From The New York Times:
Op-Ed Columnist
Why Experience Matters
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: September 15, 2008
Philosophical debates arise at the oddest times, and in the heat of this election season, one is now rising in Republican ranks. The narrow question is this: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be vice president? Most conservatives say yes, on the grounds that something that feels so good could not possibly be wrong. But a few commentators, like George Will, Charles Krauthammer, David Frum and Ross Douthat demur, suggesting in different ways that she is unready.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/opinion/16brooks.html?em
*Use link above to continue reading...
Wrap...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Katie Couric vs Sarah Palin...coming....
From Levine Breaking News:
Katie Couric, following in the footsteps of grumpy Charlie Gibson, will get the second big interview with Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The CBS anchor will travel with the Alaskan hockey mom next week.
*If Katie does as well with Palin as The View did with McCain, this is gonna be worth watching....
Wrap...
Katie Couric, following in the footsteps of grumpy Charlie Gibson, will get the second big interview with Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The CBS anchor will travel with the Alaskan hockey mom next week.
*If Katie does as well with Palin as The View did with McCain, this is gonna be worth watching....
Wrap...
Monday, September 15, 2008
McCain's right...He doesn't understand economics...
From The Progress Report:
ECONOMY
McCain-onomics
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has spent much of his general election campaign for president trying to distance himself from President Bush's failed policies -- even though the policies he has outlined and would pursue as president mirror those of the last eight years.
McCain's strategy so far has been to make the public forget he is offering Bush's policies. During the Republican National Convention earlier this month, McCain and his fellow conservatives seemingly refused to acknowledge that the current administration even exists: Bush's name was mentioned once while Vice President Dick Cheney's name was not mentioned at all.
Convention speakers also ignored many key issues that face Americans today, such as health care, environment, and the economy. Yet at times, McCain's surrogates will let the truth slip out.
In June, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) admitted that McCain's economic policies would "absolutely" be an "enhancement" of Bush's. He's right. McCain's economic policies are rooted in the same supply-side economic theories that give huge tax cuts to the rich and the most profitable corporations, which will ultimately expand the already ballooning federal deficit.
Indeed, as New York Times columnist and Princeton University economics professor Paul Krugman noted, McCain's economic proposals are "Bush made permanent" and "would leave the federal government with far too little revenue to cover its expenses.
"THE WEALTHY WILL CASH IN:
If elected president, McCain plans to double down on Bush's corporate and individual tax cuts. His plan calls for reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, a plan that would save corporations $175 billion per year, with $45 billion going to America's 200 largest companies as identified by Fortune Magazine. The five largest U.S. oil companies would save a grand total of $3.8 billion per year.
The wealthiest Americans would also cash in. McCain's tax plan will increase after-tax income of the richest 3.4 percent by more than twice the average for all households -- and offer no benefit to the poorest taxpayers and minimal savings for the middle class.
At the same time, McCain has not offered any specifics on how he would pay for these massive cuts. In fact, McCain's plan would produce the highest federal deficit in 25 years. After inheriting Bush's $407 billion deficit, yearly deficits under McCain would increase sharply, beginning with at least $505 billion in FY2009.
Wrap...
ECONOMY
McCain-onomics
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has spent much of his general election campaign for president trying to distance himself from President Bush's failed policies -- even though the policies he has outlined and would pursue as president mirror those of the last eight years.
McCain's strategy so far has been to make the public forget he is offering Bush's policies. During the Republican National Convention earlier this month, McCain and his fellow conservatives seemingly refused to acknowledge that the current administration even exists: Bush's name was mentioned once while Vice President Dick Cheney's name was not mentioned at all.
Convention speakers also ignored many key issues that face Americans today, such as health care, environment, and the economy. Yet at times, McCain's surrogates will let the truth slip out.
In June, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) admitted that McCain's economic policies would "absolutely" be an "enhancement" of Bush's. He's right. McCain's economic policies are rooted in the same supply-side economic theories that give huge tax cuts to the rich and the most profitable corporations, which will ultimately expand the already ballooning federal deficit.
Indeed, as New York Times columnist and Princeton University economics professor Paul Krugman noted, McCain's economic proposals are "Bush made permanent" and "would leave the federal government with far too little revenue to cover its expenses.
"THE WEALTHY WILL CASH IN:
If elected president, McCain plans to double down on Bush's corporate and individual tax cuts. His plan calls for reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, a plan that would save corporations $175 billion per year, with $45 billion going to America's 200 largest companies as identified by Fortune Magazine. The five largest U.S. oil companies would save a grand total of $3.8 billion per year.
The wealthiest Americans would also cash in. McCain's tax plan will increase after-tax income of the richest 3.4 percent by more than twice the average for all households -- and offer no benefit to the poorest taxpayers and minimal savings for the middle class.
At the same time, McCain has not offered any specifics on how he would pay for these massive cuts. In fact, McCain's plan would produce the highest federal deficit in 25 years. After inheriting Bush's $407 billion deficit, yearly deficits under McCain would increase sharply, beginning with at least $505 billion in FY2009.
Wrap...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
BushCo's private/secret army..180,000 in Iraq...
From Tom Dispatch:
Approximately one out of every five war dollars spent on the war went private. That's not so surprising, as James Risen of the New York Times reported, since private contractors now outnumber the 146,000 U.S. troops in that country. At 180,000, they represent, as Risen writes, "a second, private army, larger than the United States military force, and one whose roles and missions and even casualties among its work force have largely been hidden from public view."
