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NEWS DISSECTOR: The Campaign Grinds On Along With The War In Iraq
NEWS DISSECTOR May 22, 2008
The Campaign Grinds On Along With The War In Iraq
MATH LESSON: HILL HAS TO TAKE 186% of VOTES IN FUTURE PRIMARIES TO WIN
BACK TO FLORIDUH
BEHIND THE TAKEOVER OF SADR CITY
WALL STREET RATINGS FIRM ADMITS BIG ERROR
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were both in CSI Florida, the scene of the crime against the Democrats in 2000, both with different agendas, as AP reports:
Obama, feeling sure of the Democratic nomination, was trying to stake an early claim to a state that could be crucial in the general election against Republican John McCain. Clinton, insisting she can still be her party's nominee, was making an impassioned plea for the state's disputed primary results to be counted.
Here are some other political stories of interest:
Clint Hendler, CJR: Press Declares Victory, Even If Obama Won't
What, exactly, happened in Iowa last night?
Timothy Noah, Slate: We've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
Did McCain Create an HDTV Monster?
Noah couldn't believe all the wrinkles, blotches, liver spots and scary tissue he was forced to examine while watching hi-def McCain on SNL. The technology John McCain helped bring to market could kill his candidacy, the way TV killed Nixon's.
Greg Palast: Hillary Removes Bill Clinton as First Husband
In a surprise move meant to reinvigorate her faltering campaign, Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton dismissed William Clinton as First Husband designate.
Those close to the candidate, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Mr. Clinton, also known as "Bill," had, with press revelations of his business associations with the repressive Colombian regime, plus a long history of support for anti-union causes such as NAFTA, had become a "real drag" on Senator Clinton's ambitions.
While disappointing returns from Kentucky primary polls flashed on campaign monitors, the Senator's spokesman issued a tersely worded statement announcing the resignation of the ex-President and thanking Mr. Clinton for "his years of service in support of Hillary's career and her goals for America" and that the candidate would, "miss his presence greatly."
Mr. Clinton will retain the title of Former Chief of the Free World.
MISOGNY ON THE CAMPAIGNTRAIL
WP: Marie Cocco- "Misogyny I Won't Miss"
As the Democratic nomination contest slouches toward a close, it's time to take stock of what I will not miss.
I will not miss seeing advertisements for T-shirts that bear the
slogan "Bros before Hos." The shirts depict Barack Obama (the Bro) and Hillary Clinton (the Ho) and are widely sold on the Internet.I will not miss walking past airport concessions selling the Hillary
Nutcracker, a device in which a pantsuit-clad Clinton doll opens her
legs to reveal stainless-steel thighs that, well, bust nuts. I won't
miss television and newspaper stories that make light of the novelty item.I won't miss episodes like the one in which liberal radio personality
Randi Rhodes called Clinton a "big [expletive] whore" and said the
same about former vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. Rhodes was appearing at an event sponsored by a San Francisco radio station, before an audience of appreciative Obama supporters - one of whom had promoted the evening on the presumptive Democratic nominee's official campaign Web site.
WHY LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY?
WP's FACT CHECKER: -Michael Dobbs: The Fact Checker-John McCain is stepping up his attacks on Barack Obama for being willing to meet with various petty tyrants and thugs, including the leaders of Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. At a town hall meeting in Miami on Tuesday, he contrasted Obama's position with the stand taken by previous presidents, such as FDR and Ronald Reagan. But a review of the historical record shows that there is a long-standing tradition of U.S. presidents, both Republican and Democrat, meeting with brutal dictators and mass murderers over a period of many decades.
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS VIDEOS_-NOW ITS MCCAIN'S REV'S TURN
IRAQ: MALIKI FORCES INVADE SADR CITY-REAL NEWS LOOKS CLOSELY AT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON
CAN YOU TALK TO YOUR ENEMIES? A: APPARENTLY!
From the NY TIMES:
Israel and Syria Say They Are Holding Peace Talks in Turkey
The governments confirmed that Israel and Syria have begun indirect peace talks, mediated by Turkey, aimed at reaching a comprehensive accord.
