News Nuggets 220

An image of Wuzhen in eastern China - from the Chicago Tribune

Beyond Bill Clinton's Trip Lurks President Obama's Nuclear Disarmament Agenda from the [London] Independent

"President Obama has demonstrated that he is a serious strategic thinker, and by dispatching the former president to Pyongyang he has his eye on the long term."

Obama Lets N. Korea's Kim to Save Face from the China Post

"The Obama administration let North Korean leader Kim Jong Il save face by releasing two jailed Americans to former President Bill Clinton. The payoff — maybe not right away — is likely to be renewed dialogue with Pyongyang about its nuclear weapons program."

More Bloodshed for Iran from the National Interest

"After all the bloodshed in the streets, after the accounts of innocent demonstrators being tortured and after the spectacle of the show trials, the position of each faction has hardened beyond compromise."

Where are the Bright Spots Amid the Global Recession? from Forbes Magazine

"Which countries have best weathered the global recession and credit crunch. All economies have been affected by the crisis, but a combination of policy responses and strong fundamentals has given some countries, especially some emerging market economies, a relative edge."

Not Much to Celebrate After 10 Years of Putin from the Moscow Times

"Shortly after Putin took office as president in May 2000, he wasted little time rolling back virtually all of the political reforms that Yeltsin had worked so hard to achieve throughout his political career."

About Half of U.S. Mortgages Seen Underwater by 2011 from Reuters

"The percentage of U.S. homeowners who owe more than their house is worth will nearly double to 48 percent in 2011 from 26 percent at the end of March, portending another blow to the housing market, Deutsche Bank said on Wednesday."

This accompanying chart gives more detail about the worst impacted cities in the US.

The Clinton-Clinton-Obama Triumph from The Hill

"The release of the two journalists by the North Koreans on Tuesday night D.C. time was the result of a tour-de-force, trifecta combination of the three most talented and truly great political leaders of our times — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; her husband, former President Bill Clinton; and President Barack Obama. "

Bill Clinton Shows That Diplomacy Works from CNN

"President Clinton did more than free two unjustly jailed journalists. He jump-started the successful diplomacy he had begun 15 years earlier."

High-Speed Rail in the United States: Back on Track After 50 Years of Neglect from the [Manchester] Guardian

"With an initial infusion of $8bn, set aside under the spring's economic stimulus plan, the Obama administration is embarking on the most ambitious expansion of passenger rail in 50 years, with the construction or upgrade of up to 10 routes from California through the midwest to Florida."

Cash For Clunkers Extension Likely: Senate GOP Fails To Muster Opposition from the Huffinton Post

"The Senate reached a deal on saving the dwindling "cash for clunkers" program late Wednesday, agreeing to vote on a plan that would add $2 billion to the popular rebate program and give car shoppers until Labor Day to trade in their gas-guzzlers for a new ride."

An Unruly Night in Napa from the Napa Valley Register

"Monday night’s health care forum in Napa grew unruly and wild, with some critics of the current health care proposals seeking to derail the event, harming their cause and nearly destroying a meaningful forum on a critical topic for Napa and the nation."

Clinton and Gore Together Again from the New York Times

"on Wednesday morning was a visible reminder of how circumstances had conspired over the past few days to bring the reigning — and sometimes warring — names of the Democratic Party together around the drama of Mr. Clinton’s trip to North Korea."

Obama wants to Kill Grandma (Mike Madden) from Salon

"Here's a fact check of some of the more alarming claims that the right is making about healthcare reform, claims that are already hardening into myth."

HCAN Prepares Pro-Health Care Reform Activists For Responding To Town Hall Disruptions, Plans To Disrupt The Disrupters from Talking Points Memo

"With a significant campaign of town hall disruptions underway, it seems pretty clear that health care reform activists will have their work cut out for them, at least for the time being. But that's why they're changing their own playbook."

Parties Cry Foul Over Spate of Homestate Showdowns from The Hill

"The showdowns between lawmakers and constituents have not only fueled the high-stakes battle over healthcare reform but also started a debate over the authenticity of the interruptions."

Unions To Take On Conservative Groups Health Care Town Halls (Sam Stein) from the Huffington Post

"The nation's largest federation of labor organizations has promised to directly engage with boisterous conservative protesters at Democratic town halls during the August recess."

