Beckham.” Apparently, it’s a delicate combination of anorexic breath and athlete’s foot.
And that’s just hers.
Remember the rumors that Keith Richards snorted his father’s ashes with cocaine? Now, Keith is saying the rumors are true. Well, partially true. He said he did snort his father’s ashes — but he didn’t mix them with cocaine. Because I suppose that would be disrespectful. "Beer and liquor, never sicker. Coke and Dad, that’s just bad.”
Kimmel
Another debate between Democratic candidates. They’re having three of these a week now. This time they did it in Soldier Field in Chicago. It was sponsored by the AFLCIO. The candidates did their best to wave their union flags, and they all talked about picketing with unions, being in unions . . . with the notable exception of Joseph Biden. [Footage of Biden wearing a pin with the words "Unions Are Gay” dubbed in.]
A new reality show debuted on VH1 last night. They’ve really cornered the market on putting people no one in their right mind would want to see on television, on television. This one is called "The Pick-Up Artist.” The idea is they take eight lovable losers and they team them with this master of romance: "The world’s most successful pick-up artist. A man who goes by only one name. Mystery.” They call him Mystery because it’s a mystery he’s ever had sex at all.
Earlier this year, there was a strange story about Keith Richards. He claims he once snored a mixture of cocaine and his dead father’s ashes. That was the story, but he denied it. Now, though, he’s saying he did snort his dad; he did not mix him with some cocaine. He only snorted his dad. Stars. They’re just like us.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Gore Refuses to Debate Global Warming Theory
Best-selling author Dennis Avery is the next prominent figure to challenge the facts Al Gore is promoting in his global warming crusade. Mr. Avery is co-author of "Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1,500 Years." Both Al Gore and Dennis Avery have New York Times best-selling books on global warming, but with opposite conclusions.
The list of Al Gore detractors continues to grow as his extreme rhetoric and conclusions get dissected by scientists, economists, and researchers. Avery joins Lord Christopher Monckton (former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher advisor), Bjorn Lomborg (Danish economist), author Michael Crichton, Prof. S. Fred Singer (former director of the U.S. National Weather Service), Tim Ball, Ph.D. (historical climatologist), Prof. Ian Clark (University of Ottawa), and Prof. Richard Lindzen (MIT) among others.
Gore claims recent climate change is the result of human activities, and society must give up most of its energy supply to prevent global catastrophe. Conversely, Avery amassed physical evidence of past warming/cooling cycles and experimental evidence demonstrating variations in solar activity affect Earth's constantly varying temperatures.
"My book says our warming is natural, unstoppable -- and not very dangerous anyway," stated Avery.
"These books represent the two leading explanations for the Earth's recent temperature changes-and they conflict. If global warming truly is the most important public policy issue of our day, then it is high time the public got to hear the arguments from both sides matched up against each other," continued Avery.
Gore has refused all debate challengers to date. Joseph Bast, president of The Heartland Institute, noted, "Maybe it's because climate alarmists tend to lose when they debate climate realists. Or because most scientists do not support climate alarmism." The Heartland Institute has run more than $500,000 of ads in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Times promoting a debate.
Best-selling author Dennis Avery is the next prominent figure to challenge the facts Al Gore is promoting in his global warming crusade. Mr. Avery is co-author of "Unstoppable Global Warming Every 1,500 Years." Both Al Gore and Dennis Avery have New York Times best-selling books on global warming, but with opposite conclusions.
The list of Al Gore detractors continues to grow as his extreme rhetoric and conclusions get dissected by scientists, economists, and researchers. Avery joins Lord Christopher Monckton (former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher advisor), Bjorn Lomborg (Danish economist), author Michael Crichton, Prof. S. Fred Singer (former director of the U.S. National Weather Service), Tim Ball, Ph.D. (historical climatologist), Prof. Ian Clark (University of Ottawa), and Prof. Richard Lindzen (MIT) among others.
Gore claims recent climate change is the result of human activities, and society must give up most of its energy supply to prevent global catastrophe. Conversely, Avery amassed physical evidence of past warming/cooling cycles and experimental evidence demonstrating variations in solar activity affect Earth's constantly varying temperatures.
