Rumsfeld: Bush OKs troop cuts in Iraq

So how is this not "cutting and running"? We're reducing our "footprint" and leaving without having the job done. Better yet, we're declaring voctory (again) and leaving. This is very smart and Nixonian of them. too bad JK didn't have a "secret plan" himself.

Chicago Tribune | State urges district mergers:

"Across Illinois, more than 200 districts have only one school"

The education infrastructure is not often discussed outside local stories. it's too bad considering the cost of running these muiltiple administrative costs. Unfortunately the people with the most to lose (school administrators, secretaries, etc.) are often the "experts" that local government counts on for good information. The conflict of interest is ridiculous and makes for waste in government and a poorer education for our youth.

Health Care for All, Just a (Big) Step Away - New York Times:

"'I don't think anybody would dispute the economics,' Mr. Gruber said. 'I think the dispute would be over the politics.'"

How tax incentives alter reality. It a good point that this another benefit for the wealthy while hurting the middle and lower-classes. Although the solutions are not the best, the question is whether the status quo is ok (morally, politcally, economically).

Indian Drug Maker Says It Will Keep Attacking Patents Despite Pfizer Loss - New York Times

Big Pharma does have a leg to stand on here, but only in the States. The imposition of intellectual property rights in other countries is hypocritical and undemocratic. How would we feel if Canada decided how we were suppossed to use Maple Syrup?

GOP Enjoying Heightened Contrasts Brought by Debate - Los Angeles Times:

"The public is better informed and less scared."

Maybe, but the White House twisting the War in Iraq into the War on Terror is not good for Dems. The problem is that the Dems will lose on that issue. I'm not sure that the DLC policy of moving further right than the GOP is the best idea, but at least it gives you options.

The MSM likes short sound-bites and not detailed examinations of the arguments. I'd like a Logic 101 class to go over the President's speeches in the last week. I'm glad there is some more fact checking going on, but they give the Prez (and that darkone) a free pass when it comes to rhetoric.

The danger here is that the GOP is nationalizing the '06 elections with the "defeat and retreat" line. It's a good line, but the Dems have got to counterpunch. Nationally the party has to keep going after the the bad intelligence that got us into the Iraq mess. Link the Lobbying scandals to the White House, DeLay, and the GOP. Keep the pressure up on the Katrina "rebuilding." In other words make "Accountability" the theme of the '06 races.

WASHINGTONIAN: Washington BUZZ

An opinion to listen to. I have to admit that change is difficult, but the only certainty. I'm curious to see if newsreels, radio and television journalism had the same effect and are we better off?

Frist aides rebuke press over HCA stock-sale questions

Yummy. Weird that he has so much direct manipulation of the trusts while it still being "blind." There should be some clearer rules on this to begin with with oversight from someone who's job is not dependent on the majority leader. I wonder what Bush does with his wealth. Not a good way to handle it anyway, especially since he was the AP reporter ....

President Says DeLay Is Not Guilty of Money Laundering

He's giving his opinion on pending legal cases and then accuses Dems of playing politics? This guy is unbelievable! It's like the time he said he couldn't get his message out. he's the "most powerful man in the free world" and he can't get his message out. I hope they throw the book at DeLay!

Also note the implied failure of current Reps ...

'"I hope that he will, 'cause I like him, and plus, when he's over there, we get our votes through the House," Bush told Fox News's Brit Hume."

Too bad Denny can't get his stuff passed.

Australia | On the beach | Economist.com

Good to see that other countries also have race problems ....

The Two Washington Posts

A good look at the seperation between WaPo and the dotCom sibling. I don't agree with the assesment of Froomkin's column. It's pretty cynical, but I don't think it's particularly liberal. Very sceptical, but not liberal.

Old Media Collide With New Math - New York Times

I did not think about the union costs as fixed. That's an important consideration. The thing is too is that amount of cash these properties generate. Unbelievable to think that as the World becomes more uncertain and that it has shrunken down, that there are so few reporters out there. People wonder why American's can't read maps?

Hmmm. What's This Alternative Tax? Hey, Wait! Ouch! - New York Times

Too bad the only thing the Administration wants to do is cut taxes and create loopholes. Meaningful tax reform has died with the boys in Iraq. There is no way that the President can do anything resembling any sort of comprehensive tax reform. This is where the Dems should have an advantage about being more fiscally responsible. There is no way that the Democrats can have a worse plan. Although the Clinton reliance on tax credits as social policy is not a true "surgical" tool, it's at least trying to move towards a more equitable, wealthier America.

Bush Signs Bill for Rosa Parks Statue:

"The provisions that expire, in 2007, include one requiring states with a history of racial discrimination _ mostly in the South _ to get federal approval to change their voting laws or district lines and another requiring election officials to provide voting material in the native language of immigrant voters who don't speak English."

I see two reasons why Bush wants to renew the voting rights act. 1) He's a decent fellow that's really unpopular with black folks and he wants to do something about it. Another way to say it is that this is part of Rove's long-term GOP plan to chip away at one of the Dem's strongest pillars.
2) He wants to keep a Republican DOJ in charge of approving districts. See the redistricting of 1990 and 2000 to see the damage a GOP led DOJ can do to Democratic House seats.

While this does increase minority representation in the House, they seem to demolish Democrats. When I lived in Georgia, the Bush, the elder, DOJ crushed the Democratic Georgia delegation by flipping the representation over to the GOP. By the time they were done, their were no white Democrats in the delegation.

What's Ahead: Blue Skies, or More Forecasts of Them? - New York Times

Wage growth is important. I wonder if it has an outsized effect in retail markets versus the overall economy.

Justice Staff Saw Texas Districting As Illegal

Shocked, shocked, shocked!

The President's Evolving Vision - Wonkette

I usually don't like her, but this is funny and true.