Moreover, as modest drawdowns of U.S. troops occur, American taxpayer dollars going to private contractors in Iraq, especially private security contractors, are actually on the rise. Part of the charm of privatizing war, of course, is that you can also privatize information about it, so we really have little idea just how many armed, Blackwater-style mercenaries there are in that country (though the number may rise into the tens of thousands). No less curious, amid all the talk of drawdowns and withdrawals, you seldom see any serious discussion of those hired guns in the mainstream. When withdrawal does come, who withdraws them? Who decides that? Who knows?
In the meantime, let Frida Berrigan take you past the obvious Blackwater issues and into the deeper quagmire of the massive privatization of the American military. It's an issue whose time should long ago have arrived, but don't hold your breath till the media discussion and debate begins.
Tom
Military Industrial Complex 2.0Cubicle Mercenaries, Subcontracting Warriors, and Other Phenomena of a Privatizing Pentagon
By Frida Berrigan
Seven years into George W. Bush's Global War on Terror, the Pentagon is embroiled in two big wars, a potentially explosive war of words with Tehran, and numerous smaller conflicts - and it is leaning ever more heavily on private military contractors to get by.
Once upon a time, soldiers did more than pick up a gun. They picked up trash. They cut hair and delivered mail. They fixed airplanes and inflated truck tires.
Click here to read more of this dispatch.
Wrap...
Approximately one out of every five war dollars spent on the war went private. That's not so surprising, as James Risen of the New York Times reported, since private contractors now outnumber the 146,000 U.S. troops in that country. At 180,000, they represent, as Risen writes, "a second, private army, larger than the United States military force, and one whose roles and missions and even casualties among its work force have largely been hidden from public view."
Moreover, as modest drawdowns of U.S. troops occur, American taxpayer dollars going to private contractors in Iraq, especially private security contractors, are actually on the rise. Part of the charm of privatizing war, of course, is that you can also privatize information about it, so we really have little idea just how many armed, Blackwater-style mercenaries there are in that country (though the number may rise into the tens of thousands). No less curious, amid all the talk of drawdowns and withdrawals, you seldom see any serious discussion of those hired guns in the mainstream. When withdrawal does come, who withdraws them? Who decides that? Who knows?
In the meantime, let Frida Berrigan take you past the obvious Blackwater issues and into the deeper quagmire of the massive privatization of the American military. It's an issue whose time should long ago have arrived, but don't hold your breath till the media discussion and debate begins.
Tom
Military Industrial Complex 2.0Cubicle Mercenaries, Subcontracting Warriors, and Other Phenomena of a Privatizing Pentagon
By Frida Berrigan
Seven years into George W. Bush's Global War on Terror, the Pentagon is embroiled in two big wars, a potentially explosive war of words with Tehran, and numerous smaller conflicts - and it is leaning ever more heavily on private military contractors to get by.
Once upon a time, soldiers did more than pick up a gun. They picked up trash. They cut hair and delivered mail. They fixed airplanes and inflated truck tires.
Click here to read more of this dispatch.
Wrap...
Anti-Palin blogger in Anchorage, Alaska says....
Take note: Here is a woman blogger in Anchorage, Alaska who does good posts on what is going on there. She's just posted...with pics...the Anti-Palin rally:
http://www.alaskareal.blogspot.com/
Wrap...
http://www.alaskareal.blogspot.com/
Wrap...
As for the Biden-Palin debate.....
I notice that commenters are getting on Obama for only paying attention to McCain and more or less ignoring Palin in his speeches, as is Biden at this point. Thing is, Obama is running against McCain for Prez, not Palin for VP, so better to not give her any more high level attention than she's getting. I think that's smart. Then when she and Biden debate, Biden can deal with her.
Meanwhile Biden watches and waits and gathers ammunition straight from her big mouth and past. :))) And you notice that the media is giving Biden zero attention. You'd think he doesn't exist for them. Fine. He's the spider spinning his web and waiting for the Palin fly.
Wrap...
Meanwhile Biden watches and waits and gathers ammunition straight from her big mouth and past. :))) And you notice that the media is giving Biden zero attention. You'd think he doesn't exist for them. Fine. He's the spider spinning his web and waiting for the Palin fly.
Wrap...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Obama backs former SEAL Lt Com. Mike Lumpkin....
From media@LumpkinforCongress :
We are in the home s-t-r-e-t-c-h, charging toward our historic victory in November. The daily buzz in our campaign offices can only be described as electric! Over the last two months, our campaign team has expanded to six fulltime staff and almost 300 volunteers and last week alone the GO TEAM trained over 60 new precinct leaders to get our message out.
As you know, we have been running a non-traditional campaign from day one. Our ground game is on fire and we have already personally contacted several thousand of the crossover voters we need for victory! Between fundraising calls, house parties, and public speaking events, I have been personally calling Republicans and winning them over one-by-one. Our "war room" map is so filled with pins indicating voter contact, it is starting to look like a porcupine!
Since beginning our journey last September, over 60 enthusiastic supporters have opened their homes for fundraisers, inviting their friends, family and neighbors to meet me and join our TEAM. The kindness, warmth and patriotic sincerity continue to be both humbling and inspiring.
