News Updates

MSNBC's Keith Olberman now is doing a very decent blog. I see he noticed our non-award winning Houston Chronicle: "the Houston Chronicle has an editorial so puerile that it may be the most naïve thing I?ve ever read that was actually written by a grown-up" This is part of a story where he says the Ohio recount will attract tons of media interest as they may look for "hanging chads" again.

Powell smacked down by Bush yet again. He wanted to stay to continue the Middle East peace process but was forced out. The reason? So a political loyalty purge can begin at the State Department similar to what is taking place at the CIA. As Josh points out this is an administration that values political power over competence and they are making all of us less safe.

Fallujah was the center, the biggest concentration of foreign fighters in Iraq. How many have we captured? Looks like less than 20 of the 1000 prisoners. Before the battle, U.S. officials frequently stressed the role of foreign fighters in Fallouja. Last week, as the battle got underway, Myers told reporters that the city was "a major safe haven for former regime elements and foreign fighters, in particular Zarqawi and his folks." This is an American grown insurgency fueled by colonial actions converting Iraqi civilians to fighters. Another article points out the captors aren't even from outside the city.


4 of the 5 smartest states voted for Kerry.
7 of the 10 smartest states voted for Kerry.
8 of the 10 dumbest states voted for Bush.
16 of the 20 dumbest states voted for Bush.
The 7 dumbest states voted for Bush.


Church Folks for a Better America. Human rights experts said Friday that American soldiers might have committed a war crime on Thursday when they sent fleeing Iraqi civilians back into Fallujah. Citing several articles of the Geneva Conventions, the experts said recognized laws of war require military forces to protect civilians as refugees and forbid returning them to a combat zone.... James Ross, senior legal adviser to Human Rights Watch, said, "If that's what happened, it would be a war crime."

Dallas Morning News:

"There is no future for moderate and progressive Republicans in the Republican Party," said Jim Scarantino, president of the centrist GOP group Mainstream 2004. "The far right wing and the fanatics have seized control."

"If they can't agree and support the president and the platform, then they ought to go over to the Democrats," said Jan LaRue, chief counsel for the conservative group Concerned Women for America.

Videotape of an American Marine shooting an unarmed wounded Iraqi inside of a mosque.

National Geographic: Evolution still correct. Natasha plans on writing more about science for skeptics and religious fanatics.

A brief cartoon guide to what society values. Alas, a blog also has a number of good posts on the same sex marriage debate arguments - the activist judges were on the other side, the misleading bait-and-switch arguments, the "framing" of the argument, and voters supported politicians who supported gay marriage. She also points out that elections don't so much change the country as a changed country changes leaders. Spend less time concentrating on winning elections and more time on changing people's understanding of the issues.