The above is from Laith Hammoudi's "the old child" (Inside Iraq, McClatchy Newspapers). Turning to print, the Los Angeles Times appears to be the only paper interested in Iraq today. They do know it's the locale of an ongoing war, right? Forget "illegal" if that's too much for other papers. The US declared war on Iraq. The war continues. It's just the coverage that's vanished. From Caesar Ahmed and Ned Parker's "In Iraq, Muslims hope for calm during Ramadan:"
Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, when the prophet Muhammad is said to have received the first revelation of the Koran. The faithful mark the period by asking forgiveness for their sins, performing good deeds and helping the poor.
Ramadan began in Iraq on Monday for Sunni Arabs and Tuesday for the Shiite majority, determined by each sect's senior clerics receiving reports of the sighting of the crescent moon.
"This Ramadan, we have confidence in our government," said Akram Nouri, a political science professor at Baghdad University, who was walking on a quiet street in the capital's Karada district. "We feel they are capable of managing any riot that may occur. There are many changes. The displaced are returning to their homes."
Qassim Mohammed, who owns a clothing shop in Karada, said that he appreciated the decrease in violence, but he still wished for a steady supply of electricity -- the extreme heat during blackouts, even with generators, makes fasting difficult.
"Of course this makes Ramadan even harder for us," he said. "We want better services and most importantly electricity."
Meanwhile Anna Johnson (AP) reports on a shootout between the US and Iraqi forces -- yes, "between" the two -- that resulted in the deaths of at least 6 Iraqis and involved US boats, US helicopters (two) and who knows what else. Johnson reports the dead includes 2 Iraqi police officers, 2 Iraqi soldiers and 2 "Awakening" Council members. Reuters reports 10 more Iraqis were wounded.
Noon PST (two Central, three EST), Dissident Voice's Joshua Frank will be among the guests on KPFA's Against The Grain.
Ralph Nader is running for president. Matt Gonzalez is his running mate. They are pursuing ballot access and today should add another state. Kyle highlights this from Team Nader:
Nader/Gonzalez Campaign Files for Kentucky Ballot Line
Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: (Washington) Chris Driscoll, 202-360-3273, chris@votenader.org;
(KY) Jim Wiese 859-229-7284, wiese@votenader.org.
NADER/GONZALEZ CAMPAIGN FILES FOR KENTUCKY BALLOT LINE
The Nader/Gonzalez presidential campaign will submit petitions to the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office Wed. September 3, to place Ralph Nader and running-mate Matt Gonzalez on the state's November 2008 election ballot.
To qualify to appear on Kentucky's ballot, state law requires submission of the signatures of 5,000 registered voters. The Nader/Gonzalez Campaign will submit around 12,500 signatures, which evidences an overwhelming show of support. Voters are clearly stating that they do not want to be restricted to only two choices on the ballot in November.
Jim Wiese, Nader/Gonzalez Kentucky coordinator, will host a news conference at 3 p.m. Wednesday, at the Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Branch, 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 148, Frankfort, KY 40601.
A broad range of issues face Kentucky voters this election. Kentucky has one of the nation's highest illiteracy rates, compounded by fluctuating, and sometimes frozen, teacher salaries. Coal strip mining continues in Eastern Kentucky, despite its devastating effects on the environment. Lastly, a universal health care plan is definitely needed in a state which holds a high incidence of diabetes cases.
Nader/Gonzalez favors a Canadian-style, private delivery, free choice of hospital and doctor, public health insurance system.
For more on solutions Nader and Gonzalez offer that Obama and McCain have taken "off the table," visit: votenader.org/issues.
With the Nader/Gonzalez ticket on the ballot, Kentuckians will now two champions of working families to vote for.
WHO: the Kentucky Nader/Gonzalez 2008 Campaign
WHAT: News Conference and nominating petitions submission
WHEN: 3p.m., Wed. Sept. 3, 2008
WHERE: Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Branch, 700 Capital Avenue, Suite 148, Frankfort, KY 40601.
About Ralph Nader
Attorney, author, and consumer advocate Ralph Nader has been named by Time Magazine one of the "100 Most Influential Americans in the 20th Century." For more than four decades he has exposed problems and organized millions of citizens into more than 100 public interest groups advocating solutions. He led the movement to establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and was instrumental in enacting the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and countless other pieces of important consumer legislation. Because of Ralph Nader we drive safer cars, eat healthier food, breathe better air, drink cleaner water, and work in safer environments. Nader graduated from Princeton University and received an LL.B from Harvard Law School.
