USATODAY.com News - Top Stories: "States and local governments across the USA are preparing to cash in valuable public assets for one-time windfalls that could reap tens of billions of dollars.
Illinois hopes to get at least $10 billion by selling its lottery and an additional $15 billion for leasing all or part of the 274-mile Illinois Tollway. Missouri plans to auction its student loan portfolio. Pennsylvania is considering leasing its highways, and Chicago is studying a plan to lease Midway Airport to private investors.
The deals would let governments collect billions of extra dollars without raising taxes but would reduce their future revenue.
This is what is known as penny wise, and pound foolish. Our children's work lives and payroll taxes are being dumped on like sand dunes by both state and federal governments all in the name of getting reelected today. I hate what my governments are doing to my daughter's future. They are guranteeing her work future will not be nearly as profitable or protected as mine, all other things being equal. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
New York Times: International News: "A desert pincer is squeezing Minqin, a struggling oasis town, and China's long campaign to cultivate its vast arid northwest is in retreat."
The Washington Times: World: "John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, demanded yesterday that Kofi Annan repudiate what Mr. Bolton called "condescending" remarks about Americans by the secretary-general's chief aide, sparking a nasty U.S.-U.N. spat in which neither side showed signs of backing down."
Iraq is going to hell in a hand-basket. The trade and budget deficits are spinning out of control, and petrol prices have gone through the roof. Yet the US Senate has devoted two days to a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that everyone knew had not the slightest hope of passage.
"BBC: World: "The Iraqi parliament approves PM Nouri Maliki's nominees for the key posts of defence and interior ministers."
BBC: World: "Three soldiers of the Afghan National Army are killed by a bomb in Ghazni province, military officials say."
Afghanistan is looking more and more like a little brother quagmire to the big one in Iraq. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, blamed for the beheading of foreign captives and the death of hundreds in suicide bombings, has been killed in a raid north of Baghdad, Iraq's prime minister said on Thursday.
Other than a morale boost for our troops, this doesn't change much. Bush will act as if he bombed the guy himself, and the civil war in Iraq will continue to worsen. Doesn't change much at all. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
BBC: World: "The Hamas-led government says it will withdraw a controversial militia from the "public" areas of Gaza."
CNN Money: Economy: "Read full story for latest details."
I have been saying all along those inflation numbers were deflated. Fear of stagflation will dominate Fed action in the short term. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
AP Politics: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay urged colleagues Wednesday to "stand on principle" and ignore the media in a farewell speech to fellow Republicans...."
Kind of like Charles Manson calling for serial killers to stay civil when doing what they do. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Washington Post: Today's Highlights: "The 49 to 48 Senate vote thwarts conservatives' effort to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage."
ABC News: Politics: "Alabama Voters Endorse Ban on Gay Marriage, but Reject Religious Right Candidates"
ABC News: Politics: "Republicans, Democrats Cheer Primary Results Across 8 States in Prelude to Midterm Elections"
Reuters: Top News: "NEW YORK (Reuters) - Conservative author Ann Coulter sparked a storm on Wednesday after describing a group of September 11 widows who backed the Democratic Party as millionaire "witches" reveling in their status as celebrities.
She's a bitch who makes her money by being an extremist. Take her for what she's worth, a pet to extremists on the far right. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation boosting fines tenfold on broadcast television and radio stations that violate decency standards was sent on Wednesday to President George W. Bush in a victory for conservative groups.
They got their inch, now we can start looking for the mile. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "According to several climate researchers, the former vice president basically gets it right.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "Test scores exceed state averages at J.S. Chick elementary school, where African-American students view themselves as leaders.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "Before things get worse in Iraq, the US needs to find a rapid way to withdraw.
It sure took the CSM long enough to come to this obvious conclusion. Talk about waiting for the polls before shifting one's stand. No leadership on this one. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "A year after the high court ruled on eminent domain, two New London, Conn., homeowners are fighting eviction.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "Some question whether the 'state secret privilege' is abused to stave off government embarrassment.
