CNN.com - Ashcroft: Nuclear terror greatest threat - Jan 28, 2005

guess he's gotta try to scare the shit out of his rush-to-war fellow conservatives one last time before he leaves. Damn, aren't ya'll gonna miss him?

CNN.com - Ashcroft: Nuclear terror greatest threat - Jan 28, 2005

"If you were to have nuclear proliferation find its way into the hands of terrorists, the entire world might be very seriously disrupted by a few individuals who sought to impose their will, their arcane philosophy, on the rest of mankind," he said.

Senate panel approves Rice for secretary of state - Jan 19, 2005

Looks like Bush isn't the only one with balls this week.

CNN.com - Senate panel approves Rice for secretary of state - Jan 19, 2005: "Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts were the two dissenting votes on the committee."

WHY?!?!

CNN.com - 'World's oldest mother'... at 67 - Jan 16, 2005: "BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- A 67-year-old Romanian woman gave birth Sunday to a baby girl, making her the world's oldest recorded mother, hospital officials said. "

CNN.com - Bush uses new nickname for senator - Jan 14, 2005

What the fuck is this doing on the front page of CNN?? Are there not more important things going on in the world?

CNN.com - Bush uses new nickname for senator - Jan 14, 2005

Judge: Evolution stickers unconstitutional - Jan 13, 2005

I wonder if the Cobb county school board was also considering stickers reminding people that gravity was just a theory, too? Probably not. Look for U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper to be called an "activist" soon.

CNN.com - Judge: Evolution stickers unconstitutional - Jan 13, 2005: "In ruling that the stickers violate the constitutionally mandated separation between church and state, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper ruled that labeling evolution a 'theory' played on the popular definition of the word as a 'hunch' and could confuse students."

Armstrong Williams..."there are others"

I wonder how many Bush supporters still believe what they see on the "news." Bet most of 'em do. We really need to start teaching critical thinking again. Of course, if we did, shills like Williams wouldn't have such an effect. I only wish that this would open the floodgates and that the myth of the 'liberal media' would be exposed for the crap that it really is.

Could you imagine the fucking outrage if Clinton would have done this? Hell, just take a look at CBS and 60 minutes recently firing four staff members because of the "forged documents" crap. Too bad we can't fire the Bush administration.

David Corn: "And then Williams violated a PR rule: he got off-point. 'This happens all the time,' he told me. 'There are others.' "

Anti-abortion Roemer joins race for top Dems job

What the Democrats need is NOT someone who is "republican lite." Dammit.

CNN.com - Anti-abortion�Roemer joins race for top Dems job - Jan 9, 2005: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Rep. Tim Roemer said Sunday that he's joining the race to lead the Democratic National Committee -- a move certain to spark a heated debate about the abortion issue.
Roemer, a Catholic who opposes abortion, wants to lead a party whose platform supports abortion rights."

Exit polls show Mahmoud Abbas the winner in Palestine

Of course they voted with PAPER and can VERIFY the vote.


Seems that Mahmoud Abbas is declaring himself the winner after "exit polls" show a decisive victory.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas declared victory in the Palestinian presidential election late Sunday after exit polls gave him a commanding lead over his rivals.

Exit polls, huh?

Trusted in Palestine. Worthless in the U.S. of A. Democracy is grand.

United and US Airways reach key labour deals

Damned good thing that your social security benefits weren't wrapped up in this, huh? Bankruptcy? stock prices crash, the value of your "privitized" social security plan crashes. Poor you. Especially if you are a United or USAirways employee. You'd be fucked from both ends.

FT.com / Industries / Transport - United and US Airways reach key labour deals: "United and US Airways reach key labour deals
By Dan Roberts in New York
Published: January 6 2005 18:12 Last updated: January 6 2005 18:12

The battle for survival among traditional US airlines intensified on Thursday as the second and seventh biggest carriers took fresh steps to avoid liquidation.

