Sign up with PR Newswire for Journalists, an online service that brings the news quickly, credibly, and directly into your hands through accessible and cutting-edge newsgathering tools.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
Blogs of the Right:
Blogs of the Middle & More
May 2006
May 31, 2006"This morning, ABC News reported that President Bush is preparing a White House event to support Republican Senator Bill Frist's heavy-handed attempt to use marriage as a wedge issue to distract the American people from the failed leadership of Republicans in Washington." [Read more]
"Former Republican fundraiser Thomas W. Noe has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make illegal campaign contributions, causing a false statement to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), and knowingly and willfully making $45,400 in illegal campaign contributions to President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory A. White of the Northern District of Ohio announced today." [Read more]
"The following is a statement by Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council, (http://www.niacouncil.org):
"Secretary Rice's announcement of the shift in U.S. policy toward Iran is a step in the right direction. It is very helpful that the Administration has recognized that only the US has the weight to make diplomacy succeed.
However, we're concerned that the preconditions the Secretary set - as agreeable as they may be - may become an insurmountable obstacle to long-overdue negotiations." [Read more]
"The leader of the nation's largest independent union of federal employees today expressed serious concerns about a Supreme Court decision eliminating the First Amendment protection of speech by public employees made "pursuant to" their duties." [Read more]
"Large majorities in Russia and the United States believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons and that the U.S. government should respond with diplomatic measures, not military force.
Russians also view China as playing a more positive role in the world than the United States and give its economic system high marks. Moreover, they tend to hold unfavorable opinions about President Bush. "Russians appear to view China as a more promising partner in international affairs than the United States," said Stephen Weber of WorldPublicOpinon.org." [Read more]
"The interagency group (IWG) responsible for locating, declassifying, and releasing U.S. records related to Nazi and Japanese war crimes and criminals will hold a briefing to discuss the recent release of CIA operational records. The IWG will describe how this record declassification differs from previous CIA record releases, and historians will explore the implications for future research." [Read more]
"The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) today announced an international program establishing Martin Luther King Jr. non-violence conflict resolution centers in Europe and the Middle East, and forming a unique partnership in the United States with Mississippi Valley State University.
The conflict resolution philosophies of King will be used to stem violence in communities around the world. At the Martin Luther King, Jr. Conflict Resolution Centers in Israel and Italy, the programs will provide technical assistance and training for police officers, teachers, community leaders, government officials and others in developing conflict resolution skills." [Read more]
"Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement on the Bush Administration's long-overdue announcement regarding talks with Iran about that country's nuclear program. Two weeks ago, Reid and other leading Senators sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to direct the Intelligence Community to produce an updated National Intelligence Estimate on Iran; the Bush Administration has not responded. The Senators' letter is attached below." [Read more]
"On the 25th anniversary of the AIDS pandemic, thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS and activists from around the world are protesting today outside high-level United Nations meetings on HIV/AIDS. Expressing outrage that 15 million people have died from AIDS since the U.N. meetings in 2001, activists are demanding leaders implement science-based HIV prevention and universal access to AIDS treatment." [Read more]
"Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA's executive director, made the following statement in response to the alleged civilian massacre in Haditha, Iraq:
"Amnesty International is deeply disturbed by allegations that U.S. Marines massacred civilians in Haditha, Iraq. These accusations, if proven true, may rise to the level of war crimes. We welcome General Pace's public commitment to both investigate the alleged massacre and the alleged resulting cover-up. However Amnesty International is concerned about the amount of time that passed before these allegations were taken seriously." [Read more]
"The state of negotiations on the U.N. draft political declaration for the High Level Review on HIV/AIDS is in crisis today, according to experts. Countries and regional blocks, entrenched in their positions, are raising concern among civil society that commitments set in 2001 to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic will not be kept." [Read more]
"Four men have been arrested and are detained in connection with the killing of three female project staff of international anti-poverty agency ActionAid and their driver, who were shot dead on Tuesday, May 30 in the northern Afghanistan province of Jawzjan, about 500 kilometers from Kabul. No motive has yet been established for these killings." [Read more]
"As incredible as it sounds, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota will open what may be the nation's first government- subsidized clinic that will refuse to provide services for the poor," said Jim Sedlak, vice president of American Life League." [Read more]
"A United Nations team is assessing the health needs of 100,000 Indonesian earthquake survivors, including emergency care for pregnant women and other reproductive health services. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, plans to dispatch supplies and equipment to the affected areas as needed.
