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I COULDN'T RESIST PUTTING THIS UP-- APOLOGIES IN
ADVANCE TO EVERYONE

post from DownWithTyranny! on 09 May 2008 07:31:00 PM. © DownWithTyranny!

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http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-couldnt-resist-putting-this-up.html

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That Ol Double Standard Again

post from Firedoglake on 09 May 2008 07:30:45 PM. © Firedoglake

Last Monday I did a piece on how the AP has joined the local media in the Twin Cities in enabling a certain paid Republican operative and blogger named Michael Brodkorb, treating him as respectfully as they do Matt Drudge, even though (like Drudge) he's[...]

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http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/09/that-ol-double-standard-again/

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Blackwater unlikely to face charges for Sept.
‘07 Iraq shootout.

post from Think Progress on 09 May 2008 07:28:00 PM. © Think Progress

In September 2007, Blackwater guards in Iraq engaged in an unprovoked attack, according to witnesses, that killed 11 civilians. The AP reports today that the contractor “is not expected to face criminal charges” over the shooting, “all but ensuring the company will keep its multimillion-dollar contract to protect U.S. diplomats”:

Instead, the seven-month-old Justice Department investigation is focused on as few as three or four Blackwater guards who could be indicted in the Sept. 16 shootings, according to interviews with a half-dozen people close to the investigation. The final decision on any charges will not be made until late summer at the earliest, a law enforcement official said.

Nevertheless, families of the shooting victims “are suing Blackwater under a wrongful death claim in civil court.” Furthermore, federal prosecutors in North Carolina are “investigating whether Blackwater played a role in a weapons smuggling case linked to the Kurdish militant group PKK, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.”

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http://thinkprogress.org/2008/05/09/blackwater-unlikely-to-face-charges-for-sept-
07-iraq-shootout/

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Blitzer failed to challenge Romney's suggestion
that he had not attacked McCain's lack of accomplishment "in the world of business"

post from Media Matters for America on 09 May 2008 07:21:45 PM. © Media Matters for America

On the May 8 edition of CNN's The SituationRoom, during an interview with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney(R), host Wolf Blitzer said: "I asked him [Sen. Barack Obama] to respondto your criticism of him that he really hasn't accomplished muchlegislatively or in the world of business." Blitzer then played a videoclip of Obama, who said: "I think he was making those same argumentsagainst John McCain, suggesting John McCain, as a senator, hadn't donewhat Mitt Romney had done. And yet, here we[...]

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http://feeds.mediamatters.org/~r/mediamatters/latest/~3/287132253/200805090009

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School For Iraqi Orphans Teaches Peace

post from IraqSlogger.com on 09 May 2008 07:18:52 PM. © IraqSlogger.com

Click to play Alive in Baghdad reports this week from al-A'ssal House, a school for Iraqi orphans.

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http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/5804

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Special Election coming in NY-13

There may be another vacancy soon in Congress:

Several top New York Republicans said that Congressman Vito Fossella's resignation will come very soon.

There was political concern about how best to preserve the seat for the Republicans -- questions about immediate resignation versus finishing out his term and retiring -- but the calculation is there's nothing to be gained from Fossella sticking around. While Staten Island Republicans believe Fossella could at least serve out his term (the rest of the year) national Republicans want him gone. Now.
...
If Fossella resigns before July 1, Gov. David Paterson has the option of calling that special election. There are no time parameters on making the declaration, but once Paterson calls for a special election it has to be run in 30 to 40 days. But a more likely scenario, according to one Democratic consultant, is that Paterson would not declare a special election since the general election would come such a short time after the special election. - WNBC.com

The article points out that the Democrats might have a better chance at picking up an open seat in November than a low-turnout election in late summer, so it's very unclear if a Special Election will be held before the convention. But hey, can't a blogger dream of 798 superdelegates?

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http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/05/special-election-coming-in-ny-13.html

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THIS CHURCH HAS RELAXED ITS NEGRO ADMITTANCE
POLICY

post from the field negro on 09 May 2008 07:15:00 PM. © the field negro

"Freehold Iowa- Wednesday evening, Pastor Deacon Fred sent elderly white church members into a tizzy of profane catcalls when he announced that Landover Baptist would be admitting people of color into the main sanctuary for the first time in history. He assuaged their fears by confiding that coloreds would have limited access to the general congregation and would be restricted to hidden areas. "We've got to face it my friends," he said, "It's not the same world anymore. There are colored folks in this town who make more money than some of our tin-level tithers, and cash doesn't discriminate based on color. It's all green to Jesus and He doesn't care if it comes out of a Negro's shoe, or a white man's wallet, as long as it ends up in our offering plates on Sunday morning. Praise God!"