"My book says our warming is natural, unstoppable -- and not very dangerous anyway," stated Avery.
"These books represent the two leading explanations for the Earth's recent temperature changes-and they conflict. If global warming truly is the most important public policy issue of our day, then it is high time the public got to hear the arguments from both sides matched up against each other," continued Avery.
Gore has refused all debate challengers to date. Joseph Bast, president of The Heartland Institute, noted, "Maybe it's because climate alarmists tend to lose when they debate climate realists. Or because most scientists do not support climate alarmism." The Heartland Institute has run more than $500,000 of ads in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Times promoting a debate.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Congratulations to Matt Damon. His movie "The Bourne Ultimatum” — the biggest movie opening ever in the month of August. It made $70 million. Today, Sen. John McCain asked Matt Damon to be his running mate.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a guy who works for the government but can’t remember his past. The original title was "The Alberto Gonzales Story.”
Today Chinese officials recalled 1 million tons of lead because it may contain toys.
According to Glamour magazine, 83 percent of women tell their friends secrets to their husbands. So women, if you tell your girlfriend something, 83 percent chance she will tell her husband. But the good news? One hundred percent of the men aren’t listening anyway.
Conan
Potential-for-candidate Fred Thompson is now busy defending his much younger wife. In a recent interview, he said all criticism of his wife should be directed at him. As a result, conservative groups told Thompson he’s been showing too much cleavage.
This week, the U.S. Army started using armed robots to patrol the streets of Iraq. Everybody thinks it’s a good idea except the armed robots.
The New York Times reduced the size of their paper. They reduced the width by an inch and a half. The news was announced with the headline, "Big News at New York Tim.”
In a recent interview, Paris Hilton says 20 tour buses a day come by her house. Paris says the other guys come by foot, horse back, or via aircraft carrier.
Ferguson
Great day for America, especially if you like Hooters. Hooters has announced they’re building a restaurant in the Middle East. There’ll be a few different menu items: get your ja-hot wings . . . infa-deli sandwich . . . Taliban-anna cream pie . . .
Scary news today. Jellyfish are going nuts in Florida. Four hundred people over the weekend were stung by jellyfish. Did you know that jellyfish have no brains? None. They’re like the Baldwins of the sea.
Apparently lifeguards are clearing out supermarkets of their vinegar. It soothes the jellyfish burns. You know what works even better? Urine. Human urine! If you see someone who’s been stung by a jellyfish pee on them. You’re doinng them a favor!
Even if I suspect someone might have been stung by a jellyfish, I run out onto the beach and pee on them. If I even think someone has been stung by a jellyfish I pee on them before they leave the office, just in case!
Leno
Congratulations to Matt Damon. His movie "The Bourne Ultimatum” — the biggest movie opening ever in the month of August. It made $70 million. Today, Sen. John McCain asked Matt Damon to be his running mate.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a guy who works for the government but can’t remember his past. The original title was "The Alberto Gonzales Story.”
Today Chinese officials recalled 1 million tons of lead because it may contain toys.
According to Glamour magazine, 83 percent of women tell their friends secrets to their husbands. So women, if you tell your girlfriend something, 83 percent chance she will tell her husband. But the good news? One hundred percent of the men aren’t listening anyway.
Conan
Potential-for-candidate Fred Thompson is now busy defending his much younger wife. In a recent interview, he said all criticism of his wife should be directed at him. As a result, conservative groups told Thompson he’s been showing too much cleavage.
This week, the U.S. Army started using armed robots to patrol the streets of Iraq. Everybody thinks it’s a good idea except the armed robots.
The New York Times reduced the size of their paper. They reduced the width by an inch and a half. The news was announced with the headline, "Big News at New York Tim.”
In a recent interview, Paris Hilton says 20 tour buses a day come by her house. Paris says the other guys come by foot, horse back, or via aircraft carrier.
Ferguson
Great day for America, especially if you like Hooters. Hooters has announced they’re building a restaurant in the Middle East. There’ll be a few different menu items: get your ja-hot wings . . . infa-deli sandwich . . . Taliban-anna cream pie . . .