Conservatives are the Real Joker from the Nation

"It seems that some elements of America's fringe Right have become embarrassingly Freudian. This is a clear cut case of projection. The Right is the Joker, not President Obama."

THANK-GOD-HE'S-GONE NUGGET!!

A French Revelation, or The Burning Bush from the Council for Secular Humanism

"Incredibly, President George W. Bush told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse."

VIDEO HUMOR NUGGET!!

The Big Dog is Back! (Jon Stewart) from the Daily Show

HISTORY NUGGET!!

Sacrificial Virgins of the Mississippi from Salon

"Archaeologists are slowly unearthing the ghastly secrets of Cahokia, an ancient city under the American heartland."

News Nuggets 219

A Somali refugee in a Kenyan refugee camp -- from the Chicago Tribune

UP-FRONT FOLLOW-UP-FROM-EARLIER-IN-THE-WEEK NUGGET!!

As we have seen the last several days, the wingnut mob has been turning out in force -- and Democrats HAVE NOT!  Senator Chris Dodd (the guy just diagnosed with prostate cancer) and Rep. Chris Murphy both got rough receptions in the last two days up in CT!  See HERE and HERE.  We MUST show up -- or the loonies will indeed control our asylum.

Now -- some congress people are nervous about disclosing to just anyone when they will be in your area.  So how do you find out when & where to show up?  Barack has the answer!  Sign up HERE -- and you will be notified.

Clinton's Mission to Pyongyang from the Far Eastern Economic Review

"We will only slowly learn the full details of Bill Clinton’s historic mission to Pyongyang. But the preliminary indicators are positive, especially in what they tell us about domestic politics in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)."

The World from Berlin: When Bill Met Il from Der Spiegel

"Clinton and his entourage were able to observe and draw conclusions about the man in the khaki outfit. They were able to see how sick he really is, how he speaks and how he moves. Those details will provide America with valuable keys for discerning his position in the North Korean military structure and whether he is truly in a position to keep his house in order"

Interesting analysis of Bill's trip to Korea from various German perspectives.

Clinton: International Man of History from Politico

"The 42nd president’s success in forging a behind-the-scenes deal for the release of two American journalists in exchange for Clinton’s surprise appearance in Pyongyang may signal a new chapter in one of the United States’s most vexing and dangerous relationships. Or it may turn out to be another false start with an isolated and paranoid regime."

Frenemies: Will Iran's Right Wing Abandon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? from Newsweek

"As Ahmadinejad stepped in to kiss Khamenei's hand, the Supreme Leader stepped back and raised his left hand. The two shuffled back and forth for a few moments before Ahmadinejad said a few words and bent over to kiss Khamenei's shoulder, a sign of deference more common among Arabs than Persians. It was the perfect emblem for the weeks of protest that have begun to cleave the two apart."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Still Faces Bitter and Spreading Opposition from the Economist [of London]

"In a pointed break with protocol, numerous top officials, including two former presidents, found themselves too busy to attend. So were several notable members of the family of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution of 1979 and the Islamic republic’s founding father, who by tradition are prominent at such events. ... Hardly had the ceremony closed before street protests erupted anew across Tehran."

President of Iran ... for Now from the New York Post

"Signs of trouble were abundant at Monday's ceremony -- a legally necessary prelude to today's -- when "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei officially "endorsed" the election results with a fatwa appointing Ahmadinejad to a new term. Concerned that protesters might disrupt that ceremony, organizers kept its venue a secret until the last minute. This was the first time in 29 years that the "endorsement" event was shrouded in secrecy."

Green Shoots in Palestine (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times

"The good news is that the U.N. Development Program and a new group of Arab scholars last week came out with a new Arab Human Development Report. The bad news: Things have gotten worse — and many Arab governments don’t want to hear about it. This new report was triggered by a desire to find out why the obstacles to human development in the Arab world have “proved so stubborn.” "

Kremlin Burning Bridges with Every Neighbor from the Moscow Times

"Russia’s foreign policy failures are snowballing at such a rate that they threaten a second geopolitical collapse on a par with the disintegration of the Soviet Union 20 years ago. What makes this tragedy so comic is that our leaders are essentially running backward into the future and calling it progress."

Republicans Will Not Defeat Healthcare Reform (Robert Reich) from Salon

"This isn't grass roots. It's Astroturf. The vans carry the logo "Americans for Prosperity," one of the Washington front groups orchestrating the fight against universal health. They're using Congress's August recess to heckle Democratic representatives when they meet with their constituents, stage erszatz local anti-universal health rallies, and fill home-town media with carefully crafted, market-tested messages demonizing healthcare reform."

