Current Events Monitor

Not that it wasn't obvious from the months of absense in this blog, the CEM is currently on haitus. After having weeks of difficulty with publishing to this and my personal blog, I moved Island Dave's View off blogspot and onto Revise Media's site. Alas, at this time, I do not have the time to put together CEM updates as I have before. However, I have a new model for the CEM which will be debuting over the next couple of months, so stay tuned for it. I may move this blog to Revise as well prior to that. Thanks for reading this blog, your thoughts and kind words have been most appreciated. Please visit my current blog at http://idv.revise.org/index.php .

If you haven't already done so, pop over to BlogShares and see if your blog is listed (it probably is).

Cheers,

Island Dave

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Send a note to the Forest Service in support of our natural forests.

Show your support! Join the Kerry-Edwards campaign.

FEATURED ARTICLES
Jeb Bush is a MFing racist bastard.

Is the Post coming down in favor of gay marriage?...(read again...)Is the Post coming down in favor of gay marriage?...(read again...)

All I can say is: Keep Dahlia, kick Dowd and Friedman out for good, NYTimes.

Eric Alterman blasts PBS for its selection of moronic asshole Tucker Carlson as show host.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Is this a real threat, or simply Pakistan wagging Dubya's dog?

WaPo takes yet another look at Bush's pseudo-fiscal policy.

The Capital Times correctly points out how Kerry stupidly missed a golden opportunity to seperate his foreign policy from the Moron in Chief.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden."
-Buddha

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"That's why you've got to be careful about this rhetoric, we're only going to tax the rich. You know who the -- the rich in America happen to be the small business owners. That's what that means."
-August 9, 2004

BLOG OF THE DAY
Regular readers of the CEM will recognize today's Blog of the Day. Nick Lewis runs Net Politik in the true tradition of an independent, intelligent, and amazingly insightful commentator. One NP feature was even used as a History Lesson entry in these pages, and undoubtedly, Nick's writing will be included in Blogworthy for the forseeable future. If you want fluff commentary or cut-and-paste blogging, don't bother checking Net Politik. But if you are up for insightful and provocative views on a wide-range of social and political subjects, this is a must-read blog.

BLOGWORTHY
Digby takes on the Democrats mediocre media response team.

Joel Caris writes a blistering denouncement of the middle class squeeze that not only threatens our society, but may well destabilize our democracy. You may want to read his previous post on the tax cuts for a more in-depth analysis.

Philip Carter at Intel Dump lambastes Max Boot for his off-the-mark review of General Tommy Frank's glossed-over new book.

Over at The Left Coaster, Steve Soto puts his pimp-hand down on Bush's miserable foreign policies.

What exactly are we bloggers getting ourselves into? Dedurkheim at Rising Hegemon brings an opinion that we all should respect: we do what must be done, that which has not been done well enough to preserve our basic freedoms.

Though not a political entry, oyster at YRHT had me laughing hysterically with this entry.

The protests in Boston were mild and orderly, and for good reason. There isn't much to demonstrate against in the Democratic agenda. But as Steve Bates notes, the GOP convention may well go down as a dirty, freedom-repressing affair. As he says, we're with you New York. We got your back.

Publius at Legal Fiction takes a semantic look at Dahlia's NYTimes post.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
NORML has a list of upcoming marijuana initiatives on the 2004 ballot. See if one is local to you.

Provo editorial calls for end to marijuana overkill.

Cannabis extracts actually shrink brain tumors, yet another reason to end this senseless prohibition.

Neighbors asked to turn in neighbors in Utah.

LINK OF THE DAY
The Poor Man plays poker with Dick Cheney...

SITE OF THE DAY
Come on, faithful CEM readers, show BlogShares some love. It can be quite addicting, plus the index feature allows you to search for blogs in hundreds of categories. Everytime you click (time period, restricted, naturally), I can get 50 text ad impressions on the site for free advertisement.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Ocean Bridge is a serious art site that takes existing photographs and transforms them into hand-painted works in various styles. Being a serious site means expensive work, but for anyone who is an art fanatic, these people can turn your photos, be it friends, family, landscapes, or anything else, into a painting in the style you desire.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Jim Gilliam has put together a long video of the Paul Krugman-Bill O'Reilly debate. It's tough to watch since O'Reilly is such an inept, disgusting ass-clown who couldn't find a fact if it were rammed up his butt. Gilliam has superimposed actual facts over the clip when O'Reilly obviously lies about his information. Again, tough to watch, but pass this one on to your GOP relatives (you know, the ones you don't admit you have) who think Bill O'Lielly is somehow more than a douchebag. (Big thanks to BagnewsNotes)

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to the 1,100 Iraqis who showed up at a provincial meeting to protest the military assault in Najaf. Exercising the true freedoms of democracy, the protestors were able to peacefully bring an amazing shift in policy toward the situation, one which will likely leave American officials scratching their heads in wonderment. While still a fledgling democracy, Iraq is quickly becoming a hotbed of free expression and appropriate outrage at military operations in Najaf and other cities. It is becoming clear that U.S. intervention should diminish quickly as Iraqis, while still existing in political turmoil, must determine their own course of action. This meeting sparks a new belief in the Iraqi people's strength, though a backlash at American soldiers is unfortunately a likely result. Yet another reason to get the hell out of Hell, and bring our boys and girls back home before we lose another one to senseless warfare.

Slaps to John Harris, staff writer for the Washington Post, for showing he knows just how to blow the President when he really needs to take a load off. Harris's fluff piece in Monday morning's edition provides absolutely no news, no information, and basically serves as a Sunday School primary for potential Bush visits. Lets all just grab a beer and sit around with the "shirtsleeves" President as he smirks that Kerry "might change his mind", all the while, our troops fight bloody battles in dozens of Iraqi cities. Amazing how a decent paper such as the Post can employ such a moronic, unintelligent, and clearly non-creative jackass as Harris for a piece which appears on page 2. Oh, wait, then again, this is the Washington Post...should we expect anything else?