Scary news today. Jellyfish are going nuts in Florida. Four hundred people over the weekend were stung by jellyfish. Did you know that jellyfish have no brains? None. They’re like the Baldwins of the sea.
Apparently lifeguards are clearing out supermarkets of their vinegar. It soothes the jellyfish burns. You know what works even better? Urine. Human urine! If you see someone who’s been stung by a jellyfish pee on them. You’re doinng them a favor!
Even if I suspect someone might have been stung by a jellyfish, I run out onto the beach and pee on them. If I even think someone has been stung by a jellyfish I pee on them before they leave the office, just in case!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Conservative Radio Hosts Check Out Bush
This story was written by Matt Purple, CNSNews.com Correspondent.
Ten conservative talk radio hosts met last week with President Bush, a man they have frequently admired yet also recently criticized.
To shore-up support among his conservative base, President Bush invited Glenn Beck, Bill Bennett, Neal Boortz, Scott Hennon, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larson, Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Janet Parshall, and Hugh Hewitt to the White House for a discussion, most of which focused on his Iraq policy. Sean Hannity was rumored to be there, although he reportedly arrived later than the other hosts.
The meeting was "off the record," meaning the guests could not quote the president. But they could give their general impressions of the conversation and paraphrase what was said. Their reactions seemed generally positive.
"I am confident about the course of the war and about the momentum in Iraq, as well as the president's absolute commitment to doing right by the troops and his concern for every for every lost and wounded soldier and their families," wrote Hugh Hewitt on his blog after the meeting. "President Bush's command of the details and his broad view of the conflict is [sic] reassuring."
Hewitt said he recommended to the president that he engage in longer and more substantive interviews to improve his image with the American people and demonstrate his commitment to the war in Iraq.
Glenn Beck called the conversation with Bush "shockingly frank," adding that the president had performed completely differently than he usually does on television or when behind a podium.
"The power of this man is incredible, the clarity shocking," he said. "The frankness that he spoke to us with was refreshing. The true love that he has for every member of the military is overwhelming. They're like family to him. It is overwhelming what he does that you will never know about.
"He's not the guy you see on TV. ... He's amazing," said Beck. "The only time I'd seen him like that was when he was with the bullhorn on the fire truck [on 9/11]."
Beck had particular praise for Bush over his respect for the military.
Little political impact?
But while the talk radio hosts seemed to have regarded the meeting favorably, Talkers' Magazine Editor Michael Harrison told Cybercast News Service that its political impact will likely to be negligible.
"I don't think this changes anything," said Harrison.
"I would think that a first-hand meeting with the president can result in having a little bit more of a favorable disposition towards the president's policies. But unless the president told them top-secret information that no one else in the world knows, I think the hosts at this time will have their opinions already set," he added.
Harrison emphasized that the discussion was more of a boon for the radio hosts, for whom meeting the president was a huge notch on their belts.
"The hosts go because it's a kick to meet the president," said Harrison. "I think it also shows their audiences and their colleagues that they're important players in the business. From an industrial standpoint, being called to the White House to meet the president gives you a certain level of credibility and standing."
And because the central topic of the discussion was Iraq, Bush seemed to put little emphasis on immigration, a subject that had turned many of the talkers into critics of his administration. When asked about Bush's stance on immigration by Cybercast News Service in June, Laura Ingraham said it was the "last straw."
But Harrison said that Bush's biggest mistake was only inviting pundits who agreed with him, rather than casting a wider political net.
"If Bush were smart, he would bring in people of all political persuasions and reach out to them and give them his position," Harrison said. "He has nothing to lose because they already don't like him."
The Left responds
Reaction to the meeting among liberal blogs ranged from cool to hostile.
Media Matters for America, a watchdog group that monitors the media for conservative bias, published the news among a raft of inflammatory and controversial remarks that several of the hosts had made in the past.
Media Matters could not be reached for comment.
