The Flashlight, October 14-20, 2006
THE FLASHLIGHT, October 14-20, 2006
Iraq
10-16 CNN. Insurgents have been on a rampage in Iraq, especially in Baghdad. Influential Republican Senators Warner and Hagel say that a strategic change of course is needed. Two third of Americans, and 70% of American women now oppose the war.
A group of home-grown Sunni insurgents are offering to negotiate directly with the US. They condemn Iranian aid to Shias.
PBS. Prof. Juan Cole, U. of Mich., blames Shias and Kurds for surge in violence because they are “cocky” and won’t compromise with the Sunnis. He calls for the start of a phased withdrawal to put pressure on the Shias and Kurds.
10-17 CNN. The Maliki government will not let US troops enter Sadr City in Baghdad (2 million) pop and won’t disarm Shia militias.
UN/ North Korea
10-15 CNN. The UN Security Council unanimously voted to condemn North Korea for its nuclear bomb test.
` 10-17. North Korea is reportedly preparing for a second nuclear test..
Nobel Peace Prize
10-13 PBS. Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi economist. awarded the prize for distributing microloans to the poor. No collateral was required, but three village sponsors had to guarantee the loan. More than 90% of the loans have gone to women, and 98% of recipients repaid them. This idea has spread throughout the developing world because it is much more efficient than large loans to governments and corporations, which often are corrupt and wasteful.
US Politics:
Dissatisfied Christian Republicans
10-13 PBS and NY Times 10-14. David Kuo, former official in White House Faith Based Initiatives Program, published a book, Tempting Faith, saying the program is mainly intended to woo voters, but little is done for the poor. Focus is on anti-gay efforts. These efforts no longer arouse Conservatives; moreover, pro-gay advocates are now equally committed and organized. Kuo advocates that evangelical Christians “fast” (withdraw) from politics for two years.
The Election – General
10-16. NYT and W Post. The Republican National Committee is now focusing attention on the Senate where their prospects are better than in the House. The Democrats feel sure about gaining eleven seats in the House. Both sides are pouring money into negative ads.
10-17. K. H. Jamieson on PBS. The Democrats’ message is clear. The bad situation in Iraq is to their advantage.
10-18. NYTimes. Voters believe Democrats are more likely than Republicans to create jobs and are less prone to political corruption.
10-19. PBS. Only 16% now approve of the job done by the present Congress.
10-20 CNN. Now 55 Republican House seats are competitive. Only 15 need to be won by Democrats to take control of the House. The main reason is that overall voters intensely want change.
Election Races
10-16 CNN. The Republicans seem resigned to losing Senate seats in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Democratic Senate candidates are ahead in Tennessee and Missouri, and the vote is too close to call in Virginia.
10-20 CNN. Senator Lieberman has a 17 point leader over Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Senate race. Lieberman has drawn strength from both Independents and Republicans. However, he has promised to keep his identity Democratic.
Political Forecast if Democrats Win
10-18. W Post. Democrats will probably pass legislation to raise the minimum wage, enable the government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices of Medicare drugs, replenish student loan funds, promote stem cell research, and implement all recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. They will oppose the enlargement of the President’s powers in security matters at the expense of civil liberties. They will revise House rules so that opposition party can introduce amendments and sit on conference committees. They will boost funding of alternative energy. This would force Senator McCain, most likely Republican candidate for president in 2008, to take positions on popular issues.
Other US News
10-15 CNN. There was a 6.7 earthquake in Hawaii causing road and building damage, power outages, and injuries, but no deaths.
10-15 CNN There has been an increase in violent crime in the US, especially in mid-sized cities. More people are being murdered annually than those killed by the 9-11 attacks.
10-16, PBS, Congress has voted to block gambling on the Internet by forbidding banking transactions. But mere prohibition is not likely to stop it.
10-17. NY Times. Both married and single parents are spending at least as much time with their children as they did forty years ago. There has been a sharp increase in the amount of housework and child care performed by fathers.
10-17 CNN and PBS.. The US population passed the 300 million mark. It passed the 200 million mark in 1967. The growth is mainly in the Southeast and Southwest, not on the coasts. Married couple households are now in a minority.
