CitizenSugar -- Breaking News, Together.

Front Page: US Unemployment Reaches Grim High at 6.5%

LibertySugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

The US unemployment reached a 14-year high of 6.5 percent today. About 240,000 nonfarm jobs were lost in October alone. So far this year 1.2 million US jobs have been lost.— Bloomberg
The still being recounted Minnesota Senate race between Al Franken and Senator Norm Coleman came within a margin of 236 votes at the end of Thursday. — Minneapolis Star Tribune

Georgia's claims that it acted in defense against Russian aggression last summer are being called into question. — New York Times
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi started "suntan-gate" yesterday when he called Barack Obama "young, handsome, and tanned." When asked if the comment might have been misunderstood as undiplomatic or even racist, the Prime Minister told his opponents to get a sense of humor.— BBC News

Source

Front Page: Fed Cuts Interest Rate, Judge Orders 17 Freed From Gitmo, Russia Begins Georgia Pull-Out

CitizenSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:58:30 -0700

Fed Cuts Interest Rate:
In an effort to shore up the global market slide, the Federal Reserve and six other major banks worldwid cut interest rates. The Fed downgraded from 2 percent to 1.5 percent. Banks in the UK, China, and Canada followed suit after five days of tumbling stocks. The Fed's action will reduce borrowing costs immediately to US borrowers whose home-equity loans are tied to the prime interest rate.

Judge Orders 17 Freed From Gitmo:
A federal judge ordered the Bush administration to free 17 Guantanamo Bay detainees by the end of the week, the first such order in seven years of disputes over the detentions. The 17 men have been held since 2002 and are members of a western Chinese minority. The judge says, “I think the moment has arrived for the court to shine the light of constitutionality on the reasons for detention."
Russia Begins Georgia Pull-Out:
Russia says its troops are leaving the so-called "buffer zone" around South Ossetia and five of the six checkpoints have been dismantled. Under a ceasefire deal, Moscow has to pull troops out of other areas around South Ossetia by Friday, though they will keep 8,000 troops in areas they've recognized as independent states. The move is part of the deal brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in August.

Source

Despite Conflict With Russia, Georgia Has Love For Stalin

LibertySugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

Jamil Ziyadaliev is a professional Stalin impersonator in Georgia. Hosts of weddings and other events pay him to dress up as the Soviet dictator. But he also sports the costume on days off, and I don't blame him. Thanks to Stalin similarities, Jamil receives free meals, car repairs, and passages through Russian checkpoints.

The most fascinating aspect of Jamil's unlikely career choice is that it reveals the unlikely respect many Georgians have for native son Stalin. A cult of Stalin persists in Georgia, a country of 4.6 million that has troubles with modern Russia. One Georgian historian explains: "Every Georgian knows Stalin came from here. He may have given his execution orders in Russian, but he did so with a heavy Georgian accent."

To find out what the Georgian government is doing to combat Russian love,

Briefing Book! Everyday Russians React to Putin and US

LibertySugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Russia: What do Russian blog readers think about Georgia and the US? Translated reactions to Putin's assertion that the US orchestrated recent war between Russian and Georgia to help John McCain. — The Lede
Obama: How is the average Obama supporter going to become more aggressive this week? Outraged Obama supporters are ready to tumblr. — 23/6
Oil: Every drop of arctic or offshore oil will go directly to world market? China says drill baby drill! — Donklephant
POW: Will it get some play? In independent ad, fellow POW says McCain should not be near red button. — Townhall
Economy: What do candidates think? McCain and Obama split on strength of economy. — Politico

Source

Should the US Push For Georgia to Join NATO?

LibertySugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:45:00 -0700

Sarah Palin echoed John McCain's tough talk toward Russia, when she told Charlie Gibson that she favors putting Georgia in NATO, even though membership would mean the possibility of war with Russia. Last month, McCain said: "I would move forward at the right time with the application for membership in NATO by Georgia. As you know, through the NATO membership, that if a member nation is attacked, it is viewed as an attack on all."Obama also called for partnership between NATO and Georgia in August: "I have consistently called for deepening relations between Georgia and transatlantic institutions, including a membership action plan (MAP) for NATO, and we must continue to press for that deeper relationship." Membership in NATO's MAP can last for decades, and before full membership in NATO is awarded, territorial disputes with Russia would have to be worked out. This Summer, NATO deferred even MAP membership for Georgia.Thinking about how a candidate's casual comment on the possibility of war with Russia plays out in Russia or other countries makes me a little nervous, but then again everyone in the race seems to have Georgia and a NATO relationship on their minds. Source

Should the US Push For Georgia to Join NATO?