"Meetings like this certainly raise a lot of questions," wrote Dave Nalle at Blogcritics.org, an online magazine. "Is this kind of meeting inappropriate? Is it just a higher-level way of distributing talking points to media loyalists?"
The blog blatherWatch was less friendly.
Bush has no credibility with anyone these days except these true believers who, (with the exception of Boortz, Ingraham and Larsen who have been critical) carry his miserable water day in and day out on the radie-yo [sic]," went a recent post. "Talk radio's credibility and listenership has never been lower ...."
This story was written by Matt Purple, CNSNews.com Correspondent.
Ten conservative talk radio hosts met last week with President Bush, a man they have frequently admired yet also recently criticized.
To shore-up support among his conservative base, President Bush invited Glenn Beck, Bill Bennett, Neal Boortz, Scott Hennon, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larson, Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Janet Parshall, and Hugh Hewitt to the White House for a discussion, most of which focused on his Iraq policy. Sean Hannity was rumored to be there, although he reportedly arrived later than the other hosts.
The meeting was "off the record," meaning the guests could not quote the president. But they could give their general impressions of the conversation and paraphrase what was said. Their reactions seemed generally positive.
"I am confident about the course of the war and about the momentum in Iraq, as well as the president's absolute commitment to doing right by the troops and his concern for every for every lost and wounded soldier and their families," wrote Hugh Hewitt on his blog after the meeting. "President Bush's command of the details and his broad view of the conflict is [sic] reassuring."
Hewitt said he recommended to the president that he engage in longer and more substantive interviews to improve his image with the American people and demonstrate his commitment to the war in Iraq.
Glenn Beck called the conversation with Bush "shockingly frank," adding that the president had performed completely differently than he usually does on television or when behind a podium.
"The power of this man is incredible, the clarity shocking," he said. "The frankness that he spoke to us with was refreshing. The true love that he has for every member of the military is overwhelming. They're like family to him. It is overwhelming what he does that you will never know about.
"He's not the guy you see on TV. ... He's amazing," said Beck. "The only time I'd seen him like that was when he was with the bullhorn on the fire truck [on 9/11]."
Beck had particular praise for Bush over his respect for the military.
Little political impact?
But while the talk radio hosts seemed to have regarded the meeting favorably, Talkers' Magazine Editor Michael Harrison told Cybercast News Service that its political impact will likely to be negligible.
"I don't think this changes anything," said Harrison.
"I would think that a first-hand meeting with the president can result in having a little bit more of a favorable disposition towards the president's policies. But unless the president told them top-secret information that no one else in the world knows, I think the hosts at this time will have their opinions already set," he added.
Harrison emphasized that the discussion was more of a boon for the radio hosts, for whom meeting the president was a huge notch on their belts.
"The hosts go because it's a kick to meet the president," said Harrison. "I think it also shows their audiences and their colleagues that they're important players in the business. From an industrial standpoint, being called to the White House to meet the president gives you a certain level of credibility and standing."
And because the central topic of the discussion was Iraq, Bush seemed to put little emphasis on immigration, a subject that had turned many of the talkers into critics of his administration. When asked about Bush's stance on immigration by Cybercast News Service in June, Laura Ingraham said it was the "last straw."
But Harrison said that Bush's biggest mistake was only inviting pundits who agreed with him, rather than casting a wider political net.
"If Bush were smart, he would bring in people of all political persuasions and reach out to them and give them his position," Harrison said. "He has nothing to lose because they already don't like him."
The Left responds
Reaction to the meeting among liberal blogs ranged from cool to hostile.
Media Matters for America, a watchdog group that monitors the media for conservative bias, published the news among a raft of inflammatory and controversial remarks that several of the hosts had made in the past.
Media Matters could not be reached for comment.
"Meetings like this certainly raise a lot of questions," wrote Dave Nalle at Blogcritics.org, an online magazine. "Is this kind of meeting inappropriate? Is it just a higher-level way of distributing talking points to media loyalists?"
The blog blatherWatch was less friendly.