As if that weren't enough, our momentum continues to grow even further. In the last few weeks, General Wesley Clark, Senator Bob Kerrey, and Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton have joined Senators John Kerry, Max Cleland, Jim Webb and Congressmen Michael Capuano, Patrick Kennedy, Gene Taylor, Patrick Murphy and Joe Sestak in endorsing my candidacy! In fact, Senator Clinton and Senator Kerrey have graciously offered to hold a fundraiser in New York City to support our campaign!
Last month at the Democratic Convention in Denver, I was invited to speak at the Veterans for Obama Forum and for the Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy.
Senator Obama also included me in the Next Generation Veterans Group to be honored on stage in support of better care and benefits for our returning veterans. The Obama Foreign Policy Team also asked me to help them develop a cogent plan for Afghanistan. I was honored to be part of his team and to continue to provide ongoing advice and feedback.
Just this week, Senator Obama's Chief of Staff made personal calls to Rahm Emanuel at the DCCC to encourage support of my candidacy. I am grateful that Senator Obama recognizes the need to have someone with my expertise and background in Congress to be certain we have the real facts before we commit our sons and daughters to combat in the future and to ensure they have the proper equipment when we do. I look forward to more good news from Senator Obama in the near future!
Defeating another 30 years of another Duncan Hunter is more than just politics. The very essence of our campaign has nothing to do with what's "Right" or "Left" - it's about doing what's "Right or Wrong" for America. During Congressman Hunter's 28-year reign, he proved his loyalty to earmarks for campaign contribution kickbacks. Now, he has cashed in these earmark favors, this time to the tune of $128,000 to his son's campaign coffers. It appears Duncan Junior is already an active participant in the Favor Factory before there has even been an election. His own party doesn't even have room for him and his defense of earmarks. McCain calls Hunter's earmarks "the gateway to corruption" and has promised to "name them and shame them." That is why we this week we challenged McCain and Palin to make good on their commitment and publicly name, shame and disavow Hunter.
As Barack so properly stated in his nomination acceptance speech, "Enough!" Americans must have Representatives who understand service and are willing to put themselves second and the security of our economy, healthcare, jobs, energy, environment and education first! That is my solemn promise - but I need your help.
Please send whatever amount you can in the envelope enclosed as soon as possible or sign on to http://www.lumpkinforcongress.com/ and contribute online right now. It takes $1 to reach a new crossover voter and we need to reach 11,000 to win. Please help us by sponsoring communication to 25, 50, 100, up to 2300 crossover voters today!
Victory 2008!
Wrap...
We are in the home s-t-r-e-t-c-h, charging toward our historic victory in November. The daily buzz in our campaign offices can only be described as electric! Over the last two months, our campaign team has expanded to six fulltime staff and almost 300 volunteers and last week alone the GO TEAM trained over 60 new precinct leaders to get our message out.
As you know, we have been running a non-traditional campaign from day one. Our ground game is on fire and we have already personally contacted several thousand of the crossover voters we need for victory! Between fundraising calls, house parties, and public speaking events, I have been personally calling Republicans and winning them over one-by-one. Our "war room" map is so filled with pins indicating voter contact, it is starting to look like a porcupine!
Since beginning our journey last September, over 60 enthusiastic supporters have opened their homes for fundraisers, inviting their friends, family and neighbors to meet me and join our TEAM. The kindness, warmth and patriotic sincerity continue to be both humbling and inspiring.
As if that weren't enough, our momentum continues to grow even further. In the last few weeks, General Wesley Clark, Senator Bob Kerrey, and Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton have joined Senators John Kerry, Max Cleland, Jim Webb and Congressmen Michael Capuano, Patrick Kennedy, Gene Taylor, Patrick Murphy and Joe Sestak in endorsing my candidacy! In fact, Senator Clinton and Senator Kerrey have graciously offered to hold a fundraiser in New York City to support our campaign!
Last month at the Democratic Convention in Denver, I was invited to speak at the Veterans for Obama Forum and for the Veterans Alliance for Security and Democracy.
Senator Obama also included me in the Next Generation Veterans Group to be honored on stage in support of better care and benefits for our returning veterans. The Obama Foreign Policy Team also asked me to help them develop a cogent plan for Afghanistan. I was honored to be part of his team and to continue to provide ongoing advice and feedback.
Just this week, Senator Obama's Chief of Staff made personal calls to Rahm Emanuel at the DCCC to encourage support of my candidacy. I am grateful that Senator Obama recognizes the need to have someone with my expertise and background in Congress to be certain we have the real facts before we commit our sons and daughters to combat in the future and to ensure they have the proper equipment when we do. I look forward to more good news from Senator Obama in the near future!
Defeating another 30 years of another Duncan Hunter is more than just politics. The very essence of our campaign has nothing to do with what's "Right" or "Left" - it's about doing what's "Right or Wrong" for America. During Congressman Hunter's 28-year reign, he proved his loyalty to earmarks for campaign contribution kickbacks. Now, he has cashed in these earmark favors, this time to the tune of $128,000 to his son's campaign coffers. It appears Duncan Junior is already an active participant in the Favor Factory before there has even been an election. His own party doesn't even have room for him and his defense of earmarks. McCain calls Hunter's earmarks "the gateway to corruption" and has promised to "name them and shame them." That is why we this week we challenged McCain and Palin to make good on their commitment and publicly name, shame and disavow Hunter.
