Propeller.com Stories voted on by miklkit

Barack Obama: My Plan for Iraq

Beau7890 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:28:04 EDT

THE call by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki for a timetable for the removal of American troops from Iraq presents an enormous opportunity. We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States.

Channel: Politics Tags: Obama Iraq strategy withdrawal 2008 election

How to break free of oil

STONERS — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:19:39 EDT

When the Founding Fathers declared our independence, they could not have imagined that, 232 years later, the United States would be so spectacularly dependent on foreign countries. It would be roughly eight more decades before oil gushed from a well in Titusville, Pa., marking the beginning of the global oil economy.

Channel: Money Tags: Break Free Oil Dependent Foreign Countries

Fannie and Freddie: Insolvent

populist — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:43:25 EDT

Bloomberg analysts appeared to be perplexed that both companies are ranked Aaa by the credit-rating oligopoly, yet derivatives traders were trading both at levels that implied a credit rating at least five levels lower.

Channel: Money Tags: fannie mae freddie mac insolvency bailout banking federal reserve collapse

New Yorker Cover Depicts Conspiracists' Nightmare of Real Obama's

TimALoftis — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:27:08 EDT

Obama spokesperson Bill Burton: "The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree."

Channel: Politics Tags: 2008 election new yorker magazine barack obama michelle obama

Hannity falsely claimed Obama tax plan would raise taxes on families of 4 making $50,000 a year

bubba2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:30:39 EDT

On his radio program, Sean Hannity falsely claimed that Obama's proposal for rescinding the Bush tax cuts would result in families of 4 making $50,000 a year ... paying another $2,000 in taxes a year. In fact, Obama has proposed cutting taxes for middle-class families and rolling back President Bush's tax cuts only on people making over $250,000.

Channel: Politics Tags: Sean Hannity Barack Obama Bush tax cuts Obama tax plan media bias middle class

A Traffic Sign Redundancy. Town Thinks We're Stupid?

lenseview — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:53:33 EDT

Apparently this town felt its residents didn't know the meaning of "dead end". (Hey, it's not that easy a concept!) [Amusing pic & caption & sign juxtaposition]

Channel: Humor Tags: humor satire funny picture traffic sign photo

Video: Red Cross Finds Bush Guilty Of War Crimes

jovial — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:25:12 EDT

In a secret report last year, the Red Cross found evidence of the CIA using torture on prisoners that would make the Bush administration guilty of war crimes, The New York Times reported Friday.

Channel: Politics Tags: Bush Red Cross CIA torture war crimes

Official: 9 US Troops Killed in Afghanistan

TimALoftis — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:41:32 EDT

A multi-pronged militant assault on a small, remote U.S. base killed nine American soldiers Sunday in one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. troops since the 2001 invasion, a Western official said.

Channel: News Tags: afghanistan afghan goverment taliban

Earth the Biography

Eagle Eye — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:21:05 EDT

A new series by National Geographic begins airing this evening exploring the biography of the earth. The first part of the series discusses Volcanoes, one of nature's most awesome and destructive forces, but they are also the life force and architect of our planet.

Channel: Science Tags: National Geographic Earth Biography Volcanoes ice Atmosphere

The Bipartisan Surveillance State

populist — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:11:43 EDT

Having broken his promise to oppose the new law, Obama now promises to "monitor the program closely" as president - but who will monitor him? The Fourth Amendment is supposed to protect us from an unchecked executive, no matter the president, no matter the party.

Channel: Politics Tags: 4th amendment fisa big brother obama

Only Congress Can Declare War

populist — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:05:18 EDT

By rejecting the advice and the rules laid down by the founders and early Presidents, our recent leaders have gone so far astray from warnings against entangling alliances, that the founders would hardly recognize the government they created.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: war powers congress president constitution 10th amendment founding fathers

PM hopes to lift Iraq by doling out cold, hard oil cash

phipphin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:04:58 EDT

It is a politician's dream: Handing out cold, hard cash to people on the street as they plead for help. Iraq's prime minister has been doing just that in recent weeks, doling out Iraqi dinars as an aide trails behind, keeping a tally.

Channel: News Tags: oil oil price cash prime minister Iraq

Scott Horton Interviews Scott Ritter on Iran

populist — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 10:59:28 EDT

discusses the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Iran and the smokescreen of diplomatic progress, how Iran's recent promise of retaliation has raised the stakes by ensuring limited U.S. strikes would be inadequate, how facts and reason are irrelevant since the neocons in command believe they can generate their own realities

Channel: Politics Tags: war iran foreign policy scott ritter

Obama says `little doubt' country in recession - Yahoo! News

CrawfordBizDev — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:56:43 EDT

SAN DIEGO - Barack Obama said Saturday there is "little doubt we've moved into recession," underscoring the country's need for a second economic stimulus package, swift steps to shore up the housing market and a long-term energy policy to reduce reliance on foreign oil imports.

