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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
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Political Wire: "In two polls released by Rasmussen, voters appear to be growing weary of the campaign already. 56% of respondents said the events of the campaign thus far have been 'annoying' and a 'waste of time' while only 29% have found them to be 'interesting and informative.' Additionally, a huge 72% of those surveyed favor some type of proposal that would shorten the nominating season substantially."
Political Wire: "John Edwards' campaign criticized Hillary Clinton for 'trading special interest contributions for government access' at her Washington D.C. fundraiser yesterday, the AP reports."
"2008 pres"
6:58:59 PM 
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Captain's Quarters: "Israel has declared Hamas-run Gaza as a 'hostile entity,' a move that allows Israel to consider ending supplies of water and electricity to the region. Hamas objected to the designation, calling it an act of war, which never seemed to bother them while they called for Israel's destruction."
"2008 pres"
6:55:31 PM
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Andrew Sullivan: "Dale Carpenter looks at the state of marriage equality suits across the country. They're not that encouraging for those who want marriage rights enforced by courts. Happily, in the first state, Massachusetts, marriage equality is here to stay - and we have a fascinating experiment in its impact. And in the biggest state, California, the legislature has now passed marriage equality twice - only to be vetoed by the governor. If the courts and governor allow the California legislature to rule, this debate will enter a new and decisive phase."
"2008 pres"
6:52:08 PM
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The Gavel: "Today, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming launched a new web site. The committee plays a key role in raising the visibility of global warming and energy issues, informing Congress and the public, and assuring we make real progress. You can learn about global warming impact zones, calculate your carbon footprint, and learn what steps you can take to help reduce the threat of global warming at http://globalwarming.house.gov."
"2008 pres"
6:39:12 AM
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CREW releases their list of most corrupt politicians in Washington D.C. Thanks to NewMexiken for the link. No Coloradans on the list.
"2008 pres"
6:33:57 AM
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Washington Post: "If ever there was an issue that cried out for a serious national debate, it is health care. Unfortunately, the Republican presidential candidates prefer partisan sloganeering to honest discussion, with Mitt Romney the most egregious example. Romney couldn't wait Monday to criticize Hillary Clinton's new health care proposal. He called it a 'European-style, socialized medicine plan' and staged a photo-op in front of St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan to denounce the proposal as 'HillaryCare 2.0.' It amounted to a canned press release in search of the facts. Clinton presents an irresistible target for Republicans, particularly on health care. Her new plan leaves many questions unanswered and, given her record on the issue, she must overcome inherent skepticism from many Americans who believe she wants to dictate the kind of health care they receive. But it is a far different plan than the one she authored in 1993. Instead of engaging in a debate on the merits of her proposal, the Republican candidates eagerly rushed to attack it as rampaging big government. It is one more example of why campaigns have left so many Americans disillusioned with the political process. Romney above all others in the GOP field should have used more caution in the way he responded, given his own admirable record on health care in Massachusetts -- a record that he has decided to run away from rather than embrace. The reason Romney is more vulnerable in the way he responded is that, in broad strokes, what Clinton proposed on Monday bears a striking resemblance to the plan he proposed and then negotiated through the Massachusetts legislature when he was governor. The plan's passage was one of the most acclaimed achievements of his term in office.
Thanks to Oliver Willis for the link.
Don Surber: "Extending Medicaid coverage to the middle class is part of the creeping socialism approach to health care championed by Jay Rockefeller and others. 'Affordable health insurance'? How about affordable Porsches? In a few short years, the program already has increased 53-fold in price. Republican Congressman Scott Garrett of New Jersey stood up to this nonsense."
"2008 pres"
6:22:28 AM
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Juan Cole: "Al-Hayat reports in Arabic that Condi Rice personally apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for the killing of 10 Iraqis by Blackwater guards and promised that steps would be taken to ensure the tragedy was not repeated. The Iraqis are from all accounts absolutely furious about the Blackwater cowboys running around their country armed and dangerous and acting with impunity. The State Department, which employs Blackwater, is highly embarrassed and has ordered State Dept. personnel in Iraq not to circulate for the time being. Debate is raging over whether Iraq has the right to try the apparently trigger-happy civilian security men of Blackwater."
Denver Post: "Congress should look at cutting off funding for the Iraq war if Senate efforts to change the role of U.S. troops in the battlefield fail, Sen. Ken Salazar said Monday. Salazar, D-Colo., previously has not supported Congress using its ability to stop war payments in order to force President Bush to change direction. While in Iraq over the weekend, Salazar said, some servicemen and women told him that they wanted Congress to cut off funding."
The New Yorker: "The natural life of the surge will end in 2008, when the brigades sent earlier this year will finish their fifteen-month tours and return home. After that, it will become virtually impossible to maintain current troop levels[~]at least, for an Administration that has shown no willingness to disturb the lives of large numbers of Americans in order to wage the war. Young officers are leaving the Army at alarming rates, and, if the deployments of troops who have already served two or three tours are extended from fifteen to eighteen months, the Pentagon fears that the ensuing attrition might wreck the Army for a generation. Activating the National Guard or the reserves for longer periods could cause the bottom to fall out of public support for the war. Beyond these measures, there are simply no more troops available."
Thanks to NewMexiKen for the link.
"2008 pres"
6:12:00 AM
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Here's a look at what northern Colorado state legislators are doing with regard to Powertech's proposed uranium operation in Weld County from The Fort Collins Coloradoan. From the article:
As Fort Collins legislators, we have received a huge volume of correspondence from residents requesting our assistance to address their concerns over possible uranium mining in northern Weld and Larimer counties, less than 15 miles from Fort Collins. We first learned of the proposed Centennial Uranium Project from Nunn and Wellington landowners last April. Since that time, we have worked diligently to answer the many significant questions expressed by folks from Northern Colorado. We want to reassure the community that we are taking action on behalf of the people so that the public health, environmental and economic risks posed by Powertech Uranium Corp.'s proposed uranium project are being fully scrutinized. We are engaging state and federal regulatory agencies, Gov. Ritter's policy people and our colleagues in the state Legislature. As we see this issue, it comes down to protecting the rights of landowners and our precious water resources...
The issues the landowners raised were profound. Their concerns were heartfelt and deep, and they wanted someone to listen and take action. That is why we are actively involved in representing the public interest by taking the following actions: Dialoguing with officials at the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; touring the affected landowners' properties and attending community meetings; meeting with Powertech Uranium Corp. officials; conducting a thorough review of Colorado mining laws and regulations; holding a series of informational sessions with representatives from Gov. Ritter's office; contacting the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It is important to note that Powertech has yet to submit an application for mining in the Nunn/Wellington area. In addition, the state of Colorado is a so-called "agreement state." This means that the U.S. NRC and the state have entered into an agreement that gives Colorado the sole jurisdiction over radioactive materials, including uranium mining. Therefore, there is no public comment being taken at this time by either Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board or the NRC on this or any other uranium mining projects in Colorado, contrary to a recent article by Congresswoman Musgrave. Please know that, as your state representatives, we are working hard to address issues raised by the prospect of uranium mining in Northern Colorado communities. As your lawmakers, we are currently engaged in administrative and potential legislative measures that will protect property rights, groundwater quality, and public health from risks posed by proposed uranium projects. We invite your comments as we move forward on this important issue.
More Coyote Gulch coverage here.
"2008 pres"
5:56:57 AM
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© Copyright 2009 John Orr.
Last update: 3/15/09; 1:27:02 PM.
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