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RFK Jr -President Obama should go to Appalachia

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T22:30:18-04:00

Suppose a logging firm was tearing the cherry trees from around the Jefferson Memorial. Do you think anyone would notice? Suppose local trash haulers decided the National Mall would make an excellent land fill, construction firms decided to tear down the Washington Monument for building material, or a parking lot was planned for the site of the Vietnam Memorial. Do you think President Obama might step outside before that tower of white marble was dragged down? Would he intervene before over
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Colin Powell: The GOP Still Has a Problem With Racism

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T22:00:33-04:00

You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player! clMediaLoader.loadEmbed("89030045a","video","dp=2009/07&mid=8903&controller=video&model=flv&movieLength=349.417&mediatitle=Colin+Powell%3A+The+GOP+Still+Has+a+Problem+With+Racism&embedkey=&nodelink=http://crooksandliars.com/heather/colin-powell-gop-still-has-problem-with-racism&lup=1246834344&ar=0.75",400,336);
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The GTL? Sunday Guest Column ? ?P.D.D. ? Politically Depressed Disorder? By Christopher L. Doster

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T21:31:03-04:00

GTL? Sunday Guest Columnist: Author And Moderately-Right-Of-Center Political Pundit, Christopher L. Doster Weighs In Again On Government-Funded Healthcare And The Dumbing Down Of America Via Prescription Drugs With A Little Bit Of Help From The Mainstream Media…P.D.D. ? ?Politically...This is only a comment summary. Visit http://guntotingliberal.com to view the lastest content complete with some of the most outrageous original photoshops in the political blogosphere!
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Gaza - Some Things Never Change

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T21:30:17-04:00

Last week, a UN commission held hearings in Gaza, listening for two days as residents described their experience during the Israeli attack six months ago. The stories are horrific ? but so are current conditions. Meanwhile, the aid money promised by the US has yet to be seen.
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President Zelaya Blocked from Return to Honduras

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T21:00:38-04:00

Amidst the nonstop Michael Jackson coverage, CNN is reporting that President Zelaya of Honduras has been blocked from landing at the Tegucigalpa airport by military forces and planes.
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Serial Killer in South Carolina

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T21:00:34-04:00

South Carolina residents have been riveted by the unstable behavior of their Governor Mark Sanford, but they have other things to be very nervous about and they should be.Terrified residents canceled Fourth of July plans and holed up in their homes Friday as investigators hunted a serial killer believed to have shot four people to death.--Plenty of evidence links the killings, though officials have not yet determined how the victims are connected or if they knew whoever shot them, said Cherokee
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Pique the Geek 20090705: The Art and Science of Fireworks

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:53:08-04:00

Since yesterday was Independence Day and many of us saw a fireworks display, shot off our own fireworks, or both, I thought it would be timely to describe how fireworks actually work. All fireworks have one thing in common: they give off heat from some sort of chemical reaction.Most fireworks also give off light, and most also emit some sort of sound. Notable exceptions to this are sparklers which have little sound, smoke "bombs", and the large set pieces that display shapes
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Did Biden Give Israel The Green Light To Bomb Iran?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:32:00-04:00

It's important to read the full text of what Vice President Biden told George Stephanopoulos this morning:STEPHANOPOULOS: And meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it pretty clear that he agreed with President Obama to give until the end of the year for this whole process of engagement to work. After that, he's prepared to make matters into his own hands.Is that the right approach?BIDEN: Look, Israel can determine for itself -- it's a sovereign nation -- what's in their interest and what
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Honduran Crisis

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:29:00-04:00

NYTimes: As the ousted Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, headed by plane toward Honduras Sunday evening, huge crowds of his supporters clashed with soldiers and riot police at the airport as the interim government vowed to prevent him from landing. As all of Honduras stood in suspense, the interim president, Roberto Micheletti said he was willing to negotiate with the Organization of American States . . . I do not know what Micheletti has in mind but it might be this - offer to reinstate
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Sarah Palin Clarifies Reasons for Resignation

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:13:00-04:00

Please join me in welcoming Gov. Sarah Palin as she guests posts at Jesus General once again -- JCOk, there's been a lot of speculation in the liberal, secular press about why I decided to set the State of Alaska free. Some are saying it's because I'm under investigation for getting my house built for next to nothing in return for granting construction contracts. Those people are wrong, and I'm going to sue anyone who repeats it.I'm also going to sue anyone who brings up the possibility that
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Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Broder; Says Sanford Critics Should MYOB

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:00:49-04:00

David Broder in the Washington (Republican Propaganda) Post:The saga of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and his Argentine romance has been such ripe fodder for the gossip mills that the essential governmental question has almost been forgotten.Whether Sanford can resolve the mess he has made of his personal life is of little concern to anyone but the people involved.But when he disappeared for five days, telling no one in his administration or even his security detail where he had gone, he did
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The Contents of the Fitzgerald-Cheney Interview, Annotated Edition

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T20:00:28-04:00

An annotated version of all the information DOJ doesn't want you to see in Cheney's interview with Fitzgerald--and where that information already exists in public form.
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Bubbles and Bids

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:58:33-04:00

The inner workings of stock and bond exchanges may appear more confusing than hive of bees, but for the most part they’re really just a jazzed up version of the iconic rapid fire auctioneer standing on the block hawking everything from cheap furniture to priceless works of art. That’s basically what a market maker-- referred to below as a specialist -- on a stock exchange does except the specialist will sell or buy. The difference between the bid offered to sellers and the
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Today?s politics has passed Broder by