As Barack so properly stated in his nomination acceptance speech, "Enough!" Americans must have Representatives who understand service and are willing to put themselves second and the security of our economy, healthcare, jobs, energy, environment and education first! That is my solemn promise - but I need your help.
Please send whatever amount you can in the envelope enclosed as soon as possible or sign on to http://www.lumpkinforcongress.com/ and contribute online right now. It takes $1 to reach a new crossover voter and we need to reach 11,000 to win. Please help us by sponsoring communication to 25, 50, 100, up to 2300 crossover voters today!
Victory 2008!
Wrap...
Because Franken won?
From The Star Tribune via truthout.org:
Feds to Unplug Medical Subsidy
http://www.truthout.org/article/feds-unplug-medical-subsidy
Kevin Diaz, The Star Tribune: "The Bush administration plans to drop Medicaid coverage for 18,000 low-income parents in Minnesota, a move that has stunned state officials who say they didn't see it coming."
Wrap...
Feds to Unplug Medical Subsidy
http://www.truthout.org/article/feds-unplug-medical-subsidy
Kevin Diaz, The Star Tribune: "The Bush administration plans to drop Medicaid coverage for 18,000 low-income parents in Minnesota, a move that has stunned state officials who say they didn't see it coming."
Wrap...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Blackwater keeps on keeping on...regardless...
From Karen Pomer via email:
Citizens Protest Blackwater Mercenary Training Centers in California, North Carolina, Illinois and Idaho.
SAN DIEGO, CA (Sept. 11)
Activists in California, North Carolina, Illinois, and Idaho, opposing Blackwater mercenary training operations in their states, will protest Blackwater and commemorate the first anniversary of "Baghdad's Bloody Sunday," a shooting spree carried out by Blackwater in Baghdad's Nisour Square on Sept. 16, 2007 where 17 innocent civilians were cut down by Blackwater gunfire without provocation.
The Protests will occur in four separate locations, where Blackwater has expanded their operation past training and extensive operations in Iraq to set up mercenary training centers.
In California, the rally will also protest against Blackwater's new foothold on the West Coast, only blocks from the Cal-Mex border in Otay Mesa, California. Blackwater opened the facility under clouds of subterfuge and obvious circumvention of local laws, finally using temporary restraining order issued by Federal Judge, a President Bush Sr. appointee, to muscle their way into the facility and avoid public hearings, environmental review and traditional public scrutiny.
In Illinois, Blackwater just expanded their training facility by adding a shooting range, dodging public scrutiny.
Wrap...
Citizens Protest Blackwater Mercenary Training Centers in California, North Carolina, Illinois and Idaho.
SAN DIEGO, CA (Sept. 11)
Activists in California, North Carolina, Illinois, and Idaho, opposing Blackwater mercenary training operations in their states, will protest Blackwater and commemorate the first anniversary of "Baghdad's Bloody Sunday," a shooting spree carried out by Blackwater in Baghdad's Nisour Square on Sept. 16, 2007 where 17 innocent civilians were cut down by Blackwater gunfire without provocation.
The Protests will occur in four separate locations, where Blackwater has expanded their operation past training and extensive operations in Iraq to set up mercenary training centers.
In California, the rally will also protest against Blackwater's new foothold on the West Coast, only blocks from the Cal-Mex border in Otay Mesa, California. Blackwater opened the facility under clouds of subterfuge and obvious circumvention of local laws, finally using temporary restraining order issued by Federal Judge, a President Bush Sr. appointee, to muscle their way into the facility and avoid public hearings, environmental review and traditional public scrutiny.
In Illinois, Blackwater just expanded their training facility by adding a shooting range, dodging public scrutiny.
Wrap...
Do Americans want a theocracy more than a Democracy?
From truthout.org:
Marjorie Cohn
A Palin Theocracy
http://www.truthout.org/article/a-palin-theocracy
Marjorie Cohn, Truthout:
"John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate has invigorated a lackluster campaign. The media can't stop talking about her. Given McCain's age and state of health (his medical file was nearly 1,200 pages long), Palin would indeed be a heartbeat away from becoming president. But what would a Palin administration really look like?"
*Use link above to continue reading...
Wrap...
Marjorie Cohn
A Palin Theocracy
http://www.truthout.org/article/a-palin-theocracy
Marjorie Cohn, Truthout:
"John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate has invigorated a lackluster campaign. The media can't stop talking about her. Given McCain's age and state of health (his medical file was nearly 1,200 pages long), Palin would indeed be a heartbeat away from becoming president. But what would a Palin administration really look like?"
*Use link above to continue reading...
Wrap...
More on Palin..her kids' school....
From a writer friend via email:
A friend of mom's, also in her 80s, has a son whose children attend the same school as Sarah Palin's and their advice: No Way! They have had to deal with her trying to railroad the curriculum of the school into creationism, control the books assigned in literature classes, etc.
Wrap...
A friend of mom's, also in her 80s, has a son whose children attend the same school as Sarah Palin's and their advice: No Way! They have had to deal with her trying to railroad the curriculum of the school into creationism, control the books assigned in literature classes, etc.
Wrap...
Anybody else know about these preperations?