Yes! America needs to stop appeasing Russia. Put Georgia on the fast track to NATO!

A NATO partnership would help stability, but the talk of full membership must slow down.

No! Admitting Georgia to NATO would be seen as a hostile provocation to Russia.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Front Page: US to Send $1 Billion to Georgia, New Orleans Residents to Return, North Korea Reassembling Nukes

CitizenSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 07:01:11 -0700

US to Send $1 Billion to Georgia:
The Bush administration is set to announce $1 billion in aid to help Georgia rebuild after its conflict with Russia last month. The package reflects an increase of support from the administration. In addition, Vice President Cheney has visited the region, and the aid and visit will probably increase tension with Russia.

New Orleans Residents to Return:
Mayor Ray Nagin has given New Orleans residents the go-ahead to return to their homes tomorrow — at their own risk. A curfew will still be in effect, and many homes are without electricity or working toilets. Nagin said, "It's my humble opinion that the city is still in a very, very vulnerable state." 800,000 people are still without power in the state.

North Korea Reassembling Nukes:
North Korea has begun to reassemble its main nuclear facility saying the US has delayed its removal from the list of terror sponsors. In response, Washington has reiterated its condition that North Korea commit to a plan verifying the accounting of the nuclear program submitted in June. The US is talking to North Korean officials to "look for solutions."

Source

Front Page: Day Four of the Convention — Obama Speaks Tonight, New Orleans May Evacuate, EU Considers Sanctions

CitizenSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:01:31 -0700

Obama Speaks Tonight:
After his surprise appearance on stage with VP nominee Joe Biden last night, Obama is set to deliver his nomination acceptance speech at Invesco Field in front of 75,000 people tonight. On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, it's scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST. John McCain may announce his VP pick shortly after.

New Orleans May Evacuate:
City officials have begun preliminary measures to evacuate the city of New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav threatens the coast on the eve of Hurricane Katrina's third anniversary. Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency and has put 3,000 National Guard troops on standby.

EU Considers Sanctions:
The EU is considering sanctions and more against Russia over the crisis in Georgia. France has called an emergency summit on Monday to reassess relations with Russia after Moscow refused to pull out all of their troops. Meanwhile, Georgia's foreign minister says that ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia is nearly complete.

Source

Russia Wants Control Of Key Georgia City Despite Pullout Claims

CitizenSugar — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:50:22 -0700

Russia Wants Control Of Key Georgia City Despite Pullout Claims Thousands of Georgians angry at the presence of Russian troops on the outskirts of the strategic Black Sea port of Poti took to the streets Saturday waving Georgian flags and urging the Russians to leave. The protest came as a top Russian general said his country's forces would keep patrolling Poti even though it lies outside the areas where Russia claims it has the right to station soldiers in Georgia.

Georgia Conflict Causes Diplomatic & Humanitarian Confusion

LibertySugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:30:22 -0700

The conflict between Georgia and Russia presents a complex set of questions for the international community. While Western officials try to figure out how exactly Russia's two-headed government shares power, human rights workers are searching for the truth about atrocities that may or may not have been committed.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin undoubtedly holds the power in Russia, but diplomatic protocol obliges European and American officials to negotiate with President Dmitri Medvedev, who appears much more accommodating than Putin. The good-cop-bad-cop routine makes it unclear if Russia will follow the cease fire agreement, signed by President Medvedev, leaving the rest of the world unsure of how to react to Russia.

Meanwhile Russia and Georgia have spread the confrontation and confusion to courts. To find out how the neighbors trade accusations of human rights violations,

Front Page: Shawn Johnson Grabs Gold, Russian Forces Detain Georgian Soldiers, Algeria Bombing Kills 43

CitizenSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:53:25 -0700

Shawn Johnson Grabs Gold:
After three silver place finishes, US Gymnast Shawn Johnson finally won a gold medal for her balance beam routine in the last day of gymnastics competition. Johnson's coach is from Beijing, and her medal in his hometown meant the world. She said, “I really feel like I made him proud.” US teammate Nastia Liukin took silver.

