Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Russians aren’t exactly rushing to go home: “Russian officials said Thursday that the Georgian government will not regain control over two breakaway provinces that are at the center of a week-long military conflict, as the Kremlin issued an uncompromising response to U.S. and Western threats over its military incursion deep into the territory of its tiny neighbor.”
* On a related note: “Georgia’s president said Thursday that a column of Russian tanks and other vehicles was moving toward the country’s second-largest city, and that Russian forces already control a third of Georgian territory.”
* McCain’s bluster notwithstanding, don’t expect U.S. troops in Georgia. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told reporters in a briefing this morning: “I don’t see any prospect for the use of military force by the United States in this situation. Is that clear enough?”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/48242.html
* McCain has been blaming Russia for the conflict, but now he seems confused about who’s responsible.
* A change at the top in Pakistan: “Faced with desertions by his political supporters and the neutrality of the Pakistani military, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, an important ally of the United States, is expected to resign in the next few days rather than face impeachment charges, Pakistani politicians and Western diplomats said Thursday.”
* Inflation: “Consumer prices shot up in July at twice the expected rate, pushed higher by surging energy and food costs. The latest surge left inflation running at the fastest pace in 17 years.”
* More important than inflation: “The Labor Department also reported that workers’ average weekly earnings declined by 0.8% in July and 3.1% over the last year, even after adjusted for inflation.”
* More discouraging economic news: “U.S. foreclosure activity in July rose 55 percent from a year earlier as a slump in once-sizzling housing markets forced yet more borrowers to default on their mortgages, according to a monthly report.”
* Let’s not tell Lou Dobbs: “In a few decades, all Americans will be minorities.”
* Let’s all thank the president for not vetoing this: “President Bush on Thursday signed consumer-safety legislation that bans lead from children’s toys, imposing the toughest standard in the world. The new law prohibits lead, beyond minute levels, in products for children 12 or younger. Lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and children’s items last year
, many from China. Both houses of Congress approved the bill by overwhelming margins two weeks ago.”
* China tried to deal with its smog problem before the Olympics … so expect consumer goods to cost more for a while.
* Good: “The AFL-CIO and several union-friendly groups filed a formal complaint against Wal-Mart on Thursday, charging that the retail giant is pressuring employees to vote against Sen. Barack Obama. Citing a Wall Street Journal report, the complaint accuses Wal-Mart of pushing its workers to oppose Obama (D-Ill.), who supports a measure that would allow workers to form unions without a secret-ballot election. The complaint calls on the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate whether Wal-Mart has broken federal election laws.”
* After Sean Hannity argued on the air that those who are unfaithful to their spouses don’t deserve the public’s trust, Alan Colmes mentioned that John McCain is an admitted adulterer. First, this caused Hannity to go completely berserk. Second, good for Alan Colmes.
* Where do the Republicans find these clowns? “Wow, talk about taking right-wing attacks against Dems on Iraq to the next level. At a debate in New Mexico for the open GOP-held Second District late last week, Republican nominee Ed Tinsley accused his Dem opponent Harry Teague of wanting to cut the throats of American troops in Iraq.”
* Some right-wing voices are insisting that George Clooney has advised Obama on foreign affairs. In case you have a crazy uncle who emails you about this, please know that this nonsense has already been debunked.
* Happy Birthday, Social Security. Here’s hoping McCain doesn’t get the chance to privatize you.
* After all that we’ve learned lately, why would Jerome Corsi go on a “pro-White” right-wing radio show?
* Alan Greenspan, not a mensch.
* And finally, a right-wing member of Congress, Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho), apparently believes we can get oil from trees. And people wonder why we don’t take House Republicans seriously on policy issues.
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.