Tonight's Rescue Rangers are jlms qkw, watercarrier4diogenes, ezdidit,  vcmvo2 and srkp23 with claude spinning around in the Editor's Chair.

• DeanDemocrat reports that there's A FAIR amount of interest in getting Democrats elected in red zones! (ezdidit)
• I love feet-on-the-ground reporting, and sasatlanta's report from "Vote For Change", My First Voter Registration Drive is not only inspiring, but has a really timely "GREAT IDEA" that we can all take with us to the streets. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• Stranded Wind brings us a double-dip of lovely photo essays. Let's be Genuine Rucksack Wanderers and tag along on a visit to Saxtons River, Vermont! (watercarrier4diogenes and joyful)
• dancewater describes several instances of individuals speaking out about injustice, without regard to the cost or danger to themselves, and then lists several upcoming events where we can all protest in Voices of Conscience. (vcmvo2)
• LithiumCola, with characteristic style and incisiveness, presents A State Dept. Powerpoint on How to Rule the World. (srkp23)
• Deep Harm sees a danger with the sunset of the Bush regime, and urges us to support our brave guardians of accountability: Whistleblowers in peril (and what to do about it). (srkp23)
• jimstaro honors those who have lost loved ones to war service, in Final Salute. (srkp23)
• stillonline writes a poignant, powerful diary about an extraordinary woman: Canning Tomatoes with Mom. (srkp23)
• Yosef 52 offers up poetry for our consideration in Some Poems for the Saturday Night Club. (Got a Grip & jlms qkw)
• Naranjadia discusses some of the roadblocks and ethical considerations that were overcome to allow her the joy of motherhood in Surrogacy: It Gave Me Mother's Day. (Got a Grip & jlms qkw)
• webbranding brings us news of conflict-free exchange from a surprising source in North Korea, NY Philharmonic & Cultural Exchange(Got a Grip & jlms qkw)
• paradox expresses righteous rage against corporations' dehumanizing policies, in American Workers Are Not Parts. (srkp23)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 10, 2008.

BeninSC has tonight's Top Comments - Goodheartedness And Paw Paw.

This is an Open Thread, kids. Play Nice!

This evening's Rescue Rangers are shayera, vcmvo2, jlms qkw, Avila, srkp23, and joyful, with watercarrier4diogenes wearing the "Robes of Objectivity."

Tonight's diaries cover a variety of interesting issues not covered by the "traditional media" (™ kos) with the kind of research, perspective and analysis we see here every day.

• jimstaro asks us to remember the upcoming testimony of Iraq War soldiers in Winter Soldiers - Congress - May 15th. (shayera)
• SmileySam analyzes whether or not anyone in the Bush administration will be held accountable for violating international law against the use of torture in It's Not A Witch Hunt, But You Choose. (vcmvo2)
• In Scary HealthCare Reform, JDWolverton illustrates that the plans of all three major candidates have issues. (jlms qkw)
• Barth takes a look back at the NY Times from the time of FDR's campaign to analyze The Change Election. (srkp23)
• iampunha endearingly dares us in I'll tell you about mine if you tell me about yours in a lovely tribute to moms. (jlms qkw)
• Dominionist-group survivor dogemperor continues his discussion of journalist Matt Taibbi's expose on John Hagee. "God of Chunder": McCain's "spiritual advisor" will make you puke, literally. (joyful)
• cactusflinthead brings welcome news that Jamie Leigh Jones may yet get the justice she has so bravely been fighting for, in Halliburton/KBR rape to go to trial. (srkp23)
• Taking us across the country, ElizabethAM's Vote for Change Kickoff-Dallas Edition and LaAbogada's VOTE FOR CHANGE - LOS ANGELES demonstrate activism at its finest! (joyful)
• Avenging Angel's well-linked piece links Mothers' Day, Global Warming and McCain's "Character Campaign". (srkp23)
• markthshark tells us that Joe Lieberman is letting the Country down (yet again) in "The safety of the American people depends on it." (shayera)
• DCLaw jumps off from Greenwald and further analyzes the media silence concerning the military propaganda machine, in Uncle Sam Has You. (srkp23)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 9, 2008.

carolita has Top Comments 5-10-08 -- Keeping Score Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread (even if you're the author! Here's where that's actually appreciated). And, of course, since it's an open thread, PLAY NICE, OK? 8^)

Tonight's Rescue Rangers are dadanation, Got a Grip, joyful, vcmvo2, smokeymonkey, ybruti, with srkp23 as editor.

