Saturday, June 26 Issue #19

TODAY'S ACTION ALERTS
Oppose HR4547, a bill which seeks to install regressive, draconian mandatory minimum sentences for drug sales to minors.

FEATURED ARTICLES
A Guardian Unlimited journalist provides an amazing look into the daily lives of insurgents in Iraq. Long, but well worth it.

Scott Wilson of the Washington Post offers a view from the eyes of our soldiers in Iraq over the 60-plus days of recent fighting against insurgents.

Jack Ryan drops out of Illinois Senate race as expected.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
American Prospect article looks at the effects of a draft on the U.S. military.

Bill Gates Sr. comments on the G.I. Bill.

The Christian Science Monitor calls out Wal-Mart over its current labor lawsuits.

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"When they took the fourth amendment, I was silent because I don't deal drugs. When they took the sixth amendment, I kept quiet because I know I'm innocent. When they took the second amendment, I said nothing because I don't own a gun. Now they've come for the first amendment, and I can't say anything at all."
-Tim Freeman

TODAY'S BUSHISM
"It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."
-October 24, 2000

BLOG OF THE DAY
SCOTUSblog covers all aspects of Supreme Court proceedings. Check out the site regularly to follow the often complex decisions rendered by SCOTUS.

NEWSWORTHY
John Kerry was in Ohio on Friday, pushing his jobs message.

DRUG WAR UPDATE
Legislation working through the system would lead to arrests of non-impaired drivers who test positive for drug metabolites.

Disconnect between law enforcement and public over War on Drugs is evident in annual poll.

Cats earn their keep....for once.

LINK OF THE DAY
Kos offers proof positive that conservative parties are backing Nader's candidacy.

SITE OF THE DAY
D.C.'s Political Report offers free resources for political maps, parties, and state by state coverage of contributions.

COOL SITE OF THE DAY
Refdesk.com is an enormous clearinghouse for basically any subject you can conceive. From maps and dictionary access to news, advice, and hundreds of other reference resources.

ONLINE VIDEO OF THE DAY
Republicans have lost their minds. Check out this asinine advertisement from the Bush campaign. Click on the video from the campaign homepage. Just when we thought they couldn't get any lower...

CLAPS, SLAPS, AND THE MIDDLE FINGER

Claps go out to Senators from both parties for agreeing on progressive legislation. The Energy Savings Performance Contracting is a measure backed by the Sierra Club and the Teamsters, and should save taxpayers money by using private financing to build energy infrastructure. The ESPC was attached to the defense reauthorization bill which recently passed the Senate. Hopefully, the scattershot House will keep its hands off of this bit of cooperative legislating.


Slaps go to NATO for failing to act quickly on sending additional troops to Afghanistan. Violence continues in many lightly controlled areas, with civilian and military casualties occurring almost daily. If the Bush administration wants Afghanistan to advance toward democracy, it must pressure our allies to contribute additional troops in order to stabilize the chaotic nation.


My Middle Finger advances toward the FEC's general counsel for recommending that TV advertisements for Fahrenheit 9-11 be considered political commercials, meaning they could not air after July 30. Despite the intentions of Citizens United (the direction of my other Middle Finger, the legal wrangling has offered tons of free press for Moore's film.



ANIMAL RIGHTS WATCH

The Terminator wanted animals in shelters to be euthanized sooner....then changed his mind.

CANDIDATE OF THE DAY
Patsy Keever, a Duke University graduate, is seeking the Democratic nomination to face Charles Taylor for the 11th District House seat from NC. Keever is a veteran public school teacher and is seeking a return to liberal representation from the mountainous area. Her primary opponent will be Clyde Morgan, a former candidate for the NC House.

DAILY PHOTO

BUSH LANDS IN IRELAND

TODAY'S POLITICAL CARTOON


HISTORY LESSON
Think you know the real story of Pocahontas? Chief Crazy Horse offers the Powhatan Nation's view.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS
Tami Jordan, recently praised by Bush as an "inspirational person" and "good soul", owes over $300,000 in fines from a 2000 civil case which stemmed from convictions for forgery and theft.