This from the NY Times:

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Injecting himself directly into the presidential campaign and speaking before one of its most crucial constituencies, Jewish voters, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on Friday morning forcefully rejected what he called a “whisper campaign” in the Jewish community linking Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to Islam.

Mr. Bloomberg, who has been occasionally mentioned as a potential running mate for both Mr. Obama and Senator John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, told an audience of Jewish residents here that rumors that Mr. Obama is a Muslim represent “wedge politics at its worst, and we have to reject it loudly, clearly and unequivocally.”

He added: “Let’s call those rumors what they are: lies.”

I have been a happy Dish Network subscriber since 2001. I am currently using the ViP622 DVR and love it. People who believe that satellite broadcasts break up much in bad weather are just falling for the same old lie from the cable company. Sure there are times, but they are rare. The local Atlanta HD channels, HDNet, HBO-HD, and other channels look incredible.

Also, if Dish has more HD channels than DirecTV, and Dish is a small American-owned company. News Corp., run by Rupert Murdoch (Fox Noise Network, etc.), owns DirecTV. So if you like right-wing causes, be sure to get DirecTV. However, if you just want the best HD service available in the US, go for Dish.

Disclaimer: I am not a stockholder in this company and have no connection other than liking the service I get for the money I pay.

Dish Network ViP722 - PC Magazine

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,...

The high-definition digital video recorder (DVR) has become an essential ingredient of today's home-entertainment setup, enjoying an important place alongside the mighty HDTV, which is, of course, the centerpiece. And no other manufacturer's HD DVRs have set the benchmark quite as high as those from Dish Network. The company's latest model, the ViP722, is pretty much the same as the versatile, cutting-edge ViP622 except for a new look and increased storage. All the features of its predecessor are here, including the ability to record simultaneously from two televisions, as well as receive or record MPEG-4 satellite broadcasts. Basically, it's even more of an already good thing....

It is widely expected that Bush will officially announce a troop surge in Iraq this week. I see it as his final futile attempt to redeem himself in history while risking more lives lost. I am in good company, although I find no joy in it.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a former four-star, said a surge had been tried in Baghdad--and had failed last fall--and would only further delay Iraqis in taking control of their own security. Powell added, a little pointedly, that he had not heard any generals ask for more troops--an oblique way of hinting that the President was saying one thing about who was deciding troop levels but doing another. [Time]

I am not a world leader or a diplomat. I have no idea how we leave this war, but I have opposed it from the start. I do know that "stay the course" has not worked. All the Iraqis have to do is wait until we leave, and we will leave sooner or later. Will we play hell by leaving? Yes, but Bush started the hell by invading Iraq under the influence of people associated with the American Enterprise Institute, a right-wing "think tank" and very bad intelligence.

Remember right-wingnut, Ann Coulter's advice on September 12, 2001?

We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.

How very, very Christian of you Ann. Our brave troops are dying for you now. Satisfied?

Clusty Cloud for Iraq Troop Surge

Australia ... Commanders in Iraq ... Conflict in Iraq ... Death ... Deployment Notice Orders ... He was skeptical that any type of troop surge ... Joint Chiefs ... Levels ... McCain ... Media ... Military News ... Opposes ... Panel urges revote on Iraq ... Pentagon Prepares For Iraq Troop Surge ... Plans ... Possible Iraq Troop ... Reid ... Reject ... Vows ... Wrong

Loveorhate

Fred Phelps and his band of far right Christian fanatics will be barred from disrupting another soldier's funeral, this time because it is on Native American land.

BISMARCK, North Dakota (AP) -- A church group that protests at military funerals around the country will be barred from services for an American Indian soldier on a reservation, tribal officials say.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, planned to demonstrate at National Guard Cpl. Nathan Goodiron's funeral on Saturday at the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

Church members say the deaths of soldiers are punishment from God for the country's tolerance of homosexuals.

Tribal leaders passed a resolution Friday that prohibits the group from protesting on the reservation, said Marcus Wells Jr., chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes. [CNN]

Limbaugh-20061127

This is Rush on drugs, Rush off drugs, Rush being Rush, or he has completely lost his mind. You figure it out and let me know. I don't listen to Rush but Air America replayed this because it is so over the top, even for Rush. [Media Matters]

By the way, Jimmy Carter was on the radio this week where he called Christianists (better known as Dominionists) "weird" who do not want Israel to make peace with the Palestinians so as, in their minds, to hasten the second coming of Christ. I prefer "lunatics" and "fanatics," but "weird" is a good start.

American media is increasingly full of hate. It is controversial and brings in money to the media owners. If you are as mad as I am that the voices of hate and discord are drowning out the voices of reason and discourse, then add your name to this list at MediaMatters.org. Moreover, why is the Christian right silent? Is the far-right agenda now ahead of Christian love? Sounds like it. Ann Coulter claims to be a Christian, but the proof is in the taste of the pudding and the pudding tastes bitter.

Recently, the major television networks have given a platform to conservative hate merchants like Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, and Melanie Morgan.

Coulter's column is distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, one of the country's largest syndicates. Beck was recently hired by CNN Headline News. Morgan broadcasts from a radio station owned by Disney. And all three -- and countless others like them -- are regularly given guest spots on cable-news networks.

The fact that these right-wing pundits [lackeys]-- who have called for the execution of public officials and others -- are given a platform in the major media is unprecedented.

We, the undersigned, urge the media to stop allowing these hate merchants to spread their venom and abuse. America deserves to hear honest, reasoned debate, not rants from professional hatemongers. [MediaMatters.org]