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Morning headlines brought to you by Carolyn Kay MakeThemAccountable.com Top StoryPakistan's Bhutto killed in attack
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, aides said. Crooks and Liars
The WorldTurkey praises US help as jets bomb northern Iraq
ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey praised the United States on Wednesday for providing intelligence in support of attacks against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, as it confirmed its third such air strike in 10 days.
Iraqi hairdressers forced underground
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Umm Doha cuts hair and waxes eyebrows in secret from her living room because making women look pretty can get a person killed in her Sunni-dominated Baghdad neighborhood.
Egypt, Israel in new flap
CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt criticized Israeli plans to build new homes in disputed east Jerusalem, as key officials from the two nations met Wednesday amid a diplomatic flap over weapons smuggling into Gaza.
Abbas wants settlement freeze at summit
JERUSALEM - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will demand Israel commit to a freeze on all settlement construction at a peace summit Thursday, the first since the two sides agreed to resume peace talks at a U.S.-sponsored conference last month.
Iran to get Russian anti-missile defense
TEHRAN, Iran - Russia is preparing to equip Iran with a powerful new air defense system that would dramatically increase its ability to repel an attack, Iran's defense minister said Wednesday.
Iran may float tender for 19 nuclear power plants
Tehran, Dec 23 (IANS) In what could further increase the West's worry over Iran's nuclear ambitions, a top Iranian official said Sunday the Islamic country would soon float an international tender for construction of 19 new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants.
Afghanistan expels Briton accused of Taliban talks
British and European officials today scrambled to head off a diplomatic row with Afghanistan, saying the expulsion of two western aides for allegedly holding talks with the Taliban was the result of a "misunderstanding". The attempts to resolve the diplomatic wrangle came as the Daily Telegraph reported that MI6 agents held discussions with the Taliban on "several occasions over the summer".
Four dead in Pakistan election shooting
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Gunmen opened fire on supporters of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday from an office of the party that supports President Pervez Musharraf killing four Sharif supporters, police said.
NKorea to delay nuclear disablement
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea indicated Wednesday it will slow down the disablement of its nuclear facilities because of what it said was a delay in receiving economic aid under an international deal.
In diplomatic coup, Chavez says Colombian hostages to be released
MIAMI — Three high-profile hostages held by Colombian rebels will soon be freed, perhaps as early as Thursday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced Wednesday in Caracas. The release of the three, including an aide to kidnapped former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, would be a major diplomatic coup for Chavez, who a month ago had been told to stay out of hostage negotiations by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The NationBush signs $555 billion spending bill
CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush, still voicing concern about special project spending by Congress, signed a $555 billion bill Wednesday that funds the Iraq war well into 2008 and keeps government agencies running through next September.
Late twists for kids health program
WASHINGTON - The modest spending increase that Congress approved for a popular children's health insurance program will maintain coverage for those already enrolled. But many lacking insurance will have to look elsewhere.
Senate meets briefly to block Bush
Without the pro forma session, the Senate would be technically adjourned, allowing the president to install officials without Senate confirmation… (P)ro forma sessions also could give Bush some political cover on popular legislation he doesn't want to sign. When Congress is holding pro forma sessions and is not formally adjourned, a bill sent to a president automatically becomes law 10 days after he receives it — excluding Sundays — unless he vetoes it. That could be the fate of two bills Congress passed last week.
U.S. Seeks Silence on CIA Prisons
The Bush administration has told a federal judge that terrorism suspects held in secret CIA prisons should not be allowed to reveal details of the "alternative interrogation methods" that their captors used to get them to talk. The government says in new court filings that those interrogation methods are now among the nation's most sensitive national security secrets and that their release -- even to the detainees' own attorneys -- "could reasonably be expected to cause extremely grave damage."
Does that language remind you of anything? Remember Scalia’s reason for stopping the vote count in Florida in 2000? He was afraid it would cause “irreparable damage” to George Bush.—Caro
Raytheon: Army aware of missile's flaw
Army officials were aware that the Raytheon-built Patriot air-defense system had difficulty distinguishing between friendly and enemy aircraft but deployed the missiles in the Iraq war after deciding the system was needed to protect troops, a Raytheon Co. executive stated in a recent legal filing. The statement was filed in a lawsuit brought by the family of a Navy pilot who was killed by a Patriot missile while flying over Iraq in 2003.
Internal State Dep't Review Finds Dep't in Afghanistan Can't Account for $28 Million in Contractor-Used Cars, Guns, Radios (by Spencer Ackerman at TPM Muckraker)
A September 2007 State Department report, obtained by TPMmuckraker, found that contractors DynCorp and Blackwater can't account for $28.4 million in U.S. government-issued property in Afghanistan, including armored cars, guns and radios. The report, prepared by the State Department inspector-general's office, hits the department for its lack of "adequate internal control over the government property held by contractors."
