Bush STILL Thinks Iran Is a Threat, Immigration and the Middle Class, Music Make You Lose Control

by Jason Rosenbaum :: Filed Under Daily Briefing :: December 5th, 2007 @ 1:48 pm EST

Bush, farther removed from reality than ever, is trying to bully Iran into “coming clean” about its shelved nuclear weapons program. With Bush sounding weaker than ever and war with Iran quickly becoming less likely, as Numerian surmises, a quiet coup has taken place in the White House, displacing Dick Cheney and his neocon hawks. I’m with Numerian, let’s consider this a “Christmas gift to the nation.”

While Defense Secretary Robert Gates may think “a secure Iraq is within reach,” the NYTimes begs to differ, citing Iraqi sources. They describe the current Iraqi situation as “more a cease-fire than a peace.” I agree. Violence numbers may change from day to day and week to week, but there still has been no political progress in Iraq. Until there is, we’re stuck in a quagmire.

From The Blogs

Elana Levin helps lay out the most convincing progressive argument for immigration reform yet. The gist:

1) Immigrants make critical contributions to our economy as workers, entrepreneurs, taxpayers and consumers. Progressive immigration policy should bolster, not undermine, those contributions.

2) When immigrants lack rights in the workplace, labor standards can be driven down for everyone. Thus, progressive immigration policy must strengthen the workplace rights of immigrants and Americans.

Immigration, free trade, labor rights, and the providence of the middle class are all inextricably linked. This isn’t about an invasion. That’s just a tactic to turn natural allies - the middle class and the immigrant laborers they depend on - against each other.

Future Majority has a great guide to the upcoming Iowa caucus. (Less than a month, folks!)

Video Of The Day

It feels like a Missy Elliot day. Yeah.