Bush has no credibility with anyone these days except these true believers who, (with the exception of Boortz, Ingraham and Larsen who have been critical) carry his miserable water day in and day out on the radie-yo [sic]," went a recent post. "Talk radio's credibility and listenership has never been lower ...."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Liberal Bloggers Boo Hillary
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton refused Saturday to forsake campaign donations from lobbyists, turning aside challenges from her two main rivals with a rare defense of the special interest industry.
"A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do," Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention.
Despite their own infatuations with special interest money, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama put Clinton on the spot during a debate that featured seven of the eight major Democratic presidential candidates. They fielded questions from a crowd of 1,500 bloggers, most of them liberal. The gathering marked another advancement for the rising new wing of the Democratic Party, the so-called netroots.
The candidates were put on the defensive from the start.
The first question went to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who was asked why he once cited Justice Byron White, a conservative, as a model Supreme Court justice. "I screwed up on that," he replied.
Clinton was asked what three lessons she learned from her failed health care reform effort during the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton. "It is not enough to have a plan. You've got to have a political strategy," the New York senator said.
"In 90 seconds, I don't have the time to tell you all the mistakes I made."
Plunging headlong into the Internet era, all seven candidates fought for the support of the powerful and polarizing liberal blogosphere by promising universal health care, aggressive government spending and dramatic change from the Bush era.
Edwards received a loud cheer when he suggested his rivals were tinkering around the edges — "I just heard some discussion about negotiation, compromise" — rather than overhauling government. He said the nation needs "big change, not small change."
The party's 2004 vice presidential nominee, Edwards called on the field to join him in refusing donations from Washington lobbyists. He suggested that accepting lobbyists' money would make Democrats no better than Republicans.
"We don't want to trade their insiders for ours," said the former North Carolina senator.
Clinton, who accepts such donations, did not respond to Edwards until much later in the forum when the question was put to her. Even then, she stalled by stating the obvious.
"I think it's a position that John certainly has taken," she said, drawing laughter from the crowd. It was not clear whether the audience was laughing with her or at her.
Nonetheless, the bloggers booed and hissed when Clinton insisted a moment later that nobody would believe that she could be influenced by lobbyists' money. So would she continue to accept those donations?
"Yes, I will," she said, arguing that plenty of lobbyists represent good causes. "They represent nurses, they represent social workers, they represent, yes, they represent corporations that employ a lot of people."
Obama rejected that argument, saying Clinton should know better because special interest money helped sink her health care package in 1993. The crowd cheered wildly.
Edwards asked crowd members how many of them were represented by lobbyists. A few hands went up, and his point was made.
While they don't accept money directly from federal lobbyists, Edwards and Obama are not above benefiting from the broader lobbying community. Both accept money from firms that have lobbying operations, and Obama in particular has tapped the networks of lobbyists' friends and co-workers. Obama, a former state senator from Illinois, has long accepted money from state lobbyists.
Again and again, Edwards took swipes at Clinton. On terrorism, he said: "I don't believe we're safer. I don't agree with Sen. Clinton on that." In a previous debate, Clinton had said the country had been made safer.
Clinton explained Saturday that while post-9/11 reforms have improved the nation's safety, the country is not as safe under President Bush as it should be. "I listened carefully to John. I think we have a vigorous agreement," she said, coldly.
The Kos convention is a sign of the times.
Gone are the days when candidates and political parties could talk to passive voters through mass media, largely controlling what messages were distributed, how the messages went out and who heard them. The Internet has helped create millions of media outlets and given anyone the power to express an opinion or disseminate information in a global forum, and connect with others who have similar interests.
Clinton is viewed skeptically by the the blogging community, mainly for her history of hawkish views on Iraq. Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, founder of Daily Kos and spiritual leader of the convention, said Clinton still might be able to mitigate her problems.
"We may decide she's not our first choice, but she's not a bad choice," he said.
Appearing solo at a session of bloggers before the debate, Clinton was warmly received, especially when she jokingly blamed a microphone malfunction on the "vast right-wing conspiracy."
One thing most bloggers have in common — regardless of their political leanings — is an intense frustration with the political establishment. And so it was a convention dripping in irony when liberal bloggers welcomed the living symbols of the Democratic status quo — seven presidential candidates.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton refused Saturday to forsake campaign donations from lobbyists, turning aside challenges from her two main rivals with a rare defense of the special interest industry.
