Clipmarks | Leaders Clips

ora et labora

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:46:02 GMT

clipped by: Kreuzberg-Jakob
clipper's remarks: ... seems not professional?

Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Religion, however, was not strictly a thread in Palin's foreign policy. It was part of her energy proposals as well. Just prior to discussing Iraq, Alaska's governor asked the audience to pray for another matter -- a $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

Tags: usa, church, palin

Greenwald: The Republicans' Cheerful Viciousness

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:18:56 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Rendering issues irrelevant and converting campaigns into culture wars (h/t ratilfar!)

Clip Source: www.salon.com

With last night's cheerfully vicious speeches from Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin, the Republicans did what they always do in order to win elections: they exploited raw cultural divides while mocking, belittling and demonizing Democratic leaders.

Ever since Ronald Reagan's election, this is what the Republicans do every four years. They render issues irrelevant and convert campaigns into cultural wars and personality referenda

Republicans are well aware that they can't possibly win the election if it is even partially decided based on issues. They need and intend to win despite the fact that Americans hate their positions on the issues, and to do that, they want to ensure that a majority of Americans love and respect the strong, honorable, principled, culturally familiar all-American mavericks John McCain and Sarah Palin

while strongly disliking that wishy-washy, snooty, foreign, exotic, self-absorbed Eastern elitist Barack Obama (even if he says the right things on issues).

Tags: republican

Lipstick Fascism

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:31:20 GMT

clipped by: dulios
clipper's remarks: "This is the path that America is on with Palin and McCain. The election of 2008 is a choice between the United States Constitution and Lipstick Fascism."

Frank Schaeffer is the author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The
Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

We have seen the next Mussolini and she's wearing a skirt.

Sarah Palin is the face of a post-democracy America, post-constitutional and post-freedom America. She is the home town "little Austrian" vice presidential candidate to a cancer-riddled old man who, chances are high, won't see the end of his first term in office if he becomes president due to illness and old age. The woman who said that we don't need to read people their rights may well be the next president.

mock and belittle your opponents, nibble at the edges of the rule of law, promote violence,

grasp at a weird religion of "destiny" (their version of American exceptionalism) with an "us" against "them" mentality, blame others,

intellectual classes and the media, pit the working people against the perceived elite (Jews in Europe and today's university-educated Democratic Party leaders in America), take power based on grievance and fear and then set aside the constitution altogether based on claimed threats by outsiders.

Tags: palin, mccain, republicans, fascism

Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:37:53 GMT

clipped by: rmowery
clipper's remarks: And I wonder what "God" she is referring to?
Last I knew was that "God" is a peaceful entity - not one that promotes and projects war, especially for Gas and Oil.
She must either have the wrong God or is totally confused.

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a "task that is from God."

In an address last June, the Republican vice presidential candidate also urged ministry students to pray for a plan to build a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in the state, calling it "God's will."

Palin asked the students to pray for the troops in Iraq, and noted that her eldest son, Track, was expected to be deployed there.

"Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God," she said. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."

A video of the speech was posted at the Wasilla Assembly of God's Web site before finding its way on to other sites on the Internet.

Tags: palin, iraq, religon, god, jesus

Palin Invokes God to Justify Iraq, Pipelines.

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:07:15 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: What a....Repukelican. ..no I won't say what I really think. There are women here I respect too much...But not Sarah, or Cindy McCain or Laura Bush--any woman who can cleave to men like that doesn't deserve MY respect.

Clip Source: voices.washingtonpost.com

a $30 billion dollar project that's going to create a lot of jobs for people in Alaska, and we're going to have a lot of energy flowing through here -- and pray about that also -- I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she told them, "but I can do my job there, in developing our natural resources, and doing things like getting the roads paved, and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms, their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really, all that stuff doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's heart isn't right with God."

Switching to the war in Iraq, Palin told the group of students that they should not only pray for men and women in the military but to make sure the leaders of this country are sending U.S. soldiers "out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Now The Surge Is Succeeding?

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:13:43 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: .......continued... But the National Intelligence Estimate of Jan 2007 said this:

Coalition capabilities, including force levels, resources, and operations, remain an essential stabilizing element in Iraq. If Coalition forces were withdrawn rapidly during the term of this Estimate, we judge that this almost certainly would lead to a significant increase in the scale and scope of sectarian conflict in Iraq, intensify Sunni resistance to the Iraqi Government, and have adverse consequences for national reconciliation.

OK, so Obama opposed a surge that succeeded and advocated a policy that the NIE said at the time would lead to a disaster in Iraq.

