David Cobbs’ ‘Safe States’ Strategy sways uncommitted delegates and nets him the Green Party Presidential nomination:

Many, like myself, are heaving a sigh of relief that the Greens, albeit by the slimmest of margins, have recognized their pivotal responsibility in defeating Bush this time around. It truly is a decision in the interests of the future of the Green Party. Going with Nader’s misguided self-centered hubris would have been the party’s last gasp of credibility with most of the progressive voting bloc, I am convinced.

“…Cheney has shown that, with obsequiousness to the president and obtuseness to the facts, a vice president can run the world. Right into the ground.” — Maureen Dowd (New York Times op-ed)

“A Canadian man, driving a car packed with weapons and ammunition, was intent on killing as many people as possible in a Toronto neighborhood but gave up the plan at the last minute when he encountered a friendly dog, police said on Thursday.” (Yahoo!)

“An exploding vending machine turned the coolant freon into phosgene, a poisonous gas used as a chemical weapon in World War One, and forced the evacuation of 10 people from a Texas hospital, officials said on Thursday.” (Yahoo!)

“Michael Moore may be prevented from advertising his controversial new movie, Fahrenheit 9/11, on television or radio after July 30 if the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today accepts the legal advice of its general counsel…

In a draft advisory opinion placed on the FEC’s agenda for today’s meeting, the agency’s general counsel states that political documentary filmmakers may not air television or radio ads referring to federal candidates within 30 days of a primary election or 60 days of a general election.

The opinion is generated under the new McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law, which prohibits corporate-funded ads that identify a federal candidate before a primary or general election.” (The Hill)

“The Bush administration has decided to take the unusual step of bestowing on its own troops and personnel immunity from prosecution by Iraqi courts for killing Iraqis or destroying local property after the occupation ends and political power is transferred to an interim Iraqi government, U.S. officials said.” (Washington Post)

While the legal basis for this appears dubious, it draws some of its supposed legitimacy from the UN resolution recognizing the transitional government and supporting the ‘multinational’ force. Perhaps achieving some basis for the claim of immunity, rather than any concern about the legitimacy of the US occupation, was the real ugency behind the resolution?

What’s going on under those black robes? (The Smoking Gun)

“On the eve of the so-called transfer of sovereignty to the new Iraqi caretaker government on June 30, former Saddam Hussein generals turned members of the elite of the Iraqi resistance movement have abandoned their clandestine positions for a while to explain their version of events and talk about their plans. According to these Ba’ath officials, ‘the big battle’ in Iraq is yet to take place.” (Asia Times)

“Even negative attacks on Kerry no longer seem to be working.” — Sidney Blumenthal (Guardian.UK)

“…Cheney has shown that, with obsequiousness to the president and obtuseness to the facts, a vice president can run the world. Right into the ground.” — Maureen Dowd (New York Times op-ed)