British, French and US units of soldiers attended Russia's Victory in WWII celebrations and marched through Red Square together: a first since 1945!! See the story below. From the Daily Mail [of the UK].MUST-READ EDUCATION NUGGET!!
Revisionaries: How a Group of Texas Conservatives is Rewriting Your Kids’ Textbooks from Washington Monthly [from early 2010]
"As the state goes through the once-in-a-decade process of rewriting the standards for its textbooks, the faction is using its clout to infuse them with ultraconservative ideals. Among other things, they aim to rehabilitate Joseph McCarthy, bring global-warming denial into science class, and downplay the contributions of the civil rights movement."
US Mediates Middle East Peace Talks from AOL News
"After 17 months of not talking, Israel and Palestine are negotiating again, at least indirectly."
It's ABOUT TIME!!
British [and American] Troops March Through Russia's Red Square for the First Time During WWII Victory Day Parade from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"British soldiers marched on Red Square in Moscow for the first time today to mark the 65th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany."
The pictures are magnificent! The video [in English] of the whole event is available HERE from Russia Today TV. The ceremony was surprisingly moving.
We are Greece's Lost Generation from the Independent [of the UK]
"Leading Greek journalist Vaios Papanagnou charts the rise and fall of a nation which thought it had at last hit the eurobillions jackpot."
Obama Oil Spill Response: Aggressive as Crisis Unfolded by the Associated Press
"While the Obama administration has faced second-guessing about the speed and effectiveness of some of its actions, a narrative pieced together by The Associated Press, based on documents, interviews and public statements, shows little resemblance to Katrina in either the characterization of the threat or the federal government's response."
Root Canal Politics (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times
"Sitting in America, it’s hard to grasp the importance of the British elections and the Greek riots. Nothing to do with us, right? Well, I’d pay attention to the drama playing out here. It may be coming to a theater near you."
Benedict in Portugal: A Different Crisis, Secularism, and 'Marian Cool' (John Allen) from the National Catholic Reporter
"As fate would have it, Pope Benedict XVI's five foreign trips in 2010 are almost laid out in ascending order of difficulty."
Catholics Sent Predator Priest to Remote Village in Africa from the Associated Press via Yahoo News
"MAKANKA, Sierra Leone – A rutted red dirt track leads to the "bar," a couple of homemade wood benches in the shade of an old tree dripping with wild mangoes. Within easy reach, there's a yellow plastic jerry can of the fiery palm wine the American priest loved. A 40-year-old schoolteacher now charges that the Rev. James Tully gave the palm wine to teenage boys to make them more susceptible to his advances."
Well, here comes the African chapter of this whole story.
Health Care Politics: Obama Fast-Tracks New Law's Coverage of Adult Children from the Christian Science Monitor
"The new health care overhaul won't take full effect for nearly another four years, but President Obama said in his weekly Saturday radio and Internet address that key provisions are already helping American families. And one provision – covering children up to 26 years old under their parents’ plan – will likely take effect this summer rather than the fall deadline."
What Obama Sees in Kagan from the Washington Post
"Why is President Obama choosing his solicitor general, Elena Kagan, as his second nominee to the U.S Supreme Court? By all accounts, Obama wants someone who can serve as a counterweight to the intellectual heft of Chief Justice John Roberts. Regardless of how strong a liberal Kagan would prove to be, as a former dean of Harvard Law School, Kagan practically defines legal gravitas."
The Next Justice: Why Kagan is the Ideal Obama Jurist. (Jeffrey Rosen) from the New Republic
"Obama has signaled that he wants a justice who can win Justice Anthony Kennedy to the liberal side of the Court in 5-4 votes. Given Kagan’s demonstrated success winning over skeptical conservatives at every stage of her career, she seems ideally suited for this role. "
Where We Go From Here: The Process and Substance in the Kagan Nomination (Tom Goldstein) from the SCOTUSblog
"... here is how the nomination process is likely to play out. I divide it into process and substance."
This item really gets into what we can expect in the coming weeks. Check it out.
Mythes and Falsehoods About Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Nomination from Media Matters
"Media Matters for America has compiled and debunked myths and falsehoods about Solicitor General Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination."
VERY interesting site.
Bill to Expatriate Those Who Support Terrorists More Symbol Than Substance (Dave Cole) from the Washington Post
"The recent close calls with attempted terrorist attacks underscore the need for thoughtful reform of our security practices. But Lieberman's bill is precisely the opposite -- a meaningless form of symbolism that plays on patriotic fervor and xenophobic anxiety but would have no legal effect."
Hillary Clinton's Leadership Journey (Rebecca Shambaugh) from the Washington Post
"What stands out about Hillary Clinton is her enormous capacity for resilience that has allowed her to effectively navigate through highs and lows in her life. Yet how we perceive this resilience is a study in extreme contrasts."