The 27 May disaster in Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces reportedly killed more than 5,000 people and injured more than 15,000, and official estimates of the toll continue to rise. Around 25,000 homes were destroyed or damaged, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance." [Read more]
"Unless government officials focus immediate attention on the critical housing needs of poor people along the Gulf Coast, the region cannot possibly prepare for the devastation future hurricanes will bring, warned Oxfam America today.
June 1 marks the start of the new hurricane season, but throughout Mississippi and Louisiana, public officials have made little effort to include the region's poorest families and struggling workers in plans to recover from last year's back-to- back disasters." [Read more]
"In the wake of the vote by Britain's largest union of college and university teachers to boycott Israel, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today urged U.S. academics, universities and grant-making bodies to suspend contacts and cut funding to supporters of the blatantly discriminatory practice. The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) voted on May 29 to blacklist Israeli academics who do not publicly disassociate themselves from the "continuing Israel apartheid policies." ADL's call is in keeping with the long-standing leadership of the United States to counteract boycotts of Israel." [Read more]
"Today, NARAL Pro- Choice South Dakota joined the Campaign for Healthy Families to deliver nearly 38,000 signatures from South Dakota voters supporting a measure to repeal the state's abortion ban.
NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota, working in partnership with the Campaign for Healthy Families, provided financial and volunteer support for the signature-collection effort." [Read more]
"A sea of nearly 2,000 cyclists, supported by hundreds of volunteer "roadies," will ride out of San Francisco as they begin a 7-day, 585-mile bike ride to Los Angeles that will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first reported cases of AIDS. They will raise more than $7 million for AIDS services and prevention programs at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center as participants in AIDS/LifeCycle. No other event raises more money for HIV/AIDS." [Read more]
"With hurricane researchers predicting that New Orleans could once again be hit by a major storm during the upcoming hurricane season, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is warning the city and Mayor Ray Nagin bluntly to not repeat last year's gun confiscations.
"This isn't an 'or-else' kind of thing, it's not a debate," said SAF founder Alan Gottlieb. "We went to court once, and we'll go back, only this time, we've already got a court ruling on our side.
"If a devastating storm hits New Orleans, or anywhere else along the Gulf Coast or Atlantic Seaboard, we will expect the constitutional rights of citizens to be respected, not raped," Gottlieb said. "We're adopting a zero tolerance policy." [Read more]
"Three ActionAid humanitarian workers and their driver were killed today in the northern district of Afghanistan.
The three employees were en route to work in Shaberghan, Jawzjan Province, about 500 kilometers from Kabul, when the vehicle they were traveling in was ambushed by an unidentified gunman between 8 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. local time." [Read more]
"Ken Boehm, chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), today made the following statement regarding the Constitutional issues raised by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and others regarding the FBI raid on the Congressional office of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.):
There is no Constitutional issue involved. The Speech and Debate clause of the constitution covers statements made on the House floor itself, and even that clause includes a specific exception for crimes. Members of Congress are not above the law. Their offices are not immune from search by law enforcement officials executing valid warrants. Hastert and Pelosi have advanced this notion that there is some Constitutional problem in bad faith." [Read more]
"Hundreds of concerned citizens and leaders from across the nation will join Hurricane Katrina survivors Wednesday to call for the resignation of the heads of the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at NOAA Headquarters just outside of Washington, D.C. During an 11 a.m. demonstration, advocates will demand that NOAA stop covering up the growing scientific link between severe hurricanes and global warming while insisting on real solutions to the problem of global warming." [Read more]
"Following is a transcript of remarks released today of the President in nominating Henry Paulson as Treasury Secretary:
The Rose Garden
9:14 a.m. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Welcome to the White House. I'm pleased to announce that I will nominate Henry Paulson to be the Secretary of the Treasury.
The past eight years, Hank has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Goldman Sachs Group. It's one of the most respected firms on Wall Street. He has a lifetime of business experience; he has an intimate knowledge of financial markets and an ability to explain economic issues in clear terms." [Read more]
"On May 15, The Heritage Foundation released "Amnesty and Continued Low Skill Immigration Will Substantially Raise Welfare Costs and Poverty," a backgrounder by Robert Rector. Rev. Luis Cortes, president and CEO of Esperanza USA, released the following statement in response to the study:
"I am disappointed that a respected institution such as the Heritage Foundation would release such a seriously flawed study," said Rev. Luis Cortes." [Read more]
"Despite continued diplomatic efforts by Great Britain, France, and Germany, Iran has resumed work on its uranium enrichment program. The move has alarmed the U.S. and its European allies, resulting in a call for an emergency session at the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council." [Read more]
"The Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons will release "Confronting Confinement," a report on violence and abuse in U.S. jails and prisons, the impact on public safety and public health, and how correctional facilities nationwide can become safer and more effective." [Read more]
"The following statement was released today by the Embassy of Jordan:
His Majesty expressed gratitude for the continued support provided by the United States and thanked the President for considering additional assistance to Jordan this year, at a time when Jordan's economy is facing many challenges associated with high oil prices.
