Report of terror violence in China
May 21, 2008
According to Japanese blogger Masahiro Miyazaki, who blogs under the name 'China Watcher,' there have been two recent terrorist bombings in China which took civilian lives. More

Hezb'allah Takes Control in Lebanon
May 21, 2008
Very grim news from Qatar where Hezb'allah has gotten pretty much everything it wanted in an agreement with the government to defuse the crisis that nearly led to civil war in Lebanon. More

Iraqi Troops Enter Sadr City
May 20, 2008
Iraqi soldiers, without American assistance, are about to take on the worst of the worst in Iraq; the Mahdi Army in their Sadr City stronghold: More

52 Seconds of Obama Unilaterally Disarming America
May 20, 2008
52 seconds showing why this man would be a disaster as president. More

Senator Kennedy has Malignant Brain Tumor
May 20, 2008
Senator Ted Kennedy, a 40 year veteran in the senate, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. More

What's the big deal??
May 20, 2008
When reading the following in a recent Haaretz article, I wondered what to be most amazed at. More

Denying the 'boy crisis' in education
May 20, 2008
Paul Mirengoff of Powerline nails the American Association for University Women and the Washington Post for intellectual dishonesty More

Obama will Probably Declare "Victory" Tonight
May 20, 2008
Around 9:00 PM Eastern time when Barack Obama faces the cameras in Iowa, he will probably declare that he now has enough pledged delegates to claim the nomination of the Democratic party: More

The Conservative Future in the House
May 20, 2008
Blame is being slung around for the anticipated GOP slaughter in November. But not everyone is giving up. More

The Backlash That Wasn't
Paul Waldman
May 20, 2008 | web only
The conservative reaction to last week's California Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage was remarkably subdued. Even John McCain, desperate to pander to the base, had little to say.

Has same-sex marriage lost its potency as a wedge issue?

The group blog of The American Prospect
McCain edu adviser quits her day job.
Posted at 9:14 a.m.


A respectable liberal blog
Are conservatives out of ideas?
Posted at 8:34 a.m.
[/color]

Dean Baker's economic commentary
[color="#800000"]Big story: inflation shows up in PPI.
Posted at 8:59 a.m.

Barack Obama: Gaffe Machine by Michelle MalkinAll it takes is one gaffe to taint a Republican for life. The political establishment never …

Onward Into Cheerful Political Battle by Tony BlankleyLook, I am as willing as the next conservative pundit to throw back a tumbler or two of …

Open Letter To Barack Obama by Ben ShapiroDear Senator Obama, It is often politically inconvenient when someone tells the truth about …

VIDEO: Beyond Treason - Chemical and Biological Warfare - 2008-05-20
The Bushes and Hitler's Appeasement- by Robert Parry - 2008-05-20
The Cyclone Disaster in Myanmar...and the Human Tragedy of Global Capitalism- by Li Onesto - 2008-05-20
Inverted Totalitarianism: A New Way of Understanding How the U.S. Is ControlledReview of Democracy Incorporated by Sheldon S. Wolin - by Chalmers Johnson - 2008-05-19
World Water Crisis- by Sarah Meyer - 2008-05-19

The Fight of His Life John Nichols: Senator Edward M. Kennedy is sidelined at the moment his party is poised to realize the causes and ideals he has promoted for so long.

Bush's Islamist Enemies List Mohamad Bazzi : Middle East

By conflating Al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah, the President displays his ignorance--and could be laying the groundwork for attacks by Israel on Hamas and Hezbollah.

Oregon, Kentucky & Beyond


BYRON YORK: Clinton has made a huge comeback in the fourth quarter. “Hillary: The Al Gore of 2008” 05/21 6:30 AM

MARK HEMINGWAY: The Beaver State is trending Democratic. Can McCain compete? “Oregon Trail” 05/21 9:40 AM

ALVIN S. FELZENBERG: Kennedy may have passed the torch, but to a lesser pol. “Four Democrats” 05/21 4:00 AM

MICHELLE MALKIN: How many more passes does he get? How many more can we afford? “Barack Gaffes” 05/21 12:00 AM

ANNE BAYEFSKY: “Terrorism for Dummies” would have to become bedside reading at an Obama White House. “Tiny Iran” 05/21 4:00 AM

KATHLEEN PARKER: By all means, let’s roll out the hybrids and hold the fries, but are other countries now the judges of American lifestyles? “The Big O” 05/21 12:00 AM

What is Clinton's Argument Now? - Roger Simon, The Politico
Clinton's Claim - Nicholas Wapshott, New York Sun
Can Obama Do Anything to Get Clinton Out? - John Dickerson, Slate
All That's Missing is a Concession Speech - Gerard Baker, Times of London
Can Barack Appease Hillary's Base? - Kirsten Powers, New York Post
Not Supporting Clinton Isn't an Attack on Feminism - Jon Chait, LAT
Democrats and Our Enemies - Senator Joe Lieberman, Wall Street Journal
Obama's Answer on Rogue Nations Evolves - Rick Klein, ABC News
Obama Gave Ahmadinejad an Atomic Assist - Amir Taheri, New York Post
Oh Yes, Obama Will Make Us Better - Kathleen Parker, RealClearPolitics
An Autopsy Report on the Clinton Campaign - John Judis, New Republic
The Gates Doctrine - Michael Gerson, Washington Post
Imbalances of Power - Thomas Friedman, New York Times
History Will Redeem Bush - Ed Koch, RealClearPolitics
Muhammad Yunus' New Challenge - Alan Webber, USA Today
How Ted Earned Our Respect - Michael Goodwin, New York Daily News
No Other Like Ted Kennedy - David Broder, Washington Post
RCP Blog: Morning Roundup / Politics Nation: Strategy Memo

