Resource of the Day
Friday December 30, 2005
Depleted Uranium :
Overview, resources and testimony relating to depleted uranium from Physicians for Social Responsibility. "PSR has long argued that DU should not be used by the military until sufficient ... Read More
The Political Year in Review
Thursday December 29, 2005
In January, President Bush began his second term, buoyed by a clear numerical win at the polls. Although his popularity rating was about 50 percent, he vowed to use his ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Thursday December 29, 2005
Medical Marijuana Use in California :
Background information about medicinal use of marijuana and conflicts between federal and state law, including California's Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act. ... Read More
Most SBA 9/11 Loans Went to Unharmed Firms
Thursday December 29, 2005
The Small Business Administration (SBA) Inspector General reported Wednesday that 85 percent of post-9/11 Supplementary Terrorist Activity Relief (STAR) loans went to firms unaffected by the terrorist attack. The SBA ... Read More
Secret Court Modified Record Number of Bush Wiretap Requests
Wednesday December 28, 2005
Updated 10.15 am PST
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) modified almost 100 times as many Bush administration wiretap requests (179) as it did in all prior administrations combined ... Read More
New Moves in Information War
Wednesday December 28, 2005
The Pentagon is ratcheting up the war of information for the hearts and minds of Iraqi and US citizens, according to the Washington Post. For example, military blogger Bill Roggio ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Wednesday December 28, 2005
Measuring The Impact of Wall-Mart on the US Economy:
This Global Insight study, published in November, "analyses the national and region impact of the nation's largest retailer on the U.S. economy. ... Read More
Patriot Act Gets One-Month Extension
Wednesday December 28, 2005
The Senate endorsed a House-passed bill (HR 4647) last week that extended the Patriot Act for another month instead of the six months in the original Senate bill. This sets ... Read More
Quote of the Day
Tuesday December 27, 2005
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, when asked about the Bush Administration's decision to authorize warrantless wiretaps of US citizens: "It didn't seem to me that it would have been ... Read More
Coalition Partners Pull Out of Iraq, Poland Stays
Tuesday December 27, 2005
Coalition soldiers from Bulgaria and the Ukraine pulled out of Iraq today, with Polish troops soon to decline to 600, according to Ireland Online. However, Poland's continued presence, although reduced, ... Read More
Impeachment Movement Gains Momentum
Tuesday December 27, 2005
The movement to impeach President Bush is gaining momentum, according to US Liberals Guide Deborah White. An early December Rasmussen Reports survey suggested about one-third of Americans would support impeachment, ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Tuesday December 27, 2005
High Crimes and Misdemeanors in the White House: The History Channel provides info about the role of impeachment in our nation's history and the presidents who have faced one of ... Read More
Bush Appointee Husband of CIA Case Reporter
Sunday December 25, 2005
President Bush has appointed Democratic lawyer Robert D. Lenhard to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). Neither the White House press statement nor the Washington Post notes that his wife is ... Read More
Secret Court Judge Resigns
Saturday December 24, 2005
One member of the 11-judge secret court authorized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has resigned and the presiding judge, Dee Benson, is "arranging a classified briefing for ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Friday December 23, 2005
Digital Divide Affecting Student Success: A report from University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) suggests that having a home computer increases the odds that a student will graduate from high ... Read More
Cato Columnist Linked to Abramoff Resigns
Thursday December 22, 2005
Doug Bandow, senior scholar at the libertarian Cato Institute, has resigned after it became publich that he accepted payments from embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for favorable writing ... Read More
Budget Passes With Cheney Vote
Wednesday December 21, 2005
Vice President Cheney cast the tie-breaking vote today to pass a $40 billion budget bill. However, Democrats did force changes in the bill's health care provisions, sending it back to ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Wednesday December 21, 2005
National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month: Pause before season revelry to designate an unimpaired driver. Since 1981, every President has declared December 3D Prevention month.
