|
Today’s headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top StoryThe Edwards Effect (by Paul Krugman)
(John) Edwards, far more than is usual in modern politics, ran a campaign based on ideas. And even as his personal quest for the White House faltered, his ideas triumphed: both candidates left standing are, to a large extent, running on the platform Mr. Edwards built… He made a habit of introducing bold policy proposals — and they were met with such enthusiasm among Democrats that his rivals were more or less forced to follow suit. Left ‘Toon Lane
The WorldAt least 64 dead in Baghdad market bombs
BAGHDAD - Two female suicide bombers blew themselves up Friday in separate attacks on Baghdad pet bazaars, killing at least 64 people and wounding dozens, police said. The attacks were the deadliest in the Iraqi capital since 30,000 more American troops flooded into the center of the country last spring.
U.S. casualties rise in Iraq after falling for 4 months
WASHINGTON — The U.S. death toll in Iraq increased in January, ending a four-month drop in casualties, and most of the deaths occurred outside Baghdad or the once-restive Anbar province, according to military statistics. In all, 38 American service members had been reported killed in January by Thursday evening, compared with 23 in December. Of those, 33 died from hostile action, but only nine of them in Baghdad or Anbar.
American Oil companies offered five million dollars to each Iraqi MP to pass the Oil law (Akhbar Alkhaleej newspaper via Information Clearing House)
An Iraqi MP preferred to remain anonymous told the newspaper that highly confidential negotiations took place by representatives from American oil companies, offering $5 million to each MP who votes in favor of the Oil and Gas law. The amount that could be paid to pass the votes do not exceed $150 million dollars in the case of $5 million to each MP, pointing out that the Oil law requires 138 votes to pass, which the Americans want to guarantee in many ways, including vote-buying, intimidation and threats!
Olmert won't resign over war report
JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signaled Thursday that he has no intention of stepping down after an inquiry held his government and the military responsible for the failures of Israel's war against Hezbollah.
3 Pakistani troops killed in attack
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A suicide bomber attacked a military checkpoint in North Waziristan, killing three government soldiers about two miles from the scene of a U.S. missile attack that had killed a top al-Qaida commander, officials said Friday.
Musharraf rejects nuke concerns as Pakistan tests missile: army
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - President Pervez Musharraf accused Pakistan's enemies of spreading fears about the country's atomic weapons, as the military test-fired a nuclear-capable missile, the army said.
Australian troops 'still needed in Afghanistan in 15 years'
Afghanistan will be struggling to secure its southern regions 15 years from now, with Australian troops still needed to combat terrorism, a think tank says. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute says Taliban militants and others seeking to disrupt the democratic Government in Kabul will still be conducting bombings and irregular insurgencies in southern and eastern provinces in 2023.
That wouldn’t be a right-wing think tank, would it?—Caro
Mexico to focus on crimes against women
MEXICO CITY - Mexico has created a new federal position to prosecute violence against women and human exploitation, as rights groups urge the government to do more to investigate the killings of women, especially along the U.S. border.
Teachers ordered to 'police children's lunchboxes'
School lunchboxes could soon be monitored by dinner ladies to ensure children are eating healthy meals, ministers said. Under the (British) Government's obesity strategy, all schools will be expected to design a "healthy lunchbox policy" on what makes a nutritional packed lunch over the next year… If a packed lunch is deemed to contain too much fat and sugar, parents could be sent warning letters or their children's meals confiscated.
Chad army battles rebels, EU deployment delayed
N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chad's army fought to hold off advancing rebels 100 km (60 miles) from the capital N'Djamena on Friday and the renewed combat delayed the deployment of European peacekeepers to the central African country. The NationUnited States' Plan to 'Dominate Space' Could Backfire (Wired)
Mike Moore, author of the recent book Twilight War: The Folly of U.S. Space Dominance, … makes a good case for how the policy of space dominance being pushed among space warriors could actually destabilize space. By aggressively pursuing space weapons, the United States may create the very arms race that world leaders are trying to avoid.