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:52:39-04:00

Thankfully, we have left the era of Reagan and have started something completely new. �I don’t think that it is the New Deal either. �I think that this is a new progressivism. �I might be wrong but I know that the era of corporatists is over. �David Broder has yet to notice that America has [...]ShareThis
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Today?s Political Scene Has Passed By Broder

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:52:39-04:00

Thankfully, we have left the era of Reagan and have started something completely new. �I don’t think that it is the New Deal either. �I think that this is a new progressivism. �I might be wrong, but I do know that the era of corporatists is over. �David Broder has yet to notice that America [...]ShareThis
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Al Sharpton attacks media for Michael Jackson coverage

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:52:08-04:00

Watch video of Al Sharpton lashing out at the main stream media for it’s coverage of Muchael Jackson after his death by clicking the link below:http://www.letstalkhonestly.com/blacknewsblackviews.html
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Federer Wins #15

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:30:52-04:00

Roger Federer wins his 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon. First, let me congratulate Andy Roddick, who played a whale of a match. In the past, he seemed to have some mental problems. He would make a couple of bad shots, he would get down on himself and he would over hit and beat himself. [...]ShareThis
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Federer wins #15

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:30:52-04:00

Roger Federer wins his 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon. First, let me congratulate Andy Roddick. He played a whale of a match. In the past, he seemed to have some mental problems. He would make a couple of bad shots, he would get down on himself, he would over hit and beat himself. That [...]ShareThis
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Limits On Short Selling Are Not Enough

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:00:59-04:00

It might be nice to exercise a bit more control over short selling, but credit default swaps are much more dangerous to all of us.
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Teachers Discover There's No Such Thing As A Recession-Proof Job

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:00:47-04:00

This Wall St. Journal article also says that despite the cutbacks in teaching jobs even for programs like Teach for America, the number of students working toward teaching certifications is rising:Jacqueline Frommer thought her career path was set when she landed her dream job last summer teaching fourth grade in Pompano Beach, Fla. Last month, she got laid off. Ms. Frommer, 25 years old, said in college she was told teaching was among the steadiest jobs around. Now "there is no job security
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Thinking Big-To-Small vs. Thinking Small-To-Big

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T19:00:00-04:00

I'm a radical. I have an abiding interest in understanding and attacking problems at their roots. From my point of view, the value of liberalism is that it codifies and institutionalized the great radical struggles and achievements of the past-what once were "untkinkable", such as the abolition of slavery, or the attainment of legal equality for women.Much of what we take for granted is never seriously questioned. And much of that is simply false. Fortunately, much of
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A Dark Symbol

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T18:54:00-04:00

Barry Wingard represents Fayiz Mohammed Ahmed al-Kandari, a Kuwaiti who has been detained at Guantanamo for seven years. While Kandari is no longer subjected to "enhanced interrogation techniques," his life hasn't otherwise improved since President Obama ordered Gitmo's closing. It has, in fact, worsened in some respects. Fayiz reports that a small number of military guards have begun to punish any detainee resistance or infraction, even minor ones such as talking back or hanging
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Palin's Hypocrisy

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T18:50:00-04:00

I have very much disagreed with my co-bloggers on the coverage of Sarah Palin generally, and specifically since her announced resignation. But I think Open Left has the goods on Palin's hypocrisy on media criticism: A fair question for Governor Palin would be - do you admit you were wrong in your prior comments about media criticism of Hillary Clinton? Cuz she was. Speaking for me only
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This Week; In Memoriam

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T18:20:00-04:00

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The Election of Al Franken and The Minnesota Supreme Court Decision

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T18:02:22-04:00

After what is surely one of the longest elections in American history, the Democrats got what they wished for when the Minnesota Supreme Court decided that comedian Al Franken had won the Minnesota Senate election for the seat formerly held by the late Paul Wellstone.I cry no tears for Norm Coleman. He is only in [...]
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A Nice Game of Chess

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:57:39-04:00

The date: July 31, 1991 The place: Moscow The players: George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev Mr. Gorbachev had this to say: Mr. President, in recent months and weeks, the Kremlin, a symbol of our nation's centuries-old history, has been the scene of events that will shape this country's future. Tomorrow it will witness another such event, the signing of the treaty on the reduction of strategic offensive arms. It is more than just a major step in the process of disarmament. It is a sign of
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Biden: US Ok With Israel Bomb, Bombing Iran

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:34:00-04:00

I thought this post from Digby might be of interest: Is it just me or were Joe Biden's comments on Stephanpoulos this morning somewhat ... uhm ... startling? Plunging squarely into one of the most sensitive issues in the Middle East, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. suggested on Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israeli military action aimed at the Iranian nuclear program. . . . What was funny to me was Biden's explanation - "Israel can determine for itself
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What Texas Dem Said: Alcoholism As Metaphor For America's Crises And Obama's Leadership Failure

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:30:00-04:00

In comments to my earlier diary, "Bill Moyers Journal: 'Justice Is Nothing But Love With Legs'", user texas dem wrote a comment so powerful, I just had to frontpage it. It begine by quoting from a portion of the transcript excerpts I included, and continues on the jump:The metaphor this reminded me of: BILL MOYERS: Why do you think that is?SERENE JONES: I think one of the reasons that it happens is that we are living in a very overwhelming time. And it's always going to be the case that a
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Krugman Says Al Franken's Big Secret Is: He's A Policy Wonk

