(no subject)

Republicans boycotting MSNBC??

news trickles out of burma. Caution - there is a very disturbing image when you follow the link (the result of a student protester being beaten to death according to the source). Also, there are unverified reports from people calling out of the country that injured protesters were later burned in a crematorium.

A review of the book Letters to the Next President: What We Can Do about the Real Crisis in Public Education Can I just say how glad I am that I graduated before NCLB came into effect? (or the tests required to "graduate" for that matter).

Most likely useless, but a few stories are being presented in the media and the Democratic national radio address putting a human face on what will happen when if Bush vetoes the SCHIP bill. Also, turns out Bush is also cutting the National Cancer Institute's funding. So just remember, if you aren't rich, or make more money than it takes to be covered by Medicare/aid, Bush and his compassionate conservatism don't care if you live, die or suffer. And the next time you hear a Republican tell you that Universal medicine is BAD because you'd have to wait in line to receive life saving treatment, ask when was the last time you didn't have to wait to see a specialist you were referred to? Or when the first question out of the mouth of a new doctor that you wanted to take you as a patient wasn't "And what insurance do you have?"

As a result of all the inquirees into its operations in Iraq, Blackwater has put on hold all of its new projects.

McCain thinks the constitution establishes the US as a "Christian" nation. And moreover that

Q: Has the candidates’ personal faith become too big an issue in the presidential race?

A: Questions about that are very legitimate.... And it's also appropriate for me at certain points in the conversation to say, look, that's sort of a private matter between me and my Creator.... But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, 'Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?'"

Q: It doesn't seem like a Muslim candidate would do very well, according to that standard.

A: I admire the Islam. There's a lot of good principles in it. I think one of the great tragedies of the 21st century is that these forces of evil have perverted what's basically an honorable religion. But, no, I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles.... personally, I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith. But that doesn't mean that I'm sure that someone who is Muslim would not make a good president. I don't say that we would rule out under any circumstances someone of a different faith. I just would--I just feel that that's an important part of our qualifications to lead.

Can I just interject something here? Seriously, if you are running for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, one of your handlers should sit you down at a table and make you read the entire Constitution (or read it to you if you know, you graduated from college witha C average). Furthermore, they should then make you memorize the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. And anyone that actually wants to really come across as the intelligent candidate? They should go and take a sixth grade civics class if they can't remember little details like the fact that our constitution does not establish us as a Christian Nation!!!!!!

In the meantime, NY Times coverage of Hillary Clinton has devolved to an analysis of her laugh cackle.

Okkkkaayyy...Taliburn refuses to negotiate with Karzai as long as "foreign troops are in Afghanistan". Karzai had offered to meet with the Taliban leader [Omar] and give militants a government position. Okay, so our handpicked Bush-friendly, former oil-exec president of Afghanistan is willing to let the Taliban back into the government mere years after they were deposed? Sounds like Iraq isn't the only place where we're still fighting a war...