'Appalling Gap' Found in Homeland Defense Readiness
The U.S. military is not prepared to meet catastrophic threats at home, and it is suffering from an "appalling gap" in forces able to respond to chemical, biological and nuclear strikes on U.S. soil, according to a congressional commission report released (Thursday). The situation is rooted in severe readiness problems in National Guard and reserve forces, which would otherwise be well-suited to respond to domestic crises but lack sufficient personnel and training, as well as $48 billion in equipment because of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a report by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves.
More cities to get counterterror money
WASHINGTON - More cities across the country are considered at high risk of a terrorist attack, according to a new list of funding priorities from the Homeland Security Department.
Methodist ministers against Bush library
Some Methodist ministers are making a final yet improbable attempt to stop George W. Bush's presidential library, museum and public policy institute from being built at Southern Methodist University… The opponents say at least one-third of the delegates are against the Bush institute because it will promote his administration's policies that they feel conflict with church teachings.
FBI targets senior bankers in far-reaching sub-prime fraud inquiry
America's Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating senior banking executives for insider dealing and fraud as part of a criminal inquiry into the sub-prime crisis, the agent leading the inquiry said yesterday.
FBI: Students' 'bombs' were fireworks
Two Egyptian college students arrested near a South Carolina Navy weapons station last year were carrying low-grade fireworks, as they claimed, not the dangerous explosives as charged by federal prosecutors, the FBI has determined.
Senate vote on stimulus delayed; battle looms
WASHINGTON — Politics and some tough lobbying by senior citizens combined to derail a planned vote Thursday in the Senate on a stimulus plan to rescue the economy from recession, delaying passage of legislation until next week. Even as Senate leaders announced their delay in voting, phone lines to many Senate offices, such as that of Florida Republican Mel Martinez, were jammed and a large volume of e-mail slowed congressional Web sites. "A chord has been struck," said David Certner, the federal affairs director for the AARP. The 39 million-member lobby for American seniors added its weight to a growing number of complaints from seniors and disabled veterans.
Lawmakers: Extend energy tax breaks
WASHINGTON - Unable to extend tax breaks as part of a broad energy bill two months ago, lawmakers are trying to attach some of them to an emergency economic aid package containing rebates for millions of taxpayers.
Questions fly from judges in closed KBR Iraq cases
A federal appeals panel, meeting behind closed doors Wednesday, heard arguments over whether three cases involving KBR contractors injured or killed in Iraq should be revived and go before juries… In a rare move, the 5th Circuit panel closed Wednesday's hearing to the public, based on KBR's concern that some details involved national security. But (Scott Allen, a Houston lawyer representing one of the workers,) said the move was unnecessary. "After hearing the arguments, I was amazed and somewhat incredulous why the courtroom needed to be closed," he said.
Ohio forecasting pig will opine on economy
CHICAGO (Reuters) - "Darke County Dave," a local hog, will opine -- or oswine -- on America's economic outlook on Friday, the Ohio treasurer's office said. MediaPermanent link to MTA daily media news
I will be a guest on Head-On with Bob Kincaid today at 6:00 PM ET. Listen to Bob from 6:00 to 9:00 PM ET every weekday on the Head-On Radio Network.
MSNBC.com No. 1 Source For Political News Online
In a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, more consumers stated that they got their political news from MSNBC.com than any other online site.
The Debate: Few Sparks, Clinton and Obama Nearly Hug (Editor & Publisher)
The showdown in L.A. that could decide Super Tuesday and the nominee. It's down to a woman and an African-American. They opened on very friendly terms and then what happened? It remained that way and they ended in a near-embrace. But Iraq issue did cause some sparks.
MANO A MANO.... (by Steve Benen, writing at Political Animal, the Washington Monthly)
“CNN just reporting that tickets to tonight's L.A. debate between Hillary and Obama are going for upwards of $1,000 apiece.” Now, I like to think that there's more interest in the presidential campaign this year than in previous cycles, and I'm delighted by the excitement surrounding the Democratic field. But I never thought I'd see the day in which people paid in upwards of $1,000 to see a political debate, which is going to be televised anyway. All of a sudden, I guess it's cool to be a political junkie. I knew if I waited long enough....
