Sex Scandal At Guantanamo: As if the situation at Guantanamo isn't messy enough, there is now a sex scandal involving senior military officers who were running the prison, reports CBS National Security Correspondent David Martin.

The colonel in charge of prison operations, a Lt. colonel who commanded the military police guarding the prisoners, and another lieutenant colonel who commanded the soldiers responsible for base security have all been relieved of duty. They are accused of committing adultery with a female Navy Lt. and a number of female civilian contractors. read on

DULUTH, GA. - A rape suspect accused of shooting a judge and two others at a courthouse was captured Saturday after a day on the lam in which he allegedly killed an immigration agent, stole his truck and took a woman hostage, officials said. Brian Nichols is in custody," said Officer Darren Moloney of the Gwinnett County Police Department. "Everybody is safe."

Moloney said Nichols, 33, was armed and had a female hostage when he was caught at a suburban apartment complex. The woman was not identified by authorities, and it was unclear what relationship she had with Nichols.

Later in 2000, Lawmaker's Vote Helped Defeat Regulatory Measure

An Indian tribe and a gambling services company made donations to a Washington public policy group that covered most of the cost of a $70,000 trip to Britain by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), his wife, two aides and two lobbyists in mid-2000, two months before DeLay helped kill legislation opposed by the tribe and the company. read on

USA NEXT benefits section:..."is a non-profit, non-partisan, public interest organization..."

Yet in their Financial Advice Headlines: USA TODAY founder Al Neuharth writes:

" USA Next, a much smaller but well-heeled conservative group."

Is a conservative group non-partisan? They obviouly agree that they are conservative or they would have refuted the article that they praise. (update via Moveleft) also as reported by E&P: Asked if USA Next was just a front group for the White House, Jarvis said he'd never had a “one-on-one” meeting with Karl Rove, Bush's chief strategist, but had met him, thinks “he is a political and tactical genius,” and has attended presentations he's given at the White House.

In their News and Information section: Liberals Level Full-Scale Assault at USA Next

They list three sources of this vicious attack. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, Feb. 24, 2005. Ana M. Alaya, Newark Star-Ledger, Feb. 23, 2005. Molly Ivins, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 24, 2005.

All three wrote their column after the hideous ad that USA NEXT released on Feb. 21, 2005, which they are now being sued for.

Three column sure sounds like a full scale assault.

In their News Releases: NEW USA NEXT POLL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS : Survey Rebukes AARP’s Skewed Survey; Clear Majorities Support “Major Reforms...

"Our poll is far more representative of all the American people. 52 percent of hte (it's their typo) public supports President Bush's policy of creating Personal Retirement Accounts while assuring retirees and near-retirees will be protected...."

However, there is no polling data available to back up what they say. Did they make the poll up? We couldn't tell. A call has been made to USA NEXT to have the data released.

I guess if they are going to spend something like 10 million dollars to attack the AARP, at least we could spend a few minutes taking a look at their website. More coming soon...

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Friday softened its hardline stance on how to thwart Iran's suspected nuclear arms program, agreeing to support a European plan that offers economic incentives for the Tehran government to give up any weapons ambitions...read on

It sure looks like a The White House has finally started to work with Europe. Funny how things change right after the election.

by Joanne Kenen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In 2003, the powerful AARP senior citizen lobby backed the Republican Medicare bill, which revamped medical benefits for the elderly, enraging Democrats and prompting some older Americans to destroy their AARP cards in protest. Republicans had kind things to say about the AARP. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, said it represented the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" on seniors' issues. read on

Need I say more? If the AARP is the most liberal lobbyist group in America, as Jarvis is trying to paint on them, then why did they back a Republican Medicare bill? (hat tip Michael)

via Think Progress: USANext CEO Chuck Jarvis says he’s about to launch a campaign branding the AARP “the planet’s largest liberal lobbying organization.” If they’re just a liberal lobbying group, why was President Bush using their endorsement as the only justification for his Medicare bill less than six months ago?

We know the answer to that. "Queen" said it best

"We will, we will slime you!"

As reported today on the nationally broadcast Ed Shultz Show part of the Jones Radio Network, former U.S. Weapons Inspector, Scott Ritter declared that the Bush administration helped subvert and manipulate the recent heralded election in Iraq. According to Ritter, who made the original charges in a joint appearance with journalist Dahr Jamil in Washington state, the Bush administration was determined to control the outcome of the Iraq vote at all costs. "The U.S.cooked the election in Iraq," claimed Ritter. Ritter went on to explain how the victory of the Shia was a forgone conclusion to Administration members.What wasn't a foregone conclusion was the percentage of victory. A majority victory of the Shia would give them control of the Parliament and under current Iraqi law allow the Iranian-influenced Mullahs to draw up the new Constitution. read on

The Raw Story interviewed Ritter and has more.

O'Briant said in a live interview Friday afternoon that the suspect put a gun to his head and wanted him to get into the car's trunk; he refused and the suspect took off in his car

Download | play .

Citizens' journalism loses the Apple case... big time

via Buzzmachine

So the judge decided that Apple can go ahead and subpoena the the sites that reported on its business to find out their sources. Which is to say that bloggers are not protected by California's shield law. Which is to say that this judge just said that bloggers aren't journalists. Which is to say that we just started a program of certifying official journalists in this country. Which is to say that we lose. Big time. read on