• LtdEdishn digs into the archives to show that Cheney's vision of an American torture machine has early beginnings, in Working the "dark side". (smokeymonkey)
• CrustyPolemicist writes an intense and thoughtful diary about America's ambivalent history with the death penalty in "Kill Them All!" Camus and Administrative Murder. (vcmvo2)
• iampunha's very personal and very powerful diary May 9, 1955: The muppets debut on television segues from the inaugural television appearance of the muppets into talking about trust, the cycle of abuse within families, and the possibility of change. (dadanation)
• Journalist Matt Taibbi spent A weekend at Hagee's "Jesus Camp" for grownups and dominionist group survivor dogemperor brings us all the horrific details. (joyful)
• Milos Janus Outlook reports that in the recent assembly of the United Methodist Church's legislative body, intolerance and the prohibitions against homosexuality remain, in The UMC and Gays - Our Witness NOW. (vcmvo2)
• testvet6778 continues his tireless efforts on behalf of our men and women in uniform as he sends out a Call for Action: You can help some Cold War Veterans. (joyful)
• JohnnyRook presents an illustrated compilation of eco-news you may not have seen, in EcoNoticiario # 5; Drought, Energy Costs and Climaticide in the Spanish and LA Press. (ybruti)
• A Siegel notes how the US Chamber of Congress is Chambering a round against future commerce as it continues to deny the problem of Global Warming. (joyful)
• Oswald describes an historic strike of longshoremen and explores the effect of NAFTA on The ILWU, Kansas City and Mexican Truckers. (ybruti)
• xrepub explains in detail how much a penny costs to make, and why the value of the US dollar is declining in Further Proof on How Little the $ is Worth. (vcmvo2)
• KevinBondelli describes a popular micro-blogging service and explains how you can be Using Twitter in a Political Organization. (ybruti)
• RandomNonviolence keeps track of the Bush administration's many scandals and all the Republican enablers, in Publicizing Congressional Republicans' Role in Enabling Bush's Scandals. (vcmvo2)
• Hail Ripley's straightforward and deeply unsettling FISA: Names and Faces - AT&T's James Cicconi comes straight from the "You Can't Tell The Players Without A Program" file. (dadanation)
• KevinBondelli describes a popular micro-blogging service and explains how you can be Using Twitter in a Political Organization. (ybruti)
• Storm Bear provides the latest installment of Black History: Secession of West Virginia. (vcmvo2)
• notksanymore uses a personal family tragedy to highlight the importance of everyone knowing the symptoms of and the steps one can take to lessen one's risk for a heart attack in Unhappy Mother's Day. (dadanation)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 8, 2008.

sardonyx brings Top Comments: Steve Soto on Daily Kos, part 2.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are Unitary Moonbat, watercarrier4diogenes, jennyjem, YatPundit, TruthOfAngels, and joyful with vcmvo2 as editor.

The Diaries up for rescue tonight are:

The Use & Abuse of Information

• daytonpundit examines the curious amount of hard-drive scrubbing - and violations of the Presidential Records Act of 1978 - that seems to be taking place these days in White House War Emails 'MIA'. (Unitary Moonbat)
• In McCain Voting Record Contradicts Maverick Myth dkos diarist, Avenging Angel reports that the Senator's home state newspaper has begun to unravel the Senator's "maverick" myth. Will the rest of the MSM pay attention? (vcmvo2)
• What do you do with a problem like McCain's pastor? If you're dogemperor, you write a brilliant diary detailing just who John Hagee is - and what he's all about. (joyful)
• If you remember the inherent inequity of ye olde Bell Curve, you'll quickly see sgoya's point in "Good" Schools Need "Bad" Schools. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• David Kroning wants hate-speech in the media investigated, but first he'd like to know who is on the Commission. His post, Investigating our US Commission on Civil Rights explains this community effort. (jennyjem)

Our World

• First-time diarist zawmoo discusses the latest natural disaster and suggests a Possibly better way to help Burma's cyclone victims. (YatPundit)
• Mentarch writes that the billions of dollars spent and the precious lives lost in Afghanistan: All For Absolutely Nothing. (joyful)
• deepfish shares some lovely thoughts on the importance of Hope while Dreaming of Better Days writes lyrically on the prospect of Going Home - The Changing Tides. (joyful)

Politics & Environmental Policy

• A Siegel suggests that the Lieberman-Warner Coal Subsidy Act now has as much support in Congress as does a feeble One hand clapping ... (joyful)
• Blue America '08's Dennis Shulman for Congress tells us why The Ramapough Reinforce My Decision to Run for Congress.  He's engaged in a tough fight against corporate polluters and their hack Rethuglican stooge. (watercarrier4diogenes)

The Power of Snark

• DCLaw's opening line says it all: Can the mighty-but-aging Newtman face down this political plague, led by the venal, shadowy Dr. Baracko? Find out in Republican Superfriends, Go! (Unitary Moonbat)
• Kodiak54 has a modest suggestion (and perhaps a hint of snark) for your vice-presidential consideration: Obama/Kodiak54 '08. (Unitary Moonbat)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 7, 2008.

sardonyx has Top Comments: Steve Soto on Daily Kos, part 1.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this Open Thread.

