Tuesday edition - April 8, 2008

That picture of McCain hugging Bush creeps me out.

News from the medical front: John McCain has been diagnosed with a severe case of "Bushitis." There is no known cure or treatment.  - Grant Gerver, www.seriouskidding.com

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

• US military deaths in Iraq at 4,023 AP

• www.iraqbodycount.org

• 4 US soldiers killed in Iraq CNN International

• Officials: US soldier killed in Baghdad AP

• Bombing kills 6 civilians in Iraq AP

• Taliban kill 2 police in Afghanistan AP

• Hundreds Flee Fight in Shiite Stronghold ABC News

• Trouble looms for Iraq's Kirkuk oil province AFP

• Petraeus faces presidential candidates Reuters

Petraeus Needs More Time

The four-star general in charge of Iraq wants more time in a war that is now in its sixth year. Democrats say he's got until the November elections.

Gen. Petraeus Rocks The Wii Golf - Deadspin.com

"The ambassador to Iraq said today there has been an economic revival in Baghdad. Well, it's nice to see Bush's economic plan working out somewhere." --Jay Leno

Disturbing News

• 401 children from polygamist sect in custody Los Angeles Times 

Iraq War Costs

$1.3 trillion for total economic costs of Iraq war from 2002 to 2008, including interest costs of borrowing funds, lost investment, long-term veterans' health care and oil market disruptions, according to a November 2007 report from Congress' Joint Economic Committee.
 

"Barack Obama is narrowing the gap in Pennsylvania, and his campaign is pulling out all the stops. ... His campaign office is now giving away tickets to Dave Matthews concerts. Apparently, this is Obama's attempt to win over really white voters." --Conan O'Brien
 

Republican Shenanigans

• Republican Iraq Vets Seek 17 House Seats Wall Street Journal

• Sen. Vitter May Testify in Sex Case The Associated Press

• Civil rights icon's incest trial starts AP

• Bush Sends Congress Colombia Trade Pact The Associated Press

• McCain rips Clinton and Obama for backing 'reckless' Iraq withdrawal New York Daily News

• Run, Condi, Run! Washington Post

• Rice: Still Not Running for VP Washington Post

The GOP Will Use This If Obama Is The Nominee

The trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, one-time patron to Sen. Barack Obama and Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, has turned lurid...Gov. Blagojevich, who's been mentioned often in court, and Sen. Obama, who's received only passing mentions. They're entwined in the Rezko saga, particularly through the bounteous campaign money he raised for them both.

Get used to that name. Rezko's currently in a long-running Chicago trial on federal extortion and bribery charges. Few campaign donors were more responsible than Rezko for the rise of Blagojevich (Blah-goy-ah-vitch) and Obama. Both politicians came to rely on him for political and personal advice -- and lots of campaign money.

 

Hillary Wants Bush To Boycott Olympic Ceremony

Days before the Olympic torch arrives in San Francisco -- and after protests in Paris and London and at the Golden Gate Bridge -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Monday called on President Bush to boycott the opening ceremony in Beijing to pressure China on Tibet and Darfur.

"The Olympic Torch arrived in Beijing Monday, where it immediately suffered an asthma attack and died." --Amy Poehler
 

Rock-The-Voter News

• Clinton Told True Tale of Woe, Says Kin Washington Post

• Mont. superdelegate retracts Obama endorsement, citing party rule KULR-TV

• Bill Clinton Campaigns in Puerto Rico The Associated Press

• Mark Penn still in Clinton loop: source New York Daily News

"The Clintons just released their tax returns to the public. ... It turns out that over the past eight years, they've donated over $10 million to charity. When they asked Bill Clinton why he gave so much money to charity, he said, 'She's a really good dancer.'" --Conan O'Brien
 

Biz-Tech News

• OPEC official says oil price 'fair' - paper Guardian

• Halliburton's CEO earned $14.9 million in 2007 Houston Chronicle

• Saudis raise oil prices for Asia, but widen US discount Manila Standard Today, Philippines

• Boeing Watchers On Guard For More Dreamliner Setbacks CNNMoney.com

• FAA removes top regulator in Texas in sign of possible shake-up Dallas Morning News

• Greenspan won't take rap for housing meltdown Los Angeles Times

• Blogging to an Early Grave? PC World

"In the wake of the expanding mortgage crisis, the Bush administration on Monday proposed the most far-reaching overhaul of the financial regulatory system since the Great Depression. On the downside, all banking transactions now begin with 'Pick a card.'" --Seth Meyers

Meanwhile, Back At The IRS

One more tax-season dread: A week before the filing deadline, Treasury watchdogs said Monday that poor controls over IRS computers could allow a disgruntled employee, agency contractor or outside hacker to steal taxpayers' confidential information.

 

Bush-Prison-Torture News

• Charges Referred Against Detainee Mohammed Kamin US Department of Defense

• Access to evidence limited in tribunals Houston Chronicle

War Crimes

As the first anniversary of 9/11 approached, and a prized Guantánamo detainee wouldn’t talk, the Bush administration’s highest-ranking lawyers argued for extreme interrogation techniques, circumventing international law, the Geneva Conventions, and the army’s own Field Manual. The attorneys would even fly to Guantánamo to ratchet up the pressure—then blame abuses on the military. Philippe Sands follows the torture trail, and holds out the possibility of war crimes charges.

"Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction."- Dick Cheney, Vice President
Speech to VFW National Convention
8/26/2002
 

Go-F***-Yourself News

• Vice President Dick Cheney due in Wilton on Friday Sacramento Bee,  USA 
   

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Lisa Casey

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Ashford. AL 36312