United Airlines and its smaller rival, US Airways, which are both trying to emerge from bankruptcy protection, reached separate agreements to cut costs by jettisoning employee pensions.
Their breakthroughs followed the launch of a fresh price war on Wednesday when Delta, the third largest US carrier, announced sweeping fare changes designed to mimic low-cost airlines. "

Deadliest day in Iraq since the mess-tent bombing. And, write your Congressman

So, yesterday was the deadliest day in Iraq since the mess-tent bombing. Where was it on your newspapers front page today? In my local, the Arizona Republic, there was a tiny little mention on the bottom of the fold in the "national news" which then lead to some page in the middle of the "A" section. Not a whole hell of a lot. What is on the front is crap about Gonzales, Randy Johnson going to New York and, of course, the conviction of Andrea Yates being overturned. Perhaps if we'd show as much about Iraq as we've seen about the tsunami, people might begin to see through the sham that is this current administration. I doubt it, though.

Hey, if you are pissed off about what's going on in this country and swear that you are gonna "write congress" -- it's just been made a lot easier for ya. Here is a spreadsheet in .csv of all the Senators and thier contact information. Use it as a mail merge data source if you want. And the Clerk of the House has made it really simple -- pre-done labels in Word, WordPerfect or ASCII. Just look to the right and scroll a bit.

CNN.com - Army Reserve chief raises concern about 'broken force' - Jan 6, 2005

It's startin' to feel mighty damned drafty in here, ain't it?

CNN.com - Army Reserve chief raises concern about 'broken force' - Jan 6, 2005: "Helmly called the memo 'a clear, distinctive signal of deepening concern' about the status of his force. It was not his first warning: In November, he told the House Armed Services Committee that the Army Reserve is falling behind its recruiting goals for the year."

It's a BOXER REBELLION!!

A senator w/ some guts. Amen. I can't wait for 1:00 p.m. EST

Democrats to Force Debate on Ohio Election
By Alan FramThe Associated PressThursday, January 6, 2005; 10:12 AM
A small group of Democrats agreed Thursday to force House and Senate debates on Election Day problems in Ohio before letting Congress certify President Bush's win over Sen. John Kerry in November.

While Bush's victory is not in jeopardy, the Democratic challenge will force Congress to interrupt tallying the Electoral College vote, which had been scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EST Thursday. It would be only the second time since 1877 that the House and Senate were forced into separate meetings to consider electoral votes.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., signed a challenge mounted by House Democrats to Ohio's 20 electoral votes, which put Bush over the top. By law, a protest signed by members of the House and Senate requires both chambers to meet separately for up to two hours to consider it. Lawmakers are allowed to speak for no more than five minutes each.

"I have concluded that objecting to the electoral votes from Ohio is the only immediate way to bring these issues to light by allowing you to have a two-hour debate to let the American people know the facts surrounding Ohio's election," Boxer wrote in a letter to Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, a leader of the Democratic effort.

The action seems certain to leave Bush's victory intact because both Republican-controlled chambers would have to uphold the objection for Ohio's votes to be invalidated. But supporters of the drive hope their move will shine a national spotlight on the Ohio voting problems.
Underscoring that the outcome was not in doubt, Kerry, who conceded to Bush the day after the Nov. 2 election, said he would not join the challenge. The four-term Massachusetts senator was in the Middle East, thanking U.S. troops for their service.

In a statement, Kerry said there are "very troubling questions" about the Ohio voting and he would present a plan later to improve voting procedures.

Many Democrats oppose challenging the Ohio vote, concerned that it would do little but antagonize voters who consider the election over. The numbers are also politically daunting: Bush won an Ohio recount by more than 118,000 votes, and won nationally by more than 3 million.

Bush defeated Kerry by 286 to 252 electoral votes, with 270 needed for victory.
On Wednesday, Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, issued a report claiming "numerous, serious election irregularities in the Ohio presidential election."

The report, mirroring complaints from Ohio voters, cites machine shortages and extremely long lines in minority and Democratic precincts. It alleges intimidation of voters, a purging of registration lists and other irregularities.
Many problems stemmed from "intentional misconduct and illegal behavior" by Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, the co-chair of the Bush-Cheney campaign in the state, the report argues.

Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo called the report "ludicrous" and a waste of taxpayer dollars.
In January 2001, a group of House Democrats protested the 2000 election because of Florida's ballot problems. But with the country weary of that contest's six weeks of recounts and turmoil, no senator joined in and the challenge failed. In political theater at its most ironic, Vice President Al Gore -- the defeated Democratic presidential contender -- presided over the session, rejecting a challenge aimed at making him president.