My Middle Finger goes once again to U.S. military planners who ignorantly believe killing Sadr will end insurgent and terroristic attacks on American soldiers. As fighting rages on, the U.S. readies for an all-out assault on Najaf in an attempt to slaughter the Cleric's army once and for all. But as pointed out in Claps, there is strong opposition to U.S. actions there, and further violence will only grow the opposition, not diminish it. As was seen with the growth of terrorist cells in Iraq after the American invasion, eliminating a strong, central figure will simply open the door for greater demand for violence. The U.S. must pull back, abandon Najaf for the time being, and allow Iraqis to control their own destiny. We cannot allow our soldiers to sacrifice their lives in a power-struggle over a city rightly claimed by incumbent Iraqi citizens. This senseless, ignorant aggression must end, and it must end now. Sadly, it is not to be...

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
Animal hoarders do far more harm than good.

Net-tangled whale still missing off California coast.

Stamford, CT woman takes in feral cats.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Martin Frost is trying to hold onto a Congressional seat in the recently redistricted 24th in Texas. His new district will be the 32nd, and instead of having an easy coast to reelection, the Tom Delay redistricting scam has caused a group of Representatives, termed in the blogosphere as the Texas-5, to face serious challenges. Frost has been a solid Democrat, and is well liked by his constiuents. The new district includes a much stronger GOP base, and may take a tremendous effort by Frost and his team to remain in the hands of the Democrats.

DAILY PHOTO
God help them make it through this.


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
During this time when the world comes together to compete in friendly competition, lets not forget that tragic day in Munich during the 1972 Olympics when 11 Israeli atheletes were slain by terrorists.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
No BobbleGovernator? Fine, just piss on him instead.

WTF???

Colin Powell being used effectively by White House, captures wanted fugitive single-handed.(this deserves a picture...look at those eyes!)

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Send a strong message to Kerry, Bush, and the Forest Service in support of our natural lands.

The Governator will decide in the next few days on a solar panel project. Lend it your support!

FEATURED ARTICLES
Howard Kurtz gives a moderately tough account of the Post's failure to fully cover war doubts.

We attacked Iraq, a country possessed of no weapons capable of reaching any significant U.S. targets, but allow Iran to develop Israel-reaching missile capabilities. Great planning, Bushit.

Greg Palast wonders if the 2000 election fixers will be attending the Venezuelan elections this weekend.

The Post calls Bush on another flip-flop for reversing positions on detainee Hamdi and negotiating his release.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES

Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor at Slate, makes her guest op-ed debut in the NYTimes.

Bush turns another corner, drops "turning a corner" in the process.

Oil prices may have passed newest price floor as Saudi control wanes in the free oil market.

NYTimes editors watch as Bush paints the economy into a corner...one which he can't turn.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Just what is it that America stands for? If she stands for one thing more than another it is for the sovereignty of self-governing people."
-Woodrow Wilson

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"Tribal sovereignty means that, it's sovereign. It's ... you're a ... you're a ... you've been given sovereignty, and you're ... viewed as a sovereign entity. And, therefore, the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between ... sovereign entities."
-August 6, 2004

BLOG OF THE DAY
Powerful is the most appropriate term for My War: Fear and Loathing in Iraq. This soldier's first-hand blogging is tough to stomach sometimes as you realize how many tens of thousands of our servicemembers face death on a daily basis thousands of miles from home.

BLOGWORTHY
Shankar Duraiswamy caught my eye again with this account of Press Secretary McClellan's tapdance around any direct questions.

At The Talent Show, Greg sums up the scumbag Alexander's last-minute defection.

Philip Carter is doing what he does best: getting the inside story behind the Pentagon inquiries.

Digby takes the high road, calling out a fellow Dem for moronic character assault on McCain.

The economic changes over the past few decades have seen more risk placed on individuals than on government and corporations, so offers Kevin Drum.

Will Brady brings the subject of medical marijuana back to Blogonia over the intentional medicating of children.

And finally, my week would not be complete without a call on the General, today for some water terrorist alert training.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
Pot smoking cop wins temporary court decision; may keep job. Come on, I know there are thousands of deputies and officers who smoke on a daily basis. Stand up for rights: stop arresting marijuana smokers!!!

Minneapolis may be added to the list of localities voting on medicinal marijuana this November.

Legalization advocate gunned down in Mississippi.

LINK OF THE DAY
Most states will have a deadline for voter registration within 30 days of an election. Now is the time to register if you have not already done so. Even more importantly, pester the hell out of your like-minded friends, family, and neighbors. Take election day off. Get Out The Vote!

SITE OF THE DAY
How Stuff Works could easily be filed under the Cool Site heading, but there are so many politically relevant bits of information here that this listing is appropriate. Everything from government systems to elections are covered in summary, along with literally thousands of subjects from technology to religion.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Take a stroll down memory lane at High Times Magazine online...if you're not too stoned, that is.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Crosby-Nash 2004?!?! (thanks to BagnewsNotes)

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to Clifton James for saving the life of a cable employee caught in power lines. James, shoed only in flip-flops ran from his sister's apartment to find the worker entangled in live power lines and in severe pain. The rescuer jumped into the cable van and quickly reversed it out of the power lines. Unaware he could also have been electrocuted, James likely saved the worker who suffered burns across much of his chest. Without panicking, Clifton proved once again that flip-flops are indeed a good thing...:)

