THE FLASHLIGHT, September 6-12, 2008
THE FLASHLIGHT
September 6 – 12, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor
mary@matossian.net, Apt. 9-M
US Politics
CNN 9-5. Obama cited economic problems, saying that 600,000 jobs have been lost so far this year. He said that in McCain’s 26 years in Washington he has always voted against tax credits for the developers of wind, and solar energy. The US has only 3-4% of the world’s oil reserves, but it consumes 25% of the world’s oil, so more drilling will not solve its problem. A record number of homes are in foreclosure. Obama promised to cut taxes for 95% of working families and for small businesses and startups.
PBS 9-8, Obama and McCain were in a dead heat. Sarah Palin stirred up the Republican base, but not by attracting women. As to reputation as a national unifier Obama is far ahead of McCain. [This is a major issue for independent voters].
CNN 9-10. Distribution of electoral votes for those states which are safe or leaning to presidential candidates: Obama, 243, McCain 189. Tossups: 106.
WPost 9-12. Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, sought to reassure Democrats that while the McCain campaign is issuing a blizzard of lies, smears, and distractions, they will be answered soon in two new TV adds. He said that McCain is out of touch with reality because he has not been able to address the real issues. There have been no significant changes in McCain’s positions over the present administration’s policies on the economy, energy, health care, education or Iraq. Plouffe also said that corporate lobbyists are running the McCain campaign, and that they do not intend to put themselves out of business.
US Economy
NYTimes, PBS 9-7. The Federal Government took over Fannie May and Freddie Mac, which together held half of US mortgages. They had $12 billion in losses. The top officers of these companies were replaced by federal regulators. Commentators blamed the present government for failing to regulate these companies earlier.
Israel/Palestine
Haaretz (Tel Aviv) 9-7. Prime Minister Olmert said that Israel must now prepare for the evacuation of West Bank settlers. He suggested offering cash incentives for the settlers to move voluntarily.
A Fatah leader Hassan Khader, recently released from an Israeli prisoner as part of the prisoner exchange, said that Israel, after two years of negotiations, had made no significant concessions. He warned that the next Palestinian uprising would involve missiles and chemical weapons
Iraq
Michael Schwartz, War without End, as reported in Tom@Dispatch.com.
US military “success” in establishing better security has freed the Maliki government to take stronger nationalist positions on oil and trade. The Maliki government and its allies are now demanding that all US troops be out of Iraq by 2011. Maliki wants to exclude the US from contracts to develop Iraq’s major oil field. The “surge” strategy may be the nail in the coffin of US hopes for dominance in the Middle East. Iranian exports now dominate the Iraqi markets.
September 6 – 12, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor
mary@matossian.net, Apt. 9-M
US Politics
CNN 9-5. Obama cited economic problems, saying that 600,000 jobs have been lost so far this year. He said that in McCain’s 26 years in Washington he has always voted against tax credits for the developers of wind, and solar energy. The US has only 3-4% of the world’s oil reserves, but it consumes 25% of the world’s oil, so more drilling will not solve its problem. A record number of homes are in foreclosure. Obama promised to cut taxes for 95% of working families and for small businesses and startups.
PBS 9-8, Obama and McCain were in a dead heat. Sarah Palin stirred up the Republican base, but not by attracting women. As to reputation as a national unifier Obama is far ahead of McCain. [This is a major issue for independent voters].
CNN 9-10. Distribution of electoral votes for those states which are safe or leaning to presidential candidates: Obama, 243, McCain 189. Tossups: 106.
WPost 9-12. Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, sought to reassure Democrats that while the McCain campaign is issuing a blizzard of lies, smears, and distractions, they will be answered soon in two new TV adds. He said that McCain is out of touch with reality because he has not been able to address the real issues. There have been no significant changes in McCain’s positions over the present administration’s policies on the economy, energy, health care, education or Iraq. Plouffe also said that corporate lobbyists are running the McCain campaign, and that they do not intend to put themselves out of business.
US Economy
NYTimes, PBS 9-7. The Federal Government took over Fannie May and Freddie Mac, which together held half of US mortgages. They had $12 billion in losses. The top officers of these companies were replaced by federal regulators. Commentators blamed the present government for failing to regulate these companies earlier.
Israel/Palestine
Haaretz (Tel Aviv) 9-7. Prime Minister Olmert said that Israel must now prepare for the evacuation of West Bank settlers. He suggested offering cash incentives for the settlers to move voluntarily.
A Fatah leader Hassan Khader, recently released from an Israeli prisoner as part of the prisoner exchange, said that Israel, after two years of negotiations, had made no significant concessions. He warned that the next Palestinian uprising would involve missiles and chemical weapons
Iraq
Michael Schwartz, War without End, as reported in Tom@Dispatch.com.
US military “success” in establishing better security has freed the Maliki government to take stronger nationalist positions on oil and trade. The Maliki government and its allies are now demanding that all US troops be out of Iraq by 2011. Maliki wants to exclude the US from contracts to develop Iraq’s major oil field. The “surge” strategy may be the nail in the coffin of US hopes for dominance in the Middle East. Iranian exports now dominate the Iraqi markets.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 8:56 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home