Editorials
A Senator for the Nation - Boston Globe
Is Clinton Still Running For President - Or Something Else? - Economist
Welcome to Florida, Barack. We've Been Waiting For You - St. Pete Times
Bin Laden Is Out There - Los Angeles Times

Political News & Analysis
Obama Credits Iowa - Des Moines Register
Big Win For Clinton; Says She Is Staying In - Louisville C-J
Clinton Sees Many Reasons to Stay In - New York Times
Obama, Clinton Signal End of Florida Boycott - Miami Herald

Best of the Blogs
Why Obama Tolerates Clinton's Presence - Marc Ambinder
Can Clinton and Obama Prevent a Party War? - Firedoglake
I'll Get You and Your Little Indie Band, Too! - Swampland
The '08 GOP: No Rhythm, Just Blues - The Right Angle
Playing the Lowered Expectations Game - Comments From Left Field

The Good And Bad Of The Farm Bill
The $289 billion, five-year Farm Bill, originally slated for completion in 2007, finally passed both houses of Congress by veto-proof majorities last week, despite criticism from environmentalists, some advocates for the poor, and economic conservatives. The bill is now on the cusp of a largely symbolic presidential veto. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post have come out supporting the veto, while prominent congressional leaders, from diverse states and parties, have been vocally opposed to components of the final bill. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a prominent farm bill reform advocate, said, "This bill was well designed to avoid every opportunity for serious reform of wasteful, outdated subsidy programs while actually piling on additional layers of unnecessary spending." While the bill does contain some giveaways to the powerful agro-business, Campus Progress explains that the Farm Bill encompasses far more than just farm subsidies. "Its influence goes far beyond agricultural policy. The bill affects public health, by shaping what Americans eat; the environment, by determining what land gets conserved and how much alternative energies are promoted; and global poverty, by playing a large part in setting U.S. crop prices."

A LITTLE FOR EVERYONE: The bill has tied together some unlikely bedfellows, making its final passage contingent on groups banding together on issues ranging from nutrition programs to fuel efficiency regulations to labor provisions. As part of early deliberations, for example, corn growers, Wall Street investment firms, and ethanol producers, worked for an aggressive renewable fuels standard (RFS). The California Coalition for Food and Farming brought together organic farmers, minority groups, urban food banks, and environmentalists to support a community reinvestment proposal. "No one is thrilled with all aspects of this deal, but we understand the delicate balance it took to get it done," said David Cleavinger, National Association of Wheat Growers president." The nutrition section includes hard-fought improvements in the rules and funding for food stamps and other programs. Though pleased with the food stamp provision, NETWORK, a faith-based anti-poverty organization, explained that they are "disappointed that there is no significant reform of the commodity subsidies that give unfair advantage to large landowners at the expense of small farmers in the U.S. and around the world."

CONGRESSIONAL DELIBERATION: Debate in Congress forged bipartisan alliances. Republicans and Democrats banded together not so much by party, but by geographic region, local business interests, and specific issues. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) gathered a wide group of senators' signatures on a letter opposing the renewable fuel standard, citing it as an "attack on ethanol." On the other side sat a bipartisan group of 26 senators who lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cut this year's requirement for nine billion gallons of corn ethanol in half, they say, to ease food costs. In the end, the farm bill went so far as to make a decided shift away from corn-based ethanol towards cellulosic ethanol production. But to pass the bill, Congress was forced to accept compromise. "This [is] the product of a consistent, bipartisan, cross-regional and bicameral effort in Congress. ... The reality is that no member of Congress or administration official will or should get 100 percent of what he or she wants in any bill," said Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer noted: "If you look at what happened at the end of this bill when it became clear it wasn't going in a direction the president was going to support, they sort of put something in there for everybody. Everybody gets to take home something from the farm bill that is important to their district or their constituents. That's hard to vote against."

OIL, BIOFUEL, AND NUTRITION: The farm bill is more than agriculture subsidies. It also directly impacts, but does little to address, what Americans are facing every day: milk prices that have increased 21.2 percent (up to $3.80 per gallon) in the last twelve months, gas prices that are set to reach $7.00 by 2012, and working professionals who are forced to rely on food stamps because they've lost their jobs. And the farm bill doesn't just stop at America's borders. It influences the the manner in which foreign aid is given to victims of the hurricane in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. It influences World Trade Organization Doha Round deliberations, which has been seven years in the making. The bill remains a uniquely powerful tool for finding solutions to these national and global problems. "[I]t's the system that's in place, like it or not. And if citizens don't like it they must continue to push for reform. But derailing the farm bill, which does fund a great many vital programs that help children and struggling farmers, is not the way to bring about reform. ... But at this point the choices are limited. It is either accept or reject. The president and the people must hold their noses and accept the farm bill that has been approved -- and then they must work to reform the system," a local Washington state paper argued.