Channel: News Tags: Barrack Obama recession politics economy

Navy Tests Railgun Sci-Fi Weapon: Kills Men, Not Environment

DiffeeOnline — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:05:01 EDT

US Navy's new electronic "clean" lethal weapon successfully tested, and ready to be deployed on sea or land, will be one of at least 5 new sci-fi weapons making Hollywood's creations look like Tinker-Toys. WOW !! do we know how to kill a lot of people from a distance now. Look out World, here we come. Be Afraid !! Be VERY Afraid !!!

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: navy science weapon scifi war

Halliburton/KBR under fire for Iraq electrocutions

bubba2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:36:01 EDT

Halliburton KBR improperly installed electrical wiring or failed to fix known electrical hazards at U.S. bases in Iraq that resulted in the deaths of 11 service members and 2 civilians, family members and former employees of the contracting giant testified at a Congressional hearing. KBR officials were invited to the hearing but did not attend.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: Halliburton KBR Iraq electrocutions electrical hazards water tanks not grounded electrical codes violations untrained electrical workers

Inquiry finds Army contracts steered for kickbacks

bubba2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:24:45 EDT

Army officers caught in a bribery scheme steered contracts to companies willing to pay kickbacks and yanked or dropped contracts for those that wouldn't, according to court and military investigation documents in the case. Corruption was the normal way of doing business for some contractors, and graft was common.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: Army military contractors bribery kickbacks military investigation corruption graft

A soldier's tale: Wounded in Iraq, struggling for a life

bubba2 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:09:43 EDT

Staff Sgt. Victor Dominguez was a gifted Army Ranger 2 years ago when the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he commanded rolled over a roadside bomb in Iraq. Now, out of the Army and facing years more plastic surgery, Dominguez is finding that good days may mean nothing more than playing a game of ball with his son.

Channel: Health & Fitness Tags: Iraq wounded warriors military medical care

Prince Harry balances army duty with charity work

STONERS — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:50:44 EDT

Britain's royal soldier-humanitarian is in the impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho this week to work with Sentebale Ã¢â;¬" the charity he and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso founded in the memory of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.

Channel: News Tags: Prince Harry Balances Army Duty Charity Work

Bush backs Israeli plan for strike on Iran

ameliog — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:10:16 EDT

President George W Bush has told the Israeli government that he may be prepared to approve a future military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiations with Tehran break down, according to a senior Pentagon official.

Channel: News Tags: iran war pnac cheney bush Ahmadinejad

Bill Clinton warns of political polarization

MyWayOnNow — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:08:29 EDT

Former President Bill Clinton warned Saturday that the country is becoming increasingly polarized despite the historic nature of the Democratic primary.

Channel: Politics Tags: bill clinton democratic primary

Bush, Democrats bicker over soaring energy prices

ameliog — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:01:47 EDT

President Bush on Saturday tried to pin the blame on Congress for soaring energy prices and said lawmakers need to lift long-standing restrictions on drilling for oil in pristine lands and offshore tracts believed to hold huge reserves of fuel.

Channel: News Tags: bush democrats energy prices pass the buck accountability president

Pope to Apologize for Sex Abuse in Australia

Neophile — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:50:12 EDT

Pope Benedict said on Saturday he will apologize for a sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Catholic Church in Australia, saying pedophilia was "incompatible" with being a priest.

Channel: Religion Tags: pope sex abuse catholic child rape catholicism sexual abuse christian rape christianity pedophilia priest

President George W Bush lobbyist in 'cash for access' row - Times Online

Fedquip — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:44:42 EDT

A lobbyist with close ties to the White House is offering access to key figures in George W Bush's administration in return for six-figure donations to the private library being set up to commemorate Bush's presidency.

Channel: News Tags: George W Bush Presidential Library Lobbyist Stephen Payne

Teenage Mothers Rose in 2006, Reversing a 15-Year U.S. Decline

engineer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:31:54 EDT

The number of U.S. teenagers who gave birth increased for the first time in 15 years, raising what a health official called ``a red flag.'' The rate at which teen girls became mothers rose 2.8 percent in 2006 from a year earlier The increase ended a decline that began when teen birthrate peaked at 38 births per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 17 in 1991

Channel: Health & Fitness Tags: Teens births 2006 birthrates.highest

Home Prices Off More than 20 Percent Nationally: Report

engineer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:21:03 EDT

A new housing price index suggested earlier this week that housing prices have fallen by 20.1 percent nationally between May 2007 and May of this year; fresh evidence that the nation's housing woes have yet to subside.

