Archive for August, 2007

Firefighters Endorse Dodd?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Dodd

Hmm….could Dodd steal Richardson’s dark horse status? Here’s certainly been impressive in the debates and positions himself credibly as somebody who knows his stuff inside and out.
From Politico:
Chris Dodd’s campaign is set this week to announce a quite major labor endorsement: the International Association of Firefighters, according to a source familiar with the plans. [...]
The [...]

August 28th, 2007 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

$20,000 Bonus To Join The Army

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Military, Money

If you thought the Pentagon was having problems getting people to join, well, you’re right. But these recruits are only getting the bonus if they train quickly and ship out almost immediately to Iraq.

I hope they’re alive to spend it.

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

Quote Of The Day

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Quotes, The War On Terrorism

“So 2745 out of 302,703,731 in the past ten years have died in terrorist attacks, and we are getting our knickers in a twist about an arrow made of flour in the IKEA parking lot?”
- John Cole on this story.
Why do you hate American John?

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Hagel called it: Bush chooses legacy over loyalty.

By mw | Related entries in 2008 Election, Iraq, Law

It does seem that Chuck Hagel has his finger on the political pulse of this presidency. The Rove resignation, Gonzales resignation, and the soon to be announced Iraq drawdown are all part of the George W Bush Presidential Legacy Rehabilitation Surge.

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 3 Comments »

Ron Paul Realism: Question 6 of 7

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, 3rd Party, Ron Paul

The series continues!
It started with this post, and then continued on in posts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Now…question 6, and the one that could be the most important to Paul’s campaign: What about those racist writings in his newsletter? I’ve heard Paul’s response, but I think most of us can agree it’s pretty [...]

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 32 Comments »

Pics Of The Week

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Pictures

As always, at the bottom of the page, courtesy of TheNewsRoom.
By the way, full disclosure, I’ve become a brand ambassador for TheNewsRoom which means I’m actively writing and educating our community about their product and its benefits. This isn’t a paid position, but I do get double points in their rewards program called NewsPerks.
Needless to [...]

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

Republicans Losing the Youth Vote

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, 3rd Party, Polls

They had Gen X, but now the new youngins are particuarly disenchanted.
From SFGate:
Young Americans have become so profoundly alienated from Republican ideals on issues including the war in Iraq, global warming, same-sex marriage and illegal immigration that their defections suggest a political setback that could haunt Republicans “for many generations to come,” the poll said.
The [...]

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

Iraqi Leaders Set Benchmarks

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Iraq, Legislation

Here they are:
Iraqi officials said the five leaders had agreed on draft legislation that would ease curbs on former members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party joining the civil service and military.
Consensus was also reached on a law governing provincial powers as well as setting up a mechanism to release some detainees held without charge, a [...]

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Gonzales Resigns

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in General Politics, Law

And not a moment too late.
From the NY Times:
WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.
Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his [...]

August 27th, 2007 | Permalink| 6 Comments »

500 Million Chinese Need Drinkable Water?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in China, Environment

Have we made a deal with the devil?
From NY Times:
Environmental degradation is now so severe, with such stark domestic and international repercussions, that pollution poses not only a major long-term burden on the Chinese public but also an acute political challenge to the ruling Communist Party. And it is not clear that China can rein [...]

August 26th, 2007 | Permalink| 24 Comments »

Broder Floats Bloomberg/Hagel 2008

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, 3rd Party

Does Broder know something we don’t? Bloomberg has said he won’t run, but the beltway insider writes an editorial about it…hmm…
From WP:
Hagel said that he and Bloomberg have “had some talks” but that neither of them is ready at this moment to form a partnership or stake out a strategy. Like everyone else, Hagel understands [...]

August 26th, 2007 | Permalink| 2 Comments »

Florida Dems Don’t Matter?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Bad Decisions

Florida moved up its primary to January 29th. The DNC’s response? They can’t send any delegates to the convention!
From Politico:
Florida will lose all its delegates to the Democratic National Convention unless the state moves its primary from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5, the Democratic Party decided Saturday.
While the one-week change may seem trivial to outsiders, [...]

August 25th, 2007 | Permalink| 7 Comments »

Aaron Russo Has Passed

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in General Politics, Libertarian, Money, Taxes

Who is Aaron Russo?
He produced the movie Trading Places and the television series Wise Guys. But more importantly, he directed the movie America: Freedom to Fascism about our rights and it’s freely available on Google Video.

Rest in peace.

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

Video: The iPhone Hacker Speaks

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Technology, Video

You know the iPhone was supposed to only work on AT&T’s network, right?
Well…that just changed today.

Video courtesy of TheNewsRoom.

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 4 Comments »

Ron Paul Realism: Question 5 of 7

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Ron Paul

Continuing the series which started with this post, and then continued on in 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Now we have question 5: Have you studied the campaign of Howard Dean? How are you not going to repeat those mistakes?

Dary: By not making them.

Michael: Howard Dean did make a few mistakes. I don’t think Ron Paul [...]

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 23 Comments »

A Defense of Mitt Romney On Abortion, and Why It is Besides The Point

By 2008Central.net | Related entries in 2008 Election, Abortion

[Re-published from 2008Central.net]
Marc Ambinder on Romney and abortion:
Mitt Romney is simply struggling to explain the Republican Party’s conventional pro-life position. Which is: overturn Roe v. Wade. And then, slowly build up public support for a constitutional amendment banning abortions. ETA: 30 years or more.
This is not a flip-flop.
The reason why Romney is struggling to explain [...]

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 1 Comment »

Weekend Calendar Preview (August 24-26, 2007)

By 2008Central.net | Related entries in 2008 Election

[Re-published from 2008Central.net]
It’s a slow weekend at the end of August, and the calendar is a bit slow.
Barack Obama…

Obama campaigns in Tallahassee, FL today and Miami, FL tomorrow. Sunday he spends the morning in New Orleans before heading off to Lexington, KY for a kick off rally that evening.

Bill Richardson…

Richardson campaigns all weekend in New [...]

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| No Comments »

General Pace: Draw Down Troops

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Iraq, Military

This is sure to ruffle some feathers:
WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is expected to advise President Bush to reduce the U.S. force in Iraq next year by almost half, potentially creating a rift with top White House officials and other military commanders over the course of the war.
Administration and [...]

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 5 Comments »

Why Has Congress Failed Americans?

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Congress, Constitution

The following is an article submitted by Joel Hirschhorn, former senior staffer in the U.S. Congress for 12 years and author of Delusional Democracy…
The Founders of our nation and the Framers of our Constitution surely did not foresee the day when, of the federal government’s three branches, the public would have the least confidence in [...]

August 24th, 2007 | Permalink| 13 Comments »

The dude with white hair - A DoodTube surge.

By mw | Related entries in 2008 Election, Economy, Hillary, In The News, Video

Senator Dodd speaks with authority and clarity about a complex problem that affects millions of Americans facing foreclosure on badly constructed and/or misrepresented loans, as well as a panicky credit market and business community. The interview is conducted on CNBC - the business channel of record - where he has a dialog with business journalists, not as presidential candidate, but as an important actor on the American economic stage.

August 23rd, 2007 | Permalink| 3 Comments »