I am going to offer a new feature to Kossacks every East Coast morning (or really early morning on the Left Coast). I will review and provide links to the interesting lead editorials in the New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times as well as my really local paper, the Wilmington News Journal.
I will offer my commentary and links. But I also ask my fellow Kossacks to search through their really local papers for their lead editorials so that we can keep a check on the pulse of small town opinion in Red and Blue State America.
First up is my local paper, the Wilmington News Journal and their editorial this morning If economy turned corner, why didn't job creation follow?
Excerpts follows:
The Bush administration's cheerful belief that the government can cut taxes and spend its way into a better economy collided with reality last week when the Labor Department's job creation statistics were reported. The forecast was for 200,000 new jobs to be created in July. In fact, there were only 32,000 jobs. And the government reduced its numbers for May and June as well.
Undaunted, President Bush kept proclaiming the country has "turned the corner economically." There was a minor dip in unemployment last week, but most experts consider the job creation numbers, which are drawn on a much larger sample, to be the most accurate indicator of economic health.
[snip]
The news is grim. How can the president continue to pretend it is not? He inherited a strong, albeit overheated economy. He and his true believers in trickle-down theory slashed taxes and increased federal spending, with a predictable downward reaction. All but the richest people have suffered.
[snip]
When you don't have to worry about rising gasoline prices or higher health premiums, the Bush presidency is a dream come true: fewer taxes on more income. But for middle-class workers watching jobs dry up or go overseas while prices rise faster than pay raises and retirement plans falter, the last four years haven't been a very good deal.
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New York Times' Banning Bad News in Iraq
Our friend in peace, Iragi's "Sovereign Prime Minister" Ayad Allawi, is supposed to be guiding Iraq toward democratic elections. However, not only is he killing and torturing Iraqi prisoners himself, he is also using the same kind of authoritarian mentality that has stifled democracy in too many neighboring states and under Saddam Hussein. For example, he has now banned Al Jazeera. So much for Democracy as one of our reasons for invading Iraq. Next?
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New York Times' Plan B for Illinois
The Times is disappointed in the Illinois Republican Party. What, were they expecting a great candidate?
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New York Times' Spinning the Payrolls by Paul Krugman
Krugman: "When Friday's dismal job report was released, traders in the Chicago pit began chanting, 'Kerry, Kerry.'" Really??? Wow. Read more of our hero, Mr. Krugman
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Washington Post's Iran the Next Crisis by Fareed Zakaria.
Mr. Zakaria details how, during our misadventure in Iraq over the last two years, Iran has become the threat we feared from Iraq. Iran is two years away from the bomb. So, literally, thanks to Bush, we are Cheneyed.