NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST - September 02, 2008

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New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Spared a Direct Hit, New Orleans Exhales
This nearly deserted city appeared to have escaped threats of full-scaledevastation on Monday when Hurricane Gustav came ashore 70 miles to thesouthwest, bearing winds and rain far less formidable than earlier forecast.The storm smashed through the bayou country of rural Louisiana, raisingfears of widespread coastal erosion and damage to fishing villages thatstate officials were unable to confirm Monday evening. But before makinglandfall, it was downgraded from a Category 3 hurricane to Category 2 whenits winds slowed to 110 miles per hour, from 115 m.p.h., and state officialssaid they believed that their worst fears had not been realized.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/02gustav.html?hp

-Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process
A series of disclosures about Gov. Sarah Palin, Senator John McCain's choiceas running mate, called into question on Monday how thoroughly Mr. McCainhad examined her background before putting her on the Republicanpresidential ticket.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02vetting.html?hp

-News Analysis: In Political Realm, 'Family Problem' Emerges as Test
For at least the time being, Gov. Sarah Palin appears to have survived theinitial test after the disclosure that her unmarried teenage daughter waspregnant. Republican delegates rallied around her on Monday, saying thedisclosure would not threaten her hopes of being Senator John McCain'srunning mate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02assess.html?hp

-Op-Ed Columnist: What the Palin Pick Says
John McCain is not a normal conservative. He has instincts, but few abstract convictions about the proper size of government. He's a traditionalist, butis not energized by the social conservative agenda. As Rush Limbaughunderstands, but the Democrats apparently do not, a McCain administrationwould not be like a Bush administration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02brooks.html?ref=opinion

-Op-Ed Columnist: Head for the High Road
The Democrats need to be careful about the intensity of their criticism ofSarah Palin. She may look like an easy target, an appalling lightweight whowill send serious voters scurrying to the more substantive Obama-Bidenticket. And the temptation to get on her case probably became greater withMs. Palin's disclosure Monday that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02herbert.html?ref=opinion

-Editorial: An Even Poorer World
There is a lot more poverty in the world than previously thought. The WorldBank reported in August that in 2005, there were 1.4 billion people livingbelow the poverty line - that is, living on less than $1.25 a day.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/opinion/02tue3.html?ref=opinion

-A New Twist in the Debate Over Mothers
When Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska was introduced as a vice-presidential pick, she was presented as a magnet for female voters, the epitome of every mom appeal. But since then, as mothers across the country supervise the season's final water fights and pack book bags, some have voiced the kind of doubtsthat few male pundits have dared raise on television. With five children,including an infant with Down syndrome and, as the country learned Monday, apregnant 17-year-old, Ms. Palin has set off a fierce argument among womenabout whether there are enough hours in the day for her to take on the vicepresidency, and whether she is right to try.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/02mother.html


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Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-How Many Americans?
When the Census Bureau released its new population projections last month,most of the media focused on the country's changing racial composition. Butthis was almost certainly not the most important finding. The projectionsshow that the U.S. population will grow by 135 million in just 42 years -- a44 percent increase. Such growth would have profound implications for ourenvironment and quality of life. Most of the increase would be a directresult of one federal policy -- immigration. If we reduced the level ofimmigration, the projections would be much lower. The question we have toask ourselves is: Do we want to be a much more densely settled country?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090101714.html

-Understanding Russia
Moscow's aggression is aimed not at Georgia's territory but at Europe's newdemocracies. THERE WAS a telling juxtaposition of headlines from Russiayesterday. On one side you had President Dmitry Medvedev claiming a "sphereof influence" outside Russian borders and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovwarning the West not to arm Georgia. On the other side, you had the murderof Magomed Yevloyev, a journalist whose independence had angered thegovernment. He was arrested, shot in the head by police while riding in theback of a police car, and dumped by the side of the road.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102592.html

-Would You Do That to Your Daughter?
As I tried to make my way through St. Paul today - protesters managed tomake driving, or even walking, anywhere pretty much impossible - people Iran into were asking one question: Is Sarah Palin doing what's best for herdaughter?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/09/_as_i_tried_to.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