Agreement Struck in Lebanon to End Political Crisis
The Hezbollah-led Shiite opposition and the Lebanese government reached a deal to resolve a crisis that has crippled the country.
TED HEADS HOME: KENNEDY'S TOUGHEST FIGHT JUST STARTING
GLOBE: BOSTON - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy walked out of the hospital on Wednesday after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, giving a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to his relatives before driving off for his Cape Cod home.
A square bandage at the back of his head marked the spot where doctors performed a biopsy Monday that led them to conclude the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat suffered from a malignant glioma. Experts say such tumors are almost always fatal.
Kennedy's dogs greeted him at the hospital door. Hospital workers and well-wishers greeted Kennedy with applause, which he acknowledged with a thumbs up. Before he and his wife, Vicki, got into a dark Chevrolet Suburban, he kissed his daughter, Kara, and his niece Caroline Kennedy.
CHINA: IS IT ORCHESTRATING VIOLENCE?
NEW YORK - The Falun Dafa Information Center reported Wednesday that mobs of hundreds have been assembled in Flushing, New York, daily since Saturday, May 17, to assail Falun Gong practitioners even as millions throughout China mourn.
This and similar incidents occurring on the same days elsewhere, coupled with aggressive coverage from state-run media in China, suggest that Beijing authorities are orchestrating these events, post-earthquake, as a means of channeling emotions against political targets.
WP: Audit Finds FBI Reports Of Detainee Abuse Ignored
Tactics Continued Against Detainees
CREDIT CRISIS FAR FROM OVER, MOODY'S ADMITS MISTAKE
Don't believe the hype. The economy is not "bouncing back" any time soon. At least not according to Nouriel Roubini's analysis:
NOURIEL ROUBINI'S RGE MONITOR: IT AIN'T OVER
Is the credit crisis over? Or are we just in the eye of the storm? There seems to be a growing sentiment among analysts that the worst of the credit crunch has passed and financial markets are slowly recovering. Unfortunately the troubles in the real estate finance sector are far from over. In addition, the spillover to other parts of the credit markets - auto loans, student loans and credit cards - and as a consequence to the engine of the U.S. economy - the U.S. consumer - could be just at the beginning. The labor market can be considered effectively in a recession and personal consumption is consistently reducing its contribution to GDP growth. It might, therefore, be too early to declare the end of financial turmoil and of its effects on the real economy. And a negative feedback loop from a contracting real economy to worsening financial markets cannot be ruled out.
NC: Ohio (Effectively) Halts Payday Lending
Ken Funnell at Bank Lawyer's Blog tells us that Ohio is about to put legislation into effect that will kill payday lending:
The new Ohio law would limit borrowers to four short-term loans a year and cap annual interest rates at 28 percent. The bill also would limit loan amounts to $500 per loan, or 25 percent of a consumer's base monthly pay, whichever is less.
Funnell is a proponent of the view that payday lenders offer consumers a useful choice and are preferable to loan sharks. Other defenders of payday loans argue that the cost of an advance is less than a bounced check fee.
ROBERT REICH'S SOLUTION TO THE RECESSION: The Cure for America's Chronic Recession
The biggest issue in the general election will be the economy. And despite what corporate cheerleaders and Wall Street optimists say, the economy is not reviving any time soon. We're in a chronic recession, or worse. What to do?
….So what's the answer? We've got to go back to fiscal policy - big time. The tiny checks the Treasury just sent out are barely enough to pay our rising fuel bills. We need a stimulus package that's truly up to the job of restoring aggregate demand.
The best and easiest candidate for the large-scale stimulus that's needed is spending on the nation's crumbling infrastructure. America has deferred billions of dollars of maintenance on bridges, sewers, water systems, levees, and dams. That's already cost the nation dearly.
Problem is, the public doesn't trust the government to spend money on infrastructure wisely. Why should it, when so many earmarks go to dumb infrastructure projects like "bridges to nowhere"?
