Morning Update, 8/23/2007

'08 Presidential Candidates
Dodd meets with Fed Chairman Bernanke & Treasury Secretary Paulson, says Bernanke will use 'all the tools at his disposal' to restore stability in financial markets (Bloomberg)

Giuliani: Is he GW Bush with decent English skills? (Student Operated Press) - "Conservatives hoping to replace Bush with a real conservative face a daunting challenge. Indeed, it is astounding that Rudy Giuliani is doing as well as he is in national polls among likely Republican voters. After all, Giuliani has a history of being wrong on nearly every issue that matters. He is a pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-illegal alien, and anti-rule of law charlatan. Were it not for the fact that he speaks understandable English, Giuliani would be indistinguishable from W."

Animal Abuse
Atlanta Humane Society now accepting Michael Vick jerseys and t-shirts, to be used as chew toys, bedding, and rags for cleaning up after Fido (SFGate.com)

Congress Critters
Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) inquiries of Homeland Security Czar Chertoff if it's legal to use spy satellites on Americans (Raw Story) - Well, I don't where in the Constitution the government is given explicit authority to spy on American citizens. Markey is my district's bleeding heart liberal representative, but once in awhile he does something decent. He's been reasonably good on telecommunications issues, and I'm glad he's standing up against this gross violation of our privacy and abuse of our God-given freedoms.

Economic Unrest
American home foreclosures leap 93% in last year (The Guardian)

Environmental News
Hemorrhagic disease strikes Tennessee whitetail deer population (Memphis Commercial Appeal)

Mayan villages pounded by Hurricane Dean (AP)

Illegal Alien Invasion of America
Mexican Senate sides with mom deported from U.S., urges Calderon to register disapproval with Washington (AP)

Dozens of illegals, all Mexican citizens, arrested in Southern California gang sweep (NBCSanDiego.com)

More than 1,000 illegal aliens in Oregon state prisons (AP)

Federal immigration agents raid Smithfield Foods plant in North Carolina (AP)

Madmen in High Places
CIA failed to plot against al Qaeda in months leading up to 9/11 (Washington Times) - One of the CIA's own documents, now declassified, blames the agency for failing to "discharge their responsibilities in a satisfactory manner," and recommends the creation of an accountability board. Subsequent CIA directors Porter Goss and Michael Hayden have rejected the creation of such a board 'in an apparent effort to protect agency bureaucrats from being held accountable.'

Military Affairs
Pentagon ditches controversial security database, working on a replacement (Reuters)

War on Drugs
Submarine carrying $440 million worth of cocaine intercepted off the coast of Central America (AFP)