MichPundit

2005-03-10T00:44:00.000-05:00

Kyrgyzstan upate from The Argus

2005-03-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

La Shawn Barber writes an excellent piece on black conservatives and black liberals.

Certain blacks have convinced themselves and will try to convince anyone who’ll listen that the scourge of racism is a hovering dark cloud forever impeding the black man’s success. I know people on and offline who think and talk this way, to varying degrees. The underlying message is the same: whites will not “allow” blacks to achieve. A perfect example is Tavis Smiley’s “State of the Black Union.” Twenty minutes into the video, I already know where it’s going. But I will continue to watch and listen. Begrudgingly.

2005-03-09T21:39:00.000-05:00

Cox & Forkum doing great work as usual.

2005-03-09T20:52:00.000-05:00

Great post by Bolivian blogger Miguel Buitrago that shines some light into Bolivian politics.

2005-03-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

Kyrgyzstan update.

2005-03-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Forbe Magazine's Dan Ackman has a great article on the Bankruptcy Bill, earlier posted.

Bankruptcy filers have an average income of just $25,000, according to the study by Harvard Law School and Medical School professors published in Health Affairs. An open letter by 92 law professors attacking the bill says, "In our view, the fundamental change over the last ten years has been the way that credit is marketed to consumers. Credit card lenders have become more aggressive in marketing their products, and a large, very profitable, market has emerged in subprime lending. Increased risk is part of the business model."

2005-03-09T19:06:00.000-05:00

U.S. to open free trade talks with Middle East

The Bush administration, seeking to provide economic support for democracy in the Middle East, is launching another round of free trade talks in the region. An Egyptian official says he believes his country's own negotiations with the United States will start soon.

The obvious conclusion one should take from this is that this is a great thing. For democracies to suceed, they must have a sucessful economy. I believe in the principle of "the freer the market, the freer the people." Hopefully we will enter in a MEFTA of sorts to support the democracies that will hopefully be popping up in the region.

2005-03-09T16:47:00.000-05:00

Just One Minute reports that a blogger is being sued by a columnist.

A blogger is being threatened with legal action for (a) a statement made on his blog which could be viewed as defamatory, and (b) violating copyright by re-printing an e-mail. How will the blogosphere react?

How indeed? Given the personalities involved, it is an interesting guess. The blogger in question is Don Luskin, who has been contacted by the publisher of Paul Krugman's textbook.

2005-03-09T16:23:00.000-05:00

Lebanon is beginning to plan for their future.

Opposition lawmakers, who hold about a third of the seats in the 128-member parliament, are not proposing a candidate for prime minister. Instead, they have a list of demands including an international investigation into the Hariri killing, which they blame on Syria. Damascus denies involvement.

One opposition member of parliament and leader of the Christian community, Samir Frangie, is dismissive of President Lahoud.

"Lahoud, at the end, is a Syrian creation. He has nothing to do with the reality of our society," he said.

2005-03-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

Tribute to Dan Rather courtesy of the Right Wing Nut House.

2005-03-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

Hashem Aghajari, a professor that was sentenced to death for "blasphemy" in Iran has been released.

Aghajari, who lost a leg fighting in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, drew the wrath of powerful hardliners in 2002 when he said in a speech that Muslims were not "monkeys" and "should not blindly follow" religious leaders.

It is hard to say that justice has been served. The man spent 23 months in jail, and according to the article, "much of it in solitary confinement."

2005-03-09T13:15:00.000-05:00

Central African Republic: On the verge of democracy?

Bozize promised to bring the country to democratic elections. The vote, although twice delayed, has now been set for Sunday.

Of an initial 15 candidates for the presidency, the list is now down to 11 after some, including Patasse, now exiled in Togo, were disqualified from standing.

2005-03-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

Looks like the "Bankruptcy Bill" will pass.

MORE:Daily Kos has a good post about this bill. Very long, but very informative. I think this bill getting passed only feeds fuel to notion that Republicans are the party of rich white guys. The Republicans are making a huge mistake in supporting this bill. I'm a Republican, but this is outrageous.

MORE: here.

UPDATE: This makes me sick.

To protect servicemembers and veterans from means testing in bankruptcy, to disallow certain claims by lenders charging usurious interest rates to servicemembers, and to allow servicemembers to exempt property based on the law of the State of their premilitary residence.

I am truely ashamed to call myself a Republican when only one Republican, Arlen Specter, has the sense to honor our veterans and current servicemembers. This is just shocking news to me.

Good to see Debbie Stabenow voted for this bill. Doubt I'll vote for her in '06, though.

2005-03-09T07:58:00.000-05:00

Nepalese Waiting for a Democracy Leader

More than a month after King Gyanendra took over control of Nepal and imposed a state of emergency, many Nepalese are craving democracy, despite disillusionment with the country's first 14 years of democratic rule.

I think everyone is coming to the realization that Bush was right on democracy around the world. It is indisputable that Bush has at least some part in this. The power of our words are showing.

2005-03-09T07:49:00.000-05:00

It is Dan Rather's last night in the chair for CBS.

2005-03-09T00:19:00.000-05:00

The Prime Minister of Kosovo has resigned:

Kosovo's guerrilla-turned-prime-minister Ramush Haradinaj was charged with war crimes yesterday in a move that could provoke renewed ethnic conflict across the Balkan province.

In an attempt to prevent the outbreak of violent protests against the indictment, more than 1,000 extra troops, including 500 British Royal Green Jackets, have been flown into Kosovo in the past few days, increasing Nato's presence to 20,000.

2005-03-08T23:30:00.000-05:00

Here are photos of the vehicle used by Italian intelligence agents to transport Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist who writes for a Communist newspaper back in her home country of Italy.

Question: Where is the damage? Do you believe Sgrena's story that 300 to 400 shots were fired into her car?

2005-03-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

The European Union has weighed in on the Tajik elections

2005-03-08T22:53:00.000-05:00

Kyrgyzstan update from The Argus.

UPDATE: Great article from Eurasianet.org

Protests in southern and eastern Kyrgyzstan have put President Askar Akayev on the defensive, as the country prepares for the second-round of parliamentary election. A lack of unity, however, is preventing opposition leaders from honing a cohesive message that could attract the support of a critical mass of the Kyrgyz population, political analysts say.

2005-03-08T22:42:00.000-05:00

Bolivian lawmakers rejected the resignation of President Carlos Mesa. Check out "MABB" for continous updates on the Bolivian story. Mr. Buitrago is a Bolivian blogger who has a great deal of insight on the matter.