ENVIRONMENT -- CONSERVATION GROUPS SUE OVER INADEQATE POLAR BEAR RULING: After <a target="_blank" href="http://app.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/er.aspx?s=785&lid=5310&elq=E76EDC297A6942A6955C690F533E3370">years of stalling, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne last week declared the polar bear a "threatened" species due to global warming. However, Kempthorne declared that it would be "wholly inappropriate" to allow the ruling to "open the door to...regulate greenhouse gases from automobiles, power plants, and other sources." Yesterday, the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace, and the National Resources Defense Council announced they would seek court intervention to demand action on curbing greenhouse gas emissions to protect the polar bear. "On the one hand, he's [Kempthorne] acknowledging that global warming is impacting polar bears," said Melanie Duchin of Greenpeace in Alaska. "On the other hand, he's not willing to do anything about it. We're asking the administration to uphold the spirit and intent of the Endangered Species Act." Indeed, not only did Kempthorne rule out regulating greenhouse gases as a result of his polar bear decision, he also specifically declared that oil drilling in Alaska, a major polar bear habitat, could continue. Sierra Club spokesman Josh Dorner told the Wonk Room, "This is the regulatory equivalent of a signing statement -- only this one gets to be challenged in court."


INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS -- CONSERVATIVES BREAK WITH BUSH'S 'APPEASEMENT' CLAIM: Last week, during a speech to the Israeli parliament, President Bush said that negotiating with America's adversaries represents "the false comfort of appeasement" and is akin to European leaders allowing Hitler to expand Germany's sphere of influence before the start of World War II. Defense Secretary Robert Gates took the exact opposite position just one day prior, saying that the U.S needs to "sit down and talk with" Iran. But when asked by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) about the contradiction yesterday during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Gates tried to wiggle out of the question, saying, "I don't know exactly what the president said." Referring to the President's comments, Specter stated, "it's not appeasement, and that the analogy to [former British Prime Minister] Neville Chamberlain is wrong." Specter's view echoes a statement made by James A. Baker, Secretary of State under George H. W. Bush. During an October 2006 appearance on Fox News, Baker stated emphatically, "You don't just talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies as well. Diplomacy involves talking to your enemies," adding, "Talking to an enemy is not, in my view, appeasement."

SURVEILLANCE -- GOVT. MAY HAVE MASSIVE SPY PROGRAM FOR 'NATIONAL EMERGENCY,' 8 MILLION 'POTENTIAL SUSPECTS: Last year, former deputy attorney general James Comey revealed that in 2004, he refused to "certify" the legality of certain aspects of the National Security Agency (NSA) spy program. The Center for American Progress's Peter Swire noted at the time that Comey's testimony implied that "other programs exist for domestic spying" outside of the NSA program. Radar's Christopher Ketcham suggests that another spy program does exist: "Main Core," which authorizes "computer searches through massive [unspecified] electronic databases" in order to discover "potential threats" in the event of a "national emergency." According to a senior government official, "The database can identify and locate perceived 'enemies of the state' almost instantaneously." One "knowledgeable source" claims that "8 million Americans are now listed in Main Core as potentially suspect." But the plans "are shrouded in extreme secrecy, effectively unregulated by Congress or the courts." Furthermore, the NSA domestic surveillance program reportedly "suppl[ies] data to Main Core." "[T]he program that caused the flap between Comey and the White House was related to a database of Americans who might be considered potential threats in the event of a national emergency," Radar notes. Former Reagan administration official Bruce Fein observed, "To a national emergency planner, everybody looks like a danger to stability."

McCain Won't Play by Obama's Rules - Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times
Obama on Iran: Nuance or Confusion? - David Reinhard, The Oregonian
Straw-Man Diplomacy - Joe Klein, Time
Kennedy Talked, Khrushchev Triumphed - Thrall & Wilkins, NY Times
Obama's Troubling Instincts - Karl Rove, Wall Street Journal
McCain's Team of Lobbyists - Joe Conason, New York Observer
Liberal Media Wants Focus on 'Big Issues' - Steven Stark, Boston Phoenix
How Hillary's Latest Math Hurts the Party - Jonathan Alter, Newsweek
Democrats Should Be More Democratic - Froma Harrop, RealClearPolitics
March of the Polar Bears - George Will, Washington Post
Singing the Middle Class Blues - Robert Samuelson, Newsweek
Taxes Matter, but Dollar Matters More - John Tamny, RealClearMarkets
Taking Stock of the War on Terror - David Ignatius, Washington Post
Do We Still Have Grants and Shermans? - Victor Davis Hanson, RCP
Europe is a Geopolitical Dwarf - Kishore Mahbubani, Financial Times
Kennedy Could Be Model for Clinton - Eamon Javers, The Politico
Ted Kennedy's America - Ronald Cass, RealClearPolitics
Quinnipiac Swing State Polls: Florida | Pennsylvania | Ohio
RCP Blog: Mac's Secret Weapon | Morning Report / PN: Strategy Memo

Editorials
The Power of Hezbollah - Los Angeles Times
McCain Gets It On Latin America - Investor's Business Daily
Rebranding Easier Talked About Than Accomplished - Houston Chronicle
Welfare for Rich Farmers? Yes We Can! - Wall Street Journal

Political News & Analysis
McCain to Host VP Prospects - New York Times
Count Florida, Clinton Urges - Palm Beach Post
Obama Rallies in Tampa - Miami Herald
Returning Home, Kennedy Goes Sailing - Boston Globe

Best of the Blogs
Edward Kennedy's America - Power Line
McCain's Memorial Day Veep BBQ - The Moderate Voice
The Incredible Shrinking Talking Point - MyDD
Energy Demand and Oil - QandO
Why Do Conservatives Care About the Courts? - Volokh Conspiracy