::

Tonight's Rescue Rangers are Louisiana 1976, vcmvo2, shayera, hhex65, dopper0189, YatPundit, jlms qkw and grog.

• davej, continuing his coverage of the strike at Kaiser Permanente and their subcontractor Inter-Con Security Inc, explains Why They (And You) Need A Union. (dopper0189)
• MA Voter gives Kossacks a personal view of "then" and "now" in Economic Realities. (shayera)
• Stranded Wind had a near brush with disaster, that caused deep self-reflection on the need for national healthcare in Walkabout #17: One Fall, Two Sprains. (dopper0189)
• In CounterProductive CounterPunch Story on Iran, Jeff Huber notes that unsourced alarmist stories about Iran are not solely a tool of the right. (hhex65)
• JoesGarage focuses our attention on the true enemy during the next 6 months in Let's Meet John McCain's Economic Advisors. (jlms qkw)
• greenchiledem's series, The Daily Flipper - Vol.1 No.8 - May 7, 2008, continues to chronicle McCain's flip-flops for those of us having a hard time keeping track. The traditional media might find this resource helpful. (dopper0189)
• don mikulecky looks back on the New Deal and why FDR is such a hero to many in On this day in 1935 FDR created the WPA. (vcmvo2)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 6, 2008, while brillig has Top Comments- 05/07/08 School Days Edition.

All y'all know the drill: please promote your own favorite diaries in this Open Thread.

::

Tonight here at WJM-TV, our cast of Rescue Rangers include Yashua, dopper0189, PaintyKat (doing double time!), Bent Liberal, kath25 and srkp23 with dadanation impersonating Mary Richards while pico adroitly is our Lou Grant.

A special Chuckles the Clown hello goes to our newest Rescue Ranger dopper0189.

The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. (F. Scott Fitzgerald )

• LondonYank shares samples of visual, political art by a British artisan which reflect some attitudes regarding America in Americans Working Overhead. (PaintyKat)
• Valtin discusses the extent to which the American Psychological Association's members are involved in sanctioning torture and feeding at the public trough of "homeland security" efforts in Psychologist "Swat Team" Serves Bush's Torture Gulag. (PaintyKat)
• In an ongoing series, amad looks at the thorny issues of Muslim extremism and violence and compares perceptions to scientific polling data. A good read. Who Speaks for Islam? Part 3a- What Makes a Radical? (BentLiberal)
• Mentarch scrutinizes the mutual sharing of U.S. and Canadian intelligence databases and issues a chilling Welcome To The Security State Of North America. (srkp23)
• Heard of the Hispanic Exclusion Act of 2009? If not, then you need to read iampunha's impeccably researched diary, May 6, 1882: Give me your tired, your poor, but not your Chinese. (BentLiberal)
• Judith Schaeffer proves in this "heart-felt" love story that people can sure be larger than their lives in Reflections on Mildred Jeter Loving, an American Hero, and the Importance of the Supreme Court. (PaintyKat)
• Vyan reports the Judiciary Committee has voted this morning to subpoena Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff David Addington to testify and explain the development of the administration's interrogation program in House issues Subpoena for Addington over Torture Program. (PaintyKat)
• As first-time diarist Jampacked suggests, it may be economically impossible, and even impractical, to continue to pursue energy independence in The cost of trying to be energy independent. (PaintyKat)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 5, 2008.

emeraldmaiden has tonight's Top Comments 5-6-08 - The End of the Day.

Please feel free to use this as an Open Thread and to broadcast your favorite diaries of the day! And pay no attention to Rhoda, Phyllis, Murray, Ted, Georgette, and Sue Anne. They are just lonely.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are Yashua, Louisiana 1976, hhex65, Wes Opinion, Kath25 and jlms qkw, with jennyjem as editor.

We at Diary Rescue would like to wish all proud, independent, Mexican Kossacks, and all those who aspire to be, a happy Cinco De Mayo! Here are some great diaries for you to read on this festive occasion.

