NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST - September 12, 2008

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

-Obama Plans Sharper Tone as Party Frets
Senator Barack Obama is planning more forceful attacks as he confronts an invigorated G.O.P. ticket.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12obama.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

-In First Big Interview, Palin Says, 'I'm Ready'
Sarah Palin said she agreed to John McCain's offer without hesitation, perhaps her most confident answer in an interview that was at times tense and probing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/us/politics/12palin.html?hp

-Scary, Isn't She?
Protect your sons - Jaime Nared is on the court. What happens when a 12-year-0ld girl is just a little too good. [...] Until this past spring, Jaime had been quietly going about her life, as unnoticed as a mocha-skinned 6-foot-1 12-year-old can be in predominantly white Portland, Ore. It was then that she found herself at the center of a controversy about sports and gender: she'd been kicked off a boys' basketball team for being too good.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/sports/playmagazine/0914play-NARED.html?hp

-Zimbabwe Rivals Strike a Bargain to Share Power
...but it was still far from clear how the bitter foes would divide the authority to govern.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/world/africa/12zimbabwe.html?hp

-Anything Goes, Apparently
Corruption is inevitable when former lobbyists are appointed to top posts at the Department of the Interior to regulate the very industries they used to represent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12fri1.html?ref=opinion

-Blizzard of Lies
PAUL KRUGMAN
Anyone with an Internet connection can disprove many assertions of the McCain campaign. Did you hear about how Barack Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, and called Sarah Palin a pig? Did you hear about how Ms. Palin told Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks" when it wanted to buy Alaska a Bridge to Nowhere? These stories have two things in common: they're all claims recently made by the McCain campaign - and they're all out-and-out lies. Dishonesty is nothing new in politics. [...] But I can't think of any precedent, at least in America, for the blizzard of lies since the Republican convention.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12krugman.html?ref=opinion

-The Origins of the Universe: A Crash Course
After more than a decade of development and construction, the Large Hadron Collider was switched on this week. So what can we expect?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12greene.html?ref=opinion

-Nick Saban's Fine Print
The lucrative contracts of college football coaches like Nick Saban of the University of Alabama shed light on how the United States needs to readjust its priorities. [...] I wonder why we need any more studies showing our nation's education system to be in the tank when all you have to do is attend a college football game.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12bissinger.html?ref=opinion

-As Options Fade, Lehman Is Said to Seek a Buyer
While the Treasury Department and the Fed were working to broker an orderly sale, it was unclear whether the Fed would stand behind any deal. [...] In each case, the suitors are seeking help from the Federal Reserve to help make an acquisition palatable. They want the Fed to guarantee a part of Lehman's troubled assets, these people said, similar to the way it backstopped the emergency sale of another foundering bank, Bear Stearns, in March.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/business/12lehman.html?hp

-Would-Be Protesters Find the Olympics Failed to Expand Free Speech in Beijing
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/sports/olympics/12china.html


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

-A Corner Office for Palin
Lehman Brothers, one of America's most venerable and trusted investment banks, is floundering, and according to news reports this afternoon, desperately seeking a buyer. [...] So how about Sarah Palin? Some may complain she has no experience running a major financial institution, but if the polls are right, many Americans believe that her lack of experience isn't fair game.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2008/09/a_corner_office_for_palin.html

-The Scream Machine
There was a time when Republicans campaigned on their ideas, programs and values. This year -- lacking ideas, programs or values -- John McCain and Sarah Palin are running for the White House on an elaborate fictional narrative of victimhood. Their supposed persecutors are Democrats and the news media, and the aim of this whole charade is to keep Americans from talking about ideas, programs and values.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091102839.html

-Yes for an Answer
Why Congress should expedite approval of the U.S.-India nuclear accord. A HISTORIC agreement to restore nuclear power cooperation between the United States and India is almost a done deal. Having faced down serious challenges from the left and right, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has secured ratification from his parliament. India and the International Atomic Energy Agency have agreed to new safeguards for Indian civilian nuclear plants. Last weekend, the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group granted New Delhi a waiver permitting it to purchase fuel and technology despite its failure to ratify the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Now all that's left is for Congress to give its approval.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103099.html

-Out of Gas
Partisan sniping keeps Congress from getting anything done on energy.
CONGRESS expended a lot of energy debating how to solve the energy crisis before running off for summer recess for five weeks. It ended up accomplishing nothing. Now Congress is back and seemingly ready for more of the same. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will present an energy bill next week that would expand offshore drilling. But Republicans rejected the legislation on the basis of the outlines Ms. Pelosi released Tuesday. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) will hold hearings today with an eye to bringing energy bills to a vote sometime next week. But don't expect anything to happen.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103100.html