As to whether anyone could have predicted that the surge would be effective - well, Bush did introduce it this way in his January 2007 speech:

President's Address to the Nation

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070110-7.html

Clip Source: justoneminute.typepad.com

As recently as July, the Democratic presidential candidate declined to rate the surge a success, but said it had helped reduce violence in the country. On Thursday, Obama acknowledged the 2007 increase in U.S. troops has benefited the Iraqi people.

Here is an old post with links to the vast Obamafuscations last July when Obama struggled to pretend that (a) the surge was not successful and (b) he had always said the surge would succeed as it had. John Dickerson raised an excellent question about Obama's judgment:

If Obama was wrong about the tactical gains that would be made by the new strategy and wrong about how the Iraqi political leaders would react, can his larger theory about how Iraqis will respond to a troop pullout remain intact? Perhaps, but he has the burden of explanation.

Right - Obama will be in a big hurry to tackle that hypothetical "what if?" puzzle - how might Iraq have developed if his "surrender now" policy had been adopted in the winter of 2007? Who can tell?

Tags: obama concedes, surge successful

Jihadi on ‘Indian Payroll’ Arrested in Taliban Stronghold

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:28:25 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Later on the Payyow Gul mengal was released according to tribal traditions the man who lay down weapon and request for his life with addition to respect of holy month of Ramazan by the local tribals and allowed him to go home when he assured that he will never do such act of terrorism again.

Clip Source: pakobserver.net

He was arrested by local tribals in ongoing clashes at Village Bugzai the strongest hold of Taliban militants.

The arrested person named Paayow gul mengal belongs to Pakitia province of Afghanistan.

He said he and his family receive two thousands US Dollars per month from one of the centre of India in Pakitia province. He said he had fought Jihad as partner with Taliban in Waziristan & Bajaur Agency prior to his third attempt to fight Jihad in Kurram Agency against particular sect but he was caught red handed this time.

The local tribals showed suicide jackets and drugs being used for addiction by Taliban militants as well as heavy weapons.

The tribals said that question mark is that main Peshawar Parachinar Road is closed for civilians for last one year But it is open for both Law enforcing agencies and militants, they added.

Paayow gul mengal said Taliban movement Pakistan leadership and policies are governed by India.

Tags: taliban militants, strong-hold, kurram agency, arrested by tribal leaders, released for ramadan, suicide jackets, drugs and heavy weapons

Soldier Suicides Continue To Climb In 2008

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:39:53 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Could be a record year. Bonus - 12% of soldiers in Iraq take anti-depressants or sleeping pills. Not a great thing, to be sure.

Clip Source: wjz.com

Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, Army officials said Thursday, urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.

As of the end of August, there were 62 confirmed suicides among active duty soldiers and Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty, officials said. Another 31 deaths appear to be suicides but are still being investigated.

If all are confirmed, that means that the number for 2008 could eclipse the 115 of last year - and the rate per 100,000 could surpass that of the civilian population, Col. Eddie Stephens, deputy director of human resources policy, said at a Pentagon news conference.

"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both soldiers and their families," Army Secretary Pete Geren said.

If the overall numbers continue

they would eclipse the 115 of 2007, 102 in 2006, 87 in 2005 and 67 in 2004.

The Presidential Energy Scorecord - Side By Side Comparison of Obama & McCain.

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:58:43 GMT

clipped by: zalisan

Clip Source: www.thegoodhuman.com

The Good Human

Sustainability, Environment, Progressive Politics, Peak Oil, Being Green.

With energy at the top of the political agenda right now, and Americans demanding action from their leaders, the Sierra Club has released a new side-by-side comparison to help its members and the public compare the energy plans of John McCain and Barack Obama. The scorecard examines the candidates’ energy plans in four key areas: taking on Big Oil, investing in the clean energy economy, fixing global warming, and increasing fuel economy.

Taking On Big Oil

Investing in the Clean Energy Economy

Fixing Global Warming

Increasing Fuel Economy

God's Will Is The Pipeline-

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:03:04 GMT

clipped by: klippety
clipper's remarks: Creationism, war and pipelines are the Will of God

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

$30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state. "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that," she said.

North American Union Myth

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:19:24 GMT

clipped by: tjjohnson

Clip Source: www.snopes.com

Origins: In March 2005, the leaders of the United States, Canada, and Mexico (President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Paul Martin, and President Vicente Fox, respectively) met in Texas to

discuss plans for increased cooperation between their three countries in areas of common interest, such as border security, protection against terrorist threats, improved trade relations, competitiveness in the global marketplace, the combating of infectious diseases, and disaster response.

