THIS MODERN WORLD

Tom Geoghegan, labor lawyer and author of quite a few fantastic books about democracy and economic justice, has announced his candidacy for Congress on DailyKos. He’s running in the special election to replace Rahm Emmanuel in Illinois’s 5th congressional district. His campaign website is here, and you can donate money via ActBlue.

Progressives couldn’t ask for a better candidate or opportunity. Certainly I’ll be sending him money and doing whatever else I can for his campaign. I strongly urge you to do the same.

As Bush slinks out of the White House, I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot more stories like this:

LAHORE, Pakistan — When Muhammad Saad Iqbal arrived home here in August after more than six years in American custody, including five at the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, he had difficulty walking, his left ear was severely infected, and he was dependent on a cocktail of antibiotics and antidepressants.

Mr. Iqbal was never convicted of any crime, or even charged with one. He was quietly released from Guantánamo with a routine explanation that he was no longer considered an enemy combatant, part of an effort by the Bush administration to reduce the prison’s population.

But no big deal. Remember, it’s all a great big effing joke.

Who created this email address?

The predictably horrifying answer, along with one of history’s greatest prank phone calls, can be found here.

PREVIOUS HELP: Don’t Make Me Come Over There and Be Generous to You

Today in the New York Times:

Israel’s stated goal for its military operation is to halt the rocket fire from Gaza and to create a new security equation in southern Israel, where three civilians and a soldier have been killed in rocket attacks in the last six days.

It has not declared its intention of toppling Hamas…

Tuesday in Slate, which is owned by the Washington Post:

Asked if Israel was out to topple Gaza’s Hamas rulers, [Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni] said, “Not now.” If reinstating the status quo ante is the test of proportionality, then Israel passes with flying colors. All it wants to do—as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert explained—is “to improve the security reality of southern residents in a thorough manner.” A modest goal…Olmert never promised Israelis that he would dismantle Hamas’ rule in Gaza.

The Times of London, quoting something said on Monday—ie, well before either of the above articles were published:

“The goal of the operation is to topple Hamas,” Haim Ramon, the deputy to Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, said.

It was the first time since it launched its blistering offensive that Israel has openly stated that regime change is its ultimate goal. “We will stop firing immediately if someone takes the responsibility of this government, anyone but Hamas,” Mr Ramon said.

In honor of the beleaguered holiday traveller, another one from the animation archive… (adding: whoops! viewable now.)

(More animation available under the new “Animation and Film” category to your left.)