This is just breathtaking. A [tag]Pentagon[/tag] probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of [tag]Haditha[/tag] will show that U.S. [tag]Marines[/tag] “[tag]killed[/tag] [tag]innocent[/tag] [tag]civilians[/tag] in [tag]cold blood[/tag],” a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday. From the beginning, Iraqis in the town of Haditha said U.S. Marines deliberately killed 15 unarmed Iraqi civilians, […]
It was probably just an innocent mistake, but I found this funny. A set of flashcards designed to help applicants for U.S. citizenship learn basic civics has become one of the most popular items sold by the Government Printing Office. But the $8.50 [tag]flashcards[/tag] — which contain questions and answers from the actual citizenship exam […]
For nearly a year and a half, the [tag]House[/tag] [tag]Ethics Committee[/tag] literally did not function. It did not meet, it did not consider controversies, and it did not appear to be capable of ever working again. No matter how serious a House lawmaker’s scandal, the panel simply would not lift a finger. That is, until […]
Last week, [tag]Fox News[/tag]’ [tag]John Gibson[/tag] urged white people to “get busy” and “make babies.” This week, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly took a firm stand in defense of the “[tag]white[/tag] [tag]Christians[/tag] who hold power” in this country. During the May 16 edition of Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, host Bill O’Reilly claimed that The New […]
At first blush, it might seem like a worthwhile project. [tag]Knowlegis[/tag], a software research firm, released a list this week of congressional “[tag]power rankings[/tag],” which ranked every member of [tag]Congress[/tag], in both chambers, allegedly based on their influence and effectiveness as lawmakers. Unfortunately, the list is almost entirely useless. It’s not political analysis; it’s a […]
For the last several years, [tag]Republicans[/tag], confident in the size and stability of its base, have targeted specific constituency groups who usually vote for Dems — Catholics, Hispanics, seniors — through aggressive outreach and wedge-issue campaigning. This year, Dems are turning the tables a bit. House [tag]Democrats[/tag], trying to capitalize on conservative dissatisfaction with Republicans, […]
I don’t mean to belabor the point, but it just doesn’t make sense that telecommunications companies are denying having cooperated with the NSA on its phone-records database. Think Progress uncovered a presidential memorandum, however, that may shed some light on the subject. Ordinarily, a company that conceals their transactions and activities from the public would […]
This AP story on [tag]Al Gore[/tag] covers relatively familiar ground, but it’s worth considering anyway. Al [tag]Gore[/tag] is running to California, New York, Utah, Washington, France and points in between to promote “An Inconvenient Truth,” a film chronicling his elaborate slide shows to educate people about global warming. But is the former vice president running […]
I understand the point, but this is just odd. New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves — and to be treated by the health care system — as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon. Among other things, this means all women between first […]
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * Yesterday was Primary Day in Kentucky, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Among the interesting results: Gov. [tag]Ted Kulongoski[/tag] (D) and [tag]Ron Saxton[/tag] (R) won Oregon’s gubernatorial primaries; LEO newspaper founder [tag]John Yarmuth[/tag] (D) cruised […]