Yahoo! News - Watchdog Group Complains About Nader Aid

Another good question is where does Nader's Public citizen get its money. They have never released donor lists. He claims that both parties are essentially the same, why doesn't Nader start a new paradigm and release those records?

USADA Has A Jones for The Truth (washingtonpost.com)

Maybe we should have the all-drug games. It would make the Olympics even more irrelevent than they already are. What about the NFL or MLB? That's tougher, but since MLB is about as powerful as a toothless old man to the Union, it doens't make a difference. They cheated and that's all there is to it. The NFL is different in that they are more powerful and truly set the bar with professional sports in the US. They have had problems in the past, but what about newer, harder to detect drugs?

The Ticketmaster Fee-nomenon (washingtonpost.com)

This is what people call a monopoly. They charge all those costs and such not because they have to, but beacuse they can. The government should approach it like any other regulated monopoly. The market cannot support the competition, but certainly no one wants in the government (remeber "of the people, for the people")wants an unregulated monopoly do they?

Washingtonian: Washington BUZZ

How the F-Bomb got into the Washington Post. I like the part at the end where it said the word makes the Veep look bad. Using the f-bomb on the Senate floor to a senator looks bad. Printing in the paper seemed more of a stunt.

WSJ.com - DeLay, a Fearless Fighter, Plays Defense

This guy is an exterminator? I think the term liar and rule breaker. Why did the Dems ever give up on ethics complaints in the House?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A7597-2004Jun26?language=printer

News Flash . . . baseball is corrupt and run by rich white men. Let them have their monopoly and law-breaking. They are doing a great job of killing themselves slowly anyways. Outside of a few cities that actually want baseball, it is losing ground to the NFL and NBA.

Will quote about the "Golden Age" is preposterous. I'm sure that the steroid fueled years of the '90s and 00's will be remembered as fondly as Murder's Row, the Gas House Gang, and the Miracle Mets. It's all drugs and the last gasp of a dying fading sport.

GOP lawmakers agree Ryan must go

Henry Hyde talking about "bizarre behavior" takes the cake. So cheating on your wife is implicitly "not bizarre?" Flipping hypocrite.

The Deputy and the Deadlines (washingtonpost.com)

Kamen is pissed. That's true about the Neo-Cons and spilling other people's blood. More importantly the number of people in the government and Congress that have children in the military is shockingly low. Bring back the draft?

Cheney Dismisses Critic With Obscenity (washingtonpost.com)

Bringing big time honor and integrity to the White House.

Bloomberg.com: U.S.

Bringing honor and honesty to the White House?

Silence Is Golden for Lightning-Struck CNN (washingtonpost.com)

Hilarious. The market obviously can't support MSNBC. How long can they afford to be on the air? Is it profitable?

WSJ.com - As the Recovery Gains Momentum, Democrats Are Forced to Refocus

I think Rove would think that there are issues that even trump the economy. The question here is how important is the "War on Terror" and Iraq? How about Mr. Law and Order? Do they supercede the economy? What about personal issues (see Jack Ryan in Ill.)? There is not doubt that the economy is very important, but there were not as many security issues the last go around. My bet is that security will play a much larger role than expected (See Goldwater vs. LBJ, Nixon, and Reagan v. Carter).

WSJ.com - Capital Journal

Is it possible that even the WSJ is questioning Bush's moral authority?

The New York Times > Business > World Business > Brazil's Spreading Exports Worry Minnesota Farmers

Are US Farmer's really worried about competition? What about far supports? This is an intersting look at global markets. So what if Brazil controls the world sugar price? Don't we control the world soybean price? Does that make it terrible for a place like Japan that imports both? The more competition the better. US farming industry does not have much to fear other than uncertainty. What's worse is that we have a tariff on ethanol. If it were cheaper, would we be less dependent on Arab oil?

The New York Times > Business > World Business > Brazil's Spreading Exports Worry Minnesota Farmers

Are US Farmer's really worried about competition? What about far supports? This is an intersting look at global markets. So what if Brazil controls the world sugar price? Don't we control the world soybean price? Does that make it terrible for a place like Japan that imports both? The more competition the better. US farming industry does not have much to fear other than uncertainty. What's worse is that we have a tariff on ethanol. If it were cheaper, would we be less dependent on Arab oil?

9/11 Credibility Gap (washingtonpost.com)

The lying thing keeps coming up. The Bush Administration continues to see itself above the law. Again the parallels between Cheney and Nixon keep coming up: secretive, hypersensitive to criticism, deniability, etc.

Ex-wife says Ryan pushed sex clubs

More hypocrisy from the GOP. Again, why would he do something like run for Senate with this in his past? It is terrible what we put public officials through, but does this cross the line as being too much?

Deficits' Bite (washingtonpost.com)

Where's Perot when you need him?

Chicago Reader: Hot Type

Reagan item that is illustrative of the divide missed by the media. The second item is also intersting (Bird again). Does Bird mean white American basketball players? I know there are some white superstars, but most of them are from Europe (Nowitski, Peja, etc.)

Shinnecock Shocker Stars Haas of the Rising Son (washingtonpost.com)

I know that there are no real sports for awhile, but two columns on Golf!!!! Ughhh . . .

