NATIONAL & WORLD DIGEST - September 13, 2008

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

-Huge Storm Slams Into Coast of Texas
Millions Near Coast Have Fled
Hurricane Ike made landfall at Galveston, Tex., as it threatened todevastate towns along the Gulf of Mexico with a wall of seawater 20 feethigh.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/13ike.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

-McCain Barbs Stirring Outcry as Distortions
Senator John McCain has drawn criticism for stretching the truth inattacking Senator Barack Obama's positions. [...] Those attacks followedweeks in which Mr. McCain repeatedly, and incorrectly, asserted that Mr.Obama would raise taxes on the middle class, even though analysts say hewould cut taxes on the middle class more than Mr. McCain would, andmisrepresented Mr. Obama's positions on energy and health care. [...] AMcCain advertisement called "Fact Check" was itself found to be "less thanhonest" by FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan group.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/us/politics/13mccain.html?hp

-Gov. Palin's Worldview
EDITORIAL: If John McCain seriously thought Gov. Sarah Palin was qualifiedto be president, it raises profound questions about his judgment. [...]This nation has suffered through eight years of an ill-prepared andunblinkingly obstinate president. One who didn't pause to think before hestarted a disastrous war of choice in Iraq. One who blithely looked theother way as the Taliban and Al Qaeda regrouped in Afghanistan. One whoobstinately cut taxes and undercut all efforts at regulation, unleashingtoday's profound economic crisis. In a dangerous world, Americans need apresident who knows that real strength requires serious thought andpreparation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13sat1.html?ref=opinion

-She's Not Ready
BOB HERBERT
With Gov. Sarah Palin, it's not about agreeing or disagreeing with her onthe issues. It is that she doesn't appear to understand the importantissues. [...] I've gotten the scary feeling, for the first time in mylife, that dimwittedness is not just on the march in the U.S., but that itmight actually prevail. [...] not selecting a winner on "American Idol."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13herbert.html?ref=opinion

-Europe's Problem
Until Europe stands together with the United States against Moscow'sbullying, Russia's leaders will feel little pressure to change theirbehavior toward Georgia.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13sat2.html?ref=opinion
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The Spirit of Public Service
The calling for more Americans to engage in national service by thepresidential candidates on Sept. 11 strikes a hopeful chord.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/opinion/13sat3.html?ref=opinion

-No Laughing Matter
"You can stand on my wagon, if you want." I tend, when I'm not in bigcrowds, to forget that I'm short. In Republican crowds, I find, I feelparticularly small. And dark. And unsmiling. And uncoiffed, unmade-up andinappropriately dressed.
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/no-laughing-matter/index.html?ref=opinion

-U.S. Gives Banks Urgent Warning to Solve Crisis
Three top officials convened the heads of Wall Street's biggest investmentbanks for an emergency meeting to impress upon them the need to find a planto rescue Lehman Brothers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/business/13rescue.html?hp

-Judge Dismisses Corruption Charges Against Leader of South Africa's Ruling Party
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa - A High Court judge here on Friday ruledthat the government had mishandled the prosecution of Jacob Zuma, the leaderof the governing party, setting aside the charges in a corruption case thathas gripped this nation's attention for years and clearing the way - atleast temporarily - for Mr. Zuma to become South Africa's next president.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/world/africa/13zuma.html

-U.S. Says It Will Oust Venezuela Envoy, and Names 2 Officials as RebelBackers
CARACAS, Venezuela - The United States stepped up the diplomatic skirmishwith its left-wing adversaries in Latin America on Friday, saying it wouldexpel the Venezuelan ambassador and declaring that Venezuela's top twointelligence officials had supported the "narco-terrorist activities" ofrebels in the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/world/americas/13venez.html


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

-Ike Affects Oil, Gas Industries
Strategists have renewed fears for U.S.'s own supplies, their vulnerabilityto Mother Nature.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091202240.html?hpid=topnews

-Obama Campaign Begins Counterattack
Sen. Barack Obama and his campaign launched a promised counterpunch againstSen. John McCain on Friday, portraying him as an aging, out-of-touchpolitician who would cater to "fat-cat" lobbyists and continue PresidentBush's economic policies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091201259.html?hpid=topnews