Kansas GOP Chair Sends Email Boasting of Voter Caging (by billw at Crooks and Liars)
Kris Kobach, a former counsel to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft who is currently the chairman of the Kansas GOP, sent out an email on Thur entitled “Kansas Republican Party Year in Review” in which he brags of voter caging.
Rep. Rush Holt to Push for Paper Ballots and Vote Count Audits for 2008
New legislation, if passed, would spend millions to replace controversial all-electronic voting systems before the 2008 presidential election.
Home Prices Fall for 10th Straight Month
Home prices in the United States fell in October for the 10th consecutive month, declining a record 6.7 percent compared with a year ago, according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index… The previous record decline was a drop of 6.3 percent, recorded in April 1991.
Relearning the significance of risk
Lack of oversight and regulation paved the way for the subprime lending collapse and the nation's current credit crunch. Steve Tripoli has been covering the story and says the root problem was people forget about risk.
And one of the risks should be going to prison if you cheat. But will that happen? See below.—Caro
Mortgage Probes Face Large Legal Hurdles
Tangled system of bank regulation and the task of proving that executives intended to break the law could pose significant challenges for investigators.
So don’t expect any convictions, America. Not with THIS administration. They always, always find ways to exonerate the big guys, and they always, always find ways to screw us little guys. See below.—Caro
U.S. Ruling Backs Benefit Cut at 65 in Retiree Plans
WASHINGTON — The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Wednesday that employers could reduce or eliminate health benefits for retirees when they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare… More than 10 million retirees rely on employer-sponsored health plans as a primary source of coverage or as a supplement to Medicare, and Naomi C. Earp, the commission’s chairwoman, said, “This rule will help employers continue to voluntarily provide and maintain these critically important health benefits.”
And, as usual, the reality is the exact opposite of what the Bush administration appointee says it is.—Caro MediaPermanent link to MTA daily media news
Progressives, To Arms! Forget about Bush—and the middle ground. (by Paul Krugman, writing at Slate)
Democrats, with the encouragement of people in the news media who seek bipartisanship for its own sake, may fall into the trap of trying to be anti-Bushes—of trying to transcend partisanship, seeking some middle ground between the parties. That middle ground doesn't exist—and if Democrats try to find it, they'll squander a huge opportunity. Right now, the stars are aligned for a major change in America's direction. If the Democrats play nice, that opportunity may soon be gone.
Study: Bill Clinton Was Kinda Right, Media Is Obsessed With Horse-Race And Is Toughest On Hillary (by Greg Sargent at TPM Horse’s Mouth)
The Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., took a look at 481 news stories on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX from October 1 through December 15, 2007. It concluded that the media hits Hillary the hardest: “… On-air evaluations of Hillary Clinton were nearly 3 to 2 negative (42% positive vs. 58% negative comments), while evaluations of her closest competitor Barack Obama was better than 3 to 2 positive (61% positive vs. 39% negative). John Edwards attracted much less coverage, but his evaluations were 2 to 1 positive (67% positive vs. 33% negative). Sen. Clinton was evaluated more often than all her Democratic opponents combined…” (N)o doubt Chris Matthews and Tucker will be all over this study any day now.
Democrats Try to Rein In Fees on Consulting
(W)ith more money than ever on the line this time around, resentment has been building, donors and other operatives say, at how, win or lose, presidential elections have become gold mines for the small and often swaggering band of media consultants who dominate modern campaigns. As a result, the Democratic presidential hopefuls are seeking to impose more controls on the consultants. In doing so, they are moving more into line with their Republican counterparts… Already, the shift in the way consultants are being paid is far-reaching.
It’s about time! Now, we have to work on stemming the flow of campaign money to the very media moguls who pay their employees so well to denigrate Democrats and puff up Republicans.—Caro
'USA Today' Analysis: Half of Military Families Now Feel Iraq War a 'Mistake'
NEW YORK Almost exactly half of close family members of U.S. troops now call the Iraq war a "mistake," USA Today revealed today after analyzing several Gallup polls from recent months. Just over 50% disapprove of President Bush's job performance.
Denmark Suffers From Too Many Jobs (by Dean Baker)
That's the word from the NYT… The article presents little evidence that the economy is suffering from this exodus. Denmark currently has a 3.6 percent unemployment rate. Its economy is projected to grow by 3.5 percent in 2007… In short, if Denmark is suffering because a relatively small number of highly educated workers find the tax rate too high, there is not much evidence in the data.
