Sunday Article Round-Up
I know a while back I complained about doing this particular post, but I've heard from 3 different individuals that they come to Page 132 to keep up on politics and news of the day (in addition to CNN and NYTimes) so I suppose this is a public service that I do my weekly Sunday Article Round-Up. Let's get started...US Domestic Politics
The DLC Urges Party Policy With Muscle with a big roll out of a positive strategy for how to keep America strong and safe in the 21st century. Entitled With All Our Might, it is A Progressive Strategy For Defeating Jihadism. For those that think Democrats have no ideas or are weak on national security, give those links a real good look. You'll be surprised at how far Democrats have come from 'I voted for the war before I voted against it."
Of course, the big news is that the NSA is listening to you call your mother today. The USA Today had the scoop earlier this week that the NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls. Big Brother isn't watching you, he's just listening in. For the record, Bush denies massive spying on U.S. citizens, but really does anyone believe anything he says anymore?
Just when you thought our leadership might gets serious about our oil addiction, we see that "House GOP thwarts attempt at higher fuel economy requirements". I really don't have anything to add other than it is time for a change in DC.
Instead of dealing with our oil addiction, Senate approves $70 billion tax cut bill. The DLC's response says it perfectly, "They can't pass a budget. They're completely paralyzed on immigration reform. They're in a confused panic about energy prices. They're not even pretending to seriously deal with challenges like health care coverage and affordability...But the Republicans who control the federal government can always be counted on to do one thing: cut taxes for the wealthy." Say it with me again...it is time for a change in DC.
As a soon to be DCer, I've started to care a lot about the taxation without representation of DC residents. Not being a state, DC has no voting rights in Congress, so this the Plan to Give D.C. a Vote In Congress Advances is good news. We'll see where it goes...
He is probably a crook! Cheney the focus of CIA leak court filing. He might be untouchable, but he sure is slimy.
Two articles highlight how things might be turning sour on the Hilary in '08 presidential run.
Instead you should focus your time and energy on the next President of the United States, who is quoted in today's WaPo article, GOP Is Not Law-and-Order Party On Immigration-"New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also opposed the plan, saying National Guard troops could be needed for emergencies such as wildfires or hurricanes. Richardson, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement the Bush administration has not consulted directly with the governors who deal with border issues. 'This would dramatically impact our states and we should be included in the discussion and planning.' he said."
Showing just how easily Democrats could screw up a take-over of the House and Senate in 2006, the circle firing squad has assembled around Maria Cantwell (D-WA) because she won't sign up to losing in Iraq.
International Politics
Dictator Hugo Chavez was feted by mayor 'Red Ken' Livingston today in London. It is a sad day that this tyrant should get any sort of victory celebration. Harry's Place has a few questions for Hugo that I don't think he'll take.
In an interesting kink to the 'special relationship' between Britain and the US, there are calls to close Gitmo. However, UK told US won't shut Guantanamo because no one knows what to do with the few serious bad guys that are imprisoned there. The UK hasn't offered any options, so I'm not too impressed with their criticism. Heck, even Mr. Impotent President wants Gitmo closed, but since it doesn't involve a tax cut or rolling out the military, he's clueless on how to do that too.
Brazil is having a horrible weekend, because criminal gangs are attacking police stations and causing riots in prisons. No lie, I saw a guy on the BBC try to justify this by saying that the inmates just wanted to be home for Mother's Day. Yeah, and I haven't paid taxes in 5 years because I just forgot about it.
Pro-democracy blogger "Alaa" and others have been detained by Egyptian police. Go to Free Alaa to see what you can do to help. A little bit of work will go a long way. Egypt has already bowed to pressure in the past and maybe the blogosphere can do its bit to help bring democracy to Egypt.
Israel's Supreme Court has upheld a controversial law barring West Bank Palestinians from living with their spouses and children in Israel itself. They screwed that one up.
Miscellaneous
Take The Globalist Quiz and see how important the slow going Doha round of trade talks truly are.
Identity politics has reared its ugly head again with this interesting report Is Deaf University President Not 'Deaf Enough'?. The students at Gallaudet University, the nation's preeminent college for deaf and hearing-disabled students, don't like the choice for new President because she doesn't have a deaf husband or any deaf kids. According to student Leah Katz-Hernandez, Gallaudet needs "a leader who is one of us."
Stupidly, ICANN rejects .xxx domain as a sop to the social conservatives. As I've pointed out before, the creation and then regulation of a .xxx domain would be an easy way to clean up the internet and allow ISPs to block porn from reaching under age kids.
Proving that you are never too young, a channel offers 24-hour TV for babies. It is only the logical conclusion of what parents have been doing for a generation, using TV as a cheap babysitter.
From the "giggles" file, a minor league team has named its pig mascot 'Bud Squealig'.
So what have I missed? What strikes you as the most interesting article of the week? Let's hear some feedback.
Technorati Tags: Christianity, Current Events, Democracy, News, Politics
posted by Expat Teacher @ 7:54 PM
