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December 29, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
A Primer for Online Activists. Everyone agrees that something must be done, but opinions vary as to what, exactly, the something is. One thing to help you on your way, no matter what the issue, is this primer with advice on how to go about the process of effecting change. You can never take for granted that everyone listening to you or reading what write knows who you are, or how you think, or what you do when you're not ranting about how bad those Other People are. Earn respect for yourself as you work on making your point, and your ideas will tend to be more respected as well. It's easier said than done (I know), but it's good to stop and remind yourself every now and then that it takes more than a collection of facts and opinions to make a good case.
News
Al-Qaeda 'destroyed in Pakistan'. President Pervez Musharraf says Al Qaeda's ability to operate in Pakistan has been destroyed, and that "Al-Qaeda does not exist in Pakistan any more." He says that their command system has been "shattered and eliminated" in the mountainous tribal regions of Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, and that it's not possible for an Al Qaeda plan in London, Sharm el-Sheikh, Istanbul or Africa to be controlled from within Pakistan. Despite thousands of Pakistani troops deployed in Waziristan, the Afghan government complains almost daily of cross-border militant incursions onto its territory. While defending a recent crackdown against extremists last week, Gen Musharraf said Britain must do more to handle its own terrorist threats.
Brazilians Demand Arrest Over Killing. Relatives and friends of a Brazilian man, mistaken for a terrorist by British police and shot to death in the subway, said that Prime Minister Tony Blair's apology "did not go far enough," and are demanding justice, not apologies. The killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, an electrician who had planned to return to Brazil to start a cattle ranch, has been the top radio and television story since Sunday. Foreign Minister Celso Amorin has been instructed to "take firm measures to defend the interests of the family of a Brazilian who died in an absurd manner."
Supreme Court nom Roberts gives assurances. Democrats are scrutinizing the record of Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts, studying his opinions on issues such as worker rights, civil rights and abortion rights. Roberts, who spent the last two years as a federal appeals court judge, has been generally well-received on Capitol Hill since his nomination was announced last Tuesday. Abortion rights groups oppose Roberts on the basis of his 1990 statement, as U.S. deputy solicitor general, that the first Bush administration believed the decision in Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Roberts has also stated previously that there is "no role whatsoever" for personal beliefs or views in making judicial decisions.
Editorials
The right aims at Larry Johnson -- and misses. The GOP sure doesn't like it when you step out of line in their camp. Paul O'Neill, former Treasury Secretary, was "disgruntled" and "marginal." Richard Clarke was disgruntled and "out of the loop" after being demoted. And Joseph Wilson is, of course, a pathological liar who's trying to salvage a tattered career by attacking President Bush. Now there's Larry Johnson: former CIA analyst and former classmate of Plame's. Johnson has come out strong against the GOP talking point that Valerie Plame wasn't really undercover. He is also among a group of former CIA analysts who sent a letter to Congress arguing for protecting the identities of all undercover agents -- even those with "mere" desk jobs. Gary Schmitt, director of the neoconservative Project for a New American Century, accused Johnson of having a "pre-9/11 mindset" over an Op-Ed piece Johnson wrote in The New York Times. Trouble is, the piece (which downplays the terrorist threat to the US) was written in July of 2001, well before the events that Schmitt accuses him of ignoring.
Can the Media Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time? The current state of American news media has to be at least partly responsible for Karl Rove's skill in reshaping public debate. On issue after issue, what would seem to be breaking news sinks noiselessly beneath the weight of whatever story heats up right after it. If news coverage focuses on only one thing at a time, it hurts the public's ability to make reasoned and informed choices on important issues. Even CNN's Bob Franken admits that "we in the media can only over-cover one story at a time." Trouble is, most of the really important stories can't be wrapped up in simple sound bites. When all eyes are focused on the latest media-driven missing woman story, important things like the Downing Street Minutes, the Rove leak, the Bolton recess appointment (which will surprise no-one), the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and the Pentagon's missed deadline to provide detailed troop numbers for Iraq continue unnoticed and, sometimes, vanish without so much as a squeak.
When The White House Has Something To HideÂ
Former Sen. Fred Thompson, who also portrays DA Arthur Branch in the Law & Order series, has been assigned to guide Supreme Court Nominee John Rogers through the nomination process. Thompson said the White House is likely to refuse requests from the Senate Judiciary Committee to review documents drafted by Roberts during his time in the Reagan and Bush I administrations. This White House likes to ignore requests for things it doesn't think is necessary or that, perhaps, might be inconvenient to its case; Bush and friends certainly can't blame critics for being suspicious they might have something to hide. Previous requests for documents related to the 9/11 commission investigation, Cheney's possible influence in Halliburton deals, and John Bolton's secret intercepts have met with resistance, if not outright refusal. Even more recently, photos and other documents related to abuse cases at Abu Ghraib, due this past Friday by a federal court order, were blocked. One thing we've learned in going through this before is that if the White House wants to keep something private, there's a good possibility it's because whatever they're hiding makes them look bad.
|
December 29, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Tuesday's Links
Activism
A Primer for Online Activists. Everyone agrees that something must be done, but opinions vary as to what, exactly, the something is. One thing to help you on your way, no matter what the issue, is this primer with advice on how to go about the process of effecting change. You can never take for granted that everyone listening to you or reading what write knows who you are, or how you think, or what you do when you're not ranting about how bad those Other People are. Earn respect for yourself as you work on making your point, and your ideas will tend to be more respected as well. It's easier said than done (I know), but it's good to stop and remind yourself every now and then that it takes more than a collection of facts and opinions to make a good case.