Interracial marriage is increasing.
Iraq
10-16 CNN. Insurgents have been on a rampage in Iraq, especially in Baghdad. Influential Republican Senators Warner and Hagel say that a strategic change of course is needed. Two third of Americans, and 70% of American women now oppose the war.
A group of home-grown Sunni insurgents are offering to negotiate directly with the US. They condemn Iranian aid to Shias.
PBS. Prof. Juan Cole, U. of Mich., blames Shias and Kurds for surge in violence because they are “cocky” and won’t compromise with the Sunnis. He calls for the start of a phased withdrawal to put pressure on the Shias and Kurds.
10-17 CNN. The Maliki government will not let US troops enter Sadr City in Baghdad (2 million) pop and won’t disarm Shia militias.
UN/ North Korea
10-15 CNN. The UN Security Council unanimously voted to condemn North Korea for its nuclear bomb test.
` 10-17. North Korea is reportedly preparing for a second nuclear test..
Nobel Peace Prize
10-13 PBS. Muhammad Yunus, Bangladeshi economist. awarded the prize for distributing microloans to the poor. No collateral was required, but three village sponsors had to guarantee the loan. More than 90% of the loans have gone to women, and 98% of recipients repaid them. This idea has spread throughout the developing world because it is much more efficient than large loans to governments and corporations, which often are corrupt and wasteful.
US Politics:
Dissatisfied Christian Republicans
10-13 PBS and NY Times 10-14. David Kuo, former official in White House Faith Based Initiatives Program, published a book, Tempting Faith, saying the program is mainly intended to woo voters, but little is done for the poor. Focus is on anti-gay efforts. These efforts no longer arouse Conservatives; moreover, pro-gay advocates are now equally committed and organized. Kuo advocates that evangelical Christians “fast” (withdraw) from politics for two years.
The Election – General
10-16. NYT and W Post. The Republican National Committee is now focusing attention on the Senate where their prospects are better than in the House. The Democrats feel sure about gaining eleven seats in the House. Both sides are pouring money into negative ads.
10-17. K. H. Jamieson on PBS. The Democrats’ message is clear. The bad situation in Iraq is to their advantage.
10-18. NYTimes. Voters believe Democrats are more likely than Republicans to create jobs and are less prone to political corruption.
10-19. PBS. Only 16% now approve of the job done by the present Congress.
10-20 CNN. Now 55 Republican House seats are competitive. Only 15 need to be won by Democrats to take control of the House. The main reason is that overall voters intensely want change.
Election Races
10-16 CNN. The Republicans seem resigned to losing Senate seats in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Democratic Senate candidates are ahead in Tennessee and Missouri, and the vote is too close to call in Virginia.
10-20 CNN. Senator Lieberman has a 17 point leader over Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Senate race. Lieberman has drawn strength from both Independents and Republicans. However, he has promised to keep his identity Democratic.
Political Forecast if Democrats Win
10-18. W Post. Democrats will probably pass legislation to raise the minimum wage, enable the government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices of Medicare drugs, replenish student loan funds, promote stem cell research, and implement all recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. They will oppose the enlargement of the President’s powers in security matters at the expense of civil liberties. They will revise House rules so that opposition party can introduce amendments and sit on conference committees. They will boost funding of alternative energy. This would force Senator McCain, most likely Republican candidate for president in 2008, to take positions on popular issues.
Other US News
10-15 CNN. There was a 6.7 earthquake in Hawaii causing road and building damage, power outages, and injuries, but no deaths.
10-15 CNN There has been an increase in violent crime in the US, especially in mid-sized cities. More people are being murdered annually than those killed by the 9-11 attacks.
10-16, PBS, Congress has voted to block gambling on the Internet by forbidding banking transactions. But mere prohibition is not likely to stop it.
10-17. NY Times. Both married and single parents are spending at least as much time with their children as they did forty years ago. There has been a sharp increase in the amount of housework and child care performed by fathers.
10-17 CNN and PBS.. The US population passed the 300 million mark. It passed the 200 million mark in 1967. The growth is mainly in the Southeast and Southwest, not on the coasts. Married couple households are now in a minority.
Interracial marriage is increasing.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 5:13 PM
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