What is Clinton's Argument Now?
- Roger Simon, The Politico
GOP Senate Massacre of '08
- Dick Morris, The Hill
Hillary: The Al Gore of 2008?
- Byron York, National Review
History Will Redeem Bush
- Ed Koch, RealClearPolitics

Obama describes Michelle's role in his judgment
Allan J. Favish
Despite the protests of her husband, Michelle Obama deserves intense scrutiny. She may be family, but she is also at the top of her husband's list of advisors. More

Youth Voters are backing The Wrong Candidate
Alicia Colon
John McCain may be the oldest candidate running for the presidency but he appears to be the only one interested in the economic welfare of those younger than seniors More

Gore Celebrates Israel's 60th With Whoppers
Marc Sheppard
How low will Al Gore go when peddling his global warming claptrap? More

Obama already reinforcing A'jad in Iran
May 21, 2008
Amir Tehari says Obama is already creating a terrible impact with regard to Iran's nuclear program More

Lying in Plain Sight
May 21, 2008
Rick Klein of ABC news has done a superior job of tracing Barack Obama's lies about what he said regarding meeting with the Iranians "without preconditions." More

Obama, Clinton Split Primary Wins
May 21, 2008
It was Hillary huge in Kentucky while Obama rolled up an impressive win in Oregon. More

HUMAN RIGHTS
Torture Turf Wars
On Tuesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General released a report, three-and-a-half years in the making, that offers "the clearest and most definitive account to date of the key tactics used by the government against suspected terrorists." These methods include "use of strobe lights in conjunction with loud rock music, twisting of thumbs backward, and exposure of detainees to extreme temperatures, threatening dogs, pornography and sexual taunting." On the same day, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, German resident Murat Kurnaz, told Congress he was tortured while held by the U.S. military. Kurnaz said he underwent "water treatment," similar to the more notorious practice of waterboarding. "There was a bucket of water. And they stick my head in it and at the same time, punch me into my stomach," he said. Though the CIA has admitted waterboarding three detainees, it is unclear how many more suffered "water treatment." Yet Washington insiders seem ready to ignore this latest piece of evidence about the Bush torture policy. "Barely half a dozen lawmakers came to listen to the former detainee, and most were unable to remember his name, with one even calling him 'Mr. Karzai.," AFP reported. Following a pattern of ignoring new accounts of torture, the White House press corps did not ask Press Secretary Dana Perino about the DOJ report or Kurnaz's testimony until the last question of Tuesday's briefing. She replied that she had not seen it yet; no one followed up to ask her about it the next day.

TRENCH WARFARE: The DOJ report details the "trench warfare" between the FBI and the military over harsh interrogations, which FBI agents objected to, going "so far as to collect allegations of abuse in what they labeled a 'war crimes file.'" "The report says that the F.B.I. agents took their concerns to higher-ups, but that their concerns often fell on deaf ears: officials at senior levels at the F.B.I., the Justice Department, the Defense Department and the National Security Council were all made aware of the F.B.I. agents’ complaints, but little appears to have been done as a result." "Beyond any doubt, what they are doing (and I don't know the extent of it) would be unlawful were these enemy prisoners of war," wrote Spike Bowman, then head of national security law unit at FBI, in an e-mail to top FBI officials in July 2003. The DOJ report concludes that "the FBI should be credited for its conduct and professionalism" in interrogations, but it also finds that "the DOD [Department of Defense] made the decisions regarding which interrogation techniques could be used" -- regardless of FBI complaints. Indeed, though the FBI decided not to participate in any abusive interrogations in 2003, "the bureau appears to have done nothing to end the abuse. It certainly never told Congress or the American people."

A CASE STUDY -- ABU ZUBAYDAH: The report's account of the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, an al Qaeda suspect, provides a window into the fight between the CIA and the FBI and demonstrates the White House's approval of torture. In 2002, the FBI used "relationship-building techniques with Zubaydah and succeeded in getting Zubaydah to admit his identity." Later, he "identified a photograph of Khalid Sheik Muhammad," the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, to his FBI interrogator. Soon, however, the CIA stepped in, arguing it "needed to diminish his capacity to resist." The CIA's specific methods are redacted from the DOJ report, but the FBI agent "raised objections to the techniques to the CIA and told the CIA it was 'borderline torture'" (a former CIA official testified last December that the CIA had waterboarded Zubaydah). When a more senior-level FBI official raised these objections with Michael Chertoff, then Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, and other DOJ officials, he learned that the CIA had obtained "a legal opinion from DOJ that certain techniques could legally be used, including [redacted]." Chertoff "made it clear that the CIA had requested the legal opinion from Attorney General Ashcroft." Thus the account of Zubaydah's interrogation both proves the effectiveness of the safe and legal rapport-building method of interrogation and, more importantly, indicates that the CIA's "borderline torture" techniques were explicitly condoned by a DOJ legal opinion.

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS DISMISS FBI COMPLAINTS: Indeed, the Bush administration seems to have ignored FBI complaints completely. "The report said several senior Justice Department Criminal Division officials raised concerns with the National Security Council in 2003 about the military's treatment of detainees but saw no changes as a result." As was recently revealed, this same council -- which included Vice President Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, George Tenet, and John Ashcroft -- specifically choreographed abusive interrogations that included slapping, pushing, sleep deprivation, and waterboarding. The DOJ report "reveals that top government officials in the Defense Department, CIA and even as high as the White House turned a blind eye to torture and abuse and failed to act aggressively to end it," said Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. Despite administration efforts to dismiss the report as "nothing new," the Washington Post's Dan Froomkin emphasized the importance of these revelations: "[K]nowing that the nation's top law-enforcement officials put senior White House aides on notice that the interrogation tactics they had approved were potentially illegal adds a key element to the portrait of complicity in what could someday be prosecuted as violations of U.S. torture statutes or even war crimes."