New progressive movement emerging from Denver?

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:15:13 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Beyond the spectacle, something deeper and more important was taking place.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

I can also report that this spectacle actually had value

it will likely be remembered as one of many events that helped forge a contemporary progressive movement.

the convention's value was most pronounced at the interpersonal level where liberal activists kibbutzed with campaign operatives, bloggers met politicians, and -- as I saw firsthand -- potential Obama administration officials began dialoguing with Congress' most committed progressive leaders.

Standing in the hot sun on the convention's third day, I happened to be arguing trade policy with Austan Goolsbee, the moderate University of Chicago professor who is Barack Obama's chief economic adviser. In the corner of my eye, I saw an old Capitol Hill acquaintance, Rep. Peter DeFazio -- the progressive champion from Oregon. I introduced the two, and within minutes they were finding points of agreement on economic issues.

I considered how many similar bridge-building conversations were happening all week

Tags: denver, dnc

Scientists Develop New Computational Method To Investigate Origin Of Life

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:33:15 GMT

clipped by: Mohir
clipper's remarks: "Retroelements are an ancient and highly diverse class of proteins; therefore, they provide a rigorous benchmark for us to test our approach. We are happy with the results we derived, even though our method is in an early stage," said Patterson. The team plans to make the algorithms that they used in their method available to others as open-source software that is freely available on the Web.
Scientists map out the evolutionary histories of organisms by comparing their genetic and/or protein sequences. Those organisms that are closely related and share a recent common ancestor have greater degrees of similarity among their sequences.

Clip Source: www.sciencedaily.com

Scientists at Penn State have developed a new computational method that they say will help them to understand how life began on Earth. The team's method has the potential to trace the evolutionary histories of proteins all the way back to either cells or viruses, thus settling the debate once and for all over which of these life forms came first.

"We have just begun to tap the potential power of this method," said Randen Patterson, a Penn State assistant professor of biology and one of the project's leaders. "We believe, if it is possible at all, that it is within our grasp to determine whether viruses evolved from cells or vice-versa."

The team is focusing on an ancient group of proteins, called retroelements, which comprise approximately 50 percent of the human genome by weight and are a crucial component in a number of diseases, including AIDS.

Tags: life, computers, science

Palin a Good Christian Soldier

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:05:53 GMT

clipped by: AtlLiberal
clipper's remarks: Well, there goes her cred in the Arab street. But then, I never thought for a moment that the McCain/Palin ticket was focused on peace in the Middle East. Her proclamation of what amounted to a call for a Crusade just might fit perfectly with the bomb, bomb, bomb - Iran mentality of McCain.

These are dangerous people. Unless you wish to keep squandering billions in revenue and wasting countless lives in needless wars they must be defeated in November.

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

Palin: Soldiers on a task that is from God

As mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin was asked to address the graduating class of commission students at a local church. As she spoke about her family, she mentioned Track, her 19 year old son, was to be deployed to Iraq shortly. All good so far. She continued:

She urged students to pray “that our leaders -- that our national leaders -- are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She added, “That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for: that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.”

“I can do my job there in developing our natural resources, in doing things like getting the roads paved and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms and their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really that stuff doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's hearts aren't right with God.”

Tags: politics, war, hypocrite

The Churches plead for calm in Russia/Ossetia

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:02:31 GMT

clipped by: jimbo1000
clipper's remarks: The Russian and Georgian church leaders seek to calm the situation

Clip Source: www.ekklesia.co.uk

Russian and Georgian Orthodox leaders seek understanding amid conflict

By Ecumenical News International

2 Sep 2008

A Russian Orthodox Church missionary has defended Georgian Orthodox Patriarch Ilia II against charges that he is a Georgian nationalist, whilst other leading Russian clerics have warned against the war between their country and Georgia turning into an ethnic vendetta

As well as Kurayev, other clergy and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church have warned against a cycle of ethnic hatred and revenge taking hold as a result of the current violence in South Ossetia, a pro-Russian enclave in Georgia.

The Rev Vsevolod Chaplin

told Soyuz, an Orthodox Church television channel, "Only a madman today can declare all Georgians the enemy, and inflame anti-Georgian sentiment in the country."

Archbishop Feofan of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz, both Russian regions near the war zone in South Ossetia, counselled believers to control themselves.

Tags: politics, russia, georgia, church