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Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Official Egypt rock slide toll rises to 31
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Philly school rekindles same-sex education debate
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Muslim separatist strike shuts down Indian Kashmir
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Troops, protesters clash in Indian Kashmir 1 dead
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Catholics assert themselves in Hanoi land dispute
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Myanmar says no sign of Suu Kyi hunger strike
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Landslides leave 27 dead or missing in Philippines
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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Returning lawmakers make Capitol a campaign stage
Southern Ledger - September 7, 2008
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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
January 29, 2008 -
February 5, 2008
A combative President George W. Bush gave his final State of the Union Speech Monday night. After rolling over for excessive and wasteful spending fostered by Republican majorities in the House and Senate during his first six years in office he finally found his veto pen and promised to use it.
Bush called for a major crack-down on the pork barrel practices of Congress, saying he will veto any spending bill that does not cut in half the number and cost of congressional pet projects, known as “earmarks.” He followed up his speech with some action the next day when he issued an Executive Order directing federal agencies to ignore earmarks that are not explicitly enacted into law. This Order erases a common practice by which Congress inserts pet projects into nonbinding documents that accompany legislation and counts on government bureaucrats to treat those spending ideas with the force of law. The Bush plan, however, leaves nearly 12,000 earmarks approved by Congress last year untouched. The total tab for those earmarks totals about $17 billion.
On a night when Republicans and Democrats regularly rose from their seats to applaud particular favored passages in the President’s speech, though seldom together, the attack on earmarks evoked a nearly unanimous standing ovation. But after the speech was over, Democrats were quick to criticize the President for his threats against their precious earmarks. They noted that his tough stance comes only after they have taken control of the House and Senate, while he ignored the problem when Republicans were in charge.
It is a legitimate criticism, but the President finally has it right...even if it is a bit late in the game. Before Democrats decide to stake their election prospects for 2008 on maintaining their right to engage in pork barrel spending “just like the Republicans used to do” they might want to take a moment to look back at the election results in 2006. Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate after voters rightfully got fed up with the congressional addiction to frivolous projects like the infamous Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere.” Overburdened taxpayers are not likely to be any more patient with Democrat porkers than they were with Republican porkers.
Had President Bush and the Republicans in the House and Senate embraced earmark reform five years ago they probably would not have been thrown out of power last year. Nevertheless, they do seem to “get it” now. As campaign slogans go, “Better Late Than Never” may not be a great one. But it sure beats “We Want OUR Turn To Rip You Off.”
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS. -
January 20, 2008 -
January 27, 2008
When Fred Thompson first opened the door to a potential race for President last March he generated unbridled enthusiasm from many conservatives throughout the country. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was sitting on a significant lead in most national polls and the media was anointing him as the Republican nominee. Possessing a gruff, no-nonsense style, movie star celebrity and solid conservative credentials, Thompson was seen as perhaps the only one who could stop Rudy from winning.
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OVER?!?! IT HAS ONLY JUST STARTED! -
January 10, 2008 -
January 7, 2008
“Over'? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is!” – Bluto Blutarsky, “Animal House”
With the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary now in the rear-view mirror most of the political experts in the mainstream media have given the impression that the Republican and Democratic Primary races are in their final moments. Really? A quick glance at the meager number of delegates to the respective party conventions that have been awarded, and the huge number that remain ou... |
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FRED SKATES AHEAD ON THIN ICE -
January 6, 2008 -
January 13, 2008
Although Fred Thompson emerged from Iowa with a third place finish he is not getting the sort of media bump that a third place spot usually generates. The reason is two-fold.
First, major media attention has rightfully been focused on the huge Barack Obama win, and Hillary Clinton third place finish, in Iowa.
Hillary Clinton has long relied upon a sense of inevitability as a strong foundation for support. Now that she is no longer able to portray herself as "unbeatable" she must f... |
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THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, LEGALLY SPEAKING. -
December 23, 2007 -
December 29, 2007
Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to, a mouse.
A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a.k.a. St. Nicholas a.k.a. Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus")would arrive at sometime thereafter.
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HUGE TAX INCREASE LOOMS FOR TENNESSEE TAXPAYERS. -
December 16, 2007 -
December 23, 2007
Some people say “there’s not a dimes worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats.” They are right, because for Tennessee taxpayers the difference is actually over $1.5 BILLION DOLLARS!
In 2004, thanks to the efforts of Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, taxpayers in Tennessee were put on equal footing with taxpayers in states that rely on a state income tax to fund their state’s operations. But the deductibility of state and local... |
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