ambivalent bits

Progressive Internationalism: A democratic security strategy:

The Progressive Policy Institute stakes a claim on " the vital center between the neo-imperial right and the non-interventionist left, between a view that assumes that our might always makes us right and one that assumes that because America is strong it must be wrong."

Diebold run by convicted felons:

I'm all for giving people a second chance, but Diebold is way too dodgy for many other reasons for this not to seem suspicious.

Kidman almost passed up Oscar-Winning Role:

"Thank god for Virginai Woolf."

Bank robber loses "stupidity" appeal:

You mean "stupidity" isn't a defense? Man, that's good to know...

Gephardt's Reform Values:

Is the Gephardt campaign involved in the attack ads against Dean?

Battle to control Internet threatens open access:

Michael Copps is fighting the good fight for the FCC (against its chairman and his toadies, really); definitely someone to listen to.

Judge rejects Bush's Yellowstone snowmobile plan:
Thank goodness for small favors and smart judges. It's always bad policy to try to woo voters by giving them the right to pollute and destroy the environment.

Happy Birthday, Mac!
"In all its iterations since it was introduced to the world in January 1984 . . . the world's most persistent computer brand has done the most for all computer users." What would computers (and operating systems) be like if the Mac had never come along? I shudder to think...

Supreme Court to Hear Cheney Energy Case:
Separation of powers my ass. Cheney's a public servant and how he "gets advice" should be open to public scrutiny.

Rescuing Democracy:
Good commentary on Vieth v. Jubelirer. Here's hoping the SCOTUS puts some checks on the gerrymandering madness.

Ex-Senator Paul Simon dies at 75:
Rest in peace...

U.S. frames bullying as health issue:
Here here! It's unhealthy to have the world's biggest bully in the White House! This is a global health issue, don't you think?

Game, Set, Match?
So Gore is endorsing Dean; is the race for the Democratic nominee over?

Dean to let judge decide on records:
"What we think the best thing to do is to let the judge go through every single document and decide for himself what ought to be revealed and what not to be revealed," said Dean.

Bribes might be more than pork:
Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) says he was "promised substantial amounts of money to his son's congressional campaign if Smith voted for the bill and had threatened to support other candidates if he did not change his vote."

No Democracy in Congress:
Listen to Rep. David Obey (Wis.) who says that while the U.S. is busy building democracy in Iraq, it is abandoning democracy in the U.S. Congress where Republicans are making backroom edits to legislation, then forcing them through with bribes of pork. What, that's not how democracy's supposed to work?

Looking for Skeletons:
A brief survey of the "flap" over Howard Dean's sealed records. Dean seems to be playing the game where he needs to, but he's also trying to change the rules where possible.

Prosecutor "brutalized" before death:
The story gets worse. So sad...

The Bird Was Perfect, But Not For Dinner:
Hmmph. The irony is just dripping here—all Bush has for the troops is symbolic sustenance. Oh, all brought to them by Halliburton, of course (scroll down a bit to second headline).

Former top Enron executive indicted:
Finally!

Poll: Optimism on economy boosts Bush:
Short term gains, or will this be a trend?

Bush Picks Friend Baker as Iraq Debt Envoy:
Cronyism Rules!

Conservatives Want Reagan on Dimes:
You have got to be kidding me. Please be kidding. Please?

Wyoming Weblogs:
Judging from this article, blogs aren't a big deal in Wyoming, but that's just the kind of place it is—the anti-trend state. And that's a good thing. [Link via Life In A Northern Town.]

Counting Cookies:
How many oreos do we really need for weapons and troops? How many oreos would it take to end child starvation? Ben Cohen counts the cookies for ya...

Revive:
A cool new "comfort bike."

War After the War:
“In a way, success will be if the Iraqis don’t hate us.” —Andrew Erdmann, Iraq’s acting Minister of Higher Education.

Pentagon Lets Terror Suspect See Lawyer:
It's about time! Can't wait to hear what the SCOTUS has to say about the Bush Administration's attempts to abolish due process.

Gifts for your Right-leaning friends:
Whether you know a "love it or leave it" or a "they hate us for our freedoms" type, this list has the perfect gift for them!

Hack the Vote:
Another entry in the growing awareness that electronic voting machines that leave no paper trail are not a good way to safeguard democracy.

The Liberation Tango:
"The fact is, odds are very high that a fair national election in Iraq would lead to a Shiite takeover and a variant of the Iranian nationalist theocracy that's been in place since the mullahs overthrew the shah, a U.S.-supported dictator."

Our Plan for Iraq Vote? Kind of Like Florida:
"We're all for democracy except when it might lead to bottom-up democracy for Muslims."

Nader OKs exploratory committee for '04:
For the zillionth time: Nader, don't run, please!

$55 Million Christmas Gift for Troops:
Paying for troops to visit home only seems fair, but we wouldn't need to be spending $55 million more that we don't have on it if we hadn't gone to war in the first place. Right?

Mile High Lies?
Is the White House telling lies about Shrub's trip to Bahdad? Shocking, isn't it?

The Second Coming of Philip K. Dick:
I normally wouldn't dream of paying money to see a Ben Affleck flick, but if it's based on a Dick story, I'm there.

iPod's Dirty Secret:
Does the iPod's "unreplaceable" battery really only last for 18 months? Must we all buy an AppleCare plan for the iPod, as well? (That would make a new battery cost $69, rather than $250.)