Just a quick roundup of a few news items...
One of the most interesting news items from New Orleans: police killed five gunmen who attacked a convoy of contractors with police escort. I don't trust the police statement to be entirely accurate. Why would a group of eight people attack a police convoy? What the hell happened?
Also, every time there's a major disaster, some extremist nut says it wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the existence of totally unrelated people and policies he wants you to hate. The hurricane was no exception, and we see Rick Scarborough, "Christian" preacher blaming the hurricane on gays, sex education, religious freedom, and Israel's evacuation of the Gaza Strip. Before we dismiss this guy as just a kook, note that he has "close ties to ... Tom DeLay and influential Senate conservatives", and as Blumenthal reports in the first link, he is holding a conference at which speakers will include notable Congressmen and media pundits.
Following the death of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Bush's has nominated John G. Roberts, his intended replacement for retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to replace Rehnquist as the Chief Justice. The argument over whether to confirm Roberts is likely to shift into high gear. There will be some pressure to see Roberts as an appropriate drop-in replacement for the right-wing Rehnquist, but Democrats who have opposed him should continue their opposition if they have any honesty in their sense of values. CNN has a must-read article called "5 things you should know about Roberts", and US News and World Report has an interesting article on past Supreme Court nomination battles.
Important news that has been ignored because of the hurricane: Pentagon whistleblower Bunnatine Greenhouse has been demoted, likely in retaliation for complaining about possible profiteering by Halliburton.
And in something that isn't that big in the great scheme of things but a lot of us in the Bay Area care about anyway, former 49er great Jerry Rice is retiring.
Posted by Warrior Tang at September 5, 2005 11:25 AM
I thought Rice had already retired? Shows what I know about football.
Posted by: Aris_TGD at September 5, 2005 04:25 PM