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:20:00-04:00

I just loved this little tidbit from Paul Krugman this morning:David Broder has a column this morning calling for bipartisanship. I know, you?re shocked. But what struck me was this bit about Al Franken:Franken, the loud-mouthed former comedian, will be the 60th member of the Senate Democratic caucus ?Two points.First, implicit in this characterization of Franken is the notion of the Senate as a decorous gentlemen?s club. I doubt that club ever existed in reality; but in any case, these days
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New disturbing comments from Chairman of Joint Chiefs on DADT

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:18:00-04:00

Joe and I are both going to be writing much more about this tomorrow. But in a nutshell, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was asked about Don't Ask Don't Tell today. His response? Read it for yourself.Mullen appeared to be distancing himself from Obama and the possible repeal of the policy. He talked about the impact lifting the ban would have on military families - and not in a good way. This is a new excuse, and doesn't even make any sense. Mullen also talked about
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FDL Book Salon Welcomes Eric Lotke, 2044: The Problem Isn?t Big Brother. It?s Big Brother, Inc.

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T17:00:11-04:00

The world Eric Lotke has created in 2044 is a progressive's nightmare. Almost every exasperating trend we see today has been extrapolated to its logical extreme: Mindless fear of terrorism is used to manipulate the populace. Giant conglomerates control the economy, the news media, the government, and even the cops. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are ruthlessly crushed by cutthroat pricing, lawsuits, and police brutality. There are no unions in sight, and employees have no rights or
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Honduras: The Oligarchy Strikes Back

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:58:43-04:00

A major confrontation approaches. Or does it? The New York Times breathlessly reports the drama in the air:Honduras' exiled president took off for home in a Venezuelan jet in a high-stakes attempt to return to power, even as the interim government told its military to turn away the plane.Zelaya won wide international support after his ouster a week ago by the military, but the only prominent escort aboard his plane was the U.N. General Assembly president after Latin American leaders
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"Loose Lips" Biden Strikes Again

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:54:00-04:00

If anyone abetted Iranians' brave and often breathtaking defiance of the immoral and anti-republican rot in the "Islamic Republic" of Thugatollah Ali Khamenei last month, it was Barack Obama. George W. Bush strengthened the regime by offending Iranians' national pride. Obama moved them differently in his March 19 Persian New Year address and his June 4 Cairo speech, eight days before Iran's elections. "The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the
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Joe "Loose Lips" Biden Strikes Again

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:54:00-04:00

Wallace let Boehner falsely claim no stimulus contracts awarded in Ohio

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:45:23-04:00

During the July 5 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace let stand House Minority Leader John Boehner's false claim that "[i]n Ohio, the infrastructure dollars that were sent there months ago," as part of the economic recovery package, "there hasn't been a contract let, to my knowledge. And the fact is is that I don't believe it will create jobs." In fact, in a June 15 update on the state's stimulus spending, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) stated,
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Bill Kristol Defends His 'Heartthrob' Sarah Palin's Decision to Step Down

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:20:00-04:00

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Midday Open Thread

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:08:33-04:00

Sarah Palin and her attorneys are threatening lawsuits against any media outlets speculating about investigations into financial improprieties relating to the Palins and the Wasilla Sports Complex. In related news, Alaska's FBI spokesperson says there is no FBI investigation of the Governor. Meanwhile, Levi Johnston is said to be shopping a tell all book. Appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, Chuck Schumer guaranteed a public option in the final version of a health care bil. Discussion of the
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Weekend News Digest

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T16:04:16-04:00

Weekend News Digest is an Open ThreadFrom Yahoo News Top Stories1 Obama heads to Moscow for "reset" summitBy Matt Spetalnick, ReutersSun Jul 5, 4:09 am ETWASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama heads to Moscow on Sunday promising a far-reaching effort to "reset" U.S.-Russia relations that hit a post-Cold War low under the Bush administration.Obama is expected to clinch summit deals on the outlines of a new nuclear arms pact and improved cooperation in the Afghan war effort, but
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Are We Seeing Monsters?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:57:01-04:00

I've always liked 'The Twilight Zone' (few people would be surprised!). Rod Serling was one of the most creative television writers of the 50's and 60's. His creation of this television series and genre showed that T.V. could be more than mindless escapism; he was one of a number of writers who demonstrated that this new medium could be something challenging and thought provoking. As an adult, watching these reruns, I began to see these programs as morality plays that gave more and more insight
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Steve McNair Dead at 36 (Update)

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:56:25-04:00

Latest updates below - To me, Steve McNair did what he was supposed to do.� He stayed out of trouble.� As everybody knows, he played football for the Tennessee Titans. He was strong. He was tough. He learned the game. Today, when so many athletes can’t wait to get in front of a microphone and [...]ShareThis
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Beyonce Is Truly a Fierce Diva

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:44:36-04:00

This past Wednesday night, Beyonce graced the stage of Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA. I?ve never seen Beyonce in concert so I was totally excited to see Ms. Sasha Fierce perform.I must admit I was actually surprised that the arena seemed to be sold out. Being that the tickets were pretty costly, many [...]ShareThis
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Continued Absence

