Think Progress quotes South China Morning Post

Think Progress � Lessons of Iraq Policy: U.S.’s Loss Is China’s Gain: "Through its rash actions, the Bush administration squandered, in just a couple of years, half a century of America’s hard-earned reputation as a responsible, generally benevolent, superpower. …"

How the other half of 1% tailgates

Class distinctions are on display in this New York Times article on tailgating at Yale, college of the Bushes since Prescott. Doesn't it look like they're having fun?

WSJ.com - Bush's Approval Rating Falls Again, Poll Shows

WSJ.com - Bush's Approval Rating Falls Again, Poll Shows

Murtha vs. Cheney

Is it just me or are Cheney and other Rs starting to sound like Daffy
Duck?

Hawkish Democrat Calls for Iraq Pullout - Yahoo! News: "Vice President
Dick Cheney jumped into the fray Wednesday by assailing Democrats who contend the Bush administration manipulated intelligence on Iraq, calling their criticism 'one of the most dishonest and reprehensible charges ever aired in this city.'

Murtha, a Marine intelligence officer in Vietnam, angrily shot back at Cheney: 'I like guys who've never been there that criticize us who've been there. I like that. I like guys who got five deferments and never been there and send people to war, and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done.'"

This never gets old

Cheney getting heckled...in Tennessee!

Chillin' with Chalabi: My Journey into the Surreal

Hey, can you guys write some blog posts like this?

"Chalabi looked downright laid-back in a multi-colored sweater that can only be described as Cosby-esque.
As I said, it was a surreal night -- made even more so when my cell phone rang at 12:30 a.m. It was John Cusack, who had come with me to the Council on Foreign Relations to hear Chalabi speak earlier in the day.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm having dinner with Ahmad Chalabi," I replied (not a line I get to use very often)."

Chillin' with Chalabi

Creationist Survey Results in Newsweek

Dec. 5 - Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.

Here is the link:

Pay Raise Politics

The Inquirer has an article on the "populist uprising" about legislative pay raises. Some here have claimed that right wing groups and corporations are behind this and that it's not a progressive issue. The Inquirer mentions the group Democracy Rising. Ok so they have an eagle on their web site. And they do partner with some conservative groups, but they also partner with some non-partisan groups like Common Cause and League of Women Voters. They have an article on the site, "Silence of the Left." Might some of the issues be a point of "shared values?"

Talkin Politics

"In a polarized society like ours today, it can be difficult to remember that we must engage in respectful dialogue and build on our shared values with those who disagree with us on some issues. I have traveled across the country a couple of times, and wherever I've gone, I've met people who shared certain basic values: civility, optimism, a committment to do the right thing. I've found these values just as often in states considered "conservative," like Indiana and Idaho, as in "progressive" states, like Massachusetts and California--or even more often." Peter Schurman, Executive Director, MoveOn in MoveOn's 50 Ways to Love Your Country, p. 3.

I find it difficult to talk politics with people in general, especially people who I disagree with and who have strong opinions. It just becomes a shouting match. Perhaps "building on shared values" is the right place to start.

How do you say "right-wing talking point" in French?

Link here to read a pretty frightening article that demonstrates the latest right-wing talking pont in the "war on terror." If you don't have time, here's the short version - poverty and unemployment have nothing to do with the rioting in France: it's all a reflection of the fact that the basic tenets of Islam promote violence and religious intolerance - let the "clash of civilizations commence."

Yo, Meta!

JOBS WITH JUSTICE along with dozens of local unions, religious organizations, and social justice groups is spearheading a week of action (November 13-19) in Philadelphia to draw attention to the impacts of Wal-Mart’s business practices on our economy, environment, and culture. A cornerstone of the organizing is a media initiative in partnership with PHILLY IMC.

WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE
(directed by Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films 2005)
will premiere on Sunday, November 13 at 6:00pm at the Gershman Y, Levitt Auditorium 401 S. Broad Street FREE

This documentary takes the viewer on a deeply personal journey into the everyday lives of families struggling to fight Goliath. Wal-Mart is reacting to the mounting criticisms aimed at them! On November 1 the New York Times revealed that there is now a Wal-Mart War Room made up of past presidential advisors to strategize rapid PR responses to attacks. The first major task they have is responding to Robert Greenwald’s documentary. Don’t miss this screening! We will announce other actions for the week here!

Contact Shivaani Selvaraj at sshivaani@yahoo.com or 215.735.3615 for more information about other
activities during the week or to get involved with independent journalism and media making as a new form
of political organizing.

Democratic Party Web Site

We won, yay. Although Nigro got ousted. A big highlight was the 8 intelligent design repubs who got the boot somewhere in wherever. The real test will be next year.

Has anyone noticed on the Dem Party Web Site there's a drop down "People." I was noticing I don't really view myself as fitting into any of those categories, except maybe Union Members & Families. What do you think about these categories: Privileged Whites, Urban Dwellers, Tenured Gardeners, and hey why not, Liberal Malcontents. Any other suggestions?

Colour-blind policy has fed Muslim radicalism - World - Times Online

The "French model" sounds similar to our old melting pot idea.

Colour-blind policy has fed Muslim radicalism - World - Times Online

The realist persuasion - The Boston Globe

After a critique of American exceptionalism (why isn't this stupid idea dead yet?) the author advocates a return to realism and blames the American public (?) for war-mongering.

The realist persuasion - The Boston Globe

DSC01687
Originally uploaded by Jimmy.CN.

Some Philly Issues

Can someone explain to me how and why the PA legislature repealed their pay raises? Was there any organized pressure to force this and where did it come from? The Inquirer makes it sound like it was just a lot of angry letters to the editor. Is this possible?

Sandy Smith has a nice article in City Paper on how Ed Bacon brought too much of the suburb into the city.

Holy Crap: CIA Has Secret al-Qaida Prison

NEW YORK - The CIA has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al-Qaida captives at a Soviet-era compound in Eastern Europe, according to U.S. and foreign officials familiar with the arrangement, the Washington Post reported.

Is Reid a genius, petty and vindictive, or just nuts?

Never before, said Mr. Frist, "have ever I been slapped in the face with such an affront to the leadership of this grand institution."

The liberal blogosphere is beside itself about Reid's bravado and brilliance in shutting down the Senate. Was he just peeved because Bush didn't consult with him on Alito? (Would you consult with the opposition after they recommended Harriet Miers and btw was that a Macchiavellian move by Reid too?) Or is this indeed brilliant strategy? I am glad Reid is moving the debate from Plame/Libby to the Iraq war in general.

A New Weapon for Wal-Mart: A War Room - New York Times

Wal-Mart has now set up a public relations "war room" to respond to critics. This is like the student who goes through elaborate machinations to cheat. At some point it justs gets easier to do things the right way.