Slaps to the Pentagon for treating Halliburton the way the U.N. is treating Sudan. By pointing fingers and threatening the war profiteers over accounting fraud, the Pentagon continues to muddle through a disastrous experiment in military privatization. From private-guarded prisons to privatized security for Iraqi officials, the incorporation of our military system provides more than amble opportunities for abuse. Some is physical abuse, as in Abu Ghraib. Halliburton does it the other way. They financially sodomize our bank accounts, then plead ignorance of the activities. We know the dog didn't eat their accounting homework; he was too busy biting prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

My Middle Finger goes preemptively to U.S. military planners for threatening a massive assault on Najaf. While the killing of U.S. soldiers must stop, an all-out invasion of the city will kill thousands of innocent civilians and likely tens if not hundreds of our own troops. Instead of forcing this issue, we should back off and let Najaf calm down for a bit. Get out of the area, but keep it in containment, allowing humanitarian missions to proceed. The only way to disarm the situation is through kindness and compassion, not murder and destruction. An assault on Najaf will only embolden the simmering fighters in other cities in Iraq, as well as in other Muslim nations. Planners must back off, relax, and reconsider options at this point as the interim government begins to move forward. U.S. assaults will only increase additional violence.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
Teenager's crusade to ban circus animals in Denver defeated by wide margin.

In Tennessee, unwarranted killing of animal could bring felony charge.

Pets come between morons in lust on a regular basis.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Richard Romero is in a tight race for a U.S. House seat from New Mexico's 1st District. Romero is facing incumbent Heather Wilson, who won the first matchup between the two candidates in 2002 by 10%. This race, which looks to be much tighter than the previous, could shift significantly in Romero's favor should Wilson ally Tom Delay face ethics charges.

DAILY PHOTO
How things haven't changed


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
One of the most humane and compassionate movements of human history took place in the 1800's as the informal, loose network of supporters called the Underground Railroad helped relocate escaped slaves in northern lands. If Bush wins this year, we might need to know how to do this properly...

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
Sounds like Beavis and Butthead to me...

Visit "R" Us today!

Extra cream in my coffee, please!

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Protect Hawaii's coral reef system.

NYC residents: Get ready for a NORML event on August 17th.

FEATURED ARTICLES
Iraq is disintegrating by day and terrifying by night.

Economist Robert Reich predicts a pension disaster brought on by congressional apathy.

The Post provides yet another case of a classic Republican being lost from the Bush camp.

The world fiddles while Sudan burns...

Al Jazeera vows to continue Baghdad coverage despite station closure.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Older Americans not impressed with new Medicare changes, confusion and doubts continue.

Vermont wants to import drugs to save cash, sues U.S.

Elizabeth Scanlon Thomas discovers that America is not the America of ages past.

Jon Stewart is about the only journalist willing to aggressively ask tough questions. See online video of the day (below) for more proof.

Alaska is typically a red state, but this year, Mother Jones thinks two-term Democratic Governor Tony Knowles, former Candidate of the Day from the CEM, may just win a Senate seat.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."
-Soren Kierkegaard

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better."
-September 24, 2001

BLOG OF THE DAY
BagNewsNotes is one of the most unusual sites you can visit. Of course, in Blogonia, that is typically a good thing. For BNN, that is a great thing. The cartoons are fresh, and invoke my kind of satire and sarcasm. This is one of those blogs to read if you only have a moment and need a quick laugh.

BLOGWORTHY
Somehow, Joel Caris of Nightmares For Sale found time to dig into Bush's economic numbers after a long week of Iron Blog judging.

Billmon is on top of Bush's choice to head the CIA.

Fact checking campaign speeches seems to be a lost passion by the media. Good thing blogs like Fact-esque are on the job.

Conservatives are out to dismantle any semblance of a decent education system thanks to incentive based compensation. Bryant at Make Me a Commentator shares his view.

The Chalabi mess stirs up all sorts of policy questions, and Mick takes on a few over at Omnium.

John Kerry's Christmas '68 recollections are getting a great deal of conservative blogger scorn since he has apparently offered several versions of the tale. Shankar Duraiswamy at Three Guys is pissed off, and needs to tell you why.

Steve Bates, the Yellow Doggerel Democrat, notes the outing of the Pakistani deep-cover agent exposed this week in support of Bush's terror warning.

Stephen at To The Barricades questions the "crowing" of WMD busts for "terrorists" instead of for domestic supremacist.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
The Capital Times continues to be a beacon of progressive causes, this time advocating for medical marijuana.

I can see it now: Vaccine: My anti-drug.

LINK OF THE DAY
Is there a connection between Bush poll numbers and terror alerts? Check out this composite chart which combines numerous poll results, significant events, and terror alerts. (great work to JuliusBlog)

SITE OF THE DAY
One of the few objective and surprisingly accurate government agencies remains the Government Accounting Office or GAO. This oversight body handles everything from drug war studies to foreign policy decisions, campaign reforms and taxation implementation. If someone from Congress wants it investigated, this is the team that does it. Great resource for in-depth studies and research.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Check out the National Budget Simulator to see just why fiscal policy is so difficult.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Damn, why can't all journalists be as forward as Jon Stewart? Watch him grill Republican Congressman Henry Bonilla on the "L" word.

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to Denise Majette for winning the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat from Georgia. She becomes the first black candidate for a Senate position from the state, defeating millionaire businessman Cliff Oxford in Tuesday's runoff election. Majette is a heavy underdog in the conservative state, but in this strange election year, anything is possible. Should she win in November, she would be but the third Southern Senator since Reconstruction. The seat is being vacated by turncoat nutcase Zell Miller who was a DINO (Democrat in Name Only) who voted with Republican leaders at every opportunity. Miller will even speak at this month's Republican convention.

