Drudge Retort

Executions Hit 14-Year Low

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:19:25 -0500

Despite a Supreme Court ruling that backed lethal injection, the number of executions in the U.S. declined in 2008 to the lowest level since 1994. There were 37 executions, 18 of them in Texas. "Spending money on the death penalty is like building a bridge to nowhere," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. "It takes millions of taxpayer dollars to arrive at a single execution 15 years after the trial."

Franken Declares Victory

dxlingr — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:30:27 -0500

Democrat Al Franken will be declared the winner of the tight U.S. Senate contest in Minnesota, emerging from a ballot recount with a slim margin over Republican Norm Coleman, state officials said on Sunday.

Obama Picks Panetta to Head CIA

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:24:53 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Leon Panetta, who was White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, to lead the CIA, Democratic officials said on Monday.

Bush Giving Blair US Medal of Freedom

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:05:17 -0500

In his last week in office, President Bush will award the medal to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, three allies in the war on terror.

Burris: God Ordained My Selection

nanc — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:52:59 -0500

"We are hoping and praying that they will not be able to deny what the Lord has ordained," Roland Burris said. "I am not hesitating. I am now the junior Senator from the state of Illinois. Some people may want to question that and that is their prerogative."

Rodgers: Stop Picking on Jimmy Carter

moder8 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:31:24 -0500

Walter Rodgers: In this season of new resolutions, Americans would do well to rethink their perceptions of Jimmy Carter. He kept us out of endless wars. He protected the Alaskan wilderness (Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D) of Wisconsin once told me that "Carter was the greatest environmental president the country ever had.") He promoted a visionary energy policy. He countered the Soviet military threat. And since he left office, he has persistently promoted the cause of peace around the world. The landmark Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty he fashioned remains in force today.

U.S. Opens $592 Million Iraq Embassy

dxlingr — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:39:45 -0500

The United States opened its new embassy building in Baghdad Monday, a step symbolizing its transition from occupying power to an ally of a sovereign Iraqi government. The $592 million compound has 4,000 staff and becomes the largest U.S. embassy in the world.

Playing Golf May Damage Hearing

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:35:21 -0500

The sound made by striking thin-faced titanium clubs can damage your hearing, according to a new study by ear, nose and throat doctors. "Our results show that thin-faced titanium drivers may produce sufficient sound to induce temporary or even permanent cochlear damage in susceptible individuals," said Dr Malcom Buchanan, the lead researcher. The loudest club was the Ping G10.

Obama Seeks $310 Billion in Tax Cuts

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:13:17 -0500

President-elect Barack Obama is seeking as much as $310 billion in tax cuts as part of a massive stimulus plan to counter what senior policymakers warned could be a prolonged period of economic stagnation and deflation.

Army Builds $13 Million Arcade to Recruit

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:39:19 -0500

The Army has set up a $13 million video arcade in Philadelphia, hoping that it become a model for attracting more recruits in urban areas. "We're basically a learning lab for the military, a way for us to interact with kids and find out what they're interested in," said First Sgt. Randy Jennings.

Bush 41: Jeb Bush for President

Zap — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:31:45 -0500

Former President George H. W. Bush said his son Jeb should run for president and blasted the New York Times for its "grossly unfair" criticism of his son President George W. Bush.

'There Were Shells, Rockets Everywhere'

zap — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:31:12 -0500

"It has never been like this before," Hazem Balousha reports from Gaza City. "The assault is coming from the sky, the sea and the ground. The explosion of shells, the gunfire from the tanks, the missiles from planes and helicopters, are all incessant. The sky is laced with smoke, gray here, black there, as the array of weaponry leaves its distinctive trail."

Obamas Arrive in Washington

rcade — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:27:41 -0500

President-elect Obama arrived in Washington Sunday, setting up temporary quarters at the Hay-Adams Hotel as onlookers lined up outside to greet his arrival. The Obamas timed their arrival so that daughters Sascha and Malia could start school today at Sidwell Friends.

Army Investigates Recruiter Suicides

dethspud — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:33:42 -0500

The Army is investigating a cluster of suicides in the Houston Recruiting Battalion, where five soldiers have taken their own lives since 2001. Nationally, 17 recruiters have committed suicide during the same period. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has called for an inquiry.