Russian Forces Detain Georgian Soldiers:
Russian soldiers held 21 Georgian soldiers at a Black Sea port today, taking them bound and blindfolded to a military base, allegedly to protect against looters. The incident shows further evidence that Russia is continuing military activity in Georgia despite saying troops will withdraw. Indeed Russian forces are continuing to dig into position along the highway into Tblisi.
Algeria Bombing Kills 43:
A bombing in Algeria at a paramilitary training school killed 43 and left 38 wounded in one of the worst attacks in years. In recent months, the mountainous areas east of Algiers have been hit by numerous attacks by al Qaeda's north Africa unit, though there have been no claims of responsibility for this deadly attack.

Source

Energy Imperialism? Is the Georgian Conflict All About Oil?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:37:41 -0700

Energy Imperialism? Is the Georgian Conflict All About Oil? Could the Kremlin's latest bid for energy dominance boomerang and finally wake up the West? The prevailing wisdom says Russia's military incursion into Georgia was really all about "energy imperialism." The Kremlin doesn't like any challenges to its energy hegemony, which Georgia's part of the BTC pipeline clearly represents. And Russia's strong response, the thinking goes, basically ends any Western hopes of getting other Central Asian countries to stand up to Moscow with pipeline projects of their own.

Russia Says Georgia Pullout to Begin Monday

CitizenSugar — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:46:05 -0700

Russia Says Georgia Pullout to Begin Monday Russia's president said troops would begin pulling out of Georgia on Monday, but made no mention of leaving the separatist province at the heart of the conflict between the countries. A defiant Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said the former Soviet republic would not relinquish South Ossetia or Abkhazia — both now overrun with Russian troops and abandoned by Georgian soldiers — as Western leaders pushed for a swift Russian withdrawal from positions it has held for days of warfare.

Georgian Conflict Created by Cheney to Make Obama Lose?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:00:57 -0700

Russians were told yesterday morning that the true nature of the conflict in South Ossetia is this: it's a plot hatched by Vice President Dick Cheney to make sure Barack Obama isn't elected president. Is Cheney creating a Cold War 2.0?

This revelation, that the conflict is orchestrated to wing Obama, was first announced on the radio and has been getting wide play. A senior political analyst close to Putin and Medvedev says, “George Bush's Administration is promoting interests of candidate John McCain. Defeated by Barak Obama on all fronts, McCain has one last card to play yet — the creation of a virtual Cold War with Russia . . . Bush himself did not want a war in South Ossetia but his Republican Party did not leave him any choice.”

The notion has reinvigorated Cold War-era talk like this from a former ambassador to the EU:

The West has spent a lot of time, energy and money to teach Georgia the tricks of the trade . . . to make the country look like a democracy. We and many other nations see through this deceit. We understand that the seditious tactics of the so-called color revolutions are a real threat to international law and the source of global legal nihilism.

To see where this idea came from,

Front Page: Gold and Gold for US, Bystanders Lift Bus Off Trapped Woman, Diplomatic Efforts for Georgia

CitizenSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:59:42 -0700

Gold and Gold for US:
US Gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson won gold and silver in the women's all-around competition. Liukin held back tears until she was atop the winner's podium and the national anthem played. She said, "standing on the podium and hearing `Olympic champion' next to my name was a dream come true." She's the second US gymnast to win the title in a row. Meanwhile, Michael Phelps continues on his quest to grab gold in all of his events, winning the 200m individual medley. Find more pictures of the events below.
Bystanders Lift Bus Off Trapped Woman:
Dozens of onlookers acted quickly to lift a 5-ton bus off of a pregnant woman trapped underneath. The woman was seven months pregnant at the time of the accident. Despite the crowd's quick action, the baby was saved, though the woman was not. The baby is still in critical condition.

Diplomatic Efforts For Georgia:
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Georgia as part of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing the crisis. Russia still has control of the Georgian town of Gori, and Bush has condemned "bullying" by Russia. Russia in turn is concerned whether the aid being offered by the US is military or humanitarian in nature.

Source

Play Pundit: Does Georgia Conflict Help Obama or McCain?

LibertySugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:45:35 -0700

During the presidential campaign season, it seems like almost everything could have an impact on the election. While leaders assess the long-term impact of the conflict in Georgia, pundits want to know right now how the complex event will impact the election in November. So far, the media has chalked up Russia's aggression as an advantage for John McCain.

Get Flash to see this player.

McCain has stressed his perceived edge in foreign policy experience, using stronger language against Russia than President Bush, and maintaining that the US must reevaluate relations with Russia. While Obama fully condemned Russia's actions, he also called for restraint from both Russia and Georgia. As shown in the video above, the media thinks McCain's stiff approach to diplomacy will come out looking better thanks to the conflict in Georgia. Do you agree? Source

Play Pundit: Does Georgia Conflict Help Obama or McCain?

Barack Obama. America doesn't want to tough talk its way into more wars.

John McCain. This hits his tough-talking national security sweet spot.

Neither. The politics will stay in the region. Voters care more about other issues.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Ex-US Ambassador Says US Must Back Georgia's Democracy

LibertySugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:00:40 -0700

The conflict between Russia and Georgia will likely have long-term consequences for the US. Former US Ambassador to Romania Jim Rosapepe thinks the US response to the Russian invasion will either provide hope or despair to supporters of democracy around the world. Reflecting on his time in the region, Rosapepe wrote in an op-ed:

Romanians would tell us: Wait till Russia is back. When its economy rebounds and its political leadership regains self-confidence, watch out. This week, our Romanian friends are thinking, though they are too diplomatic to say it: We told you so.

I spoke with the former Ambassador yesterday, and asked him to discuss America's past missteps in the region, as well as how the US should move forward. Here's what he shared with me.

What could the US have done differently after the fall of the USSR? The US could have provided more economic aid to the former USSR, just like we helped the economies of Western European right after World War Two with the Marshall Plan.

What should the US do now? The US needs to stay focused and consistent in sending the message to democrats in Georgia and around the world that the US supports them and democratic values. The US should not abandon faith in what America stands for.

To find out what the Ambassador thinks about the priorities of everyday Americans, as well as his thoughts on Russia's future,

Georgia Man Holds Family Captive in Trailer For 3 Years

CitizenSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:15:59 -0700

Ack, ack, ack. This story! It gives the Austrian incest case a run for its money for sheer disgusting details alone. Raymond Daniel Thurmond, 36, is in jail today and accused of keeping his wife and four kids hostage inside a filthy single-wide trailer. How filthy? I'll allow the police to describe:

"The walls looked like they were moving sometimes. There were so many bugs and roaches on the wall. When the door first opened roaches fell from the ceiling down to the floor. So, I knew then we were in for something."
"There was garbage packed up to the ceiling. The smell was so overwhelming the investigator had to where a gas mask"
"It was probably the most disgusting scene that I've ever been involved in as far as human waste and filth, and the sad thing about it is you had a wife and four kids who were confined to these four walls and were not permitted to go outside."

To see the condition of the kids, and how the case was busted,

Front Page: Phelps Breaks Gold Record, Russian Convoy Violates Truce, Contractors Cost US $85 Billion

CitizenSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:00:50 -0700

Phelps Breaks Gold Record:
US swimmer Michael Phelps has broken the record for most Olympic gold won by scoring his 10th and 11th in a double victory in races today. A win in the 200m butterfly gave him his 4th gold for these Olympics, keeping him on track to take home eight golds for these games. The most golds ever won prior to Phelps was nine.

Russian Convoy Violates Truce:
A Russian military convoy has moved deep into Georgia today in violation of a new truce agreement. Georgia's soldiers have retreated following the truce and the new movement by the Russians surprised the few remaining. The new movement came 12 hours after the cease-fire plan supposed to end the fighting that has uprooted an estimated 100,000 people.

Contractors Cost US $85 Billion:
Between 2003 and 2007 the US government spent $85 billion on contractors to support the Iraq war. The figure is likely to top $100 billion by the end of 2008, according to a review by the Congressional Budget Office. There are currently 190,000 employed on a one-to-one ratio with military personnel. Contractors have been used in Iraq at a much larger scale than in any other major conflict.

