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Saturday, October 02, 2004 |
G.O.P. Optimistic That It Can Keep Control
G.O.P. Optimistic That It Can Keep Control: "Congressional Republicans are poised to hold or to slightly expand their majorities in the House and Senate this November, though Senate Democrats retain an outside chance of slipping back into control."
(Via The New York Times > Campaigns.)
Last night my pal Roger told me about a great idea he had. He thinks that Bill Clinton should run for the House of Representatives, probably from his Harlem neighborhood. Think of it, Clinton would have a secure seat, could probably get re-elected forever, and most likely get the Democrats a majority in the House. What a great idea. He could be untouchable! And what an antidote for the likes of Tom Delay! I hope big Bill has a speedy recovery from his heart surgery and that he thinks seriously about running for Congress!
9:43:21 PM Permalink
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Dodgers Win West as Giants Collapse in...
Dodgers Win West as Giants Collapse in...: "Dodgers Win West as Giants Collapse in 9th. Steve Finley smashed a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a seven-run inning that clinched Los Angeles' first division title since 1995. By By LEE JENKINS. [The New York Times > Home Page]"
Damn damn damn damn damn damn. We're all heartbroken, just hoping the news tomorrow isn't bad. The only hope now is for the Giants to win tomorrow and Houston to lose, then we play them on Monday to see who is the NL wild card. Nothing's worse than losing to the Dodgers. Except this year, the way Houston pitched, or rather didn't pitch, to Bonds when they were here was disgraceful. With the A's gone, too, this means that I'll be liberated from baseball early this year.
9:01:12 PM Permalink
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How the White House Embraced Disputed Iraqi Arms Intelligence
How the White House Embraced Disputed Iraqi Arms Intelligence: "The Bush administration was made aware as early as 2001 that the aluminum tubes used as critical evidence against Iraq were most likely not for nuclear weapons."
(Via The New York Times > Most E-mailed Articles.)
The tubes quickly became a critical exhibit in the administration's brief against Iraq. As the only physical evidence the United States of Mr. Hussein's revived nuclear ambitions, they gave credibility to the apocalyptic imagery invoked by President Bush and his advisers. The tubes were "only really suited for nuclear weapons programs," Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser, asserted on CNN on Sept. 8, 2002. "We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud."
But before Ms. Rice made those remarks, she was aware that the government's foremost nuclear experts had concluded that the tubes were most likely not for nuclear weapons at all, an examination by The New York Times has found. As early as 2001, her staff had been told that these experts, at the Energy Department, believed the tubes were probably intended for small artillery rockets, according to four officials at the Central Intelligence Agency and a senior administration official, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information.
"She was aware of the differences of opinion," the senior administration official said in an interview authorized by the White House. "She was also aware that at the highest level of the intelligence community, there was great confidence that these tubes were for centrifuges."
7:45:38 PM Permalink
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Mini Harper's index on Iraq:...
Mini Harper's index on Iraq:...: "Mini Harper's index on Iraq:
- Monthly average of US casualties (wounded and killed) during the invastion: 482
- Monthly average of US casualties during the occupation: 415
- Monthly average of US casualties since the transition to Iraqi rule: 747
- The number of attacks on the Iraqi oil industry in April 2004: 4
- The number of attacks on the Iraqi oil industry in June 2004: 12
- The number of attacks on the Iraqi oil industry in August 2004: 21
- Oil prices (five year contract) 1991-2001: ~$20
- Oil prices (five year contract) 2004: $35
- Estimate of guerrilla insurgents in Iraq as of November 2003: 5,000
- Estimate of guerrilla insurgents in Iraq as of September 2004: 20,000
- Unofficial estimates of guerrilla insurgents in Iraq as of today: 40,000 - 50,000
- Average yearly cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: ~$82 billion (what was spent so far and the $87 billion requested for 2005 for warfighting and reconstruction).
- Average yearly cost of the Vietnam war (today's dollars): $61.8 billion
"
(Via John Robb's Weblog.)
11:11:42 AM Permalink
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ODDEST DEBATE RESULT
ODDEST DEBATE RESULT: "
HERALD-SUN, NC - After watching the presidential debate Thursday night, two UNC students ended up slapping each other while fighting over who Jesus would vote for in the election. According to a police report, the concept of "turning the other cheek" came up, and James Robert Austin, 19, of 1305 Granville Towers West in Chapel Hill, slapped Robert Brooks Rollins, 22, of 104 Brewer Lane in Carrboro, on the cheek at Rollins' house. After that, Rollins slapped Austin, and Austin landed on the concrete patio, possibly striking his head, according to the report. Rollins called for an ambulance, which took Austin to UNC Hospitals to be examined. Neither Rollins nor Austin wanted to pursue the matter further, the report said.
"
(Via UNDERNEWS.)
10:37:53 AM Permalink
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© Copyright 2004 Steve Michel.
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