"The reasons why news media bothers to cover all of this [presidential election] blather is more complicated, but no more high-minded. The justification for elevating every bit of ... um ... verbal diarrhea that comes out of the candidates' mouths to news is that it all impacts the race. The campaign is a race and the race is the thing.

It's far easier to cover the presidential campaign as a race because it doesn't require getting bogged down in confusing issues."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JD16Aa01.html

Meanwhile, here's some news you can use: there's going to be an international conference in Kuwait next week. Condi's going to be there (which will probably doom any hope for success). Of particular interest--the Iranians will be there, too. The subject? Stabilizing Iraq. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JD12Ak03.html

But please don't confuse us with real news...

There was just a conference on democracy in Qatar, a monarchy that has not held elections in decades.
http://justworldnews.org/archives/002872.html

To add to the irony, Israel's foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, had the hutzpah to speak about democracy and how Palestinians were trying to deny Israel's democratic rights, while of course ignoring tht Israel has the democratically elected government of the Palestinians under seige.

More evidence that the word 'democracy' has been corrupted from a governmental process to a governmental brand: If you're with us, you're a democracy. If you're against us, you're a terrorist.

Steve, it is a nice photo of the bridge over the Arkansas River, but
you really need to take the time to head up north to the Ozarks and
the Buffalo River to see the beauty of the state. Perhaps you, like
David Corn, can get an invitation to speak at my home town's
college. Heck, drive out with Annie and Oakley and stay a spell.

John,

Qatar is very interesting place that has tried to develop its niche as the education center of the Middle East by developing Education City that has branches of a number of major American universities and RAND-Qatar Policy Institute. The following is from Wikipedia about that part:

In recent years Qatar has placed great emphasis on education. Along with the country’s free healthcare, citizens enjoy free education from kindergarten through to university. Qatar University was founded in 1973. More recently, with the support of the Qatar Foundation, some major American universities have opened branch campuses in Education City, Qatar. These include Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Cornell University’s Weill Medical College. In addition, Northwestern University will offer undergraduate programs in communication and journalism starting in fall 2008. In 2004, Qatar established the Qatar Science & Technology Park at Education City to link those universities with industry. Education City is also home to a fully accredited International Baccalaureate school, Qatar Academy. Two Canadian institutions, the College of the North Atlantic and the University of Calgary, also operate campuses in Doha.

Linda: So this is perhaps a new model of 'democracy' -- a monarch with an appointed legislature and lots of highly educated subjects? Sounds like it might work, as long as the schools don't teach the students how to think...

Weather was quite good in Arkansas today.

Sorry to have missed your visit, Steve.

Mr. M -- Many thanks. It was a fantastic day and enjoyed seeing
the "duck march" at the Peabody Hotel and then went to hang out
with Wes Clark in his offices a bit. Lovely, wonderful city -- at
least as much of it as I saw.

best, steve

The greatest resource is mind power. The Clinton Library has tried to help cultivate this, in addition to the years he was governor. Within the capital city and the world as a whole, across the fabric of its donors and diplomatic shared interests, a conversation is being crafted.