News
Al-Qaeda 'destroyed in Pakistan'. President Pervez Musharraf says Al Qaeda's ability to operate in Pakistan has been destroyed, and that "Al-Qaeda does not exist in Pakistan any more." He says that their command system has been "shattered and eliminated" in the mountainous tribal regions of Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, and that it's not possible for an Al Qaeda plan in London, Sharm el-Sheikh, Istanbul or Africa to be controlled from within Pakistan. Despite thousands of Pakistani troops deployed in Waziristan, the Afghan government complains almost daily of cross-border militant incursions onto its territory. While defending a recent crackdown against extremists last week, Gen Musharraf said Britain must do more to handle its own terrorist threats.
Brazilians Demand Arrest Over Killing. Relatives and friends of a Brazilian man, mistaken for a terrorist by British police and shot to death in the subway, said that Prime Minister Tony Blair's apology "did not go far enough," and are demanding justice, not apologies. The killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, an electrician who had planned to return to Brazil to start a cattle ranch, has been the top radio and television story since Sunday. Foreign Minister Celso Amorin has been instructed to "take firm measures to defend the interests of the family of a Brazilian who died in an absurd manner."
Supreme Court nom Roberts gives assurances. Democrats are scrutinizing the record of Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts, studying his opinions on issues such as worker rights, civil rights and abortion rights. Roberts, who spent the last two years as a federal appeals court judge, has been generally well-received on Capitol Hill since his nomination was announced last Tuesday. Abortion rights groups oppose Roberts on the basis of his 1990 statement, as U.S. deputy solicitor general, that the first Bush administration believed the decision in Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Roberts has also stated previously that there is "no role whatsoever" for personal beliefs or views in making judicial decisions.
Editorials
The right aims at Larry Johnson -- and misses. The GOP sure doesn't like it when you step out of line in their camp. Paul O'Neill, former Treasury Secretary, was "disgruntled" and "marginal." Richard Clarke was disgruntled and "out of the loop" after being demoted. And Joseph Wilson is, of course, a pathological liar who's trying to salvage a tattered career by attacking President Bush. Now there's Larry Johnson: former CIA analyst and former classmate of Plame's. Johnson has come out strong against the GOP talking point that Valerie Plame wasn't really undercover. He is also among a group of former CIA analysts who sent a letter to Congress arguing for protecting the identities of all undercover agents -- even those with "mere" desk jobs. Gary Schmitt, director of the neoconservative Project for a New American Century, accused Johnson of having a "pre-9/11 mindset" over an Op-Ed piece Johnson wrote in The New York Times. Trouble is, the piece (which downplays the terrorist threat to the US) was written in July of 2001, well before the events that Schmitt accuses him of ignoring.
Can the Media Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time? The current state of American news media has to be at least partly responsible for Karl Rove's skill in reshaping public debate. On issue after issue, what would seem to be breaking news sinks noiselessly beneath the weight of whatever story heats up right after it. If news coverage focuses on only one thing at a time, it hurts the public's ability to make reasoned and informed choices on important issues. Even CNN's Bob Franken admits that "we in the media can only over-cover one story at a time." Trouble is, most of the really important stories can't be wrapped up in simple sound bites. When all eyes are focused on the latest media-driven missing woman story, important things like the Downing Street Minutes, the Rove leak, the Bolton recess appointment (which will surprise no-one), the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and the Pentagon's missed deadline to provide detailed troop numbers for Iraq continue unnoticed and, sometimes, vanish without so much as a squeak.
When The White House Has Something To HideÂ
Former Sen. Fred Thompson, who also portrays DA Arthur Branch in the Law & Order series, has been assigned to guide Supreme Court Nominee John Rogers through the nomination process. Thompson said the White House is likely to refuse requests from the Senate Judiciary Committee to review documents drafted by Roberts during his time in the Reagan and Bush I administrations. This White House likes to ignore requests for things it doesn't think is necessary or that, perhaps, might be inconvenient to its case; Bush and friends certainly can't blame critics for being suspicious they might have something to hide. Previous requests for documents related to the 9/11 commission investigation, Cheney's possible influence in Halliburton deals, and John Bolton's secret intercepts have met with resistance, if not outright refusal. Even more recently, photos and other documents related to abuse cases at Abu Ghraib, due this past Friday by a federal court order, were blocked. One thing we've learned in going through this before is that if the White House wants to keep something private, there's a good possibility it's because whatever they're hiding makes them look bad.
|
December 29, 2005
A Primer for Online Activists. Everyone agrees that something must be done, but opinions vary as to what, exactly, the something is. One thing to help you on your way, no matter what the issue, is this primer with advice on how to go about the process of effecting change. You can never take for granted that everyone listening to you or reading what write knows who you are, or how you think, or what you do when you're not ranting about how bad those Other People are. Earn respect for yourself as you work on making your point, and your ideas will tend to be more respected as well. It's easier said than done (I know), but it's good to stop and remind yourself every now and then that it takes more than a collection of facts and opinions to make a good case.