White House Launches Attacks on Attacks from Politico

"The White House launched a coordinated effort Tuesday to combat what it calls a “viral whisper campaign” to torpedo health care reform. Its playbook: the same one Barack Obama’s campaign used in 2008 to shoot down rumors and questions about his citizenship, faith and patriotism. "

Protests at Democrats' Health-Care Events Spark Political Tug of War from the Washington Post

"As House members headed home for the August recess, some Democrats have been met by taunts, jeers and even an effigy. Video footage of the sometimes-belligerent protests has taken hold online and on television in a relatively quiet news week, threatening to drown out any health-care debate."

Drowning out the debate IS the point!

Angry Mobs or Concerned Citizens? DNC Calls Out GOP for Town Hall Protests from Politics Daily

"During the August recess, Democratic members have been holding events in their districts to educate constituents about health care reform. To torpedo support for legislation expected to be voted on this fall, protesters feigning "grass roots" origin (but of uncertain recruitment history) have been disrupting the events, the DNC says."

News Nuggets 218

On top of our DOG-O-MATIC from earlier this week, we get this out of Wuhan, China.  As if poodles weren't put through enough as it is!  I suspect that the canine species (collectively) must be questioning the company they keep these days -- from Time Magazine.

Signs of Dissent Emerge in an Iranian Power Base from the New York Times

"The region’s relative insularity and lack of access to the outside world has led to a public silence that suggests that antagonism to the government is mainly limited to the large urban centers. But a recent four-day trip to the region turned up signs that growing segments of these rural populations, particularly the young and the educated, have lost faith in the current government."

A Coup in Iran? (Reza Aslan) from the Daily Beast

"As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is sworn in for another term as president, his parliament is publicly rebuking and investigating him. The Daily Beast’s Reza Aslan on how long he can survive."

Bill Clinton and Journalists in Emotional Return to US from the New York Times

"Former President Bill Clinton arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday morning after a dramatic 20-hour visit to North Korea, in which he won the freedom of two American journalists, opened a diplomatic channel to North Korea’s reclusive government and dined with the North’s ailing leader, Kim Jong-il."

This sounds really interesting and inspiring -- has the possibility to really move things off the dime in Korea.

Analysis: The Return of the Globetrotting Bill Clinton from the Times [of London]

"Far from usurping his wife’s authority, the mission to Korea is a masterstroke that takes advantage of a valuable resource unique in the world of diplomacy."

The Health Care Guns of August (Jonathan Cohn) from the New Republic

"After a tumultuous few weeks, the latest news in health reform is still worth savoring. ... Given that Democrats control the presidency as well as Congress--it seems unlikely that the year will close without some sort of health care legislation on President Obama’s desk. The White House wants a win and will, I tend to think, get it."

Another title play on the Barbara Tuchman classic, The Lies of August (Robert Schrum) from The Week

"August will be a liar's month, breeding conspiracy theories and falsehoods out of the cynical opposition to health-insurance reform. President Obama's invitation to bipartisanship has been answered by Republicans with expedient delay and a rising cacophony of fear-mongering."

Obama And DNC Try Turning Angry Mobs And Drudge Into Benefits (Sam Stein) from the Huffington Post

This could be interesting -- another political jujitsu move by Obama

"The White House and allied Democrats are ramping up efforts to make belligerent anti-Obama town hall crowds -- and the media outlets that feed their resentment -- the face of opposition to the president's health care agenda, aides tell the Huffington Post."

Lo and Behold -- an example of their ad campaign shows up from the DNC.  Look HERE.  Not bad!

Obama Taps Another Republican for Post from The Hill

"Obama on Tuesday sent former Rep. Anne Northup's (R-Ky.) nomination to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to the Senate, an appointment that will last for seven years."

To Tell the Truth, These Conspiracists Scare Me (James Bone) from the Times [of London]

"Sometimes reporters may be asked to cover a story that is intellectually scary. Those assignments are less dramatic but can reveal more about human nature.  Perhaps the most intellectually scary assignment I have had in recent years was to cover a meeting of the so-called "9/11 Truth Movement" in the East Village, New York."

