LP's blog

It's been well documented that President Bush is one of the worst Presidents when it comes to environmental issues. Take a look at the Bush Record from the National Resources Defense Council. It only goes from 2001 to 2005, but it highlights all the environmentally-damaging programs that have happened under Bush.

But now, he has done something spectactular -- something that is very, very good for the environment. Bush has declared an area over 1200 nautical miles (1400 miles) near Hawaii a national monument. The monument is 100 times larger than Yosemite National Park.  Read More »

I know that there are those who believe that any enemy combantant who is in prison don't deserve to have any basic civil rights. While they deserve to have many of their rights revoked while in prison, and depending on the crime, some even when they leave prison, they are still human.

That is why the abuses at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay are so shocking. The US military is not only sayng that these prisoners don't deserve any basic rights (beyond the right to eat, drink and sleep), but they trample on rights that should be guaranteed under not only the Geneva Convention, but US law.  Read More »

Every day, it seems the news gets worse and worse out of Somalia. From 20 years of chaos and no government to speak of to the current struggle between warlords and Islamists, nothing seems to go right in the East African nation.

Ted Koppel took a look at the disastrous results of US policy on NPR with Somalia: Decades of Unintended Consequences. The commentary -- more effective via the audio version than the written -- speaks of the Cold War-era weapons that are still killing and maiming Somalis. It speaks of the infamous Black Hawk Down incident.  Read More »

All day long, I avoided news of the game.  I told people not to give me hints.  I said not to tell me if it was a good game, a bad game, if it was a 0-0 game or a 5-0 blowout either way.  I told people to not even think about the game while near me, for fear of suddenly gaining psychic powers.

Then I went home (actually to my grandma's house), popped in the tape and ... proceeded to watch the US soccer team be dismantled by the far-superior Czech squad.  It was, as the Albuquerque Journal front page said, a "Reality Czech."  Read More »

We're going to send another $65.8 billion to Iraq. Yup, that war that was supposed to fund itself when we got there is going to cost us another $65.8 billion. That brings the official tally up to $320 billion (according to the AP). Meanwhile, other programs are suffering.

Not to mention the human toll, with 2400+ US soldiers dead, tens of thousands wounded and God-knows how many civilian casualties.  Read More »

One of the most controversial governemnt programs of the past decade has been the NSA's warrantless wiretapping. Despite the fact that the US Constitution directly bans all warrantless wiretapping, proponents say it is an American practice.

Or sometimes they even believe that it is legal.

The administration has acknowledged eavesdropping on Americans' international communications without first seeking court approval. President Bush has said the eavesdropping is legal because of a congressional resolution passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that authorized him to use force in the fight against terrorism.  Read More »

Before I start, I just want to say that National Geographic -- yes, National Geographic had some great features on the World Cup this month. Check it out.

After three days of matches, here are my initial impressions:

Anyone who isn't cheering for Ivory Coast after their match with Argentina obviously didn't watch that match. Like Senegal in the 2002 World Cup, Ivory Coast is filled with very skilled, creative players. They are like a less-team oriented Brazil. Too bad they have to play in the Group of Death.  Read More »

You support the troops by wearing yellow ribbons?
Just bring home my motherfucking brothers and sisters.
-Sage Francis, Slow Down Gandhi

I found this while reading Think Progress. It looks like we may not be standing down as the Iraqis stand up like President Bush has been saying ... forever.  Read More »