Parties Working Together on Financial Regulatory Bill in Senate from the Washington Post
"Something unusual is taking place on the Senate floor: Republicans and Democrats are working together on a major piece of legislation."
I'm not sure how good a thing this is. The GOP's involvement will almost certainly translate into a weaker bill.
SURE ENOUGH! Look HERE.
Arizona's Immigration Law Comes with a Price (Chris Good) from the Atlantic
"National organizations, Grijalva said, should cancel upcoming conventions slated to be held there. "If the state follows through with this, the cost will be high," Grijalva warned. Turns out, he was right."
US Sen. Bob Bennett Ousted at Utah GOP Convention from the Washington Post
"Republican Sen. Bob Bennett was thrown out of office Saturday by delegates at the Utah GOP convention in a stunning defeat for a once-popular three-term incumbent who fell victim to a growing conservative movement nationwide."
The Democratic nominee almost certainly has no chance in Utah -- but I will be interested how the GOP's nominee's poll numbers now look one on one with the Dem nominee. There's even a rumor afoot that Bennett will wage a write-in campaign (God willing!!!). My prediction: This seat will remain Republican -- but what has happened in Utah will happen in other GOP primaries where the Tea Party insurgent will boot the establishment nominee. Next up: Kentucky on May 18th. As more of these incumbent/establishment folks get axed, the GOP will find itself saddled with VERY right-wing nominees, many of whom will be TOO right-wing to win in the general. Most states are not Utah. Stay tuned.
Here's a related item:
Right-Wingers Boot Bennett (Editorial) from the Salt Lake Tribune
"Both claim to be strict constitutionalists who will free Utah from an oppressive federal government, take back federal lands in Utah and repeal health care reform. Good luck with that."
Two Sides of Michelle Obama: Savvy Campaigner and Down-Home Everywoman from the Washington Post
"First lady Michelle Obama was in rare campaign form on Wednesday, delivering a political speech at a Democratic National Committee luncheon, before returning to the White House to celebrate Mother's Day with scores of women and girls nibbling on cucumber sandwiches and fruit tartlettes. The day captured the dual worlds of being first lady, with her assets as an outspoken motivator and as a down-home Everymom each on display."
UNITED KINGDOM NUGGET!!
Cut Scotland Loose - Then We'll Have a Fair Voting System (Editorial) from the Times [of London]
"‘Wow,” said a wide-eyed young Liberal Democrat voter babe, staring over my shoulder on Friday at a coloured election map of Britain. “England is, like, totally blue.” How true. Huge swathes of England are Conservative. And, she noticed in the next instant, Scotland is, like, totally red and yellowish gold. Only one single constituency north of the border is blue."
A related story is HERE from the Scotsman [of, ahem, Scotland]
"WHY? What has driven Scotland to vote in the opposite way to the rest of the UK? What made us deliver a swing to Labour that flattened the Conservatives, pushed back the SNP and confounded almost all pundit prediction?"
PROTEST HISTORY NUGGET!!
Kent State Firing Order Heard on 1970 Tape from AOL News
"A new analysis of a 40-year-old audio recording reveals that someone ordered National Guard troops to prepare to fire on students during a deadly Vietnam War protest at Kent State University in 1970, two forensics experts said."
Certainly took them long enough to get to the source of this! Now, exactly WHO was the officer giving the orders?
SOUTHERN CULTURE NUGGET!!
Constance McMillen's South: Land of Sex and Sin from Politics Daily
"Most things like a gay prom with celebrity musicians and supporters in the small-town South aren't so in your face, even in the 21st century. So is the South changing? Hmmm, no."
FLAG DAY NUGGET!!
Star-Spangled Story (Laurel Thatcher Ulrich) from the New York Times Sunday Book Review
Yes, I know. Flag Day is still more than four weeks away -- but we're celebrating early here at the News Nuggets with this review of Betsy Ross and the Making of America by Marla R. Millers.
"Most historians dismiss the story about Betsy Ross making the first American flag. Yet despite a century of debunking, the legend endures. ... Buried beneath the legend was a real woman, Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole."
RUSSIA NUGGET!!
American Culture and the 'Gospel of Farmer Jed' from Izvestia [of Russia in English]
"What associations does the word 'countryside' conjure up for you? I’ll bet it’s something like this: 'everyone's a drunk, is poverty-stricken, is backward, and is knee-deep in mud.' … the government cultivates the image of Farmer Jed. And not only with books."
KANGAROO NUGGET!!
Jumping for Joy: Australian Couple Have Kangaroo as a Bridesmaid on Their Wedding Day from the Daily Mail [of the UK]
"The bride and groom adopted Zoe after finding her on a dirt track next to her dead mother on Black Saturday, close to their property in rural Deans Marsh, Victoria, Australia."
The pictures are really cute!
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