All that money stolen, and those poor people still don’t have electricity, health care or a safe environment:
A US congressional inspection team set up to monitor reconstruction in Iraq today publishes a scathing report of failures by contractors, mainly from the US, to carry out projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
In one case, the […]

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Hah. Indeed:
A Republican Senate plan to send $100 rebates to millions of taxpayers to help offset the escalating cost of gasoline appears to be ‘tanking’ with conservative and liberal voters, according to a story set for the front page of Monday’s New York Times, RAW STORY has found.
“Congressional offices report that some constituents quickly called […]

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I’m so confused. I could have sworn we were still in the “diplomacy” stage. You don’t suppose this rush to war has anything to do with Bubble Boy’s low approval ratings, do you? Fool me twice, shame on me:
04/30/06 “YNetNews” — – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Sunday that his country refused a request […]

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The Booman and I have something in common: an urge to kick Joe Klein’s ass.
It’s easy to be bored by bread and butter issues when you make six figures, have health care, and send your kids to private schools and universities. Dismissing those issues as ‘mommy issues’ from a defunct ‘mommy party’ and then calling […]

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Oh yeah, as if switching from Flounder to Tony Snow will distract us from news like this:
The dollar has embarked on a big decline that will see it fall against all leading currencies, according to analysts. The plunge is being prompted by America’s $800 billion current-account deficit, they say.
The dollar has been under pressure […]

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Danforth has always seemed a decent type. Wonder if he regrets lending his credibility to Clarence Thomas?
WASHINGTON - Former Sen. John Danforth says a conservative push to ban gay marriage through a constitutional amendment is silly, calling it the latest example of how the political influence of evangelical Christians is hurting the GOP.
Danforth, a […]

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With Bush’s poll numbers in the tank and getting worse, his new guru Josh Bolten has decided it’s probably a good idea to turn over a new leaf….
And stop televising press briefings.
Because see, there’s nothing wrong with the policies, just how ordinary people react to them.

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That’s Wacky Wayne “Curt” Weldon, who’s now accusing his Democratic challenger of being part of a CIA plot against him. Oh, Curt, if only people could take you that seriously:
Veteran Rep. Curt Weldon has a proclivity for calling out shady government doings that have him in mind as a principal target. A year ago, for […]

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1. The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix
2. Let’s Go (I Like the Night Life) - The Cars
3. Sunday Morning Coming Down - Kris Kristofferson
4. One Less Bell to Answer - Burt Bacharach
5. And Your Bird Can Sing - Marshall Crenshaw & Susanna Hoffs
6. You Get to Me - Amy Rigby
7. Someday - Steve Earle
8. […]

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John Kenneth Galbraith, 97. One of the great ones.

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I don’t think God will ever forgive Texas for BushCo.

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If 300,000 march against the war in NYC and the media ignores it, did it really happen?

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Susan Sarandon is also a hero for speaking her mind at a dangerous time.

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BushCo is going to push for criminal prosecution of reporters who presume to actually do their jobs.

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Corrupt politicians will now craft the illusion of reform laws while keeping the insurance lobby happy:
WASHINGTON, April 29 — Federal investigators have found that a handful of companies account for a growing share of the health insurance policies sold to small businesses in most states, leaving consumers with fewer options and higher costs.
The Government Accountability […]

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Continuing his life-long tradition of criminal activity, Bubble Boy has set a new record:
WASHINGTON — President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the […]

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What does it say about the state of journalism when a pretend pundit is doing the job the real ones have neglected to do?
After seeing his performance at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, Stephen Colbert is truly my hero:
Addressing the reporters, he said, “You should spend more time with your families, write that novel you’ve […]

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In California’s 36th district, incumbent Jane Harman is facing a strong primary challenge from anti-war activist Marcy Winograd:
Asked about Harman’s contributions from and support for defense contractors, Behr said Winograd didn’t understand the dynamics of her district.
“Marcy clearly doesn’t understand the importance of the aerospace industry to this district,” he remarked. “The aerospace industry […]

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I suppose we’ll never know how many of these were for valid reasons:
WASHINGTON - The FBI secretly sought information last year on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents from their banks and credit card, telephone and Internet companies without a court’s approval, the Justice Department said Friday.
Confirms our fear all along that National Security Letters […]

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From a reader at firedoglake:
Yesterday when I was flying back from DC to Chicago, I was sitting in the waiting area at National Airport, reading Jane’s recap of Rove’s history with the GJ on my Blackberry. It was late afternoon, the usual intercity shuttle crowd was gathering, when I glanced up from Jane’s disquisition to […]

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I was driving down Upsal Street, looking for the UPS drop-off box. (I wanted to return the DSL moden Verizon sent me even though I cancelled my order.) I passed a hand-lettered sign that said “Car wash - Cars $5!!! Trucks $7!!!” where a racially-mixed bunch of women and girls sitting on the steps of […]

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At least, it was obvious to those of us who were paying attention:
THREE years after its invasion of Iraq the US Administration acknowledged yesterday that the war has become “a cause” for Islamic extremists worldwide and there is a risk of the country becoming a safe haven for terrorists hoping to launch fresh attacks on […]

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Wonder if this has anything to do with this? Or this, or this?

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Raw Story: Rove won’t be indicted for at least a week, but the charges against him have already been written up.

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I’m telling you, this slogan is the best thing Newt Gingrich ever did:
Sixty years later, Democrats would be smart to turn Karl Frost’s slogan on Karl Rove’s strategy.
“Had Enough? Vote Democratic!” is a slogan that spotlights the many mistakes in Iraq, the mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina and the mangling of fiscal responsibility with “bridges […]

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