Landover Baptist will utilize a screening process invented by wealthy, educated colored folks. "We understand that people of color with money are just as leery of other Nubians whose ancestors were apparently so hideously unattractive that no obese, drunken white man could even bring himself to rape them," said Pastor Deacon Fred. Since Coloreds have developed a successful process for screening out their undesirables, and since we don't have much experience in these matters, the Board of Deacons at Landover Baptist is advising that whites borrow from a pre-existing process that people of color are already very comfortable with. "We understand that this is a very exciting time for local Negroes," said Pastor Deacon Fred. "For many, it's their first opportunity to worship in a real church, with a floor that doesn't turn to mud when it rains, and to be among people whose parents and grandparents first introduced their ancestors to the lashing Love of Jesus. If it's any indication of their eagerness, there is a already a long list of applicants who have paid the non refundable $50.00 admittance test fee."

Prospective Negro church members annual household income must exceed $148,000 (as verified by non-colored accountants) to qualify for the following admittance tests:

1. Brown Paper Bag Test:A brown paper bag will be placed next to the face of each candidate. If the skin of the candidate is darker than the bag, they will not be admitted into the church. If such a person is unable to tap-dance or engage in any other harmless talent to the delight of the families making their way from the reserved parking decks, they will be immediately escorted by Pastor Sergeant Connor into the next county. Those Negroes who pass this initial test will then be directed to the appropriate ticket window and should then pay careful attention to the three signs for the new, separate entrances: Brown Paper Bag , High Yellow, and Passing. Out of loving Christian concern, we understand that if an individual falls into one category, they will be uncomfortable if they are seated in the company of another category. As such, one of the domestics employed by the Ladies of Landover will make a binding, non-appealable, decision regarding where you will sit based on your skin tone.

2. Pencil Test:A pencil will be placed through the hairy naps at the back of the head of each candidate. If the pencil stays in the naps without support, the candidate will be denied access to the church, but will be permitted to join us in worship from the parking lot if a love offering is make in advance.

3. Bible Balance Test:A Bible will be placed at the tuft of the back, just above the buttocks of the candidate. If the hind end is jutted in such a way that it holds the Bible in place without support, the candidate will be denied access to the main sanctuary, but will be permitted to join us in worship in the caged area behind the one way mirror above the center balcony.

4. Pronunciation Test:Candidates will be given a series of simple English sentences to memorize and recite (example: "I say, don't you rather think that this pish-posh about it being dreadfully inclement was balderdash, as it appears that it shall be most agreeably lovely ? just absolutely, gloriously brilliant -- for well into the next fortnight, no?" ) If the candidate forgets or mispronounces any of the words, or if the Pastor doing the testing is not comfortable with their quarrelsome or uppity inflection, they will not be admitted to the main sanctuary, but will be allowed to join us in worship from the parking lot or from behind the one way mirror above the center balcony.

5. Special TestFor legal reasons, we do not discuss this special test publicly.
Historical Note: Previously, people of color were confined to the small caged area to the rear of main sanctuary where they were forced to stand behind a one way mirror. Coloreds were also permitted to sit out in the field behind the church and watch services on the outdoor jumbo-tron above the parking lot. Since, in bald violation of States' Rights and etiquette, the US Marshals' surprise raid in 1972 forced Landover members to finally free their slaves, white parishioners have since suffered greatly for the Lord's sake. In some extreme cases, members who cannot afford servants are even forced to do their own cooking and cleaning. Most Landover Baptist members retain their family slaves in the form of "indentured servants." These faithful and happy servants retain their previous living quarters and are given a small salary for food and clothing. In return, they are blessed daily with the privilege of serving the last generation of True American Christians? in Freehold, Iowa. These faithful servants await their reward in Heaven where, God willing, they will continue 5 star service to God's chosen people who will become their masters in mansions of Glory.

Special Notice: As a privately funded non-profit religious institution, the Landover Baptist Church reserves the right to discriminate based on race, religion, sexual preference, size, weight, height, age, sex, and political affiliation. "

More about my favorite church here.

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http://field-negro.blogspot.com/2008/05/this-church-has-relaxed-its-negro.html

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David Cay Johnston Speaks on the Free Lunch Given
to America's Corporations and the Wealthy

post from BuzzFlash.org - Progressive News and Commentary with an Attitude | Fight Ignorance: Read BuzzFlash on 09 May 2008 07:07:14 PM. © BuzzFlash.org - Progressive News and Commentary with an Attitude | Fight Ignorance: Read BuzzFlash

On Sunday, March 9, 2008, BuzzFlash sponsored an afternoon talk with David Cay Johnston, who discussed his latest book: ?Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill).?