Source

Front Page: Russia Orders Halt to Fighting, More Women in Government, Israel Proposes Deal

CitizenSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:01:52 -0700

Russia Orders Halt to Fighting:
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced today that he's ordered a halt to the military action in Georgia. He did not say whether the troops are pulling out and was clear that Russian forces are still authorized to fire on enemies. Medvedev said that Russia had achieved its military goals during the five days of intense fighting. Georgia claims that raids are still ongoing despite the official halt.

More Women in Government:
A study has found that the number of women in state government leadership positions is on the rise. The number of women leaders almost matches their representation in the general population in six states. The study's author adds, ''the most important thing is the fact that in 36 of the states, women are doing better than they were in 1997, and by better I mean as a comparison of the percentage of women in leadership posts compared with the percentage of women in the state."
Israel Proposes Deal:
Israel has offered up a peace deal to the Palestinians which would annex 7.3 percent of the West Bank while keeping the largest settlements. The Palestinians would be given in return, 5.4 percent of the West Bank. The Palestinians have not formally received the offer but call it totally unacceptable. About 500,000 Israelis live among 2.5 million Palestinians in land that was occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. The two sides have been in US-sponsored peace talks since November.

Source

Georgia's Websites Endure Russian Cyber Attack

LibertySugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:00:19 -0700

While Russian tanks and rockets roll into Georgia, Russian hackers have infiltrated the country's civic websites, disabling Georgia's presidential and defense ministry sites, along with other ".ge" domains. These cyber attacks, as well as bombing of Georgia's telecom infrastructure, indicate that information is under assault in Georgia.

Cyber attacks originating in Russia have previously been launched against Estonia and Lithuania. Georgia has responded to the latest assault by moving crucial websites to other hosts. Estonia has agreed to support the Georgian Foreign Ministry site, while Georgia has relocated the information flow regarding the conflict to the Google platform Blogspot. Estonia has also sent cyber defense experts to Georgia.

Do strategic attacks on news and government websites make you think twice about relying on the Internet for all your information?

Source

Russian Invasion: 1,500 Dead As Russian Troops Raid Georgia

CitizenSugar — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:01:26 -0700

Continuing the invasion begun yesterday, Russia has dispatched hundreds of tanks and troops into the province of South Ossetia today, escalating the conflict. Georgian towns have been bombed through air strikes leaving hundreds of civilians dead and wounded.

Georgia launched a significant offensive maneuver yesterday aimed at retaking control of breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia has close ties to the province and providing them peacekeepers. They responded by sending in convoys of tanks and military aircraft. Georgia is an ally of the US.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that about 1,500 people have been killed, and the death toll is rising.

Source

Breaking: Russia Invades Georgia

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:08:30 -0700

Georgia's president has announced that his country is being attacked by Russian tanks and planes. "Russian troops invaded Georgia. . . all day today they've been bombing Georgia from numerous warplanes and specifically targeting (the) civilian population, and we have scores of wounded and dead among (the) civilian population all around the country."

Georgian troops have launched a military offensive in hopes to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia, which sparked a furious response from Russia who sent a convoy of tanks into the area. The fighting is the worst outbreak of unrest since the province assumed more-or-less independence in 1992.

It appears that two Russian planes have been shot down by Georgian forces and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned the attack with inspire retaliation. Russian aircraft have attacked a military base near the Georgian capital of Tblisi.

So far 15 people have been killed and an unknown number wounded. The situation marks the first time Russian troops have acted on foreign soil since the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989.

Source

Georgia Town Spends $1 Million to Buy and Close Strip Club

CitizenSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:00:35 -0700

What's more important than upgrades to a water treatment plant? Flushing smut down the drain. Lavonia, GA officials scraped together a million bucks to buy the local strip club, Café Risqué (ooh la la) and not because they wanted a side business for a little extra cash. They bought the sucker so they could close it right down.

The mayor received a standing ovation when he announced the deal — and then promptly showed he meant business by having crews rip down the highway signs advertising the joint and burning them in a huge bonfire (talk about a Red Light district.) The town had been trying to get rid of the club for years, and not until they spent the money that could have gone for water treatment upgrades and bought the place could they circumvent court rulings that said nude dancing was a constitutionally protected form of expression.

The town now has an ordinance outlawing adult entertainment businesses. Was the $1 million well spent? Do you suppose it was all in ones?

