Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News
Get all the latest headlines from around the world in one place! http://www.democraticunderground.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 15 May 2008 15:54:24 Thu, 15 May 2008 15:54:24 Source: [b]AP[/b]

BOGOTA, Colombia - Interpol said Thursday it found no evidence of tampering in computers Colombia says it seized from a slain leftist rebel. The finding discredits Venezuelan assertions that the files are bogus and gives Colombia the international backing it sought.

The foren... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3311216 Thu, 15 May 2008 14:55:27 Source: [b]Economic Times India/Reuters[/b]

15 May, 2008, 1946 hrs IST, REUTERS

NEW YORK: CEO compensation at the biggest US corporations dropped sharply last year, reflecting in part the rough business conditions at top-tier banks and other large financial firms, a study has found.

The stud... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3311154 Thu, 15 May 2008 14:15:33 Source: [b]CNN[/b]

(CNN) — The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joe Biden, D-Delaware, called President Bush’s comments accusing Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats of wanting to appease terrorists "bulls–t” and said if the president disagrees so strongly with the idea of talkin... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310977 Thu, 15 May 2008 13:13:09 Source: [b]SacBee[/b]

SAN FRANCISCO - A deeply divided California Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in an opinion issued Thursday morning.

Wild cheers echoed throughout City Hall and other spots where proponents had gathered Thursday morning awaiting the opinion, which came on a 4-3 vote.

... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310962 Thu, 15 May 2008 13:08:48 Source: [b]Reuters[/b]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A House of Representatives committee voted on Wednesday to withhold over half of about $720 million sought by the Bush administration to start building missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech Republic.


The Democratic-controlled House Armed Se... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310942 Thu, 15 May 2008 12:56:05 Source: [b]Yahoo News[/b]

[div class="excerpt"]NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sixty nine percent of Americans see gasoline prices as a serious problem for their families but only 41 percent favor a temporary repeal of the gasoline tax as proposed by presidential candidates John McCain and Hillary Clinton, a ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310897 Thu, 15 May 2008 12:29:54 Source: [b]CNN[/b]

Pelosi blasts, McCain defends Bush comments
Posted: 10:30 AM ET

From CNN Correspondent Dana Bash, CNN's Deirdre Walsh, CNN's Rebecca Sinderbrand


McCain and Pelos reacted to the president's speech.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted President Bush's comment... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310893 Thu, 15 May 2008 12:29:11 Source: [b]PRNewswire[/b]

WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today responded to President Bush's outrageous comments that according to CNN, suggested that "Democrats are in favor of 'appeasement' of terrorists in the same way U.S. leader... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310867 Thu, 15 May 2008 12:14:45 Source: [b]Washington Post[/b]

After String of Losses, Republicans Face Crisis


By Jonathan Weisman and Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, May 15, 2008; Page A01

House Republicans turned on themselves yesterday after a third straight loss of a GOP-held House seat in special... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310828 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:33 Source: [b]Seattle Times[/b]

[div class=excerpt][b]Makah judge fails to empanel jury to prosecute whalers [/b]
By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times staff reporter

They promised tough prosecution, but in the end the Makah Nation couldn't put together a jury to try five whalers who were charged with ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310804 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:33:29 Source: [b]Miami Herald[/b]

Posted on Thu, May. 15, 2008
Exile group: Not enough money getting to Cuban dissidents
BY ALFONSO CHARDY

In an already charged election year when U.S. policy toward Cuba remains a key campaign issue, a prominent exile group is calling on the Bush administration to ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310795 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:30:21 Source: [b]AP[/b]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House says the comment wasn't directed at him, but Barack Obama is taking exception to it just the same.

In a speech to Israel's parliament today, President Bush said, "Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310782 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:20:43 Source: [b]AP[/b]

WASHINGTON -

A poorly run Pentagon program for providing civilian employees in Iraq and Afghanistan with workman's compensation has allowed defense contractors and insurance companies to gouge American taxpayers, a House oversight committee said Thursday.