On the Palestinian-Israeli issue, King Abdullah underlined the importance of moving forward in the pursuit of a two-state solution as outlined in President Bush's vision for peace." [Read more]
"Today millions of Americans will mark Memorial Day by laying a wreath on the grave of a loved one or visiting their local war memorial. We join them in honoring the service and sacrifice of those who have given their lives in defense of our country.
"America has always been fortunate to rely upon the courage and fortitude of brave men and women of all backgrounds who have answered the call to service. These, the best and bravest our nation has to offer, are true patriots who have served with honor and distinction all over the world-a tradition that continues today, with the men and women fighting the war on terror and serving in Iraq." [Read more]
"The World Drug Report," released annually on June 26, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking, presents the most salient trends in the production, trafficking and use of drugs. Aim of the report is to contribute to annual assessments by presenting supply (production and trafficking) and demand statistics on the evolution of the global illicit drug problem." [Read more]
"This weekend marks the time that our nation sets aside each year to remember and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country - their lives. But this weekend also serves as a reminder of the brave men and women in the armed forces who are fighting the War on Terror. House Republicans will continue to stand with our troops and our veterans." [Read more]
"Last night, President Bush went before the nation in a televised news conference in which he once again failed to offer a real strategy for victory in Iraq. Instead he argued that there was no way to have predicted many of the problems that currently plague Iraq and said he regretted his tough talk in the run-up to the war. Tomorrow, he is expected to bring more of the same empty rhetoric to West Point when he delivers the commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy." [Read more]
"More than 2,000 Soldiers from the 18th Airborne Corps and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command stationed at Fort Bragg will be honored this Sunday as part of a Memorial Day ceremony at the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C." [Read more]
"WakeUpWalMart.com, America's campaign to change Wal-Mart, has uncovered a close and working relationship between high-ranking senior Wal-Mart executives, Bob McAdam and Lee Culpepper, and right-wing radical Rick Berman." [Read more]
"In three months we will mark the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. While a good deal has been accomplished to protect the country since, much still needs to be done. Policy-makers and observers argue the nation must not lose its sense of urgency on homeland security. But what is the state of U.S. homeland security? And with the arrival of hurricane season, how well prepared is the U.S. for coping with the challenge of natural disasters that could afflict the nation?" [Read more]
"On the eve of the Memorial Day holiday, when many Americans will hit the highways, a report issued by the U.S. Conference of Mayors indicates that while consumers may be enjoying slight increases in wages, rising gas costs have significantly eroded their total wage gains.
Authored by Global Insight Inc., the report on annual wage growth prepared for the Conference of Mayors shows the average job in 2005 earned a salary of $43,500 -- a 4.6 percent increase over 2004. The spike in energy costs, however, wiped out almost one-third of those increased earnings." [Read more]
"Ned Lamont has won MoveOn's endorsement for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the organization's online Connecticut primary by a margin of 85 pct. to 14 pct.
The online primary was conducted during a 24-hour period beginning May 25th at 8 am. Lamont's win, which was triggered when he passed two-thirds of the votes cast by MoveOn's Connecticut members, will mean funding and volunteer support from the national organization's members in his quest for the Democratic Party's nomination in August." [Read more]
"Eighty-four percent of American voters agree that English should be the official language of the United States, according to a March 2006 Zogby International poll commissioned by ProEnglish, an Arlington, Va.-based national organization. But U.S. Senate adoption of competing amendments on the role of English to an immigration bill is "a shameful charade meant to mislead voters," according to ProEnglish Executive Director K.C. McAlpin." [Read more]
"Today the United States Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by a vote of 57 to 36. Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, issued the following statement:
"After almost three years of delay by the U.S. Senate, Brett Kavanaugh has finally received the fair up-or-down vote all judicial nominees rightfully deserve. I am confident that Mr. Kavanaugh will serve with distinction on the DC Circuit for many years." [Read more]
"Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today released the following statement in support of the confirmation of General Michael Hayden as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Five years of Bush Republican incompetence has left America's intelligence community in disarray, and General Hayden will have a tough task ahead to repair the damage.