So here's the deal: The next president should establish a national capital budget that lists infrastructure projects in priority order, for the nation as a whole. No more earmarks. The capital budget will reflect the nation's true infrastructure needs.
AT LAST THE TRUTH IS OUT: RATINGS AGENCY FALSELY RATED SUBPRIME SECURITIES
Moody's error said to inflate ratings
Moody gave incorrect ratings to billions of dollars' worth of debt products, according to the Financial Times.
There will be an investigation: Charles Schumer, the powerful New York senator, called on Wednesday for the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate revelations that Moody's awarded incorrect ratings to billions of dollars of complex debt because of a bug in its computer.
ON THE PRICE OF OIL-Naked Capitalism
2016 Oil Futures Rise 14% to $140 in Three Days
I must note in all these discussions, no one talks much (at all?) about Iraq. Now I admit that Iraq will not solve a long term "we're running out of oil" problem. But depending on which source you consult, Iraq has the second or third biggest oil reserves in the world. In fact, Iraq recently claimed improved surveying makes it number one:
The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister told The Times that new exploration showed that his country has the world's largest proven oil reserves, with as much as 350 billion barrels. The figure is triple the country's present proven reserves and exceeds that of Saudi Arabia's estimated 264 billion barrels of oil. Barham Salih said that the new estimate had been based on recent geological surveys and seismic data compiled by "reputable, international oil companies . .
This is a serious figure from credible sources."
This bit of news sounds awfully convenient. However, as of 2002, Iraq had substantial unexplored regions, and given the instability of the country, there hasn't been much exploration since then. Only 2000 wells had been drilled, versus one million in Texas alone. Nevertheless, I'll believe the factoid about Iraq's newly-discovered reserves when I hear it confirmed by third parties.
Is it too embarrassing for oil analysts to discuss how the deteriorating security situation has reduced output? (Although now note the Iraq Oil MInistry is targeting daily output of 3 milllion barrels by year end, up from 1.9 million in March. Note the pre-war peak production was 3.5 million b/d).
Again, inclusion of Iraq may not make much difference. But when analysts are considering the impact of production in Brazil, the use of very heavy (read nasty) crude from Venezuela and Iran, and even upon occasion Canada's tar sands, the absence of Iraq from mention seems a considerable, peculiar omission.
INDONESIA: Indonesia: Workers, poor reject petrol price rises imposed `on behalf of the poor'
May 15, 2008 - "Let's seek the opportunity out of the world's crisis. In responding to the increase in global food prices, let us improve productivity. Amidst the oil crisis and price rises, let's be thrifty. Let's develop the energy resources.'' - Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudoyono, May 1, 2008.
The poor will benefit from the increase in fuel prices rise, he said on May 7, 2008.
Meanwhile vice-president Yusuf Kalla said that so far the fuel subsidy has been benefiting the rich. He added "The protesters who oppose this policy mean that they are helping the poor.''
Acting as if they are doing it "on behalf of the poor'', the Indonesian government plans to impose a 30% rise on petroleum prices. It will be the third oil price rise under the Susilo Bambang Yudoyono government. To help the poor survive this unpopular policy, the government is granting direct cash transfers amounting 100,000 rupiah per month per family. The direct cash transfer "gift'' was also implemented with the oil price rise in 2005.
DARFUR: SUDAN DUMPS CEASE FIRE, ESCALATES WAR
Sudanese President 'Umar Hassan Al-Bashir announced Tuesday that his government was no longer bound by the Darfur cease-fire. Al-Bashir made his announcement less then two weeks after a failed coup of the Darfuri Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Al-Bashir further warned that his army would "deal swiftly" with the rebel groups in Darfur, and ordered his security forces to arrest all JEM members in Darfur and in Sudan at large.
Human rights organizations have reported that the Sudanese security forces arrested more than 100 people in Khartoum since the May 10 attack, describing the arrests as "ethnic persecution against Darfuris."
