President Obama plans to make a televised speech to the nation's students during school hours. Many Republicans are planning to keep their kids home from school in protest. As a result, those kids have voted Obama 'Best President Ever.'" --Conan O'Brien
 

The-World-Will-Be-A-Safer-Place-Without Saddam

• US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,343

• 'We're pinned down': 4 U.S. Marines die in Afghan ambush

• NYT reporter freed in raid; Afghan translator dies

• Iraqi troops raid Baghdad house, killing 2 men

• Yemen:4 men with explosives caught near US embassy

• Israeli study: Civilians majority of Gaza war dead

• U.S. says Iran nearing ability to make atom bombs Reuters

More Baghdad Electrocutions

A State Department contractor apparently has been electrocuted while showering in Baghdad even as U.S. authorities in Iraq try to remedy wiring problems that have led to the deaths of American troops there.

The contractor, Adam Hermanson, 25, died Sept. 1, his wife, Janine, said Tuesday. She added that a military medical examiner told her that preliminary findings indicate her husband died from low voltage electrocution.
 

"Labor day weekend. Remember Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska? She's having a big cookout for all her family, all of her friends up there in Alaska. And people say, 'Is she any good? Can she cook?' Remember last year she cooked John McCain's goose? Remember that? Tremendous!" --David Letterman
 

Disturbing News

• Flash floods slam Istanbul, kill at least 20

• State health officer: Alabama in midst of dramatic H1N1 increase Dothan Eagle

"Former President George W. Bush has hired a man to lead his presidential think tank in Dallas. The man was hired because he was the only candidate who could say the words, 'George W. Bush think tank' with a straight face." --Conan O'Brien
 

New Terrorist Targets

Terrorists are aiming for hotels and other easier-to-hit targets as security measures at military and government facilities continue to improve, says a global intelligence company.

Al-Qaida is changing from a centralized organization with global goals to regional "franchises" with more parochial aims and strong grass-roots support, according to a report Tuesday from STRATFOR. These smaller cells get less training and less money, so they set their sights lower.

Republican-Shenanigans News

• Analysis: Obama foes contrived back-to-school fuss

• Republican surgeon to rebut Obama on health AFP

• South Carolina House Speaker Harrell pushes for Sanford's resignation MiamiHerald.com

"And then next month, Sarah Palin is going to Hong Kong...She's going to do her best to promote capitalism while she's in Hong Kong, and then I guess in the end of the trip, she'll be riding around in helicopters, shooting pandas." --David Letterman
 

Gag Me With A Spoon

 If you've ever wanted to eat dinner with Sarah Palin, now's your chance.

With bids starting at $25,000, eBay is auctioning off a dinner for five with the former Alaska governor and her husband, Todd. The proceeds will go to "Ride 2 Recovery," a charity that provides wounded veterans with bicycles and organized rides...
 

Rock-The-Voter News

• Obama space panel says moon return plan is a no go

• Large Majorities of Public Blame Health Insurers, Drug Industry ...Reuters

Blagojevich Update

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday that statements he made on secret FBI wiretap tapes were taken out of context by prosecutors and that he might try to call senators and a top White House official as witnesses at his racketeering and fraud trial to back his version of events

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Biz-Tech News

• Oil hovers near $71 amid weakening US dollar

• Brazilian oil field holds 1.1-2 bln barrels: BG

• Madoff's properties in NYC, Florida up for sale AP

• Funeral sciences benefit from a moribund economy

• Congress weighs landmark change in Web ad privacy

"The economy getting worse. The Department of Labor today announced that unemployment is at a 26-year high of 9.7%, making this the most ironic Labor Day since 1983." --Jimmy Kimmel
 

Bush-Prison-Torture News

• 'Human experimentation' in Guantánamo guardian.co.uk

"Some Republicans are saying they want Dick Cheney, that's right, Dick Cheney, to run for president in 2012. Of course, you have to remember that when they said this, Cheney was torturing them." --Conan O'Brien
 

Go-F**k-Yourself News

• Protest brews over Cheney center at Univ. of Wyo. The Associated Press

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