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December 29, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Tom DeLay's House of Scandal. Tom DeLay sure has a lot of friends. Some of them are powerful members of Congress. Others are high-priced lobbyists who have a kind of power all their own. The trouble is, it seems that DeLay and his cohorts have gotten themselves in a little hot water over some ethically questionable activities. On issues from gas prices to health care to Social Security, Tom sits at the center of a web of corruption that caused him to be admonished three times by the House Ethics committee before his Republican friends helped him change the rules to get out of trouble. With a nifty Flash animation that lets you see how all the major players are linked to the issues, and articles to help you understand how all of it affects you, it's hours of fun getting up to speed on the House Majority Leader's shady dealings.
News
Bolton May Accept Recess Appointment. Remember John Bolton? Controversy over his nomination for UN Ambassador caused a lot of conversation, at least until something else more controversial came along and knocked it out of the media spotlight. Now it looks like Bolton's stalled nomination will become a moot point; Bush may just appoint him to the position during an upcoming Senate recess. GOP senators have been concerned that such an appointment would weaken his legitimacy at the UN, but at this point it looks like it's the only way he'll get the job. Bush has refused to back down on the issue, and Senate Democrats won't budge (how unusual!) on their demands for documents on Bolton's State Department work they say are relevant to considering him for the post. Keep an eye on the papers next month to find out what happens next.
Bush Stalls on CIA Scandal Firing. Poor President Bush. A while ago he made some very strong statements about how he'd deal with anyone in his administration found to have leaked information in the Valerie Plame case. When the story first broke in 2003, the White House had a lot to say about how nobody in the White House could possibly have had anything to do with it. Since the news came out that Bush's chief political strategist (and, some say, his brain) is implicated in the leak, mum's been the word from the top on down. Now, Bush hedges his bets by saying he'll fire anyone who is found to have committed a crime - a subtle change from his original promise to fire anyone involved in the leak. Lots of the discussion surrounding this case centers on whether Rove, widely believed to have leaked Plame's identity, actually committed a crime in doing so. Democrats aren't willing to let Bush off the hook, and petitions aplenty have been circulated demanding that Bush live up to his promise and fire Rove. The fact remains that regardless of if Rove technically committed a crime, he and his boss put politics ahead of the safety of the country.
Rumsfeld vows speedy action on Guantanamo trials. Oh, so now you're in a hurry? Special military war crimes trials for two Guantanamo Bay prisoners will proceed, now that they've been validated by a federal appeals court. There are about 520 non-US citizens held at Guantanamo; many have been there for more than three years, with no charges filed against them. They've been denied the rights accorded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, and some critics have said the process devised for the trials favored prosecutors and was rigged to produce convictions. Sounds like someone's desperate for good press. The White House's credibility is in question over the whole Rove affair, and "progress" in the War on Terra would probably help Bush's sagging poll numbers.
Editorials
The G-8 and Black Africa. Jude Wanniski thinks the fifty billion dollar aid package to Africa, authored in the recent G8 summit, is maybe not as big an accomplishment as it seems. The so-called "victory for millions" actually reduces aid as debt relief increases, resulting in no real net gain. At the same time, poor countries are required to "boost private sector development" and ensure "the elimination of impediments to private investment, both domestic and foreign." With western banks, institutions and governments taking three dollars out of Africa for every one dollar of aid paid in, and large multinationals controlling a majority of some of Africa's most valuable resources, it's hard to imagine how any real progress is to be made. The G8 countries should get serious about addressing the real problem of Africa's riches lining the pockets of wealthy industrialists, and them having to pay for the privilege on top of it.
Treasongate (Part VI): Response to GOP Talking Points. The hits just keep coming in the Rove leak case, and the Right Wing Noise Machine is steaming full bore ahead to cloud the issue. It's just politics as usual for the party of "we make our own reality," but polls and news coverage show that there's something different this time: The public isn't buying it. The Left Coaster has assembled a comprehensive list of GOP talking points, and includes a handy fact guide to help you thread your way through the veritable sea of lies. While the White House continues to claim it can't comment on the ongoing investigation, other arms of the Republican media octopus flail wildly to distract your attention from the truth. The only real surprise here is that it seems they've finally hit an issue they can't indignantly distract their way out of.
Victims' Group Blasts Santorum. Senator Santorum is out on the front lines in America's culture war. In fact, you might even say he's pulled himself out in front of the pack with recent statements squarely blaming liberals (and our "sick" culture) for pedophilia in the Catholic church. David Clohessy, National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, takes issue with this point of view, and blasts right back at Santorum. In a recent statement, Clohessy says "It is reckless and dangerous to misdiagnose the causes" of the abuse scandal, and warns that Santorum's "deceptive or ignorant" statements are distracting attention from dealing with the real problem of sexual abuse by clergy members. Also check out this PERRspectives Blog entry on how Santorum, unrepentant for the controversy his irresponsible remarks have caused, continues to champion his belief that liberalism, the Enlightenment and the scientific method are at the root of all of society's problems.