Filibuster Nation (Harold Meyerson) from the Washington Post

"When future historians look back at this passage in our nation's history, I suspect they'll conclude that this Obama-isn't-American nuttiness refracted the insecurities and, in some cases, the hatred that a portion of conservative white America felt about having a black president and about the transformation of what many thought of as their white nation into a genuinely multiracial republic. But whatever the reasons, a mobilized minority is making a very plausible play to thwart a demobilized majority."

A Tip for the GOP: Look Away (Kathleen Parker) from the Washington Post

"Not all Southern Republicans are wing nuts. Nor does the GOP have a monopoly on ignorance or racism. And, the South, for all its sins, is also lush with beauty, grace and mystery. Nevertheless, it is true that the GOP is fast becoming regionalized below the Mason-Dixon line and increasingly associated with some of the South's worst ideas."

For the Modern GOP, It's a Return to the 'White Voter Strategy" (Thomas Edsall) from the Huffington Post

"With Republican party leaders so constrained by ideological blinders that none of their positions is likely to produce gains among non-white minorities, especially Hispanics, the GOP is finding it has no real alternative but to revert to a "white voter" strategy."

`Natural-born' -- The Most Un-American Section of the Constitution (Eric Zorn) of the Chicago Tribune

"Two new polls suggest that the Grand Old Party is having a Grand Old Meltdown over where President Barack Obama was born. ... To me, the size of this crazy caucus is evidence of a party in crippling, delusional disarray, captives to rumor and irrational hatred."

Source for Forged Kenyan Birth Certificate Found? (Alex Kupperman) from Salon

"Over the weekend, Birther-in-Chief Orly Taitz released what could have been a shocking discovery: A document that was purportedly a certified copy of President Obama's Kenyan birth certificate, showing that he'd been born in Mombasa, Kenya, not in Hawaii. It took just 48 hours to definitively expose Taitz's find as a forgery, and for the document that it was apparently based off of to surface."

Birther Leader Orly Taitz Implodes on MSNBC from the Christian Science Monitor

"Maybe today was the tipping point. The point where finally the birther movement starts to lose its steam. ... So what might be that illustrious tipping point today? An inside job. An implosion. A self-cratering. Whatever you want to call it, it wasn’t pretty. But, strangely, you can’t look away."

BOOK NUGGET!!

Inside "The Battle for America, 2008" from Politico.  Read also Roger Simon's interview with the authors HERE.
"The Battle for America 2008" appears in bookstores on Tuesday. Here's POLITICO's guide to some of its must-read passages"

A related ELECTION NUGGET!!

How Obama Snared the Lion of the Senate (Balz & Johnson) from the Washington Post

"Kennedy admired Clinton but felt she was wrong for the times. A successful candidacy in 2008 had to be an outside-Washington effort. You couldn't be a Washington insider and run effectively; Clinton appeared to be positioning herself in just the wrong way. Kennedy believed that the time was right for Obama and that Clinton was, as an associate put it, "the past."

MOVIE NUGGET!!

HBO Obama Documentary: Backstage at the Campaign from Politics Daily

"If the Obama team needs a shot in the arm — as it faces a tough patch ahead with health care legislation and a still-struggling economy — HBO’s new documentary, “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” will remind the president and his top aides how and why they got to the White House in the first place."

INTERNATIONAL CULTURE NUGGET!!

Beirut, the Provincetown of the Middle East from the New York Times

"Beirut represents a different Middle East for some gay and lesbian Arabs: the only place in the region where they can openly enjoy a social life denied them at home."

News Nuggets 216

An ultra-orthodox Jew on Mount Gerizim overlooking Nablus on the West Bank - from the Chicago Tribune

Obama's Six-Month Foreign Policy Report Card: Solid A- (David Rothkopf) from Foreign Policy Magazine

"...for now, give the guy credit. He has actually installed himself at the center of the foreign policy apparatus, put foreign policy atop his list of priorities and has been an engaged, informed chief executive and commander in chief."

US to Push Peace in Middle East Media Campaign from the New York Times

"In coming weeks, senior administration officials said, the White House will begin a public-relations campaign in Israel and Arab countries to better explain Mr. Obama’s plans for a comprehensive peace agreement involving Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world."

"Public-relations campaign" re: an electrifying, game-shifting, knock-them-on-their-asses speech or two.  A good summary of the BIG PICTURE concerning Obama's diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East.

