NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST February 14, 2008

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Time to Vote Contempt
If Congress fails to enforce its own subpoenas, it would be giving its tacitconsent to the dangerous idea of an imperial president.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/opinion/14thu1.html?ref=opinion
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Notes From a Caucus
Democrats are having an exciting race for the presidential nomination, whichalways means trouble.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/opinion/14collins.html?ref=opinion
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When We Torture
America spends millions of dollars bolstering public diplomacy to theIslamic world - and then undoes it all with Guantánamo Bay.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/opinion/14kristof.html?ref=opinion
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House Cites 2 Bush Aides for Contempt
The resolution cites Harriet E. Miers, the former White House counsel, andJoshua B. Bolten, the president's chief of staff, for refusing to testifyabout the firing of federal officials.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/washington/14cnd-contempt.html?hp
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Scientists Find Solar System Like Ours
Astronomers say they have found a miniature version of our own solar system5,000 light years across the galaxy - the first planetary system that reallylooks like our own, with outer giant planets and room for smaller innerplanets.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/science/space/14cnd-planet.html?hp
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'Choking' Game Deaths on the Rise
At least 82 children have died in recent years as a result of playing the"choking" game, a bizarre but increasingly common practice, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. The game, which involvesintentionally trying to choke oneself to create a brief high, has beenaround for years, but it appears to be spreading.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/choking-game-deaths-on-the-rise/index.html?hp
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Judge Asks Details on Destroyed Evidence
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Bushadministration to tell him whether two CIA interrogation videos destroyed in2005 were relevant to his case. The videos showed the CIA using harshinterrogation methods on two terrorism suspects, but the government has notrevealed what information was gleaned from that questioning. The JusticeDepartment has urged judges not to demand information about the tapes,saying it would interfere with an investigation into their destruction.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-CIA-Videotapes.html
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Washington Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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President, GOP Rebuke House Dems on Spy Bill
Capitol Briefing | Bush says he is prepared to delay his trip to Africa inorder to press Democrats to approve surveillance law.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/?hpid=topnews
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Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime
How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to HelpConsumers. Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involvedin consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range ofpredatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresentingthe terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability torepay, making loans with deceptive "teaser" rates that later balloonedastronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or evenpaying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were havinga devastating effect on home buyers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html
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Time for Legislating
President Bush should allow Congress to fine-tune legislation onsurveillance. CONGRESS has been struggling for months to resolvedisagreements over how to overhaul the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Actand whether to grant immunity to communications companies that cooperated inthe administration's warrantless wiretapping. The Senate and House have nowpassed competing versions of a measure that would bring such surveillanceunder the authority of the special court that oversees the administration ofthe FISA law, as it should be.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303103.html
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U.S. Plans to Shoot Down Broken Spy Satellite
President Bush, acting on the advice of his national security advisers, hasdecided to attempt to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite that isexpected to crash to the Earth by early next month. National SecurityCouncil spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the president made the decisionrecently and asked the military to come up with plans to destroy thesatellite -- the first attempted shoot-down of its kind.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021401704.html?hpid=topnews
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Scientists: Human Activities Affecting World's Oceans
Human activities are affecting every square mile of the world's oceans,according to a study by a team of American, British and Canadian researcherswho mapped the severity of the effects from pole to pole.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021401992.html?hpid=topnews
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Divided Turkey Debates Rights, Religion
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Turkey's leader, a devout Muslim, talks a lot aboutmorality these days. It's language that alarms secular Turks, who fear thegovernment plans to make religion a part of their lives.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302618.html?hpid=sec-religion
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Archbishop Objects to Clinton Rally
SAN ANTONIO -- Archbishop Jose Gomez complained Wednesday about plans for arally by Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, an abortion rights supporter, at a Catholic university.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302714.html?hpid=sec-religion
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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:
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Obama camp cries foul over Clinton stance in Florida
Barack Obama's campaign criticized Hillary Clinton for wanting Florida andMichigan delegates to be included. After eight losses in a row and novictories in sight this month, Hillary Clinton's campaign renewed callsWednesday for the votes in Florida and Michigan to count toward delegatesthat would help her catch Barack Obama.
http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/418611.html
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Neither party can resist pork's allure
A database finds little appetite for reforming federal spending. WASHINGTON - As Republicans in Congress try to regain the high ground onfederal pork and use the issue to embarrass the Democrats, they are runninginto a stubborn fact:
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/14/Worldandnation/Neither_party_can_res.shtml
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Eavesdrop law may lapse amid impasse
WASHINGTON - Broad spying powers temporarily approved by Congress in Augustappear likely to lapse this week after a daylong game of chicken yesterdaybetween the White House and House Democrats produced no clear resolution.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/02/14/eavesdrop_law_may_lapse_amid_impasse/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z
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Don't supersede voters
The Democrats' nominee should be chosen by party faithful, not a smallnumber of elite delegates.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-delegates14feb14,0,4802657.story?track=rss
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Obama Extends Delegate Lead
(AP) Sen. Barack Obama extended his lead in the delegate race Wednesday,thanks to a few new endorsements and more complete results from Tuesday'sprimaries.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/13/ap/politics/main3829017.shtml
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Republicans Focus On McCain Atop Ticket
Congressional Republicans Grapple With Idea Of McCain At Top Of Ticket
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/13/ap/politics/main3829008.shtml
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Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:
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Economic Discontent Deepens As Inflation Concerns Rise
Public views of the U.S. economy, already quite negative, have plummetedsince January. Just 17% currently rate the nation's economy as excellent orgood, down from 26% last month. Read moreCampaign Messages
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Voter Reaction: Not Ready to Lead vs. Hard to Like
While Democrats and independents who lean Democratic believe Clinton isprepared to lead, Obama has a clear lead on three positive campaign themes:change, inspiration, and honesty.
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Media Messages: Great Expectations
The presidential campaign again dominated news coverage but the journalisticnarratives were not really the ones for which any of the remainingcandidates were probably hoping.
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Web Worries Online Shopping Convenient but Risky
Two-thirds (66%) of online Americans have purchased a product online, butmany worry about the safety of financial and personal data.
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Making Tracks on the Web
Many Americans are jumping into the participatory Web without consideringall the privacy implications.
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The Daily Number - 16% - Don't Be My Valentine
Only a tiny percentage (16%) of single American adults say they are activelyseeking a romantic partner. Some 55% of singles report no active interest inseeking a romantic partner. Check back every weekday for another number inthe news. Read more
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