Slaps to Laura Bush. Why? She finally took a stance on an issue. Well, that's not what the Slaps are for, instead, they come as a result of the moronic stance she took in opposition to stem cell research. In her rebuke to Kerry's call for expanded stem-cell applications, Boring Bush Juniorette championed the religious right, but failed to account for the 70% or so of Americans that clearly favor Kerry's position. Laura, who has previously failed to teach UnCurious George to read, shows her own ignorance of all things important. Even at the pleading of Nancy Reagan, the stem-cell stance from the White House has been anything but progressive. Why does she say we should not pursue stem-cell research? "The implication that cures for Alzheimer's are around the corner is just not right, and it's really not fair to the people who are watching a loved one suffer with this disease." So, since we aren't 100% certain it will produce positive results, we shouldn't try? Laura, another slap for not iterating that logic prior to our invasion of Iraq.

My Middle Finger to Porter Goss for accepting the nomination of Bush and Co. to head the newfangled incarnation of the CIA. Goss, a Florida Congressman, has been irritatingly partisan in his bootstepping, and was one of the strongest opponents of the creation of the 9-11 Commission. He has been known to abandon intelligent debate in order to conduct vicious character attacks on Democrats, Kerry in particular, rather than press on with the vital issues most deserved of his time. Again, sorry Florida, but if you keep electing scum as your representatives, I hate to say how badly that reflects on the populace. I want to like you, really I do. But when people like Katherine Harris and Portor Goss speak for you, I just have to wonder if the Bush prescribed Prozac therapy is enough...

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
A federal judge blocked Bush administration wishes to loosen restrictions on dolphin safety.

Maine is offering to help low-income pet owners get their pets to be "socially responsible."

Vogue Magazine should be protested for its advocation of fur as fashion.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
John Lynch wants to turn the office of New Hampshire Governor around to one of progressive and proactive leadership. A recent endorse of the Dean Dozen, Lynch made ethics a prerequisite for entrance to Harvard Business School during his tenure there. He has fought to maintain support for community hospitals and has been active in youth sports and activities.

DAILY PHOTO
The new Abu-Ghraib will use eco-friendly torture


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
Island Dave has begun work on his American Cities thesis on the homesteading of the Sooner state of Oklahoma. Take a look at one of the most unusual migrations to take place in U.S. history.

Sorry for the lack of a Monday post. My internet connection was down for almost 24 hours, so I had no way to put today's issue together. IP provider says they are doing "upgrades" (yah, right), so I should expect spotty connections until Wed.

Thanks for your patience, and please, continue to enjoy past issues and the many useful, fun, and intelligent links on the right. Don't forget to click on the BlogShares icon, and visit the dozens of great blogs on the blogroll in the meantime. I'll try to get an issue up for Tuesday (I'm working on it now), but don't hold me to that.

--Island Dave

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Since Ford failed to fulfill its promise to raise fuel efficiency, pledge not to buy a Ford.

Protect the Cape Hatteras Seashore from off-road vehicles.

FEATURED ARTICLES

NYTimes editors slam Bush administration for maneuvering to soften nuclear restrictions, a frightening and security-threatening policy.

Former weapons inspector Scott Ritter offers a brutal but fair critique of Kerry's stance on Iraq.

Incarceration of blacks leading to horrid social conditions and the spread of AIDS.

The U.S. government again rushes to install error-prone identification technology.

Paul Krugman digs beneath the politicized media coverage in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Grist Magazine shows Obama to be an advocate for the environment.

Sidney Blumenthal smacks down the clouds around the recent terror alert and the Bush record on Homeland Security.

Failed leadership is worse with superpowers, says Bob Herbert.

Saudi Royals gift royally to Bush family and friends.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The problem of power is how to achieve its responsible use rather than its irresponsible and indulgent use - of how to get men of power to live for the public rather than off the public."
-Robert F. Kennedy

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
-August 5, 2004

BLOG OF THE DAY
Pandagon is a hub for slightly edgy, seriously informative blogging. Another great community blog for debating the news of the day.

BLOGWORTHY
POGGEh? points us to a strong article making the conservative case against Bush.

Just a Bump in the Beltway caught another story of Bush campaign crackdown on protesters.

Mick, over at his rant blog Omniun, brings us an article by British reporter Robert Frisk, whose words destroy any sense of even a faux-peace in Iraq.

At Short Notes, Will Brady points to sources which suggest Wacky Moony Rev. Moon wants submarines to develop undersea colonies.

Unlike Dukakis in '88, Kerry is not taking libel lightly. As Left Coaster discovered, Kerry's lawyers consider libel suit against Swift Boat Veterans.

Whopundit has a kind offer for Alan Keyes should he need some assistance.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
The Capital Times takes a look at medical marijuana patients.

The IDF will start using cannabis to treat "shell shock" of troops.

Bolivia decides to reduce harm by ending destructive eradication of coca plants.

LINK OF THE DAY
Bob Novak: What an asshole.

SITE OF THE DAY
Surprisingly, one of the best maintained sites from the government remains the official U.S. House of Representatives website. You can find bills under consideration, schedules, and links to each Representative's site.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Anyone cinematically inclined undoubtedly checks the Internet Movie DataBase regularly. You can find lots of great political and journalistic movies. Some of my favorites are All the President's Men, Citizen Kane, and Thirteen Days.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
CNN had a piece on the Swift Boat Veterans commercial, as well as McCain's reaction.

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps go first to John Kerry, for finally putting his pimp-hand down, offering an actual rebuttal to Bush's choice of actions. Kerry, at a stump speech in Missouri, told the crowd that he would not have sat in the Florida classroom after such a whisper in his ear. "I would have told those kids very politely and nicely that the president of the United States had something that he needed to attend to." Well, ok, still not full force, but for Kerry, this was direct, to-the-point, and made the rounds as a great sound-bite. This is bringing awareness of Bush's actions to another level, much like F9-11 earlier this year. We need more strong statements from Kerry. He doesn't have to spend millions on ads if he can repeated hit the soundbites.

