The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/06/30/request_for_lobbyist_database_denied_old_compu ters_blamed/

is reporting that the DOJ is unable to provide documents requested under the freedom of information act.  While this is not an unusual response by this administration, the reason is somewhat novel.

The Bushies are out like crazy trumpeting job growth since last August, claiming they've created 1.4 million jobs.  You gotta wonder if this is starting to impact voters perceptions given some of the latest polling giving Bush some credit for an improved economy.  

Daniel Gross has a very incisive article about the myth of the "jobs recovery"........

Have you read Bob Herbert's editorial today in the NYT?

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/opinion/18HERB.html?th

"President Bush traveled to Youngstown, Ohio, a few weeks ago to talk about health care, and before long he was reprising his complaint about "junk and frivolous" malpractice suits, which he said are discouraging good doctors from practicing medicine"

As usual, the media appears to be misinterpreting a sermon given in Sadr's name.  They are trumpeting Sadr's support for the interim government.  

In the tradition of insuring that Kossacks are more properly informed......

I've been listening to alot of the media coverage of the torture/abuse cases.  And now, with the most recent revelations that the Justice Department was exploring the President's powers to implement torture, I'm wondering if folks think that torture is acceptable under some circumstances?

Many, including Chuck Schummer, are arguing that there are some dire circumstances in which torture is warranted.  Other's claim that it is never warranted.  What to dKos'ers think?

Yes, this is a black and white poll....on purpose.

Daniel Gross writes a slick oil company apologist article today in Slate.  His thesis?  Oil companies are not building greater gasoline refining capacity because of NIMBY in coastal communities.

Bullshit........

I've been thinking about this some for some time.  And this diary entry will probably fall like a boulder in a pond.  But I want to say this publicly, so why not here?

Disclaimer:  I'm from California, and I don't mean to offend any individual.  I'm speaking in big time generalities here......

Captain Josh Rushing discusses his reactions to Arab TV coverage of the war in Iraq, displaying his sensitivity, compassion and patriotism.  How does the Pentagon react?  

Yep.

Shut up Dude!

My own experiences, an earlier diary entry:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/6/4/115644/0496

and a link from the Center for American Progress:

http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_archive_01212004

have confirmed what I've suspected.  Nationwide, industries that are gaining jobs pay 21 percent less than industries that are slashing jobs

Whoopee!

Via Mickey Kaus (of all people)

http://slate.msn.com/id/2101504/

Apparently the GOP convention timing is a problem for Bush in being able to get on some of the state ballots.  The whole story here:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-bush03.html

Why should Bush get a break?  Kerry has to play by the campaign finance consequences of the Dems convention timing.

Well, the SCLM is trumpeting Sistani's endorsement for the newly appointed government in Iraq.  Here's a translation of what he really said.  

Via Juan Cole:

http://www.juancole.com/

Props to Laura Rozen who put this up:

http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200406010827.asp

Hold your nose and read the article.  As she says, except for the "more war" stuff, it's very very interesting.....

I found this article most disturbing.  The numbers of Americans polled who say that torture is a good thing is staggering!

So much for an open honest examination of prisoner abuse:

A US Army sergeant who gave an insider's view of Abu Ghraib prison to the media has lost his security clearance and been disciplined by the military for speaking out, he said today.

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1274&storyid=1389734

I had made this comment in the open thread, but then decided to do some investigation.  According to:

http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/

in the week beginning 5/10/04, there were 17 American soldiers who died in Iraq, and in the week of 5/17/04, 11 soldiers have died (one was in Germany).  That's 28 deaths in two weeks!  The total death toll since the war began is 799.

I keep seeing headlines that so-many-million (sarcasm intended) Sadr militiamen have been killed, but nothing about American deaths.  

Is something going on with the media suppressing the reports of American soldiers deaths?  Seems to me that we used to hear a daily report of American casualties, and that this has stopped of late.  Early in the war, one soldiers death was news.  What's up with this?

Comment?

Dysfunction at the least!

You don't have to be a pro to see this, but I thought it an intersting read:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4972441/site/newsweek/

MSNBC - See No Evil
See No Evil

A political psychologist explains the roles denial, emotion and childhood punishment play in politics

Not just a river in Egypt: Rumsfeld at hearings on the abuse

Ok, this is a rant.  This has been bugging me since 9/11.

I was listening to the Senate Hearings today, and noted that each Senator honored the service of the generals to their country in this great cause....yadda yadda yadda.

But wait a minute.  Aren't these the same folks that have great benefits, terrific pensions and great opportunities in the defense industry?  Did they join the military, and move up the ranks, because they love America?