• In a thorough and fascinating analysis (with incredible pictures), Meng Bomin illustrates A look into a different world: Republican primary maps. (jlms qkw)
• From Indonesia, Ajipon observes the American political scene, and explains why it matters so much to him even though he is so far away in Why Should I Care? (hhex65)
• Vita Brevis brings us the sad news of the passing of a woman who helped increase quality in our nation in Mildred Loving, An Unsung Hero. (kath25)
• gjohnsit illustrates the fine line between those who are with us and those who are against us in this excellent post, We are already at war with Iran. (jennyjem)
• Between Cinco de Mayo and the Democratic primaries in IN and NC tomorrow important issues can sometimes get pushed to the side. This is why peteri2 reminds us in a very personal diary that May is Cystic Fibrosis Month. (Wes Opinion)
• Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse warns of the dangerous ways we are killing ourselves with toxic pesticides in Diseased Men, Women & Children Walking. (jennyjem)
• jcnossiter explains why the GOP nominee's similarity to Bush is no laughing matter in McSame: The Joke's On Us. (kath25)
• torridjoe keeps politics in the family in OR-SEN: On the Ground, Stumping for Steve Novick! (jlms qkw)
• droogie6655321 has an idea for what we can do to stimulate our democracy in Got your tax rebate? Send some love to a real Dem! (kath25)
• mrchumchum reminds us to keep our eye on other issues and down-ballot candidates for office in The Most Important Diaries. (kath25)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 4, 2008.

va dare has Top Comments 5.5.08 Primary-Free Port before the Storm.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

::

This evening's Rescue Rangers are claude, watercarrier4diogenes, ezdidit, dadanation, YatPundit, and noddem, with Patriot Daily as editor.

• In this time of worldwide unease, Asinus Asinum Fricat extends A Modicum of Good Hope regarding the future of our food supply. (noddem)
• Protecting writers who keep us informed of the actions of governments, agencies, and other actors in the world's tragedies and tribulations is the focus of The Impunity Index, which srkp23 eloquently brings to our attention. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• In Feds Object To Energy Smart Local Governance, A Siegel reminds us that even as local municipalities move forward to help save the environment, the Bush Administration is right behind them undoing (or trying to undo) their best efforts. (dadanation)
• BoxerDave has done a fine job of research and investigation to bring us lots of details and  unanswered questions in Anatomy of a Hate Crime (Part Two; with POLL). (claude)
• Liberal Youth reports on how Bush's management of his "war on terror" is partially responsible for No Justice For Victims of USS Cole Bombing, ever. (Patriot Daily)
• While we were having a War in Iraq, a new moral system was established. LithiumCola interprets how the shoe is now on the other foot in The New Journalism of Empire: An Exhibit in LA Times. (ezdidit)
• The US is still using the US Navy to assassinate terrorists in Somalia, says Jeff Huber in Springtime in Somalia. (YatPundit)
• possum discusses how the failure of oversight is related to soldiers being electrocuted in More Failure To Support The Troops. (ezdidit)
• Stranded Wind micromanages a small power revolution for us with observations on Walkabout #14: Hydroponic Hydropower Blues. (ezdidit)
• dogemperor concludes his alarming series on the "kiddie boot camp" industry, and includes a call to action so that we may end these practices in Teen Challenge: Your tax dollars, paying for institutionalised abuse. (noddem)
• blklikeme offers the third in a series of glimpses into his daily life in guided by voices. (watercarrier4diogenes)

jotter has Week's High Impact Diaries - May 2, 2008.

BeninSC has Top Comments - Questions for McCain.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are dopper0189 (under Patriot Daily's helpful guidance), srkp23, vcmvo2, shayera, smokeymonkey, and joyful, with watercarrier4diogenes at the wheel of the Editmobile

Tonight's diaries cover a variety of interesting issues not covered by the MSM with the kind of research, perspective and analysis we see here every day.

• gchaucer2 offers the deliciously helpful How To Liveblog: Morans Need Not Apply. (joyful)
• Randgrithr dispels any questions some have voiced about how America's female soldiers perform on the frontlines in Women in combat: Lioness. Let's hope they come home soon! (dopper0189)
• PapaChach shares a personal tale of love, loss, and mourning, in The Kentucky Derby Party That Wasn't. (srkp23)
• dogemperor continues his stunning series on "Bible-based boot camps" and the sanctioned abuse of America's youth in Teen Challenge: Court-ordered coercion and CYA indemnity contracts. (joyful)
• cumberland sibyl looks back on a case of powerful, even if ultimately failing, environmental activism, in Retrospective for the Snail Darter and the Little Tennessee Valley. (srkp23)
• KingOneEye provides a great assessment of the damage our two remaining candidates did by caving in to Fox News in Democrats On Fox News: A Damage Assessment. (dopper0189)
• Water is becoming a commodity. JohnnyRook gives us Ten Things America Can Learn From Spain's Water War. (smokeymonkey)
• kevin22262 writes a moving diary about Timothy Garon Died Because of Bush and OUR Collective STUPIDITY! RIP Timothy Garon. Let's pray you didn't die in vain. No one should die because of a political argument not based on medical science. (dopper0189)
• The question was asked, and Marcus Junius Brutus has An answer to Kos: territories, primaries and representation. (joyful)
• danps examines how a recent motion by the House Judiciary Committee may require Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers to testify (or not) in Congress Makes a Bold Move (or Doesn't). (vcmvo2)
• refinish69 serves up a Layman's View of the Texas Solar Forum. (srkp23)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - May 2, 2008.

