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Michael Ramirez on the Democrats and the Iraq War
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Gaggle – Newsbusters.org
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Roe v. Wade Watch: Documents Reveal Alito’s Abortion View
In a file photo Judge Samuel Alito smiles during a meeting with Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 in Washington, to discuss Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito wrote in 1985 that he was proud of his Reagan-era work helping the government argue that ‘the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,’ documents showed Monday, Nov. 14, 2005.The ASSociated Press has Documents Reveal Alito’s Abortion View
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito boasted about his work arguing that “the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion” while trying to become a deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration, according to documents released Monday.
Alito, a federal appellate judge nominated by President Bush to the nation’s highest court, was a young lawyer working for the solicitor general’s office in 1985 when he applied for the position under Attorney General Edwin Meese.
As part of his application, Alito sent a document saying his work in the solicitor general’s office had included helping “to advance legal positions in which I personally believe very strongly.”
“I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government argued that racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,” he wrote.
So…….
His mother already weighed in with the DEEP revelation that he is against abortion.
But, both do not mean much……. wait for the hearings………..
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Fans mob Schwarzenegger in China
California governor Arnold Schwrzenegger (Centre-L) is handed the Special Olympic torch by Chinese disabled athlete Judy Yang (Centre-R) at a Beijing ceremony to celebrate the Special Olympics. Schwarzenegger arrived in Beijing for a six-day China visit aimed at boosting trade and investment and battling movie piracy.CNN and the Associated Press has China fans mob Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger, the millionaire movie star and governor of the U.S. state of California, made a big splash at his first event in China on Monday — perhaps too big of a splash for his security detail after dozens of photographers and fans mobbed him in the Chinese capitalSchwarzenegger had just finished speaking at an event honoring the Special Olympics program in China when bedlam descended on him and his entourage.
He and his wife, Maria Shriver, were momentarily separated from their official security detail and Chinese police had to shove away photographers and curious onlookers who surrounded the couple.
It was a new experience for Schwarzenegger, who in recent months has been dogged by protesters in California as he promoted his special election.
Schwarzenegger arrived in Beijing on Monday to start a six-day mission to promote California products and encourage Chinese officials to crack down on the piracy of copyrighted music, movies and software.
Also on his agenda: political rehabilitation.
Schwarzenegger’s trade mission will provide a much-needed fresh start after the losing special election campaign, allowing him to reclaim his role as California’s high-profile ambassador-in-chief.
Well, it sure beats having firemen refusing to shake your hand and nurses waving placards of protest!
The Governator took care of the nurses on Friday but public employee pension reform……. Flap bets it is on the backburner too.
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France Riot Watch: Chirac Vows Firm Response to Unrest
Reuters has Chirac vows firm response to unrest
President Jacques Chirac said on Monday the French government would remain firm in its response to more than two weeks of violence which had shown there was a deep malaise in the country.
Chirac said in a nationwide television address the main priority was to end the worst civil unrest in France for nearly 40 years.
“These events bear witness to a deep malaise,” said Chirac. “We will respond by being firm, by being fair and by being faithful to the values of France.”
Sounds too much like Jimmy Carter’s “MALAISE” speech which was written by MSNBC’s Chris Matthews.
France must also reinforce its struggle against illegal immigration and people trafficking, said Chirac, calling it a modern form of slavery.
This sounds familiar too!
Guest worker program?
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Dentistry Today: U.S. Army Combat Chewing Gum
CNN has Army considering combat chewing gum
Brushing three times a day is a tough task, especially if you’re roughing it in the mountains of Afghanistan or in the Iraqi desert.So goes the logic behind a recent endeavor by Army and civilian scientists — combat gum for soldiers too busy to brush.
The gum, described at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists convention this week in Nashville, would contain a special bacteria-fighting agent to prevent plaque, cavities and gum disease.
Soldiers in the field often lack the necessary time and means to brush and floss. Compounding the problem is the stress of combat, which can encourage bacterial growth in the mouth, said Col. Dennis Runyan, commander of the Army Dental and Trauma Research Detachment in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Gum was considered an ideal solution because the Army already issues gum to soldiers in their field rations.
This has wide application and the “magic mouthwash” to combat tooth decay (caries) that dentistry has sought for so long may indeed be in a chewing gum format.
And why not?