Channel: Real Estate Tags: New homes housing off 20 percent May year

Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran

engineer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:16:34 EDT

Halliburton sold key components for a nuclear reactor to an Iranian oil development company. Leopold says his Halliburton sources have intimate knowledge of the business dealings of both Halliburton and Oriental Oil Kish, one of Iran's largest private oil companies.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: Halliburton Iran sales nuclear secrets Cheney Oriental Kish reactor

Pentagon Report to Call for Steep Iraq Drawdown

Neophile — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:51:22 EDT

Barack Obama is taking heat for hinting that he might refine his 16-month timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. But a forthcoming Pentagon-sponsored report will recommend an even steeper drawdown in less time, NEWSWEEK has learned.

Channel: News Tags: pentagon iraq war drawdown withdrawal

Pakistan Refuses to Allow U.S. to Search for Bin Laden

Neophile — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:47:23 EDT

Pakistan's top diplomat says there are no U.S. or other foreign military personnel on the hunt for Osama bin Laden in his nation, and none will be allowed in to search for the al-Qaida leader.

Channel: News Tags: pakistan united states osama bin laden terrorism

Why red dwarfs could reveal first Earth-like planets

capn_caveman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:44:15 EDT

Red dwarfs are relatively common, cool stars that are less than half the size of the Sun. Because of their size, it should be easy to spot orbiting planets as they pass in front of the stars.

Channel: Science Tags: science astronomy exoplanets space

Law School Dean Calls Conference to Plan Bush War Crimes Prosecution | ABA Journal

engineer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:39:11 EDT

The dean of Massachusetts School of Law at Andover is planning a September conference to map out war crimes prosecutions, and the targets are President Bush and other administration officials.

Channel: News Tags: Law School Dean Bush administration war crimes prosecution

10 Gaffes from McCain in one week that should have ended his campaign

Wil — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:56:10 EDT

This is the week that should have effectively ended John McCain's efforts to become the next president of the United States. But you wouldn't know it if you watched any of the mainstream media outlets or followed political reporting in the major newspapers.

Channel: Politics Tags: McCain Gaffes Media Criticism Election 2008

White House denied in bid to withhold visitors' names

berkeley — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:09:09 EDT

Despite the ruling against the White House, public disclosure of visitor logs is by no means assured. The Bush administration still can raise a variety of legal arguments in an attempt to keep the identities of White House visitors secret.

Channel: Politics Tags: bush cheney empire secrecy foia

U.S. Senate Slams the Door on Aspiring Homeowners

Varadinum — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:24:55 EDT

Ann Ashburn, President of AmeriDream, Inc., today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a housing stimulus package that eliminates charitable downpayment assistance funded in part by home sellers. Those programs, operated by charitable organizations in accordance with current law and HUD guidelines, have helped more than one m

Channel: Real Estate Tags: Market Digest US Senate Homeowners real estate

Poll: Swing State Of Missouri - Obama leads McCain 48% to 43%

TimALoftis — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:04:59 EDT

Missouri voters are frightened about the economy, hurting over high gas prices, disillusioned with the war in Iraq and convinced the nation is headed in the wrong direction.

Channel: Politics Tags: 2008 election barack obama john mccain poll Missouri

There He Goes Again

Beau7890 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:28:14 EDT

This nation desperately needs the next president to have a clear-eyed vision for the economy. And yet, the biggest news that Senator John McCain made last week was his renewal of a pledge to balance the federal budget by 2013. How? Who knows? Mr. McCain's main campaign promises, if fulfilled, would lead to huge budget deficits.

Channel: Politics Tags: McCain economy deficit spending same policies no plan

Hedge fund manager describes rock bottom

idyll — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:06:48 EDT

On Wednesday Devaney, who made and then lost a fortune trading mortgage investments, finally called it quits. He shut his hedge fund, and told his investors that all their money was gone too.

Channel: Money Tags: hedge fund manager quit

Japan to test missile interceptor in US

techgirl — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:02:08 EDT

TOKYO (AP) - Japan will conduct its first test-firing of a land-to-air missile interceptor in the United States in September to ensure that a missile shield for the Japanese capital will function properly if it falls under attack, the Defense Ministry ...

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: missile interceptor

Why Pulling Out of Iraq Won't Save Money

AnteUp — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:51:27 EDT

End the war, save money that can be used for other purposes. That's effectively how both John McCain and Barack Obama frame the fiscal outcome of drawing down troops in Iraq. It sounds right, but federal budget experts say that to arrive at that conclusion requires a bit of fairy-tale math.

Channel: News Tags: Iraq pull out war costs budget campaign

Famed heart surgeon DeBakey dead at 99

rontravel — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:05:11 EDT

Dr. Michael DeBakey, the world-famous cardiovascular surgeon who pioneered such now-common procedures as bypass surgery and invented a host of devices to help heart patients, died Friday night at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, officials announced. He was 99.

Channel: News Tags: help heart pioneer surgery Houston Texas office Hospital