ENVIRONMENT -- REPORT: INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS POLITICIZED ENDANGERED SPECIES DECISIONS: In May 2007, Julie MacDonald, deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks at the Interior Department, abruptly <a target="_blank" href="http://app.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/er.aspx?s=785&lid=5379&elq=F5A946773D294E91B589BE25CF7F9606">resigned just one week before Congress was to examine her political interference in endangered species decisions. MacDonald had a long history of rejecting scientists' recommendations to politicize the Interior Department. Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the politicization of the Interior Department stretches MacDonald. Robin Nazzaro, a GAO investigator, told the House that four other officials "may have put political pressure on lower-ranking employees who were deciding endangered species cases." Last November, the Fish and Wildlife Service "reversed seven rulings that denied endangered species increased protection, after an investigation found the actions were tainted by political pressure from" MacDonald. But Nazzaro said that that investigation had been too narrow, as it focused only on MacDonald. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) said that after MacDonald's resignation, the agency "merely swept it under a rug." He called the Service's review "a boondoggle" that was "fixing nothing." "It was too narrow, too fast, and too sloppy," said Rahall.

ADMINISTRATION -- METHODIST MINISTERS LAUNCH PR CAMPAIGN TO STOP BUSH LIBRARY AT SMU: Earlier this month, at the United Methodist Church's (UMC) Quadrennial General Conference, the UMCs governing body voted overwhelmingly -- 844 to 20 -- to refer a petition to its South Central Jurisdiction urging it to reject President Bush's presidential library, which is housed at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. The library has received significant criticism because of an attached institute -- independent of the university) that will sponsor programs designed to "E91B589BE25CF7F9606"" and "celebrate" Bush's presidency. The South Central Jurisdiction, which owns the university property where the library will be built, is set to vote on the petition this July. But some Methodist ministers are launching a public relations campaign ahead of the vote with the goal of "informing people about the partisan think tank" and Bush administration polices, such as the Iraq war and torture of military prisoners, "that some Methodists feel conflict with church teachings." Rev. Andrew Weaver of Brooklyn "organized a petition drive that has garnered about 12,000 signatures from those opposing the library at SMU" but said, "This is really about the partisan institute, which will do the most damage over time."

WOMEN'S RIGHTS -- BUSH APPOINTEE WHO CALLED CONTRACEPTIVES PART OF THE 'CULTURE OF DEATH' RESIGNS: Last October, President Bush appointed Susan Orr to oversee federal family planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Orr, who previously directed HHS child welfare programs, was touted by the administration as "highly qualified." But after less than a year on the job, Orr has resigned, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association reported yesterday. The Progress Report also spoke to HHS spokeswoman Jennifer Koentop, who confirmed that Orr will be stepping down. From the beginning, Orr was controversial, with her strongest credentials seemingly being her support for failed abstinence-only policies. In a 2001, Orr embraced a Bush administration proposal to "stop requiring all health insurance plans for federal employees" to cover a broad range of birth control. In a 2000 Weekly Standard article, Orr railed against requiring health insurance plans to cover contraceptives. "It's not about choice," said Orr. "It's not about health care. It's about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death." More recently, Orr's former employer, FRC, has been pressuring the Bush administration to restrict federal funding for family planning centers. Conveniently, Orr oversaw this funding.

What a woman wants
The lower-income white voters pursued by Hillary Clinton, and who against their own self interest have kept in power the big-business, big-money Republican Party, form an ever-diminishing constituency due to their failure to compete in a globalized workforce. The burgeoning Hispanic population holds the future for US politics - and they, for now, are Barack Obama's. - Julian Delasantellis

Right Is Wrong -- How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America

By Arianna Huffington,

The GOP is now a dark, putrefied party of Bush, Cheney, Rove, Limbaugh and Coulter. And we're all the worse because of it.

• May 22, 2008
• More »

Hollywood Is Becoming the Pentagon's Mouthpiece for Propaganda

Nick Turse, Tomdispatch.com

Movie Mix: In the new film Iron Man, the people cast as terrorists take the fall for what the U.S. has done in the real world.


Enforcement on Steroids: Homeland Security's Emerging Immigration Police State (Part II)

Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Immigration: The idea that the government isn't trying to enforce its immigration laws is hogwash -- the problem is that it's all it's doing.


NEW: Exonerations Continue Across the Country -- But are Innocent Prisoners Ever Truly Free?

Liliana Segura, AlterNet

Rights and Liberties: On May 21, after nearly 26 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Michigan prisoner Walter Swift was finally released. But is he really free?

Wall Street's Racket Has Gone Too Far, and We're Going to Pay the Heavy Price

James Howard Kunstler, Kunstler.com

Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: There's a great wish for American finance to return to business-as-usual happy days of high profits, but there's just too much debt to swallow.


Gus Puryear: Bush's Latest Dangerous Court Nominee

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!

Rights and Liberties: An interview with author Silja Talvi about her AlterNet investigative report on Gus Puryear, a Bush court nominee with a villainous past.


Paying for War at the Pump

Robert Scheer, Truthdig

Five years after we invaded Iraq, the American taxpayers who paid for this grand imperial adventure are rewarded with skyrocketing gas prices.