Iran's Most Wanted (Reza Aslan) from the Daily Beast

"As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is inaugurated in Iran, as many as 50 Iranian journalists are languishing in prison cells—victims of his administration’s brutal post-election crackdown. Reza Aslan names names."

America Comes to Kenya (Editorial) from the Standard [of Kenya in English]

"That Hillary Clinton is coming after the Cabinet united to kill hopes for a local tribunal, erected barriers on the road to The Hague, and even discussed possible withdrawal from Roman Statute and its signature on International Criminal Court protocol, could mean Kenya should be expecting an earful from her."

The Message is the Message from New York Magazine

This excellent article captures one of the most under-reported but salient aspects of Obama's approach to governing -- how many issues he's taking on all at once.

"“If you poll a question about a policy in an anodyne, sterile way, you’ll often find that Barack Obama’s positions are inversely proportional to his popularity,” notes Gillespie. “But if you say it’s President Obama’s policy, it pulls the numbers right back up.”  The White House is exquisitely aware of this advantage."

Barack Obama Holds Back the Miracles (Andrew Sullivan) from the Times [of London]

"Many expect health reform to end up being the American president’s ruin, but he has a plan to avoid the trap."

I suspect Sullivan is right-on-the-money here.

Dems Vow Health Bill With or Without Republicans from the Associated Press

"Frustrated with the pace of bipartisan talks, Democratic leaders on Monday promised to push a sweeping health care bill through the Senate whether they get Republican support or not."

I'm not surprised -- but boy are the GOPers going to make even more of a stink if it goes this way.

An Opportunity Knocking at the White House Door from Politico

A very interesting take on the topic of judicial nominations.

"Senate Republicans, ..., have shown their determination to oppose anyone the president nominates, no matter how sterling their qualifications or how mainstream their record.  Rather than constraining President Barack Obama in his future nominations, however, this partisan gamesmanship has presented him with great opportunity. If a small Republican minority is going to oppose a moderate as if she’s an unhinged extremist, there should be no political cost to nominating a qualified candidate who is a true progressive.

Politics for Dinner (Andrew Wilson) from the Wall Street Journal

"Harry and I will go on being brothers and good friends. But like the American people as a whole, we are politically estranged in a way that marks a real departure from the past."

While I disagree with his politics, there is a lot of truth to Wilson's commentary here.  I've never seen anything like it myself.

Here Come the Racists (Matthew Yglesias) from the Daily Beast

"During the campaign, Barack Obama’s enemies seemed reluctant to smear him with ugly rhetoric. But as The Daily Beast’s Matthew Yglesias points out, the last week has seen it come out in full force."

The Berserk 'Birthers' (Eugene Robinson) from the Washington Post

"If there's been a more clinically insane political phenomenon in my lifetime than the "birthers," I've missed it. Is this what our national discourse has come to? Sheer paranoid fantasy?"

MUST-SEE VIDEO NUGGET!!

Ten Letters a Day from the White House

Yes -- I KNOW it's propaganda -- but it is REALLY WELL-DONE PROPAGANDA!

VACATION PHOTOS NUGGET!!

Sunday Night Hawaii Photo Diary from Daily Kos

Beautiful images from Hawaii

RHINOCEROS NUGGET!!

First Baby Rhino Born in Uganda in 28 Years is Named Obama from the [London] Daily Telegraph

"The first baby rhinoceros born in Uganda in almost 30 years has been named Obama because his father is from Kenya and his mother was born in the US."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NUGGET!!

For Obama, Blowing Out Candles Over a Working Lunch from the Washington Post

""Chuck E. Cheese was booked," Gibbs joked during his daily White House press briefing."

A very amusing itinerary for Obama's 48th!  Happy Birthday, Mr. President.

News Nuggets 215

The LATEST from the What the @#$% is THAT? file.  Yes, friends -- just what you always wanted!  The DOG-O-MATIC!!  It churns!  It scrubs!  Leaves Fido fresh and clean all day!!  Never mind that terror-stricken look on Rover's face!  He'll get used to it!  Remember -- no more messy cleanup for you!  From the Chicago Tribune.

It didn't take long for the right-wingers to start!

Lloyd Doggett Faces Angry Crowd at Randalls from the Austin Daily Statesman

"Back in Central Texas while Congress is on a month-long recess, Congressman Lloyd Doggett faced an angry reception at a town hall meeting at an Austin Randalls store yesterday."