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:41:55-04:00

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I'm coping with some rather painful medical problems that may or may not be treated this month and my current condition makes it a stretch for me to even complete my "day" job. I'm not sure when I'll be back to blogging. It really depends on whether the doctors think they can fix me up and when that would happen. Trust me, I'd much rather be blogging than wincing.
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Cap'N Cruch: FAA Again Admits There's No Need For Redesign

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:38:00-04:00

Aviation Daily: FAA Proposes One-Year Extension Of Flight Caps At JFK And NewarkThe FAA has tentatively decided to extend its cap on peak-hour flights at New York Kennedy and Newark airports through October 2010 while it continues to look for the ?appropriate long-term solution? to congestion at the airports.The hourly CAPacity at the airports ?has not increased significantly? since the FAA issued its original order last May, the FAA said, and without the operational limitations the
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You Are Here: In the Pit of a Depression

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:30:20-04:00

Read it and weep optimists. A month ago the "green shoots" narrative was all over. Those "green shoots" have been eaten by the panda, and squashed flat by speculators in resources. It is time for Congress to wake up, and smell the depression.
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The great food waste

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:30:00-04:00

Thanks to reader Cat who found a fascinating read in the Financial Times about the massive waste in the Big Food industry. Actually, if anything it's the larger businesses that have refined the art of maximizing their food but even still, the numbers are shocking. As I've mentioned many times before, Joelle and I always are checking the shelves for special prices on food that needs to move. Some foods last much longer than the listed dates (quality yogurt comes to mind) but the freezer
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Know what time it is when you outsmart your lawyer?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:25:51-04:00

Time to get a new lawyer.That old joke was the first thing I though about when I learned that Sarah Palin's lawyer - no Steve Schmitt, he - had fired off a letter warning media to leave Sarah alooooonnneee!!!Alaska-based attorney Thomas Van Flein fired off a four-page screed that essentially amounted to telling the press to back off, or else, shrieking in what I can only imagine is his very best Sarah-voice "To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska Blogger Shannyn Moore, are
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Obama goes to Moscow

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:25:33-04:00

He leaves tonight. His schedule for Monday:The President and the First Lady will arrive in Moscow in the afternoon. The President will then participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Russian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President will then meet privately with President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin. President Obama and President Medvedev will then hold a working meeting. In the evening, President Obama and President Medvedev will hold a joint press conference at the Kremlin.
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The Continuing Saga of Sarah

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:12:00-04:00

Click on image to view complete Lyle Lahey cartoon.
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Fox News: Huckabee and Rove Admit Palin's Move Raises More Questions

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T15:00:51-04:00

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Palin 2008: Clinton Whining About Media Criticism "Does Herself A Disservice To Even Mention It"

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:45:00-04:00

Once again, the one thing conservatives really believe in: double standards!
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"Randy Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis (1922): Chapter XVIII

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:36:00-04:00

http://www.americanliterature.com/SinclairLewis/Babbitt/Babbitt.htmlAmerican Literaturehome authors books short stories SHORT STORY OF THE DAY children?s section storeLibrary � SINCLAIR LEWIS � BABBITT ? now reading, CHAPTER XVIIIPrevious Chapter Next ChapterCHAPTER XVIIICHAPTER XVIIIITHOUGH he saw them twice daily, though he knew and amply discussed every detail of their expenditures, yet for weeks together Babbitt was no more conscious of his children than of the buttons on his
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Sarah Palin: Quitting is Patriotic

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:30:30-04:00

Abandoning your post for no good reason while patting yourself on the back and framing the whole thing as some sort of selfless, patriotic act isn't narcissistic. It's pathological.
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Death and Creation

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:25:00-04:00

We have seen a lot of death lately, Farrah, Michael, Karl Malden, Billy Mays, Steve McNair, Sarah Palin's political career, John Ensign's political career, Sanford's political carer, the Republican Permanent Majority, The Republican Party's Ideology, the Republican Party, the Iranian clerics hold on the People of Iran, Newspapers, death at Disneyworld... Heck, The Dead are even on tour/The purpose of death, of course, is to make way for new life, for creation.We are in a transition period
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Sunday Open Thread

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:22:00-04:00

Heat in the south is being mitigated by storms, but the rest of the country seems to be enjoying sunny, pleasant weather. You probably have better things to do than reading a blog, but if not, here's an open thread. It's open to all topics, but lets throw out a rhetorical question for starters: what kind of jerk boards an airplane, stranding his newlywed wife in an airport in Malaysia, because he thought she was taking too long in the bathroom?
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Fears For The World's Poor Countries As The Rich Grab Land To Grow Food

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:15:24-04:00

from John Vidal, Environment Editor, guardian.co.uk, Friday July 3, 2009(view source)The acquisition of farmland from the world's poor by rich countries and international corporations is accelerating at an alarming rate, with an area half the size of Europe's farmland targeted in the last six months, reports from UN officials and agriculture experts say.New reports from the UN and analysts in India, Washington and London estimate that at least 30m hectares is being acquired to grow food for
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Mess With These Guys, And You Mess With Me.