Right Is Wrong -- How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America

By Arianna Huffington,

The GOP is now a dark, putrefied party of Bush, Cheney, Rove, Limbaugh and Coulter. And we're all the worse because of it.

• May 22, 2008
• More »

Hollywood Is Becoming the Pentagon's Mouthpiece for Propaganda

Nick Turse, Tomdispatch.com

Movie Mix: In the new film Iron Man, the people cast as terrorists take the fall for what the U.S. has done in the real world.


Enforcement on Steroids: Homeland Security's Emerging Immigration Police State (Part II)

Joshua Holland, AlterNet

Immigration: The idea that the government isn't trying to enforce its immigration laws is hogwash -- the problem is that it's all it's doing.


NEW: Exonerations Continue Across the Country -- But are Innocent Prisoners Ever Truly Free?

Liliana Segura, AlterNet

Rights and Liberties: On May 21, after nearly 26 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, Michigan prisoner Walter Swift was finally released. But is he really free?

Wall Street's Racket Has Gone Too Far, and We're Going to Pay the Heavy Price

James Howard Kunstler, Kunstler.com

Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace: There's a great wish for American finance to return to business-as-usual happy days of high profits, but there's just too much debt to swallow.


Gus Puryear: Bush's Latest Dangerous Court Nominee

Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!

Rights and Liberties: An interview with author Silja Talvi about her AlterNet investigative report on Gus Puryear, a Bush court nominee with a villainous past.


Paying for War at the Pump

Robert Scheer, Truthdig

Five years after we invaded Iraq, the American taxpayers who paid for this grand imperial adventure are rewarded with skyrocketing gas prices.

Democrats Unite
Erica Jong, 05.21.2008


Right is Wrong
Paul Hipp, 05.21.2008


Why the Long Primary Battle with Clinton Will Actually Help Obama Win in November
Robert Creamer, 05.21.2008


Iran and the Imminent Threat Fallacy
Kevin Sullivan, 05.21.2008


A Farm Bill for All Americans
Rep. Joe Baca, 05.21.2008


What the Kennedy Family Means to My Generation
Ray Hanania, 05.21.2008


Let Them Eat Cake
Robin Tyler, 05.21.2008


Ten Reasons Why Women Should Unite Behind Obama If He's the Candidate
Ellen Bravo, 05.21.2008


Questions for General Petraeus and General Odierno
Rand Beers, 05.21.2008


We Don't Know What We Don't Have
Joan Garry, 05.21.2008


McCain and Obama: America's First Campaign Where Divorce May Be a Good Experience for Leadership Skills
Jill Brooke, 05.21.2008


United Mime Workers Silent on Presidential Endorsement
Ellis Weiner, 05.21.2008


Give Afghans more Obama, less Idema
Nushin Arbabzadah, 05.21.2008

What Does Hillary Want? - Karen Tumulty, Time
Obama's Right, Iran is a Small Threat - Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune
Dems on Defensive Over 'Appeasement' - Emmett Tyrrell, Am. Spectator
Is Rev. Parsley a Problem for McCain? - Brian Ross, ABC News
The Fall of Conservatism? Not Quite Yet - Yuval Levin, Commentary
Obama Gets Farm Bill Right - John Nichols, The Nation
The State of Libertarianism, 2058 - James Pinkerton, Reason
Ending the Gay Marriage War - Jeff Amestoy, Christian Science Monitor
A California Wake-Up Call - Rick Santorum, Philadelphia Inquirer
Puerto Rico's Moment in the Sun - Michael Janeway, New York Times
The RCP Blog: FL Dems Sue DNC | Clinton Camp Eyes MI Delegates

VETERANS
Missing In Action
On Monday, the nation will join its nearly 24 million veterans in remembering the American heroes who have lost their lives in war. Yesterday, the Senate honored U.S. troops by passing a 21st Century GI Bill, expanding educational benefits for veterans who joined the service after Sept. 11, 2001. "Congress today resolutely asserted that it is time for those of us who have been calling on these brave men and women to serve again and again to assist in providing a meaningful chance for a first-class future," said Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), who sponsored the legislation. Seventy-five senators voted to fund veterans yesterday, providing a veto-proof majority. Yet not only did Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) not vote for the bill, he didn't even show up to vote (the only other senators missing were Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-CA), for health reasons, and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who had to attend a funeral). In the past, McCain has promised to "do everything" in his power to look after the nation's military. But a look at his record on veterans issues shows that he has unfortunately favored conservative pandering instead.

A COMPREHENSIVE NEW GI BILL: Yesterday's vote on the 21st Century GI Bill was 75-22. The legislation garnered wide bipartisan support, including Republican cosponsors Sens. Chuck Hagel (NE) and John Warner (VA). Under the bill, members of the military who have served on active duty since 9/11 are eligible to receive education benefits equaling the highest tuition rate of the most expensive in-state public college or university, along with a monthly stipend for housing determined by geographical area. It would also "create a program in which the government would provide a dollar-for-dollar match to contributions from private educational institutions with higher tuition rates than those covered under the bill." Despite claims by McCain and the White House, Webb's bill would help the military's enlistment rate. The new GI bill "is projected to cost about $2.5 billion per year," roughly the cost of U.S. operations in Iraq for one week.

