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Whoops! From the Southern Illinois - Carbondale student newspaper: Over nearly two years, the Daily Egyptian told the story of a precocious little girl whose mother was dead and whose father was fighting in Iraq. Members of the newspaper staff...

Cindy Sheehan recently stated that she was not going to pay her 2004 taxes in protest of Chimpy McHitlerburton's war machine. Of course, Cindy forgot to mention that she may have some experience in not paying taxes....

The Ward Churchill investigation is entering the next level. He is facing seven complains of plagiarism, historical fabrication, and other research misconduct. Excerpt:If it proceeds, the investigation could take five months. It could lead to anything from exoneration to dismissal...

From the New York Times: The 8-to-1 vote is a big victory for Senator John Thune, the Republican who last fall defeated Tom Daschle, then the Senate's Democratic leader, on a promise to use his clout to spare the base....

With the decision this morning by an 8-1 vote, South dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base was removed from the list of recommended closures by the BRAC Commissioners.

Some coverage on the facts of the decision in the Rapid City Journal...
Ellsworth saved

Like the phoenix from the ashes, the status of Ellsworth Air Force base rose from expendable to essential in a matter of seconds when the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, or BRAC, voted Friday to save the base.

South Dakota's top lawmakers and the head of the Ellsworth Task Force were at the edge of their seats in the suburban Washington, D.C., hearing room when BRAC commissioner Samuel Skinner made a motion to reject the Pentagon's recommendation to close Ellsworth and move its 29 B-1B Lancer bombers to Dyess Air Force Base.

Looking for at least five commissioners to raise their hands in support of Skinner's motion, the South Dakotans instead saw all but one of the nine-member panel vote to save Ellsworth.

...and in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader:

ELLSWORTH SPARED

Ellsworth Air Force Base was taken off the Pentagon?s recommended list of closures this morning, a decision that sent jubilant Rapid City residents leaping to their feet as they watched the proceedings on live TV.

The nine-member independent commission voted 8 to 1 to reject the Pentagon?s recommendation to close the base as part of the Defense Department?s plan to restructure the military.

Meanwhile, some of the politics of the situation which provide a boost to Sen. Thune's position were not lost on others:

Base Closing Choices Impact Politics

When the Pentagon announced that it wanted to shut down Ellsworth Air Force Base, it was an enormous setback for Sen. John Thune. The Republican got elected in part by repeatedly telling voters he could save the base because of his close ties to President Bush.

Thune responded to the Ellsworth news by going on the offensive: He and fellow South Dakota leaders from both parties launched an intense lobbying effort. He also stopped fund-raising for the Republican Party and opposed the Bush administration on a few important Senate votes.

On Friday, Thune's political future got a big boost when a federal commission decided to save Ellsworth, home to B-1B bombers and a major player in the Cold War. He and other South Dakota politicians hailed the decision as the result of an extraordinary bipartisan campaign that convinced the commission that the military and nation need Ellsworth.

All in all, a very good day for South Dakota!

Chuck Hagel has been immensely quotable the last couple of days. Is he running for something? In an interview with Reuters during a trip across his home state on Wednesday, Hagel said the United States should greet the new Iranian...

At 6:50 AM this morning, KELO-TV covered the Ellsworth issue and added a piece about Sibby Online. Here is the text:Here at home, political activists are sounding off on the Internet. Both Democrats and Republicans are giving their opinions on...

Britain to expel for 'hate' speech

Democratic or not, there is no reason why open sedition has to be accepted, tolerated, or granted acceptance under "free expression". Democracy is NOT a suicide pact. Tony Blair's Britain has figured this out - would it be so that the Administration would finally do the same.

Mr. Clarke itemized a list of "unacceptable behavior" to signal the start of a crackdown that Prime Minister Tony Blair alluded to earlier this month when he said, "Let no one be in any doubt that the rules of the game are changing." The list announced by Mr. Clarke includes any act or speech that: ? Foments, justifies or glorifies terrorist violence. ? Seeks to provoke others to terrorist acts. ? Foments other serious criminal actions or attempts to provoke others to commit serious crimes. ? Fosters hatred that threatens to lead to ethnic violence. Unlike the United States, Britain has no First Amendment and some restrictions on free speech and a free press are enshrined in law. For example, reporters covering public trials are often limited on what they can write or say about court proceedings.

Again, First Amendment or not, there is NO constitutional right to sedition!

Ship 'em out, post-haste!

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