carolita has Top Comments 5-03-08 -- Liebrary Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread (even if you're the author! Here's where that's actually appreciated). And, of course, since it's an open thread, PLAY NICE, OK? 8^)

Tonight's Rescue Rangers are Avila, hhex65, jlms qkw, shayera, TruthOfAngels, and ybruti, with Unitary Moonbat shuffling the scrolls

May 1 is a day laden with history, especially regarding the starts of huge things – previous todays have seen the dedication of the biggest maypole ever, the Empire State Building (1931); the opening of the Great Exhibition in London (1851); and, on an even more imperialist note, the Battle of Manila Bay (1898). There was also a time when communists the world over sang The Internationale (choose your language) on what was sometimes known as International Worker's Day.

 Away with all your superstitions

• murasaki explores pagan May Day celebrations throughout history and calls for increased awareness of climate warming in May Day: Fertility & Regrowth. (Avila)
• kcoe summarizes the purpose of The National Day of Prayer in Exploiting the National Day of Prayer. (hhex65)
• Bogleg says My Long Winter is Over and shows how all of us can end our winters too. (jlms qkw)

 For reason in revolt now thunders

• LtdEdishn reminds us that religious conflict in America has sometimes led to violence, such as a little-known event in the 1840's called The "Bible Riots". (ybruti)
• PhilipMoon turns a spotlight on the racist Right in Beyond Terrorists: MI GOP's Support Anti-Semitism and White Supremacist Hate Groups. (TruthOfAngels)

 And strike the iron while it’s hot!

• MPetrelis has some positive news from other countries in Pro-gay advances in Poland and Nepal. (shayera)
• A child speaks candidly while visiting the office of a member of Detroit's dysfunctional city government in brightstar's In Detroit, the Student Becomes the Teacher. (hhex65)

 Too long we’ve languished in subjection

• Vietnam vet goldkeyrealty strongly advises PTSD sufferers to seek help because, as he knows from his own long struggle, It Only Gets Worse! (ybruti)
• Philip Munger brings us some great news from Alaska in Don Young's Toughest Opponent Gets Tougher. (shayera)
• Louisiana 1976 diaries on New Orleans in Incompetence? Or Genocide? But First, Blogathon Announcement..... (TruthOfAngels)

 Equality has other laws

• Drawing from personal experience in the South, YellerDog describes methods of voter suppression in Poll Tax, Voter ID, and the Supremes. (ybruti)
• Growing economic equality is the theme of The Two Americas by Daveparts. (TruthOfAngels)

jotter has yesterday's High Impact Diaries.

emeraldmaiden has tonight's Top Comments 5/1/08 - Factory Farms Impact Who?

Enjoy, and please recommend your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

Tonight's Rescue Rangers are jlms qkw, Louisiana 1976, Patriot Daily, vcmvo2, Wes Opinion, watercarrier4diogenes, with srkp23 as editor.

• Valtin reminds us that when governments are motivated, Hunting Down the War Criminals can happen even decades after their crimes were committed. (Patriot Daily)
• Travis Wheeler contrasts the megamedia free trade hype with the reality of human rights abuses in Actual News from Colombia Belies Blitzkrieg of Pro-FTA Editorials and Op-Eds. (Patriot Daily)
• jimstaro gives us encouraging news for veterans who get into legal trouble in Veterans Court - Buffalo NY. (vcmvo2)
• dhonig pens another interesting entry on wine and its benefits. This time resveratrol is the star: Wine - nature, Big Pharma, and orphan drugs. (vcmvo2)
• Project Vote reports on government and judicial decisions that may collectively disenfranchise eligible voters in the 2008 elections in Three Strikes Against Florida Voters. (Patriot Daily)
• dogemperor sheds some light on the motives of this "boot camp" in Teen Challenge: Possible missionary mill? (jlms qkw)
• Rimjob elicits nostalgic thoughts, both delighted and anguished, in High School & The Prom. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• Andrew Schamess writes of the bigotry and injustice that resulted in the ousting of Deborah Almontaser, an Arab-American educator and principal of NYC's first Arab language school. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• Stranded Wind continues his excellent series with a tale of coyotes, llamas, and rescue donkeys in Walkabout # 11: Natural Born Killers. (vcmvo2)
• A Siegel takes apart the columnist piece by piece in Truthiness Samuelson Strikes Again at the Post. (jlms qkw)
• LtdEdishn is here to remind us, and exemplify, how Real Issues Not Distraction need to be our focus. (watercarrier4diogenes)

jotter serves up High Impact Diaries - April 29, 2008.

brillig brings Top Comments 4/30/08 Whites & Darks Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

Tonight's Rescure Rangers are Yashua, jlms qkw, hhex65, dadanation, Avila, noddem, and joyful, with YatPundit doing a JazzFest second line while trying to drive the editmobile.

