Tuesday edition - January 15, 2007

Bush has had such a good time in the Middle East. He's viewed thoroughbred horses, danced with sabers and even got an award. He's the Celebrator-in-chief!

"President George W. Bush is in the Middle East. He's over there right now because his approval rating is higher. ... Bush would like to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He's so confident about doing this that he's already unfolding the 'Mission Accomplished' banner." --David Letterman

The-World-Is-A-Safer-Place-Without-Saddam News

• US military deaths in Iraq at 3,923 AP

• Iraqi appeals court judge killed AP

• Six killed in Iraq booby-trapped house blast AFP

• U.S. troops kill 60 in Iraq al Qaeda offensive Reuters

• Eight Killed in Attack at Luxury Hotel in Afghanistan Voice of America

• Rice lauds Iraqi reconciliation efforts AP

• 3,200 Marines prepare for Afghan tour AP
  UK and Russia trade threats in diplomatic row Reuters 

• Details of proposed arms sales AP

It's awesome to see the President in the Middle East, a land for which he has so much passion to cash-in. - Grant Gerver SeriousKidding.com

Disturbing News

• Design Flaw Said to Have Caused Minn. Bridge to Collapse Washington Post 

• Plague a growing but overlooked threat: study Reuters

• New Bacteria Strain Is Striking Gay Men New York Times

"This is a ridiculous election. If I hear this word 'change' one more time, I'm going to change the channel. ... Even Mitt Romney, who is running for president as Ward Cleaver, is for change. Every time he gets up there, he says, 'I love change. Change is good. Who doesn't like change? Whatever I just said, I'd like to change that.'" --Bill Maher
 

Praying: Republican Style

Colorado Springs Republican Douglas Bruce, an anti-tax crusader sworn in this afternoon to fill a state House vacancy, kicked RMN photographer Javier Manzano, who had crouched before Bruce as he stood for the chamber's morning prayer.

"Don't do that again," Bruce snapped before shoeing Manzano.

Afterward, Bruce defended his knee-jerk reaction, saying he had warned the photographers against taking his picture during the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
 

Republican Shenanigans News

• Michigan holds GOP presidential primary AP

• McCain, Romney in tight race as Michigan votes Reuters

• Budget analyst criticizes Schwarzenegger's plan Los Angeles Times

• AP: FBI finds Blackwater trucks patched AP

With George Bush working his magic in person in the Holy Land, Al Qaeda and the Taliban have decided to kick off a recruiting drive: "Double the virgins for martyrs who sign up today!"

- Grant Gerver SeriousKidding.com

Meanwhile, Back In The Pacific

The head of U.S. forces in the Pacific pushed China on Tuesday for more transparency over its military build-up and suggested its growing might was aimed at Taiwan, the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its territory.

Rock-The-Voter News

• Kucinich Should Be Allowed to Debate, Judge Rules New York Times

• Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama call truce New York Daily News

• Poll: Clinton over Obama in Florida, McCain leads GOP Tampa Bay's 10, FL 

• AP Poll: Bush, Congress remain unpopular AP

The Surge Is Working?

RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) - The US military will hand over to Iraqi control the huge province of Anbar within three months, a senior officer said, reflecting a sharp turnaround for a region once a hotbed of insurgency.
 

Biz/Tech News

• Oil prices slip on Bush warning in Saudi Arabia AFP

• Bush: OPEC nations should pump more oil AP

• India Seeks to Work with China In Developing Nuclear Energy Wall Street Journal

• Wholesale prices rise 6.3 percent in '07 AP

• Citi writes off $18 billion, Merrill gets capital Reuters

• Stocks sink amid weak economic news AP

• Toshiba turns up heat in DVD war USA Today

• Fed auctions $30 billion AP

The Detroit Auto Show unveiled fifty new models for six thousand journalists Sunday. The new sport utility vehicles are larger than ever. The average American car weighs fifty percent more than it did twenty years ago but then so does the average American. - Argus Hamilton

Bush-Prison-Torture News

• Joint Chiefs Chairman: Close Guantanamo Guardian Unlimited

• Guantanamo clouds George Bush's Saudi visit Telegraph.co.uk

Go-F**k-Yourself News

• Cheney must be hiding in that undisclosed location. Last I heard he was hunting

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