"A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do," Clinton said, drawing boos and hisses from liberal bloggers at the second Yearly Kos convention.
Despite their own infatuations with special interest money, former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama put Clinton on the spot during a debate that featured seven of the eight major Democratic presidential candidates. They fielded questions from a crowd of 1,500 bloggers, most of them liberal. The gathering marked another advancement for the rising new wing of the Democratic Party, the so-called netroots.
The candidates were put on the defensive from the start.
The first question went to New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who was asked why he once cited Justice Byron White, a conservative, as a model Supreme Court justice. "I screwed up on that," he replied.
Clinton was asked what three lessons she learned from her failed health care reform effort during the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton. "It is not enough to have a plan. You've got to have a political strategy," the New York senator said.
"In 90 seconds, I don't have the time to tell you all the mistakes I made."
Plunging headlong into the Internet era, all seven candidates fought for the support of the powerful and polarizing liberal blogosphere by promising universal health care, aggressive government spending and dramatic change from the Bush era.
Edwards received a loud cheer when he suggested his rivals were tinkering around the edges — "I just heard some discussion about negotiation, compromise" — rather than overhauling government. He said the nation needs "big change, not small change."
The party's 2004 vice presidential nominee, Edwards called on the field to join him in refusing donations from Washington lobbyists. He suggested that accepting lobbyists' money would make Democrats no better than Republicans.
"We don't want to trade their insiders for ours," said the former North Carolina senator.
Clinton, who accepts such donations, did not respond to Edwards until much later in the forum when the question was put to her. Even then, she stalled by stating the obvious.
"I think it's a position that John certainly has taken," she said, drawing laughter from the crowd. It was not clear whether the audience was laughing with her or at her.
Nonetheless, the bloggers booed and hissed when Clinton insisted a moment later that nobody would believe that she could be influenced by lobbyists' money. So would she continue to accept those donations?
"Yes, I will," she said, arguing that plenty of lobbyists represent good causes. "They represent nurses, they represent social workers, they represent, yes, they represent corporations that employ a lot of people."
Obama rejected that argument, saying Clinton should know better because special interest money helped sink her health care package in 1993. The crowd cheered wildly.
Edwards asked crowd members how many of them were represented by lobbyists. A few hands went up, and his point was made.
While they don't accept money directly from federal lobbyists, Edwards and Obama are not above benefiting from the broader lobbying community. Both accept money from firms that have lobbying operations, and Obama in particular has tapped the networks of lobbyists' friends and co-workers. Obama, a former state senator from Illinois, has long accepted money from state lobbyists.
Again and again, Edwards took swipes at Clinton. On terrorism, he said: "I don't believe we're safer. I don't agree with Sen. Clinton on that." In a previous debate, Clinton had said the country had been made safer.
Clinton explained Saturday that while post-9/11 reforms have improved the nation's safety, the country is not as safe under President Bush as it should be. "I listened carefully to John. I think we have a vigorous agreement," she said, coldly.
The Kos convention is a sign of the times.
Gone are the days when candidates and political parties could talk to passive voters through mass media, largely controlling what messages were distributed, how the messages went out and who heard them. The Internet has helped create millions of media outlets and given anyone the power to express an opinion or disseminate information in a global forum, and connect with others who have similar interests.
Clinton is viewed skeptically by the the blogging community, mainly for her history of hawkish views on Iraq. Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, founder of Daily Kos and spiritual leader of the convention, said Clinton still might be able to mitigate her problems.
"We may decide she's not our first choice, but she's not a bad choice," he said.
Appearing solo at a session of bloggers before the debate, Clinton was warmly received, especially when she jokingly blamed a microphone malfunction on the "vast right-wing conspiracy."
One thing most bloggers have in common — regardless of their political leanings — is an intense frustration with the political establishment. And so it was a convention dripping in irony when liberal bloggers welcomed the living symbols of the Democratic status quo — seven presidential candidates.