Building community, an inspiration for SusanG's Diary Rescue volunteers, has resulted in a success story that we celebrate today. Through Diary Rescue and community participation, Rescue Ranger, historiant, and now published author Unitary Moonbat has some very exciting news in History for Kossacks: Role-Playing Games, the Crusades, and Moonbat's Book.

• The Grieving Room: This coat, this ring of life beautifully reflects on life, loss, and love, in this lovely sisterly tribute by exmearden. (jlms qkw)
• Fantastic builds a solid case for the elimination of four inefficient dams in the Pacific Northwest to save the rapidly declining salmon population in Salmon Restoration and Dam Removal. (noddem)
• chiri describes A life slowly taken away because of youthful mistakes with severe punishments, and the cost of our prison program. (jlms qkw)
• GregMitch reports the sudden death of a 42-year-old Iraq combat veteran in the context of the VA's attempt to conceal disturbingly high numbers of suicide and PTSD among veterans in U.S. ex-commander at Baghdad Airport dies from "depression." (Avila)
• Bill White explains the importance of a viable space policy, the advantages that cross partisan lines and Why NASA matters -- even if it doesn't. (Avila)
• Teen Challenge: Life within the "Jesus Gulag" is yet another well-written offering in dogemperor's continuing series on the horrifying world of religiously-motivated child abuse. (joyful)
• Remember that part about electing more and better democrats? aimeeinkc brings us motivation and a checklist in WDYDT to elect a Democrat? (jlms qkw)
• cskendrick offers a condensed historical perspective on the struggle between political philosophies throughout American history in A Tale of Two Schisms. (noddem)
• truong son traveler offers an extraordinary timeline of failed sanctions in the "name of national interests," spanning over 100 years and culminating in Sanctioning Iran: Foreign Policy 101. (Avila)
• winterbanyan has an interesting theory on young voters and the politics of fear and hope perceived through generational disconnect in Brainwashed: the Cold War generation and today's politics. (Avila)
• Since the Traditional Media won't tell you, sarahlane will: Inform Yourself About McCainisms. (joyful)
• Two from RDemocrat on the KY campaign trail: Wheeee! Mitch McConnell Falling Fast in Western Kentucky! (joyful), and some outstanding photos of a campaign event in Heather Ryan and Greg Fischer Meet Kentucky Voters. (jlms qkw)
• Saska reports from an author event and tells us why columnist Howard Fineman thinks Democrats must re-argue the first principles of who they are. (joyful)

Yesterday's High Impact Diaries by jotter.

Progressive Witness has Top Comments: Little Katrinas.

As always, we invite you to join the Rescue Ranger team by suggesting your own Rescue choices in this open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are Louisiana 1976, PaintyKat, jennyjem, TruthOfAngels, Wes Opinion, and joyful, with shayera as editor.

• In Unless there's a price tag most people don't appreciate beauty, Code Breaker points out how we walk by great beauty everyday without noticing it. (PaintyKat)
• Teen Challenge: A typical week in the "Jesus Gulag" continues dogemperor's startling series into the frightening world of religiously-motivated child abuse. (joyful)
• DowneastDem reports that racism and fear was behind the move to squelch an educational endeavor in How Daniel Pipes Destroyed a New York City Principal. (jennyjem)
• iampunha discusses John Milton's "Paradise Lost" in Today in History: April 27, 1667. The author also tells of the publishing industry in England back then and dissects the Biblical story of Eve and the apple. (Louisiana 1976)
• markthshark warns that nothing is as it seems with the Bush Administration in Cheney's Neocons Behind Syrian/North Korea Nuclear Claims. (jennyjem)
• karateexplosions wonders if racism is indeed over in the rhythmic In the Home of the Brave and the Free. (joyful)
• 8ackgr0und N015e contrasts General Petraeus's policies in Iraq with his press image in David Petraeus, Death Squads and Honorable Men. (jennyjem)
• StormBear takes us back to 1860-1861 (with cartoon!) in Black History: First Shots of the Civil War. (TruthOfAngels)
• Coming to a Governor's Office near you? Save Ohio Now writes that those zany Christian Fundamentalists are at it again in Action Alert: Dobson Quietly Co-opts All Fifty Governors. (jennyjem)
• Jeffrey Feldman details the hypocrisy of the Straight Talk Express in Violent Rhetoric Watch: McCain Launders FOX's Lie RE Obama. (joyful)
• Stranded Wind explains exactly how "they don't make 'em like they used to" in this lovely post, Walkabout #9: This (Centuries) Old House. (jennyjem)

jotter has High Impact Diaries - April 27, 2008.

va dare has Top Comments 4.28.08 - On boycotts and freedom of speech.