It has been used for political cover up reasons in the past, and under the new cloaks of secrecy, there is no doubt it will be used for cover up and wrong doing even more in the future. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Christian Science Monitor: All Stories: "It calls for categorizing immigrants by the length of their US residency, but logistics would be complex.
Sure it can work, badly, inefficiently, and erroneously. Sounds like a perfect plan for this set of incumbents in the Senate. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
China has denounced a Spanish court's investigation into claims of genocide in Tibet as an interference in its internal affairs and dismissed the allegations as "sheer fabrication".
"This story should grow some legs in the media. It probably won't, but, it should! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved $32 billion for domestic security programs next year as some lawmakers seethed over their inability to stop funding cuts this year for big cities seen as high-risk targets for terrorist attacks.
CNN Money: Economy: "CBO says fiscal '06 gap is $50 billion below year earlier, due largely to 13% increase in money taken in."
This is exactly the same as my saying, well the bad news is I went another $50,000 in debt this year, but, the good news is, I got a $4,000 raise this year, so, I am doing much better this year. Tell it to my daughter who will be entering the work force in a few years paying the taxes on an $11 Trillion national debt. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
The Washington Times: World: "Iran's top negotiator yesterday gave a cautiously upbeat review of a package offered by the United States and five world powers designed to halt Tehran's uranium enrichment program, a package that could allow Iran access to some sensitive U.S. nuclear technology."
This is the kind of compromise that was necessary for the U.S. to come out of this claiming some kind of victory. Perhaps the Bush Administration has learned something from the Iraq experience, afterall. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: "1st Lt. Ehren Watada early this year submitted a request to resign, stating that he has serious reservations about the war in Iraq and feels he cannot participate in it. That request was denied but Watada's fight is not over yet."
ABC News: Politics: "President Bush Acknowledges Tough Work Ahead on Illegal Immigration Debate"
Since he has been wrong about nearly everything else, this likely means it really isn't possible. Bush has become a kind of reverse weather vane. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli planes struck targets in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gave the Hamas government 48 hours to accept a manifesto implicitly recognizing Israel or face a referendum on the issue.
CNN: World: "Iraq on Wednesday started releasing 592 detainees under an initiative by Iraq's prime minister to foster national reconciliation."
Sounds like a move of desperation, to me. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CBS News: CBS Evening News: "The injured correspondent was talking "animatedly" as she was wheeled aboard the C-17 military jet for the eight-hour flight to the Washington area. Doctors say she has a long recovery ahead, but the prognosis is promising."
She's just another member of that godless liberal media, right? What's all this fuss? Must be a liberal conspiracy in here somewhere. Just because journalists risk and maim and die right along with our troops to bring us the liberal drivel about the war, doesn't make them heroes, right? -- Words from the right wing -- -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
THE D.C. EXAMINER EDITORIALIZES that Bush and the Congressional Republicans should shelve the Marriage Amendment in favor of actually doing, you know, their jobs. And, unlike me, they actually support the idea. This is really shaping up as another ham-handed political effort that's likely to prove a debacle.
I agree. This amendment political strategy for votes in November, has backfire written all over it. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
USATODAY.com News - Top Stories: "Hurricane Katrina drained the New Orleans metropolitan area of almost 40% of its residents and left the region with a whiter, ...
Does this mean good Christian Bigots will be thanking God in their prayers tonight? Only if the exiles didn't move to their neck of the woods, right? -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "PARIS (Reuters) - More than 20 states, mostly in Europe, colluded in a "global spider's web" of secret CIA prisons and transfers of terrorism suspects, a European rights watchdog said in a report released on Wednesday.
It's called 'Rendition'. We will be hearing much more bad news for America about this. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Washington Post: Today's Highlights: "Brian Bilbray wins disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's seat in San Diego County."
USATODAY.com News - Top Stories: "Harvard-affiliated researchers said Tuesday they have begun efforts to create stem cells by cloning human embryos, joining the ...