The lowest common denominator of speech (by Jeff Jarvis)
Martin Stabe points to another legal story that is getting too little coverage here, with links to a news story and a FindLaw analysis about a New York court refusing to protect an American author from a UK “libel tourism” judgment over a book that sold a mere 23 copies in England. What’s profoundly frightening about this is that we in America could find ourselves subject to the UK’s libel and privacy laws, which throw free speech to the wolves in defense of privacy. In other words, thanks to the internet, we could be subject to the lowest-common-denominator of protection of speech against libel actions.
Free news online will cost journalism dearly (by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times)
(U)ntil a long-term business model for the digital age presents itself, I believe newspapers at the very least must acknowledge that their content has value, and as such should stop giving it away online. I know, I know. This is prickly stuff. The New York Times tried charging for its columnists online and then stopped. Rupert Murdoch, the new landlord at the Wall Street Journal, has said he thinks the paper's website should be subscription-free. The L.A. Times also has an "under new management" sign out front now that real estate tycoon Sam Zell has taken over. No telling what he has in mind. Here's the thing: As long as the big papers give it away free, the little papers will have no choice but to do the same. Before you know it, no more little papers.
We need combined subscriptions. Honestly, I feel like Cassandra.—Caro
HBO's "The Wire" captures the state of newspapers today
The Baltimore newspaper on "The Wire" … "is a microcosm of a media industry that often seems to have lost its moral compass, as well as a corporate culture where truth is sacrificed on the altar of neglect more than malevolence," writes Brian Lowry. "The best look at newspapers in movies or TV? Hands down, the prize goes to 'The Wire.'"
I’ll have to take a look and see if they stole anything from my idea for a series on a newspaper’s newsroom.—Caro Technology & Science'Test tube universe' hints at unifying theory
The Holy Grail of physics is to establish an overarching explanation to unite all the particles and forces of the cosmos. But one of the complaints commonly levelled at a leading contender for a "theory of everything", called string theory, is that it is impossible to test. But now, according to the study in the journal Nature Physics, it may be possible using the universe in a test tube.
Can A Vibrating Mouse Prevent Computer-related Injuries?
ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2007) — A chair that undulates, a mouse that vibrates, a monitor suspended over a desk on a movable arm. These are some of the kinds of newfangled ergonomic products that Alan Hedge, international authority on office ergonomics, studies to see if they can prevent repetitive motion injuries among the estimated 100 million people who now use computers in the United States.
Brain Abnormalities Underlying Key Element Of Borderline Personality Disorder Identified
ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2007) — Using new approaches, an interdisciplinary team of scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City has gained a view of activity in key brain areas associated with a core difficulty in patients with borderline personality disorder—shedding new light on this serious psychiatric condition.
Psychologists Explore Public Policy And Effects Of Media Violence On Children
ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2007) — Although hundreds of studies link media violence to aggression in children and adolescents, most public policy attempts to reduce children's media violence exposure in the U.S. have failed. Efforts to restrict children's access to violent video games have been struck down by the courts as infringing on children's First Amendment rights… ISU researchers identified four reasons why past public policy efforts to curb children's exposure to media violence have failed:
Malaria Drug Promising Against Cancer
60-year-old drug chloroquine eliminated certain malignancies in mice, researchers say
Sleep Chemical Central To Effectiveness Of Deep Brain Stimulation
ScienceDaily (Dec. 28, 2007) — A brain chemical that makes us sleepy also appears to play a central role in the success of deep brain stimulation to ease symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and other brain disorders.
Study Spotlights 'Exercise-Friendly' Day-Care Centers
Outdoor spaces and lots of portable toys get kids moving, researchers say
Russian cargo ship docks with space station
MOSCOW (Reuters) - An unmanned Russian Progress supply vessel docked with the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday to deliver fresh food, water, fuel, equipment and holiday presents for the crew. EnvironmentEvolution Of Crop Grasses Linked To Greenhouse Gases
ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2007) — How a changing climate can affect ecosystems is an important and timely question, especially considering the recent global rise in greenhouse gases. Now, in an article published online on December 20th in the journal Current Biology, evolutionary biologists provide strong evidence that changes in global carbon dioxide levels probably had an important influence on the emergence of a specific group of plants, termed C4 grasses, which includes major cereal crops, plants used for biofuels, and species that represent important components of grasslands across the world.
Walrus Habitat is Melting Away
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Federal marine mammal experts in Alaska studying the effects of global warming on walrus, polar bears and ice seals warn there are limit to the protections they can provide.
Japan seeks Mexico's backing to fight global warming
Mexico City, Dec 27 - The Japanese government has asked Mexico to support its 'Cool Earth 50' initiative that seeks to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, EFE news agency reported Thursday.
Report: China to stick with coal, promote clean energy
Beijing - China will remain dependent on coal for energy in the long-term, but has vowed to give the development of renewable energy a top priority, the government said in a white paper released Wednesday. For more headlines, visit MakeThemAccountable.com.
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