"I support the nomination of General Hayden as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Based on my review of his long record as a career intelligence man and his answers to some important questions during his confirmation hearing, I am hopeful General Hayden will provide the CIA the kind of non-partisan leadership it has sorely lacked for the past several years." [Read more]
"Catholic Charities USA, which represents more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide that assist more than half a million immigrants and refugees a year, called the Senate's passage of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 a positive step toward just and fair immigration reform.
"We believe this bill represents a positive step towards enhancing our nation's security, while putting undocumented workers and their families on a path to lawful permanent residence and citizenship," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA." [Read more]
"In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and amid growing controversy over immigration issues, black scholars and community leaders are gathering in Chicago to discuss the legacy of Booker T. Washington, who advocated for education, entrepreneurship, and economic self- reliance.
The event is a celebration of Booker T. Washington's 150th birthday and includes a series of dinner events beginning on Sunday, June 4 and two days of public panel discussions beginning Monday, June 5. The symposium is the only event of its kind in the nation." [Read more]
"The House voted today to allow the expansion of drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett says expanded drilling in ANWR will help increase domestic supplies of oil and gas as well as give the government an extra $111-173 billion in tax revenues and royalties from oil companies." [Read more]
"Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today released the following statement on the conviction of former Enron CEO Ken Lay on all counts. Unfortunately for all Americans, Ken Lay was a member of the Cheney Energy Task Force whose contributions to America's energy policies can be felt to this day.
"Today, a jury of his peers found Ken Lay guilty on all counts. His conviction is cold comfort for the tens of millions of Americans hurt by Enron's illegal activities, but at least he will serve a just punishment for his crimes. Unfortunately, the American people are not so lucky. They are still unjustly imprisoned by the energy policies that the Bush Administration let Ken Lay write." [Read more]
"Today, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy ("DMI"), a leading progressive public policy think tank, released its legislative analysis of the Senate's compromise "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act." DMI's analysis, which uses a two-part test to grade the bill's likely impact on middle-class Americans, gave the legislation a "B" for supporting immigrants' economic contributions to the middle class and a "C-minus" for its mixed impact on workplace rights." [Read more]
"The House Judiciary Committee today by a 20-to-13 margin, with one Member voting present, approved bipartisan legislation sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) to preserve Internet freedom and competition.
"The Committee - in a bipartisan fashion - understands that this legislation will provide an insurance policy for Internet users against being harmed by broadband network operators abusing their market power to discriminate against content and service providers." [Read more]
"In December 2003, the Swedish government launched the international, independent WMD Commission under the leadership of Dr. Hans Blix to explore ways to reduce threats posed by biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. After more than two years of work, Dr. Blix will present the commission's final report June 1 to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Dr. Blix will make his first visit to Washington to share the commission's findings and recommendations at this June 7 event." [Read more]
"The following was released by the Democratic National Committee today:
The Union Leader reported today that convicted phone-jammer and former New Hampshire Republican Party Executive Director Charles McGee is inviting Republican political operatives to a campaign school that will teach them "all the tools you need to win." For McGee, one of those tools was a criminal conspiracy to block the phone lines at Democratic get-out-the-vote call centers on Election Day in 2002. McGee, one of three people sentenced to jail time for their roles in the scheme, served seven months in prison last year after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges." [Read more]
"Following is the text of a letter from attorneys for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to David Westin, George Stephanopoulos, and Brian Ross of ABC News:
RE: False Story Regarding Justice Department Investigation
Dear Mr. Westin, Mr. Stephanopoulos, and Mr. Ross:
At 7:25 p.m., the Statement of the Department of Justice confirmed:
"Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department."
At 10:21 p.m., you wrote:
"Whether they like it or not, members of Congress, including Hastert, are under investigation," one federal official said tonight."
This statement is false, and your republication of it after actual knowledge of its falsity constitutes libel and defamation." [Read more]
"As the national debate over immigration continues to hold the national spotlight, neo-Nazis and white supremacists have ratcheted up their anti- Hispanic action.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors and reports on the activities of far-right extremists, has updated its online report, "Extremists Declare ‘Open Season’ on Immigrants" with new information showing that extremists continue to focus their energies on Hispanic hate-mongering through racist rhetoric, crude stereotypes, and threats of using violence to intimidate illegal immigrants." [Read more]
"How will the United States cope with the next influenza epidemic? The "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918 killed between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide and influenza deaths far exceeded total combat mortality during World War I. New and deadly strains of avian influenza -- "bird flu" -- have not yet been transmitted between humans, but a common mutation may allow person-to-person infection. Even a moderate pandemic will have a profound impact on America's social and economic well-being with serious dislocations of trade and travel, and its impact on the less developed world may be disastrous." [Read more]