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:15:00-04:00

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Stability Watch

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:12:00-04:00

Sarah Palin's decision to quit her job as governor was so long planned that her father-in-law was shocked to hear the news -- which he got as an email news alert on his cell phone.
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"Randy Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis (1922): Chapter XVII

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:06:00-04:00

http://www.americanliterature.com/SinclairLewis/Babbitt/Babbitt.htmlAmerican Literaturehome authors books short stories SHORT STORY OF THE DAY children?s section storeLibrary � SINCLAIR LEWIS � BABBITT ? now reading, CHAPTER XVIIPrevious Chapter Next ChapterCHAPTER XVIICHAPTER XVIIITHERE are but three or four old houses in Floral Heights, and in Floral Heights an old house is one which was built before 1880. The largest of these is the residence of William Washington Eathorne, president of the
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Joe Biden: Israel Can Bomb Iran, We Can't Stop Them

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:00:28-04:00

You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player! clMediaLoader.loadEmbed("8895b7a7e","video","dp=2009/07&mid=8895&controller=video&model=flv&movieLength=374.4&mediatitle=Biden%3A+US+won%27t+stop+Israel+attack+on+Iran&embedkey=&nodelink=http://crooksandliars.com/node/&lup=1246807403&ar=0.75",400,336); DOWNLOADS: (83)
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NRCC Tries Some July 4th Fireworks--Ends Up With A Dud

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:00:16-04:00

One important thing happened in the battle for the Balance of Power in Congress this week, and it did not have a damned thing to do with either Sarah Palin or Mark Sanford. The NRCC unleashed a media assault this week, and in so doing tipped their hands both on their target list and their issues agenda as we head into 2010. Last week, by a 219-212 vote, the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which includes cap-and-trade and other goodies. The Republicans, clever as
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Who do these senators think they are anyways?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T14:00:00-04:00

Who the heck does Senator DiFi think she is? Unfortunately, like her fellow U.S. senators, especially her fellow Democratic senators, she seems to think she is one really big cheese.by KenOur friend Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars is normally the most poised and calmly reasoning of commentators, which makes it that much more delicious when she's pushed beyond her breaking point. About two weeks ago the Baroness I mean California Senator Dianne Feinstein accomplished this feat, when she hauled
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Pity Poor Palin ... The 'Victim' Threatens to Sue

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:58:00-04:00

When a public figure like Sarah Palin drops a bombshell resignation on the public without providing a reasonable contemporaneous explanation, the public figure should anticipate that public reactions will include speculation about the reason for her decision. Given the questions Wayne Barrett raised last year about the relationship between materials used to build Palin's house and materials used on state projects by contractors who received lucrative state contracts, it isn't
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Chain Chain Chain: Aviation Hyperlinks 2009

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:40:00-04:00

Check out these new and resurfaced websites and blogs, published by friends of Quiet Rockland and others simpatico to our cause. These URL?s contain good information which may be of assistance to our continuing collective quest to expose and defeat FAA rogue harmful aeromercantilism and
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Failed Models are a Fixture on Wall Street

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:30:52-04:00

The Black Swan explains how Wall Street's models were intellectually flawed. There is no evidence of change. Last year's crash will happen again if things don't change.
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The ‘Kristol Ball’ plots Palin’s long-shot path to the White House.

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:30:00-04:00

This morning on Fox News Sunday, Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol reaffirmed his “contrarian” take on Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) recent decision to quit. The “Kristol Ball” argued that Palin is now “all in” for a “high risk” presidential run. Depending on her “talents and abilities” Kristol used a strained comparison to President Obama to lay out Palin’s winding road to the White House: KRISTOL: Everyone said [Obama
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Bill Moyers Journal: "Justice Is Nothing But Love With Legs"

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:30:00-04:00

Justice is nothing but love with legs. Justice is what love looks like when it takes social form.When Serene Jones said that on Bill Moyers Journal on Friday, I knew I had to write a diary about the show (trancript here.) Jones is the first female head of Union Theological Seminary, the oldest nondenominational seminary in the United States. As Moyers said, it's "known around the world for applying a progressive Christian critique to politics, economics, and social justice." Jones
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High Broderism and the fine art of 'Concern Trolling'

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:24:30-04:00

Sweet Jesus I am sick of David Broder and his blind fealty to bipartisanship - so long as it is Democrats who are doing the compromising, anyway. Now that the Minnesota Supreme Court has ended the long count on the 2008 Senate race by awarding the seat to Al Franken, Democrats -- at least on paper -- have the power to pass whatever bills they want, without a single Republican vote. Nothing would be a bigger mistake. Franken, the loud-mouthed former comedian, will be the 60th member of the
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Californians Speak Out Against Death Penalty

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:07:00-04:00

The inaptly named California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (what rehabilitation would that be?) was forced to propose new lethal injection procedures and to seek public comment upon them for a 60 day period that ended June 30. By the end of the 60 days, more than 7,000 people had submitted comments to CDCR. Nearly all objected to implementing the regulations. Many called on the CDCR to disclose the costs of carrying out executions, something the CDCR has refused to do even
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Sen. Schumer: "There will be a public option in the final bill."