The Left will eat itself - a few thoughts about John Edwards and self-loathing among progressives (Jim Booth at Scholars and Rogues)
John Edwards has addressed overtly and directly real issues plaguing our country at this historical moment - the shift toward a class system that the “Repugnacans” have engineered - and their systematic removal of any realistic opportunity for those in the rapidly developing underclass to better themselves… Poll after poll has shown that Edwards would defeat John “I’m a war President, too” McCain in a general election. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama has fared as well… The Democratic Party has (rejected) a candidate whose message has more in common with (FDR, HST, JFK, and LBJ) than either of the remaining candidates. We will soon, I fear, be able to rue our decision at our leisure.
The Abrams Report: Is the Media Making This More of A Horse Race? (by Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars)
(L)et us not forget the media blackout on Edwards and how that impacted his ability to gain traction nor the pundit-declared victory for Obama in New Hampshire before a single vote was counted. Huffington Post’s Roy Sekoff, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell chime in as well.
Greg Sargent has a retrospective of clips showing the Edwards’ battles with the media.
I have been astounded at the recent outpouring of hatred for the Clintons by people who call themselves progressives. It shows how well the right-wing hatemongers have done their work over the last 18 years. It shows how much we need a coordinated progressive media effort, because they will do the same thing to Obama if he’s the Democratic candidate, trust me. And who would be better to lead a coordinated media effort than John Edwards, whose campaign was scuttled from the beginning by the mainstream media? If anyone has a way to get in touch with him, please let me know (caro-at-makethemaccountable.com).—Caro
DISAPPEARED BY BEINART: (by Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler)
(Thursday) morning, Peter Beinart (offers a) blinkered view of the current Dem primaries… (He assured) the world that the Democratic nominee will not be harmed by the recent ballyhooed squabbling… Obama has been cast as the Innocent Party in the squabbles of the past few months—squabbles which have been lovingly flogged throughout the mainstream media. But a Nominee Clinton may be hurt by these overblown events… But readers! What is done by the press corps, gets disappeared by the press corps!
But They Have Editors! (by dday at Hullabaloo)
Jake Tapper ran an insipid article where he claimed that Bill Clinton said "We just have to slow down our economy and cut back our greenhouse gas emissions 'cause we have to save the planet for our grandchildren." I've heard Clinton at least twice say exactly the opposite in long speeches, about how economic growth practically DEPENDS on scaling back greenhouse gas emissions and building a green economy that can be an engine of growth… Jake Tapper falls asleep mid-speech, somebody taps his shoulder and he wakes up hearing a fragment and decides he has a news story he can run with. It's already at the top of Drudge. You're going to hear about this for YEARS.
The Long War (by digby)
(If Democrats) do not run on and then act on (this administration’s) constitutional abuses, they will be used again the next time a Republican is in office (if not sooner) and we will have to fight this battle all over again, having lost a tremendous amount of territory in the meantime… Ask yourself what kind of political movement and party can induce a highly respected former federal judge (Michael Mukasey) to publicly destroy his reputation and his soul to justify torture?... So everyone is going to have to excuse me for not being entirely caught up in all the primary hooplah and continuing to fight the last war instead.
Fox News political contributor Karl Rove.
President Bush’s close political adviser Karl Rove will reportedly be joining Fox News as an on-air contributor to be “used throughout Super Tuesday coverage.”
Glenn Beck’s Rants Against ‘Juan McCain’ Would Not Be Welcome At RedState.com
Discussing (Wednesday) night’s GOP debate on his radio show …, Glenn Beck and fill-in host Pat Gray mocked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by derisively calling him “Juan McCain.” Beck, who considers McCain’s sponsorship of a comprehensive immigration bill and the Mexican background of his national director of Hispanic outreach to be “an audacious slap in the face to the American people,” proudly advertised the segment in his daily e-mail to listeners today… On the conservative community blog RedState.com today, Leon H. Wolf posted a message to “commenters,” that it is “not fine, okay, or within the bounds of the rules” to “use Latino names as an insult.” Wolf says users will be “banned for doing it” at Red State.
