Having just heard a few winger operatives trying to make hash out of that libral media because of its reputed attacks on the new candidate’s family, I want to thank Charlie Rose for saying that that’s what we call ‘a lie’. On his show early this a.m., panelists pointed out that the accusers have yet to show them an actual instance of these attacks the right wing is claiming.

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AT THE funeral of Abie Nathan, I said to myself: the Israel-as-it-is takes its leave from the Israel-as-it-could-have-been. From the state that we dreamed of when it was founded. A state where moral considerations govern both domestic and foreign policy. A state whose citizens take responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their country.

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The campaign season is abuzz with all four of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates exclaiming how they’re going to “reform” Washington. Not surprisingly, the establishment media is excited about the theme, calling on the candidates to come up with the “specifics” of their respective “reform” plans.

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Why We Shouldn’t Be Alarmed

Politicians regularly turn public fear into votes. President Bush proved a master at this in his 2004 re-election success. Most presidents who don’t win the popular vote the first time don’t get a second term, but fear pushed Bush over the top in 2004.

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THE RIVERBOAT GAMBLER.

He's either a genius or an idiot. Brilliant or crazy. Political mastermind or stone crazed loon. Destined to go down as a real life visionary or the Banana Daiquiri Boy with attention deficit disorder who took down Karl Rove's entire Republican machine with one swell foop.

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All aboard the Casey Jones Special

I wonder. . .is anybody listening? Is anybody paying attention? Is anybody actually seeing anything? I feel like I'm Laurie Anderson calling her home:

"Hello? Is anybody home?"

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Maverick? Author Paul Waldman

Media Matters fellow and American Prospect columnist Paul Waldman says Sen. McCain’s image as an independent maverick able to take on powerful interests is enabled by a complacent media that overlooks the facts.

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This morning about a dozen journalists, including the Democracy Now! team, and some citizen advocates went to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's Office and County Attorney Susan Gaertner's office to deliver some 50,000 signatures collected to protest the arrests of journalists covering the Republic National Convention. The signature drive was organized by Free Press, a national media reform organization.

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A few years ago, FrontPageMag.com columnist Paul Marek wrote an article titled “Why the Peaceful Majority Is Irrelevant.” His thesis was that even if the majority of Muslims abhor violence, it doesn’t matter because “the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.... The hard quantifiable fact is, that the ‘peaceful majority’ is the ‘silent majority’ and it is cowed and extraneous.”

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Questions need asking

Sen. John McCain’s story is so heroic in the telling as to be almost mythic, and he shared that story Thursday night in prime time. As a brash young pilot descended from military officers, McCain found himself shot down by the North Vietnamese after arrogantly over-reaching during a flight. Suffering broken limbs, imprisonment and torture, he resisted his captors’ demands that he confess to war crimes. By resisting, he brought the wrath of enemies down on body and soul.

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The heavy police presence promised at the RNC in St. Paul this week was like honey to a bee for a few angry troublemakers and thrill seekers. (I won't call them anarchists like most media have, because not all anarchists are vandals and troublemakers, just like not all Democrats are Republicans, though some are.)

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As I’ve watched the storm of controversy surrounding Sarah Palin, a thought ocurred to me. What the Republicans ought to do is reverse their candidates, making Palin their presidential candidate and McCain their vice-presidential candidate.

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My jaw nearly hit the floor.  I was watching Rudy Giuliani speak Wednesday night at the RNC, and he was laying it on Obama thick and heavy, as would be expected.  But he ruthlessly attacked Obama’s record in a way that I never anticipated.  He ridiculed the field of community organizing.

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Criminal profiling, the practice of weighing someone's guilt or innocence based on the way they look or act, is bandied about a lot these days. Advocates of profiling, led by high level policy makers, believe it's a perfectly acceptable tool when carried out by law enforcement. After walking into two profiling situations yesterday during events surrounding the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., I'm convinced of its dangers, and can illustrate how it goes wrong.

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Thousands of supporters of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul gathered last night in Minneapolis for a counter-convention to show support for the Libertarian-leaning Texan congressman. During the primary season, Paul placed second or third in twenty states, but he was barred from speaking at the Republican National Convention, reportedly because he would not change his position on the war in Iraq. During his speech in Minneapolis, Paul refused to endorse his fellow Republican, John McCain.

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The Bush administration has found yet another way to waste taxpayer money while providing huge sums to private contractors.  According to a survey of activities in 2007 by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, about a third of the federal professional intelligence workforce now consists of contractors, mostly in the Washington, DC area.

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