CNN: Politics: "William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor, dropped out of the New York governor's race Tuesday, saying it was time to look beyond his own aspirations for the good of the party."
In other words, he just realized he couldn't win. HaH! -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN Money: Economy: "Read full story for latest details."
In other words, STAGFLATION could be returning. A quick review of history shows aside from the Great Depression, our Stagflation period a few decades ago was one of the most hated economic periods in 100 years. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's new prime minister said on Tuesday he would release 2,500 prisoners in an apparent bid to shore up his own authority amid signs of tension in his ruling Shi'ite Alliance.
Wow! This really is a puppet government of the U.S. isn't it? I mean, dismissing the laws in order to acquire political strength, is straight out of George W. Bush's play book. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday said it asked federal regulators reviewing the proposed merger of two telephone giants to investigate a report they gave customer calling records to a U.S. spy agency.
Reuters: Top News: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior State Department official on Tuesday played down tough criticism by Iraq's prime minister over the Haditha incident, saying "I wouldn't make too much out of" the remarks.
Of course they wouldn't make to much of it, the Iraqi people will do that for them. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
BBC: World: "Baghdad's main mortuary receives 6,000 bodies after violent deaths this year - and the toll is rising, officials say."
Boston Globe: Politics News - Wait a minute. Who or what, exactly, is the Democratic Party? That's a good question, and an important one. The answer from the Worcester convention is that a few hundred members of the Democratic State Committee, and a few thousand delegates to the convention, claim the right to be super-Democrats, able to dictate to the several hundred thousand voters who will cast Democratic ballots in September whom they may or may not nominate.
CNN: World: "Read full story for latest details."
The Eighth Wonder of the World has officially been opened. What a monumental project that will pay dividends for centuries to come. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
BBC: World: "The French interior minister softens his stance on the expulsion of illegal immigrants' children from school."
Apparently, someone reminded him of an small episode in French history, called the "Storming of the Bastille" which changed the western hemisphere of the globe forever. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "JAKARTA (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld hailed restored U.S. military ties with Indonesia, but was told that America was seen as "overbearing" when it appeared to be pushing its anti-terrorism policies on others.
The Bush Administration is strengthening military ties because military is all it has that other government's respect. As for the people of Indonesia and most other nations in the world, America is rapidly becoming the bad guy. This does not bode well for America's terrorist free future. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: World: "Nearly 1,400 Iraqi civilians died in a wave of targeted killings in Baghdad last month, according to a high-ranking Iraqi Health Ministry official."
But, don't you see, this is progress, says the White House, they are becoming desperate in the face of our overwhelming good deeds, and this is a sign that we are winning. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
Reuters: Top News: "VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said on Tuesday that gay marriage, abortion, lesbians wanting to bear children and a host of other practices it sees as threats to the traditional family were signs of "the eclipse of God".
There goes the two faced Vatican, again. If God is omnipresent, and all powerful, how can God be eclipsed? The vatican uses logic for amassing wealth, and little else. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
CNN: World: "Iran's top nuclear negotiator says a proposal by the world's biggest powers to curtail Tehran's uranium enrichment program contains "positive steps" but also "ambiguities." Ali Larijani says the package of incentives and penalties "is a framework for cooperation" and will be studied "clause by clause.""
ABC News: Politics: "Voters in Eight States Go to the Polls in Contest Many See As Bellwether for Fall Election"
Now if Democrats were smart, they would register as Republicans and vote for the Republican challenger instead of the Republican incumbent, where Democrats don't have a chance of winning due to gerrymandering. And vice versa, of course. What's good for the goose, should be good for the gander, eh? The beauty of this strategy is, incumbents will suffer like never before in modern times, and we, the people, might just get politicians who fear the voters again. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
USATODAY.com News - Top Stories: "A senior EU representative on Tuesday gave Iranian officials a package of incentives that represents a major initiative by the ...
Isn't this exactly the same approach Clinton used with N. Korea, which Bush so condemned in his 2000 election bid? The hypocrisy knows no bounds. -- David R. Remer, PoliWatch.Org.
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