Friday, July 14, 2006

A Maverick Media Mogul Takes on Mainstream Spinelessness

Mark Cuban is restless, really rich and wants to bring guts to journalism--and he's hired Dan Rather to launch a program on his HDNet channel.....more
Ralph Reed Allegedly Mulled ‘Mortgaging Black People’

The former Christian Coalition leader and current candidate for Lt. Gov. of Georgia reportedly concocted a scheme with lobbyist Jack Abramoff to collect the life insurance payouts of African-Americans in lieu of charging them fees for the duo’s lobbying and consulting services.....more
Most Americans plan to vote for Democrats

Republicans are in jeopardy of losing their grip on Congress in November. With less than four months to the midterm elections, the latest Associated Press-Ipsos poll found that Americans by an almost 3-to-1 margin hold the GOP-controlled Congress in low regard and profess a desire to see Democrats wrest control after a dozen years of Republican rule.....more
No Upside Down Flag in Iowa

Scott Roe was practicing with his band, “Corruption of Blood,” on July 3 at his home in Ottumwa, Iowa. The police came and said he was violating a new city noise ordinance. So that was the end of the practice session.....more

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Valerie Plame Wilson

CIA officer Valerie Plame whose identity was leaked to reporters sued Vice President Dick Cheney, his former top aide and presidential adviser Karl Rove on Thursday, accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career.....more

more from Fire Dog Lake
Israel blockades Lebanon

Israel struck Beirut airport and military airbases and blockaded Lebanese ports on Thursday, intensifying reprisals that have killed 55 civilians in Lebanon since Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers a day earlier.....more







"The Blame is Wide"

Beyond Liberals' and Democrats' Obsession with BIG BAD BUSH....more
Senate cuts deal on gulf drilling

The compromise would create a 125-mile no-drilling zone off the Florida Panhandle, while the waters off Tampa Bay would be off-limits to drilling for 234 miles. The protections would last through 2022.....more
Happiest place on Earth

The tiny nation of Vanuatu has topped a new index that measures quality of life against environmental impact, with industrial countries, perhaps unsurprisingly, faring badly....more
Mumbai Blasts: Is the spirit of Mumbai being taken for granted?

It's so easy to say 'the spirit of Mumbai', isn't it? Do whatever you want to the city, it will always bounce back. And it's true. We do have remarkable ability to to block things out and pick our bags the next day and catch the local train to work. But is it ability taken for granted? Have we become so numb that we start considering terrorism as a change of seasons?.....more

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Evangelicals Wrong to Endorse Anti-Torture Statement

A conservative Christian leader says the organization known as the National Religious Campaign Against Torture isn't saying anything about torture in places like North Korea, China, and Saudi Arabia -- but instead is focusing its ire upon the U.S. and the Bush administration....more
It's The Conservatism, Stupid

Ask a conservative what the biggest problem in America is today, and you’ll get answers like overtaxation, a sexualized culture, lack of respect for authority, insufficient church-going or big government running amok. But if you then asked the conservative what the real source of the problem was—the beating heart pumping blood to each and all of these socio-politico-cultural wounds—you’d get the same answer: liberalism.....more
German anger at orchestration of visit by Bush to see Merkel Luke Harding in Berlin Wednesday

German soldiers build a razor wire fence in front of the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Heiligendamm, where George Bush will stay on his visit. Thousands of demonstrators are expected to protest tomorrow when George Bush arrives in Germany tonight for a three-day bonding session with its chancellor, Angela Merkel....more

Blaming the Victim, Gaza

Traditionally, British media reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been heavily biased in favour of the United States' major ally in the region, Israel. A 2002 Glasgow University Media Group report found that television broadcasters were six times as likely to present Israeli attacks as "retaliating" or in some way hitting back as Palestinian attacks.....more

Elevated Crosstown lanes: a high-wire act without a net
SUE CARLTON

I have just taken a tour of the soon-to-be-open, state-of-the-art, elevated commuter lanes over the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway in Tampa, and I'm happy to report that nothing fell down.....more

We Could Of Let Trains Do The Same Thing On Tracks Already Laid From Downtown To Brandon. Think Of The Money We Could Have Saved And We Wouldn't Have This Ugly...Thing, Hovering Over The Crosstown.
Molly Ivins: The Politics of Greed

I don’t get it. What’s the percentage in keeping the minimum wage at $5.15 an hour? After nine years? This is such an unnecessary and nasty Republican move. Congress has voted seven times to raise its own wages since last the minimum wage budged.....more



Hugo Chávez
Greg Palast

You’d think George Bush would get down on his knees and kiss Hugo Chávez’s behind. Not only has Chávez delivered cheap oil to the Bronx and other poor communities in the United States. And not only did he offer to bring aid to the victims of Katrina....more
The plot to defeat our liberty

For any form of tyranny to succeed, there have to be people who roll up their sleeves and get the job done. Repression doesn't just happen. It has to be organized, arranged, justified and marketed to a willing populace. In other words, it takes a team.....more

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Lieberman's divisive actions don't deserve support

It is one thing for them to back an incumbent Democrat in the primary, but it's quite another for them to even vaguely imply that they may support Lieberman if he runs as an independent. Their unwillingness to say unequivocally that they will back the primary election choice of voters suggests that the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party is becoming increasingly hard to find these days....more
Castro slams 'mad' US change plan

The US and Castro have been foes for nearly 50 yearsCuban President Fidel Castro has called the US secretary of state "mad", following American moves to promote democratic change on the island....more

Monday, July 10, 2006

Florida's Own
"The war in Iraq is shameful," "Whether you're pro or con Bush, you've got to admit it: The guy lied. And he continues to do so. I can't understand why he's just not run out on a rail. To send somebody's kids off and have them killed for no good reason — he's going to have his day in hell for that. I wouldn't want that karma." "When you kill somebody's little sister with a missile, he's going to hate you forever. And the next generation......Tom Petty
'A Republic or an Empire?'

With the electronic voting machines supplied by Republican firms and programmed by Republican operatives, Bush can control election results. Don't bet very heavily that Americans will regain the constitutional protections and democratic accountability that they enjoyed in the 20th century....more
Montana Gov Smacks Down Rightwing on Property Taxes

Folks may be missing the rightwing movement across the states to generate another "tax revolt", this one around the so-called "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR) restrictions on government spending....more
Lesson from America

I was looking forward to sharing the Canadian gospel of equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified (LGBT) people. But it was not to be. I didn't get a chance to meet up with the less-than-friendly Americans. I'm referring to the 800,000 supporters of the American Family Association who apparently emailed President Bush to protest my visit.....more