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NHS Dentistry Watch: Poll Says Dentists Will Still Quit
The Yorkshire Post Today has New deal fails to stop dentists quitting NHS
MILLIONS more dental patients face having to pay for private treatment as a new contract aimed at improving the state of NHS dentistry looks set to have the opposite effect.Half of dentists will quit the NHS and many others will reduce their health service commitment amid anger about the new contract which comes into force in April, a poll of practitioners has found. Ministers hope the contract will revitalise NHS dentistry by moving practitioners off the “treadmill” of existing NHS care in what is being billed by many as a “last chance” to save health service dentistry.
But the survey of 270 dentists carried out by Skipton dentist Andy Bates found that 50 per cent would quit the NHS unless there were substantial improvements in the draft contract currently on offer. A further 31 per cent would drastically reduce their NHS commitment. Only nine per cent said they would stay as they were and just three per cent said they would build on their practice using the new system.Flap handicaps a NHS Dentistry collpase unless the Labour government of Tony Blair dramatically infuses money into the public socialized system.
If the new NHS contract fails to appease the practicing dentists (even with its guarantee of a substantial income) dentistry will FINALLY go ALL private.
The British would be wise to take this step forward rather than heavily subsidize an inefficient and inequitable system.
Related: NHS Dentistry Watch: More Dentists Now, More Dentists Later
Technorati Tags: dentistry, dentist, dental, NHS, National Health Service
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Here Come the Tax Increases
The Los Angeles Times and Dog Trainer has Massive State Bond Possible
- At a cost some peg at $50 billion or more, Schwarzenegger seeks an infrastructure program reminiscent of the Pat Brown era.
Coming off a losing campaign to curb state spending, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is promoting a statewide public works program that may be financed by a bond sale so large it would dwarf previous state borrowings.
The governor hopes to join with Democratic leaders and businesses to address Californians’ growing frustration with clogged roadways, polluted water, hospital shortages, overcrowded schools and, in the wake of the devastation in New Orleans, inadequate disaster preparedness.
“Fifty [billion dollars] to $100 billion wouldn’t be out of the question if we could show voters this would help solve our state’s problems,” said Jim Earp, executive director of the California Alliance for Jobs, an umbrella group for the state’s heavy construction industry.
Business groups acknowledge that the state may not be able to sell such a large bond issue unless lawmakers and voters alike go along with a tax increase to back it up — perhaps a quarter-cent or half-cent sales tax or billions of dollars in new user fees that could affect businesses.
Look for the Republicans in the legislature to block the move for a tax increase.
Look for the Democrats to insist on more social and education spending, before they sign onto the bond issue.
Look for MORE businesses to leave California.
Look for MORE OUT- MIGRATION of the baby boom generation and young families to other states with more reasonable housing costs, less illegal immigration impact costs and lower taxes.
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Alliance for Jobs, California bond issue, California
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France Riot Watch: France Extends State of Emergency for Three Months
A woman walks past a primary school damaged when rioters rammed a car into its gate then set the building on fire, in the southern city of Toulouse, Monday, Nov 13, 2005. Youths set schools ablaze and torched cars as scattered arson attacks persisted across France and the government extended the country’s state of emergency by three months on Monday.The ASSociated Press has France Set to Extend State of Emergency
The French Cabinet approved a bill Monday to extend the country’s state of emergency for three months, while youths set schools ablaze and waged other scattered arson attacks across France.
Though the unrest is abating, the bill, if approved by parliament as expected, would allow a 12-day state of emergency to be prolonged until mid-February if needed. The emergency measures empower regions to impose curfews on minors, conduct house searches and take other steps to prevent unrest.
“It is a measure of protection and precaution,”President Jacques Chirac said.
Chirac stressed that the measure was “temporary” and that regional officials would use it “only where it is strictly necessary.” About 40 French towns, including France’s third-largest city, Lyon, have used the measure to put curfews for minors into effect.
Overnight, the number of car-torchings — a barometer of the unrest — dropped again, with youths setting fire to 284 vehicles, compared with 374 the previous night, police said Monday. There were no clashes between police and rioters.
“The lull is confirmed,” national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said. A week ago, 1,400 cars were burned in a single night.
As the violence wains in which direction will the French government turn?
Deportation of the foreign youths or their families?
From Sunday to Monday, 115 people were taken into custody, police said. Since the beginning of the unrest, 2,767 people have been arrested.
The French Federation of Insurance Companies gave a preliminary estimate for the total damage from the rioting — up to $234 million, including more than $23 million for torched cars.
Chirac is to make a televised statement later in the day.
Stay tuned………
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Day by Day by Chris Muir