Internal Combustion in Iran from the New Republic

"Rifts and rancor amongst the ruling elite is often a precondition for democratic transitions; Iran is no exception. Such rifts, however, make the work of "engaging" that country much more difficult; it is hard to engage with a nation if it is not clear who rules it."

Like America, China Too Must Confront Racism (Editorial) from the China Daily, People's Republic of China [in English]

"Is the deadly rioting in China's western-most provinces driving a public relations policy change in Beijing? According to this op-ed from state-run China Daily, just as in America, Chinese society is due for an open discussion on prejudice."

Stimulus Cash Lifts States, Localities from USA Today

"A huge influx of federal stimulus money to state and local governments more than offset a sharp drop in tax collections, helping to put the brakes on the nation's economic decline, new government data show."

'High Risk, High Reward' and 'A Political Odyssey' from the Washington Post

Here are two more installments from the book "The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election"

"John McCain Was Looking for a Way to Shake Up His Campaign. He Took a Surprising Gamble on a Relative Unknown."

Race, Lies, and Health Care (Editorial) from the Nation

"What is it about health care that brings out the latent racism in the GOP?  The answer is simple: For two or three generations, Republicans have defeated progressive reform of the health care system by hinting that it would mean redistributing wealth from whites to blacks."

The GOP's Extremist Dilemma from E.J. Dionne

"Only 28 percent rated the Republicans positively; 41 percent rated them negatively. Perhaps this has something to do with how few positive things Republicans have to say. As a result, the party is being defined by extremist voices who have faced little push-back from its leaders."

Bashing Insurance Industry is Effective Message, Internal Poll Says from the Plum Line

"An internal poll conducted for House Dem leaders, which I’ve obtained, tested a range of Dem and GOP messages and concluded that the anti-insurance industry line is the most convincing of all messages from either side."

I'm actually skeptical that this line of argument will work.

Lou Dobbs: A 'Publicity Nightmare' for CNN from the Associated Press via Huffington Post

"He's become a publicity nightmare for CNN, embarrassed his boss and hosted a show that seemed to contradict the network's "no bias" brand. And on top of all that, his ratings are slipping."

Birthers Crack the Case! and Debunking the Unbearably Stupid from Daily Kos

"The totality of the evidence -- gathered lightning fast, I may add -- suggests that this is a forgery. And not just any forgery, but one good enough to take in the idiot birthers, while poor enough to let everyone else in on the joke.

In other words, the Birthers just got played, in a hilariously overt way"

This was SO predictable!  It's good that a real joker put this out there now rather than waiting for something better to show up!  I love Kos's conclusion!

And LO AND BEHOLD no sooner is this forgery unmasked than a better one mysteriously appears!!  Look HERE.

Sarah, You're No Nixon -- and No, That's Not a Compliment (Howard Fineman) from Newsweek

"There's a lot of talk around Washington that Sarah Palin is the reincarnation of Richard Nixon. I find myself feeling offended on the old man's behalf."

Sarah Palin, Meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Juan Cole) from Salon

"Is Sarah Palin America's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? The two differ in many key respects, of course, but it is remarkable how similar they are. There are uncanny parallels in their biographies, their domestic politics and the way they present themselves -- even in their rocky relationships with party elders."

SLEAZE NUGGET!!

Todd and Sarah Palin to Divorce: Affairs on Both Sides from Alaska Reports

"AlaskaReport has learned today that Todd Palin and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin are to divorce. Multiple sources in Wasilla and Anchorage (including a former Palin staffer) have confirmed the split."

Sarah's lawyer denied the story and threatened to sue one of the sources -- and then withdrew the threat.  Alaska Reports has broken many Palin stories, initially denied, but later proven to be true.  While the conclusion may be off, the particulars are interesting.

PERILOUS FUTURE NUGGET!!

Scientists Fear a Revolt by Killer Robots from the Times [of London]

"Advances in artificial intelligence promise many benefits, but scientists are privately so worried they may be creating machines which end up outsmarting — and perhaps even endangering — humans that they held a secret meeting to discuss limiting their research."

News Nuggets 214

A school of great blue fin tuna in an aquarium in Tokyo -- from the Chicago Tribune

A Waiting Game with Iran (David Ignatius) from the Washington Post

"The neighborhood troublemaker has driven his car off the road and is stuck in a ditch. He is gunning his engine but just spinning his wheels. What should we do? Personally, I would wait for the dust to settle. I would want that cocky driver to ask for help before throwing him a rescue line. If he needs a tow, he should offer an attractive deal -- starting with a promise that he will stop terrorizing the neighborhood."

