Court votes no on Uribe reelection

Court votes no on Uribe reelection
Originally uploaded by Karen Hoffmann

On Friday, Colombia's Constitutional Court voted no on a referendum that would have allowed current president Alvaro Uribe to run for a third term.

Everyone I've talked to thinks this is great. But I guess I don't know many Uribistas...

das irony

From CNN's report "Obama uses Berlin symbolism to reunite old allies":

Shortly before the address began, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, chided Obama and said he'd rather give a speech in Germany as president than as a presidential candidate.

"So we're going to be campaigning across the heartland of America and talking about the issues that are challenging America today," McCain said outside a German restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. [emphasis added]

I don't want to vote for a guy who campaigns outside German restaurants. Why not a good old TGI Fridays? Applebee's? They don't have those in Columbus?

Why do wives run?

Widow of politician Tsongas wins House spot

Are women more likely to run once they’ve been married to someone who has done it successfully? Maybe because they see it isn’t so hard after all?

A la Hillary?

Thoughts?

stiff competition.

From the Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund:

2007 is Pittsburgh’s year of glass. But at Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund, it’s the year of glass undies.

A pair of glass panties made by glass artist Donna Powers will be a featured art item in the not-for-profit’s annual fundraiser. The event, titled “Panty Palooza: Declare the Unmentionable” will feature artists, crafters and fashion designers displaying their version of politicized panties from 6 to 9 p.m. at the New Hazlett Theater on Thursday, June 14. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

In addition to glass panties, art collectors can find renditions of panties such as “Communist Panty” by local artist Kathy Newman, as well as the requisite bounty of panties covered in slogans such as “Good sex…. Great Parent?” and “I’m the Decider” for the oft-cited comment by President Bush.

The judge for this year’s competition will be Tom Sokolowski, Executive Director of the Andy Warhol museum. Attendees will also be able to vote on a “People’s Choice” award and can bid on their favorite art items to take home. Those who don’t win the glass panties can take home items from the luxury silent auction.

Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund is no stranger to edgy design projects that incorporate the spunky, and sometimes biting, work of emerging artists. The inaugural “Stiff Competition: Where Safe Sex Meets Pop Art” in 1999 raised eyebrows and inspired giggles with its condom package design contest. Over the years, this design contest has received national attention with its irreverent winners including a Rosie the Riveter, “We can do it, if you use it” condom and stadium-inspired themes for the sports-crazed Pittsburgh.

But the overall goal of these annual events is to raise awareness and support of safe and available reproductive health care and education.

Proceeds from the evening will support activities of PPWPAF including grassroots organizing and education, and lobbying efforts on behalf of reproductive health care and education. Established in 1992, PPWPAF engages in educational and electoral activity including issues related to education, grassroots organizing, public opinion research, lobbying, and independent expenditure campaigns.

For more information about Panty Palooza, go to www.stiffcompetition.org or contact Erika Fricke (412-434-8957, ext 119).

Gonzales: 'Pride and Deception'

Another translation from WatchingAmerica.com. Colombian newspaper El Tiempo calls for the Latino leadership in Congress to 'join the outcry' for Alberto Gonzales' resignation.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez: a 'Terrible Betrayal'

"In a community so desperate for good role models, the ascent of Gonzales represented a double triumph: Not only would he be the first Latino Attorney General, but he would also be the first Latino to occupy one of the four positions of greatest influence in the presidential cabinet.

"Two years on ... Gonzales hasn't lifted a finger in defense of the Hispanic community.

"His record shows a noticeable tendency to erode minority voting rights."

"The latest scandal in which Gonzales has been involved is the dismissal of eight federal prosecutors, in what appears to be a political purge of government officials who failed to adhere to the political agenda of the Republican Party."

In what the paper calls the "most aberrant" case, U.S. Attorney Carol Lam was dismissed for allegedly neglecting cases of illegal immigration in San Diego in "her eagerness to prosecute real criminals."

Lam