DASHING HOPES AND DREAMS: McCain, however, opposes these generous benefits for troops' education. He instead signed onto a watered-down, Bush administration-approved version offered by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This legislation would exclude many servicemembers by reserving the most generous benefits for soldiers who have served at least 12 years. It would also shortchange National Guard and Reserve members, offering them fewer benefits. McCain likes to say that as a former soldier, he understands what is best for veterans. But his version of the GI Bill was opposed by the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and the American Legion. More than eight in 10 members of the American public also support a comprehensive GI Bill. Kristofer Goldsmith, who served in Sadr City and was stop-lossed after returning home, testified to Congress on May 15 that he had attempted suicide and was discharged. Because he couldn't serve a second term, he had to forfeit his "one hope and dream" to go to college under the GI Bill. "And currently there is a Senator in Congress currently running for president, who is fighting to kill our Webb GI bill," said Goldsmith. "And I'm one of the soldiers who will never get that money."

FAILING GRADES: McCain's record on supporting veterans is one of the worst in Congress. IAVA has given him a grade of a "D" for voting against veterans' priorities so often between 2000 and 2006. A scorecard of roll call votes compiled by the Disabled American Veterans found that McCain has voted for veterans funding bills only 20 percent of the time. For example, in May 2006, he voted against an amendment providing $20 billion to the Department of Veteran Affairs's (VA) medical facilities. In April 2006, he was one of just 13 senators to vote against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care "and treatment for veterans." McCain has railed against comprehensive universal health care and wants to give veterans the "freedom to choose to carry their V.A. dollars to a provider that gives them the timely care at high quality and in the best location." But as New York Times columnist Paul Krugman notes, "[T]he Veterans Health Administration is one of the few clear American success stories in the struggle to contain health care costs. ... [I]t's an integrated system -- a system that takes long-term responsibility for its clients' health -- to deliver an impressive combination of high-quality care and low costs." McCain's plan, however, would "privatize and, in effect, dismantle the V.A." In his narrow-sighted focus on eliminating earmarks, McCain may also cut funding for military housing.



MILITARY -- PETRAEUS A 'HAPPY' PARTICIPANT IN PENTAGON SPIN EFFORT: Yesterday, as the <a target="_blank" href="http://app.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/er.aspx?s=785&lid=2218&elq=2D1757D7D51442C5B30DB3F30BB44CCF">Wonk Room reported, documents in a recent Pentagon document dump reveal that Gen. David Petraeus was a "happy" participant in the administration's military analyst propaganda program. When asked by Bryan Whitman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, to contact several retired generals scheduled to appear on "several Sunday Shows" in August 2005, Petraeus replied, "Will do, Bryan, thanks." Then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's spokesman Larry Di Rita complained to "Dave" at the time that "some of these retired military analysts are trying to have it both ways," by supporting generals like Petraeus but criticizing the "secdef" -- Rumsfeld -- and "his supposed bad plans." In his calls, Petraeus evidently painted a rosy picture of his mission to train Iraqi forces, apparently prompting the analysts to boast of American successes during media appearances. For instance, Gen. Wayne Downing told NBC's Tim Russert on Aug. 28, 2005 that "in another year or 15 months, we're going to be able to start taking the U.S. forces down somewhat, because I think the Iraqi forces are going to be in strength of about 150,000 of both police and army."

IRAQ -- MOST INFLUENTIAL SHI'ITE CLERIC IN IRAQ SAYS RESISTANCE AGAINST U.S. IS 'PERMISSIBLE': The AP reported yesterday that Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has been issuing religious edicts, known as fatwas, "declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible -- a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad." The edicts suggest that Sistani "seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia." The news of Sistani's shift is significant because he has been a "key stabilizing force in Iraq for refusing to support a full-scale Shi'ite uprising against U.S.-led forces or Sunnis." The AP also reports that Sistani's position "underlines possible opposition to any agreement by Baghdad to allow a long-term U.S. military foothold in Iraq." The Wonk Room's Matt Duss adds, "I think it's possible that Sistani is responding to pressure from Sadrists who condemned him for his silence during the U.S. and Iraqi army siege of Sadr City."

CIVIL RIGHTS -- CALIFORNIANS LEAN TOWARD REJECTING GAY MARRIAGE BAN: Following last week's monumental California Supreme Court decision overruling the state's ban on gay marriage, a new poll indicates that California residents are leaning toward rejecting a ballot initiative amending the constitution to permanently ban gay marriage. Californians were split almost exactly evenly when asked if they approved of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ® vow to uphold the court's ruling. Only 51 percent of respondents said they planned to vote for the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Notably, only 39 percent said that same-sex relationships were morally wrong. A conservative group favoring the amendment, SaveCalifornia, compared granting gay couples marriage licenses to Nazis gassing Jews during the Holocaust. Additionally, "[m]ore than half of Californians say gay relationships were not wrong [and] that they would not degrade heterosexual marriages, according to the survey.