-Palin Links Iraq to 9/11 Attacks
In address to Iraq-bound troops, GOP's VP nominee expresses a view now discarded by White House.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103789.html?hpid=topnews

-Texans Warned of 'Certain Death'
Residents of coastal areas and parts of Houston evacuate as as Hurricane Ike strengthens. [...] "Preparations to protect life and property . . . should be rushed to completion," the weather service said in a 4 a.m. update that placed the storm about 265 miles southeast of Galveston, moving northwest at about 13 mph. Ike remains a Category 2 hurricane with maximum winds around 105 mph, but it may build to a Category 3, with winds up to 130 mph, by the time it makes landfall late tonight or early Saturday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091101825.html?hpid=topnews

-FBI Agents to Get New Powers
Changes will loosen rules requiring a supervisor's approval before
conducting an investigation. [...] The changes would give the FBI's more than 12,000 agents the ability at a much earlier stage to conduct physical surveillance, solicit informants and interview friends of people they are investigating without the approval of a bureau supervisor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103306.html?hpid=topnews

-Ailing Auto Industry Lobbies Congress for Loans
General Motors chief executive G. Richard Wagoner Jr. has been selling cars for a long time, but his pitch today in Washington will be one of his most urgent. He will try to convince lawmakers that the country's homegrown automakers deserve help from the government as they prepare to build more hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars for a radically different market.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103466.html?hpid=sec-business

-Judge Limits Searches Using Cellphone Data
The government must obtain a warrant based on probable cause of criminal activity before directing a wireless provider to turn over records that show where customers used their cellphones, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, in the first opinion by a federal district court on the issue.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103292.html?hpid=moreheadlines

-Pakistan Did Not Agree to New Rules, Officials Say
New rules of engagement authorizing U.S. ground attacks inside Pakistan, signed by President Bush in July, were not agreed to by that country's civilian government or its military, according to U.S. and Pakistani officials.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103811.html?hpid=moreheadlines

-India Set to Lose Voice of America
After 53 Years, Radio Service Will End
The news is unwelcome indeed for several dozen "VOA listeners clubs" in small towns and villages across India, where radio is still a part of daily life. People there have no Internet, cable television or even reliable electricity. But they have radio. [...] VOA is the largest American broadcaster, reaching a global audience of 134 million by radio, TV and Internet in 45 languages. In India, the VOA Hindi service attracts a weekly audience of more than 8 million people.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103305.html?hpid=sec-world

-McCain's 'Education' Spot Is Dishonest, Deceptive
A new John McCain ad caricatures Barack Obama's education record by claiming that his only achievement is to pass legislation ensuring "comprehensive sex education" for kindergartners. It implies that its critique of the Democratic presidential nominee has been endorsed by the nonpartisan journal Education Week, when in fact it is a hodgepodge of quotes from a variety of sources stitched together to form a highly partisan political attack.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/10/AR2008091003838.html?hpid=sec-education

-National Security: War with Russia? Palin Talks Foreign Policy with ABC
GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin said today the Ukraine and Georgia should join NATO, even at the risk of antagonizing Russia and forcing the United States into a war with the nuclear-armed nation. She added that the United States should "show support" for Georgia by possibly imposing "economic sanctions" on Russia.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/11/war_with_russia_palin_talks_fo.html?hpid=sec-politics


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

-Houston decides to stare down Ike instead of leave
As a gigantic Hurricane Ike steamed through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coast, officials in America's fourth-largest city made a bold decision: Instead of fleeing, most residents here would stare down the storm.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hurricane-ike-0912-8am,0,2970060.story

-Ike Tracking Map
http://weather.sun-sentinel.com/tropical/tracking/at200809_5day.html

-Florida: Dad chases naked teen from daughter's room with pipe
An angry Deltona father whacked his teenage daughter's boyfriend with a metal pipe after finding the boy naked in his daughter's room. Authorities say Raul Colon, 45, didn't even know his daughter had a boyfriend or that the youngster had been sneaking into the home for more than a year. When he heard noises coming from his daughter's bedroom Thursday morning and saw a stranger standing naked on the girl's bed, he swung a metal pipe. He then chased the teen out the front door and called police. The boy was taken to the hospital where doctors closed a head wound with staples.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-0912dad-chase,0,3914128.story

-House Democrats oil drilling plan a sham
Call the House Democratic oil drilling proposal what it is, a sham. The "compromise" Speaker Nancy Pelosi is offering is no compromise. It's a cave-in to the very Big Oil interests Democrats have been berating.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editafoilshamsbsep12,0,4067151.story