-Protester's Mother Pays Price
Police Focus on 73-Year-Old After Son's Actions During Games
During the Olympics, China quashed all applications from people hoping todemonstrate in officially sanctioned "protest pens." Police also stoppedprotests by foreigners sympathetic to the pro-Tibet movement. But oneChinese man succeeded at breaking through the security dragnet, protestingbriefly in Ritan Park with his young son and a sign that read, "ShandongHuimin County government illegally sold my grandmother's house and took awaythe money!"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102351.html?hpid=sec-world

-Dalai Lama discharged from Indian hospital
The Dalai Lama's spokesman says the Tibetan spiritual leader has beendischarged from the hospital where he has been undergoing tests forabdominal discomfort. Tenzin Takla says the Dalai Lama was dischargedMonday morning, but will remain in Mumbai for several days. Takla says he isin good condition but doctors have advised him to rest as much as possible.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090100068.html?hpid=sec-religion

-THE CYNICISM EXPRESS
We learned last week that John McCain is not who he is -- not, at least, whohe claims to be. The steady, straight-talking, country-first statesman hiscampaign has been selling is a fictional character. The real McCain iseither alarmingly cynical or dangerously reckless.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090101716.html


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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-India rushes doctors to flood areas to prevent disease outbreaks after 1.2 million displaced
SAHARSA DISTRICT, India (AP) _ Indian authorities rushed doctors and medical equipment to flood-devastated northern India on Monday to ward off outbreaksof disease among the hundreds of thousands of victims crowding relief camps,officials said.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-india-monsoon-flooding,0,4650164.story

-More elderly Americans being forced into bankruptcy
First came the health problems. Then, unable to work, Ada Noda watched thebills pile up. And then, suffocating in debt, the 80-year-old did somethingshe never thought she'd be forced to do. She declared bankruptcy. Whilethe bankruptcy filing rate for those younger than 55 has fallen, it hassoared for older Americans, according to a new analysis from the ConsumerBankruptcy Project, which examined a sampling of noncommercial bankruptciesfiled between 1991 and 2007.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzseniors0902sbsep02,0,1197151.story


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South Florida Blade
http://www.floridablade.com/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Palin supported by Republicans as gay-friendly
Log Cabin Republicans support VP pick, despite poor record on GLBT issues
http://www.floridablade.com/


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Forwarded from Ron Mills
precinct114r@yahoo.com

1: Palin supports gunning down wolves from planes
2: Palin doesn't believe global warming is man-made
3: Palin is the candidate of powerful far right-wing cabal; her nominationseals their support for the little-wanted McCain
4: Palin staunchly opposes abortion, even in cases of rape and incest
5: Palin takes unnecessary risks with the health of her own child, supportsfailed abstinence-only programs
6: Palin is under investigation for allegedly abusing her power as governorto help her sister in a messy divorce
7: Palin lied about her plans for the "Bridge to Nowhere"
8: A so-called political reformer, Palin has big money ties to Alaska Sen.Ted Stevens, who has been indicted for political corruption9: Palin exploits her son's Iraq service for political gain10: During her time as mayor, Palin drove a town deep into debtContact rays.list@comcast.net for the full article


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-McCain: A roll-the-dice commander
The world has been moving John McCain's way over the past year. The successof the "surge" in Iraq has helped his cause. So has the Russian invasion ofGeorgia. On both issues, the Republican candidate for the presidency tookpositions that now look prescient and courageous.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2f78b52e-7827-11dd-acc3-0000779fd18c,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F2f78b52e-7827-11dd-acc3-0000779fd18c%2Cs01%3D1.html%3Fnclick_check%3D1&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Ffortreport.com%2F&nclick_check=1

-Protests at GOP gathering result in 284 arrests
Sporadic violence broke out as thousands of protesters marched on theRepublican National Convention on Monday, chanting for an end to the war inIraq and demanding Republicans be denied the White House in November'selection. Members of the Connecticut delegation were roughed up in oneincident. Mary Jerde, a spokeswoman for the St. Paul Joint InformationCenter, said 284 arrests had been made by late Monday.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-01-protest_N.htm?csp=34

-Restore unions' right to organize, bargain
While it hasn't gotten much attention, one of the most important issues thatour November elections could decide is the future of organized labor in theUnited States. This is important not just for the 15.7 million workers whohappen to be in unions but for the vast majority of the entire 154-millionmember U.S. labor force.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/story/667136.html

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