News Nuggets 375

Fungus (coriolus versicolor) on a stump in the Plitvice National Park in Croatia.

Saudis Act Aggressively to Denounce Terrorism (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post

"Terrorism has damaged the Islamic world far more than the West, and too many Muslims have been cowed and silent. But a powerful and so far largely unreported denunciation of terrorism emerged last month from Saudi Arabia's top religious leadership, known as the Council of Senior Ulema."

Self-Destructive Israel Has Killed This Love Affair (Andrew Sullivan) from the Times [of London]

"Tel Aviv’s belligerence has led to a crucial shift in support in the United States"

Netanyahu's Dilemma (Jeffrey Goldberg) from the Atlantic

"But about those Israeli doubts: For the typical Israeli ... two events in particular have soured them on the chance for compromise."

The New Putin Profile from Newsweek

"The leader who bashed America and embraced Stalin is now backing a major thaw in Russian foreign policy."

Wait, Did the Stimulus Work? (David Leonhardt) from the New York Times

"A report suggests that one part of the stimulus program did not have a noticeable effect on the economy, given how slowly this money has been spent and given everything else going on — the financial crisis, the recession and the hundreds of billions of other stimulus. When you look at the program as a whole, the picture is not nearly as uncertain."

Obama Will Address Nation on BP from Politico

"President Barack Obama plans an address to the nation on the Gulf disaster this week, White House senior adviser David Axelrod told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. "

GREAT! Obama is reaching for his SECRET WEAPON!!

BP's Eight Dumbest Mistakes from The Week

"The oil giant is being widely criticized for its handling of the massive Gulf spill, both before and after the blowout. Here's why ."

Oil Spill Disaster: The Guilty Parties from the Independent [of the UK]

"The blowout of Deepwater Horizon involved more than one organisation. There were other companies, and a regulator. And behind them, ourselves and our insatiable cars."

Enviros Give Obama a Pass on Spill from Politico

"As the greatest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history has played out on Obama’s watch, the environmental movement has essentially given him a pass — all but refusing to unleash any vocal criticism against the president even as the public has grown more frustrated by Obama’s performance."

Which "public" are they referring to?

Sorry Guys, But Obama's Anger Isn't About Britain (Michael Tomasky) from the Guardian [of the UK]

"Obama may have mixed feelings about the UK, but he surely doesn't hate it. And there is no broad anti-British sentiment in the US. There is anti-BP sentiment. And well there ought to be."

One Bird's Odyssey Through the Oil from the Washington Post

"As inches-deep oil washes into nesting grounds and habitats along the Gulf Coast, animal rescuers have seen a surge in gunk-covered wildlife in the past week. The solution is not a quick hosing off but a delicate process that takes days or weeks and results, ideally, in a healthy bird taking off over oil-free waters. Here is one brown pelican's trip from rescue to recovery:"

This article has a very interesting graphic.

Revealed: Japan's Bribes on Whaling from the Times [of London]

"An investigation found officials from six countries would consider selling their International Whaling Commission votes."

These folks just don't know when to quite it!!

Tea Party Battles Centrists for Republicans' Soul (Al Hunt) from the Bloomberg News Service

"The debate within Republican ranks -- whether to rigorously adhere to core principles or broaden appeal --is exemplified by the two senators from South Carolina. They are conservative Republicans with decidedly different views."

SC-Sen: Experts Review S.C. Senate Ballots from Politico

"Experts are turning up some eye-opening trend lines in Alvin Greene's victory over Vic Rawl."

POLITICAL BOOK NUGGET!!

Book Review: 'The Upper House' by Terence Samuel from the Washington Post

"Terence Samuel's "The Upper House" explores the inner workings of the U.S. Senate through the lives of several current senators, including Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, Tennessee Republican Bob Corker and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar. He describes the near impossibility senators face in fulfilling all the promises made during a campaign and explains why voters get frustrated."

ANOTHER POLITICAL BOOK NUGGET!!

Book review: 'Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the New American Politics,' (Norm Ornstein) from the Washington Post

"Few would dispute Pelosi's power, but her role and persona divide Americans. A heroine among hard-core Democrats, she is a figure of derision and distaste to partisan Republicans and a clear target for the unhappiness a whopping majority of Americans feel toward Washington in general and Congress in particular."