GREAT analogy!

Iran, US Do a 'War on Terror' Somersault (Editorial) from the Asia Times

"The fierce raid this week by Iraqi military and police units on Camp Ashraf, a base for the militant Iranian dissident outfit - Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) or "People's Holy Warriors" - was a game changer in Iran's quest to control the banned organization. The timing of the intense two-day siege of the camp, ..., is clearly linked to the progressive transfer of security operations from American to Iraqi troops."

A Reporter's Diary: Making a Tricky Exit from Iran from Time Magazine

"Although the training manuals at Langley likely do not recommend it, I spent the better part of my final days in the Islamic Republic debating whether or not to convince my own grandmother to discretely include a pair of flash drives with her luggage."

Talking to the Taliban from (GASP!) Fox News

"A top Western diplomat in Kabul tells Fox News “reconciliation” with elements of the Taliban insurgents  will be a key way to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan. "

Free Marriage Counseling (Thomas Friedman) from the New York Times

"Israel and America are having one of those periodic marital spats they have had over the years, replete with “I-am-not-taking-any-more-of-your-guff” outbursts by Obama officials at American Jewish leaders, ... Having been to this play before, and knowing both families, I’d like to offer some free marriage counseling."

Forget the Great in Britain (Editorial) from Newsweek

"Its fall was inevitable, but the economic crisis will shrink the last pretenses of empire faster than anyone expected."

With Health Care Talks Uncertain, Democrats Consider a Last Resort from the New York Times

"With bipartisan health care negotiations teetering, Democrats are talking reluctantly — and very, very quietly — about exploiting a procedural loophole they planted in this year’s budget to skirt Republican filibusters against a health care overhaul."

Lawmakers Head Home Divided, Empty-handed on Health Care from the Miami Herald

"The House of Representatives adjourned Friday for a five-week summer recess with conservative and liberal Democrats still at odds over the cost and the government's role in any health care overhaul, putting off a floor vote until at least September."

Obama's Legislative Approach: Pragmatism (Michael Scherer) from Time Magazine

"Six months into the Obama Administration, a clear pattern of legislative pragmatism has emerged: focus on winning the big votes and don't fret too much about losing some of the details."

A Healthy Competition (David Broder) from the Washington Post

"Here's an irony for you: The health-care bills in Congress are getting better even as support for them diminishes around the country."

Pelosi Outlines August Plan of Attack from Politico

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined a doubled-edged message for selling health care reform in August: one part pro-consumer and the second, attacking the health insurance industry with the same passion she took on George W. Bush’s Social Security privatization plans four years ago. "

The Drive for Faster Trains from The Week

"President Obama has pledged $13 billion to ‘jump-start’ a high-speed rail system. Is it too little, too late?"

Small Beer, Big Hangover (Frank Rich) from the New York Times

"THE comforting thing about each “national conversation on race” is that the “teachable moment” passes before any serious conversation can get going."

Concerning the media's role in this story, Rich hits it squarely here.

The Real Lesson of Obama's Moment (Editorial) from the [Toronto] Globe and Mail

"We've had the Beer Summit and its teachable moment. If nothing else it put an end ... to the Michael Jackson coverage. Well if it was, in the Oprahesque formulation, a teachable moment – what was being taught? And what has been learned? Well, among other things, we've learned once again what a smooth politician Barack Obama is."

Paul McCartney Dedicates Beatles' Classic 'Michelle' to First Lady Michelle Obama from Politico

"Before playing the Beatles classic, "Michelle", McCartney told the packed audience that he was dedicating it to the first lady."

HISTORY NUGGET!!

World War I: We are Still Lost in the Mystery of that War (Simon Heffer) from the [London] Daily Telegraph

Hits on one of the biggest differences between Europe and the US, one that continues to play out today.

"Nothing changed us more, or demanded so incomprehensible a sacrifice as the conflict that ended in November 1918."

News Nuggets 213

Ring of Water.  An F/A-18F Super Hornet hits the speed of sound.  As the plane pushes air away, the temperature drops and water vapor in the air forms a ring around it.  From Time Magazine.