Second round for John McCain, for blasting the television ad produced by a group of Vietnam veterans against Kerry. The ad, which the CEM highlighted yesterday, shows "testimonials" of soldiers who claim to have served with Kerry. In fact, none of the men served directly with Kerry. McCain strongly condemned the ads as "dishonest and dishonorable", making a statement that he felt Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. Of course, he destroys his integrity once again by sticking to GOP position that Bush also served his time in the National Guard honorably. You would think all this fence straddling would chaff his nuts. If if were anyone other than McCain, I'd insert the obvious punchline here.

Slaps to all countries that continue to allow diplomatic immunity for foreign emissaries. As seen in Britain, diplomats often break laws, even serious ones, without fear of repercussion. While there is no doubt that there must be a healthy respect of host nations for foreign dignitaries, there must also be reciprocal respect of said dignitaries for the host nation's laws. No nation's citizens should suffer indignities, assaults, and victimization from unchecked diplomats. We would not allow our own citizens to do such a thing, how can we allow a foreigner to do so? At least the British are opening a dialogue about the issue. I'm sure we'll never hear a peep about this until something incredibly tragic finally manages to break the serious government stranglehold on such reports.

My Middle Finger to Katherine "Dirty Knees" Harris for pulling a false security success story out of her ass. Harris, who would certainly make Tammy Faye proud of her color choices, had never uttered an original thought til that point in her life, so it is no wonder that the first one was so wacky. She literally made up a story about busting up a bomb plot, a nutty story disputed by local authorities. Sorry, Florida, but after 2000, you should have known better...To quote Dubya, fool me once...Shame..Shame on...you...Fool Me...Can't get fooled again.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
Florida town may crack down on alligators after attack.

No-kill shelter in San Fran needs a companion kill shelter to reduce overall euthanasia rate.

No snipping you dog's nads any longer, just give him a shot.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Jeff Hardenbrook is seeking a U.S. Congressional seat from the battleground state of Ohio. A former missionary, Hardenbrook also worked for the Rural Electrification Administration. He also supports a higher minimum wage, an important fight for the struggling Ohio labor force.

DAILY PHOTO
Think January 20, 2005.


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
Read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle to understand why corporate dominance and government apathy lead to social exploitation of the labor force.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
War...Peace...Freedom...Police State...Amish...Bush...Hmm...

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Tell Coke to stop using child labor on sugar plantations.

Let Aschroft know you want voter suppression stopped now.

Give Bush a piece of your mind.

Demand that the House Ethics Committee take up the complaint against bugman Tom Delay.

FEATURED ARTICLES
Bill Clinton warns us against destroying our forests the way Bush is doing.

Somebody owes Howard Dean an apology, says Joe Conasan.

Republican Alaskan Senator found to have leaked minor classified information in 2002.

Thursday NYTimes editorial smacks down Tom Ridge and the terror alert system.

Bruce Springsteen, appearing soon in a pro-Kerry concert, op-eds in the NYTimes this morning.

Flip-flopper in Chief called out by WaPo's Richard Cohen.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
The WaPo argues with the Bush administration's deficit assertions.

The Onion satirically suggests Bush is a moron...at blogging.

Jane Roberts reminds us that, now days, women can't be spelled with a "W".

The Minnesota Star Tribune echoes WaPo concerns over the timing and politicizing of national terror alerts.

With Condi and Colin already in the game, Republicans look to Alan Keyes to take on Obama.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do."
-Bob Dylan

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"God loves you, and I love you. And you can count on both of us as a powerful message that people who wonder about their future can hear."
-March 3, 2004

BLOG OF THE DAY
Political State Report is a centralized American political blog which has correspondents in numerous states. Frequently the source of great campaign information from a first-hand perspective, several contributors have scores candidate interviews. Island Dave has been added to the roster, and will soon offer North Carolina posts on the site.

BLOGWORTHY
Digby takes a hard look at the atrocious abuse documented at Gitmo by the Center for Constitutional Rights.

Tax breaks for SUVs is the subject of a frustrating article from Kevin Drum.

At Wampum, Dwight Meredith takes a close look at Tom Ridge's political allegiance.

Jeff Leiber caught a great rebuttal to the RNC "Senate Record" charge in his dKos diary.

Billmon breaks out a tome on the Halliburton charges and Cheney's involvement.

The Mahablog breaks open tribal tendencies in politics.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
The forgotten war that has never been won.

See today's Claps for a Detroit success story.

LINK OF THE DAY
Electoral-Vote.com updates an electoral college estimate based on regular poll releases.

SITE OF THE DAY
I want to reintroduce everyone to Iron Blog, the blog debate forum. The site features a new battle each week, with four Iron Bloggers defending their honor, just like Iron Chef. Catch the rest of the Islam battle, with a new post each day this week.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Ever wondered if there was a library cat habitating a book center near you? The Library Cat Map from Iron Frog has the goods.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
One of the funniest songs I've ever heard: "Keep Your Jesus Off My Penis, I'll Keep My Penis Off of You!" (may take a minute to load)

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to Detroit voters for passing a measure decriminalizing medicinal marijuana possession. Patients, operating under the advice of a doctor, can possess up to 35 grams in the city and not be subject to local charges. Federal charges, as well as state laws, are still in effect, but nonetheless, this small step passed with a strong 60% vote. Hopefully, Detroit can climb out of some of the repressive urban conditions through more compassionate, progressive acts such as this.

A second Claps to King County Superior Court Judge William L. Downing for allowing same-sex unions.