Add your favorite diaries from the past 24 hours and use as an open thread

::

Cleaning out my Hotlist did not get very far, as I came across this gem written by SusanG in 2005

The Best of Dkos: Find It Here

http://www.dailykos.com/...

We've had so many new registrants, I see we are repeating old stories, firing up explanations and generally being patient about our history. But nothing tops good reading material, and if you are bored with the day's news try the time-tested recommended compilation and catch up with our reference material.

Tonight's rescuers are Yashua, YatPundit, ezdidit, dadanation, TruthOfAngels, and srkp23, with pico helming the editor's chair, and a big assist from vcmvo2.

April 27th is the birthday of Sergei Prokofiev, one of the twentieth century's greatest composers. Here's a classic production to enjoy while you scan tonight's selections.

• In two diaries about veteran issues, testvet6778 discloses The War Within: Part of the PTSD story, and jimstaro asks, "Where is the public's outrage about Help for Veterans?" (ezdidit)
• Stephen Johnson, The Environment's Alberto Gonzales is The Cuncator's efficient (and well-sourced) takedown of our current EPA administrator. (dadanation)
• With a diary for the reality- and science-based communities here, patrickz suggests You Should Listen to Steven Chu. (ezdidit)
• yaddab brings us a concise and well-researched article on our burgeoning national debt in Did you know you owed $3935 to the Chinese Government?! (Yashua)
• gjohnsit writes an excellent, well-linked piece explaining that Taxpayers Already Bailing Out Housing Market. (pico & srkp23)
• cloudwatcher pens a thorough and well written op-ed piece on religion and politics, in Calling all candidates: Get off the religious bus. (Yashua)
• dogemperor continues to expose the shocking missions and methods of the Dominionists, in Teen Challenge: Coercive groups disguised as rehab. (srkp23)
• betson08 reports on the important accomplishments and continuing needs of this extraordinary netroots-supported women's shelter: Pretty Bird Woman House Update. (pico & srkp23)
• Yosef 52 offers a poetic break from the campaign madness in Some Poems for the Saturday Night Club. (YatPundit)
• For the perfect tonic (with or without the gin), we have Eddie C's beautiful photo-diary spotlighting some of the activists he has encountered while in Southern California, in Outstanding in the Field: Laguna Beach Activist. (dadanation)

jotter has yesterday's High Impact Diaries - April 26, 2008, as well as Weekly High Impact Diaries - April 19-25.

kath25 has tonight's Top Comments 4.27.08 : Made in the Shade Edition.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

This evenings's Rescue Rangers are jlms qkw, watercarrier4diogenes, srkp23, smokeymonkey, ezdidit and Avila with dadanation as editor.

• profmarcus serves up must-read, on-the-ground reporting in Live-blogging from Kabul, Afghanistan. (srkp23)
• Focusing on the internal politics of the American Psychological Association, Valtin provides us a look at the politics of torture in The Torture Election: Fighting for the Soul of the APA. (smokeymonkey)
• HeartlandLiberal examines the further assault on our Fourth Amendment rights in FBI Spying on 'Illegal' Internet Activity: "A Free Net, If You Can Keep It". (srkp23)
• Finn MacCool reports on a silent protest at an Arizona high school in support of LGBT rights in The haters stayed home. (srkp23)
• xaxnar brings to a close his excellent series on a potentially astounding alternative energy source in The Earth, the Energy Crisis and the Silver Bullet - Part 5: Werewolves, Vampires and Zombies. (watercarrier4diogenes)
• rcbowman details the worsening situation in Zimbabwe, which, Archibishop Desmond Tutu warns, is heading Into the abyss. (srkp23)
• Larry Madill reports on Yoko's suit against Ben Stein and other right-wing producers of an anti-evolution documentary that uses Lennon's "Imagine" without permission in Yoko Ono Tries to Win Ben Stein's Money. (srkp23)
• Asinus Asinum Fricat focuses on the earth's population problem, warning us, Don't Take Your Eyes Off This Ball! (ezdidit)
• JDPITALIA follows up on the 1998 NLRB ruling that Goya Foods must negotiate with the workers' union in Ten Years later and No contract at Goya Foods. (srkp23)
• jimstaro reports on another Republican case of focusing on the truly unimportant things concerning our troops' well-being, in This RepugNut Has Got To Be Kidding! (srkp23)
• Stranded Wind's latest road-trip report brings us to the concrete jungle of NYC, where he met up with a Tibetan friend whom he'd rescued from enslavement by a cult: Walkabout #7: Wilderness Adventure. (srkp23)
• dogemperor explores a horrifying pattern of abuse and neglect after privatization of youth correctional facilities to Dominionist "faith-based rehab" facilities nationwide in Teen Challenge: The Assemblies' own "kiddie gulag." (Avila)

High Impact Diaries by jotter.

carolita has Top Comments -- WWWTP Edition.

