Recently in Politics Category
Stats from the Surge!
IRAQ
U.S. casualties for the month of August: 23
Total U.S. casualties since the war began: 4,152
Total coalition deaths: 4,466
Total US wounded: 30,568
AFGHANISTAN
U.S. casualties for the month of August: 19
Total US casualties since the war began: 579
Total coalition deaths: 940
Total US wounded: 2,409
By Ink Alone: The Christian Boogeyman is Coming
Conspiracy still happening, but this time its not international economics, but Fundamentalist American Jesus-Love
Jeff Sharlet writes a scary and extremely interesting book detailing the powerful Christian organization1 The Family and their ties to American men and women of power. Sharlet also uses his book to detail the history of fundamentalism and the rise of in the past 50 years. Sharlet is also a writer for Harpers, Rolling Stone, and created The Reveler.
Dear Editor: The New Republic had to fill space so now Obama is "too cool"
Michelle Cottle, a senior editor at The New Republic, writes an idiotic diatribe about Obama being too cool. We at Dear Editor review her talking points, and find them well, quite ridiculous.
Dear Editor: The Economist gets its lines from the RNC
Lexington, the column in The Economist spends its August 9th issue discussing Obama Fatigue. Too bad, the author is stuck with platitudes and Republican Talking Points and fails miserably to make even a credible case. After the jump, we review the full article, in true firejoemorgan.com form.
...more.Russians in Georgia? No Suprise.
Last Thursday Russian troops clashed with troops attempting to reassert Georgian authority in South Ossetia. The response from the West, until today, has been weak and essentially non-binding. Several threats of removing Russia from the G-8, economic group have been levied, but nothing of a more serious nature.
International Relations theory states that conflict is most likely to occur when shifts in the systemic balance of power occur. Russia has had a very difficult time adapting to its role in a unipolar world, and nowhere is this more visible then in its relations with its' neighbors. During the Cold War, Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland were for all intensive purposes, the sovereign territory of Russia under the Soviet Union. Russia has stated repeatedly that they perceive Ukraine and Georgia to be within their "sphere of influence," and that the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) into Ukraine or Georgia would be unacceptable. Ukraine and Poland both joined NATO, and Georgia had applied, but was turned away due to intense pressure from Russia.
Tashi Choygal Arrested
Another UPS student and friend of the Melon was arrested in Vancouver, BC on Wednesday. Tashi Choygal, an avid supporter of the Free Tibet movement was arrested protesting the occupation of Tibet in front of the Chinese Embassy in Vancouver.
Dressed as a monk, Tashi dipped his arm into a bucket of cement and demonstrated, with others, in front of the Embassy entrance. Demonstrators have also set up a fake tank painted colorfully with anti-occupation slogans.
...more.Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Attack Ad
In what we can only hope doesn't become a major development in this year's presidential campaign, Paris Hilton has responded to John McCain's widely-panned "celebrity" attack ad. It's really pretty funny, so everyone should check it out. It's worth noting, of course, that while she sounds more intelligent and articulate on energy policy than McCain, her plan makes absolutely zero sense, just in case anyone was worried that Paris had suddenly become serious. She's got some great writers, though, the line "See you at the debate, bitches!" is just awesome.
Sad News
I just received word from Sarah Wright, Dino Rossi’s official scheduler, that the University of Puget Sound was not chosen to host a gubernatorial debate. Wright’s reason for why the UPS Field House was not selected for the debate was “concerns about the ability to provide sufficient television coverage” (which in my humble opinion sounds unlikely given that Hillary Clinton's speech was easily broadcast from their when she made her campaign stop in Tacoma during the recent Democratic Primary.)
...more.The New G.I. Coffeehouse
A social movement doesn't have a specific place or a location. It lives in the actions, the minds, and the relationships between people. But there are places where the ideas of a movement develop, places where the movement's ideas go more mainstream.
Kuuuu-ciiii-niiich!!! *snarls, shakes fist in air
You probably don't know this, but Rep. Dennis Kucinich (former Democratic presidential candidate and a personal hero of mine) will be bringing his article of impeachment against President Bush (that guy who ruined everything) to the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing tomorrow (Friday, July 25th).
The article of impeachment focuses on President Bush presenting false information to the American public as a means for war in Iraq (WMD's anyone?) Friday's hearing comes after a referral to the House Judiciary Committee by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a vote of 230-180 to do so.
This, however, is not the first time Kucinich has presented articles of impeachment, nor the first time it has been addressed by the house. On June 9th, 2008 Kucinich presented not one, but thirty-five articles of impeachment, spending four hours on the house floor. The mass-articles were voted down, but Kucinich believed that by narrowing his approach he would see more success.
...more.