Slaps to the Vietnam veterans who have bought television ad time to criticize John Kerry, calling his service into question. The morons, who are doing only harm to the image of servicemen, claim the Kerry could not be counted on, a claim directly countered by Kerry's superiors and crewmates. In fact, none of the critics ever served in Vietnam with Kerry, making any critique far less credible than those given by all but one crewmember. My father, a staunch Republican who distrusted Clinton, is a Vietnam vet, and he will likely be voting for Kerry this year. That tells me volumes about Kerry's service. My dad was in Nam for almost 10 years, often on those same Swift boats, and if he says Kerry did enough, what more do you need?

My Middle Finger fingers the Bush Administration for allowing outrageous patent protections to be used to quadruple the price of Norvir, a key AIDS drug. Abbott Laboratories, the drug dealer producer, raised prices of the drug last fall, claiming slowing sales made this necessary. Yet again, taxpayers give substantial funding to drug companies who then turn around and pillage the sick in order to squeak out an extra nickel. At what point does the public realize that we need a much more socialistic outlook on medicine if we want any equality? Capitalism always favors those who have money. It always disfavors those without. This continued gladhanding between pharmies and politicians is slowly destroying the health system in this country, and only a radical shift away from corporate priorities can restore fairness and integrity.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
PETA accuses Iams of using contractor which tortures animals.

Animal Law is growing as a specialty across the U.S.

West Virginia prosecutor fails to see torture in Pilgrim's Pride case.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Mark Boles is running for a U.S. House seat from Pennsylvania's 18th district. A doctor by trade, he practiced pediatrics throughout the state. Boles served as a Navy Corpsman prior to entering medical school, and also went on to work at the NASA-owned Jet Propulsion laboratory. His Republican incumbent opponent has been a Bush bootstepper, and is one of many Republicans who spent taxpayer money to send out pro-Medicare bill fliers.

DAILY PHOTO
An "exemplorary" help file.


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
Lest anyone doubt that McCarthy could return, see exactly why "McCarthyism" is synonymous with "Witch Hunt".

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
When the cat's away...

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Pledge to protect the oceans.

Arizona residents: check Southpaw for info on Prop 106.

FEATURED ARTICLES
We already had the rape at Abu Ghraib, I think its safe to say I've found the pillage.

Bush will gut the courts, says American Prospect.

Democrats in NC ensure military education breaks.

Sibel Edmonds, the translating whistleblower, penned an open letter to the 9-11 Commission.

Barbara Ehrenreich stresses the need to listen to a feminine perspective to fight terrorists.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Take one Paul Krugman article and call me in the morning.

Muslim photographer harassed by Secret Service.

Missouri votes to amend state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

You don't need to see the movie to see a Manchurian Candidate in the act.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The world will change for the better when people decide they are sick and tired of being sick and tired of the way the world is, and decide to change themselves."
-Sidney Madwed

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"We want people owning something in America. That's what we want. The great dream about America is, I can own my own home, people say."
-March 26, 2004

BLOG OF THE DAY
Jay Rosen's Press Think is one of the top blogs for looking into the culture that is our media.

BLOGWORTHY
Are the Republican strategists wagging the dog, Homeland Security-style? Attaturk's tinfoil hat is rattling again.

This week's Battle over at Iron Blog deals with Islam. Iron Blogger Republican Dan Champion has a keen take on the religion in his opening argument.

Mick is on top of worker exploitation, this time paid for by taxpayers.

Intel Dump looks at the spiraling Abu Ghraib abuse scandal, which may go much higher up the chain of command.

Flip-floppers offended by Bush, decide on Kerry.

Greg at The Talent Show takes on Bush's insane ideas about tax cuts.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
Missouri city will vote on marijuana decriminalization in November.

Sadistic Irony: Drug dog dies from overdose.

The Supreme Court will take up federal sentencing guidelines.

LINK OF THE DAY
Are you a neo-con? Take the CSM's quiz.

SITE OF THE DAY
The American Prospect Online remains one of the most intelligent progressive magazine sites you can visit.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
You don't need me to tell you what is housed at Prank Place. Make sure you check out this offering.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Terror Alert!!!! from Jon Stewart.

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to Dick Cheney for blaming Kerry and Edwards for high gas prices. Huh?!?! you say? Has the CEM gone neo-con? Not at all. Cheney, who lacks any credibility with most of the nation, will convince many swing voters to vote for Kerry instead. Since Cheney's approval rating is bottoming out, and a corresponding lack of trust in the Vice-President is obvious, voters who actually bothered to listen to him, and who have not already sipped the Kool-Aid, will surely get a chuckle out of the VP's moronic statement. Next plan from Bush-Cheney is to blame Kerry and Edwards for the decision to invade Iraq.

Slaps to Tom Ridge for once again proving his lack of a soul, or for that matter, any free will. For those who think Bush is Cheney's puppet, you might want to look for Dick's other hand. When its not coping a feel from Condi, his hand is usually directing every movement of Ridge's body. After raising the terror alert in an obvious effort to distract the public from the Democratic Convention, new reports show the documents used as reason to do so are three to four years old. Some may date prior to 9-11. So the August 6, 2001 PDB "Bin Ladin Determined to Strike Inside U.S." was too historical to get worked up on, but a three year old collection of maps and drawings indicates an immediate need to scare up some fear? Damn I wish Dick would go back to handling Condi and leave Ridge in the drawer where he belongs.