Technorati Profile
Technorati ... Read More
Senate Blocks Spending Bill
Wednesday December 21, 2005
Updated 4.23 pm EST
The Senate successfully blocked a vote on a controversial House-authorized $453 billion defense appropriation bill today. Democratic leadership had lined up in opposition to a rider ... Read More
PA Judge Rules Intelligent Design Unconstitutional
Tuesday December 20, 2005
A federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled today that "it is unconstitutional to teach intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in a public school classroom." In this case, the Dover ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Tuesday December 20, 2005
Trends in Retirement Age in Four Countries, 1965-95 (pdf) : This Bureau of Labor Statistics report examines retirement patterns in Germany, Japan, Sweden and the US. In all four countries, ... Read More
House Wraps Up For the Year; Focus on Alaska Oil Refuge
Tuesday December 20, 2005
The House of Representatives passed a $453 billion defense authorization bill (308-106) early Monday morning that included a provision to open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling as ... Read More
Times Sat on Wiretapping Story for a Year
Monday December 19, 2005
On Friday, the New York Times said that it had sat on the story about warrantless, domestic electronic surveillance, "for a year" at the request of the White House. ... Read More
Bush Defends By-Passing Courts, Asserts Wiretaps Are Legal
Monday December 19, 2005
In his press conference this morning, President Bush peppered his remarks with 9-11 (seven references in 17 paragraphs in the press statement) and the cloak of the 9-11 Commission while ... Read More
Resources of the Day
Monday December 19, 2005
AARP - Retirement: This comprehensive resource from AARP provides research reports, opinion pieces, Congressional testimony, fact sheets and legal dockets on retirement
policy. Topics include early retirement, the aging workforce, phased ... Read More
Diebold Class Action Suit Filed
Saturday December 17, 2005
Associated Press reports that two lawyers have filed class action suits in Cleveland against Ohio-based Diebold, asserting the firm "made misleading comments about its electronic voting machine business that ... Read More
Bipartisan Coalition Blocks Patriot Act Renewal
Friday December 16, 2005
Updated 17 December, 1.11 am
Civil libertarian Republicans broke ranks on Friday, joining 40 Democrats and one Independent to give President Bush a significant legislative black eye when a filibuster successfully ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Friday December 16, 2005
123Jump. A must-bookmark site for anyone following the economy. Includes global news, info on US economy (trade deficit, inventories, etc.). Follow "earnings calls" of major US corporations as well. There ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Thursday December 15, 2005
Roll Call Votes - House of Representatives. View House "Roll Call Vote" results for the current Congress (or votes to 1990), including votes taken today. "Roll Call votes are ... Read More
Military Propaganda Tied to the UK
Thursday December 15, 2005
According to the MediaGuardian, the Pentagon's propaganda effort in Iraq has roots in England. The two-year old Lincoln Group - recipient of a June 2005 $100 million "indefinite ... Read More
New Patriot Act Could Bar Protests at Party Coventions
Thursday December 15, 2005
Writing to Newsroom-L, Ben Masel provides this analysis of sections 602 and 603 of the revised Patriot Act:
Section 602 of the Conference Committee's version of Patriot Act makes
holding an un-authorized ... Read More
Judge Hears Objection to NC Approval of Diebold Election Systems
Thursday December 15, 2005
Updated 15 December
North Carolina's State Elections Board has approved Diebold Election Systems, Election Systems & Software and Sequoia Voting Systems for purchase by the state's 100 counties. A judge heard ... Read More
Trade Deficit Hits Record in October
Thursday December 15, 2005
The Financial Times reports that the US trade deficit hit a new high in October, "confounding Wall Street expectations forecasts that it would fall and suggesting trade will be a ... Read More
House Passes Patriot Act Extension; Senate Passage Not Assured
Thursday December 15, 2005
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed an extension of the 2001 Patriot Act (HR 3199, 251-174) that gives the FBI authority to use roving wiretaps as well as ... Read More
Bush Takes Responsiblity for Faulty Pre-War Intelligence
Wednesday December 14, 2005
In his fourth speech before Iraqi elections, President Bush again said he would initiate a war with Iraq because "Saddam was a threat and the American people, and the world ... Read More
More Books for Your Favorite Political Junkie
Wednesday December 14, 2005
Still have gifts to buy and wrap? I've found 10 great books published in 2005 for your favorite political junkie -- whether conservative, liberal or libertarian. It joins my ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Wednesday December 14, 2005
Voting Research: The Bay Area Center for Voting Research (BACVR) provides nonpartisan analysis of voter trends in the San Francisco Bay region and nationally. Most recent report of interest: ... Read More
Middle East Propaganda Effort Detailed
Wednesday December 14, 2005
CJR Daily questions the refrain of "we didn't know" that have come from the White House regarding the latest news about military propaganda in Iraq.
Each time the Bush administration has ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Tuesday December 13, 2005
Death Penalty : History, Statistics, Cases. This interactive exploration of capital punishment is designed for high school students bu approproiate for any9one wanting to learn more about the subject. Students ... Read More
Appeals Exhausted, Crips Founder Executed
Tuesday December 13, 2005
CNN reports that both the Supreme Court and Governor of California refused to halt Tuesday's 12.01 am execution of Crips Gang co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams (51).