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Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Hugo Chavez says U.S. ambassador must leave
President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. ambassador has 72 hours to leave Venezuela and that he's recalling his ambassador from Washington.
http://www.miamiherald.com/579/story/683025.html

-Poll: Biden seen as more qualified than Palin; race tied
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/52315.html


-GOP campaign downplays Palin book-banning inquiry
The McCain campaign is defending Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's much-criticized inquiry into banning books at her hometown library, saying her questions were only hypothetical.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/683429.html


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Very interesting video.
Want some perspective on the world's population as it relates to the United States? Contact rays.list@comcast.net and we'll send you the video attachment. Very revealing!


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"Neighbor to Neighbor" Program--
The Democratic National Committee has done a scientific experiment studying the various ways of increasing voter conversion --
..robocalls
..personal calls
..mailings
..multiple mailings
..neighbor to neighbor contact.
All methods except one generated only a 1 or 2% increase in voter participation.
The ONE METHOD that increased voter participation the most, 12%,was neighbors knocking on neighbors doors--
..mailers affect 1 in 400 voters
..phone calls affect 1in 50 voters
..face to face contact - connects 1 in 12
"Neighbor to Neighbor" Program--
All you do is log in to MY.BARACKOBAMA.COM/VOTERCONTACT and follow thedirections from there. They will help you print out a walk list of 20undecided voters who live near you (there is a flyer too). Then you knockon each person's door and ask them where they stand and record theirresponses so we can get them out to vote in November if they are a strongsupporter, try to persuade them further if they are undecided or just leavethem alone if they are not supporting. You don't have to do it all atonce. You can do it an hour at a time in the evenings or whenever you getsome free time. If someone isn't home, just come back another time untilyou have talked to all 20 people on your list. You can input your data atany time, you don't have to wait until you get to all 20 people. The nexttime you log in and click on the "NEIGHBOR to NEIGHBOR" button, you will seea button labeled "Report Voter Contacts" at the top of the screen. Justclick on that button and report your data for each person. And then, pleasesign up for more contacts if you can. For more training on door knocking seeour training program
http://victory-2008.com/knockknock/


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McCain-Palin TV ad accuses Obama of being "disrespectful" of Palin, but itLies
Check With FactCheck.org
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/belittling_palin.html


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

-Palin sounds hawkish note in ABC interview
In her first televised interview since being unexpectedly tapped as JohnMcCain's running mate and instantly becoming the dominant story of thecampaign, Sarah Palin sounded a hawkish line on national security mattersranging from Iran to Russia to Pakistan. Palin defended her minimal foreignpolicy background by citing a strong familiarity with energy issues so keyto her home state, but also sought to frame her inexperience in a positivelight.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13393.html

-'Jim Crawford' Republicans
The GOP is working to keep eligible African-Americans from voting in severalstates. It was a mainstay of Jim Crow segregation: for 100 years after theCivil War, Southern white Democrats kept eligible blacks from voting withpoll taxes, literacy tests and property requirements. Starting in the 1960s,the U.S. Supreme Court declared these assaults on the heart of Americandemocracy unconstitutional.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/158392

-Bill Clinton's advice to Barack Obama
There they were in Harlem Thursday, the 42nd president and the Democrat who hopes to be the 44th, for a two-hour lunch hour chat at Bill Clinton's office. It is not at all clear that Barack Obama particularly wants Clinton's advice about how to win the presidency - after all, he kept the former president at a cool distance, with just occasional phone calls, for months-but many Democrats believe it is increasingly clear that he could use it.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13394.html

-How Did Palin Do? Two Views
On a day when people paused and prayed, when Barack Obama joined John McCainat ground zero and made peace with Bill Clinton over lunch, when the adswere stilled and the e-mails sheathed just for a while, GOPvice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin held a peace conference of her ownwith the mainstream media when she sat down with ABC News anchor CharlesGibson in Fairbanks, Alaska.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1840710,00.html

-What small-town America is saying about Obama
In diners and mobile homes from New Mexico to North Carolina, I listened toworking-class people try to make sense of a black president named Barack.With less than two months until voting day, there are doubts hanging overBarack Obama's campaign -- and they aren't just due to Alaska's topmoose-hunting hockey mom jolting the race and electrifying the Republicanfaithful. Although Obama has touted himself as a post-racial candidate,whether America is ready to elect a black man for president remains a vexingquestion for his supporters. In a tight national race, Obama continues struggling to gain wider support, particularly among white working-class voters and independents in battleground states.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/12/obama_doubts/index.html

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