IRAN: KUCINICH CALLS FOR NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS
In an interview with a Iranian newspaper, the Congressman said:
….. relations should be normalized between the US and Iran. It's quite unfortunate that the United States has not made diplomatic initiatives or has ignored diplomatic initiatives that were made by Iran in the last four years. The people of Iran have had a longstanding respect for and love for the American people. And the people of Iran have been forgiving of America's illegal interventions in the internal affairs of Iran going back to the days of Mossadegh when the CIA helped overthrow his government. So people have a capacity for forgiveness even though they don't forget it. We have to understand that we have much in common with Iran. Our people have aspirations of freedom. Our people have a desire for economic progress. Our people have aspirations for security and peaceful relations with neighbors. Iran can be a very important partner with the United States in creating a new peace in the Middle East.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: WATCH FOR A JOINT STATEMENT BY DENNIS KUCINICH AND RON PAUL CALLING FOR US WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The South African government is under growing pressure to send troops into Johannesburg's townships for the first time since the apartheid era as African immigrants continued to flee a wave of killings and violence against foreigners.
Several people were killed overnight including two men, believed to be Mozambican miners, who were beaten to death as mobs moved through townships and squatter camps in search of immigrants they accuse of taking jobs and houses, or being responsible for rampant crime.
Another person was hacked to death and two others were badly injured on Tuesday in the Joe Slovo camp in East Rand. Shacks were set on fire and hundreds of immigrants fled to a community centre.
It was also revealed that on Monday a South African businessman was burned alive in his home in Actonville after a mob accused him of hiring foreign workers.
At least 25 people have been murdered in recent days. Nearly 300 people have been arrested over the attacks and related crimes such as rape and looting.
M&G REPORTS DANGER OF MILITARY COUP IN ZIMBABWE
Has Mediachannel Been Scammed By "Spoofing?"
REMEMBERING THE SHOOTINGS AT JACKSON STATE
Jackson State - May 1970
YOUR LETTERS
Valla Clements writes:
Having just watched the film In Debt We Trust upon which I commend all involved, I felt the need to share with you my personal experiences of the French and American banking systems. I lived in France for 12 years prior to being relocated out to the East Coast 6 years ago. In France, I was allowed to take on debt levels: which included all kind of debts : mortgage, car, consumer/appliances the total amount of which was not permitted to exceed 30% of my monthly income (which has to be proven in back-up documentation). Credit Cards at the time I was in France did not exist. I had a Visa card, my spending on which was debited from my checking account at the end of every month (a habit I have retained here in the US). Initially I was frustrated by such a system and later realized that it was in place to protect me and now am a strong supporter of the system.
LETTER ABOUT A LETTER ON MEDIACHANNEL
Cathy Lynn Grossman of USA Today wrote to me about a possible scam. I welcome any feedback from readers on this practice, a so-called "spoofing" scam with emails that are untraceable beyond a certain point because the scammer will change servers daily
Hi, As religion reporter for USAT, I've been getting a regular series of pro-Obama scam mail from untraceable addresses on hotmail or yahoo. They are invariably signed by people who had no idea their name has been taken for any email, much less a political one. Today's email is signed by a gal who works in cotton research for the USDA and knows nothing about it. And then later today the same message came in from an "Ellen Gale." If you google her, you get to your web page where someone under that name is posted with some comments.
A few weeks ago, the scammer used student athletes and cheerleaders names that had appeared on line - oddly enough from primary states which makes me think the scammer is a campaign employee or volunteer….
At USAToday, we can't use emails that we haven't verified with the sender.
Do you know the real Ellen Gale or have you touched back with her to see if she sent the comments posted on your page.
I wrote to this "Ellen Gale" whose letters I have published but have had no response.
Is she real, or Memorex or is something seriously wrong?
BIG BROTHER-THE NEW REALITY (NOT REALITY TV)
Britain mulls plan to store all emails and calls
[Email by mtsofan via Flickr] Britain is considering a massive government database to store the e-mails, Internet information, phone-calls and text messages of all residents to help security forces in the fight against crime and terrorism. At the moment, records of phone-calls and text messages are kept up to 12 months by telecoms companies in compliance with an EU anti-terrorism directive. But a new Home Office (Interior Ministry) proposal would see Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies handing over records containing billions of e-mails as well as Internet usage and voice-over-Internet calls, media reports said on Tuesday. Police and security services would be able to have access to the information after seeking permission from the courts. The Home Office said communication methods had changed rapidly during the past 15 years. 'The changes to the way we communicate, due particularly to the Internet revolution, will increasingly undermine our current capabilities to obtain communications data and use it to protect the public,' it said in a statement.
