US, Mexico spring to alert after scores die from swine flu
by Agence France-Presse
Mexican and US officials on Friday took emergency measures to contain outbreaks of a new multi-strain swine flu blamed for scores of deaths in Mexico and seven infections in the United States.Mexican authorities confirmed the swine flu outbreak and warned people to avoid crowds or using the subway as it launched a massive vaccination campaign in the country's populous capital. |
Justifications for Torture: You've Heard the Rest, Now Here's the Best
by Russ Wellen
Since President Obama approved the release of the torture memos, conservatives have jump-started their efforts to make the case that torture works. The testimony of everyone from historians to FBI agents aside, what if there's a germ of truth to what they allege? |
In the Case of Iraq, a War Story Might Best Take Place on U.S. Soil
by Mark Biskeborn
In the last few days, reports appeared about how the Pulitzer committee awarded their prestigious prize to topics like the luxury bordello scandals involving elected officials, Thomas Jefferson’s various mistresses, and international sex trafficking, among others. |
Peggy Noonan Braces For Next Emotional Breakdown
by Allison Kilkenny
The American media has a shockingly short attention span and is prone to bouts of hysteria. Just as September 11th was a game changer that was the Event to Change All Events, so the media tells us that the economic downturn is the new Event to Change All Events. These are unprecedented times. The law must be cast aside in the name of our collective panic attack. Torture be damned! There's no time for rules! |
Multitask, Mr. President
by Mary Shaw
During last year's presidential campaign, one of the many reasons why I supported Barack Obama so strongly was because I believed that he could multitask. A U.S. President has a lot on his plate.I think back to when Republican rival John McCain canceled an appearance on the David Letterman show at the last minute last fall, alleging that he was hurrying back to Washington to save the economy, when in reality he chose instead to appear on air with Katie Couric. McCain clearly does not know how to multitask. If he is unable to juggle Letterman, Couric, and the economy -- two of which are relatively easy and straightforward -- then he most likely would have trouble dealing day-to-day with the multitude of issues that currently face the nation. |
Cheney Starts Pro-Torture Facebook Page
by Andy Borowitz
In his most aggressive public relations move since leaving office, former Vice President Dick Cheney today established a Facebook page for fans of torture.In recent weeks, Mr. Cheney has been speaking out in praise of such controversial interrogation tactics as waterboarding, but in establishing his Facebook page the vice president seems to be attempting something far more amibitious: creating a social network for torture fans everywhere. |
Zelikow Has Got to Go
by David Swanson
Philip Zelikow may be best known as the guy who oversaw the 9-11 Commission's utter failure to investigate George W. Bush's criminal negligence in the lead up to September 11, 2001. He also directed the Carter-Baker commission on elections that led to the Help America Vote Act, which in turn led to the most high-tech but least credible system of elections yet devised and the dubious and disastrous outcome of the 2004 presidential contest. |
Hindenburg Digest: More tales from the housing bust
by Mike Whitney
Why is the media misleading the public about housing?The housing market is crashing. There are no "green shoots" or "glimmers of hope"; the market is worn to a stump, it's kaput. Still, whenever new housing figures are released, they're crunched and tweaked and spin-dried until they tell a totally different story; a hopeful story about an elusive "light in the tunnel". But there is no light in the tunnel; it's a myth. The truth is, there's no sign of a turnaround or a "bottom" in housing at all; not yet, at least. The real estate market is freefalling and it looks like its got a long way to go. So why is the media still peddling the same "rose-colored" claptrap that put the country in this pickle to begin with? Here's an example of media spin which appeared in Bloomberg News on Wednesday: |
Torture and the Rule of Law: Think Nelson Mandela
by Brent Budowsky
Attorney General Eric Holder should complete a full report about the conduct that would legally be called torture, about the facts of the cases — from the legality of the acts committed to whether major terrorist plots were foiled by this — and make recommendations regarding prosecution. Until then the president and his entire administration should declare a complete moratorium on all public opining about this subject. |
Obama's 100 Days: Bursting the Bubble
by Dave Zirin
If we've learned nothing else in the last six months, it is that there are some very powerful people who suffer from what is being called Baracknophobia. This is the irrational fear of right-wing Republicans who suffer from the delusion that Barack Obama is a dangerous radical aiming to overthrow the entire U.S. political system. |
Come Visit. Live Life. Eat Cheese.
by Gail Collins
Wisconsin has unveiled a new official state slogan, “Live Like You Mean It,” much to the dismay of some Wisconsinites who wondered why their tourism department spent $50,000 to come up with a catchphrase that used to be in a Bacardi Rum ad campaign. “It wasn’t so much we didn’t like it as — it’s been used,” said Warren Bluhm of The Green-Bay Press-Gazette, who wrote an editorial denouncing the choice. Under further questioning, Bluhm admitted that he also didn’t like it. |
A Culture Soaked in Blood
by Bob Herbert
Guns.Philip Markoff, a medical student, supposedly carried his semiautomatic in a hollowed-out volume of “Gray’s Anatomy.” Police believe he used it in a hotel room in Boston last week to murder Julissa Brisman, a 26-year-old woman who had advertised her services as a masseuse on Craigslist. |
Florida may issue Christian license plates
by Amy Hollyfield
Florida would issue a license plate with the image of Jesus and another with a cross if lawmakers pass a bill now in the Legislature. TALLAHASSEE -- Florida could issue Jesus, cross license platesIf you want Jesus on your license plate, the Florida Senate is looking out for you. |