My Middle Finger smirks at Dubya for creating another senseless bureaucracy for dealing with intelligence. There are already over fifteen overt intelligence agencies operating, supposedly, to channel information to the National Security Advisor Condi Rice. Democrats and 9-11 Commission members balk at Bush's "toothless" post which will not have enough power to provide a boost to security efficiency. Instead of merging and aligning existing posts, or at least creating a full cabinet level position, Bush has chosen to place another spaniel in a bulldog position. Yet one more little puppy for Bush to pat on the head and then send away until desired.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
PetFinder service looks to match animals with human slaves companions.

Bowling Green will reclassify owners of two or more unadulterated pets as kennel owners to stem overbreeding.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
John Barrow is seeking a U.S. House seat in Georgia against Republican incumbent Max Burns. An attorney by way of Harvard, Barrow won his primary last week, and has had strong fundraising abilities so far. Barrow, who has a track record of populist votes, especially in support of families, is married to a veterinarian.

DAILY PHOTO
Time to cut this card


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
At Net Politik, Nick Lewis has put together a superior selection of clips from George Orwell's writings. It is amazing just how well Orwell understood the power that corrupts good societies.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
Bush Twins: You been Punk*d!

Look, I like Al Franken, and even better, I respect him. But: Radio does not belong on TV.

Mad Cow Disease, indeed. Talk about sweet irony.

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Get your free Kerry Kit, while supplies last.

Vote in the WRAL news poll.

FEATURED ARTICLES
Ron Reagan makes a strong case against Bush. (thanks to Steve at ILTW for the link)

Journalist Josh Marshall posts a provocative teaser for his Washington Monthly article due out soon concerning Italian intelligence and the forged Niger documents.

The Post calls for fair-dealing on the black farmer assistance lawsuit.

Bob Herbert describes American lies politics.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Bush campaign demands journalist disclose race prior to covering event?!?!

Powell called in July to testify at Plame Grand Jury inquiry.

Republicans continue to hold up another much needed housing bill, despite strong House support.

Airline bailout will cost taxpayers billions more.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward."
-FDR

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"We want to reduce greenhouse gases. Ours is a large economy. We used to generate more wealth than we are today. And as a result, we do contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere."
-July 19, 2001

BLOG OF THE DAY
Congrats to andante from Collective Sigh for winning Tom Burka's contest at Opinions You Should Have. Collective Sigh is a fellow North Carolina-based blog, and you can find great political blogging from it's proprietor. Andante, who is a member of the infamous Liberal Coalition, offers a balanced blend of commentary, news coverage, photos, and rants to keep you coming back every day.

BLOGWORTHY
A female soldier offers a first-hand view of duty in Iraq. (thanks to Kate!)

POGGE gives us a Canadian perspective on Kerry's appeal to the voters while speaking at the Democratic Convention.

Mick at From the Trenches digs inside wage stagnation and the destination of corporate profits.

Billmon finds irony in this week's Republican whining campaign.

Mustang Bobby points to a Miami Herald article as solid proof of voter fraud in Florida...which was pretty much a given after 2000.

Green Voicemail takes a shot at Tom Ridge's color of the day.

Over at The Vast Dairy State Conspiracy, shw found an excellent quote from one of my favorite TV personalities...well...back when I watched TV, culinary scientist Alton Brown.

Finally, a new face to Blogworthy, Gillon from I Voted For George looks at Britain's statistical fallacies, and our on involvement in collateral damage.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
PATRIOT Act provisions being used to fight drugs instead of terrorists.

Drug war prevents police efforts from being used to stop violent crime.

LINK OF THE DAY
Its Rock, Paper, Saddam: A satirical pictoral of Saddam on trial.

SITE OF THE DAY
The Online Etymology Dictionary offers word origins and meanings from thousands of words.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
This isn't really a site, its a song. One of the most unusual songs I've ever heard. William Shatner doing "Common People". Seriously.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Here is a Pittsburg news channel's reporting on the Heinz Kerry "shove it" incident, with the exchange caught on video.

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to the ACLU for pulling out of a federal donation program in protest over Patriot Act provisions. The program allowed employees to donate money to various causes, and the ACLU alone stands to loose $500,000. However, sometimes wacky, sometimes nutty, the ACLU nonetheless is one of the few organizations willing to take a stand for personal liberties and private freedoms. Executive Director Anthony Romero called out Ashcroft's style of law enforcement, and raised a serious warning to other nonprofits about the over-zealous usage of Patriot provisions to conduct invasive searches of employee records. While there is no doubt we must work to prevent terrorism, we must not yield our most basic freedoms to support the cause. Otherwise, the terrorists win. Amazing how self-professed "protectors of liberty" are the very ones so eager to "protect" us by limiting our freedoms. More claps to the ACLU, whose balls sure do swing heavy occasionally.

Slaps to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for declaring an Alabama law banning the sale of sex toys legal. By a 2-1 margin, the court determined that sexual privacy was not protected by the Constitution or other laws. The decision was made because the majority members did not want to give legal precedence for overturning incest and prostitution laws. Not only is this a huge leap of logic, it completely ignores the affects in the other direction. Instead, this law establishes that sexual privacy rights can be usurped by state legislation in a way never before conceived. Under this precedent, any legislation can pass a law restricting sexual privacy with the backing of the Circuit Court's ruling. If not for the below disgusting situation, these two judges would each be getting 12" Middle Finger-shaped dildos straight up their arses...sans KY.

My Middle Finger to the Florida Republican Party for swearing by electronic voting machines, then strongly advising party members to utilize absentee ballots. Jeb Bush, as well other administration officials, have repeatedly claimed the voting machines were reliable and safe, but based on this report in the StPete paper, its pretty obvious the GOP has no trust in the machines. I really thought Florida had a chance this year to lead the way in electoral reform. Instead, Jeb and his cronies have continuously blocked progressive reforms which would have protected election integrity and assured all voters that the tallies would be accurate. Jeb might as well out his partisan agenda and admit publically that his actions are taken to prevent voter turnout, and ensure that results are just controversial enough to keep Florida in the red...just like the national budget.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
Animal advocacy degree will be offered at Duquesne University in Pittsburg.