Comment on Daily Kos:
Posted on Daily Koz:
I have a bandmate who works on military equipment with a top level security clearance who swears that the equipment is staged and ready for an October "incident" in Iran. Not sure if it's completely accurate, but he's been in the biz for 30 years, and they've been prepping helicopters and such for Iran for 2 months.
by Conquistador17 on Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 12:14:00 PM PDT
Wrap...
Posted on Daily Koz:
I have a bandmate who works on military equipment with a top level security clearance who swears that the equipment is staged and ready for an October "incident" in Iran. Not sure if it's completely accurate, but he's been in the biz for 30 years, and they've been prepping helicopters and such for Iran for 2 months.
by Conquistador17 on Thu Sep 11, 2008 at 12:14:00 PM PDT
Wrap...
Palin's biography among new books coming....
From Publishers Lunch Weekly:
FICTION/DEBUT:
ANT FARM and FREE RANGE CHICKENS author and SNL writer Simon Rich's first novel, ELLIOT ALLAGASH, a coming-of-age comedy about "obscene wealth, megalomania and vengeance," to Jonathan Jao at Random House, by Daniel Greenberg at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (world English).UK rights: ctisne@randomhouse.comTranslation: efisher@levinegreenberg.com
Andrea Busfield's debut novel A MILLION WALLS, the story of a young boy growing up in post-Taliban Kabul, to Helen Atsma at Holt, for publication in winter 2010, as a trade paperback original, by Charlie Campbell at Ed Victor Ltd. (NA).
MYSTERY/CRIME:
James Rollins's next four thrillers, to Lyssa Keusch at Morrow, for publication in Winter 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, by Russell Galen at Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency (NA).
GENERAL/OTHER:
Sherry Jones's THE JEWEL OF MEDINA, to Margot Atwell at Beaufort Books, for a very small advance ("we'll earn our advance back in about two minutes," Kern says) for publication in mid-October 2008, plus a sequel, by Natasaha Kern at Natasha Kern Literary Agency.
Michael Calce with Craig Silverman's MAFIABOY, to James Jayo of Arcade, for publication in Summer 2009, by Lisa Rundle of Penguin Canada (US).
James W. Nichol's TRANSGRESSION, about a young woman persecuted in WWII France as a "horizontal collaborator" whose past haunts her in America, to Jeanette Perez at Harper, for publication in fall 2009, by Beverley Slopen at Beverley Slopen Literary Agency (US).
BIOGRAPHY:
Novelist Joe Hilley's SARAH PALIN: A New Kind of Leader, exploring themes from her career in politics, her life as a hockey mom, and her strongly-held Christian faith, explaining how they influence her new style of leadership and align with our changing economy in the information age, to Zondervan, for publication on October 10, 2008.
HISTORY/POLITICS/CURRENT AFFAIRS:
Megan McKinney's DYNASTY: The Fascinating Story of a Great Newspaper Empire, about the single family that simultaneously owned the Chicago Tribune, forerunner of the Washington Post, New York Daily News, and Newsday -- personal drama (sex, suicides, enormous wealth, secret treacheries) blended with social history of American newspapering during its most powerful era, to Gail Winston of Harper, by Agnes Birnbaum of Bleecker Street Associates (NA).
MEMOIR:
Politico writer and TheRoot.com cultural columnist Helena Andrews's BITCH IS THE NEW BLACK, a biting look at the generation of young, successful black women, including the author, who have grown up to find the Cosby dream elusive and Cliff Huxtables few and far between, to Serena Jones at Collins, in a pre-empt, by Howard Yoon at Gail Ross Literary Agency (World).
Wrap...
FICTION/DEBUT:
ANT FARM and FREE RANGE CHICKENS author and SNL writer Simon Rich's first novel, ELLIOT ALLAGASH, a coming-of-age comedy about "obscene wealth, megalomania and vengeance," to Jonathan Jao at Random House, by Daniel Greenberg at Levine Greenberg Literary Agency (world English).UK rights: ctisne@randomhouse.comTranslation: efisher@levinegreenberg.com
Andrea Busfield's debut novel A MILLION WALLS, the story of a young boy growing up in post-Taliban Kabul, to Helen Atsma at Holt, for publication in winter 2010, as a trade paperback original, by Charlie Campbell at Ed Victor Ltd. (NA).
MYSTERY/CRIME:
James Rollins's next four thrillers, to Lyssa Keusch at Morrow, for publication in Winter 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, by Russell Galen at Scovil Chichak Galen Literary Agency (NA).
GENERAL/OTHER:
Sherry Jones's THE JEWEL OF MEDINA, to Margot Atwell at Beaufort Books, for a very small advance ("we'll earn our advance back in about two minutes," Kern says) for publication in mid-October 2008, plus a sequel, by Natasaha Kern at Natasha Kern Literary Agency.
Michael Calce with Craig Silverman's MAFIABOY, to James Jayo of Arcade, for publication in Summer 2009, by Lisa Rundle of Penguin Canada (US).
James W. Nichol's TRANSGRESSION, about a young woman persecuted in WWII France as a "horizontal collaborator" whose past haunts her in America, to Jeanette Perez at Harper, for publication in fall 2009, by Beverley Slopen at Beverley Slopen Literary Agency (US).
BIOGRAPHY:
Novelist Joe Hilley's SARAH PALIN: A New Kind of Leader, exploring themes from her career in politics, her life as a hockey mom, and her strongly-held Christian faith, explaining how they influence her new style of leadership and align with our changing economy in the information age, to Zondervan, for publication on October 10, 2008.
