Aces Full of Links

You and James Read the News

You and James must be a little bit crazy, because you and James are about to read the news. But go ahead. Knock yourself out.

N.Korea said not planning more nuke tests

Not only that, but:

Kim told the Chinese delegation that "he is sorry about the nuclear test," the newspaper reported.

Jeepers, folks. Sorry about the nuke! This doesn't really give me the warm fuzzies. You know, it baffles me listening to some conservative radio on North Korea. I think I caught a snipped of the Laura Inghram show the other day and Laura and a guest were shaking their heads at the Bush Administration's handling of North Korea (the sanctions) but what got me was that their alternative seemed to be to bomb North Korea. No talk of how things have gotten worse as we've moved from Clinton engagement to Bush containment. Just bomb them, Cheney-style.

Massachusetts state funds will be scarce in coming years

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (a non-partisan and business-backed nonprofit research group -- see here ) says that MA has already spent the surplus and that at the current rate, the state is headed for a rather large budget gap:

...projected cost of projects to improve roads, build schools and maintain town infrastructures are expected to exceed the state's surplus by $840 million in 2008. In 2012, the state is expected to be $3.3 billion short of its budget needs.

And that's with the cuts the Romney administration has made to local aid.

People who are still screaming for the tax rollback are living in cloud cuckoo land. Somehow, they think that if the populace votes on the tax rate, the books will magically balance themselves. Meanwhile, Healey's supporters are trying to scare people into believing the Deval Patrick is the root of all tax increases. Guess what folks, you're already on that road if the MTF's report is even close to right. No matter who the governor is. The question is, what do we do about it, not how can we dodge the question and tar the other candidate.

JD Hayworth Continues His Christ-Killer Outreach Program

OK, this one is coming from Wonkette rather than the news. A spokesperson for Representative JD Hayworth (R-AZ) appeared at a synagogue in his stead, possibly so he could avoid answering some sensitive questions about past support of anti-Semitic ideas. But his surrogates...

[...]repeatedly lectured the audience at Temple Beth Israel in Scottsdale and proclaimed that Hayworth ?is a more observant Jew? than those present.

Hayworth isn't Jewish.It actually gets worse than that, but I'll let you read it.

Bush Campaigns For Two Endangered Republicans

Another way to look at it is that the only Republicans who seem to want Bush to campaign for them are some folks with serious PR issues. These are issues so bad that the president's low approval rating is actually a boost and not a detriment.

But maybe it's an indication of how bad things have gotten for the president when he makes time in his ostensibly busy schedule to make sure that George Allen (riding high off his "macaca" comment) and Don Sherwood (perhaps not your average family values Republican) keep their seats.

Obligatory lame press secretary dodge:

Press Secretary Tony Snow says Bush has no qualms about helping either candidate.

As to Sherwood, Snow says Bush believes "we're all sinners" who deserve forgiveness.

Ok, granted. But we don't all deserve to represent the people. If these people don't get re-elected, I'm sure McDonalds has an opening. And I forgive them.

Ugh.

Also in the news:

• Bizarre comments from Putin regarding the president of Israel
  • Wait - he thinks rape allegations are a good thing?
    
• Lack of sleep bad for children's weight
  • Apparently, sleep and metabolism are linked more than we realize, and shortened sleep can contribute to disease.
    
• Orange County Republican Party asks its own candidate to withdraw from congressional race
  • Something about threatening to jail Hispanics if they vote. They're disappointed he didn't keep the plan to himself, I guess. How embarrassing!
• Cloaking device works, sort of, scientists say
  • Ok, then I'm excited. Sort of.
    

Posted by James at October 20, 2006 9:51 AM
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