Want to convey your political message on the cheap?

The inventive minds at freeway blogger have one solution: With some ordinary cardboard (taken from big box retailers' dumpsters, of course), some poster paint, and a bungee cord, you too can reach a captive audience of thousands in the span of a few minutes. In the age of corporately owned…

Continue ReadingWant to convey your political message on the cheap?

Bush tells us he is “winning the war on terrorism.” I wonder what he considers losing.

Just when we thought the chaos in Iraq was about as bad as it could be, darned if the violence in Baghdad hasn't managed to increase by 40% in just the past week: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Continue ReadingBush tells us he is “winning the war on terrorism.” I wonder what he considers losing.

Now it’s a religious war

Here's what MSNBC reports regarding the newly passed bill "to protect the pledge of allegiance." The bill's sponsor, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., said America was a nation of God-given inalienable rights and that's why the country is in a war against "radical Islamists." Democrats wouldn't want to "cut and run"…

Continue ReadingNow it’s a religious war

White House caught telling lies about stem cells

As reported by Think Progress, Karl Rove –"told the Denver Post that 'recent studies' show researchers 'have far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells.'"  This provoked the people at Think Progress to do some digging.  Here's what they found: The Chicago Tribune contacted a dozen…

Continue ReadingWhite House caught telling lies about stem cells

Garbage-picking for stem cells

By a vote of 63 to 37, the Senate passed a bill to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research on Tuesday. President Bush has promised to use his veto power for the first time in 5 ½ years on this bill, which the current vote can’t override.

The public opinion on stem cell research has changed over the last few years, as their overwhelming medical potential has become radiantly clear, and as even conservatives have followed Nancy Reagan’s move and pledged support. Bush steadfastly remains by his initial impression on stem cell research, however confident in his view because “murder is wrong”.

Among the bill’s opponents, Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas made a spectacle on Monday when he used a 7-year-old girl’s explanation of stem cell research to make his point. How comforting that the Christian right has such a wide range of authorities to quote on the issue. Senator Brownback’s source, a girl named Hannah, came from an “adopted” frozen embryo, which the Senator no doubt thought illustrated what the bill puts at stake very well. He explained it this way:

“This is not just a group of a few cells. This is not a hair follicle. This is not a fingernail. You know, this is Hannah. And if nurtured, grows to be just this beautiful child, and we got a lot of them, of frozen embryos. And I hope people will consider put putting them up for adoption, because there’s a lot

Continue ReadingGarbage-picking for stem cells