The draft Communications Data bill is expected to be released later in the year, but the plan has yet to be discussed by ministers. It is likely to raise concerns about civil liberties and data protection, especially after recent scandals including the loss of child benefits information. (Reuters)
MERCURY NEWS: JANITORS WALK IN SILICON VALLEY
At least 100 janitors are walking the picket lines this
morning at some of Silicon Valley's largest high-tech
companies - including Cisco Systems and Apple - in
protest of a contract offer they are calling "totally
unacceptable."
REUTERS WANTS MURDER OF JOURNALISTS INVESTIGATED
Reuters.com - Reuters seeks new inquiry into Palestine hotel deaths in Iraq in 2003.
AFTER THE MERGER: THOMPSON REUTERS CUTS 1500 JOBS
OTHER MEDIA NEWS
8 former TimeWarnerAOL execs charged with FRAUD
Children's TV presenter hanged himself at station.
Robert Thomson named managing editor of Wall Street Journal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/21/rupertmurdoch.newscorporationbusiness
Tiscali founder buys former Italian Communist party paper L'Unita
I knew her in Harlem in the 1960's and haven't forgotten her along with so many others whose lives she touched
OAKLAND - Yuri Kochiyama embodies the spirit of
activism that one might find in an ebullient college
student, but this long-time activist for social justice
turns 87 today.Kochiyama is most well known as the woman who cradled
Malcolm X in her lap after he was shot Feb. 21, 1965,
during a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in New York
City."I wanted to get up to where Malcolm was," explained
Kochiyama, who was in the audience that day. "I sort of
put his head in my lap, praying and hoping that he was
still alive."That moment of Kochiyama cradling the revolutionary
leader was captured in a Life magazine photo.
STORIES FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Rory Carrol of the Guardian in reports from Venezuela:
" a happy ending for Ronaldo to that misunderstanding with the three male, cross-dressing prostitutes he invited to a pay-by-the-hour Rio de Janeiro motel room. An innocent mistake that any heterosexual football star could make. Ronaldo has argued that upon discovering his error, he paid the trio to leave but that one, André Albertino, tried to blackmail him for $30,000 in exchange for not blowing the, er, whistle. Albertino has now been charged with extortion. And with one leap, Ronaldo breaks free of the silly innuendo and establishes he is as straight as his crosses. Todo bem?…
Finally, a crimefighting breakthrough in Mexico. For months, drug cartels have been terrorizing police and army officers with huge banners over motorways saying "Join us or die". Not subtle, but it has proved effective and the cartels seem happy with the result. The type of direct approach which could just save Labour at the next election. Hats off, then, to police in Chiapas state who have braved the climate of fear. "Around here, if someone commits a crime they are jailed," said officer Sinar Gomez, "no matter who they are." Bravo. The suspect, now serving time for assault and battery, is a donkey who bit and kicked two men.
JOURNALISTS DISCUSS NARRATIVE JOURNALISM
By Alissa Quart
If there were an ashram for people who worship contemplative long-form journalism, it would be the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism. This March, at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, hundreds of journalists, authors, students, and aspirants came for the weekend event. Seated on metal chairs in large conference rooms, we learned about muscular storytelling (the Q-shaped narrative structure-who knew?).
WATCH: YOUR NEWS DISSECTOR ON GRIT TV ON THE "GOTCHA?" PRESS
GLOBAL PROWL
I am off Thursday to speak at a conference in Roanoke Va, so may not be able to blog Friday. I then leave for Malaysia and the Asia Media Forum. I have never been there and am so pleased that Mediachannel and yours truly are being welcomed.
If you don't hear from me Friday, consider it a day off. Smile.
Comments to Dissector@mediachannel.org
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