News
Al-Qaeda 'destroyed in Pakistan'. President Pervez Musharraf says Al Qaeda's ability to operate in Pakistan has been destroyed, and that "Al-Qaeda does not exist in Pakistan any more." He says that their command system has been "shattered and eliminated" in the mountainous tribal regions of Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, and that it's not possible for an Al Qaeda plan in London, Sharm el-Sheikh, Istanbul or Africa to be controlled from within Pakistan. Despite thousands of Pakistani troops deployed in Waziristan, the Afghan government complains almost daily of cross-border militant incursions onto its territory. While defending a recent crackdown against extremists last week, Gen Musharraf said Britain must do more to handle its own terrorist threats.
Brazilians Demand Arrest Over Killing. Relatives and friends of a Brazilian man, mistaken for a terrorist by British police and shot to death in the subway, said that Prime Minister Tony Blair's apology "did not go far enough," and are demanding justice, not apologies. The killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, an electrician who had planned to return to Brazil to start a cattle ranch, has been the top radio and television story since Sunday. Foreign Minister Celso Amorin has been instructed to "take firm measures to defend the interests of the family of a Brazilian who died in an absurd manner."
Supreme Court nom Roberts gives assurances. Democrats are scrutinizing the record of Supreme Court Nominee John Roberts, studying his opinions on issues such as worker rights, civil rights and abortion rights. Roberts, who spent the last two years as a federal appeals court judge, has been generally well-received on Capitol Hill since his nomination was announced last Tuesday. Abortion rights groups oppose Roberts on the basis of his 1990 statement, as U.S. deputy solicitor general, that the first Bush administration believed the decision in Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Roberts has also stated previously that there is "no role whatsoever" for personal beliefs or views in making judicial decisions.
Editorials
The right aims at Larry Johnson -- and misses. The GOP sure doesn't like it when you step out of line in their camp. Paul O'Neill, former Treasury Secretary, was "disgruntled" and "marginal." Richard Clarke was disgruntled and "out of the loop" after being demoted. And Joseph Wilson is, of course, a pathological liar who's trying to salvage a tattered career by attacking President Bush. Now there's Larry Johnson: former CIA analyst and former classmate of Plame's. Johnson has come out strong against the GOP talking point that Valerie Plame wasn't really undercover. He is also among a group of former CIA analysts who sent a letter to Congress arguing for protecting the identities of all undercover agents -- even those with "mere" desk jobs. Gary Schmitt, director of the neoconservative Project for a New American Century, accused Johnson of having a "pre-9/11 mindset" over an Op-Ed piece Johnson wrote in The New York Times. Trouble is, the piece (which downplays the terrorist threat to the US) was written in July of 2001, well before the events that Schmitt accuses him of ignoring.
Can the Media Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time? The current state of American news media has to be at least partly responsible for Karl Rove's skill in reshaping public debate. On issue after issue, what would seem to be breaking news sinks noiselessly beneath the weight of whatever story heats up right after it. If news coverage focuses on only one thing at a time, it hurts the public's ability to make reasoned and informed choices on important issues. Even CNN's Bob Franken admits that "we in the media can only over-cover one story at a time." Trouble is, most of the really important stories can't be wrapped up in simple sound bites. When all eyes are focused on the latest media-driven missing woman story, important things like the Downing Street Minutes, the Rove leak, the Bolton recess appointment (which will surprise no-one), the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and the Pentagon's missed deadline to provide detailed troop numbers for Iraq continue unnoticed and, sometimes, vanish without so much as a squeak.
When The White House Has Something To Hide Former Sen. Fred Thompson, who also portrays DA Arthur Branch in the Law & Order series, has been assigned to guide Supreme Court Nominee John Rogers through the nomination process. Thompson said the White House is likely to refuse requests from the Senate Judiciary Committee to review documents drafted by Roberts during his time in the Reagan and Bush I administrations. This White House likes to ignore requests for things it doesn't think is necessary or that, perhaps, might be inconvenient to its case; Bush and friends certainly can't blame critics for being suspicious they might have something to hide. Previous requests for documents related to the 9/11 commission investigation, Cheney's possible influence in Halliburton deals, and John Bolton's secret intercepts have met with resistance, if not outright refusal. Even more recently, photos and other documents related to abuse cases at Abu Ghraib, due this past Friday by a federal court order, were blocked. One thing we've learned in going through this before is that if the White House wants to keep something private, there's a good possibility it's because whatever they're hiding makes them look bad.