In refusing to ... Read More
Diebold CEO Resigns
Tuesday December 13, 2005
Late on Monday, Diebold CEO Walden W O'Dell resigned for "personal reasons," and the Ohio company promoted President and Chief Operating Officer (for three months) Thomas W. Swidarski to the ... Read More
Bush Concedes 30,000 Iraqis Dead; Would Do It Again
Monday December 12, 2005
Validating estimates of war dead provided by Iraq Body Count, President Bush conceded today that this war has imposed a toll on Iraqi civilians. "I would say 30,000 more ... Read More
Eugene McCarthy: Dead at 89
Monday December 12, 2005
Eulogies provide tribute to presidential candidate and former Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-MN) who died Saturday at age 89. David Broder calls him parodoxical; the Boston Globe describes him as ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Monday December 12, 2005
Roll Call Votes - Senate. View Senate "Roll Call Vote" results for current and prior Congresses (backto 1989), including votes taken today. "Roll call vote results are compiled through ... Read More
Congressional Republicans Reach Deal on Patriot Act
Friday December 9, 2005
The White House brokered a compromise deal with Congressional Republicans on Thursday that will move a Patriot Act reauthorization bill to the floor next week, according to the San Jose ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Friday December 9, 2005
Northwest Biodiesel Network. High gasoline prices are prompting consumers to explore transporation alternatives. In the Northwest, some consumers are turning to biodiesel, a "renewable fuel made which is primarily ... Read More
Fitzgerald Again Before Grand Jury
Thursday December 8, 2005
For the first time since handing down indictments against I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in Plamegate, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald appeared before a grand jury on Wednesday, prompting speculation about new ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Thursday December 8, 2005
WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence Against Women. This preliminary report, based on interviews with 24,000 women, documents "intimate partner violence" as well as non-partner violence. It ... Read More
Final 9-11 Discourse Project Report Critical of Federal Response
Wednesday December 7, 2005
Updated 7 December
Monday, the 9/11 Public Discourse Project (formerly the 9/11 Commission) gave the federal government mediocre and failing grades for its response to the Commission's 41 recommendations, ... Read More
Mayor Recalled for Sex Scandal
Wednesday December 7, 2005
Spokane, WA, Mayor Jim West lost a special recall election this week over allegations he offered a city job to someone he met in a gay chat room. As ... Read More
Behind the Cunningham Scandal
Wednesday December 7, 2005
The San Diego Union-Tribune ran an excellent profile Sunday on military contractor Brent Wilkes, identified as "Co-conspirator No. 1" in the indictment against former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham (63, CA-R, ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Wednesday December 7, 2005
An American Christmas: Decade by Decade. This online exhibit from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum traces how the way Americans have celebrated Christmans since 1840 has evolved. The Puritans ... Read More
House Democrats Release "Innovation Agenda"
Tuesday December 6, 2005
Last month, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released "The Innovation Agenda: A
Commitment to Competitiveness to Keep America #1" and said that American research and development concerns are now ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Tuesday December 6, 2005
The Reader's Companion to American History: Monroe Doctrine. Primer on the Monroe Doctrine; describes the development history, "such as how Theodore Roosevelt's 'Big Stick' Latin American policy became synonymous with ... Read More
Military Admits Planting "News"
Tuesday December 6, 2005
On Friday, Pentagon officials confirmed, in a 25-minute briefing with Sen. John Warner (R-VA, Chair, Armed Services Committee) it had paid for "news" articles to be run in Iraqi papers ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Monday December 5, 2005
Hate Crime Statistics 2004. The FBI publishes this data annually as a joint project with local law enforcement agencies. The 2004 report "chronicles 7,649 criminal incidents that law enforcement agencies ... Read More
Court Rules Video Game Law Ban Unconstitutional
Monday December 5, 2005
On Friday, a US district court judge overturned a new Illinois law banning the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has vowed ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Friday December 2, 2005
Grade the News evaluates print and broadcast news, primarily in the San Francisco area. Includes guide to analyzing news (news scorecard) and "make the call" -- case studies of stories: ... Read More
Death Penalty Executions Hit 1,000
Friday December 2, 2005
Updated 2 December 5.26 am, EST
North Carolina Governor denies clemency and both the US Supreme Court and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reject final appeals. Kenneth Lee ... Read More
Airline Rules Change Friday
Thursday December 1, 2005
Holiday travellers, pick up the courtesy phone! For the first time in four years, you'll be able to fly over the holidays carrying on your scissors and small tools (screwdrivers ... Read More
Resource of the Day
Thursday December 1, 2005
A not-so-new search engine to try: A9 from Amazon. One enticement: link it to your Amazon login/account and earn a teeny discount on future purchases. Another: it's easy to search ... Read More