How crypto-Marxism won the Cold War
James Lewis
Today, for the first time in American history we have two --- count 'em, two --- hard-core Leftists running for the Democrat Party nomination. More

War And Decision: Samizdat History
Clarice Feldman
A few days ago I had an opportunity to discuss the pithy but engagingly written book War and Decision with its author, Douglas Feith. More

Bush at the Knesset: Another Historic, Unheralded Speech
Paul Kengor
Last week President George W. Bush gave an outstanding speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. It stands out among the top five or so best speeches of Bush's two terms More

Burmese Junta will allow Foreign Aid Workers - finally
May 23, 2008
It's no accident that the military leaders of Burma have finally acceeded to the humanitarian cries of the world to allow aid workers into the country - three weeks after a devastating cyclone hit. More

Al-Qaeda's Quest for Nuclear Weapons
May 23, 2008
A disturbing piece in today's FrontPage.com by Christopher Carson that traces the efforts of al-Qaeda to acquire a nuclear weapon to hit the United States: More

Damning McCain's health with faint praise
May 23, 2008
"Appears" to be in good health is a common trope in media coverage. I never had such a statement made to me by my doctor. More

Petreaus expects more troop cuts this fall
May 23, 2008
General David Petreus, Commander of American forces in Iraq, said yesterday that he expects to bhe able to recommend additional troop cuts in Iraq by September: More

Obama's Empty Words on Supporting Israel
May 23, 2008
It is clear at this point that Barack Obama's soothing words of support for Israel have little to do with the actions taken by the candidate in the past. More

Feminist ideology meets motherhood
May 23, 2008
The absurdities of radical feminism are being relegated to the ash heap of history, and not a moment too soon. You can't fight human nature forever. More

NY Sun on Obama
May 23, 2008
Some readers may recall that the New York Sun had one supportive editorial many months ago regarding Senator Obama. Today's editorial takes a different view. More

The Crypto-Marxist mask slips
May 23, 2008
As if to verify today's article by James Lewis on how Marxism hasn't gone away, Maxine Waters let slip in a hearing yesterday her wish to "socialize" the oil industry. More

Stupid politician tricks
May 23, 2008
A campaign stunt by Democrat Dan Seals, a candidate for the 10th district U.S. House seat in Illinois, seems to have backfired in a most predictable fashion. More

Michael Yon's book kept out of military bases
May 23, 2008
Michael Yon's new book Moment of Truth in Iraq is being kept out of distribution channels on military bases in most states. More

It's Supply and Demand, Stupid
May 23, 2008
The price of oil is not a mystery borne of conspiracies, it's simple supply and demand. In the late 70's we were in the same situation we are in now. More

Good news from Chessani case
May 22, 2008
Lt. Col Jeffrey Chessani has been on trial on trumped-up charges in the so-called Haditha incident. Very good news for him today. More

The group blog of The American Prospect
Reality check for HRC from NY guv.
Posted at 9:20 a.m.


A respectable liberal blog
John McCain's medical records.
Posted at 10:17 a.m.
[/color]

Dean Baker's economic commentary
[color="#800000"]USA Today underplays the house price downturn.

The Appeasement Paradox
Matthew Yglesias
May 23, 2008 | web only
Conservatives say reasoning with foreign dictators is pointless because it grants bad actors legitimacy. In doing so, they fail to understand the usefulness of diplomacy and the limits of American power.



What Does Not Change
Mark Schmitt
May 21, 2008 | web only
Forget what happened in Kentucky and Oregon. What's most telling in the Democratic primaries are the things that don't change: More voters, more volunteers.



The Backlash That Wasn't
Paul Waldman
May 20, 2008 | web only
The conservative reaction to last week's California Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage was remarkably subdued. Even John McCain, desperate to pander to the base, had little to say.

For GOP, The Hits Keep on Coming - Richard Cohen, National Journal
Obama's Growing Gaffe - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Republicans and Our Enemies - Sen. Joseph Biden, Wall Street Journal
Will Clinton Win the Popular Vote? - Jonathan Last, Philadelphia Inquirer
Friends May Seal Clinton's Fate - E. J. Dionne, Washington Post
Hillary's Sissy Sexism Claim - Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal
Now Obama Must Mend Broken Hearts - Jonathan Tilove, Newhouse News
Bloomberg for VP? - John Heilemann, New York Magazine
Gay Marriage by Judicial Decree - Stuart Taylor, National Journal
Obama's "New Politics" on Gay Marriage - Rich Lowry, New York Post
The Culture War Disarmed - Richard Kim, The Nation
Death of Conservatism Is Greatly Exaggerated - Fred Thompson, WSJ
The Alpha-Geeks - David Brooks, New York Times
The Free-Trade Paradox - James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
Trying to Debunk the 'Boys Crisis' - Kathleen Parker, RealClearPolitics
War Enemies Becoming Friends - Hal Moore, USA Today
Cameron Now Knocking on No. 10's Door - Iain Martin, The Telegraph
RCP Blog: Tories Rout Labour | Morning Report / PN: Strategy Memo

Editorials
A Worthy Obama-McCain Clash - Christian Science Monitor
Talking With the Enemy - New York Times
War on Terror Headlines You Won't See - Investor's Business Daily
More Anti-Lobbyist Than Thou - Washington Post

Political News & Analysis
Talk of Clinton as No. 2 Grows - New York Times
McCain Rejects Hagee's Backing - Washington Post
Obama Tells Boca Crowd He Will Help Israel - Palm Beach Post
McCain & Obama Spar on Veterans Bill - New York Times

Best of the Blogs
Lefty Handwringing and Indignation - Jules Crittenden
Stop Yelling at Hillary to Stand Down - Arianna Huffington
A Gaffe Now Becomes Doctrine - Betsy's Page
Why I Will No Longer Support John McCain - Right Wing News
Democrat Calls for Nationalizing Oil Industry - Gateway Pundit

Editorials
A Worthy Obama-McCain Clash - Christian Science Monitor
Talking With the Enemy - New York Times
War on Terror Headlines You Won't See - Investor's Business Daily
More Anti-Lobbyist Than Thou - Washington Post