The last time the two chambers were forced to interrupt their joint session and meet separately was in January 1969, when a "faithless" North Carolina elector designated for Richard Nixon voted instead for independent George Wallace. Both chambers agreed to allow the vote for Wallace.

The previous challenge requiring separate House and Senate meetings was in 1877 during the disputed contest that Rutherford Hayes eventually won over Samuel Tilden.
© 2005 The Associated Press

Compassionate christians...

Wired News | Bush Donates $10,000 to Tsunami Relief Efforts: "COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (Reuters) - President Bush, who called on Americans this week to make a donation to help victims of the Asian tsunami, has contributed $10,000 himself, the White House said on Wednesday.
Bush, whose wealth is estimated at some $13 million, on Monday asked 'every American to contribute as they are able to do so.'"

This is not surprising, really, is it? I mean, he's not really a Christian, in the Jesus sense of the word. Real Christians don't justify waging war on an unarmed nation. Real Christians don't think it's better to give to the wealthy. Real Christians don't execute people and they certainly don't mock them right before they die. Real Christians don't lie.

Kerry....what the fuck is this?

This is a letter the Kerry sent to his supporters. Kind of a big "fuck you," don't ya think?

No American citizen should wake up the morning after the election and worry their vote wasn't counted. No citizen should be denied at the polls if they are eligible to vote. And, as the greatest, wealthiest nation on earth, our citizens should never be forced to vote on old, unaccountable and non transparent voting machines from companies controlled by partisan activists.

Tomorrow, members of Congress will meet to certify the results of the 2004 presidential election. I will not be taking part in a formal protest of the Ohio Electors.

Despite widespread reports of irregularities, questionable practices by some election officials and instances of lawful voters being denied the right to vote, our legal teams on the ground have found no evidence that would change the outcome of the election.

But, that does not mean we should abandon our commitment to addressing those problems that happened in Ohio. We must act today to make sure they never happen again.

I urge you to join me in using this occasion to highlight our demand that Congress commit itself this year to reforming the electoral system. A Presidential election is a national federal election but we have different standards in different states for casting and counting votes. We need a national federal standard to solve the problems that occurred in the 2004 election. I will propose legislation to help achieve this.

Florida 2000 was a wake up call. But the Republicans who control Congress ignored it. Will they now ignore what happened in 2004?

There are nearly 3,000,000 of you receiving this email. We accomplished so much together during the campaign. Now let's use our power to make sure that at least one good thing comes from the voting rights problems of the 2004 election. If we want to force real action on election reform, we've got to demand that congressional leaders hold full hearings. Make sure they hear from you and help hold them accountable.

Speaker Dennis Hastert: 1-202-225-0600Leader Bill Frist: 1-202-224-3135And please report that you've made your call right here:
http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/electoral_reform.php

I want every vote counted because Americans have to know that the votes they stood in line for, fought for, and strived so hard to cast in an election, are counted. We must make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections. It's critical to our democracy that we investigate and act to prevent voting irregularities and voter intimidation across the country. We can't stand still as Congressional leaders seek to sweep well-founded voter concerns under the rug.

Please join with me in calling Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist and telling them that you want action on election reform now.

A recent report from Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) reveals very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. I commend the Democratic National Committee for its announcement this week that the DNC will be investing resources and reaching out to non-partisan academics in a long term study of Ohio voting irregularities. I am only sorry that we haven't seen the same from Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell and GOP officials.

Congress must play a positive, proactive role on this issue. That's why I will soon introduce legislation to reform our election system, ensuring transparency and accountability in our voting system and that all Americans have an opportunity to vote and have their vote counted.Please remember to let us know that you made your call when you're done. We're hoping to ensure House and Senate leaders' offices hear our demand for action on election reform in meaningful way. Please take a moment to let us know you have made your call here: http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/electoral_reform.php

Thank you,
John Kerry

P.S. Thanks to all those who participated in our USO "phone home" campaign last week. The totals are coming in from the USO, and they are thrilled with your generosity and support for our brave men and women in uniform. We will send you totals as we get them.

bin Ladin's bodyguard removed from terror "blacklist"

A U.S. Treasury spokeswoman said Abdalla, 28, was also removed from the United States' list of "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons."

From the LA times today

THE WORLD
Bin Laden's Ex-Bodyguard Is Taken Off Lists of Terrorists
From Reuters

January 5, 2005

BERLIN — A former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden, recently freed from prison in Germany, has been removed from the United Nations and U.S. terrorism blacklists in a rare move that follows months of German lobbying in Washington.