Insurance companies... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310770 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:13:44 Source: [b]International Herald Tribune/Associated Press[/b]

Chávez warns Colombia not to allow U.S. base

The Associated Press
Thursday, May 15, 2008
CARACAS: President Hugo Chávez warned Colombia not to allow a U.S. military base on its border with Venezuela, saying he would regard such an... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310763 Thu, 15 May 2008 11:09:17 Source: [b]USA Today[/b]

WASHINGTON — Thefts and illegal exports of advanced military night-vision gear are rising sharply and U.S. officials say some of the equipment has reached enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq, where it could erode the advantage U.S. troops have in after-dark combat.

The gover... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310746 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:55:29 Source: [b]PRNewswire[/b]

Dean: McCain Speech Highlights Hypocritical, Flawed Agenda




WASHINGTON, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During his remarks in
Ohio this morning, Senator John McCain outlined a fictional account of what
he expects the American people to believe he will do ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310745 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:55:22 Source: [b]AFP[/b]

KABUL (AFP) - There is "staggeringly high" complacency in Afghanistan about civilians being killed by international troops, police and even secret militias led by foreign intelligence units, a UN rapporteur said Thursday.

International forces have killed about 200 civilians i... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310740 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:51:29 Source: [b]Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[/b]

The United Steelworkers union today announced it is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president.

In a statement released this morning, the Pittsburgh-based union said:

"When the presidential primary contests began last year, our union felt strongly that be... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310726 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:40:14 Source: [b]Azzaman[/b]

The northern city of Mosul, home to nearly three million people, is now a city of ghosts.

As Iraqi troops, assisted by U.S. marines, intensify their attacks, severe shortages of clean water, health services and essential foods have already emerged.

...

Prime Minister... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310724 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:38:53 Source: [b]Reuters[/b]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Alaska hit a milestone on Wednesday that could be a sign of things to come around the United States this summer -- it became the first state where the average price for regular gasoline reached $4 per gallon.

"It wasn't totally unexpected," said Geo... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310683 Thu, 15 May 2008 10:03:47 Source: [b]WaPo[/b]

By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 15, 2008; Page A07

Solicitor General Paul D. Clement, a key advocate in court for the administration's counterterrorism policies, will resign from the Justice Department in early June, the department announced ye... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310650 Thu, 15 May 2008 09:36:53 Source: [b]Associated Press[/b]

PORTSMOUTH, N.H.—A New Hampshire Democratic Party delegate who had supported John Edwards says he will support Barack Obama, now that Edwards has endorsed his former political rival for the party's presidential nominee.

Joshua Denton of Portsmouth, 26, an Iraq war... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310627 Thu, 15 May 2008 09:10:56 Source: [b]AFP[/b]

WASHINGTON : US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said he thought more visits to Iran by private American citizens might help bridge differences between the two countries.

But Gates, who in 2004 advocated greater diplomatic engagement with Iran, said Wednesday he believed it wou... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310617 Thu, 15 May 2008 09:06:05 Source: [b]Chicago Tribune[/b]


[b]Anthony Harris' murder confession was coerced and inaccurate. He's suing official who used it against him.[/b]

[div class="excerpt"]The legal story of [link:www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/anthony-harris-PESPT002999.topic|Anthony Harris] began in July 1998... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310586 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:43:28 Source: [b]CNN[/b]


Bush suggests Obama wants ‘appeasement’ of terrorists
Posted: 08:49 AM ET
JERUSALEM (CNN) — In a particularly sharp blast from halfway around the world, President Bush suggested Thursday that Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats are in favor of “appeasement” of terrorists in... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310557 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:28:15 Source: [b]IHT[/b]


[div class="excerpt"]In its hunt for wealthy Americans who have stashed money overseas to evade taxes, [b]the U.S. government has turned to an [u]obscure law[/u] enacted nearly [u]four decades ago[/u][/b].

Under the law, originally aimed at rooting out laundering of drug mon... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310535 Thu, 15 May 2008 08:09:20 Source: [b]Reuters[/b]

DAMADOLA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Angry residents of a Pakistani village on the Afghan border stopped government officials on Thursday from approaching the ruins of a house struck by missiles suspected to have been fired by a U.S. drone.