HISTORY/POLITICS/CURRENT AFFAIRS:
Megan McKinney's DYNASTY: The Fascinating Story of a Great Newspaper Empire, about the single family that simultaneously owned the Chicago Tribune, forerunner of the Washington Post, New York Daily News, and Newsday -- personal drama (sex, suicides, enormous wealth, secret treacheries) blended with social history of American newspapering during its most powerful era, to Gail Winston of Harper, by Agnes Birnbaum of Bleecker Street Associates (NA).
MEMOIR:
Politico writer and TheRoot.com cultural columnist Helena Andrews's BITCH IS THE NEW BLACK, a biting look at the generation of young, successful black women, including the author, who have grown up to find the Cosby dream elusive and Cliff Huxtables few and far between, to Serena Jones at Collins, in a pre-empt, by Howard Yoon at Gail Ross Literary Agency (World).
Wrap...
McCain is nothing without Palin....HAH!!!
From Levine Breaking News:
In a break with tradition, Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin could spend more time together on the campaign trail than apart, a senior campaign aide said Wednesday.
"It is under serious consideration that they will spend more time together than not and more time than is traditional," the aide told reporters aboard Palin's campaign plane during a refueling stop in Montana en route to Alaska. "There's just a huge amount of enthusiasm."
Wrap...
In a break with tradition, Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin could spend more time together on the campaign trail than apart, a senior campaign aide said Wednesday.
"It is under serious consideration that they will spend more time together than not and more time than is traditional," the aide told reporters aboard Palin's campaign plane during a refueling stop in Montana en route to Alaska. "There's just a huge amount of enthusiasm."
Wrap...
Monday, September 08, 2008
SFs have to both hit the targets & speak the languages..
From Secrecy News:
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES TRAINING AND READINESS
The increasing demands placed on U.S. special operations forces have created new challenges for training and retention that were described at a congressional hearing last year.
"Recruiting since 9/11 has not been a problem for Special Operations Forces," said Gen. Bryan D. Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. "Every seat in every school is full to start the course."
But only "about 23 percent graduate from the course," said Gen. Brown."They fail the course for all kinds of reasons, one of them being their inability to pass the [foreign] language portion."
"And so if you can hit a target at 600 meters, that is great, but unless you can speak a language that we ask you to learn, you are still not going to graduate and wear a Special Forces tab."
Background on the status of Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps special operations forces was presented in the January 2007 hearing volume that was published last month along with detailed answers to questions for the record.
See "Current Manning, Equipping and Readiness Challenges Facing Special Operations Forces," hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, January 31, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/sof.pdf
Wrap...
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES TRAINING AND READINESS
The increasing demands placed on U.S. special operations forces have created new challenges for training and retention that were described at a congressional hearing last year.
"Recruiting since 9/11 has not been a problem for Special Operations Forces," said Gen. Bryan D. Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. "Every seat in every school is full to start the course."
But only "about 23 percent graduate from the course," said Gen. Brown."They fail the course for all kinds of reasons, one of them being their inability to pass the [foreign] language portion."
"And so if you can hit a target at 600 meters, that is great, but unless you can speak a language that we ask you to learn, you are still not going to graduate and wear a Special Forces tab."
Background on the status of Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps special operations forces was presented in the January 2007 hearing volume that was published last month along with detailed answers to questions for the record.
See "Current Manning, Equipping and Readiness Challenges Facing Special Operations Forces," hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, January 31, 2007:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2007_hr/sof.pdf
Wrap...
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Losing more Ohio votes....
From truthout.org :
Nearly 600,000 Voters Subject to Possible Caging in Ohio
http://www.truthout.org/article/nearly-600000-voters-subject-possible-caging-ohio
David Rosenfeld, Miller-McCune: "How many voter-registration mass mailers are 'returned to sender' in the run-up to Election Day may determine how many Ohio residents are eligible to vote."
(Use link above to continue reading)
Wrap...
Nearly 600,000 Voters Subject to Possible Caging in Ohio
http://www.truthout.org/article/nearly-600000-voters-subject-possible-caging-ohio
David Rosenfeld, Miller-McCune: "How many voter-registration mass mailers are 'returned to sender' in the run-up to Election Day may determine how many Ohio residents are eligible to vote."
(Use link above to continue reading)
Wrap...
W unloading property for move to Paraguay?
From the LA Times:
They have blogs...and one of them, Countdown to Crawford, is tracking Bush's last days as prez. Today's blog....
Bush's first Texas home for sale
The Countdown to Crawford blog reports that the Midland, Texas, home once owned by George W. and Laura Bush is for sale, listed for $239,000. Three bedrooms, two baths, 2,406 square feet. "
An enterprising Realtor in Midland, Texas, has come up with a new way to advertise a listing in West Texas."She's letting prospective customers know that the property for sale was the first home of Laura and George Bush, where the couple started their married life together. Listed for $239,900, the home at 1405 W. Golf Course Road has 2,406 square feet and was built in 1976, one year before the Bushes moved in.
"With light, airy spaces and a mostly concrete back patio ('low maintenance yard' is how Realtor Ruth Young puts it), the home is where the couple had their daughters (1981) and the future president ran for Congress, and lost, in 1978. It still boasts Laura Bush's original drapes, and offers buyers a chance to cook on Laura Bush's original cooktop stove."