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December 29, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
Tom DeLay's House of Scandal. Tom DeLay sure has a lot of friends. Some of them are powerful members of Congress. Others are high-priced lobbyists who have a kind of power all their own. The trouble is, it seems that DeLay and his cohorts have gotten themselves in a little hot water over some ethically questionable activities. On issues from gas prices to health care to Social Security, Tom sits at the center of a web of corruption that caused him to be admonished three times by the House Ethics committee before his Republican friends helped him change the rules to get out of trouble. With a nifty Flash animation that lets you see how all the major players are linked to the issues, and articles to help you understand how all of it affects you, it's hours of fun getting up to speed on the House Majority Leader's shady dealings.
News
Bolton May Accept Recess Appointment. Remember John Bolton? Controversy over his nomination for UN Ambassador caused a lot of conversation, at least until something else more controversial came along and knocked it out of the media spotlight. Now it looks like Bolton's stalled nomination will become a moot point; Bush may just appoint him to the position during an upcoming Senate recess. GOP senators have been concerned that such an appointment would weaken his legitimacy at the UN, but at this point it looks like it's the only way he'll get the job. Bush has refused to back down on the issue, and Senate Democrats won't budge (how unusual!) on their demands for documents on Bolton's State Department work they say are relevant to considering him for the post. Keep an eye on the papers next month to find out what happens next.
Bush Stalls on CIA Scandal Firing. Poor President Bush. A while ago he made some very strong statements about how he'd deal with anyone in his administration found to have leaked information in the Valerie Plame case. When the story first broke in 2003, the White House had a lot to say about how nobody in the White House could possibly have had anything to do with it. Since the news came out that Bush's chief political strategist (and, some say, his brain) is implicated in the leak, mum's been the word from the top on down. Now, Bush hedges his bets by saying he'll fire anyone who is found to have committed a crime - a subtle change from his original promise to fire anyone involved in the leak. Lots of the discussion surrounding this case centers on whether Rove, widely believed to have leaked Plame's identity, actually committed a crime in doing so. Democrats aren't willing to let Bush off the hook, and petitions aplenty have been circulated demanding that Bush live up to his promise and fire Rove. The fact remains that regardless of if Rove technically committed a crime, he and his boss put politics ahead of the safety of the country.
Rumsfeld vows speedy action on Guantanamo trials. Oh, so now you're in a hurry? Special military war crimes trials for two Guantanamo Bay prisoners will proceed, now that they've been validated by a federal appeals court. There are about 520 non-US citizens held at Guantanamo; many have been there for more than three years, with no charges filed against them. They've been denied the rights accorded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, and some critics have said the process devised for the trials favored prosecutors and was rigged to produce convictions. Sounds like someone's desperate for good press. The White House's credibility is in question over the whole Rove affair, and "progress" in the War on Terra would probably help Bush's sagging poll numbers.
Editorials
The G-8 and Black Africa. Jude Wanniski thinks the fifty billion dollar aid package to Africa, authored in the recent G8 summit, is maybe not as big an accomplishment as it seems. The so-called "victory for millions" actually reduces aid as debt relief increases, resulting in no real net gain. At the same time, poor countries are required to "boost private sector development" and ensure "the elimination of impediments to private investment, both domestic and foreign." With western banks, institutions and governments taking three dollars out of Africa for every one dollar of aid paid in, and large multinationals controlling a majority of some of Africa's most valuable resources, it's hard to imagine how any real progress is to be made. The G8 countries should get serious about addressing the real problem of Africa's riches lining the pockets of wealthy industrialists, and them having to pay for the privilege on top of it.
Treasongate (Part VI): Response to GOP Talking Points. The hits just keep coming in the Rove leak case, and the Right Wing Noise Machine is steaming full bore ahead to cloud the issue. It's just politics as usual for the party of "we make our own reality," but polls and news coverage show that there's something different this time: The public isn't buying it. The Left Coaster has assembled a comprehensive list of GOP talking points, and includes a handy fact guide to help you thread your way through the veritable sea of lies. While the White House continues to claim it can't comment on the ongoing investigation, other arms of the Republican media octopus flail wildly to distract your attention from the truth. The only real surprise here is that it seems they've finally hit an issue they can't indignantly distract their way out of.
Victims' Group Blasts Santorum. Senator Santorum is out on the front lines in America's culture war. In fact, you might even say he's pulled himself out in front of the pack with recent statements squarely blaming liberals (and our "sick" culture) for pedophilia in the Catholic church. David Clohessy, National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, takes issue with this point of view, and blasts right back at Santorum. In a recent statement, Clohessy says "It is reckless and dangerous to misdiagnose the causes" of the abuse scandal, and warns that Santorum's "deceptive or ignorant" statements are distracting attention from dealing with the real problem of sexual abuse by clergy members. Also check out this PERRspectives Blog entry on how Santorum, unrepentant for the controversy his irresponsible remarks have caused, continues to champion his belief that liberalism, the Enlightenment and the scientific method are at the root of all of society's problems.