Source

"Men at Work" Signs Out in Atlanta: Sensible or Out to Lunch?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:45:47 -0700

Heading to Hotlanta sometime soon? Don't be surprised if you see construction workers hard at work — without the ubiquitous "Men at Work" sign. Based on complaints by the editor of Pink magazine, a publication devoted to professional women, the Atlanta, GA, Public Works are replacing the manly placards with the more gender-neutral wording "Workers Ahead." State officials will begin asking contractors to remove signs that insinuate it's just the men doing the heavy lifting — but the, perhaps, more-enlightened wording comes with a price: the new signs will cost $144 a piece. Not content to let the campaign for gender neutrality stop at the stomping ground of the Designing Women, the crusading editor is taking her cause nationwide. "We're calling on the rest of the nation to follow suit and make a statement that we will not accept these subtle forms of discrimination."

"Men at Work" Signs Out in Atlanta: Sensible or Out to Lunch?

Sensible! Women are working too, it's about time we got rid of sneaky discrimination.

Out to lunch. It's just a sign, not an attack on women's abilities. Plus, so expensive!

Other. I'll leave my sign in the comments.

That song! Stuck in my head! Darn you, Citizen! Arghhhh!

Wounded Soldiers' Barracks Located Right in the Line of Fire

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:00:58 -0700

At Fort Benning, GA, recovering soldiers housed in the newly constructed "warrior transition" barracks have an additional challenge piercing recovery. Many of the soldiers suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the real estate adage about location applies here in full force — the recovery barracks are situated 200 yards from one of the Army infantry's main firing ranges.

Gun fire hails morning and night, hampering recovery for those afflicted. One such soldier who spent a year with an infantry platoon in Iraq and emerged with a diagnosis of PTSD said, "You hear a lot of shots, it puts you in a defensive mode. My heart starts racing and I get all excited and irritable [it] puts me back in that mind frame that I am actually there." Another said, "it makes me crazy. It makes me jump and I get flashbacks." To see what the Army says,

Obama in Crosshairs — Wildly Offensive or Makes a Point?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 11:00:37 -0700

A Georgia paper has hit the bullseye of controversy. This photo is the cover of the Roswell Beacon, teasing a piece about the rising activity level of white supremacist groups surrounding the possible nomination of Barack Obama. The story itself is a little tangly — it's hard to determine whether the criticisms that the story doesn't warrant such an inflammatory image are justified. The editor says of the cover choice, "we knew we were on the provocative edge. But it's a very fair piece, a smart piece." The article was written by a freelance journalist who was curious how law enforcement agencies were handling the increased number of threats lodged against Obama by white supremacist groups, some of whom were local. Some of the details in the piece are surprising, like this from one of the interviews: Some idiot out there’s going to put a bullet in that silver-tongued devil, and then there’ll be a race war. There are some in our movement who are preparing for war, [even] praying for it.

The paper might have had good intentions behind the cover. The editor is pleased that the controversy has "projected the story. We're hoping federal law enforcement takes notice." He calls it a valuable public service. It might be? Georgia has 42 active white power cells, ranking fourth in the country behind California, Texas, and South Carolina.Did the story justify the cover? Is the image offensive regardless of the potential good intentions behind it? Would an Obama nomination incite white supremacists to violence?

Obama in Crosshairs — Wildly Offensive or Makes a Point?

Wildly offensive. I don't care what the story is; it's a shock tactic and not helpful.

They were trying to do a service by exposing the story, but the image is awful.

Makes a point. The article exposes shocking information, the image makes people read.

Other. I'll tell you my thoughts in the comments.

Holy Gas, Batman! Church Tempts Parishioners With Fuel

CitizenSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:00:05 -0700

America's car-culture worship might be reaching new heights, and transcendent ones at that. A church in Snellville, GA has developed a new strategy to tempt newcomers and get butts in pew seats: free gas.

Rusty Newman, the church’s senior pastor said of this congregation-filling promotion: “We don’t know how far it will go with these soaring prices, but it may make someone’s night.” The church set up a sign to alert passing motorists of their offer (a $500 gas raffle — hmm. Sounds familiar. . . ) on a busy road in town and soon after they were inundated with calls. So many that the church had to order a whole new phone line just to keep up.