Wrap...
They have blogs...and one of them, Countdown to Crawford, is tracking Bush's last days as prez. Today's blog....
Bush's first Texas home for sale
The Countdown to Crawford blog reports that the Midland, Texas, home once owned by George W. and Laura Bush is for sale, listed for $239,000. Three bedrooms, two baths, 2,406 square feet. "
An enterprising Realtor in Midland, Texas, has come up with a new way to advertise a listing in West Texas."She's letting prospective customers know that the property for sale was the first home of Laura and George Bush, where the couple started their married life together. Listed for $239,900, the home at 1405 W. Golf Course Road has 2,406 square feet and was built in 1976, one year before the Bushes moved in.
"With light, airy spaces and a mostly concrete back patio ('low maintenance yard' is how Realtor Ruth Young puts it), the home is where the couple had their daughters (1981) and the future president ran for Congress, and lost, in 1978. It still boasts Laura Bush's original drapes, and offers buyers a chance to cook on Laura Bush's original cooktop stove."
Wrap...
Saturday, September 06, 2008
A Short Selection of Unusual Books....
From Publishers Lunch Weekly:
FICTION/DEBUT:
Nana Ekua-Brew Hammond's POWDER NECKLACE, a coming-of-age novel about a girl who was forced to move from London to Ghana at the age of nine to "give her mum a break" who returns to London after five years only to learn that even at home she can still feel like an outsider, to Malaika Adero at Atria, by Elizabeth Jote at Objective Entertainment (world).
GENERAL/OTHER:
A.W. Hill's NOWHERE-LAND, in which an L.A. cult investigator tracks a kidnapping victim across the globe and into a network of assassins using an alternate reality game to recruit its young footsoldiers, to Charlie Winton at Counterpoint, for publication in June 2009, by Kimberley Cameron at Reece Halsey North (world).
Iowa Workshop teaching-writing fellow Nic Brown's FLOODMARKERS, a collection of humorous linked short stories that all take place the day of Hurricane Hugo's arrival in the quirky small town of Lystra, NC, and DOUBLES, a love story about a recently retired tennis professional trying to get his game back, both on the court and off, to Jack Shoemaker at Counterpoint, by Nathaniel Jacks of Inkwell Management (world English).
CHILDREN'S/YOUNG ADULT:
Debut author Rachel Hawkins' paranormal YA trilogy starting with DEMONGLASS, about a sixteen-year-old witch shipped off to a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries, where the traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at "Freak High," for publication in winter 2010, to Jennifer Besser at Hyperion, at auction, in a three-book deal, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (NA).
BUSINESS/INVESTING/FINANCE:
Duke University basketball coaching legend and US men's Olympic basketball coach Mike (Coach K) Krzyzewski's book on basketball and on management techniques, about the leadership skills that he used to unify a diverse group of NBA superstars and win the gold medal in Beijing, co-written with his daughter, Jamie K. Spatola, to Rick Wolff at Business Plus, for publication in Spring 2009, by sports agent David Falk.
MEMOIR:
MFA grad married to Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, Jillian Lauren's memoir SOME GIRLS, a coming-of-age story about identity, adoption, and the two years she spent in the harem of Prince Jefri of Brunei, and her debut novel, PRETTY, which chronicles a young woman's last 72 hours in a state-sponsored beauty school, to Signe Pike at Plume, for publication as a trade paperback original in winter 2010, by Alexandra Machinist at Linda Chester Literary Agency (NA).
Screenwriter Amy Ferris's 3:00 A.M.: Musings from a Middle of the Night Life Crisis, about everything from the author's Jewish mother (the one with a crush on Jesus Christ), to ex-boyfriends, to posh vacation destinations she'll never go to, will resonate for anyone who has lain awake in the wee hours and wondered how their basement (and their head) got so ridiculously cluttered, to Krista Lyons-Gould at Seal Press, by Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (NA).
Wrap....
FICTION/DEBUT:
Nana Ekua-Brew Hammond's POWDER NECKLACE, a coming-of-age novel about a girl who was forced to move from London to Ghana at the age of nine to "give her mum a break" who returns to London after five years only to learn that even at home she can still feel like an outsider, to Malaika Adero at Atria, by Elizabeth Jote at Objective Entertainment (world).
GENERAL/OTHER:
A.W. Hill's NOWHERE-LAND, in which an L.A. cult investigator tracks a kidnapping victim across the globe and into a network of assassins using an alternate reality game to recruit its young footsoldiers, to Charlie Winton at Counterpoint, for publication in June 2009, by Kimberley Cameron at Reece Halsey North (world).
Iowa Workshop teaching-writing fellow Nic Brown's FLOODMARKERS, a collection of humorous linked short stories that all take place the day of Hurricane Hugo's arrival in the quirky small town of Lystra, NC, and DOUBLES, a love story about a recently retired tennis professional trying to get his game back, both on the court and off, to Jack Shoemaker at Counterpoint, by Nathaniel Jacks of Inkwell Management (world English).
CHILDREN'S/YOUNG ADULT:
Debut author Rachel Hawkins' paranormal YA trilogy starting with DEMONGLASS, about a sixteen-year-old witch shipped off to a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters, and faeries, where the traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at "Freak High," for publication in winter 2010, to Jennifer Besser at Hyperion, at auction, in a three-book deal, by Holly Root at Waxman Literary Agency (NA).