Duval Returns A Changed Man (washingtonpost.com)

Steve Irwin, Looking at Legal Trouble (washingtonpost.com)

His enemies quote is hilarious . . . "I've got big enemies. My enemies are huge. I've got the biggest enemies in the world."

washingtonpost.com: Media Notes Extra

It seems that the Bush Administration's continued lying is catching up with them. Why they keep insisting that al Queda and Iraq had a link ruins their foundation. They are lying about their being an tight link and most folks that dislike Bush beleive it. The problem is that the folks from the Red states want to believe that there is a link and the Administration is only feeding it to them. It is a very short-sighted look politically. Sure it'll play well with choir, but at the cost of the President's moral authority. They are lying about their being an tight link and most folks that dislike Bush beleive it. The problem is that the folks from the Red states want to believe that there is a link and the Administration is only feeding it to them.

The prison scandal is awesome in the way it makes Rummy do gymnastics he hasn't had to do since the '70. I don't understand why he has not resigned yet. If he were serious about this he should have a committee investigating the scandal to exhonerate himself if he is so "innocent." He's worse than Kissinger in some ways. At least Henry had his own power grab going on, Rummy is just doin gthis for fun.

The New York Review of Books: Bush: The Dream Campaign

More interesting is the 2nd part where the impotence of Congress is truly revealed. Bush has his majority and doesn't care what the GOP does as long as it passes his agenda (one way or the other).

The New York Times > Business > Much of Coastal U.S. May Follow California on Car Emissions

Interesting to note that the states following California are also "blue" states.

More importantly, why do people continue to ignore Congress and try to get legislation done there? Raising CAFE standards is a national security issue. We can do it with new technologies (hybrid engines, srtong but light shells for cars (think Kevlar)), we just have to give the car companies a good reason to change.

John Kerry intern scandal - Alexandra Polier's account

Does the power of the press/media warrant closer examination? Very interesting story, especially when she starts putting the media on the spot.

Welcome to America

Fascinating look at the other side of the 9/11 coin, being insulted by foreign journalists! Just kidding. It does seem to me to be similar to the prisoner abuse scandal in that it is not the actual torture that is so bad, but that the retaliation could be so much worse. The execution of that American is only the begining.

Chicago Tribune | Poorer areas hungry for supermarkets

Interesting look at a contentious topic. How much does it cost for a store to open? I think since the margins are so thin, that supermarket business is very tough and risk averse.

I am also curious about the implication that only big supermarkets have healthy food. Sure it's cheaper to buy hotdotgs than chicken breasts, but there are demand side things that must be accounted for. Do poor people demand more processed food? When I lived in Mt P in DC, there were (and I think still aren't) any major grocery stores near by. However there were three or four markets on Mt Pleasant Street. People from the suburbs came to them to get ethnic foods. I thought it was ok.

The New York Times > Washington > Bush Didn't Order Any Breach of Torture Laws, Ashcroft Says

Ashcroft needs to resign too. This is a terrible reflection on the country and stains the flag that we hold so dear. Ashcroft's denials and lawyering only set the stain.

BCS Moves Closer To Altering Format (washingtonpost.com)

They are ruining College Football. No playoffs. What matters is the regular season and that should be it.

Low Ratings for Stanley Cup Finals (washingtonpost.com)

Lamest dog bites man story of the year. Last night basketball game was a gem. I think the Pistons are done for the series now having lost the psychological edge. The lakers are like the Terminator. No matter how much you have them beat, they still keep coming. You have to beat them and then stomp on them to have any chance. Why didn't they foul Shaq before Kobe shot the ball? Make him win the game from the foul line.

The New York Times > International > Middle East > President Bush Cites 'Personal Reasons' in Announcement

About time someone took some responsiobility. Too bad he was the only survivor of the Clinton Administration left in the national security arena. Four more to go!!!

Want a hybrid? Get in line

Again, why do none of the Big Three have a small hybrid even in the works? Saturn is crazy thinking that they can skip this important development. Even more shocking is the total absence of any sort of European model. This would be a perfect place for the Bug or Mini.

Worse yet, please blame Dingell in the House for being a stooge of the Big Three plus the UAW. This so called "environmentalist" has consistantly blocked and stymied any sort of CAFE increases for more than 20 years. If the US had kept those standards going, we'd be averaging over 40 MPG by now. No more reliance on Middle East Oil, and maybe no Iraq.

The gas stuff at the bottom is just self preservation of OPEC. With gas so expensive, it means that a lot more inefficient pumps come on line and hold gas prices about where it is currently. They will eventually lose money as more and more suppliers come on line.

The New York Times > Automobiles > Discounts Drive Strong U.S. Auto Sales

These guys are delusional if they think that with high gas prices consumers will still continue to buy gas guzzlers. That's fine if people do (and there will always be people who buy them), but Detroit is missing a huge new market they can exploit. They should go after the small car market again and use Saturn as the tip of its spear (as originally intended) and begin rolling out a Saturn Hybrid (or Hydrogen vehicle, but I doubt ever that GM will lead the marketplace with alternative fuels). Saturn is the brand to do it with and this is the time. How hard can it be to get one built?

Sony Hands PDA Market a Defeat (TechNews.com)

Sony's biggest problem is that there is very little value add they can add to consumer electronics. Especially with the Koreans, Chinese, and other Japanese firms, they are having a bear of a problem with keeping their lead. Their design stuff is what sets them apart, but their doesn't seem to be a coherent strategy between its desperate units (Play Station, Media, Consumer Electronics, R & D). What is their vision for the the future? Memory sticks?

The New York Times > New York Region > As New York Fumes, Wyoming Says It, Too, Needs Antiterror Funds

Yet another sign that everyone is equal, but some animals are more equal than others. . . . Rural areas get a disportionate amount of the franchise and federal largess. City dwellers get screwed by the government and the constitution. Think about the electoral college and the three votes that Wyoming got. That's the same as a small corner of California.