Good move, Red State, now how about banning the use of “Billary” and “algore” and other Democrat-phobic names?—Caro Technology & ScienceDestined To Cheat? New Research Finds Free Will Can Keep Us Honest
(Researchers) set out to see if otherwise honest people would cheat and lie if their beliefs in free will were manipulated… The results were clear: those with weaker convictions about their power to control their own destiny were more apt to cheat when given the opportunity as compared to those whose beliefs about controlling their own lives were left untouched.
Top-Rated Hospitals Continue to Deliver Better Care
But analysis calls gap between these and lower-tier facilities 'disappointing'
Medicine From Milk: Gene Therapy Transforms Goats Into Pharmaceutical Factories
ScienceDaily (Feb. 1, 2008) — University of Pennsylvania researchers have used gene therapy to reduce the time it takes to breed large animals capable of producing therapeutic proteins in their milk, such as insulin or those that fight cancer. This represents a significant milestone in drug development, as current methods involve cloning, which takes more time and generally costs more.
Atkins-Like Diet Cuts Epileptic Seizures
High-fat, low-carb plan may work when other treatments fail, study says
Experimental Vaccine Halts Prostate Cancer in Mice
Human trials may start in two years, California researcher says.
Strange New Creature: Giant Shrew or Tiny Elephant?
Sporting a trunk-like nose and a jet-black rump, a new species of a bizarre furry mammal was caught on film as it scuttled along a forest floor in Tanzania.
Scientists Propose Test Of String Theory Based On Neutral Hydrogen Absorption
ScienceDaily (Feb. 1, 2008) — Ancient light absorbed by neutral hydrogen atoms could be used to test certain predictions of string theory, say cosmologists at the University of Illinois. Making the measurements, however, would require a gigantic array of radio telescopes to be built on Earth, in space or on the moon.
Dark Fluid: Dark Matter And Dark Energy May Be Two Faces Of Same Coin
ScienceDaily (Feb. 1, 2008) — Astronomers at the University of St Andrews believe they can "simplify the dark side of the universe" by shedding new light on two of its mysterious constituents.
Well, isn’t un-dark matter just bundled up un-dark energy?—Caro EnvironmentColombia, Costa Rica 'top ten' for environment
Colombia and Costa Rica are among the top ten nations in a ranking of excellence in environmental performance.
Decline in Snowpack Is Blamed On Warming
The persistent and dramatic decline in the snowpack of many mountains in the West is caused primarily by human-induced global warming and is not the result of natural variability in weather patterns, researchers reported yesterday.
UK residential emissions down, but transport emissions continue to rise
LONDON - Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK fell by 0.5 percent in 2005-2006, according to new data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). However the report said the government needs to do more to curb climate change.
A garbage /septage cocktail for fuel.
Here’s a frothy brew you wouldn’t want to put a straw into: a not-so-tasty blend of sewage and garbage. As unappealing as it may seem together the two can cut greenhouse gases, help cleanup water supplies and add a new source of green and endlessly renewable fuel, all with the help of a new patented invention by Viridis Waste Control: Septage Bioreactor Landfill (TM) technology.
Chinese Factory Turns Environmental Bane into Boon
China is beginning to take advantage of an unusual energy source: cow gas. Cows emit a significant amount of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, when they belch and flatulate. According to People’s Daily, the world’s largest cow-dung methane power plant started operation on January 21 in China’s Inner Mongolia region. With an investment of 45 million RMB (roughly $US5.7 million) from the country’s largest milk producer, Mengniu Dairy, the plant is able to supply 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the national power grid.
Airbus begins test-flight programme with alternative fuel
Toulouse, France - European aircraft manufacturer Airbus launched its alternative fuel research programme on Friday when an A380 superjumbo became the first commercial airliner to fly with a synthetic liquid fuel processed from gas, the company said. For more headlines, visit MakeThemAccountable.com.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
