News – The Pledge, Unchanged for Now

US

The US Supreme Court puts the case Michael Newdow set against the pledge to rest in the easiest possible way. They determined he had no grounds to challenge the pledge on behalf of his daughter. Thus leaving the sticky question of if ‘Under God’ belongs in the pledge. Just to clarify my position, I think it should be removed as it was not part of the original pledge and was added in for stupid reasons. I say restore the pledge to its original form, unsullied by politics. We’ll just have to wait for a case that’s better suited to the topic than this one. Michael Newdow won’t be our champion today and that’s a good thing.

Democrats plot to take back the House of Representatives. Cue the sneaky, scary music here. Meanwhile House republicans keep pushing for new energy policy. They might be able to pass one if they didn’t keep trying to shelter polluters in the same legislation.

Corporate tax legislation clears the Ways and Means Committee , still destined for a full house vote. In it is the dropping of export subsidies we’re in trouble on internationally, replacing it with a tax cut for domestic manufacturing and small U.S. companies as well as tax breaks for multinational companies. Supporters say it will make companies more competitive, but opponents say it will encourage jobs to move overseas.

Pentagon auditors are finding deficiencies in Halliburton’s billing for services rendered in Iraq. I say charge em’ the difference with interest for being stupid. That’ll learn em.

There is an adjusted measure of the unemployment rate, which stacks up to almost ten percent. Bush keeps touting the official unemployment rate, but it might not measure the true trend of things. We should keep an eye on those who have given up the job search or given up on full time work to settle into part time necessity.

Rummy says there’s just no wiggle-room on the definition of torture in the White House. I’m sure Rummy will understand if I don’t take him at his word.

Internet pundits give John Edwards a good 40% chance of being Kerry’s running mate.

Florida state officials admit there is a flaw in their voting machines that means no manual recount, but don’t worry. They say things will work out in the end.

More Reagan. But today, let’s have a look at his lasting impact on the judicial system. There’s been enough whitewash, time for some sober criticism.

Iraq

Interim President Ghazi al-Yawar applauds Sadr’s decision to create a political party. It is better that he battle in the political arena rather than the battlefield. Of course, there is that arrest warrant the US has and I doubt they want him in any Iraq election. Though unlikely, he could actually win. Yawar seems ready to give him more slack than the US is.

Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, the general in charge of Abu Ghraib, says Major General Geoffrey Miller said that the prisoners in the facility should be treated like dogs and believes she and the six on trial are being used as scapegoats for those who ordered the abuses.

Abu Ghraib a Moral Chernobyl? A colorful turn of phrase, but I don’t know about that. Though surely it won’t be fading into obscurity anytime soon and it likely will get worse before it gets better. Though hopefully not.

Israel/Palestine

The briery case against Sharon is slated to be dropped officially today.

Iran

Iran wants the nuke resolution against it to be softer, but Europe is cutting no slack on the language as it stands.

Afghanistan

About 100 people demonstrated in Kabul for Karzai’s resignation saying his term in office has expired under a peace agreement that installed his administration. The protest was led by Mahfooz Nedaye and Sayed Abdul Hadi, two who intend to run against Karzai in Afghanistan’s first election.

General

Today’s Papers has the Bush Administration playing nice with the corrupt regime of Angola, Ashcroft declared the worst Attorney General in history(ouch) while no one fronts his announcement of a Somali man being indicted for his part in a plot to blow up an Ohio Mall, the non-partisan Council on Foreign Relations concluding that Saudi Arabia isn’t really cracking down on terror funding and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Guy busted for speeding claims he was just blow-drying his car

Russia getting desperate for tourism: Come see Rasputin’s penis in a jar (with NSFW photo)

Newgrounds: Splinter Cell: Late Home

Newgrounds: Bob the Ball – Episode 2

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this farker’s Guinness bar towel

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop these soccer players playing leapfrog

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what this man is looking at. Make it deep, like cranberry would do