Time to get off our asses!!  Barack needs us.  The GOP is gearing up to really bring the heat to congressmen and women who are just now going on their August recess.  They're going back to their districts, and, between the birthers and anti-gov't activists, Democratic Representatives and Senators will be under enormous pressure to cave on health care reform.  To get a sense of what's in store, check THIS out.

What there is to do:

1.  Call or hand-write a letter to your Senators and your Representative voicing your support for meaningful reform.  Share any experiences you may have had with the current system  If you are going to e-mail, do it in addition to one of these other modes of communication.  E-mail is the lowest species of communication to Congress people.

2.  Do it AGAIN in 3 weeks.

3.  Call your Congress people's offices and find out when they will be visiting your neighborhood -- and GO to those meetings!  Anti-health care reform wingnuts have been flipping out at these little events lately -- and we've got to be there to give our reps some cover and to push back.  Some reps have been foregoing public meetings.  If so, find out what other ways (virtual town halls, conference calls, etc.) they will be having for keeping in touch with constituents and participate in those!

4.  Contribute to Obama's "Organizing for America" campaign which is gearing up for a focused, grassroots campaign in support of health care reform in August.  Go HERE to do that.

If you have never participated in politics in this fashion before, NOW IS THE TIME!!  This could be the biggest reform in health care since at least the 1960s -- or it could be a big fat nothing!  Really -- this IS the time.

Some contact Information:

In Pittsburgh:

NORTH HILLS: For Jason Altmire (D), look HERE

EAST END: Mike Doyle (D), look HERE

SOUTH HILLS: Tim Murphy (R), look HERE.  Yes, I know he's a Republican -- but if you are his constituent, he's the one to talk to.

For Pennsylvania's two senators, Bob Casy and Arlen Specter, see HERE.

In Connecticut:

Your senators can be found HERE

The rep for eastern CT can be found HERE

All other US Representatives can be located HERE

and Senators HERE:

Now, back to our regularly scheduled nuggets.

First up, appropriately: 

Health Bill Clears Hurdle, and Hints at Consensus from the New York Times

"House members headed home on Friday, leaving behind the outlines of a nearly $1 trillion health care overhaul that is sure to draw fire from a variety of interests, but also shows the beginnings of a consensus that would provide insurance for more Americans and give them new rights in dealing with insurers."

House Committee Approves Health-Care Package from the Washington Post

"The House Energy and Commerce Committee Friday night approved a sweeping package of health-care measures, clearing a critical hurdle that sets the stage for a five-week battle for both Democrats and Republicans to define the legislation in voters' minds before the full House votes next month."

Unions Budget Up to $20 Million for August Campaign from The Hill

"Labor unions and liberal advocacy groups will spend between $10 million and $20 million this month to twist lawmakers’ arms over the stalled healthcare reform effort in Congress."

Blue-Dogged (Michael Tomasky) from New York Magazine

Tomasky is right-on-the-money here.

"Centrist Democrats think that going slow on health care is good politics—but if Obama loses, they lose, too."

Obama's e-Campaign Moves from the US to the World Stage from the McClatchy News Service

"While non-U.S. citizens can't vote for Obama or his political rivals, they can serve as a world-spanning sounding board when the president wants to take the global pulse, exert leverage overseas or simply burnish America's image."

The 7 Countries That are Pissed at Obama (Economics Edition) from Foreign Policy Magazine

"In the interest of stoking some debate, let me offer my list of countries with which relations have deteriorated in the last six months. I'll pocket the Post's Israel point and omit Iran, since relations with them are bad, but not necessarily worse. The list is necessarily subjective, but I'll give my reasons for each. You can apply your own weights."

Why Iran's Regime is at Odds with Itself from the Christian Science Monitor

"... the clock that matters most to the regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:  It measures the moments until their legitimacy runs out. It is counted in the number of popular demonstrations since a flawed June 12 election, the instances of power struggles among the divided rulers, and the occurrences of stinging criticisms from respected Islamic clerics."

Study: GOP Failure To Attract Voters of Color Puts Them In Peril from Daily Kos

AS IT SHOULD!

"The Wall Street Journal reported last week on a new demographic study by a researcher at the Brookings Institution. Inside the 2008 numbers are implications that should get the attention of both political parties as they look ahead to 2010 and beyond."

HISTORY NUGGET!!

Guilty - of Being a Black World Champion from the Independent [of the UK]

"Jack Johnson's name has been tarnished for a century by allegations trumped up by his white enemies. Now Obama is being asked to pardon him."