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:04:00-04:00

The thing about Senator Chuck Schumer is that he's a political creature. All Senators are to some extent, but Schumer sees all things through a political lens. So, when Schumer supports the public option in legislation to reform health care, it makes political sense. And, Schumer not only supports the public option, today, he guaranteed it: The healthcare reform bill that emerges from Congress this year will include a government-run public health insurance option, regardless of the bipartisan
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After Calling Hillary Clinton a Whiner, Palin Blasts Media's "Different Standard"

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T13:00:36-04:00

One day after her rambling resignation speech in Wasilla, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was a no-show for July 4th events in her state. But that didn't stop her from issuing yet another statement on Facebook, attacking the media for the "different standard [it] applies for the decisions I make." As it turns out, it is Sarah Palin who is holding herself to a different standard; in March 2008, she slammed Hillary Clinton for whining about her own treatment at the hands of the press.To be sure,
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Find out how many kids are Homeless in your State

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:57:05-04:00

On this 233rd birthday weekend many of America's youngest aren't doing so well. One of the effects of the bursting economic bubbles, like so many firework chrysanthemums across the sky, is that children are increasingly being exposed to the worst this nation has to offer. The job losses, foreclosures, increased costs and decreased wages are putting kids out onto the streets. In my State of Arizona the number of school aged children now homeless has passed 25,000. That is an 18%
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OK Rep. Responds to Sally Kern

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:53:54-04:00

Sally Kern, who you might know from such hits as "gays are a bigger threat to the US than terrorists" , is it it again. She has been pushing a piece of special legislation called the Proclamation for Morality, which among other things denounces President Obama, blames homosexuals for the economy, and divorce and abortion are apparently causing a downfall of our country.A brave and noble Rep. Ryan Kiesel from Seminole, Oklahoma was a part of a counter-protest of the KernKlan that rallied at
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Oklahoma Representative Responds to Sally Kern

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:53:54-04:00

Sarah Supports Partial-Term Abortion

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:31:00-04:00

Mugs, tees, stickers, etc at The General's Stores
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Sarah Palin, a Dead Parrot, and Scrotal Asymmetry

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:30:04-04:00

What does scrotal asymmetry have to do with Sarah Palin? At first, the answer might seem like a mystery and an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. But the real answer is within our grasp, and it reveals something about the unreality of American politics.
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Sarah Palin, a Dead Parrot, and Scrotal Assymetry

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:30:04-04:00

Endless

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:30:00-04:00

Latest Twitter comment from Gov. Palin ...Critics are spinning, so hang in there as they feed false info on the right decision made as I enter last yr in office to not run again....
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Book reviews: A hit and a miss on the mortgage crisis

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:05:54-04:00

Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown By Edmund L. Andrews W. W. Norton, New York: May 2009 Hardcover, 240 pages, $25.95, 240 pages Gimme Shelter By Mary Elizabeth Williams Simon & Schuster, New York: March 2009 Hardcover, 336 pages, $26.00 If there is anybody who should have avoided the mortgage catastrophe, it is me. As an economics reporter for The New York Times, I have been the paper's chief eyes and ears on the Federal Reserve for the past six years. I watched Alan
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Palin's Lawyer Threatens Bloggers, Media--UPDATED

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:00:25-04:00

During her now 10 month-long media victimization campaign, Sarah Palin has time and again revealed her fundamental misunderstanding of the First Amendment and Americans' free speech rights. Now as she prepares to exit the Alaska Governor's mansion, her confusion - and thin skin - is again on display.On the Fourth of July of all days, Palin's lawyer Thomas Van Flein issued a warning that his client would bring defamation claims against bloggers and media alike speculating on rumors of a
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Palin's Lawyer Threatens Bloggers, Media

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T12:00:25-04:00

Powell Hits Back At Limbaugh: Calling Sotomayor A ‘Reverse Racist’ Is ‘Nonsense’

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:59:00-04:00

Last May, hate radio talker Rush Limbaugh called Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, a “reverse racist,” referring to Sotomayor’s past comment that a ?wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.?Today on CNN, former Secretary of State Colin Powell criticized such comments. Saying that Sotomayor is a “gifted” and an
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"Randy Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis (1922): Chapter XVI

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:52:00-04:00

http://www.americanliterature.com/SinclairLewis/Babbitt/Babbitt.htmlAmerican Literaturehome authors books short stories SHORT STORY OF THE DAY children?s section storeLibrary � SINCLAIR LEWIS � BABBITT ? now reading, CHAPTER XVIPrevious Chapter Next ChapterCHAPTER XVICHAPTER XVITHE certainty that he was not going to be accepted by the McKelveys made Babbitt feel guilty and a little absurd. But he went more regularly to the Elks; at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon he was oratorical regarding the
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Wife And I Happy When Speaking To Each Other And, Also, When Saying Nothing

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:46:22-04:00

When my wife and I go out to dinner, we often bring something to read.We bring newspapers and magazines.Sometimes we bring these things to read and end up talking to each other more than reading.Other times we�discuss what we are reading.Or, there are times when we�go long stretches reading and�don’t say anything to each other.�I’m [...]
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?Activism Doesn?t Have An On/Off Switch?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:45:29-04:00

We've seen people suck up a lot of heavily compromised bills since Obama took office, but I don't think health care is going to be one of them. Rahm will get his chance to screw progressives once again when Panama Free Trade comes up again and immigration doesn't (and good luck with that one, fella -- it could reach around and bite you in the ass). As Kagro says, the "right kind of activism" works. Which means getting involved in the process stage, when you can still have influence, and
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Department of Obvious Questions

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:43:00-04:00

Joe Biden told an interviewer that the Obama administration "misread how bad the economy was." The obvious question: How is that possible? The crappy state of the economy was clear to the rest of the (non-Republican) country, as was the need for an aggressive stimulus package. Only now is the administration realizing that the economy is really really bad?
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Till The End!