BUSINESS/INVESTING/FINANCE:
Duke University basketball coaching legend and US men's Olympic basketball coach Mike (Coach K) Krzyzewski's book on basketball and on management techniques, about the leadership skills that he used to unify a diverse group of NBA superstars and win the gold medal in Beijing, co-written with his daughter, Jamie K. Spatola, to Rick Wolff at Business Plus, for publication in Spring 2009, by sports agent David Falk.
MEMOIR:
MFA grad married to Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, Jillian Lauren's memoir SOME GIRLS, a coming-of-age story about identity, adoption, and the two years she spent in the harem of Prince Jefri of Brunei, and her debut novel, PRETTY, which chronicles a young woman's last 72 hours in a state-sponsored beauty school, to Signe Pike at Plume, for publication as a trade paperback original in winter 2010, by Alexandra Machinist at Linda Chester Literary Agency (NA).
Screenwriter Amy Ferris's 3:00 A.M.: Musings from a Middle of the Night Life Crisis, about everything from the author's Jewish mother (the one with a crush on Jesus Christ), to ex-boyfriends, to posh vacation destinations she'll never go to, will resonate for anyone who has lain awake in the wee hours and wondered how their basement (and their head) got so ridiculously cluttered, to Krista Lyons-Gould at Seal Press, by Jane Dystel at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management (NA).
Wrap....
Newspaper editor on Palin, et al....
From Levine Breaking News:
LBN-COMMENTARY By MICHAEL SIGMAN:
I ran LA Weekly for nearly 20 years, until 2002, giving me more executive experience than all the Presidential candidates put together. During those years the paper's politics were proudly liberal/progressive -- even, many would say, "far left." We offered an alternative to the "on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand" coverage from the mainstream media.There were things we believed in, and our choice of stories reflected that, though we took as much pride as anyone in getting our facts right.
What concerns me most in the midst of the Palin psychosis is that the corporate media will cave to the McCain campaign's vicious attacks and, by THEIR choice of questions and stories, let the Republicans off the hook, just like they did for Bush and the Iraq war. (You know we've reached a new level of absurdity when the McCain camp starts canceling appearances to punish CNN because that network took a few minutes out from bloviating to allow Campbell Brown to practice a little Journalism 101.)
This is a crucial moment, and we have to be all over the networks, dailies and cable channels, insisting they do their job by investigating legitimate stories and asking tough questions. When you see an anchor or reporter going easy on a candidate -- any candidate -- shoot off an email.
And as long as we're holding their feet to the fire, would it be too much to hope for the occasional follow-up question?
Wrap...
LBN-COMMENTARY By MICHAEL SIGMAN:
I ran LA Weekly for nearly 20 years, until 2002, giving me more executive experience than all the Presidential candidates put together. During those years the paper's politics were proudly liberal/progressive -- even, many would say, "far left." We offered an alternative to the "on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand" coverage from the mainstream media.There were things we believed in, and our choice of stories reflected that, though we took as much pride as anyone in getting our facts right.
What concerns me most in the midst of the Palin psychosis is that the corporate media will cave to the McCain campaign's vicious attacks and, by THEIR choice of questions and stories, let the Republicans off the hook, just like they did for Bush and the Iraq war. (You know we've reached a new level of absurdity when the McCain camp starts canceling appearances to punish CNN because that network took a few minutes out from bloviating to allow Campbell Brown to practice a little Journalism 101.)
This is a crucial moment, and we have to be all over the networks, dailies and cable channels, insisting they do their job by investigating legitimate stories and asking tough questions. When you see an anchor or reporter going easy on a candidate -- any candidate -- shoot off an email.
And as long as we're holding their feet to the fire, would it be too much to hope for the occasional follow-up question?
Wrap...
Monday, September 01, 2008
Politicians CYA....
From truthout.org :
FOCUS
David Bacon: Did a Mississippi Raid Protect Rightwing Politicians?
http://www.truthout.org/article/did-a-mississippi-raid-protect-rightwing-politicians
David Bacon reports for Truthout from Laurel, Mississippi: "On August 25, immigration agents swooped down on Howard Industries, a Mississippi electrical equipment factory, taking 481 workers to a privately-run detention center in Jena, Louisiana.
A hundred and six women were also arrested at the plant, and released wearing electronic monitoring devices on their ankles if they had children, or without them if they were pregnant. Eight workers were taken to Federal court in Hattiesburg, where they were charged with aggravated identity theft."
*Use link above to continue reading...
Wrap...
FOCUS
David Bacon: Did a Mississippi Raid Protect Rightwing Politicians?
http://www.truthout.org/article/did-a-mississippi-raid-protect-rightwing-politicians
David Bacon reports for Truthout from Laurel, Mississippi: "On August 25, immigration agents swooped down on Howard Industries, a Mississippi electrical equipment factory, taking 481 workers to a privately-run detention center in Jena, Louisiana.
A hundred and six women were also arrested at the plant, and released wearing electronic monitoring devices on their ankles if they had children, or without them if they were pregnant. Eight workers were taken to Federal court in Hattiesburg, where they were charged with aggravated identity theft."
*Use link above to continue reading...
Wrap...
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