-Emerging Economies Feel Pinch
U.S. market downturn now cooling red-hot growth of China, India and otherdeveloping nations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091203631.html?hpid=topnews

-Facing Up to Rape in Afghanistan
Rape is an endemic problem in Afghanistan. Whether women are forced intoarranged marriages as child brides, or attacked by family members or localwarlords, they are often held responsible for their own victimization. Afghan culture views a woman's virginity as sacrosanct, but Afghan lawrarely gives her the chance to defend herself. Many women are thrown out oftheir families following, or even jailed.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/islamsadvance/2008/09/facing_up_to_rape_in_afghanist.html

-Why They Pander to Christian Voters
Now that Sarah Palin's nomination has turned America into one big JerrySpringer show, it's time for Christians (yes, that also means you JohnMcCain and Barack Obama) to take a deep breath, say a quiet prayer (howabout the Jesus Unity Prayer?) and think about how we became such easy marksfor pandering, "divide-and-conquer" political consultants.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/09/why_they_pander_to_christian_v.html

-Regulator Sets Pay Conditions For Mortgage Giants' Leaders
The regulator that seized control of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae andFreddie Mac has set the conditions for limiting payment to departingexecutives.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091203330.html?hpid=sec-business

-Alaska Lawmakers Vote to Subpoena Todd Palin
The abuse of power investigation against Sarah Palin, Alaska governor andRepublican vice presidential candidate, took a potentially ominous turn forher party on Friday when state lawmakers voted to subpoena her husband.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091201975.html?hpid=sec-nation

-Drone Attack Said to Kill 12 in Pakistan
Suspected U.S. Strike Could Increase Tensions Over Actions in Tribal Areas
At least 12 people were killed in northwest Pakistan on Friday in a suspected U.S. airstrike that Pakistani intelligence officials and experts said could aggravate tensions with the United States over military operations in the region.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091200124.html?hpid=sec-world


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

-Just one month left to qualify for stimulus checks
You've got one more month, if you're hoping to receive an economic stimuluspayment from the federal government but you haven't yet filed an income-taxreturn. The IRS will accept tax returns through Oct. 15. The return is thekey that will tell the government that you qualify for the one-time payment,even if you weren't required to file a tax return for 2007. Doing thislittle chore could pay off. The economic stimulus payments can be as much as$600 per person or $1,200 for married couples.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzhlptax0913sbsep13,0,7209184.story

-Hurricane Ike's storm surge is less than expected
As the hurricane weakens to a Category 1, the National Weather Servicereports that the anticipated surges of up to 25 feet won't happen.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hurricane-ike-0913-8am,0,3297741.story

-Pakistan backs off threats against cross-border US raids, says it wantsdiplomatic solution
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) _ Pakistan is backing off suggestions it mightconfront U.S. troops making raids into its territory in search of Islamicmilitants, saying Saturday it will deal diplomatically with Washington overthe stepped-up tactics.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-pakistan,0,5708924.story


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

-Pictures: Ike slams Texas
http://www.miamiherald.com/photogalleries/gallery/685031.html

-Pictures: Louisiana Floods
http://www.miamiherald.com/photogalleries/gallery/685034.html?number=2

-Palin could rob McCain of Jewish vote
BETH REINHARD
John McCain has a strong chance of siphoning votes from Jewish Democrats whonever voted for a Republican in their lives -- if his new running mate doesn't get in the way.
http://www.miamiherald.com/423/story/684750.html

-Morales, Chávez resort to tired tactics
Presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia seethemselves as emblems of a new, resurgent Latin America, but when they're introuble they fall back on the shopworn practices of yesteryear -- ''Yankee,go home!'' The expulsions of the U.S. ambassadors from their respectivecountries this week show that these two demagogues have run out of ideas indealing with political tensions at home.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/684718.html


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Forwarded from Victoria Lavin
Daily Queer News
www.dailyqueernews.com
Go to the links for the following articles:

-[Video] Sarah Palin ABC Interview Charles Gibson Part 1
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/1974/

-[Video] Sarah Palin Interview Charles Gibson Part 2
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/1975/

-[Video] Sarah Palin Interview: What Does a VP do?
http://www.dailyqueernews.com/news/1973/

-Kennedy Introduces New National Service Bill
by: Andrew Miga | The Associated Press | Truthout
Senator Edward M. Kennedy will introduce a national service bill aimed atrecruiting 175,000 Americans to address national problems. Washington -Sen. Edward Kennedy is introducing a major new national service bill aimedat recruiting 175,000 Americans of all ages to tackle national problems suchas health care, education, energy and the environment. It is Kennedy'sfirst major piece of legislation since being diagnosed with a malignantbrain tumor in May. The 76-year-old senator has been working from hisHyannis Port, Mass., home on the "Serve America Act" with Republican Sen.Orrin Hatch of Utah, a longtime friend. Details of the legislation will bepresented Friday at an event in New York City. Kennedy's niece, CarolineKennedy, and Hatch are expected to attend. Aides said the Massachusettssenator did not plan to be at the event. "Time and again we've learned thatlarge numbers of Americans are ready, willing, able, and even eager to beinvolved in service, and that all we have to do is ask them to do so,"Kennedy, D-Mass., said in a statement. "The Serve America Act will ask. Itwill connect every generation through service, and enable them to helptackle a wide range of national challenges, from the dropout crisis thatplagues our schools to the lack of health care in our neediest communitiesto the energy and environmental crises that
threatens our planet."
http://www.truthout.org/article/ted-kennedy-introduces-new-national-service-bill


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Pew Research center
http://pewresearch.org/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Election '08: Stretching Toward Home
The Bounce Effect
There is little doubt that the fall campaign begins in earnest with McCainhaving gained the momentum. How good an indicator is this of where theelectorate is headed on Nov. 4? Read more

-A Palin Prop Up for McCain
While the GOP ticket leader's speech received only modest reviews, hisrunning mate's address was viewed as the highlight of the Republicanconvention and helped boost McCain's public image overall. However, many inthe public still question Palin's qualifications. Read more

-Northern Exposure: Palin Dominates Campaign Coverage
For the first time since the general election campaign began, John McCaingenerated more coverage than Barack Obama. But he was still outshone byanother newsmaker -- his running mate. Read more

-Online Observations
Cloud Computing Gains in Currency
More and more online Americans are accessing data and applications, such asemail and photos, that are stored in cyberspace rather than on their owncomputers. Read more

-Religion in America
Palin Nomination Puts Spotlight on Pentecostals
From the time she was a teenager until 2002, Republican vice presidentialnominee Sarah Palin attended a Pentecostal church , a denomination thatemphasizes such practices as speaking in tongues, prophesying, divinehealing and other miraculous signs of the Holy Spirit. Read more

-Alaskans Less Religious Than Other Americans
GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is a self-described"Bible-believing Christian," but Pew surveys find that Alaskans are lessdevout on average than other Americans. Read more

-Daily Number
6% - Leadership and Gender
While the public rates women as superior to men on a host of issuesassociated with leadership, like honesty and intelligence, a mere 6% saywomen make better leaders than men. Check back every weekday for anothernumber in the news. Read more


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

-McCain fumbles Palin's record on earmark requests
Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Friday defended twodebunked television ads attacking Democrat Barack Obama and claimederroneously that running mate Sarah Palin never sought money for lawmakers'pet projects as Alaska governor. Palin sought $197 million in so-called"earmarks" for 2009. In the previous budget year, she asked for earmarksworth $256 million.
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/09/12/mccain_earmarks_view.html

-GOP Ticket Puts Zealotry First
Let's say that you enjoyed watching last week's Republican NationalConvention on television. Let's say you drank in the almost uniformly whitefaces and the regimented revivalism, you clapped when speakers belittledDemocratic nominee Barack Obama's work organizing impoverished communities,indeed, you cheered with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's zinger,"Drill, baby, drill!"
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/gop_ticket_puts_zealotry_first.html

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