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December 29, 2005
Tom DeLay's House of Scandal. Tom DeLay sure has a lot of friends. Some of them are powerful members of Congress. Others are high-priced lobbyists who have a kind of power all their own. The trouble is, it seems that DeLay and his cohorts have gotten themselves in a little hot water over some ethically questionable activities. On issues from gas prices to health care to Social Security, Tom sits at the center of a web of corruption that caused him to be admonished three times by the House Ethics committee before his Republican friends helped him change the rules to get out of trouble. With a nifty Flash animation that lets you see how all the major players are linked to the issues, and articles to help you understand how all of it affects you, it's hours of fun getting up to speed on the House Majority Leader's shady dealings.
News
Bolton May Accept Recess Appointment. Remember John Bolton? Controversy over his nomination for UN Ambassador caused a lot of conversation, at least until something else more controversial came along and knocked it out of the media spotlight. Now it looks like Bolton's stalled nomination will become a moot point; Bush may just appoint him to the position during an upcoming Senate recess. GOP senators have been concerned that such an appointment would weaken his legitimacy at the UN, but at this point it looks like it's the only way he'll get the job. Bush has refused to back down on the issue, and Senate Democrats won't budge (how unusual!) on their demands for documents on Bolton's State Department work they say are relevant to considering him for the post. Keep an eye on the papers next month to find out what happens next.
Bush Stalls on CIA Scandal Firing. Poor President Bush. A while ago he made some very strong statements about how he'd deal with anyone in his administration found to have leaked information in the Valerie Plame case. When the story first broke in 2003, the White House had a lot to say about how nobody in the White House could possibly have had anything to do with it. Since the news came out that Bush's chief political strategist (and, some say, his brain) is implicated in the leak, mum's been the word from the top on down. Now, Bush hedges his bets by saying he'll fire anyone who is found to have committed a crime - a subtle change from his original promise to fire anyone involved in the leak. Lots of the discussion surrounding this case centers on whether Rove, widely believed to have leaked Plame's identity, actually committed a crime in doing so. Democrats aren't willing to let Bush off the hook, and petitions aplenty have been circulated demanding that Bush live up to his promise and fire Rove. The fact remains that regardless of if Rove technically committed a crime, he and his boss put politics ahead of the safety of the country.
Rumsfeld vows speedy action on Guantanamo trials. Oh, so now you're in a hurry? Special military war crimes trials for two Guantanamo Bay prisoners will proceed, now that they've been validated by a federal appeals court. There are about 520 non-US citizens held at Guantanamo; many have been there for more than three years, with no charges filed against them. They've been denied the rights accorded to prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, and some critics have said the process devised for the trials favored prosecutors and was rigged to produce convictions. Sounds like someone's desperate for good press. The White House's credibility is in question over the whole Rove affair, and "progress" in the War on Terra would probably help Bush's sagging poll numbers.
Editorials
The G-8 and Black Africa. Jude Wanniski thinks the fifty billion dollar aid package to Africa, authored in the recent G8 summit, is maybe not as big an accomplishment as it seems. The so-called "victory for millions" actually reduces aid as debt relief increases, resulting in no real net gain. At the same time, poor countries are required to "boost private sector development" and ensure "the elimination of impediments to private investment, both domestic and foreign." With western banks, institutions and governments taking three dollars out of Africa for every one dollar of aid paid in, and large multinationals controlling a majority of some of Africa's most valuable resources, it's hard to imagine how any real progress is to be made. The G8 countries should get serious about addressing the real problem of Africa's riches lining the pockets of wealthy industrialists, and them having to pay for the privilege on top of it.
Treasongate (Part VI): Response to GOP Talking Points. The hits just keep coming in the Rove leak case, and the Right Wing Noise Machine is steaming full bore ahead to cloud the issue. It's just politics as usual for the party of "we make our own reality," but polls and news coverage show that there's something different this time: The public isn't buying it. The Left Coaster has assembled a comprehensive list of GOP talking points, and includes a handy fact guide to help you thread your way through the veritable sea of lies. While the White House continues to claim it can't comment on the ongoing investigation, other arms of the Republican media octopus flail wildly to distract your attention from the truth. The only real surprise here is that it seems they've finally hit an issue they can't indignantly distract their way out of.
Victims' Group Blasts Santorum. Senator Santorum is out on the front lines in America's culture war. In fact, you might even say he's pulled himself out in front of the pack with recent statements squarely blaming liberals (and our "sick" culture) for pedophilia in the Catholic church. David Clohessy, National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, takes issue with this point of view, and blasts right back at Santorum. In a recent statement, Clohessy says "It is reckless and dangerous to misdiagnose the causes" of the abuse scandal, and warns that Santorum's "deceptive or ignorant" statements are distracting attention from dealing with the real problem of sexual abuse by clergy members. Also check out this PERRspectives Blog entry on how Santorum, unrepentant for the controversy his irresponsible remarks have caused, continues to champion his belief that liberalism, the Enlightenment and the scientific method are at the root of all of society's problems.