BuzzFlash taped the presentation -- and on this page, BuzzFlash is offering his remarks to our readers as You-Tube segments.

Part One:

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Digging a little deeper into McCain ethical
lapses

When considering John McCain?s history of unethical behavior, the list usually starts (and ends) with the Keating Five scandal in the 1980s, for which McCain was rebuked by the Senate Ethics Committee for having shown, at a minimum, poor judgment. While McCain took on the role of a ?reformer? in the scandal?s aftermath, his ethical [...]

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http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/05/09/digging-a-little-deeper-into-mccain-ethi
cal-lapses/

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Which Is It Blue Dogs or Red Dogs

It's time to draw a line in the sand. There are forty-seven members of the Blue Dog Democrats, and we need to know which ones support the U.S. troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and which ones agree with Rep. John Tanner that they are nothing more than deficit-enhancing debris. This is what Mr. Tanner had to say when announcing the plan by a segment of the Blue Dogs to block a vote on the GI Bill of Rights:

Some of us oppose creating a new entitlement program in an emergency spending bill, whether it’s butchers, bakers or candlestick-makers.

A group that has voted time after time to support George Bush's war, at a cost of over $500 billion dollars, now dismisses the men and women who risked their lives as candlestick-makers who don't deserve money to go to college? The Blue Dog's reason? Because their budgetary rule of pay-as-you-go has "been ignored one too many times." Yes, these champions of fiscal responsibility are fine with George Bush's twice-a-year $100 billion "supplementals," they are fine with billions going to Halliburton and Blackwater, but when it comes to providing a benefit to the people who fought in the war that the Blue Dogs supported, well, to hell with the troops.

The Blue Dogs only need 15 votes to block a vote on this measure which scheduled to come up next week, and when asked if they had enough members opposing the bill, Blue Dog leader Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL) said:

"There’s 47 of us, what do you think?"

I think that out of the 292 co-sponsors of the bill , 36 are Blue Dog Democrats, which means one of two things: either Tanner and Boyd plan to join forces with Republicans to kill this bill, or there are at least 4 Blue Dogs who don't have the courage to stand by their convictions and do the right thing.
It's time to find out where the Blue Dogs stand. Do they stand with the troops or do they stand with George Bush, John McCain and the Blue Dogs who dismiss the troops as "candlestick-makers" who don't deserve benefits when they return from war? Call and ask if they intend to help block H.R. 5740.

Mike Arcuri: (202) 225-3665
Joe Baca: (202) 225-6161
John Barrow: (202) 225-2823
Melissa Bean: (202) 225-3711
Marion Berry: (202) 225-4076
Sanford Bishop: (202) 225-3631
Dan Boren: (202) 225-2701
Leonard Boswell: (202) 225-3806
Allen Boyd: (202) 225-5235
Dennis Cardoza: (202) 225-6131
Christopher Carney: (202) 225-3731
Ben Chandler: (202) 225-4706
Jim Cooper: (202) 225-4311
Jim Costa: (202) 225-3341
Bud Cramer: (202) 225-4801
Lincoln Davis: (202) 225-6831
Joe Donnelly: (202) 225-3915
Brad Ellsworth: (202) 225-4636
Gabrille Giffords: (202) 225-2542
Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 225-5614
Bart Gordon: (202) 225-4231
Jane Harman: (202) 225 8220
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin: (202) 225-2801
Baron Hill: (202) 225-5315
Tim Holden: (202) 225-5546
Steve Israel: (202) 225-4669
Nick Lampson: (202) 225-5951
Tim Mahoney: (202) 225-5792
Jim Marshal: (202) 225-6531
Jim Matheson: (202) 225-3011
Mike McIntyre: (202) 225-2731
Charlie Melancon: (202) 225-4031
Michael Michaud: (202) 225-6306
Dennis Moore: (202) 225-2865
Patrick Murphy: (202) 225-4276
Collin Peterson: (202) 225-2165
Earl Pomeroy: (202) 225-2611
Mike Ross: 1-800-223-2220
John Salazar: (202) 225-4761
Loretta Sanchez: (202) 225-2965
Adam Schiff: (202) 225-4176
David Scott: (202) 225-2939
Heath Shuler: (202) 225-6401
Zack Space: (202) 225-6265
John Tanner: (202) 225-4714
Gene Taylor: (202) 225-5772
Mike Thompson: (202) 225-3311
Charlie Wilson: (202) 225-5705