Progressive News Blogger

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, The Los Angeles Times, reports: “When Rudolph W. Giuliani was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the spring of 2000, one thing he did not have to worry about was a lack of medical insurance.”

Bill Buzenberg, The Center for Public Integrity, writes: “KBR Inc., the global engineering and construction giant, won more than $16 billion in US government contracts for work in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004 to 2006 - far more than any other company, according to a new analysis by the Center for Public Integrity.”

Patrik Jonsson of The Christian Science Monitor says, “When hurricane Katrina ripped out tulip poplars, bent black gum to the ground, and scattered loblolly pines like pick-up sticks, local tree enthusiasts such as Julia Anderson not only had a rude aesthetic shock, but many also sensed that the destruction had shaken the very roots of the region’s ecological balance.”

An interview with Damien Cave of the Baghdad bureau on the improved security in the Iraqi capital, and whether residents think it is a positive trend or “the calm before another storm.”

(The following photo needs a caption. Here’s mine: “Are you the one I lied to the other day? If so, I need to add to it. Hold on.”, Dana Perino said to one of the White House Press Corps”)

Oh the irony! Dana Perino was asked today about for White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan’s , new book in which he states he did not know at the time that he was passing on a big fat lie when he said Karl Rove and Scooter Libby were not involved with the leaking of Valerie Plame’s identity….

AP - Hillary Rodham Clinton ridiculed Democratic rival Barack Obama on Tuesday for his contention that living abroad as a child helped give him a better understanding of the foreign policy challenges facing the U.S.

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s lead among Democratic presidential contenders in New Hampshire has narrowed over the past two months, while New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson bounced back to the low double digits in a CNN/WMUR poll released Tuesday.

With about two months left before the New Hampshire primaries, Clinton topped the list of Democratic nominees with 36 percent support — down from 43 percent in a September survey. But nearly 70 percent of those polled believe the New York senator will…

One of the stranger media phenomenons of Campaign 2008 has been the odd race to the bottom we’ve been seeing between Tim Russert and CNN. First Russert asked his typical “gotcha” questions at his debate. Then CNN’s Wolf Blitzer praised Russert’s performance as “tough.” Then Wolf proceeded to deliver an equally unproductive performance as the moderator of CNN’s debate.

Now there’s more of this. As you recall, CNN put Hillary supporter James Carville on its debate roundup — prompting critics…

Bush Administration Stokes Fear Of Massive Army Layoffs To Force Congress To Drop Redeployment

The Bush administration is threatening that it will issue furlough notices to up to 150,000 civilian workers at military bases in mid-December if Congress does not approve unrestricted Iraq funding immediately. As part of this campaign, the Pentagon is distributing a document warning that the Army may cease to function if it does not receive the funds now. (View the document here.)

At a…

“It’s like a slap in the face,” said a woman in Minneapolis, of the closure set for next year. Minnesota claims 850,000 people of Norwegian descent, and reminders of their roots are all around.

Why in a teaser for my local news (ABC) about the harassment of women at Giants Stadium, the voice over said “hear about women fans behaving badly?” What the fuck?!

Scott McClellan Finds His Way to the Truth

For money.

I guess the time has finally come to talk about it or at least tease talking about it. Scott has written a book, “What Happened,” which will be released next spring. Run, Republicans, run.

The press release is as damning as they come.

The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I…

Dr. Michael Kaplan is an esteemed child psychiatrist at Yale University, and, in full disclosure, a lifelong friend of this writer. About a month ago, Dr. Kaplan was interviewed for a fairly lightweight Associated Press article dealing with the increasing popularity of kitchen toys for little boys.

Dr. Kaplan’s comment was that “Men are reshaping and rethinking their roles,” he said, “They are doing much more (cooking and housework) than they ever have.” Consequently, boys are observing…

Military Wounded Asked to Give Bonuses Back

Fight for your country, lose an arm, eye or leg, lose your bonus.

The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases. Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some…