Eighteen people including foreign mil... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310527 Thu, 15 May 2008 07:55:16 Source: [b]AFP[/b]

JERUSALEM (AFP) - US President George W. Bush warned on Thursday that allowing Iran to obtain a atomic bomb would be "an unforgivable betrayal" as he made his second visit to Israel in five months.

"Permitting the world's leading sponsor of terror to possess the world's deadl... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310524 Thu, 15 May 2008 07:53:34 Source: [b]AP[/b]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - John McCain, looking through a crystal ball to 2013 and the end of a prospective first term, sees "spasmodic" but reduced violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden dead or captured and government spending curbed by his ready veto pen.

The Republican pr... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310515 Thu, 15 May 2008 07:40:34 Source: [b]Reuters[/b]

China quake toll could soar to over 50,000: Xinhua
Thu May 15, 2008 7:31am EDT


BEIJING (Reuters) - The death toll from China's massive earthquake could reach more than 50,000, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday, quoting rescue headquarters.

Already... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310511 Thu, 15 May 2008 07:38:35 Source: [b]du[/b]

[font size=2][b]STOCK MARKET WATCH, Thursday May 15, 2008[/b]

[b][font color=red]COUNTING THE DAYS
DAYS REMAINING IN THE * REGIME 251 [/font][font color=red]
DAYS SINCE DEMOCRACY DIED (12/12/00) 2671 DAYS
WHERE'S OSAMA BIN-LADEN? 2396 DAYS
DAYS SINCE ENRON COLLAPSE = 2687
... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310463 Thu, 15 May 2008 05:40:27 Source: [b]Independent (UK)[/b]

Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment Minister fuelled fresh fears over the fate of the forest. The departure of Marina Silva, who admitted she was losing the battle to get... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310451 Thu, 15 May 2008 05:10:21 Source: [b]Daily Telegraph[/b]

In what is believed to be the largest ever anti-spam award, a federal judge in Los Angeles found against Sanford Wallace, and his business partner, Walter Rines, after the two failed to attend a court hearing, said MySpace.

The court heard the pair made money on a... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310438 Thu, 15 May 2008 03:56:54 Source: [b]BBC News[/b]

A new constitution proposed by Burma's military government has been overwhelmingly approved in a referendum, state media say.

Some 92.4% voted yes to the changes in a vote on Saturday.

The referendum was held in two-thirds of the country, but was postponed for two we... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310415 Thu, 15 May 2008 02:38:26 Source: [b]HNN[/b]

A number of members of SHAFR (Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations) are circulating the following petition expressing opposition to John Yoo's legal opinions on torture and executive power. The petition is prompted by SHAFR's invitation to John Yoo to serve as a ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310377 Thu, 15 May 2008 01:24:22 Source: [b]MSNBC[/b]

[i]Audio of luncheon with media military analysts posted on Newsvine
[/i]

The blogosphere has been abuzz about the Internet posting of audio of a luncheon former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld held with media military analysts that provides insight into the relationship... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310351 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:58:45 Source: [b]Reuters[/b]

[b][link:www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN1453850520080515|Accused September 11 planners set for court][/b]
Wed May 14, 2008 8:46pm EDT

By Jane Sutton

MIAMI (Reuters) - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of
masterminding the September 11 attacks, is tentatively
due ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310348 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:55:39 Source: [b]Wired[/b]

Wondering who the filmmaker is behind the 13-minute attack video A Video Portrait of Barack Hussein Obama? So were we. Though the narrator identifies himself as "Lorne Baxter," and e-mails to the production company are answered by "Rodney Talmud," it turns out the man behind th... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310299 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:09:44 Source: [b]NY Times[/b]

A Secret Service supervisor who until recently was a leader of Senator Barack Obama’s security detail sent several colleagues an e-mail message in 2005 that included a crude sexual joke about blacks and American Indians, according to documents disclosed last week as part of ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310259 Wed, 14 May 2008 23:48:05 Source: [b]New York Times[/b]

[b][link:www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/business/15countrywide.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|Judge Says Countrywide Officers Must Face Suit by Shareholders][/b]

By GRETCHEN MORGENSON
Published: May 15, 2008

Directors and officers of Countrywide Financial, the
beleagu... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3310247 Wed, 14 May 2008 23:31:46