The delistings of Shadi Abdalla are a victory for Berlin, which values him as a key informant against other suspected militants on trial and has given him a new identity and placed him under police protection.

A U.N. website said he was the fifth person, and the first in more than two years, to be removed from its list of militants, whose assets all U.N. member states must freeze.

"To my knowledge this is the first and only case where a convicted terrorist who has served his prison sentence … has been delisted," a German official said Tuesday.

A U.S. Treasury spokeswoman said Abdalla, 28, was also removed from the United States' list of "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons."

"Information available to us shows that Abdalla no longer supports terrorist activity and is helping German authorities to prosecute suspected terrorists. Abdalla's cooperation is ongoing, and he is providing authorities with extensive, credible information," she said.

Abdalla's lawyer, Ruediger Deckers, said his client could now get financial support from authorities and open a bank account, measures that were illegal while he was blacklisted.

Deckers said the U.S. had filed an official request for Abdalla to testify against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the U.S. in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.

Last year Abdalla was convicted of planning attacks on Jewish targets in Germany, but he was freed in November after serving slightly less than a year of his four-year sentence.

The U.N.'s "1267 Committee," which oversees sanctions against people and groups associated with Al Qaeda and the Taliban, said Abdalla, a Jordanian, was deleted from its list Dec. 23. The U.S. delisting occurred the same day.

Herald Sun: 200,000 fighting Iraq occupation [05jan05]

Weren't we told there were about 5,000 insurgents? Didn't they tell us we'd be greated w/ chocolates and flowers? Didn't they tell us the Iraqi people would be grateful? More insurgents than U.S. Troops. ::shaking head:::

Herald Sun: 200,000 fighting Iraq occupation [05jan05]: "THERE are more rebels and sympathisers in Iraq than US forces to fight them, Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's intelligence chief said yesterday.

It is the bleakest assessment to date of the armed revolt waged by some sections of the Sunni population.
'I think the resistance is bigger than the US military in Iraq. I think the resistance is more than 200,000 people,' General Mohamed Abdullah Shahwani said."

CNN.com - Car bomb explodes near Allawi party headquarters - Jan 3, 2005

It would be nice if this were the lead for the story, huh?

CNN.com - Car bomb explodes near Allawi party headquarters - Jan 3, 2005: "Insurgent attacks have prompted calls from many Iraqis to delay the January vote. Iraq's interim government and the United States appear determined to leave the date unchanged.
For the third time in two months, the electoral commission in Mosul has resigned, said Kahsro Goran, deputy governor of Nineveh province.
Goran said Sunday that the election outlook for his region had 'significant problems.'
'We have to have elections, but the security situation is deteriorating,' Goran said. 'So there will not be real and fair participation.'
Particularly problematic, Goran said, is the lack of a police force in Mosul. Of the city's original 14,000 officers, he said, the number has fallen to 600 active policemen."

MSNBC - Letters to MSNBC

Oh, poor Christina. Can't hand the TRUTH about what's going on. Can't handle greiving parents at christmastime, can't stand to see dead and dying children and families ripped apart. Unlike Ms. DeLeon, I think the newsmeida has a RESPONSIBILITY to show us the truth, so we know what's going on, so it's not just some abstract new story. So that we feel more compelled to DO something rather than say a prayer in church and watch Bowl games.

MSNBC - Letters to MSNBC: "About grim tsunami photographs
A suggestion: Photographs used in conjunction with articles can help the reader feel closer to the stories, bring about emotions etc. Could you do everyone a favor and not allow photographs of dead children with grieving families close beside them? I saw quite a few with the Tsunami stories, and example being here.
Please use some type of discretion- or allow those that view your websites to be forewarned and use their own discretion when reading and viewing these pictures. Maybe a �warning: graphic pictures which may disturb some viewers are within this link� or something to that effect.
My belief is that the ultimate drive in your publishing these type of photographs, is money. More viewers, increase ratings, increase commissions from those that link to other websites, etc, etc, etc it all revolves back to money.
You have no knowledge of who may be viewing these articles and what type of effect this type of picture can have on the viewer�please allow a choice in what we view!
Regards,
Christiana de Leon"