Pastor Newman looked to the Bible for an endorsement from a higher authority for his gas scheme, and came to believe that Jesus feeding a great many with a few loaves and fish was the answer to his prayers. “If it was just to get people in the building, it would be wrong. But we want to meet someone’s physical need and eternal spiritual needs.”

It's not enough to pray for lower gas prices, now a break on gas is bait to worship? Is this creative clergying or misguiding the flock? Would you stop in and pray for a chance to fill up your tank?
Source

Front Page: Tornadoes Rip Midwest & South, First US Aid Lands in Myanmar, Fighting in Beirut

CitizenSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:57:24 -0700

Tornadoes Rip Midwest and South: Emergency crews are searching through the aftermath of violent storms that tore from the Midwest to the South and killed at least 23 people this weekend in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Georgia. In Oklahoma at least seven people were killed and officials said 150 people in the town were injured. In Missouri emergency crews are “ensuring that we have found any potential survivors or anyone unaccounted for.” The governor says at least 85 people had been injured in the storm. In Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in six counties. The weekend’s tornadoes are the latest in several outbreaks of violent weather this year. Twenty-two people were killed by tornadoes in four states in February, two were killed in Georgia in March, and seven were killed in Arkansas in May.

First US Aid Lands in Myanmar: The first US aid flight to Myanmar following last week's cyclone has finally landed in Rangoon. The US had to spend days negotiating with Myanmar's military government to gain permission to enter the country. The official death toll is now almost 30,000, though aid agencies fear 1.5 million could die without aid. Already more than two-thirds of the cyclone victims are yet to be reached, and agencies estimate that 100,000 have already died. Here's a list of ways to help the cyclone victims.
Fighting in Beirut: Violent fighting that has plagued Beirut, Lebanon, since Wednesday, broke out yesterday in the mountains east of Beirut. The fighting continues between supporters of the Western-backed government and followers of Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran. Hezbollah began withdrawing gunmen from the city Saturday evening, leading some to hope for peace after four days of street battles there. With the underlying political crisis still unresolved, the violence seems to have shifted to the eastern villages. Security officials put the toll of five days of fighting at 44 dead and 128 wounded.

Should Low-Income Students Be Paid to Study?

LibertySugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:00:20 -0700

Students from low-income families are being offered $8 an hour to do their homework. A Georgia based nonprofit group, Learn to Earn, wants to get kids into study sessions by offering them some cash, with the hope that they'll enjoy learning once in the classroom. Despite positive student feedback, the program— developed by the daughter of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — bothers some educators. Some argue that it treats low-income students like servants of the better off, and reinforces the idea that they are destined to be wage earners. I don't think money motivation is necessarily bad, as it can reduce financial pressure felt by some students. It kills two birds with one check — students can earn money as if they had an after-school job, without taking time away from school. Do you think something like this should be available to all students, regardless of their families' economic situations? Are you happy to see low-income students focusing on school, regardless of the motivation? Source

Should Low-Income Students Be Paid to Study?

Yes! Students can focus on school, instead of getting a job to help their families.

Money talks. They will eventually appreciate the benefits of doing well in school.

No way! It's a cheap message. Self-improvement, not eight bucks, should motivate students.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Headline: 62 Burned, 6 Missing Following Georgia Refinery Blast

CitizenSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:07:51 -0800

An explosion in a sugar refinery last night sent 62 people to the hospital, some severely burned. The refinery is located in Port Wentworth, Ga. Lt. Alan Baker of the Port Wentworth Police Department, said, "There was an explosion into the air with debris and a fireball that was probably five or six times as tall as the tallest trees here. It's the biggest explosion I've ever seen in my life." Six people are still missing, as fire crews work to get the fire under control.

Update — CNN is now reporting that six bodies have been found. Rescue efforts are still under way to find any survivors.

Headline: Georgia Police Officers Shot

CitizenSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:01:49 -0800

This morning, two off-duty police officers were gunned down just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. The officers were in uniform and working security at an apartment complex. Responding to a call about a suspicious individual around 1 a.m., they came under fire. One officer died on the scene, the second died en route to the hospital. The suspect in the shooting is still at large and area schools are on lockdown pending the capture of the individual. Police Chief Terrell Bolton said to the suspects in new conference this morning, "If I were you, I'd turn myself in. The sun is coming up. Before sundown, we're going to find you."