Newshog 22-12-2004

It's been quite a busy three days. The "torture memos" may be the most damaging scandal to hit America since Watergate, in time. Then again, the story may just disappear over the festive season. Here are some more bits and pieces to remember while you digest the turkey- today's Newshog news briefs.

• The ACLU and an FBI document say Bush directly authorised torture, the White House denies it, says any authorisation came from Defence Dept. Some are sceptical about the White House denial.
  
  
• It seems to be a surprise that Republicans love porn and Republican corporate donors are making fortunes from smut. Does no-one study history any more? It was true for the Victorians too- the biggest public prudes have the wackiest behind-the-door kinks.
  
  
• Gordon Brown gets it right about the left in an interview. "There is a common cause here, the coming together of people who feel, however distantly, the pain of others. People who believe in something bigger than themselves."
  
  
• Senior British MPs return from Iraq saying "We will be there another 10 years." Last week, the estimate was 4 years. It's going up...
  
  
• Ukraine separatists given Russian arms, warns opposition. There are reports that pro-government "thugs" are being supplied with weaponry from a Russian naval base in Crimea.
  
  
• If political pundits claim Red State family values are stronger and fundamentally more moral, then why does a Blue State have the lowest divorce rate in the nation?
  
  
• Big oil wields ultra deep influence. Industry demands tax breaks, regulatory changes to hunt for oil at the bottom of the sea.
  
  
• Geov Parrish gives his picks on the most overhyped and the most underreported stories of 2004. Do you have any other suggestions?
  
  
• Bush is picking up more and more criticism over Social Security reform. "If a car has a flat tyre, fix the tyre, don't replace the whole car."
  
  
• Radical old warhorse Tony Benn explains his six dangers for the British Labour Party. "For the first time in my life the public appears to be more progressive than what is called a Labour government." Seems like on both sides of the Atlantic, the 'progressive' politicos have sold out.
  
  
• Iraqi women were long the most liberated in the Middle East. Occupation has confined them to their homes. Were least half the Iraqi population were better off under Saddam?
  
  
• Colin Powell's swan-song view of the world - Christian Science Monitor hosts a luncheon for the Sec. State and reporters.
  
  
• Here is a report that should deeply disturb everyone who thinks the Democrats are elitist or have lost their way. Red states give more to charity than blue states. (PS There's a Newshog article coming on this - The Republicans are right, the Dems currently ARE elitist - that's why they are unelectable.)
  
  
• America locked up. Why are there up to 12 times more people in jail in America than in other Western nations?
  

Quote of the Day:

Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.
Erich Fromm