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:37:00-04:00

"Halfway through her first term as Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin has done so much for her state and her nation ... Still, there is much left to be done, so let's help Governor Palin continue the job she was elected to do without all these petty distractions."From the presumably soon-to-be-revised 'About' page at the Sarah Palin Legal Expense Fund website. (Thanks to TPM Reader AL for the tip.)
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Sarah for President in 2013 1/2

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:30:00-04:00

Because she can only handle a partial term.Mugs, tees, stickers, etc at The General's StoresAlso: Sarah Supports Partial-Term Abortion
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Progressive Populism--Some Basic Questions Moving Forward

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:30:00-04:00

Last weekend, in the discussion of my diary "The Recovery Myth", I wrote in a comment:my point is that it's generally far easier to take over an existing party with a vibrant reform movement than it is to start a third party. In response, Nancy Bordier replied by bringing up the political social networking tool she's developed, based on a brainstorm she had at a Howard Dean meetup back in the day. I have been working on it for the past five years, during which it has evolved considerably into
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Quiet Rockland Honors Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher P. St. Lawrence

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:24:00-04:00

Chris St. Lawrence is Ramapo NY Town Supervisor and Quiet Rockland's loyal friend.The St. Lawrence family is a Rockland first-family, known for public service and defending the rights of County residents.With this tribute, we thank Chris St. Lawrence and his family, with the hope that we can help continue the work that he and his family started here. We thank Supervisor St. Lawrence and his staff for their courage, and for their leadership and support in the continued fight against FAA's
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Mike's Blog Roundup

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T11:00:00-04:00

The Satirical Political Report: Why Sarah Palin's resignation is DEVASTATING to the GOP.� Naturally, on Independence Day, one day after she quit her job, this narcissist insisted that we pay attention to her on the internet. Newshoggers: Where's my monkey wrench? Seeing the Forest: It Was About The Oil Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog: The Enemy Within?� Raw Dawg Buffalo: united states of entertainment onegoodmove: Buncha kewel links
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Can I Get a Witness?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:59:00-04:00

I'm reading Philip Rucker's Washington Post piece on Sarah Palin's decision to resign her governorship. Supposedly, personal attacks, particularly attacks on her children, played a major role in her decision to step down. But can we still bring up the fact that most of the supposed 'attacks' on Palin's family and children were self-generated efforts to use her children to garner more publicity and keep herself in the spotlight? The infamously silly Letterman incident being only the most
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Palin threatens to sue media outlets for publication of investigation rumors.

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:58:00-04:00

In the wake of her resignation speech on Friday, Max Blumenthal reported for The Daily Beast that Sarah Palin may have quit her job in order to avert a major, yet-to-be-disclosed corruption scandal. Blumenthal explained that “political observers in Alaska are fixated on rumors that federal investigators…[are] searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the well-connected company in exchange for gifts like the construction of their
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'We misread how bad the economy was'

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:56:00-04:00

(Visualize me sitting at my desk slapping me head in disbelief.) I guess this explains why Obama chose the business-as-usual economic team that he chose though it also provides some insight into how misguided he has been on the key issue of the day according to him and his team. Obama campaigned hard on this subject yet he still had no idea. How do you not force change (or give people the boot) with such a critical miscalculation? What Biden is saying is that the Obama economic experts were
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Being cute at trans-expense

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:55:33-04:00

We all make excuses for our behavior, particularly if we know we’re being just plain wrong. Whether under the guise of being ironic or sassy, I’ll cop to some jokes that I’d rather not be known as part of my public repertoire (except for anything to do with Sarah Palin because I really do hate [...]
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Sarah Palin?s Second Chance

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:54:36-04:00

“There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we’re investigating her or getting ready to indict her,” Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s just not true.” He added that there was “no wiggle room” in his comments for any kind of inquiry. - Sarah Palin not under FBI investigation, [...]
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A little Sunday Jazz

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:52:00-04:00

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SCOTUS: Compare GOP Stall On Alito and CAP With Full Disclosure On Sotomayor and PRLDEF

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:30:15-04:00

Remember the whole "Is he or isn't he?" brouhaha over Alito's membership in "Concerned Alumni for Princeton (CAP)?" With it's subsequent Mrs. Alito subtle moment in the sobby spotlight during the Alito confirmation hearings? The one that Sen. Lindsey Graham conveniently engineered to bring out the bad news about CAP's racist tendencies while attempting to make Alito look more sympathetic to the public, despite his creepy opening statement?
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"Randy Babbitt" by Sinclair Lewis (1922): Chapter XV

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:17:00-04:00

http://www.americanliterature.com/SinclairLewis/Babbitt/Babbitt.htmlAmerican Literaturehome authors books short stories SHORT STORY OF THE DAY children?s section storeLibrary � SINCLAIR LEWIS � BABBITT ? now reading, CHAPTER XVPrevious Chapter Next ChapterCHAPTER XVCHAPTER XVHIS march to greatness was not without disastrous stumbling.Fame did not bring the social advancement which the Babbitts deserved. They were not asked to join the Tonawanda Country Club nor invited to the dances at the
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Has Wal-Mart Really Changed Sides In The Health Care Reform Battle? Will They Crack The Whip On Blanche Lincoln?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T10:00:00-04:00

In this morning's L.A. Times David Lazarus confides confusion that one of the country's most politically reactionary corporations, Wal-Mart, is taking a pro-health care reform stance. "It's not clear what the retailer's motives may be," he writes, "nor does it truly matter. Wal-Mart is to be commended for taking a stand-- something far too many businesses have been reluctant to do." Wal-Mart is also one of the country's most hated corporations. They sell cheap slave-labor products, primarily
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A Brief History of Fireworks