We hope you'll enjoy these diaries as much as we did. Please promote your own favorites from today in the open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are smokeymonkey, PaintyKat, hhex65, shayera, Wes Opinion and joyful, with Patriot Daily as editor.

• Asinus Asinum Fricat encourages us to remember the importance of clean water in The Other Blue Revolution We Should Be Having. (shayera)
• markthshark reports on the new Disneyland-type Amusement Park Planned for Baghdad. (Patriot Daily)
• dogemperor brings hope to the horror of religiously-motivated child abuse in ACTION DIARY: HR 5876--a chance to protect kids from abusive "kiddie boot camps." (joyful)
• mosaicnews reports on peace overtures between Israel and Syria in Syria: Nukes or Peace? (Patriot Daily)
• Candidate for Oregon's 5th congressional district, Steve Marks, lays out his environmental policy in Higher Marks for Oregon's Environment. (smokeymonkey)
• Stranded Wind merges musings and magical photos to bring us Walkabout #6: Keeping the Powder Dry. (joyful)
• barbwire discusses the mild rebuke for the "appearance of impropriety" in the US attorney scandal in Domenici Admonished by Senate Ethics Committee for Calling Iglesias; More Serious Probes Continue. (Patriot Daily)
• "Prince of War" - a review of Cecil Bothwell's controversial 2007 book about Billy Graham, by CrustyPolemicist,  shines a light on the dark side of "America's most beloved pastor." (hhex65)
• Bobs Telecaster reminds us that our next President will inherit 5 years during which the US will not be in space in Lost in Space. (Patriot Daily)
• tinpantithesis knows Why Silence Matters today while Michiganliberal shares some thoughtful Reflections on Silence and the plight of all who suffer worldwide. (joyful)
• jwestfield reflects on Depression and the Politics of Difference as she escapes from a two-month grip in the jaws of the big Black Dog. (joyful)
• undercovercalico asks Kossacks to Give Me Directions in these difficult economic times. (shayera)
• Ramelle asks Could You Have a Primary Immune Deficiency? and describes his/her personal experience of diagnosis and treatment for one of the many kinds of immune deficiency. (smokeymonkey)

jotter has High Impact Diaries, April 24, 2008.

emeraldmaiden has Top Comments 4-25-08 - Friday Fun.

Enjoy and please promote your own favorite diaries in this open thread.

This evening's Rescue Rangers are ybruti, hhex65, joyful, jlms qkw, Louisiana 1976 and grog with Avila (h/t Unitary Moonbat) as editor.

• gjohnsit provides us with a few Lessons from another forgotten American occupation. Seems like we're old hands at botching Iraq-like situations. (grog)
• With interesting details about the "back-door draft" and its history over several administrations, daytonpundit reminds us that 'Stop Loss' is Alive and Well. (ybruti)
• Shane Hensinger's International Law and the War in Iraq details the many reasons the 2003 US-led invasion was illegal from the start. (joyful)
• In 10 cents in one day! Plus a rationing story, devtob starkly predicts that the sort of fuel rationing now going on in Scotland will take place in the US. (Louisiana 1976)
• Forgiven connects the dots between McCain's current choice of campaign photo ops and how he'll try to portray himself this fall in Not Another Compassionate Conservative. (grog)
• k9disc looks at the correlation between less money and less freedom in The Republican Dream: A Sweatshop Economy. (grog)
• Angel of Mercy's The Republican Erosion of America is half-rant, half-history lesson, and all-thoughtful. (joyful)
• Before you think that Johnny Venom is insane when he says Vote Democrat...live longer? A visual guide, look carefully at his charts. Not so mad now, eh? (grog)
• Seeking to free the U.S. from its dependence on oil, Stranded Wind describes visionary projects in Walkabout #5: Consultations & Contemplations. In Iowa, for example, a company proposes the wind driven production of ammonia for fertilizer. (ybruti)
• Susan Rosenthal clarifies the current conflict between the California Nurses Association (CNA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in War in the House of Labor. (hhex65)
• talk about race now makes poetry from the pain of a youthful memory in A N*gger for a Day: Okkklahoma Burning. (joyful)
• DWG offers a frightening look at Another surge in greenhouse gases, with an injection of cynical humor.  (jlms qkw)

High Impact Diaries by jotter.

Ambrosius has Top Comments - Just Comments Edition.

We hope you'll enjoy these diaries as much as we did. Please promote your own favorites in the open thread.