Another NC animal shelter is operating with overcrowded kennels.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Erskine Bowles is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by potential Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards. Bowles, who lost to Elizabeth Dole in 2002, served as President Bill Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1996-1998, taking only $1/year as salary for his position. The latest polls show Bowles with a 10-point lead over Republican Richard Burr. I met Bowles on Thursday, and was quite impressed with his charisma and genuine interest in talking to people. In fact, the campaign posted one of the pics I took on the front page of the website, and made a blog entry for additional pics.

DAILY PHOTO
Erskine Bowles and Island Dave in Morehead City, NC


TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
Since I had to learn about Keynesian economic theory in Political Econ, so do you! Besides, that Say guy was a neo-con before it was insane to be a neo-con.

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Send a letter to Kerry and Bush speaking out against the current War on Drugs.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Read the text of Jimmy Carter's speech from Monday night.

Bush is again proposing cutting Medicare funding, this time for cancer doctors.

The Village Voice jumps on the Obama bandwagon.

Here is the text of Obama's speech.

Richard Cohen critiques Kerry's use of international standing in campaign sound-bites.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES

Informed Consent's Juan Cole argues with Cheney.

John Nichols chides the media for missing convention highlights, such as Obama's masterpiece.

Progressive Greens left to ponder exactly how to feel this election year.

Nader's presence in the race should convince Democrats to favor instant-runoff, or 1,2,3 voting.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."
-H.G. Wells

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"I've been talking to Vicente Fox, the new president of Mexico... I know him... to have gas and oil sent to U.S.... so we'll not depend on foreign oil. "
-October 3, 2000

BLOG OF THE DAY
Digby over at Hullabaloo is one of the most cited bloggers around. Known for having insights with teeth, the site offers commentary on all thing political, from a liberal point of view, naturally. You'll see digby's posts show up often in the Blogworthy section of CEM.

BLOGWORTHY
Atrios brings the media hypocrisy to light in the coverage of blogger integrity.

Mortgage costs are complex and daunting for most anyone to consider, so Paperwight's Fair Shot offers a look at the shady tax resemblance of mortgage insurance.

Island Dave's View takes a look at flip-flopping, and why it is a good thing.

The Mahablog takes on William Safire in a personal and nuanced view of abortion.

Grocer hates Ben Cohen's anti-American activities, enough so to burn Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and sell the products of a terrorist financier. That Good Night's tenacity has the scoop.

For anyone following Iron Blog on a regular basis, you know about the row this week over a score. Judge Pineapple Girl defends her decisions on her blog.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
Arkansas medical marijuana initiative needs help to get on November ballot.

ACLU sues to get Arizona ballot signature approved, cites unjust restrictions.

LINK OF THE DAY
Joel Caris from Nightmares For Sale has a photo album posted from his trip to the Glacier National Park. The photos are breathtaking.

SITE OF THE DAY
AlterNet is a hub for independent media and journalism articles, of which the CEM has referenced many.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
If Google and Yahoo searches bore you, check out the Devilfinder Search Engine. (thanks to Dave at Spacecoastweb: blog)

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
This is one of the funniest pieces I have seen in a long time. Will Ferrell doing his Dubya for ACT.

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps to XM Radio for signing NPR veteran Bob Edwards to a new show which will appear in a timeslot competing with Edward's old "Morning Edition". Edwards was a master of the calm, intelligent radio show, and could be counted on to address many issues other shows would not cover. NPR's hard shift to a middle ground has made many people reconsider NPR's integrity, especially after the FAIR study came out demonstrating a particular conservative lean to NPR guests.

Slaps to Washington DC's Metro for again resorting to extreme measures to enforce a no-food and drink law on subways and in stations. After receiving a warning from a station officer, one rider quickly finished her candy bar and discarded the wrapper. Instead of letting the situation die, the officer handcuffed her and searched her, claiming she had finished the bar after entering the station. The woman spent time in a jail cell, and was released when she paid a measly $10 fine. WTF??? With John Ashcroft screaming insane babble about "the terrorists are coming! The terrorists are coming!", don't you think the Metro officers have more important things to look out for than someone chewing? Jesus Christ...

My Middle Finger goes in effigy to the once powerful French, who yet again, hedge their bets in hopes of screwing the U.S. out of a promise. France has held back on fulfilling its promise to provide troops to aid the NATO-led training mission in Iraq. While I France had every right and justification for refusing to take part in the war with Iraq, this latest gaff underscores just how low the French have sunk in international relations. This was one chance for France to work toward better ties with the U.S. and take part in restoring order to the chaotic nation. Again, had no promise been made, France would have every right to abstain from participation, but after making a commitment, dammit, we expect them to honor it. The longer France waits to hold its end of the bargain, the more opportunities there are for our soldiers to be slaughtered.

ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH
Animal rights group screws chance to investigate pig-farm cruelty accusations.

"Lucky" rescued after being shot with an arrow.

Feral cats in Cape May getting the blame for disappearing wildlife.

Caged killer whale tries to live up to its name,

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Patty Murphy is looking to hold on to her U.S. Senate seat from Washington. Murphy, who has served two full terms in the Senate, has fought hard to strength education and afterschool programs, and has an intent focus on family interests. She believes in fair trade and labor rights, as well as supporting smart growth for our nation's economy.

DAILY PHOTO
So simple even Republicans can understand it.

(thanks to BagnewsNotes)

TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON



HISTORY LESSON
During this week of amazing speeches, lets remember one of the best orators of his day, George McGovern.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
Insurers sure are getting creative in screwing their customers.