Steve’s Weblog
By ERIN TEXEIRA, AP National Writer Tue Aug 29, 7:28 AM ET
One Republican senator described his house painter as a “little Guatemalan man.” Another called an Indian man a “macaca,” a type of monkey.
Just as the GOP is pushing for minority voters, the two recent gaffes have fed the perception among some blacks, Hispanics and Asian-Americans that Republicans are out of touch with the changing face of the nation.
Yahoo News: Republicans’ comments may hurt at polls
This is interesting, although a little bit of old news by now… it seems that last week, on Monday, the NGLCC (National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce) announced that Wal-Mart had joined the NGLCC.
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) announced today a partnership with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing diversity among all of its associate, supplier and customer bases. This partnership will include executive representation on the NGLCC’s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) and sponsorship of the organization’s 2006 events and initiatives.
Well, it didn’t take too long for our regressive conservative “friends” on the right to notice and break out their boycotts and bibles. Oh, and yesterday, the AFA added to the “war on Christmas” alert for Sam’s club and Wal-Mart with an alert to call the managers of local Wal-Mart stores and express their concerns… Concerns? What concerns?
By KRISTEN HAYS, AP Business Writer
1 hour, 55 minutes ago
HOUSTON – A stick of dynamite was found in a college student’s checked luggage on a Continental Airlines flight from Argentina, one of seven security incidents Friday that caused U.S. flights to be diverted, evacuated, searched or delayed.
Stick of dynamite found in checked luggage – Yahoo! News
By ANDREW BRIDGES
WASHINGTON – Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription — but only with proof they’re 18 or older, federal health
officials ruled Thursday, capping a contentious 3-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive.
FDA eases limits on Plan B sales – Yahoo! News
The FDA finally overcame the political pressure from the White House, Congress, and anti-choice lobbyists, and approved the morning-after pill for over-the-counter sales.
Medical experts and scientists at the FDA have asserted for years that the morning-after pill – which can prevent an unintended pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after sex – should be available without a prescription. It’s safe, it’s effective, and it’s a commonsense way for women to prevent unintended pregnancy.
We had our annual end of summer party barge bash on Friday… it was a lot of fun, and a nice way to wrap up a fun summer. Nhut took a bunch of pictures, posted here. He was playing with the rapid shot feature of the camera, so watching as a slideshow works best.
Bush calls Iraq war key to terror fight
By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 14 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – President Bush said Saturday that his administration’s determination to remain in
Iraq and its efforts to end violence in Lebanon are key to protecting the U.S. from future terrorist attacks.
More like the administration’s determination to stay in Iraq is the key cause of violence against the US… that and our overwhelming support of Israel in the Lebanese conflict…
President Bush signs new pension bill
By MARY DALRYMPLE, Associated Press Writer
15 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – President Bush signed a broad overhaul of pension and savings rules Thursday, giving millions of people a better chance of getting the retirement benefits they have earned.
The Human Rights Campaign praised the law for changes that the group said will help same-sex couples by expanding benefits once only allowed for spouses or dependents.
By SARAH KARUSH, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago
DETROIT – A federal judge ruled Thursday that the government’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and ordered an immediate halt to it.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit became the first judge to strike down the National Security Agency’s program, which she says violates the rights to free speech and privacy as well as the separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution.
“Plaintiffs have prevailed, and the public interest is clear, in this matter. It is the upholding of our Constitution,” Taylor wrote in
her 43-page opinion.
Bush Caught Lying: Claims Terror Plot Included “New” Explosive Threat… | The Huffington Post
“I don’t think anybody anticipated…”
Upgraded to WordPress 2.0.4 today… which contains several important security fixes. The upgrade was simple enough. Hope I didn’t break anything in the process 
We had a big BBQ/Pool party yesterday…. pics here: Steve’s Photo Collection :: Pool Party
U.S. travelers adjusting to tighter rule – Yahoo! News
By GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer
Fri Aug 11, 3:56 PM ETLOS ANGELES – Airlines scrambled to recruit more baggage handlers Friday as U.S. travelers quickly adapted to new security measures by simply checking luggage they normally would have carried with them.
Passengers also faced a second level of security checks starting Friday, with random bag searches at the airline gates.
Unlike Thursday, when travelers unaware of the just-established rules filled trash cans at security checkpoints with now-banned bottles of makeup, perfume and suntan lotion, passengers on Friday had already packed those items in their checked luggage instead. As a result, security checkpoint lines that had stranded people for hours on Thursday were moving normally at most airports Friday.
“The overhead bins have never been that empty, ever,” Kim Dickerson, 40, said after she arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport from New York. “Normally people are trying to shove and push things around, I tell you, half the bins weren’t even occupied.”
Democrats say plot shows Iraq war a diversion | Politics News | Reuters.com
Democrats say plot shows Iraq war a diversionBy John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Prominent Democrats said on Thursday a foiled plot in Britain to blow up U.S.-bound planes showed the Bush administration’s pursuit of war in Iraq had diverted resources from the bigger threat of terrorism and made the danger worse.
2 hours, 44 minutes ago
WASHINGTON – As the British terror plot was unfolding, the Bush administration quietly tried to take away $6 million that was supposed to be spent this year developing new explosives detection technology. Congressional leaders rejected the idea, the latest in a series of Homeland Security Department steps that have left lawmakers and some of the department’s own experts questioning the commitment to create better anti-terror technologies.
woohoo!
Court rules DeLay’s name stays on ballot
By KELLEY SHANNON, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago
AUSTIN, Texas – A federal appeals court panel on Thursday refused to let Texas Republicans replace Tom DeLay’s name on the November congressional ballot.
The finding upheld a July ruling by a federal judge that the ballot must list DeLay, who won a March primary before resigning from Congress on June 9. He now lives in Virginia but is awaiting trial in Texas state court on money laundering and conspiracy charges alleging that illegal corporate cash helped pay for legislative campaigns in 2002.
Republicans want to pick another nominee to face Democrat Nick Lampson in November. Democrats sued to keep DeLay on the ballot. Keeping him on the ballot gives them an easier race and bolsters their attempts to make the indicted former House majority leader their symbol for claims of Republican corruption.
Analysts see Bush’s shorter vacation as partly a response to the angry criticism last year from the hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast that he and his administration were slow to respond to the disaster. Bush cut his month-long Texas stay by two days.
“Last summer, he was not seen as being on top of the job,” says Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University
in Atlanta. “He doesn’t want to be seen taking a whole month off right now. It doesn’t look good.”
White House press secretary Tony Snow says Bush is taking a shorter break not because of criticism but because he has
other things to do, including campaigning for Republican candidates in the fall elections, pushing for immigration reform and attending a
family wedding in Kennebunkport, Maine. He plans to be in Louisiana and Mississippi on the Aug. 29 anniversary of Katrina and might return to
Crawford for two days after that.
Plus there’s that whole Cindy Sheehan thing to avoid in Crawford…
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