Sunday, January 02, 2005

NYT story posted January 1 concerning a bookstore/news stand owner, Abu Ali, in Aaman, Jordan.  As the war in Iraq has progressed, he has seen a "closing of the minds" of the Arab public.  The story is a great read, and no synopsis will do it justice -- but the concluding paragraph has the point I wish to focus on: It's not fear of the government exactly, but of violence at the hands of those with sealed minds. It's never been more difficult to be an optimist, Abu Ali admits. But he is hanging on for his regulars, hoping this, too, shall pass. Now, skip down to the AJC (yeah, I know a tabloid) where they talk to individuals living in "Bush Country." For the most part, Georgians in the outer suburbs describe themselves as God-fearing, card-carrying Republicans. They typically view Democrats as secular elitists who look down their noses at people like them. Of course, not everyone in the outer suburbs is staunchly Republican. "Sometimes it's scary," said Carol Thalimer, 60, a Democrat who moved to Forsyth County from Roswell for a bigger house and 5 acres. "If anyone disagrees with Bush, somehow it's portrayed as being unpatriotic. I don't understand that," said Thalimer, who, dressed as Mrs. Santa Claus, was handing out candy to about 80 women at a newcomers luncheon at Windermere Golf Club. Seems we have lots in common with our Arab cousins.   9:30:01 AM

Congress Bush faces challenges with new Republican Congress             Reuters | staff | Congress:President Bigger Republican majority plans to push Bush agenda             NYT | Hulse, Carl | Congress:Agenda Economy Weighing the impact of BRAC             Augusta | staff | Economy:BRAC Officials prepare to fight for post             Augusta |staff | Economy:BRAC What’s ahead for BRAC             Augusta |staff | Economy:BRAC Education Tuition aid takes toll on many colleges             Boston | Staff | Education:Higher Ed:Finance NCSU chief devours detail, likes to listen             Raleigh | staff | Education:Higher Ed:Administration Surviving high school with faith, caution             Boston | LA | Education:K12:Discipline Governor Education programs escape the axe             AJC | Tharpe, Jim | Governor:Budget Perdue says schools will get breathing room in budget plan             Athens | Pettys, Dick | Governor:Budget Perdue at midterm: Agenda driven by economy, philosophy             Conyers | Williams, Dave | Governor:Agenda Legislature Votes turn into action             Savannah | staff | Legislature:Agenda Local lawmakers prepare for war – on meth             Walker | staff | Legislature:Meth:Mullis New House friendly to Perdue, but no rubber stamp             AccessNorthGa | Pettys, Dick | Legislature:Politics Legislature to try again on tort reform             AJC | Rankin, Bill | Legislature:Tort Freshman legislator (Barry Loudermilk) ready for the Capitol             Rome | staff | Legislature:Bios Dean: Born to be a politician             Rockmart | staff | Legislature:bios Politics Miller closes storied career with a splash             AJC | Salzer, James | Politics:Georgia Outer suburbs lie squarely in Bush country             AJC | staff | Politics:Georgia Real estate belonging to Keith Heard to be sold at auction             Athens | staff | Politics:Georgia The voices of Bush country             AJC | staff | Politics:Georgia Democrats split again over national agenda             LATimes | Brownstein, Ronald | Politics:US New ARC chief (Sam Olens) a consensus builder             AJC | Whitt, Richard | Politics:Georgia Technology Finding a home for old computers             Post | Musgrove, Mike | Technology:Environment Electronics industry battles for the living room             Reuters | staff | Technology:Trends New Online 2004             Post | staff | Technology:Trends 2005 Stories to watch             San Fran | staff | Technology:Trends Venture capitalists begin to up the ante             San Fran| staff | Technology:Venture Editorials It’s higher learning, not learning for hire             AJC | Editor | Editorials:Higher Ed Secrecy of Regents hasn’t served system well             Macon | Editor | Editorials:Higher Ed Challenges for the new year in Athens-Clarke             Athens | Editor | Editorials:Budget An extreme makeover             Augusta | Editor | Editorials:Capitol Georgia bases in good hands             Conyers | Editor | Editorials:BRAC House GOP ready to lead on key issues             Gainesville | Amerson, Amos | Editorials:Legislature Highway money GOP’s first test – holding urban/rural together             Gwinnett | Williams, Dave | Editorials:Politics   ** Maybe Brumby will get a new web service this year?  MDJ and Cherokee unavailable 9:09:33 AM