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:57:20-04:00

Warm summer skies were lit up this weekend by the rocket's red glare as Americans once again celebrated our Independence Day. Watching red and green fireballs bloom in front of a fat, low hanging moon last night, I remarked to Mrs. DS that those brilliant fireworks had come a long way, since they remade the world. Alas, she wasn’t interested in soiling a patriotic moment with the science and history of pyrotechnics. But I gather you will be! Way back in the gloomy days of the 13th
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Policing the Baltimore Police

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:51:00-04:00

The former head of Internal Affairs at the Baltimore Police Department, Joann Branche, says "the department is rife with corruption and turns a blind eye to bad officers patrolling the streets." Branche was fired in April for allegedly backdating documents so that disciplinary charges (which must be filed within a year of the alleged misconduct) would appear to have been timely filed. The president of the black police officers' union claims that Branche allowed charges against white
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Children of the Incarcerated Paying a Steep Price

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:43:00-04:00

Another legacy of the War on Drugs and the punitive lock-em-up mentality of the get tough on crime crowd is coming home to roost: Children of the incarcerated. Federal data shows that 1.5 million kids have a parent in prison. Usually it's the father: The chances of seeing a parent go to prison have never been greater, especially for poor black Americans, and new research is documenting the long-term harm to the children they leave behind. Recent studies indicate that having an
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Your Abbreviated Pundit Round-up

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:42:44-04:00

Sunday, a day for lazy summer opinionating. Maureen Dowd: Sarah Palin showed on Friday that in one respect at least, she is qualified to be president. Caribou Barbie is one nutty puppy. Usually we don’t find that exquisite battiness in our leaders until they’ve been battered by sordid scandals like Watergate (Nixon), gnawing problems like Vietnam (L.B.J.), or scary threats like biological terrorism (Cheney). Frank Rich: But for all this rhetorical thunder,
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CNN's Kurtz and Thompson Criticize The Amount of Michael Jackson Coverage

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:30:18-04:00

You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player! clMediaLoader.loadEmbed("887714afa","video","dp=2009/07&mid=8877&controller=video&model=flv&movieLength=385.64&mediatitle=CNN%27s+Kurtz+and+Thompson+Criticize+The+Amount+of+Michael+Jackson+Coverage&embedkey=&nodelink=http://crooksandliars.com/heather/cnns-kurtz-and-thompson-criticize-amount-media&lup=1246639018&ar=0.75",400,336);
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WaPo?s Katharine Weymouth STILL Doesn?t Renounce Pay2Play

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:30:04-04:00

Katharine Weymouth's apology to readers still doesn't renounce the practice of selling lobbyists access to lawmakers in her living room.
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Quiet Rockland Thanks Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, And Orangetown Board Members Marie Manning, Nancy Low-Hogan, Denis Troy And Mike Maturo

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:30:00-04:00

Quiet Rockland again thanks Orangetown Supervisor, Honorable Thom Kleinerand his fellow 4 other Members of the Orangetown, NY Town Board:Honorable Marie Manning, Honorable Nancy Low-Hogan,Honorable Denis Troy,and Honorable Mike Maturo,for their continued leadership, support, and friendship in the continuing fight against FAA's ill-conceived "NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign". A sample of one of the Orangetown Town Board's initiatives in alliance with Quiet Rockland's efforts, appears
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PHOTO CAPTION RESULTS!

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:30:00-04:00

I apologize for taking so long to decide on a caption/comment but I have finally made up my mind, and it's no surprise: I WON! YAHOO! I am so fucking awesome! Damn! Just kidding. Seriously, I liked all of the captions you all gave me, but in the end I couldn't really seal the deal so it ended up as a three-way tie between the captions supplied by Matt, Poietes and Skyewriter. Also, with my bad personal habits and the fickle nature of my muse I don't think I'll be able to write a post based on
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Why aren?t republicans reaching out to African American Voters?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:25:28-04:00

Hi my name is George Cook. I am an African American writer and blogger. I am also the author of a new eBook for the Amazon Kindle Talk Honestly: One Black Man’s Thoughts available here� http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002E19JKU�I have ran in elections once as an Independent and just this year as a Democrat. Since my towns elections [...]
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Why Is A White Supremacist Leading The Charge Against Sotomayor IN THE SENATE?

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T09:00:00-04:00

I was going to write a diary about this. But then I came across this clip from Rachel Maddow, from a show that I somehow had missed. It hits all the high points I had in mind, and I don't have to go searching through archives of the NY Times from the 1980s. Answer to the question I asked: Because that's the way the GOP wants it.[Update on the Flip:] Some detail on his record prosecuting black voter registration activists for "voter fraud" in the 1980s. Back in 2002, when the strange
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Between a ROCK and a License Plate

blogdig.net — 2009-07-05T08:47:24-04:00

The state budget crisis that has been growing steadily for the last two years has had one salutary effect: it has dropped to the bottom of legislators' priority list the unconstitutional proposal for "In God We Trust" license plates.Now a religious group has sued Kentucky to demand not only that the state produce the god-walloping plates, but that it also pay profits from the plate to said freakazoids.A Kentucky anti-pornography group has sued the state Transportation Cabinet and two
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