About Matt Gonzalez
Matt Gonzalez was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2000 representing San Francisco's fifth council district. From 2003 to 2005, he served as Board of Supervisors President. A former public defender, Gonzalez is managing partner of Gonzalez & Leigh, a 7-attorney practice in San Francisco that represents individuals and organizations in mediation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings before state and federal regulatory bodies. Gonzalez graduated from Columbia University and received a JD from Stanford Law School.
About the Nader/Gonzalez Campaign
According to a CNN-Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted from July 27-29, Ralph Nader is at 6 percent nationally (equivalent to about 10 million eligible voters), higher than his highest major poll numbers during the same time period in 2000 and approaching the 10 percent threshold required for eligibility to participate in "America's Presidential Debate in New Orleans," a Google-sponsored event scheduled for September 18. In the key swing state of Michigan -- whose Democratic voters were partially disenfranchised by the Democratic National Committee -- an EPIC-MRA poll found Nader at 8-10 percent.
For more information on the Nader/Gonzalez campaign, visit: votenader.org.
I am noting this from John McCain's campaign:
Remarks by Cindy McCain and the First Lady
By Press Office
September 1, 2008
Remarks of the First Lady
Thank you.
Like many of you, the president and I were preparing to come to Minnesota together to enjoy a convention experience that would nominate John McCain and Sarah Palin to be our next President and Vice President of the United States.
But as we all know, events in the gulf coast region have changed the focus of our attention.
Our first priority for today and in the coming days is to ensure the safety and well-being of those living in the gulf coast region. And to all of those living in the gulf states, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
The effect of Hurricane Gustav is just now being measured.
When such events occur, we are reminded that first, we are all Americans – and that our shared American ideals will always transcend political parties and partisanship.
We hope that the people on the gulf coast know that the American people are here to do what we can to assist them. President Bush has been speaking with officials in the region to ask what they need from the federal government. And today he visited the emergency operations center in Austin, which is helping to coordinate efforts among federal, state and local officials.
During our time in the White House, I have had the pleasure of getting to know each one of the governors of the gulf coast states.
They are all wonderful leaders and wanted to be with us today, but we all know it was far more important that they remain in their states to provide strong leadership and management of this crisis.
Four of these gulf coast governors have taped messages for us. As I am sure you can understand, Governor Jindal could not participate.
So please listen to these important messages from these four great governors.
Let's listen to what they have to say.
Remarks by Cindy McCain
I am so proud to standing next to Mrs. Bush as we work together to extend our support to relief efforts in the gulf.
As each of the gulf coast governors just expressed to us, their challenges will continue in the days ahead. I would ask that each one of us commit to join together to aid those in need as quickly as possible. As John has been saying for the last several days, this is a time when we take off our republican hats and put on our American hats.
In that spirit, we'd like to ask that you go to a website called "cause greater" – or www.causegreater.com -- that will allow all of us to aid those who have been affected by Hurricane Gustav.
Although the task of helping the region recover from this disaster is too large for any one individual or organization, together we can accomplish so much to help those who have been affected.
This fund will play an important role in contributing to other relief efforts already underway.
Today - and in the coming days - let us work together to provide those affected with the means to restore and rebuild their communities. The charities listed on the screen behind us have been identified by each of the gulf coast governors to accept donations of funds, clothing, and other necessary and much needed supplies.
As you can - as you are willing, please support these important efforts.
Thank you.
Now if you're confused as to why that's noted, you're not paying attention. I'm not voting for McCain. But isn't it strange after all last week's garbage that other speeches aren't noted? Laura Bush is a First Lady. Yes, Laura Bush spoke last night, to introduce her husband. But she and and Cindy McCain spoke on Monday as well. It's certainly interesting what passes for news and what doesn't. Michelle Obama? Amy Trash Goodman (chatting on air with a PEDOPHILE today) thinks it's news when a possible First Lady speaks -- or at least does when it's Michelle Obama. (Offering that hideous and pathetic anti-woman speech.) It's a changing standard because Laura Bush IS a First Lady and Cindy's position in her husband's campaign is the exact same as Michelle's. Some things are 'news' and some things aren't when you are not really just a journalist. Probably explains how Larry F**nt's little buddy Amy Goodman can chat it up with known pedophiles.
John McCain is the presumed GOP nominee. He has announced Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Below is a photo from the McCain-Palin campaign of Govenor Palin with First Lady Laura Bush and Cindy.
Palin is set to speak tonight. Again, I noted the above. And will continue if the media can't establish a set criteria of standards and stick with them. I have stated I'm not voting for McCain since 2004. This is not about who you vote for, it's about the decay of journalistic standards. And the H**tler publishing Amy Goodman leads the way on the decay. [And noted here before but in case anyone hasn't seen it before. I know Cindy McCain, I have tremendous respect for the work she's done and think she's a wonderful person. That said, I'm not voting for her husband.]
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